bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Unidade Popular e Allende: inspirações para o futuro
Authors: Vidal Paula
Published: February 2025

O artigo propõe uma leitura sintética de aspectos para derivar ideias sobre o socialismo democrático que sirvam de base inspiradora para futuros processos sociais que tenham como centro a emancipação dos povos. Num primeiro momento, discute as trajetórias históricas que levaram à Unidade Popular e os debates estratégicos realizados desde o final da década de 1950, porque abriram as portas para a possibilidade de uma transição pacífica para o socialismo. Num segundo momento, é necessário compreender as ações promovidas para concretizar direitos, como conquistas que surgem da base popular, fora e dentro dos quadros da institucionalidade burguesa. 51 anos depois do golpe civil-militar e de um neoliberalismo devastador e destrutivo, a figura de Salvador Allende e o legado da Unidade Popular não se apagaram, pelo contrário, recuperam novas energias para se instalarem nas experiências reais e concretas que servem para iluminar e imaginar futuros.
Diário da alma: as desigualdades vistas pelos olhos de Carolina de Jesus
Authors: Carvalho Pollyanna de Souza
Published: February 2025

O objetivo deste ensaio é correlacionar os olhares de Carolina de Jesus, em sua obra Quarto de despejo: diário de uma favelada, com a desigualdade vivenciada, na atualidade, pelos segmentos sociais mais violados em seus direitos a partir de revisão teórico-bibliográfica e análise do conteúdo da referida obra, dando ênfase a alguns eixos temáticos como desigualdade social, racismo e violência de gênero. A condição pela qual os brasileiros passam atualmente é a da fome, pobreza, dificuldades de acesso aos serviços públicos, entre outras expressões da questão social. Tal cenário foi agravado pela pandemia de Covid-19, quando foram evidenciadas ainda mais a injustiça social e a ofensiva conservadora e neoliberal contra trabalhadores e trabalhadoras. A crise sanitária associou-se à crise do capital em curso, aprofundando suas repercussões no mundo do trabalho e nas relações sociais. A obra Quarto de despejo: diário de uma favelada mostra a formação de uma consciência crítica sobre realidade, a partir do olhar de uma trabalhadora, que vivenciou as iniquidades sociais na sua condição de mãe, negra, empobrecida e favelada, para romper a aparência e alcançar a essência dos fenômenos. Essa consciência crítica é fundamental para combater as narrativas adversas à democracia que surgem para destruir e deslegitimar os direitos sociais como conquistas da classe trabalhadora.
The Unsung Hero
Authors: Moore Kit
Published: February 2025

Overlooked by many but wire bonding is the quiet backbone of electronics.
Examination of the term placenta: the ultimate disposable organ
Authors: Wilsher Sandra
Published: February 2025

There is huge diversity in the type of placentation that mammals use to ensure that they can nurture and develop an embryo into a viable offspring at term. However, every type of placenta in domestic animals is, in effect, an organ that will supply nutrition to the growing fetus, remove waste products, protect the fetus and produce hormones and growth factors that will orchestrate the whole process. At birth the importance of a thorough examination of this disposable organ should not be over-looked. The equine practitioner should become familiar with the term ‘placenta’ so they can recognise completeness, normality and, therefore, abnormality. This paper describes the examination of the term ‘placenta’ and illustrates, descriptively and pictorially, normality and some of the quirks and anomalies that occur and their implication for fetal and maternal wellbeing.
Using medicated patches to treat hoof wall infections
Authors: Logie Sarah
Published: February 2025

Hoof wall infections in horses have a negative effect on the welfare and performance of the horse, as well as owner finances. They have long been recognised, but the treatments have been either impractical to use in the field or not properly tested for efficacy. It is important for those dealing with hoof issues to be able to identify and classify the type of infection they are seeing, so that effective treatment can be applied. This article looks at how to identify the type of infection and a proven effective method that can be applied by the farrier.
The significance of chewing in horses
Authors: Witherow Briony
Published: February 2025

Chewing is crucial to both the physical and psychological wellbeing of horses, but it remains understudied. Physiologically, it reduces feed particle size, stimulates saliva production, maintains dental health and supports digestion. Psychologically, chewing satisfies natural behavioural needs, and unmet chew requirements can lead to redirected foraging behaviours and frustration. Understanding and optimising chew parameters – such as frequency, duration and intensity – is particularly relevant for horses on restricted rations for weight management or dental issues. While current nutritional interventions often focus on more convenient solutions, such as supplements or bucket feed adjustments, and do not consider chew behaviour, addressing fundamental aspects like fibre intake and chew parameters has the potential for significant impact on equine health and welfare. Existing studies highlight the complexity of chewing, influenced by forage type, presentation and feed form, suggesting potential for this to inform and improve feed management. However, to improve relevance and applicability to practical feeding scenarios, further research should investigate factors like feed palatability, physical structure and the difference between bite and chew, all of which may be valuable in increasing understanding and interpretation of chew parameter data. Developing consistent terminology and methodologies is crucial to advancing this field. While new technologies offer opportunities to measure chew parameters, establishing foundational research is vital for future studies to accurately assess and enhance equine feeding strategies.
The Relationship between Hyperuricemia and Anemia in Postmenopausal Korean Women
Authors:   Department of Clinical Laboratory Science, Dongnam Health University, Gyeonggi-do, Korea, Kim Sun Gyu , Gi Mi Young ,   Department of Nursing, Christian College of Nursing, Gwangju, Korea, Cha Ju Ae ,   Department of Nursing, Chunnam Technouniversity, Korea, Park So Young ,   Department of Dental Hygiene, Wonkwang Health Science University, Jeollabuk-do, Korea, Park Cho Hee ,   Department of global Medical Beauty, Konyang University, Chungcheongnam-do, Korea, Sung Hyun Ho ,   Department of Clinical Laboratory Science, Dongnam Health University, Gyeonggi-do, Korea, Han Eun Sook ,   Department of Public Relations, Seoul National University Bundang Hospital, Gyeonggi-do, Korea, Yoon Hyun ,   Department of Clinical Laboratory Science, Wonkwang Health Science University, Korea
Published: February 2025

