bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Role of adjunctive treatment strategies in COVID-19 and a review of international and national clinical guidelines
Authors: Xu Xinni , Ong Yew Kwang , Wang De Yun
Published: May 2020

The coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic has led to a global struggle to cope with the sheer numbers of infected persons, many of whom require intensive care support or eventually succumb to the illness. The outbreak is managed by a combination of disease containment via public health measures and supportive care for those who are affected. To date, there is no specific anti-COVID-19 treatment. However, the urgency to identify treatments that could turn the tide has led to the emergence of several investigational drugs as potential candidates to improve outcome, especially in the severe to critically ill. While many of these adjunctive drugs are being investigated in clinical trials, professional bodies have attempted to clarify the setting where the use of these drugs may be considered as off-label or compassionate use. This review summarizes the clinical evidence of investigational adjunctive treatments used in COVID-19 patients as well as the recommendations of their use from guidelines issued by international and national organizations in healthcare.
Strengthening spatial reasoning: elucidating the attentional and neural mechanisms associated with mental rotation skill development
Authors: Moen Katherine C. , Beck Melissa R. , Saltzmann Stephanie M. , Cowan Tovah M. , Burleigh Lauryn M. , Butler Leslie G. , Ramanujam Jagannathan , Cohen Alex S. , Greening Steven G.
Published: May 2020

Spatial reasoning is a critical skill in many everyday tasks and in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics disciplines. The current study examined how training on mental rotation (a spatial reasoning task) impacts the completeness of an encoded representation and the ability to rotate the representation. We used a multisession, multimethod design with an active control group to determine how mental rotation ability impacts performance for a trained stimulus category and an untrained stimulus category. Participants in the experimental group (n = 18) showed greater improvement than the active control group (n = 18) on the mental rotation tasks. The number of saccades between objects decreased and saccade amplitude increased after training, suggesting that participants in the experimental group encoded more of the object and possibly had more complete mental representations after training. Functional magnetic resonance imaging data revealed distinct neural activation associated with mental rotation, notably in the right motor cortex and right lateral occipital cortex. These brain areas are often associated with rotation and encoding complete representations, respectively. Furthermore, logistic regression revealed that activation in these brain regions during the post-training scan significantly predicted training group assignment. Overall, the current study suggests that effective mental rotation training protocols should aim to improve the encoding and manipulation of mental representations.
Psychometric evaluation of the Chinese version of the Toronto Hospital Alertness Test
Authors: Li Sha , Fong Daniel Yee Tak , Wong Janet Yuen Ha , Wilkinson Kate , Shapiro Colin , Choi Edmond Pui Hang , McPherson Bradley , Lam Cindy Lo Kuen , Ip Mary Sau Man
Published: May 2020

Background

Alertness is an important part of attention which is different from the opposite of sleepiness. This study aimed to translate and assess the measurement properties of the Toronto Hospital Alertness Test (THAT) in Hong Kong Chinese population.

Methods

The standard forward-backward translation procedure and cognitive debriefing were conducted to obtain the Chinese THAT. One hundred Chinese adults completed the Chinese THAT, the Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression Scale (CES-D), the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), and the Athens Insomnia Scale (AIS) by telephone interviews.

Results

The factorial validity was assessed by confirmatory factor analysis, and the internal reliability was examined by coefficient omega. The two negatively worded items of the THAT had low factor loadings and were removed. One more item was removed based on the modification indices of the eight-item model. The remaining seven-item THAT showed satisfactory unidimensionality with root mean square error of approximation (RMSEA) = 0.06, standardized root mean square residual (SRMR) = 0.08, and comparative fit index (CFI) = 1.00. The coefficient omega of the seven-item Chinese THAT was 0.80 (95% CI: 0.74–0.86). Convergent validity was demonstrated with THAT moderately associated with CES-D (r = − 0.45, P < 0.01), PSQI (r = − 0.40, P < 0.01), and AIS (r = − 0.45, P < 0.01).

Conclusions

The Chinese version of THAT demonstrated acceptable reliability and validity in a Chinese population.
Opening the black box of machine learning in radiology: can the proximity of annotated cases be a way?
Authors: Baselli Giuseppe , Codari Marina , Sardanelli Francesco
Published: May 2020

Machine learning (ML) and deep learning (DL) systems, currently employed in medical image analysis, are data-driven models often considered as black boxes. However, improved transparency is needed to translate automated decision-making to clinical practice. To this aim, we propose a strategy to open the black box by presenting to the radiologist the annotated cases (ACs) proximal to the current case (CC), making decision rationale and uncertainty more explicit. The ACs, used for training, validation, and testing in supervised methods and for validation and testing in the unsupervised ones, could be provided as support of the ML/DL tool. If the CC is localised in a classification space and proximal ACs are selected by proper metrics, the latter ones could be shown in their original form of images, enriched with annotation to radiologists, thus allowing immediate interpretation of the CC classification. Moreover, the density of ACs in the CC neighbourhood, their image saliency maps, classification confidence, demographics, and clinical information would be available to radiologists. Thus, encrypted information could be transmitted to radiologists, who will know model output (what) and salient image regions (where) enriched by ACs, providing classification rationale (why). Summarising, if a classifier is data-driven, let us make its interpretation data-driven too.
Putative modulation of the gut microbiome by probiotics enhances preference for novelty in a preliminary double-blind placebo-controlled study in ferrets
Authors: Dugyala Supritha , Ptacek Travis S. , Simon Jeremy M. , Li Yuhui , Fröhlich Flavio
Published: May 2020

Background

Increasing evidence suggests a causal relationship between the gut microbiome and psychiatric illnesses. In particular, autism spectrum disorder is associated with gastrointestinal symptoms and alterations in the gut microbiome. Administration of probiotics is a commonly used strategy by caregivers of people with neurodevelopmental illness. However, evidence for successful improvement in gut microbiome and (behavioral) symptoms has been lacking.

