bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Landscape metrics of the Brusy Commune before and after wind-storm: an assessment of the extent of changes based on Landsat-8 data
Authors: Dutt Sanjana , Kunz Mieczysław
Published: May 2024

Monitoring the change in land cover in disaster-affected areas, such as forests, has become a conventional forest management practice, particularly in protected areas. Most change detection and fragmentation studies rely on single-dated satellite images even while investigating changes over a long temporal span. This study aims to move a step further to compare fragmentation before and after a derecho event that occurred in August 2017 using 23 Landsat-8 images of Brusy Commune within the Tuchola Forest Biosphere Reserve. The supervised classification was carried out in the Google Earth Engine using the machine learning algorithm of random forests within the summer months of 2017 and 2018. The high overall accuracy of 0.92 was obtained for the two images which were then analysed with landscape metrics such as mean patch size, number of patches, total edge and edge density using Patch Analyst. These landscape metrics facilitated the characterisation of landscape fragmentation at both the class and landscape levels. Shannon’s Diversity Index was employed to assess heterogeneity across the landscape. The findings indicate significant fragmentation, particularly in the forest and pasture classes, with overall low diversity. This study underscores the potential for future research to employ advanced machine learning techniques and non-parametric classifiers, such as neural networks, to enhance the prediction of fragmentation across various spatial scales.
Jak stworzyć autentyczną markę osobistą bibliotekarza?
Authors: Marchel Paweł
Published: May 2024

The topic of personal branding remains a niche issue among cultural institution employees, particularly in libraries. It’s crucial for this aspect to be addressed during conferences, symposiums, librarian meetings, through lectures, panel discussions, articles in specialized press, and academic papers. Especially considering it’s a complex matter that encompasses multiple dimensions. The article discusses the theme of personal brand authenticity, which is a crucial element in its creation process. Authenticity fosters a strong relationship with the audience. Based on the analysis of gathered sources, the author presents the process of building an authentic personal brand with its three main stages. The article also highlights that every library employee, regardless of their duties, can develop their own personal brand.
Książka bliżej czytelnika – wolny dostęp do zbiorów
Authors: Jasińska Marta , Sokołowska Agnieszka
Published: May 2024

The article presents the process of introducing a new way of providing collections in the KEN Pedagogical Voivodship Library in Warsaw, branch in Nowy Dwór Mazowiecki, with the use of RFID technology. This technology has been shortly explained. Furthermore, the stages and final effect of the whole process have been discussed.
Aproximación al debate sobre la igualdad de armas en las jurisdicciones penales internacionales. Disparidades materiales e institucionales
Authors: Castro Soledad I.
Published: May 2024

El principio de igualdad de armas ha suscitado un extenso debate destinado a definir su alcance y las implicancias jurídicas de su aplicación en jurisdicciones penales internacionales. Dentro de esa discusión, el presente trabajo hace foco en dos tipos de planteos que sostienen que la igualdad de armas puede verse afectada por disparidades sustantivas, en detrimento de las defensas y —por consiguiente— de los derechos de los acusados. Uno de ellos se concentra en las desigualdades de naturaleza material o de recursos y el otro, en las inequidades derivadas del diseño institucional de los tribunales. Este estudio revisa —sin pretensión de exhaustividad— distintas medidas y acciones adoptadas con el objeto de dar respuesta a sendos cuestionamientos. En lo concerniente a los planteos por inequidad material, se analizan ciertos aspectos de su tratamiento jurisdiccional y, desde una blecidos en estos tribunales. En lo atinente a las desigualdades que pudieran originarse por el diseño estructural de estas cortes, se estudia la evolución del estatus de la defensa dentro de los diferentes esquemas institucionales (oficinas de la defensa) y el surgimiento y desarrollo de las asociaciones internacionales de abogados que litigan ante este tipo de jurisdicción. Iluminar este debate exige reconocer —y así se concluye— su signifi- cativo efecto transformador en la evolución de las normas e instituciones que regulan la defensa ante este tipo de jurisdicción internacional. En última instancia, que los acusados cuenten con la posibilidad procesal y sustancial de ejercer su defensa en forma adecuada constituye una condición más para la legitimidad de estas jurisdicciones y de sus pronunciamientos.
Digital marketing model on Hospitality business’s social media
Authors: Carla Puspita Fabiola , Prayudi Prayudi , Arief Sosiawan Edwi
Published: May 2024