OBJECTIVE The present study was conducted to assess the association of hyperuricemia and anemia in premenopausal and postmenopausal Korean women.
METHODS Data from 9,239 adults (aged ≥ 20 years) in the Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey VII (2016–2018) were analyzed.
RESULTS After adjustment for related variables (including age), the odds ratio (OR) of hyperuricemia (uric acid [UA] < 6.0 mg/dL), using the normal group (hemoglobin [Hb] ≥ 12.0 g/dL) as a reference, was statistically significantly positively associated with the anemia group (Hb < 12.0 g/dL) in postmenopausal women (OR, 1.615; 95% CI, 1.187–2.198). In premenopausal women, after adjustment for the related variables (except age), the OR of hyperuricemia, with a normal group as a reference, was significantly inversely associated with the anemia group (OR, 0.583; 95% CI, 0.348–0.975). However, with further adjustment for age, hyperuricemia was no longer associated with anemia (OR, 0.679; 95% CI, 0.402–1.148).
CONCLUSIONS Hyperuricemia is positively associated with anemia in postmenopausal women but not in premenopausal women.
KEYWORDS anemia, uric acid, hyperuricemia, women, menopause
A Diagnostic Clinical Prediction Rule for Predicting Hip Subluxation/Dislocation in Patients with Cerebral Palsy
Authors:   Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Nakornping Hospital, Thailand, Kaewma Atcharee , Pattanakuhar Sintip ,   Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Chiang Mai University, Thailand
Published: February 2025

OBJECTIVE Hip subluxation/dislocation, a common problem in patients with cerebral palsy (CP), needs to be diagnosed with hip radiography. However, patients with cerebral palsy in a rural or country border areas may not have access to a radiographic screening program due to transportation difficulties and cost. This study aims to develop a clinical prediction rule (CPR) for diagnostic prediction of hip subluxation/dislocation in patients with CP for use as a risk-screening tool.
METHODS This is a cross-sectional diagnostic CPR development study. Data were obtained from medical and radiologic records of patients with CP who had undergone outpatient follow-up at a 750-bed general hospital between January 2017 and December 2023. Clinical predictive factors were medical records plus hip subluxation/dislocation diagnoses using the migration percentage (MP), with ≥ 33% indicating hip subluxation and ≥ 90% indicating hip dislocation. Multivariable logistic regression analysis was used for choosing predictive variables and rating their coefficient. Both discriminative and calibration aspects of the performance of the CPR were evaluated using both a development and an internal validity model.
RESULTS Among the 69 patients with CP in the study, the mean (SD) age was 113 (242) months. Of the 69 patients, 30 were diagnosed with hip subluxation/dislocation, a prevalence of 43%. Using multivariable logistic regression analysis, a simple CPR performance calibration system was developed which included three factors: age ≥ three years (1 point), female sex (1 point), non-ambulatory status (Gross Motor Function Classification System (GMFCS) levels IV and V) (2 points). The discriminative ability of the CPR, evaluated using the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AuROC), was 0.776 (95%CI: 0.668-0.884) and the calibration curve showed acceptable performance in both the development and the internal validation models.
CONCLUSIONS Our diagnostic CPR for predicting hip subluxation/dislocation in patients with CP provides acceptable discriminative and calibration performance. This CPR may be used to evaluate the risk of hip subluxation/dislocation in settings where hip radiography is not available. Further external validation studies are needed to confirm the robustness of the performance before applying this CPR in other clinical settings.
KEYWORDS cerebral palsy, hip subluxation, hip dislocation, clinical prediction rule
Endoscopic Placement of Sengstaken-Blakemore Tube Effectively Reduces Esophageal Rupture Resulting from Tube Malposition: A Propensity Score Analysis
Authors:   Department of Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, Chiang Mai University, Thailand, Sanmee Suwan , Limpakan (Yamada) Sirikan ,   Department of Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, Chiang Mai University, Thailand, Ko-iam Wasana ,   Department of Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, Chiang Mai University, Thailand, Chakrabandhu Bandhuphat ,   Department of Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, Chiang Mai University, Thailand
Published: February 2025