Results

Here, we use a novel ferret model of maternal immune activation to show that high-dose probiotic administration in a placebo-controlled study design causes changes in the gut microbiome in the form of a transient increase in the administered bacterial species. In contrast, we found no differences in baseline microbiome composition or changes induced by probiotic administration between animals exposed in utero to maternal immune activation and control animals. However, the relative presence of several bacterial species correlated with an increased preference for novelty (object and conspecific). Intriguingly, several of the hits in this screen are species that have previously emerged in the literature as being associated with autism and anxiety.

Conclusions

Together, our results suggest that high-dose probiotic interventions may be beneficial for the adjunct treatment of psychiatric illnesses. Placebo-controlled clinical trials in humans are urgently needed.
Effect of Cyberlindnera jadinii yeast as a protein source on intestinal microbiota and butyrate levels in post-weaning piglets
Authors: Iakhno Stanislav , Umu Özgün C. O. , Håkenåsen Ingrid M. , Åkesson Caroline P. , Mydland Liv T. , Press Charles McL. , Sørum Henning , Øverland Margareth
Published: May 2020

Background

Dietary yeast inclusions in a pig diet may drive changes both in gut bacterial composition and bacterial functional profile. This study investigated the effect of Cyberlindnera jadinii as a protein to replace 40% of the conventional proteins in a diet for weanling pigs on the microbiota in the small and large intestine, colonic short-chain fatty acid concentration, and colonic histopathology parameters. Seventy-two pigs weaned at 28 days of age were randomly assigned to either a control or a C. jadinii-based diet and followed for 2 weeks.

Results

Compared with the controls, higher numbers of cultivable lactic acid-producing bacteria in the small and large intestine were registered in the yeast group. Alpha and beta bacterial diversity were different between the diet groups with lower alpha-diversity and distinct bacterial composition in the large intestine in the yeast group compared with those of the controls. The large intestine microbiota in the yeast group had higher numbers of Prevotella, Mitsuokella and Selenomonas compared with those of the controls. The concentrations of colonic acetate and butyrate were higher in the controls compared with that of the yeast group. The colonic crypt depth was deeper in the control group. The gut histopathology of colonic tissues revealed no differences between the diets.

The colonic crypt depth tended to be deeper with higher relative abundance of an unclassified Spirochetes, higher colonic butyrate concentration, and higher bacterial richness. The concentration of colonic butyrate was positively associated with the relative abundance of the Faecalibacterium prausnitzii, Dialister, and an unclassified amplicon of the Spirochaetaceae family in the colon.

Conclusions

The replacement of the conventional proteins by proteins from Cyberlindnera jadinii in a weanling pig diet reshaped the large intestine microbiota structure. The novel yeast diet appeared to be selective for Lactobacillus spp., which may represent an added value resulting from using the sustainably produced yeast protein ingredient as an alternative to conventional protein ingredients in animal diets. The large intestine bacterial composition and their metabolites may be involved in an adaptive alteration of the colonic crypts without pathological consequences.
Randomized Trial of Text Messaging to Reduce Early Discontinuation of Adjuvant Aromatase Inhibitor Therapy in Women With Early-Stage Breast Cancer: SWOG S1105
Authors: Hershman Dawn L. , Unger Joseph M. , Hillyer Grace Clarke , Moseley Anna , Arnold Kathryn B. , Dakhil Shaker R. , Esparaz Benjamin T. , Kuan Ming C. , Graham Mark L. , Lackowski Douglas M. , Edenfield William J. , Dayao Zoneddy R. , Henry N. Lynn , Gralow Julie R. , Ramsey Scott D. , Neugut Alfred I.
Published: May 2020

PURPOSE

Nonadherence to aromatase inhibitors (AIs) for breast cancer is common and increases the risk of recurrence. Text messaging increases adherence to medications for chronic conditions.

METHODS

We conducted a randomized clinical trial of text messaging (TM) versus no text messaging (No-TM) at 40 sites in the United States. Eligible patients were postmenopausal women with early-stage breast cancer taking an AI for > 30 days with a planned duration of ≥ 36 months. Test messages were sent twice a week over 36 months. Content themes focused on overcoming barriers to medication adherence and included cues to action, statements related to medication efficacy, and reinforcements of the recommendation to take AIs. Both groups were assessed every 3 months. The primary outcome was time to adherence failure (AF), where AF was defined as urine AI metabolite assay results satisfying one of the following: < 10 ng/mL, undetectable, or no submitted specimen. A stratified log-rank test was conducted. Multiple sensitivity analyses were performed.

