bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
NUMERICAL SIMULATION ON IMPACT MONITORING OF COMPOSITE STRUCTURES BASED ON PIEZOELECTRIC SENSORS
Authors: DENG DESHUANG , ZHANG SONG , YANG LEI , WU ZHANJUN
Published: March 2022

In order to verify the effectiveness of the numerical method in composite structure impact monitoring based on piezoelectric sensor, a three-dimensional finite element model of composite plate impact monitoring based on piezoelectric sensor is established, and the whole process of composite plate punch impact is simulated. Firstly, the propagation process of the stress wave is analyzed, and then the impact piezoelectric response of the sensor obtained by numerical simulation is compared with the experimental results. Both the time domain and frequency domain characteristics of the signal are consistent with experiment. The effects of different impact energy on the piezoelectric response of the sensor are also studied. In the elastic range, there is a linear relationship between the impact energy and the piezoelectric signal. Besides, the greater the energy, the earlier the arrival time of the wave, but the frequency bandwidth of the signal has not changed. In addition, it is found that the electrical signal of the piezoelectric sensor is the same as the Z-direction strain signal after normalized. Finally, the generation mechanism of the impact piezoelectric signal is revealed by using the axisymmetric finite element model of aluminum plate impact monitoring.
APPLICATION OF SHORT TIME FOUIER TRANSFORM IN STEADINESS INDEX OF RUNNING PASSENGER CAR
Authors: HUIWEN PANG , WANXIU TENG
Published: March 2022

The paper introduces steadiness evaluation indexes for running passenger car in relation to vibration data, which are non-stationary signals that its statistic characteristics vary with time and calculated by Sperling formula. Then joint time– frequency analysis is used for the post-processing of the vibration signals during calculation. The classical Fast Fourier Transformation has been applied to acceleration data in railway vehicles in order to evaluate the running steadiness performance of passenger car, but cannot provide connection between the frequency domain and the time domain. Nowadays the power of data analysis tools like the Short Time Fourier Transformation is well known and spread. It cannot only provide the characterization of the vibration signals in frequency domain, but also any information on how the frequency changes over time. As an example, the running steadiness evaluation indexes of passenger car are given for the dynamic test in the Haerbin—Dalian special passenger transport railway line. Experimental results show that the approach of Short Time Fourier Transformation can be used both to evaluate the quality of running steadiness of passenger car, and to analyze the structure of the acceleration signals generated by trains.
RESEARCH AND APPLICATION OF DYNAMIC MONITORING OF WHEELSET STATE OF EMU
Authors: LU KAI , ZHAO HAOJIE
Published: March 2022

The wheelset and axle box composition is one of the most important components of the high-speed EMU bogie system, and its health determines the safety of the EMU's operation. This paper studies the construction of the PHM system and model, collects and processes the data of each subsystem, dynamically monitors the parameter changes and health status of the wheelset and axle box, and realizes the over-limit parameter judgment and warning based on the development trend of convection data. The mining and data fusion can detect abnormal situations in time and take measures to ensure operational safety and prolong the service life of running parts. Case studies have shown that trend judgment based on data comparison and information mining based on data fusion can find faults and anomalies in a timely and effective manner, and realize fault prediction and health management.
El kitsch y su ambigua negatividad
Authors: Rodríguez Venegas Mara , Romero Rojas Xiomara
Published: March 2022

En este texto se analiza el fenómeno del kitsch y su polémica negatividad. Para ello, cuestiona ¿en qué consiste la negatividad del kitsch? ¿en qué medida podría considerarse ambivalente? ¿qué lugar han ocupado prácticas artísticas como el Pop art en este proceso? Para ello partimos del análisis del kitsch dentro de la cultura y después en este movimiento artístico, como indicio que evalúa su sesgo negativo devenido en sí ambivalente
Belleza, kitsch y crítica. Por qué una obra no debe ser interpretada
Authors: Pamparacuatro Martín Javier
Published: March 2022

El ideal romántico de belleza se revela muy problemático por su cercanía al kitsch. Hermann Broch teorizó sobre esta tesis y concluyó que el kitsch romántico encarnaba el antivalor no solo estético, sino también moral. Partiendo de estos supuestos, el presente artículo se propone mostrar que la crítica orientada a la interpretación de las obras de arte en clave simbólica o de contenidos pertenece a ese sistema kitsch. El artículo desarrolla ciertas implicaciones de las tesis anti-interpretación que Sontag y Barthes, entre otros, propusieron hace décadas. La conclusión es que la crítica ha de superar la conmoción romántica y su ideal de belleza, si quiere seguir siendo auténticamente tal.
La pintura de Manolo Millares desde la estética negativa de Adorno
Authors: Rivero Gómez Miguel Ángel
Published: March 2022

Los caminos del arte y la estética a veces se cruzan, a pesar incluso de ellas mismas. Puede suceder así que un teórico como Adorno, poco amigo del arte abstracto, encuentre una suerte de encarnación de su estética negativa en un pintor como Manolo Millares, cuya obra se desenvolvió en el territorio de la abstracción informal. Sobre esta hipótesis vamos a trabajar aquí, para ver en qué medida la obra del artista canario puede responder plásticamente a ciertos aspectos de la estética negativa de Adorno. Sería el caso de su concepto del “arte auténtico” como “negación”, próximo a la voluntad de “destrucción” de Millares, o de la tesitura paradójica donde ambos sitúan al arte en la segunda mitad del siglo XX, entre la necesidad de testimoniar y la imposibilidad de comunicar tanto horror y tanta violencia.
La "Piscine" de Jacques Deray y "Swimming pool" de François Ozon. Dos versiones libres de la "Odisea" en el cine francés
Authors: Canalís Hernández Òscar
Published: March 2022