OBJECTIVE This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of endoscopically assisted Sengstaken-Blakemore tube placement in reducing the tube malposition rate and resulting complications.
METHODS Data was collected on 45 patients with massive esophageal variceal bleeding who underwent Sengstaken-Blakemore tube placement between January 2011 and December 2017 at our institute. This retrospective study compared the malposition rate, complication rate, and treatment outcome between the conventional blind technique (n = 28) and the endoscopically assisted technique (n = 17), using propensity score analysis to account for differences in baseline characteristics.
RESULTS The rate of malpositioning of the Sengstaken-Blakemore tubes was significantly higher in the conventional blind technique group, while there were no incidents of malpositioning in the endoscopically assisted technique group (25% vs. 0%; p = 0.034). All cases of tube malpositioning in the conventional blind technique group resulted in esophageal perforation, while no perforation occurred in the endoscopically assisted group. The propensity score analysis showed that endoscopic placement was significantly better than the conventional method for esophageal rupture (adjusted RR = 0.78, 95% CI = 0.68–0.91, p = 0.002), but not significantly better for death rate (adjusted RR = 0.68, 95% CI = 0.38–1.21, p = 0.186).
CONCLUSIONS Endoscopic-assisted Sengstaken-Blakemore tube placement can effectively reduce esophageal ruptures resulting from tube malpositioning.
KEYWORDS endoscopic assistance, malposition rate, Sengstaken-Blakemore tube
Bibliometric Analysis of bilig from 2008 to 2022
Authors: Kocasavaş Yıldız , Aşkın Balcı Hülya , Özcivanoğlu Selen
Published: February 2025

This study aims to analyse the bibliometric characteristics of 686 research articles published between 2008 and 2022 in bilig, which was published in 1996 and indexed by the Social Sciences Citation Index since 2008. Within the scope of the study, co-authorship, countries, and authorship trends in the context of institutional network analysis were examined and citation analysis was carried out. The methodology of the study consists of content and citation analysis. VOSviewer, a software tool, was used to create and visualise bibliometric networks. As a result of the analyses, it was seen that most of the studies published in bilig were in Turkish, and in terms of the number of authors, single-author articles were found the most. In the evaluation made according to the institutions, it was seen that the most contributions were made by researchers from Hacettepe University, Gazi University and Ankara University. It was determined that the studies in the journal were on literature, art, history, international relations and political science, linguistics, culture, sociology, economy, entrepreneurship, education, migration, geography, religion, management, communication, and technology. It was found that the most cited publication was the study on communication published in 2010.
Debates on the Emergence of Islam in Bengal through the Arab-Turkish Existence
Authors: Fuad Abdur Rahman
Published: February 2025

This research focuses on two main topics. The first is the lack of attention to the emergence of Islam in Bengal, according to this study. The second concern is the early interactions of Muslim Arabs and Turks with the Bengal region. When analysing the initial entry of these two groups into the area and their subsequent activities, it is observed that they differ vastly. Before the advent of Islam, Arabs were accustomed to travelling to various regions, including Bengal, for trade purposes. Over time, Arab traders expanded their commercial activities with Bengal ports and contributed to spreading Islam. On the other hand, Central Asian Turks also attempted to connect the Bengal region to themselves through various activities over time. Therefore, there is a need for more in-depth research on this subject. Methodologically, this research evaluates historical arguments and narratives through qualitative research. Moreover, this study relies primarily on secondary sources in Bangla and English. Where necessary, classical Arabic sources will also be taken into consideration. In this way, the research offers a unique perspective.
Dynamic Interrelationships among Energy Prices, Exchange Rates, and Inflation: An Empirical Analysis for the Turkic Republics
Authors: Batmaz Türker
Published: February 2025

The dynamic interrelationships among energy, goods and financial markets in Eurasian economies are not empirically analyzed, yet; and this study attempts to handle this gap in the literature. It examines the dynamic interrelationships for energy (oil and natural gas) prices, inflation rate, and exchange rate in Türkiye, Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, and Uzbekistan, covering the period from January 2010 to April 2022, by means of the Toda and Yamamoto approach to Granger causality, impulse-response functions, and variance decompositions. The empirical findings unveil that (i) inflation is mainly driven by natural gas prices, (ii) oil prices cause inflation through natural gas prices, (iii) the exchange rate pass-through to inflation seems country-specific, and (iv) there is a weak dependence between energy prices and exchange rates. Accounting for smooth structural breaks in causality analysis based on the Fourier Toda-Yamamoto approach reinforces these findings.
JEL codes: C10, O1, Q43
Forecasting on Closing Stock Price Data Using Fuzzy Time Series
Authors: Subanti Sri , Rahmaningrum Asti
Published: February 2025