RESULTS

In total, 724 patients were registered between May 2012 and September 2013, among whom,702 patients (348 in the text-messaging arm and 354 in the no–text-messaging arm) were eligible at baseline. Observed adherence at 36 months was 55.5% for TM and 55.4% for No-TM. The primary analysis showed no difference in time to AF by arm (3-year AF: 81.9% TM v 85.6% No-TM; HR, 0.89 [95% CI, 0.76 to 1.05]; P = .18). Multiple time to AF sensitivity analyses showed similar nonsignificant results. Three-year self-reported time to AF (10.4% v 10.3%; HR, 1.16 [95% CI, 0.69 to 1.98]; P = .57) and site-reported time to AF (21.9% v 18.9%; HR, 1.31 [95% CI, 0.86 to 2.01]; P = .21) also did not differ by arm.

CONCLUSION

To our knowledge, this was the first large, long-term, randomized trial of an intervention directed at improving AI adherence. We found high rates of AI AF. Twice-weekly text reminders did not improve adherence to AIs. Improving long-term adherence will likely require personalized and sustained behavioral interventions.
Utility of Routine Surveillance Laboratory Testing in Detecting Relapse in Patients With Classic Hodgkin Lymphoma in First Remission: Results From a Large Single-Institution Study
Authors: Lynch Ryan C. , Sundaram Vandana , Desai Manisha , Henry Solomon , Wood Douglas , Daadi Sarah , Hoppe Richard T. , Advani Ranjana
Published: May 2020

PURPOSE:

Classic Hodgkin lymphoma is highly curable with contemporary therapy. Although the limited role of surveillance imaging to detect early relapse for patients in complete remission at the end of therapy is well established, there is a paucity of data regarding role of laboratory testing in this setting.

METHODS:

Patients with newly diagnosed classic Hodgkin lymphoma uniformly treated with the Stanford V regimen from 1998-2014 and in complete remission for at least 3 months were identified in a single-center institutional database. Laboratory tests categorized by Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events v4.03 as grade 2 or higher were considered abnormal. Primary analysis included sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value (PPV), and negative predictive value (NPV) of surveillance laboratory tests for predicting relapse in the first 3 years after end of treatment.

RESULTS:

Among 235 eligible patients, 24 (10.2%) patients ultimately relapsed. In the first 3 years after end of therapy, the mean number of surveillance blood draws per patient was 7.1, (range, 1-13). These 1,661 surveillance blood draws included 4,684 individual laboratory tests, comprising 1,609 CBCs, 1,578 metabolic panels, and 1,497 erythrocyte sedimentation rates. None of the biopsies confirming relapses were prompted by any abnormal laboratory finding. The sensitivity of any surveillance laboratory test for detecting relapse within 3 years of end of treatment was 72.7% (95% CI, 49.8% to 89.3%), specificity 22.6% (95% CI, 17.2% to 28.9%), yielding a PPV of 8.9% (95% CI, 7.0% to 11.3%) and NPV of 88.9% (95% CI, 79% to 94%).

CONCLUSION:

Our study found limited clinically meaningful utility for routine surveillance laboratory testing in detecting relapse in patients with complete remission at end of treatment. Our results warrant consideration of modifications to current practice guidelines.
When Transparency Fails: Bias and Financial Incentives in Ridesharing Platforms
Authors: Mejia Jorge , Parker Chris
Published: May 2020

Providing transparency into operational processes can change consumer and worker behavior. However, it is unclear whether operational transparency is beneficial with potentially biased service providers. We explore this in the context of ridesharing platforms where early evidence documents bias similar to what has been observed in traditional transportation systems. Platforms responded by reducing operational transparency through removing information about riders’ gender and race from the ride request presented to drivers. However, following this change, bias may still manifest through driver cancelation after a request is accepted, at which point the rider’s picture is displayed. Our primary research question is to what extent a rider’s gender, race, and perception of support for lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) rights impact cancelation rates. We investigate this through a large field experiment on a major ridesharing platform in Washington, DC. By manipulating rider names and profile pictures, we observe drivers’ behavior patterns in accepting and canceling rides. Our results confirm that bias at the ride request stage has been eliminated. However, after acceptance, racial and LGBT biases are persistent, while we find no evidence of gender biases. We also explore whether peak times moderate (through increased pay to drivers) or exacerbate (by signaling that there are many riders, allowing drivers to be more selective) these biases. We find a moderating effect of peak timing, with lower cancelation rates for non-Caucasian riders. We do not find a similar moderating effect for riders that signal support for the LGBT community.

This paper was accepted by Vishal Gaur, operations management.
How to Play Fantasy Sports Strategically (and Win)
Authors: Haugh Martin B. , Singal Raghav
Published: May 2020

Daily fantasy sports (DFS) is a multibillion-dollar industry with millions of annual users and widespread appeal among sports fans across a broad range of popular sports. Building on recent work, we provide a coherent framework for constructing DFS portfolios where we explicitly model the behavior of other DFS players. We formulate an optimization problem that accurately describes the DFS problem for a risk-neutral decision maker in both double-up and top-heavy payoff settings. Our formulation maximizes the expected reward subject to feasibility constraints, and we relate this formulation to mean-variance optimization and the outperformance of stochastic benchmarks. Using this connection, we show how the problem can be reduced to the problem of solving a series of binary quadratic programs. We also propose an algorithm for solving the problem where the decision maker can submit multiple entries to the DFS contest. This algorithm is motivated by submodularity properties of the objective function and by some new results on parimutuel betting. One of the contributions of our work is the introduction of a Dirichlet-multinomial data-generating process for modeling opponents’ team selections, and we estimate the parameters of this model via Dirichlet regressions. A further benefit to modeling opponents’ team selections is that it enables us to estimate the value, in a DFS setting, of both insider trading and collusion. We demonstrate the value of our framework by applying it to DFS contests during the 2017 National Football League season.