En La Piscine, film dirigido en 1969 por Jacque Deray, Harry (Ulises) regresa a SaintTropez a bordo de su nave, representada por un Masseratti, y se reencuentra con Marianne (Penélope) que ahora es la pareja de Jean-Paul, un antiguo amigo de Harry. Como en La Odisea, Harry se demora en su largo viaje entreteniéndose en diversas relaciones. Inversamente a la historia original, el “pretendiente” sobrevive a Ulises. Swimming Pool, película dirigida en 2003 por François Ozon que podemos considerar una nueva versión de la eterna aventura homérica, ofrece un interesante desplazamiento de roles: En la casa-isla quien espera es una escritora. Es Penélope la que va tejiendo la propia historia que presenciamos y por lo tanto es Homero a la vez. En lugar de Ulises quien vuelve es Julia, la hija del dueño de la casa, y ella es la que acaba eliminando a uno de sus propios “pretendientes”
Los discos-tapadera cerámicos de Peña Negra (Crevillent, Alicante) y su problemática en la península ibérica durante el Hierro Antiguo.
Authors: Lorrio Alvarado Alberto José , Pastor Quiles María , del Pino Curbelo Miguel , Martínez Mira Isidro
Published: March 2022

Se analiza un conjunto de tres discos de cerámica procedentes de los niveles del Hierro Antiguo de Peña Negra. Presentan diferentes acabados y estarían provistos de asas, por lo que deben interpretarse como tapaderas de grandes recipientes de almacenaje. Se ha realizado el estudio petrográfico y mineralógico mediante microdifracción de rayos X (µDRX). Los resultados indican que se trata de piezas de composición relativamente homogénea y de probable producción local, cocidas a baja temperatura. Se revisa el hallazgo de objetos similares en otros contextos del Hierro Antiguo, destacando los recuperados en el Noreste peninsular y el Valle del Ebro, donde además se localizan discos-tapadera realizados en yeso similares a dos ejemplares recuperados en Peña Negra, donde es un material frecuente empleado en la construcción y en la fabricación de objetos.
Muros, turres, portas faciendas coeravit. Remarks on the chronology of the foundation of Barcino.
Authors: Gasparini Valentino , López Gómez José Carlos
Published: March 2022

Recent research has significantly improved our knowledge about the foundation of the Roman city of Barcino (Barcelona, Spain). However, while these studies have collected some encouraging evidence for a late-Republican chronology, the Augustan chronology traditionally granted to this foundation (around B.C. 10) has not been questioned at all. This article aims to analyse old and new literary, epigraphic, topographic, architectural, and archaeological data, to recover the Caesarean chronology (around B.C. 45-44), which was previously defended from the middle of the 19th century through to the end of the 1970s, and to draw from this study some more general historical conclusions on the process of the romanization of Catalonia.
De Torregorda a Sancti Petri. Indicadores geoarqueológicos costeros e implicaciones para el estudio de la actividad pesquero-conservera de Gadir/Gades.
Authors: Sáez Romero Antonio Manuel , Belizón Aragón Ricardo , Carrero Ramírez Francisco , Martí Solano Josefa , Higueras-Milena Castellano Aurora
Published: March 2022

En 2009-2010 los sucesivos temporales acaecidos en el Golfo de Cádiz incidieron de forma significativa en la actual Playa de Camposoto (San Fernando, Cádiz), revelando nuevos indicios arqueológicos acerca de la existencia en ese sector de una chanca y un alfar de ánforas de época romana, y aportando información de interés para la reconstrucción de la paleocosta. Diversos materiales y restos de estructuras documentados tanto en Camposoto como en Torregorda sugerían la ubicación en la zona en época romana imperial de infraestructuras vinculadas a la industria de la salazón de pescado de Gades. Los temporales en los años 2016-2018 han dejado al descubierto indicadores mucho más numerosos y explícitos sobre estas instalaciones industriales y acerca de la evolución geomorfológica de la costa de este sector. El análisis tipológico de los objetos y la revisión de la topografía permiten plantear que desde época púnica se implantaron instalaciones con funciones pesqueras y conserveras, que alcanzaron una enorme envergadura entre época tardorrepublicana y la etapa altoimperial.
Are You What You Tweet? The Impact of Sentiment on Digital News Consumption and Social Media Sharing
Authors: Oh Hyelim , Goh Khim-Yong , Phan Tuan Q.
Published: March 2022