The stock prices move up and down during trading time which is obtained from time series data. Investors need to estimate the fluctuation of stock prices in the future day to make the best investment decision. Fuzzy time series can be used as an alternative by investors in making stock price predictions. The advantage of this forecasting method compared to others is that it can formulate a problem based on expert knowledge or empirical data. This research aims to apply fuzzy time series in estimating the future value of closing stock price on the LQ45 Index. Three different methods will be applied to the data which are Chen, Lee, and Cheng. The data of the LQ45 Index will be obtained during the period of January, 4th until April 30th, 2021. The LQ45 index is chosen by many investors because it has high returns. All three model were applied and has a different rule in the calculation stage. The results show that all three models give different forecasting values and different performance of accuracy. The Lee method has the lowest values of accuracy, meanwhile the Cheng method has the highest value of accuracy. It can be concluded that Lee method is the best model indicated by the lowest value of RMSE, MAD, and MAPE for estimating the closing stock price of the LQ45 index.
Estimator Cramer Von Mises bagi Parameter Distribusi Kumaraswamy-Lindley
Authors: Saputra Bagus Arya , Rafsanjani Zani Anjani
Published: February 2025

The Kumaraswamy-Lindley (KL) distribution is a combination of the Lindley distribution and the Kumaraswamy distribution. The KL distribution is widely used to examine lifetime data. The importance of the application of the KL distribution in explaining lifetime data makes it necessary to estimate distribution parameters well. Therefore, this research will discuss the Cramer Von Mises Estimator (ECM) for the Kumaraswamy-Lindley distribution parameters. The formula for the ECM is obtained and the simulation is carried out using the same initial parameters with different generation sample sizes. The simulation results show that for the same initial parameters, estimation with a larger sample size has better results.
Comparing Monthly Rainfall Prediction in West Sumatra Using SARIMA, ETS, LSTM, and XGBoosting Methods
Authors: Aslam Fadhil Muhammad , Afghani Fadhli Aslama
Published: February 2025

The West Sumatra Province, serving as the trading center on the island of Sumatra, and boasting various attractive tourist destinations, is not immune to incidents of high precipitation leading to hydro-meteorological disasters such as floods and landslides. Therefore, the accurate prediction of monthly rainfall is crucial to minimize the impacts of high precipitation. This research aims to determine the best method for predicting monthly rainfall using data from 1992 to 2022, which can adequately represent its climatological conditions. The results indicate that the Extreme Gradient Boosting method outperforms the Seasonal Autoregressive Integrated Moving Average (SARIMA), Exponential Smoothing (ETS), and Long Short-Term Memory (LSTM) methods in West Sumatra Province, represented by three weather observation points from the BMKG (Climatology Station of West Sumatra, Maritime Meteorology Station of Teluk Bayur, and Minangkabau Meteorology Station). This method exhibits the lowest error values and the strongest correlation between predicted and actual data. This is evident from the Nash-Sutcliffe Efficiency (NSE) values, which are 0.188214535, 0.613823746, and 0.545734162 (unsatisfactory-satisfactory), as well as the obtained correlation values of 0.472103386, 0.795586268, and 0.743002591 (moderate-strong). However, this method is unable to perfectly capture outlier values. These outliers arise as a result of unusual conditions, such as natural disasters or climate changes, and atmospheric phenomena like El Niño-Southern Oscillation (ENSO) and Indian Ocean Dipole (IOD), leading to exceptionally high or low precipitation.
Peramalan Ekspor Migas di Indonesia Menggunakan Pendekatan Seasonal Autoregressive Integrated Moving Average with Exogenous (SARIMAX)
Authors: Nurhasanah Eka , Sukmawaty Yuana , Maisarah Maisarah
Published: February 2025

Based on Republic of Indonesia Law No. 22 of 2001, oil and natural gas are vital commodities that play an important role in the country's economy. However, the export of Indonesian oil and gas has been fluctuating, making it necessary to have a strategic plan to prevent minimal exports in the future. This planning can be initiated by first gathering the necessary information. The aim of this research is to forecast oil and gas exports in Indonesia using the best possible model. The data used include the value and volume of Indonesian oil and gas exports. The method begins with determining the ARIMA model, followed by incorporating seasonal elements. ARIMA and SARIMA modeling will tentatively include exogenous variables. Subsequently, parameter estimation, significance tests, diagnostic tests, and the determination of the best model are performed. The research findings indicate that the best model is SARIMAX (1,1,0)(0,1,1)12. The forecast results show that the value of Indonesia's oil and gas exports will continue to increase until July 2024, followed by a and slow down after that. It is hoped that the government can prepare sufficient supply for export to prevent a deficit during that period.
Analisis Spasial Kemiskinan di Pulau Jawa Tahun 2022 dengan Metode Geographically Weighted Regression (GWR)
Authors: Eliezer Wisly Ryan
Published: February 2025

Poverty is a multifaceted problem that poses a challenge for developing countries across the world, including Indonesia. Poverty is one of the global and national obligations stated in the first Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), namely "Without Poverty". This study seeks to examine the factors that determine poverty in Java in 2022 while accounting for regional effects. Geographically Weighted Regression (GWR) is the methodology employed. The findings revealed that geographic/spatial characteristics had a substantial impact on poverty rates, and the GWR model generated a more accurate assessment measure than the global model. The structure of the parameters varies by location, with the variable coefficients of the health, salary, and credit indicators fluctuating, whilst the coefficients of the Education and Inflation Indicators remain similar throughout districts and cities. The government must implement proper measures to eliminate poverty not just nationally, but also in each district/city in Indonesia, particularly on Java Island. Policies might include improving human resources in education and health, monetary policies to sustain market pricing and determine minimum salaries, and policies to infuse credit assistance money into people's companies.