This paper was accepted by Baris Ata, stochastic models and simulation.
The Tension Between Worker Safety and Organization Survival
Authors: Pagell Mark , Parkinson Mary , Veltri Anthony , Gray John , Wiengarten Frank , Louis Michalis , Fynes Brian
Published: May 2020

This research addresses the fundamental question of whether providing a safe workplace improves or hinders organizational survival, because there are conflicting predictions on the relationship between worker safety and organizational performance. The results, based on a unique longitudinal database covering more than 100,000 organizations across 25 years in the U.S. state of Oregon, indicate that, in general, organizations that provide a safe workplace have significantly lower odds and length of survival. Additionally, the organizations that would, in general, have better survival odds benefit most from not providing a safe workplace. This suggests that relying on the market does not engender workplace safety.

This paper was accepted by Charles Corbett, operations management.
Joint Frequency-Setting and Pricing Optimization on Multimodal Transit Networks at Scale
Authors: Bertsimas Dimitris , Sian Ng Yee , Yan Julia
Published: May 2020

Modern public transportation systems are increasingly complex: they are operated on a large scale, must support booming urban populations, and run under tight budget constraints. Additionally, passengers are able to make choices between a variety of commuting options. We develop formulations for minimizing system wait time in multimodal networks, while accounting for operator budget constraints, capacity constraints, and passenger preferences. Furthermore, our algorithms run to near optimality in minutes for city-sized networks. We demonstrate the benefit of setting schedule frequencies and prices jointly through case studies on real data from Boston and Tokyo. To our knowledge, ours is the first paper that addresses joint frequency-setting and pricing optimization for public transit networks and at scale.
Paramedics and pneumonia associated with COVID-19
Authors: Higginson Ray , Parry Andy , Williams Meirion , Jones Bridie
Published: May 2020

Paramedics are at the frontline of healthcare delivery and this includes during the current coronavirus pandemic. This pandemic poses specific problems for paramedics, which include not only treating and transporting infected patients, but also issues around decontamination and disinfection of ambulances and medical equipment. Of particular concern is the pneumonia associated with the 2019 novel coronavirus. Data on COVID-19 pneumonia are developing. Ongoing research demonstrates that almost all serious consequences of COVID-19 feature pneumonia, especially in older people and those with comorbidities. Paramedics can have a profound effect on the care of patients with pneumonia. Effective management of COVID-19 pneumonia by the paramedic should centre around prompt recognition, early administration of oxygen and intravenous fluids and transfer to hospital. In some situations, paramedics may need to be involved in the delivery and maintenance of airway adjuncts in patients with COVID-19 pneumonia.
The new coronavirus disease: what do we know so far?
Authors: Tang Sammer , Brady Mike , Mildenhall Jo , Rolfe Ursula , Bowles Alexandra , Morgan Kirsty
Published: May 2020

Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is a novel coronavirus that causes the new disease COVID-19. Symptoms range from mild to severe with a higher incidence of severe cases in patients with risk factors such as older age and comorbidities. COVID-19 is mainly spread through the inhalation of respiratory droplets from coughing or sneezing or via contact with droplet-contaminated surfaces. Paramedics should be aware that some aerosol-generating procedures may put them at a higher risk of contracting the virus via possible airborne transmission. Use of remote triage clinical assessment is likely to increase as a result of the pandemic. There is no curative drug treatment for the virus and some medications may exacerbate its effects or make patients more susceptible to it. Evidence and guidelines are evolving on SARS-CoV-2 and COVID-19. Paramedics should keep up to date with the latest clinical guidance from their employers.
Empremta d’una tradició farmacèutica de segles en la Fundació Dr. Esteve.
Authors: MORALES i VIDAL Pol , BOSCH i LLONCH Fèlix
Published: May 2020

Fingerprint of a centuries pharmaceutical tradition in the Dr Antoni Esteve Foundation: Dr Antoni Esteve Foundation has been sensitive to the history of science during its trajectory of almost four decades. This sensitivity has been transmitted by the pharmaceutical tradition of the Esteve lineage, whose origin dates back to the mid-18th century. This article reviews the highlights.
Temperature-compensated infrared-based low-cost mobile platform module for mass human temperature screening
Authors: Somboonkaew Armote , Vuttivong Sirajit , Prempree Panintorn , Amarit Ratthasart , Chanhorm Sataporn , Chaitavon Kosom , Porntheeraphat Supanit , Sumriddetchkajorn Sarun
Published: May 2020

As fast human temperature screening is needed in large public areas, this paper proposes a low-cost mobile platform module that combines the advantages of analyzing visible and thermal images. In particular, the key idea relies on face detection in the visible image. Then the coordinates of all faces detected are mapped on to the thermal image to determine their corresponding temperatures. Internal temperature compensation and external reference temperature also are employed to reduce the unwanted temperature fluctuation inside the module and in the surrounding environment. Our mobile platform module, called , uses a FLIR ONE camera as our visible and thermal imaging cameras. It can simultaneously determine the temperatures of nine people at a speed of 8 frames/second. A field test operation was performed for four days with 1,170 people, with very promising results of 100% sensitivity, 92.6% specificity, and 92.7% accuracy.
Experimental evaluation of the self-shadow and its correction for on-water measurements of water-leaving radiance
Authors: Lin Hua , Lee Zhongping , Lin Gong , Yu Xiaolong
Published: May 2020