The increasing growth of hotels from year to year has resulted in increasingly tight competition in the hotel business in Yogyakarta. In order to win competitive business competition, Indoluxe Hotel Jogjakarta carries out digital marketing through social media in its promotional activities. Social media in the current digital era has no doubt about its existence and has an important role in building relationships between hotels and customers. The aim of this research is to find a digital marketing model on Indoluxe Hotel Jogjakarta social media. The method used in this research uses a qualitative approach by collecting data through interviews, documents and analysis on Indoluxe Hotel Jogjakarta social media. The object of this research is Indoluxe Hotel Jogjakarta's social media with the research subject being the sales & marketing department which manages Indoluxe Hotel Jogjakarta's social media. Overall, digital marketing on social media that has been carried out by Indoluxe Hotel Jogjakarta has implemented the right steps. This can be seen from the results of analysis and evaluation using Forrester's 5I model so that hotels can find out whether the social media they run has an impact on business or vice versa. The results of this research found a digital marketing model on Indoluxe Hotel Jogjakarta social media by dividing the model into three aspects, namely planning, action and involvement. Planning phase to build brand, product and service awareness. The action phase is the stage where the brand, in this case the Indoluxe Hotel Jogjakarta, can interact with customers. Lastly, namely engagement where Indoluxe Hotel Jogjakarta maintains relationships to create customer loyalty.
Bus*: An efficient algorithm for finding Moving K-Nearest Neighbors (MKNNs) with capacity constraints
Authors: Aljubayrin Saad
Published: May 2024

The large-scale and increasing use of transportation systems in various applications is expected to become an important component of communications networks beyond 5G and 6G in the next decade. To effectively support the massive deployment of transportation systems, reliable, secure, and cost-effective wireless connectivity is required. Communication networks are very important for vehicles that act as mobile user equipment. Although communications networks offer a promising way for cars to stay connected, it isn't easy to make transportation work well. This paper aims to present a new and interesting problem: the finding of the moving K-nearest neighbors (MKNNs), where each neighbor has a capacity limit. Specifically, considering a set of moving objects with different capacity constraints distributed in the road network, query objects with a certain load, find the optimal set of neighbors where the total available capacity is equal to or greater than the load of the query object, and the total travel time of the optimal set to reach the query object is minimized. This problem has significant applications in our lives. For example, it can help bus operating companies find other optimal bus trains in operation to move to the location of the damaged bus and transport its passengers to their destinations. In contrast, the total travel time of the optimal train is minimized. This paper uses previous research methods with a qualitative descriptive approach from sources that researchers found. The results of this research serve as material for proposing new algorithms that are effective for solving problems in real-time when using real data sets
Reducing Defects Using DMAIC Methodology in an Automotive Industry
Authors: Imansuri Febriza , Chayatunnufus Tasya , Safril Safril , Sumasto Fredy , Purwojatmiko B. Handoko , Salati Dianasanti
Published: May 2024

Quality is when it meets the wants and expectations of customers or even exceeds them. Every company must raise the quality of its current products and services. A complete and adaptable approach for establishing, maintaining, and maximizing company success is Six Sigma. Define, Measure, Analyze, Improve, and Control (DMAIC) is one of the tools used to implement Six Sigma. PT. KRM is one company engaged in the automotive sector, which produces Colt Diesel trucks. This research focuses on the welding processes. Defective products were found in as much as 5% of total production, exceeding the company's target of 3%. This research was conducted to determine the process capability based on product defects with the Six Sigma DMAIC method approach, then to find out the proposal for implementing quality control by analyzing the causes of defects in the production process and then looking for continuous improvement with the 5W+1H concept. The improvement was made to decrease the DPMO value of 4.496 and increase the sigma value of 0.19. This study demonstrates how the Six Sigma DMAIC approach can improve the quality of the cabin production process for the part side outer pillar LH. This case can help company managers apply Six Sigma methods to solve complex problems in other processes.
Advanced nanomedicines and immunotherapeutics to treat respiratory diseases especially COVID-19 induced thrombosis
Authors: Wu Jie , Zheng Ying , Zhang Li-Na , Gu Cai-Li , Chen Wang-Li , Chang Min-Qiang
Published: May 2024

Immunotherapy and associated immune regulation strategies gained huge attraction in order to be utilized for treatment and prevention of respiratory diseases. Engineering specifically nanomedicines can be used to regulate host immunity in lungs in the case of respiratory diseases including coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) infection. COVID-19 causes pulmonary embolisms, thus new therapeutic options are required to target thrombosis, as conventional treatment options are either not effective due to the complexity of the immune-thrombosis pathophysiology. In this review, we discuss regulation of immune response in respiratory diseases especially COVID-19. We further discuss thrombosis and provide an overview of some antithrombotic nanoparticles, which can be used to develop nanomedicine against thrombo-inflammation induced by COVID-19 and other respiratory infectious diseases. We also elaborate the importance of immunomodulatory nanomedicines that can block pro-inflammatory signalling pathways, and thus can be recommended to treat respiratory infectious diseases.
Eruptive xanthomas in a patient with severe hypertriglyceridemia: A case report
Authors: Ren Ci , Zhu Ling , Niu Yan-Chao , Tu Lian-Yu , Jin Zhou-Feng , Zhang Jian
Published: May 2024

BACKGROUND

Xanthomatosis, a metabolic disorder causing yellow growths (xanthomas), poses challenges in lipid metabolism. This case study introduces the first documented instance within China's Yi population, emphasizing the need to explore dietary habits and treatment strategies tailored to this specific community.