Keywords: poverty, Geographically Weighted Regression (GWR), spatial analysis
Analisis Faktor-Faktor Penyebab Inflasi di Indonesia Menggunakan Regresi Ridge, LASSO, dan Elastic-Net
Authors: Khoirunissa Husna Afanyn , Wijaya Andreas Rony , Isnaini Bayutama , Ferawati Kiki
Published: February 2025

The economic condition of a country can be measured using one of the indicators, the inflation rate. Therefore, the inflation needs to be maintained so that its rate can be controlled. To support this, it is necessary to pay attention to several factors that influence the inflation rate. These factors include the amount of exports, imports, narrow money (M1), broad money (M2), the rupiah exchange rate against the USD, interest rates, rice prices in wholesale trade, farmer exchange rates (NTP), world crude oil prices, bank investment credit, GDP, and foreign exchange reserves. In this study, we analyze the significant factors influencing the inflation rate in Indonesia using the best model of the Ridge regression, LASSO regression, and Elastic-Net methods. In this modeling, the γ and λ values from the three methods are optimized first. The data used in this study consist of inflation data in Indonesia and its factors for 2020-2024, sourced from the BPS. Among the three high-dimensional data methods, the LASSO regression is the best method with the smallest MSE for modeling inflation data in Indonesia. The LASSO regression model produces 8 predictor variables that significantly influence inflation data, i.e., imports, M1, interest rates, and world crude oil prices with positive coefficient signs, as well as rice price variables in wholesale trade, NTP, GDP, and foreign exchange reserves with negative coefficient signs.

Keywords: inflation; ridge regression; lasso regression; elastic-net.
Electric-field tuned second harmonic generation in twisted bilayer graphene
Authors: Yang Guang , Yu Lianmeng , Fu Zhaoming , Yang Peizhi , Feng Xiaobo
Published: February 2025

We report our theoretical investigation into both the twist angle-dependent and the electric field-controlled second harmonic generation (SHG) effect in twisted bilayer graphene (tBLG) based on the four-band continuum model and independent-particle approximation. This analytical theory provides a quantitative explanation for the twist angle-dependent SHG effect observed in noncentrosymmetric tBLG, as reported in [Matter 3, 1361 (2020)10.1016/j.matt.2020.08.018], which represents a groundbreaking exploration introducing the twisting degree of freedom into nonlinear optics. Due to the one-photon and two-photon resonant transitions as well as the strong interlayer coupling, the SHG susceptibility of tBLG, which primarily stemmed from interband transitions, can reach up to 103 pm2/V and increases as the twist angle decreases. Additionally, the application of an external electric field can boost the SHG susceptibility by at least one order of magnitude and effectively tune both the magnitude and the positions of the absorption peak with wider range by manipulating the movement of Dirac cones and van Hove singularities. These findings provide valuable insights for the design and implementation of optoelectronic devices with wide-band tunability and high-performance.
Terahertz difference frequency generation in a longitudinally coupled LNOI/CPS waveguide: an analytical approach
Authors: Ghahremani Amin , Neshat Mohammad , Shaterzadeh-Yazdi Zahra
Published: February 2025

To enable various important applications of terahertz (THz) technology, sources that are compact, low-cost, highly efficient, and tunable at room temperature are needed. THz-guided sources can provide an optimal platform for such features along with on-chip integrability. We analytically investigate the THz difference frequency generation in a longitudinally coupled lithium niobate on insulator (LNOI) and coplanar stripline (CPS) waveguides. The nonlinear interaction of two guided lasers inside the optical LNOI waveguide is modeled as a traveling-wave induced current density, generated due to the second-order nonlinear susceptibility of the lithium niobate. Such current density with THz difference frequency acts as an impressed source for terahertz generation that is coupled to the CPS as a guided wave. A semi-analytical approach, based on distributed-source transmission line theory, is applied to calculate terahertz signal power coupled to the CPS transmission line. In such an approach, the multilayer spectral domain method and complex-image technique are employed to compute the voltage induced along the CPS. We design a guided source structure that satisfies the modal phase-matching condition for efficient terahertz wave generation at 3 THz as a demonstration. The analytically obtained results are verified against full-wave simulations with excellent agreement. Our proposed model is general and can be used for fast design and optimization of a wide range of THz-guided sources based on the optical-to-terahertz conversion principle.
Interpreting S-parameter spectra in coupled resonant systems: the role of probing configurations
Authors: Wang Jiongjie , Xiao Jiang
Published: February 2025