Accurate determination of the water-leaving radiance (

L
w

) is key to correctly interpret
in-water optical properties and to validate the atmospheric correction
schemes in ocean color studies. Among the various approaches adopted
to measure

L
w

in the field, the skylight-blocked
approach (SBA) is the only scheme that can potentially measure

L
w

directly. However, the apparatus
associated with an SBA system will introduce self-shading effects to
the measured

L
w

, which is required to be corrected
for an accurate

L
w

determination. In this study, we
experimentally evaluate several factors that could contribute to the
self-shading effects of the SBA-measured

L
w

, including solar zenith angle (

∼

18

∘

−

64
∘

), water’s optical properties, and
cone size (radius of 22 mm and 45 mm). For waters with the total
absorption coefficient at 440 nm as high as

∼

6.0

m

−
1

, the normalized root-mean-square
difference between the SBA-measured

L
w

after shade correction and the “true”

L
w

is generally between

∼

5

%

and

∼

10

%

for wavelengths in the range of
400–750 nm. These results suggest that SBA can obtain highly accurate
and precise

L
w

in nearly all natural aquatic
environments.
Efficient manipulation of a probe pulse for achieving optical storage and switch in triple coupled quantum dots
Authors: Ba Nuo , Fei Jin-You , Li Dong-Fei , Zhong Xin , Wang Dan , Wang Hai-Hua , Bao Qian-Qian , Wang Lei
Published: May 2020

We investigated the steady optical properties of the triple quantum dots, which obtain a tunneling-induced effect by using the external electric field. Our numerical results shown that the electromagnetically induced transparency can be achieved via the tunneling-induced effect. In addition, we examined the propagation dynamics of a probe field in this system and found that the probe field group velocities and their absorption were related to the tunneling coupling intensities. This finding allowed us to control the probe field to obtain ultraslow group velocities and a tunable optical switch. Finally, using this scheme it was possible to store and release the probe field by modulating the tunneling coupling sequences.
Dual-beam potassium Voigt filter for atomic line imaging
Authors: Kudenov Michael W. , Pantalone Brett , Yang Ruonan
Published: May 2020

Spectrally narrowband imaging in remote sensing applications can be advantageous for detecting atomic emission features. This is especially useful in detecting specific constituents within rocket plumes, which are challenging to discern from naturally occurring sunglints. In this paper, we demonstrate a dual-beam technique, implemented with a Wollaston prism, for calibrating a Voigt magneto-optical filter for a linear polarizer’s finite extinction ratio, as well as optical misalignment between the linear polarizers’ transmission axes. Such a strategy would be key towards expanding the filter’s field of view while maintaining its classification capabilities. Validation of the potassium Voigt filter is demonstrated using the simulation tool ElecSus in combination with a potassium hollow cathode lamp. RMS error between the filter’s temperature response and that of the simulation was approximately 2%. We then demonstrate the detection of a potassium model rocket motor outdoors alongside a sunglint. Results indicate a 20-fold increase in contrast when using our dual-beam calibration strategy.
Opal-templated films for optical strain sensing
Authors: Sitpathom Nonthanan , Muangnapoh Tanyakorn , Dawes Judith M.
Published: May 2020

A polydimethylsiloxane film patterned by a self-assembled array has been demonstrated as a strain sensor. A monolayer of 580 nm polystyrene spheres prepared by convective deposition was the template to transfer a periodic pattern to a polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) film. Optical diffraction through the stretched PDMS film, enabled strain sensing perpendicular and parallel to the stretching direction, with sensitivities of 1.7 nm/% strain and 4.0 nm/% strain, respectively. The PDMS film was used as a vibration sensor at 50 Hz.
Deep UV random lasing from NaGdF4:Yb3+,Tm3+ upconversion nanocrystals in amorphous borosilicate glass
Authors: Xu Xuhui , Lu Wei , Wang Ting , Gao Wei , Yu Xue , Qiu Jianbei , Yu Siu Fung
Published: May 2020

The realization of lanthanide-doped upconversion nanocrystals embedded in a robust and transparent solid medium is highly desired to achieve deep UV (

<

300

n
m

) lasing. Here, we fabricate

N
a
G
d
F

4

:

Y
b

3

+

,

T
m

3

+

upconversion nanocrystals inside amorphous borosilicate glass to support

∼

290

n
m

random lasing emission under 980 nm excitation. We found that with careful control of the growth process, which is the key to achieve high-crystallinity nanocrystals, the nanocrystals can suppress defect-related quenching and enhance

1

I

6

→

3

H

6

(

6

I

J

→

8

S

7

/

2

)

transition of

T
m

3
+

(

G
d

3
+

) ions under five-photon absorption excitation so that high optical gain (

>

45

c
m

−
1

) at

∼

290

n
m

can be obtained.
Modulation instability induced by cross-phase modulation of transient stimulated Raman scattering and self-phase modulation in calcite
Authors: Mazhar Shah Faisal B. , Alfano Robert R.
Published: May 2020

Pairs of sidebands about the transient stimulated Raman scattering (SRS)

1086

c
m

−
1

vibration mode peak are observed for calcite under 517 nm 390 fs pulse excitation. These pairs of side frequency lobes arise from modulation instability (MI) from the interaction of cross-phase modulation (XPM) from self-phase modulation (SPM) and SRS. The pairs of secondary frequencies are attributed to the daughter