This study examines the impact of news content sentiment on digital news readership and social media sharing. Using econometric analyses and models estimated with rich clickstream data on online news readership and social media sharing data collected from Twitter, we find a differential effect of sentiment on news readership and sharing behaviors. Specifically, individuals are likely to read news articles with negative headline sentiment on the news website but tend to share articles with positive article sentiment on Twitter. Upon decomposition of news article sentiment, we find a contrasting positive author sentiment effect and a negative news topic valence effect on news readership. Interestingly, we uncover that an increase in a Twitter user’s followers leads to an increase in the Twitter user’s propensity to share positive-sentiment news articles. Overall, our findings affirm the coopetitive but complementary relationship between news websites and social media platforms. Our results also guide publishers to better craft their news content and manage social media presence to improve audience engagement and readership outcomes while preserving the agenda-setting ability of news media. Importantly, given the dichotomy between news reading and sharing behaviors, predicting individual behaviors based on social media opinions may need to be viewed with prudence.
UNIDADES DE PAISAGEM NA BACIA HIDROGRÁFICA DO RIO PACUÍ NO NORTE DE MINAS GERAIS
Authors: Almeida Maria Ivete Soares de
Published: March 2022

Esta pesquisa objetivou caracterizar as paisagens naturais da Bacia do Rio Pacuí e compreender sua influência nos tipos de uso do solo e nos impactos da ação antrópica. Os fundamentos teóricos desta pesquisa foram as grandes matrizes: os sistemas e as paisagens. Contou-se também com a revisão de outras perspectivas teóricas como: geossistemas, bacias hidrográficas, compartimentos de paisagens, geoecologia e unidades de paisagens. A metodologia aplicada para a representação da paisagem do Pacuí foi a cartografia de paisagens, com o auxílio do geoprocessamento. Neste sentido, foram utilizados os seguintes métodos de observação e técnicas: transectos, perfis geoecológicos, mapas temáticos e mapa síntese. Estas superfícies foram definidas levando em consideração o nível topográfico, e interação dos seguintes fatores: diferentes tipos litológicos; alternâncias climáticas, com períodos secos e úmidos que resultaram em aplainamentos e eventos de dissecação que proveram a abertura da Depressão do São Francisco, em função do controle estrutural do Rio e o entalhamento da rede de drenagem, através do encaixe de seus afluentes no período Pós-Cretáceo. O resultado de toda a análise da paisagem teve como produto final o mapa de de unidades da paisagem. Para tanto, a Bacia do Pacuí foi dividida em cinco compartimentos ou superfícies: Superfície Aplanada Cimeira, Superfície Ondulada 1, Superfície Aplanada em Rampa, Superfície Ondulada 2 e Superfície Flúvio-Lacustre. A situação atual da bacia não é das melhores. O mau uso dos seus recursos naturais, incluindo o de suas águas, tem contribuído para agilizar a degradação ambiental. A compartimentação em unidades proposta neste estudo permitiu identificar os principais impactos ambientais em cada unidade, sendo possível estabelecer áreas com prioridades para intervenção como topos de chapadas, áreas de vertentes e de rebordos. Possibilitou ainda, dentro de cada unidade, apontar as áreas com alto grau de antropização
DO PLANEJAMENTO REGIONAL ÀS POLÍTICAS TERRITORIAIS: PADRÕES TERRITORIAIS DA MOBILIZAÇÃO À CRISE DO TRABALHO
Authors: Leite Ana Carolina Gonçalves
Published: March 2022

Nesse artigo, propomos uma discussão acerca do sentido do planejamento regional que prevaleceu durante as décadas de 1960 e 1970, assim como das políticas territoriais recém-emergidas com o início do século XXI, mediante uma comparação entre ambos e a identificação dos padrões territoriais e de mobilidade do trabalho relativos a cada um. Desdobramos disso, a identificação do planejamento regional como expediente da mobilização do trabalho, forjada pela consecução de um processo de expropriação de sentido bastante abrangente, enquanto as políticas territoriais contemporâneas reproduziriam o confinamento como padrão territorial da crise do trabalho.
RENDA E PROPRIEDADE PRIVADA DA TERRA: UMA LEITURA SOBRE A REGULARIZAÇÃO FUNDIÁRIA NO ESTADO DO AMAPÁ - BRASIL
Authors: Lomba Roni Mayer , Da Silva Eliane Aparecida Cabral
Published: March 2022

O objetivo do trabalho é analisar as circunstâncias do processo de regularização fundiária no Amapá, na Amazônia Brasileira, que ainda (em tempos atuais) não se concretizou e está envolvido em diversos imbróglios sociais e jurídicos. Para efetivação da pesquisa, analisamos criticamente os percursos históricos, comparando a jurisdição federal e o que está aplicado no estado, os agentes envolvidos e os conflitos gerados. Concluiu-se que o Governo do Amapá, em todo seu processo geracional, foi impedido de gestar plenamente as terras de seu território, com a implantação de diversas fraturas destinadas à conservação da natureza; e em momentos recentes tem buscado, de forma contraditória, a regularização e destinação ao uso privado da terra (urbana e rural), gerando diversos tipos de conflitos.
Rhinosinusitis and its impact on quality of life in children
Authors: Ahmed Sabahat , Sami Amtul S
Published: March 2022