The S-parameter S21 is widely used to characterize the resonant properties of various systems. However, we demonstrate that the reliability of S21 as a true indicator of system resonances depends heavily on the specific probing setup employed. While point-probe or weak probes preserve the integrity of the S21 spectrum and accurately reflect system resonances, multi-point and strong probes can introduce significant discrepancies. These discrepancies can manifest as misleading features such as repulsive level anti-crossing or attractive level crossing, even in fundamentally uncoupled systems. This highlights the critical importance of selecting appropriate probing techniques to ensure a precise evaluation of system resonances.
Learning enhanced dual-wavelength digital holography for measuring large-height complex step samples
Authors: Han Xianxin , Wang Yuheng , Bu Zhengyang , Yuan Zixin , Wu Yuwang , Wu Xilong , Liu Shengde , Zhong Liyun , Lu Xiaoxu
Published: February 2025

Nanometer-to-micron multi-step complex structures are widely used in precision manufacturing. Accurate and rapid measurement of these large-height complex step samples is crucial for product quality control and the development of manufacturing technologies. However, conventional optical interferometry methods face challenges, such as time consumption, high noise levels, or system complexity, due to the simultaneous requirement for high accuracy and large measurement range when applied to such samples. To solve these problems, we propose a learning-enhanced dual-wavelength digital holography (LeDWDH) based on the Y-Net. Dual-wavelength digital holography provides a sufficient measurement range for the maximum step height of the sample using only a single dual-wavelength multiplexed interferogram. The two wrapped phases obtained from dual-wavelength digital holography serve as the input of the Y-Net, while the 3D morphology obtained from scanning white light interferometry acts as the label. A two-to-one Y-Net is trained to establish the relationship between them, resulting in a LeDWDH that overcomes the trade-off between high accuracy and a large measurement range. When measuring complex step samples with step heights of 75 nm, 1 μm, and 5 μm, the measurement errors for each step are all less than 10 nm, demonstrating that the proposed method achieves both high precision and a large measurement range for large-height complex step samples. In particular, the proposed method uses only one frame dual-wavelength multiplexed interferogram, which greatly simplifies the measurement system and provides a new strategy for dynamic measurement of such samples.
Viewing angle controller based on dual hybrid alignment nematic cells for automotive co-driver displays
Authors: Lin Ruolong , Zhou Zihan , Chen Sibo , Zhang Chi , Ma Hongmei , Sun Yubao
Published: February 2025

We proposed a viewing angle controller (VAC) for automotive co-driver displays (CDDs). This VAC, integrated with the CDD, provides essential information to the co-driver while minimizing distractions for the driver. It consists of two hybrid alignment nematic (HAN) liquid crystal cells, two -C films, and two polarizers. The simulation and experimental results demonstrate that the VAC enables a narrow 35° viewing angle under low voltage, effectively blocking light directed toward the driver while allowing for a wider viewing angle under high-voltage conditions. This VAC ensures excellent light transmission at normal viewing angles and symmetrical viewing angle characteristics in both privacy and shared modes. Compared to previous studies, the device has reduced light leakage at large polar angles while obtaining a narrow viewing angle, lower drive voltage, and good compatibility with LCD and OLED displays. This VAC can deliver entertainment content for the co-driver while ensuring the driver’s safety.
Optimizing AR waveguide structures to enhance imaging quality
Authors: Yeh Chia-Hung , Tang Ju-Yu
Published: February 2025

Optical waveguides represent a foundational technology in the field of augmented reality (AR). Through the use of grating structures, they redirect light pathways, enabling virtual images to be projected into the user's line of sight and seamlessly integrated with the real environment, thereby producing realistic augmented visual effects. Current advancements in optical waveguide technology are focused on enhancing optical performance, including improvements in transparency, minimization of color distortion, expansion of the field of view, and optimization of screen uniformity. This study focuses on the optical waveguide structure of augmented reality (AR) as the primary research subject. Grating and exit pupil expander (EPE) models were established, and three different algorithms—particle swarm optimization (PSO), evolutionary algorithm (EA), and step-descent Iteration (SDI)—were applied for model simulation and optimization. The optimization outcomes were integrated with the lens structure to identify a design that achieves optimal uniformity, aiming to enhance the imaging quality of AR glasses. The findings reveal that optimizing the lens structure resulted in the best field of view (FOV) at 30°, with SDI emerging as the most effective optimization method. The SDI-based design demonstrated superior uniformity and visual performance, improving uniformity by 86.66% and total energy efficiency by 79.13% compared to the original design.
Capturing continuous, long timescale behavioral changes in Drosophila melanogaster postural data
Authors: McKenzie-Smith Grace C. , Wolf Scott W. , Ayroles Julien F. , Shaevitz Joshua W.
Published: February 2025