1086

c
m

−
1

decay product modes from the multiphonon of 3, 4, and 5 decays. The main sideband peak from

1086

c
m

−
1

phonon at

546

c
m

−
1

suggests the operation of the Orbach effect.
Subwavelength hole defect assisted microring resonator for a compact rectangular filter
Authors: Li Jiachen , Yang Sigang , Chen Hongwei , Chen Minghua
Published: May 2020

We propose and demonstrate a subwavelength hole defect assisted microring resonator (SHDAMR) structure. With the manipulated modal coupling between two degenerate counterpropagating modes induced by a subwavelength hole defect embedded in the microring waveguide, the SHDAMR structure shows a rectangular resonance lineshape instead of the Lorentzian resonance lineshape of a conventional microring. As a proof of concept, the SHDAMR structure is fabricated on the

S
i

3

N

4

waveguide platform, for achieving a rectangular filter with a 3-dB bandwidth of 2.03 GHz and an improved shape factor. The demonstrated SHDAMR structure shows the advantages of compact footprint, simplified tunability, and large tolerance of fabrication errors, showing great potential for various applications.
Long focusing range and self-healing Bessel vortex beam generator: publisher’s note
Authors: Hu Zhi-Yong , Tian Zhen-Nan , Fan Hua , Hua Jian-Guan , Qian Meng-Dan , Chen Qi-Dai , Sun Hong-Bo
Published: May 2020

This publisher’s note contains corrections to Opt. Lett.
45, 2580 (2020).OPLEDP0146-959210.1364/OL.391232
64  Gb/s low-voltage waveguide SiGe avalanche photodiodes with distributed Bragg reflectors
Authors: Wang Binhao , Huang Zhihong , Yuan Yuan , Liang Di , Zeng Xiaoge , Fiorentino Marco , Beausoleil Raymond G.
Published: May 2020

We demonstrate low-voltage waveguide silicon-germanium avalanche photodiodes (APDs) integrated with distributed Bragg reflectors (DBRs). The internal quantum efficiency is improved from 60% to 90% at 1550 nm assisted with DBRs while still achieving a 25 GHz bandwidth. A low breakdown voltage of 10 V and a gain bandwidth product of near 500 GHz are obtained. APDs with DBRs at a data rate of 64 Gb/s pulse amplitude modulation with four levels (PAM4) show a 30%–40% increase in optical modulation amplitude (OMA) compared to APDs with no DBR. A sensitivity of around

−
13
  
dBm

at a data rate of 64 Gb/s PAM4 and a bit error rate of

2.4
×

10

−
4

is realized for APDs with DBRs, which improves the sensitivity by

∼
2
  
dB

compared to APDs with no DBR.
A call for dissensus in art education!
Authors: Skregelid Lisbet
Published: May 2020

This article argues for the relevance of the term dissensus by the French philosopher Jacques Rancière in an art educational context in particular and an educational context in general. This argument is based on research referred to in this article, where the author made use of dissensus to analyse how encounters with contemporary art contribute to movements in youngsters’ ways of relating to artworks and the environment that surrounds them, as well as changes in the ways of relating to themselves and others – what here is called events of subjectivation. As dissensus is seen as a premise for subjectivation, the author argues for initiating dissensus by introducing students to both art and educational practices that contrast the norm and disrupt the expected. The article also discusses why dissensus as an educational strategy and an aesthetic turn in education seems to be urgent in a contemporary educational climate.
The passage of a painting: The learning process of students creating art for people with dementia
Authors: Shields Alison , Phinney Alison
Published: May 2020

Making Art for Making Place, a joint education and research project, engaged post-secondary fine arts students in the creation of paintings for residents of a transitional care facility. The purpose of the project was to explore how improving the living environment through art could benefit the residents with dementia while considering the impact this had on the students themselves. This article draws from participant observations and follow-up interviews to examine the learning experiences of students who created paintings for the facility. Further, it explores the impact on their learning through interactions with nurses and expert researchers who joined the class to participate in group discussions and share their expertise working with people living with dementia. The research revealed that the project fostered positive community building; engaged students in discussions and reflections about how art affects people; prompted consideration of experiences of the elderly – particularly those with dementia; and expanded understandings of the roles of art in the society.
Open School as embodied learning
Authors: Damgaard Knudsen Lars Emmerik , Øbro Skaarup Anne Marie
Published: May 2020

Open School is a collaboration between community schools and organizations introduced in Denmark as part of the school reforms of 2014. Through a qualitative research project contemplating Open School as a pedagogical phenomenon, we discovered that practitioners in and around schools perceived this programme very differently. The authors engaged in this study from an aesthetical perspective through mobilizing arts-based research modes. Across the different interpretations of Open School, students’ embodied learning was a common feature as they actively used their bodies while visiting a beach, bunker, theatre, museum and gallery. In this visual article, we present the artwork generated during an investigation of embodied learning in the Open School programme. It consists of drawings, photos and collages gathered in six separate frames, each accompanied with a short lyrical text to provoke readers’ perceptions.
Fear, city, cinema: Urban regeneration as a mental trap in Alexis Alexiou’s film Istoria 52 (Tale 52) (2008)
Authors: Kallitsis Phevos
Published: May 2020