Rhinitis and rhinosinusitis are common conditions which have a significant burden on healthcare services and can lead to reduced productivity in patients across the entire age spectrum. Three disease-specific quality of life tools were analysed in hospital and community settings to explore prevalence, disease characteristics and financial costs to sufferers, and to compare these aspects between cohorts (young children, young adult and adults). These tools were Modified Sino-Nasal Outcome Test-20 (MSNOT-20) questionnaire for adults, MSNOT-20 Young Persons Questionnaire (MSYPQ) for 11–16-year-olds and Sami's Rhinosinusitis Diagnosis and Impact questionnaire for 5–10-year-olds. One of the top three symptoms in children aged 5–10 years was cough, which is a much less common symptom in adults. These validated, disease-specific, quality of life questionnaires provide a fuller illustration of the patient experience, allowing comprehensive comparative analysis across the ages.
Latest concepts relevant to treatment of digital dermatitis in dairy cattle
Authors: Bell Nick J
Published: March 2022

Digital dermatitis is one of the most common lesions causing lameness in dairy cattle, also affecting beef cattle and sheep. It is a highly infectious polymicrobial infection, with several species of treponeme implicated. Many treatments appear efficacious and given the animal appears the main reservoir of infection, there are strong arguments for proactive targeted treatment of cows with lesions leading to improved welfare, production and disease control. This article explores the antibacterial treatment options for digital dermatitis and some adjunctive therapies that can improve cure rates. Licensed topical antibiotics generally achieve a good outcome, but non-antibiotic alternatives may be preferable for ethical reasons and for chronic or mild lesions. There is a strong rationale for providing non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs to reduce pain and inflammation associated with infections. Optimal bandaging technique is still poorly understood and despite the evidence, opinion remains deeply divided on their use.
CattleReview
Authors: Barrett David C
Published: March 2022

Introduction:

In this Cattle Review we consider three open access papers looking at the new Veterinary Medicine Regulations in the EU, septicaemia, and antibiotic use in cases of calf diarrhoea, and the use of prophylactic topical antibiotics in calf disbudding.
Laboratory testing and post-mortem lesion recognition in goats
Authors: Harwood David
Published: March 2022

Goats are ruminants, and many of the diseases and disease presentations encountered in practice, will be similar to those in sheep and cattle. There are some subtle differences however with Clostridium perfringens Type D as an example causing ‘pulpy kidney’ and ‘sudden death’ in lambs, presenting as acute haemorrhagic diarrhoea in goats. This article aims to address these differences.
Approach to clinical nutrition
Authors: Harris Pat , Nelson Sarah
Published: March 2022

While there is no single ‘correct’ way of feeding horses, inappropriate diets and feeding regimens can negatively impact equine health, welfare, behaviour and performance. It is also well recognised that nutrition (taken here to include both the diet and nutritional management) can be part of the problem as well as the solution for several key clinical conditions such as obesity, laminitis and certain muscle disorders. In addition, nutrition, alongside veterinary support, has a role to play in the management of many clinical conditions, such as gastric ulcers. This means that nutrition competency, or having an experienced equine nutritionist as part of your support network, is key for veterinarians. This article provides guidance to veterinarians when they themselves, or in collaboration with their nutritional support team, evaluate a clinical case that requires more targeted and focused nutritional advice. This is intended to be an introduction to a series of more in-depth articles on specific conditions.
EquineReview
Authors: Parker Russell
Published: March 2022

Introduction:

This edition of the Equine Review looks at recent papers on osteochondral fragmentation and surgical removal of intra-articular bodies from the cervical articular process joints, and the effect of bit chewing on gastrointestinal transit time in clinically normal horses.
Monolithic mode separator for the first-order spatial mode of light field
Authors: Gong Hailiang , Fan Qing , He Hai , Li Gang , Zhang Pengfei , Zhang Tiancai
Published: March 2022

We propose a monolithic mode separator (MS) for the first-order spatial mode of a light field. The principle of the MS is an asymmetric Mach–Zehnder interferometer, which consists of two non-polarizing beam splitters, a right-angle prism, and a pentagonal prism. These optics are glued together as a monolithic one. The phase difference between the two light paths inside the interferometer is temperature controlled. The separation efficiency for two first-order orthogonal Hermite Gaussian (HG) modes, i.e., 

H
G

01

and

H
G

10

, is 97.5%, and the overall transmission is 77%. The device is intrinsically stable and convenient to be adopted in various experiments.
Resolution enhancement in random illumination microscopy using photon correlations
Authors: Liu Penghuan
Published: March 2022

Random illumination microscopy (RIM) could surpass the diffraction barrier in fluorescence microscopy by illuminating an object with unknown speckle patterns. It has been demonstrated that the resolution in RIM using second-order statistics is as good as that of conventional structured illumination microscopy (SIM) from the asymptotic point of view. Compared to classical SIM, RIM is more robust to optical aberrations and scattering introduced by thick samples. In this work, I show that the quantum correlations could further improve the resolution in random illumination microscopy due to the photon antibunching property of fluorophore emitters. In theory, the super-resolution capacity of this quantum-enhanced version of RIM corresponds to the fourth power of the point spread function under the general epi-illumination geometry.
Combined indocyanine green and quantitative perfusion assessment with hyperspectral imaging during colorectal resections
Authors: Pfahl A. , Radmacher G. K. , Köhler H. , Maktabi M. , Neumuth T. , Melzer A. , Gockel I. , Chalopin C. , Jansen-Winkeln B.
Published: March 2022