Animal behavior spans many timescales, from short, seconds-scale actions to daily rhythms over many hours to life-long changes during aging. To access longer timescales of behavior, we continuously recorded individual Drosophila melanogaster at 100 frames per second for up to 7 days at a time in featureless arenas on sucrose-agarose media. We use the deep learning framework SLEAP to produce a full-body postural dataset for 47 individuals resulting in nearly 2 billion pose instances. We identify stereotyped behaviors such as grooming, proboscis extension, and locomotion and use the resulting ethograms to explore how the flies’ behavior varies across time of day and days in the experiment. We find distinct daily patterns in all stereotyped behaviors, adding specific information about trends in different grooming modalities, proboscis extension duration, and locomotion speed to what is known about the D. melanogaster circadian cycle. Using our holistic measurements of behavior, we find that the hour after dawn is a unique time point in the flies’ daily pattern of behavior, and that the behavioral composition of this hour tracks well with other indicators of health such as locomotion speed and the fraction of time spend moving vs. resting. The method, data, and analysis presented here give us a new and clearer picture of D. melanogaster behavior across timescales, revealing novel features that hint at unexplored underlying biological mechanisms.
Simulation-based validation of a method to detect changes in SARS-CoV-2 reinfection risk
Authors: Lombard Belinda , Moultrie Harry , Pulliam Juliet R.C. , van Schalkwyk Cari
Published: February 2025

Given the high global seroprevalence of SARS-CoV-2, understanding the risk of reinfection has become increasingly important. Models developed to track trends in reinfection risk should be robust against possible biases arising from imperfect data observation processes. We performed simulation-based validation of an existing catalytic model designed to detect changes in the risk of reinfection by SARS-CoV-2. The catalytic model assumes the risk of reinfection is proportional to observed infections. Validation involved using simulated primary infections, consistent with the number of observed infections in South Africa. To assess the performance of the catalytic model, we simulated reinfection datasets that incorporated different processes that may bias inference, including imperfect observation and mortality. A Bayesian approach was used to fit the model to simulated data, assuming a negative binomial distribution around the expected number of reinfections, and model projections were compared to the simulated data using different magnitudes of change in reinfection risk. We assessed the model’s ability to accurately detect changes in reinfection risk when included in the simulations, as well as the occurrence of false positives when reinfection risk remained constant. The model parameters converged in most scenarios leading to model outputs aligning with anticipated outcomes. The model successfully detected changes in the risk of reinfection when such a change was introduced to the data. Low observation probabilities (10%) of both primary- and reinfections resulted in low numbers of observed cases from the simulated data and poor convergence. The model’s performance was assessed on simulated data representative of the South African SARS-CoV-2 epidemic, reflecting its timing of waves and outbreak magnitude. Model performance under similar scenarios may be different in settings with smaller epidemics (and therefore smaller numbers of reinfections). Ensuring model parameter convergence is essential to avoid false-positive detection of shifts in reinfection risk. While the model is robust in most scenarios of imperfect observation and mortality, further simulation-based validation for regions experiencing smaller outbreaks is recommended. Caution must be exercised in directly extrapolating results across different epidemiological contexts without additional validation efforts.
Diagnostic, prognostic, and therapeutic potentials of gut microbiome profiling in human schistosomiasis: A comprehensive systematic review
Authors: Oyono Martin Gael , Kenmoe Sebastien , Ebogo Belobo Jean Thierry , Mbah Ntepe Leonel Javeres , Kameni Mireille , Kamguia Leonel Meyo , Mpotje Thabo , Nono Justin Komguep
Published: February 2025

Background

Several studies have highlighted alteration in the gut microbiome associated with the onset and progression of diseases. Recognizing the potential of gut microbiota as biomarkers, this systematic review seeks to synthesize current data on the intricate relationship between the host gut microbiome profiles and their usefulness for the development of diagnostic, prognostic and therapeutic approaches to control human schistosomiasis.

Methods

A systematic literature review was carried out by searching for relevant studies published until date, that is May 2024, using Medline, Embase, Global Health, Web of Science, and Global Index Medicus databases. The keywords used to select articles were "Gut microbiome", "Gut Microbiota", "Schistosomiasis", "Bilharziasis ", and "Human". Extracted data were analysed qualitatively from the selected articles.

Results

Of the 885 articles retrieved and screened, only 13 (1.47%) met the inclusion criteria and were included in this review. Of the included studies, 6 (46.2%) explored alterations of gut microbiome in schistosome-infected patients, 4 (30.7%) in patients with liver pathologies, and 3 (23.1%) in patients treated with praziquantel. Bacteria from the genera Bacteroides, Faecalibacterium, Blautia and Megasphaera were associated with S. japonicum and S. haematobium infection in school-aged children, whereas infection with S. mansoni rather associated with Klebsiella and Enterobacter. The gut microbiota signature in patient with schistosomiasis-induced liver pathology was reported only for S. japonicum, and the genus Prevotella appeared as a non-invasive biomarker of S. japonicum-associated liver fibrosis. For S. mansoni-infected school-aged children, it further appeared that the treatment outcome following praziquantel administration associated with the abundance in the gut microbiome of bacteria from the classes Fusobacteriales, Rickettsiales and Neisseriales.