The article analyses Alexis Alexiou’s thriller Istoria 52
(Tale 52) (2008) in relation to media and academic discourses on fear and safety in the city. The film’s mise-en-scène does not include any shots of the city; however, the off-screen presence of the city is implied as the main driver for the main character’s actions. The film was produced at a time when Athens was undergoing a huge urban regeneration, which remained incomplete, leading to the unwilling coexistence of people from different walks of life. The article offers an analysis of the film’s narrative and, in particular, its spatial dimension, placing it in the context of the contemporaneous urban condition of the Greek capital, which is implied, but not shown, in the film. I argue that the main character’s disturbed mental state, which drives much of the action in the film, is not just a result of an unbalanced psychology. Rather, his desire for isolation and the hyper-protection of private space are reflections of a conservative view on fear and safety in the city, where urban regeneration strategies are simultaneously the solution and the cause of fear and insecurity, trapping people in an endless closed loop.
Ambiente, saúde e análise do risco ambiental. O exemplo da vigilância sanitária das praias fluviais
Authors: Almeida Lúcio Meneses de
Published: May 2020

Cabe às modernas ciências ambientais o estudo sistemático do ambiente e à saúde ambiental o estudo do ambiente naquilo que interessa à saúde humana. Cabe aos técnicos da área ambiental a monitorização do estado do ambiente, sendo o estabelecimento de relações causais entre exposições ambientais e a saúde humana da responsabilidade de profissionais de saúde pública.O Autor aborda o conceito de saúde, realçando a moderna perspectiva de saúde.Seguidamente é caracterizado o processo de avaliação e gestão do risco, sendo destacada a importância da comunicação do risco como instrumento de gestão do risco.
Incêndios florestais. Algumas reflexões sobre prevenção e mitos do combate
Authors: Lourenço Luciano
Published: May 2020

Os incêndios florestais em Portugal são um tema sobre o qual todos temos opinião formada, quase sempre baseada em relatos veiculados pela comunicação social e que, nem sempre, ajudam a uma correcta percepção de realidade e da dimensão do problema.Sem se pretender esboçar aqui essa análise exaustiva, apresentam-se algumas reflexões que poderão contribuir para uma opinião mais sustentada do tema dos incêndios florestais, designadamente sobre algumas das razões que contribuíram para a evolução verificada ao longo dos últimos.De entre elas mencionam-se aquelas que mais condicionaram a existência de uma prevenção séria e eficaz, do mesmo modo que se consideram alguns dos constrangimentos a uma actuação mais eficiente dos bombeiros.
A urbanização, a fragilidade potencial do relevo e a produção do risco na bacia hidrográfica do Córrego Proença, município de Campinas, Brasil
Authors: Vitte António Carlos , Vilela Filho Luís Ribeiro
Published: May 2020

O objetivo deste trabalho é caracterizar a situação de risco às enchentes na bacia do córrego Proença, município de Campinas, estado de São Paulo, Brasil, a partir da relação entre a fragilidade potencial do relevo e o processo de urbanização de Campinas. A correlação entre os índices morfométricos possibilitou a identificação de setores com alta fragilidade potencial do relevo na bacia, de tal forma que, a associação com o modelo de gestão urbana adotado em Campinas, onde priorizam-se as intervenções viárias e funcionais no sentido de favorecer a especulação imobiliária em detrimento das características e propriedades do sítio, fez ressaltar situações de risco na bacia do córrego Proença, nesse caso, risco às enchentes.
Alteracion en la vegetacion endemica por fuegos, en el macizo montañoso mas extenso de la cordillera costera en la zona mediterranea de Chile
Authors: Quintanilla Víctor
Published: May 2020

En la Región Metropolitana de Santiago de Chile se localiza el cordón montañoso más extenso de la Cordillera de la Costa de Chile mediterráneo, denominado Altos de Cantillana, con una altitud de 2.281 m.s.n.m. En la misma cadena hay otros dos macizos que superan los 1.800 metros de altitud. Las cuencas de estas montañas poseen vegetación y fauna de importante biodiversidad. Destacan los enclaves de bosque higrófilos; de palmares de Jubaea chilensis (la palma más austral del mundo); áreas con bosque esclerófilo; matorrales xéricos; matorrales esclerófilos y bosques del “roble de Santiago” (Nothofagus obliqua var. macrocarpa), que se distribuyen aproximadamente entre los 1.200 y 1.800 m.s.n.m.; y culminando la cima con estepa de altura y bloques rocosos. Incendios producidos en las montañas desde 1995 a la fecha, han generado graves daños y alteración a estos ecosistemas y, a su vez, determinado el avance de procesos erosivos en las laderas de fuertes pendientes. A parte de esto existen otros impactos antrópicos.
The assessment of erosion in Aoulai watershed (central Rif mountains, Morocco) based on the PAP-RAC guidelines application
Authors: Hmamouchi Mstafa , El-fengour Abdelhak , El-fengour Mohammed , Houari Abdelghani
Published: May 2020

The land in the Aoulai watershed in the Rif mountain area of northern Morocco has been deteriorating continually due to several different forms of erosion. The Aoulai watershed is essentially characterized by the domination of weak resistance of the rocky formations and its sensitiveness to other major internal factors that result in a conspicuous impetus for both mass movements and water erosion.Water erosion is seen as the most damaging phenomenon for nature in northern Morocco because it acts as an obstacle to the natural balances and seems to have greater effect on the slopes, through the influence of both human and natural factors.