Anastomotic insufficiencies still represent one of the most severe
complications in colorectal surgery. Since tissue perfusion highly
affects anastomotic healing, its objective assessment is an unmet
clinical need. Indocyanine green-based fluorescence angiography
(ICG-FA) and hyperspectral imaging (HSI) have received great interest
in recent years but surgeons have to decide between both techniques.
For the first time, two data processing pipelines capable of
reconstructing an ICG-FA correlating signal from hyperspectral data
were developed. Results were technically evaluated and compared to
ground truth data obtained during colorectal resections. In 87%
of 46 data sets, the reconstructed images resembled the ground truth
data. The combined applicability of ICG-FA and HSI within one imaging
system might provide supportive and complementary information about
tissue vascularization, shorten surgery time, and reduce perioperative
mortality.
Quantitative near-field characterization of surface plasmon polaritons on monocrystalline gold platelets
Authors: Casses Laura N. , Kaltenecker Korbinian J. , Xiao Sanshui , Wubs Martijn , Stenger Nicolas
Published: March 2022

Near-field microscopy allows for visualization of both the amplitude and phase of surface plasmon polaritons (SPPs). However, their quantitative characterization in a reflection configuration is challenging due to complex wave patterns arising from the interference between several excitation channels. Here, we present near-field measurements of SPPs on large monocrystalline gold platelets in the visible. We study systematically the influence of the incident angle of the exciting light on the SPPs launched by an atomic force microscope tip. We find that the amplitude and phase signals of these SPPs are best disentangled from other signals at grazing incident angle relative to the edge of the gold platelet. Furthermore, we introduce a simple model to extract the wavelength and in particular the propagation length of the tip-launched plasmons. Our experimental results are in excellent agreement with our theoretical model. The presented method allows the quantitative analysis of polaritons occurring in different materials at visible wavelengths.
Kinetics of excitation transfer from Cr2+ to Fe2+ ions in co-doped ZnSe
Authors: Fürtjes Pia , Tomm Jens W. , Griebner Uwe , Steinmeyer Günter , Balabanov Stanislav S. , Gavrishchuk Evgenii M. , Elsaesser Thomas
Published: March 2022

The transfer of electronic excitations from Cr2+ to Fe2+ ions in co-doped epitaxially grown ZnSe is studied by time-resolved photoluminescence (PL) spectroscopy with unprecedented sub-10 ns time resolution. Upon excitation of Cr2+ ions by a picosecond pulse at 2.05 µm wavelength, PL from Fe2+ ions displays a delayed onset and a retarded decay in comparison to Fe2+ PL directly excited at 3.24 µm. We measure an extremely rapid 60 ns buildup of the Fe2+ luminescence, which is followed by a slower relaxation on the few micrometer scale. The experimental results are analyzed in the framework of Förster radiationless resonant energy transfer. Directly connecting to the work of Fedorov et al. [Opt. Mater. Express 9, 2340 (2019)10.1364/OME.9.002340], the 60-ns buildup time of energy transfer is found to correspond to a Cr2+–Fe2+ distance of 0.95 nm, close to the length of the space diagonal of the ZnSe unit cell. This result demonstrates a significant density of spatially correlated Cr2+–Fe2+ ion pairs at short distance, in parallel to ions with a random distribution at a larger mutual separation.
Effect of antireflection microstructures on the optical properties of GaSe
Authors: Yelisseyev Alexander P. , Isaenko Lyudmila I. , Lobanov Sergey I. , Dostovalov Alexander V. , Bushunov Andrey A. , Tarabrin Mikhail K. , Teslenko Andrei A. , Lazarev Vladimir A. , Shklyaev Alexander A. , Babin Sergey A. , Goloshumova Alina A. , A.Gromilov Sergey
Published: March 2022

The main application area for GaSe crystals is nonlinear optics, but there are problems with machining and antireflection coatings due to the layered structure of GaSe. Large GaSe crystals with dominant ε-modification were grown. Using various harmonics of a femtosecond laser, antireflection microstructures (ARM) were fabricated by laser ablation on the plate surface and modes providing increased transmission up to 90% in the mid-IR were selected. Using SEM and optical microscopy, as well as EDX and optical spectroscopy, defects on the GaSe surface and their effect on the spectral region and the degree of transmission increase were studied.
Coherent beam amplification with dynamic holograms in glass-forming molecular azobenzene-based materials
Authors: Skrypka Yaroslav , Kokars Valdis , Traskovskis Kaspars , Ozols Andris , Augustovs Peteris , Shumelyuk Alexandr , Odoulov Serguey
Published: March 2022

Self-diffraction of two coherent light waves that record a holographic grating in thin films of azobenzene-containing molecular glass-forming materials is used for intensity enhancement of a weak beam in expense of the strong beam intensity. The intensity of a weak probe beam is doubled at interaction length of only 8 µm thus pointing to a very high specific coupling constant. The characteristic time of the intensity redistribution is relatively long, on the order of 200 s. Consequently, the underlying process of pronounced Kerr-type optical nonlinearity is related, most probably, to the photoinduced mass transfer.
Artificial intelligence as a challenge for the law: the example of “Doctor Algorithm”
Authors: Buchner Benedikt
Published: March 2022