Conclusion

The host gut microbiome appears to be a valuable, non-invasive, but still poorly utilized, source of host biomarkers potentially informative for better diagnosing, prognosing and treating schistosomiasis. Further studies are therefore needed to comprehensively define such gut microbial biomarkers of human schistosomiasis and catalyse the informed development of gut microbiome-based tools of schistosomiasis control.
Vector borne disease control interventions in agricultural and irrigation areas in sub-Saharan Africa: A systematic review
Authors: Kalitsilo Levi , Abdullahi Leila , Mbeye Nyanyiwe , Mwandira Lily , Hara Hleziwe , Mitambo Collins , Oronje Rose
Published: February 2025

Irrigation farming has raised concerns about the steady transmission and introduction of new vector-borne infectious diseases (VBD) in the areas involved. This systematic review aimed to determine interventions that are effective for the management and control of VBDs in irrigation areas in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). We searched the literature on VBD interventions in SSA from published and grey literature without specifying the publication year. A search strategy identified 7768 records from various databases, and after screening, 16 were included in the final analysis. Results showed various VBD control interventions were effective, including indoor residue spray (IRS), insect-treated nets (ITN), larva source management (LSM), mass drug administration (MDA), integrated vector management (IVM), and mollusciciding. IVM was commonly practiced, and its success was because of the complementarity of the various interventions involved. Successful VBD control interventions led to improved health amongst irrigation communities and consequently improved agricultural productivity. However, some challenges to these interventions were identified, which include seasonal changes and climate variability, insecticide and drug resistance, and farmers’ attitudes toward accepting the interventions. Regardless, results showed that VBD control and management can be integrated into irrigation farming before or after the establishment of the irrigation scheme.
Mortality among sexual and gender minority populations: A systematic review
Authors: Zachry Corinne E. , O’Brien Rory P. , Clark Kirsty A. , Ding Marissa L. , Blosnich John R.
Published: February 2025

Sexual and gender minority (SGM) populations experience elevated rates of negative health outcomes (e.g., suicidality) and social determinants (e.g., poverty), which have been associated with general population mortality risk. Despite evidence of disparities in threats to well-being, it remains unclear whether SGM individuals have greater risk of mortality. This systematic review synthesized evidence on mortality among studies that included information about SGM. Three independent coders examined 6,255 abstracts, full-text reviewed 107 articles, and determined that 38 met inclusion criteria: 1) contained a sexual orientation or gender identity (SOGI) measure; 2) focused on a mortality outcome; 3) provided SGM vs non-SGM (i.e., exclusively heterosexual and cisgender) or general population comparisons of mortality outcomes; 4) were peer-reviewed; and 5) were available in English. A search of included articles’ references yielded 5 additional studies (total n = 43). The authors used the NIH’s Quality Assessment Tool for Observational Cohort and Cross-Sectional Studies to assess included studies. Mortality outcomes included all-cause (n = 27), suicide/intentional self harm (n = 23), homicide (n = 7), and causes related to drug use (n = 3). Compared to non-SGM people, 14 studies (32.6%) supported higher mortality for SGM, 28 studies (65.1%) provided partial support of higher mortality for SGM (e.g., greater mortality from one cause but not another), one study (2.3%) found no evidence of higher mortality for SGM. There was considerable heterogeneity in operational definitions of SGM populations across studies. Although mixed, findings suggest elevated mortality for SGM versus non-SGM populations. Integrating SOGI measures into mortality surveillance would enhance understanding of disparities by standardizing data collection, thereby reducing heterogeneity and increasing capacity to aggregate results (e.g., meta-analyses).
Unique North American isolates of severe metastatic hypervirulent Klebsiella pneumoniae strain infections with hepatic abscesses seen in young patients within Texas
Authors: Alam Junaid M. , Riha Eric N. , Ahmed Haris , Thai Hong M. , Garnepudi Kevin , Kesavan Ramesh B. , Jayaraman Gnananandh , Sangster Anna , Curry Dylan , Butz Heidi A. , Smith Lori , Vowles Maureen , Oakeson Kelly F. , Young Erin L. , Sarva Siva T.
Published: February 2025

Rationale

Hypervirulent Klebsiella pneumoniae (hvKp) infections have principally been identified in Asia. Within a two-month period, two patients between the ages of 30 to 50 years old presented to a tertiary referral hospital in Texas with septic shock, hepatic abscess, and septic thrombophlebitis. Blood cultures were positive for Klebsiella pneumoniae (isolates 2020CK-00441 and 2021CK-00720 respectively). The first patient survived after a prolonged hospital course while the second patient expired.

Objectives

Describe the clinical presentation of these two patients. Perform whole genome sequencing and bioinformatic analysis to evaluate potential outbreak of specific hvKp bacteria isolates.

Methods

Whole genome sequencing was performed using both paired-end Illumina MiSeq and nanopore sequencing to obtain a Completed genome for both isolates.

Main results

2020CK-00441 belonged to ST23 type while 2021CK-00720 was a ST65 type isolate. Kleborate analyses predicted with high confidence both isolates were hvKp. Phylogenetic analyses showed the two strains are not closely related to each other nor to any known hvKp isolates reported. Both isolates had yersiniabactin, colibactin, aerobactin and salmochelin producing loci which likely confer these isolates hvKp phenotype. 2020CK-00441 and 2021CK-00720 had a unique pK2044 like plasmid.

Conclusions

HvKp strains capable of causing devastating metastatic septic infections have emerged in Texas. These isolates are unique compared to other hvKp strains globally. Country-wide surveillance and whole genome sequencing of these strains is essential to prevent a major public health emergency in the USA.