To assess and examine the erosion phenomenon, we have chosen to conduct a qualitative assessment of water erosion in the Aoulai watershed using the PAP-RAC (Priority Actions Programme/Regional Activity Centre) Guidelines. This is the methodology that is most widely applied and implemented both for determining and identifying the areas at risk of erosion and for supporting projects to reduce the degradation that has become a major threat to hydraulic structures including dams, irrigation pipes and other infrastructure elements, which are damaged by the erosion phenomenon in the Central Rif mountains of northern Morocco.
Mapeamento de risco em áreas urbanas densamente habitadas: o morro do Jaburuna (Vila Velha, ES, Brasil)
Authors: Origge Johnathan Tesch , Toneto Chaiany , Rosa Teresa Da Silva , Costa Mirian Cristina , Simplicio Maria Araguacy
Published: May 2020

O Morro do Jaburuna é um complexo rochoso densamente povoado, localizado no município de Vila Velha (Espirito Santo, Brasil). Devido à sua elevada declividade e à presença de blocos e depósitos de Tálus, as encostas possuem alta susceptibilidade a movimentos de massa. A metodologia adotada foi uma adaptação de metodologias já consagradas, visando facilitar a identificação de áreas suscetiveis ao risco pela população em geral. Este mapeamento subsidiou a setorização de áreas impróprias e resguardadas para ocupação urbana, possibilitando uma maior segurança para a população residente, além da elaboração do mapa de eventos já ocorridos. A hierarquização do risco se fez necessária para a priorização de ações de redução, prevenção e resposta ao risco pelos agentes públicos e pela sociedade.
Aplicação das novas tecnologias para o mapeamento da suscetibilidade ao risco da ravina do "Caminho de Ferro" em Luena (Moxico, Angola)
Authors: Fernandez Helena Maria , Granja-Martins Fernando Miguel , Arsénio Emmanuel
Published: May 2020

Atualmente, os locais escolhidos para as zonas residenciais obedecem a determinados pré-requisitos, nomeadamente, a proximidade aos locais de emprego, os bons acessos e ao aspeto paisagístico, desprezando muitas vezes a topografia do terreno, como a existência de ravinas ou linhas da água, que se traduzem em zonas de forte suscetibilidade à ocorrência de cheias, inundações e a deslizamentos de terra. Esta problemática é na sua grande maioria potenciada com a errónea intervenção humana, tornando-se urgente tomar medidas para minimizar os danos causados por estes fenómenos. Recorrendo aos Sistemas de Informação Geográfica e aos Veículos Aéreos Não Tripulados, pretende-se com este trabalho de investigação produzir elementos cartográficos que caracterizem de forma intrínseca e extrínseca os locais suscetíveis à erosão hídrica, nomeadamente os mapas, dos estados erosivos, do impacto da chuva e da suscetibilidade à erosão hídrica. A área de estudo trata-se de uma zona de ravina conhecida pelos “Caminhos de Ferro”, localizada na cidade do Luena da província de Moxico (leste de Angola). O modelo apresentado expressa uma suscetibilidade à erosão hidrica muito alta no periodo chuvoso e média no periodo seco, o que pode colocar em risco a infraestrutura do caminho de ferro que liga porto de Lobito à vila de Luau (fronteira com a Républica Democrática do Congo).
Vox Media: O Som na Literatura
Authors: Silvestre Osvaldo Manuel , Cussen Felipe
Published: May 2020

Call for Papers para o Volume 5 (2017) da revista MATLIT.
Vox Media: O Som na Literatura
Authors: Neves Nuno Miguel , Schwäbl Tiago
Published: May 2020

Call for Sounds para o volume 5 (2017) da revista MATLIT.
Humanities in Progress: A Potencialidade do Digital
Authors: De Mattia Marie Claire
Published: May 2020

Recensão crítica de Patrick Svensson e David Theo Goldberg, eds. Between Humanities and the Digital. Cambridge, MA: The MIT Press, 2015. 592 pp. ISBN: 9780262028684.
Venezuela: características, crisis y posible futuro democrático
Authors: Levine Daniel H. , Crisp Brian F.
Published: May 2020

RESUMEN: El sistema democrático venezolano presenta luces y sombras. Las luces se apoyan en el hecho de que este sistema ha desarrollado, a lo largo de cuatro décadas de funcionamiento, una serie de rutinas y prácticas que hacen que resulte un sistema suficientemente enraizado entre la población y con bases sólidas como para no dudar de su continuación. Las sombras se derivan de la situación de crisis en que se encuentra durante la última década, consecuencia precisamente de su propio funcionamiento y de la influencia de determinados factores que han contribuido a un alejamiento de las institituciones con respecto a una sociedad en constante transformación. La partidocracia, en particular, ha constituido uno de los principales factores de crisis. En el otro extremo, la maduración y organización autónoma de la sociedad puede significar la autosuperación de la crisis por parte del sistema democrático.ABSTRACT: Democracy in Venezuela has lights and shadows. Lights are founded in the fact that democracy has promoted, during the last four decades, a serie of routines and practices that have worked out a system rooted enough among the citizenship, with solid bases as to avoid the doubt of its maintenance. Shadows are derived of crisis situation that is suffering the system during the last decada, as a result of its own functioning and of the influence of different factors that promoted a removal of links between political institutions and a society in continous transformation. Partidocracia, in particular, is one of the main factors of this crisis. En the other end, maduration and autonomous organization of civil society can signify the resolution by itself of democracy.