Society increasingly relies on algorithms to improve decisions with the aid of artificial intelligence. This is particularly true in the field of medicine where, based on algorithms, ever increasing volumes of data are to be analysed and provide the basis for tailored medical treatment. This leads to the question of how the law should react to the adoption of such algorithm-based decisions. Will new regulatory approaches be required if algorithms are employed for treatment decisions, or can one resort to the basic principles applied to determine the standard of medical treatment? Who will be liable if the use of algorithms leads to malpractice, in particular if it is the programming of the algorithms that has caused the fault?
Characterization of intrinsically disordered regions in proteins informed by human genetic diversity
Authors: Ahmed Shehab S. , Rifat Zaara T. , Lohia Ruchi , Campbell Arthur J. , Dunker A. Keith , Rahman M. Sohel , Iqbal Sumaiya
Published: March 2022

All proteomes contain both proteins and polypeptide segments that don’t form a defined three-dimensional structure yet are biologically active—called intrinsically disordered proteins and regions (IDPs and IDRs). Most of these IDPs/IDRs lack useful functional annotation limiting our understanding of their importance for organism fitness. Here we characterized IDRs using protein sequence annotations of functional sites and regions available in the UniProt knowledgebase (“UniProt features”: active site, ligand-binding pocket, regions mediating protein-protein interactions, etc.). By measuring the statistical enrichment of twenty-five UniProt features in 981 IDRs of 561 human proteins, we identified eight features that are commonly located in IDRs. We then collected the genetic variant data from the general population and patient-based databases and evaluated the prevalence of population and pathogenic variations in IDPs/IDRs. We observed that some IDRs tolerate 2 to 12-times more single amino acid-substituting missense mutations than synonymous changes in the general population. However, we also found that 37% of all germline pathogenic mutations are located in disordered regions of 96 proteins. Based on the observed-to-expected frequency of mutations, we categorized 34 IDRs in 20 proteins (DDX3X, KIT, RB1, etc.) as intolerant to mutation. Finally, using statistical analysis and a machine learning approach, we demonstrate that mutation-intolerant IDRs carry a distinct signature of functional features. Our study presents a novel approach to assign functional importance to IDRs by leveraging the wealth of available genetic data, which will aid in a deeper understating of the role of IDRs in biological processes and disease mechanisms.
Alginate microencapsulation of an attenuated O-antigen mutant of Francisella tularensis LVS as a model for a vaccine delivery vehicle
Authors: Freudenberger Catanzaro Kelly C. , Lahmers Kevin K. , Allen Irving C. , Inzana Thomas J.
Published: March 2022

Francisella tularensisis the etiologic agent of tularemia and a Tier I Select Agent. Subspeciestularensis(Type A) is the most virulent of the four subspecies and inhalation of as few as 10 cells can cause severe disease in humans. Due to its niche as a facultative intracellular pathogen, a successful tularemia vaccine must induce a robust cellular immune response, which is best achieved by a live, attenuated strain.F.tularensisstrains lacking lipopolysaccharide (LPS) O-antigen are highly attenuated, but do not persist in the host long enough to induce protective immunity. Increasing the persistence of an O-antigen mutant may help stimulate protective immunity. Alginate encapsulation is frequently used with probiotics to increase persistence of bacteria within the gastrointestinal system, and was used to encapsulate the highly attenuated LVS O-antigen mutant WbtIG191V. Encapsulation with alginate followed by a poly-L-lysine/alginate coating increased survival of WbtIG191Vin complement-active serum. In addition, BALB/c mice immunized intraperitoneally with encapsulated WbtIG191Vcombined with purified LPS survived longer than mock-immunized mice following intranasal challenge. Alginate encapsulation of the bacteria also increased antibody titers compared to non-encapsulated bacteria. These data suggest that alginate encapsulation provides a slow-release vehicle for bacterial deposits, as evidenced by the increased antibody titer and increased persistence in serum compared to freely suspended cells. Survival of mice against high-dose intranasal challenge with the LVS wildtype was similar between mice immunized within alginate capsules or with LVS, possibly due to the low number of animals used, but bacterial loads in the liver and spleen were the lowest in mice immunized with WbtIG191Vand LPS in beads. However, an analysis of the immune response of surviving mice indicated that those vaccinated with the alginate vehicle upregulated cell-mediated immune pathways to a lesser extent than LVS-vaccinated mice. In summary, this vehicle, as formulated, may be more effective for pathogens that require predominately antibody-mediated immunity.
How does moving public engagement with research online change audience diversity? Comparing inclusion indicators for 2019 & 2020 European Researchers’ night events
Authors: Jensen Aaron M. , Jensen Eric A. , Duca Edward , Daly Jennifer , Mundow Niamh , Roche Joseph
Published: March 2022

Taking place annually in more than 400 cities, European Researchers’ Night is a pan- European synchronized event that aims to bring researchers closer to the public. In this paper audience profiles are compared from events in 2019 and 2020. In 2019, face-to-face events reached an estimated 1.6 million attendees, while in 2020, events shifted online due to the COVID-19 pandemic and reached an estimated 2.3 million attendees. Focusing on social inclusion metrics, survey data is analyzed across two national contexts (Ireland and Malta) in 2019 (n = 656) and 2020 (n = 506). The results from this exploratory, descriptive study shed light on how moving public engagement with research online shifted audience profiles. Based on prior research about the digital divide in access and use of online media, hypotheses were proposed that online European Researchers’ Night events would attract audiences with higher educational attainment levels and greater self-reported, subjective economic well-being. While changes were observed from 2019 to 2020, results for each hypothesis show a mixed picture. The first hypothesis was upheld for the highest education levels but failed for the lowest levels suggesting that the pivot to online events simultaneously attracted participants with no formal education and those with postgraduate qualifications, while attracting less of those with undergraduate or lower levels of education. The second hypothesis was not upheld, with online European Researchers’ Night events attracting audiences with slightly higher levels of economic well-being compared to face-to-face events. The findings of this study indicate that European Researchers’ Night events present a clear opportunity to measure the effects of the digital divide in relation to public engagement with research across Europe.
Erythro-VLPs: Anchoring SARS-CoV-2 spike proteins in erythrocyte liposomes
Authors: Himbert Sebastian , Gastaldo Isabella Passos , Ahmed Rashik , Pomier Karla Martinez , Cowbrough Braeden , Jahagirdar Dushyant , Ros Samantha , Juhasz Janos , Stöver Harald D. H. , Ortega Joaquin , Melacini Giuseppe , Bowdish Dawn M. E. , Rheinstädter Maikel C.
Published: March 2022

Novel therapeutic strategies are needed to control the SARS-CoV-2 (severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2) pandemic. Here, we present a protocol to anchor the SARS-CoV-2 spike (S-)protein in the cytoplasmic membranes of erythrocyte liposomes. A surfactant was used to stabilize the S-protein’s structure in the aqueous environment before insertion and to facilitate reconstitution of the S-proteins in the erythrocyte membranes. The insertion process was studied using coarse grained Molecular Dynamics (MD) simulations. Liposome formation and S-protein anchoring was studied by dynamic light scattering (DLS), ELV-protein co-sedimentation assays, fluorescent microcopy and cryo-TEM. The Erythro-VLPs (erythrocyte based virus like particles) have a well defined size of ∼200 nm and an average protein density on the outer membrane of up to ∼300 proteins/μm2. The correct insertion and functional conformation of the S-proteins was verified by dose-dependent binding to ACE-2 (angiotensin converting enzyme 2) in biolayer interferometry (BLI) assays. Seroconversion was observed in a pilot mouse trial after 14 days when administered intravenously, based on enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISA). This red blood cell based platform can open novel possibilities for therapeutics for the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) including variants, and other viruses in the future.
Emergence of monopoly–Copper exchange networks during the Late Bronze Age in the western and central Balkans
Authors: Gavranović Mario , Mehofer Mathias , Kapuran Aleksandar , Koledin Jovan , Mitrović Jovan , Papazovska Aleksandra , Pravidur Andrijana , Đorđević Aca , Jacanović Dragan
Published: March 2022

In this paper we present the first results of an interdisciplinary research project focused on Late Bronze Age metallurgy in the western and central Balkans. The comprehensive chemical and lead isotope analysis, and a strict consideration of archaeological criteria, has provided a deeper insight into supra regional metal exchange networks between the 14th and 9th century BC in this part of Europe. Particularly interesting and surprising are results regarding the provenance of raw materials for copper production, which have a chemical composition and lead isotope ratios that closely correspond to ore deposits in the southern Alps (North Italy). Based on the examination of 57 objects of different functions, chronology and distribution, it becomes apparent that copper from the southern Alps was almost an omnipresent raw material in the territories of the western and central Balkans with only a few finds from North Macedonia to indicate alternative sources. The analyses demonstrate that the reuse of fahlore-based copper is attested for the first time in the regions under study. The remarkable fact that other archaeological parameters do not indicate such an intensive connection between the Balkan area and Northern Italy raises a number of questions. The sustained and long-lasting networks of raw material procurement stand in contrast to the expected cultural interaction between metal producing and metal consuming prehistoric societies. The results of this work also highlight the currently underestimated role of the southern Alps as one of the main copper producing areas in Bronze Age Europe, and demonstrate for the first time that the region of western and central Balkans was one of the major recipients.
Research on cluster system distribution of traditional fort-type settlements in Shaanxi based on K-means clustering algorithm
Authors: Wang Xuan , Shen Anyang , Hou Xin , Tan Lifeng
Published: March 2022

Taking the traditional fort-type settlements in Shaanxi as the research object, quantitative research methods such as K-means clustering algorithm, correlation analysis, density analysis, and nearest neighbor index are used to study their spatial distribution, formation causes, and cluster characteristics. The objective of the study is to break through the geographical limitations of fort-type settlements research and to explore the scientific methods of classifying and analyzing traditional fort-type settlements. The conclusions are: (1) The results of cluster analysis show that the fort-type settlements in Shaanxi can be divided into three categories; (2) The overall distribution of fort-type settlements in Shaanxi shows multi-point aggregation, and contains both point and linear aggregation distribution; (3) There are four typical cluster systems among the traditional fort-type settlements in Shaanxi; (4) The factors that have the greatest influence on the distribution of settlements are construction force, wall masonry, age, fortification purpose, and topographic environment. The article innovatively proposes the "cluster system" perspective and introduces mathematical algorithms and quantitative research methods to study the cluster system of the fort-type Settlements. This approach is feasible and can be applied to other settlement-related studies. At the same time, the perspective of cluster system could be used in heritage conservation, which can contribute to the restoration of architectural relics and systemic conservation on a larger scale.
Non-limit passive earth pressure against cantilever flexible retaining wall in foundation pit considering the displacement
Authors: Hu Weidong , Zhu Xinnian , Hu Tao , Wang Weiwei , Lin Guozhi
Published: March 2022

A series of model tests are carried out on flexible retaining walls such as cantilevered piles, continuous walls, and sheet pile walls in the foundation pit to study the deformation, failure surface, and earth pressure distribution of soils in a passive zone. The shape, displacement, and shear strain of slip failure surface of sand in a passive area are analyzed by Particle Image Velocimetry. The slip failure surface is a broken line, the upper end slides out from the top of the soil, and the lower end is close to the zero displacements of the retaining wall. With the increase of the flexural deformation and horizontal displacement of the wall, the shear strain of the soil increases, and the shear fracture zone in the upper part of the sliding surface is more prominent. Based on the broken line rupture surface in the test results, the passive area can be divided into two zones, the limit state zone and the non-limit state zone. Then the mechanical models are set up respectively. Considering soil displacement, the upper and lower soil layer’s internal friction angle and wall-soil interface friction angle mobilize differently. The relationship between mechanical parameters along the retaining wall and horizontal displacement is estimated. Finally, the earth pressure distribution is obtained by using the horizontal differential layer method. The calculation results of this paper are consistent with the existing research results and the model test results in terms of earth pressure distribution. With the increase of depth, the unit earth pressure increases in the limit state zone. Still, after entering the non-limit state zone, the unit earth pressure rises to a certain extent and decreases rapidly.
Temporal and regional shifts of crop species diversity in rainfed and irrigated cropland in Iran
Authors: Jafari Leila , Asadi Sara , Asgari Ashkan
Published: March 2022

Concerns about the negative effects of declining agricultural biodiversity due to modern agricultural practices and climatic constraints in various parts of the world, including Iran, on the sustainability of agricultural ecosystems are increasingly growing. However, the historical knowledge of temporal and spatial biodiversity is lacking. To determine the value and trend of crop diversity in Iran, we used biodiversity indices based on the area under rainfed and irrigated crops and total cropland area from 1991 to 2018. There were large fluctuations in the amount of cultivated area in the past 30 years, peaking around 2005 to 2007 with about 13.1 million cultivated hectares. However, no general trend in increase or decrease of total cultivated land was shown. The crop species diversity of irrigated cropland was higher than the rainfed and total cropland. The Shannon diversity index showed a constant trend with a negligible slope, but species richness was increased, which was related to the rise in the area of some crop species in recent years. The area of wheat and barley had a significant impact on crop diversity, so Shannon diversity index reduced with their dominance. Overall, this study revealed that the Iranian agricultural system relies on wheat and barley. We warn that by increasing the area of these crops and the prevalence of monoculture, the probability of damage from external factors such as sudden weather changes or the spread of diseases will increase, leading to instability and production risks in the future.
Perinatal mortality audit in a rural referral hospital in Tanzania to inform future interventions: A descriptive study
Authors: Mdoe Paschal , Katengu Sifaeli , Guga Godfrey , Daudi Vickfarajaeli , Kiligo Ibrahim Ernest , Gidabayda Joshua , Massay Catherine , Mkini Felix , Mduma Estomih
Published: March 2022

Background

Clear evidence exists that perinatal audit and feedback can lead to important improvements in practice. The death audit can lead to the identification of existing potential delays which are the decision to seek medical care, reaching an appropriate facility, and receiving timely adequate care at the facility. Such an audit potentially initiates a positive discussion, which may foster the implementation of changes that aims at saving more lives.

Objective

To review the perinatal deaths case notes and identify potential gaps in care provision and health-seeking behavior to foster best practice.

Methods

The stillbirths and neonatal death case notes that occurred between January 2019 and May 2020 at the hospital were reviewed using an adapted WHO checklist. The completed review case notes were entered into an electronic system and a quality control check-up was done. Data were analysed descriptively, and findings were presented in tables.

Results

There were 4,898 births, and 1,175 neonatal admissions, out of these there were 135 recorded stillbirths (2.8%) and 201(4.1% of the total hospital births) early neonatal deaths. Out of the 1,175 neonates, 635 (54%) were born within the hospital and 540 (46%) were admitted from other facilities and home deliveries. In total 86 stillbirths and 140 early neonatal deaths case notes were retrieved and audited. Out of 86 stillbirths’ case notes audited, 30 (34.9%) seemed to have died during labor, and of these 5 had audible fetal heart rate during admission. Apgar scores less than 7 at 5 minutes, prematurity, and meconium aspiration were the top three recorded causes of neonatal deaths. Inadequate/late antenatal care visits and home delivery were the maternal factors likely to have contributed to perinatal deaths. Inadequate labor monitoring (12%) and documentation (62%) were among the providers’ factors likely to have contributed to perinatal deaths.

Conclusion

This audit shows that there are high rates of preventable intrapartum stillbirths and early neonatal deaths. Both women and providers’ factors were found to have contributed to the stillbirths and neonatal deaths. There is a need to encourage women to adequately attend antenatal care, utilize health facilities during birth, and improve maternity and neonatal care at the health facilities.