CASE SUMMARY

Xanthomatosis is a metabolic disorder where lipid metabolism goes awry, resulting in the development of yellowish growths called xanthomas. A male patient, 47 years of age, from China's Yi population, who is obese, visited our dermatology clinic complaining of widespread, non-painful rashes that have been present for two weeks. The patient works as a chef and has a diet that frequently includes oily and greasy foods. This case represents the initial documentation of xanthomatosis within the Yi population in China, offering a theoretical foundation for understanding dietary patterns and treatment options specific to the Yi community.

CONCLUSION

The first report of xanthomatosis in the Yi population in China lays a theoretical foundation for understanding Yi dietary patterns and treatment.
Giant vascular malformations invading the skull: A case report
Authors: Xie Ming-Chen , Wang Fu-Xu , Xu Jian
Published: May 2024

BACKGROUND

Vascular malformations (VMs) arise as a result of errors in the process of angiogenesis and are usually present at birth, but may not become apparent until after birth. However, giant VMs of the head and face are uncommon, with few reported cases, and the prognosis for their surgical intervention is unclear.

CASE SUMMARY

A 12-year-old girl was admitted to the hospital with findings of an enlarged right temporal scalp. After admission, computed tomography (CT) angiography of cerebral ateries showed a right occlusal gap and a right temporal artery venous malformation. Furthermore, cerebral angiography showed a right temporal lobe VM with multiple vessels supplying blood. The patient underwent surgery to remove the malformed vessels and the eroded skull. Two hours after the surgery, the patient's right pupil was dilated, and an urgent CT scan of the skull showed a right subdural haematoma under the incision, which was urgently removed by a second operation. After surgery, we gave continuous antibiotic anti-infection treatment, and the patient recovered well and was discharged two weeks later.

CONCLUSION

Surgical removal of giant haemangiomas is risky and adequate preoperative (including interventional embolisation) and intraoperative preparations should be made.
Fungos Coprófilos (Ascobolaceae-Ascomycota) na região metropolitana de Feira de Santana, Bahia
Authors: Bruna Silva Santana  , Luis Fernando Pascholati Gusmao
Published: May 2024

Os fungos coprófilos são um grupo de organismos capazes de se desenvolver nos excrementos de animais, em especial os herbívoros. Eles atuam no processo de ciclagem dos nutrientes, o que vai desencadear na disponibilização destes novamente no ambiente. (Calaça et.al. 2017).
White Minds
Authors: Kinouani Guilaine
Published: May 2024

Can’t we just move on from colonialism? Why do we not just leave the past in the past? Is there even such a thing as the past, when it comes to racialised violence? To understand why we seem stuck in time and often in space, whiteness as the source of race-based inequality and injustice, perpetuated through power, violence and an array of complex processes need to be interrogated together with its consequent ways of being in the world, for the white subject. Yet, while there has been much focus on the psychological harm of racism on people of colour, less attention has been paid to the psychic landscapes of white groups. And their role in ensuring the continuities of the past within present social structures.
The book presents a psychosocial analysis of whiteness. That is to say an analysis of whiteness grounded in the intersections of the psyche, social structures and history. An analysis which seeks to demonstrate that the internal–external binary, and many others, when it comes to racialised phenomena is hardly tenable. It does so by examining how psychological and psychic factors involved in the reproduction of whiteness intersect with macro structures, shedding light on everyday race dynamics, race inequality and racial violence of interest to all who seek to understand the temporality of whiteness so they can disrupt it be more effective anti-racists. Or simply better human beings.
Varieties of Precarity
Authors: Seung-yoon Lee Sophia
Published: May 2024

This book introduces the concept of “melting labour”, which refers the blurring of boundaries between traditional forms of work and workplace and the dissolution of standard employment relationships. Presenting a theoretical framework at the intersection of “melting labour” and institutional protection of workers, it addresses how and why the Korean welfare state has failed to protect precarious workers.
Based on rich, in-depth interviews with over 80 precarious workers in Korea, it provides a real depiction of how workers lose control over their lives and experience precariousness in labour markets.
Children’s rights as counter-rights
Authors: Liebel Manfred , Budde Rebecca , Markowska-Manista Urszula , Meade Philip
Published: May 2024

Based on the arguments of the previous chapters, it is argued why and in which way children’s rights should be understood and practised as counter-rights.
Making Health Public
Authors: Littlejohns Peter , Hunter David J. , Weale Albert , Johnson Jacqueline , Khatun Toslima
Published: May 2024

There is a crisis of health in the UK undermining the health of the population. Despite the effectiveness of public health measures, UK governments have been reluctant to implement them. This book dissects this lack of action. It locates the implementation deficit in part in the intrinsic policy problems of attacking the social determinants of health, but crucially notes how governments have been trapped in an ideology of non-intervention.The book sets out the history of public health policy in England between 2013 and 2020, before looking at the growth of public health organisations in the other home nations. It argues that there is no one right organisational form for public health and that governments should focus not on organisational restructuring but effective policies and capacity.The challenges facing policy makers in the new settlement for public health that has emerged since 2020 includes issues like scientific integrity and political independence. What is needed is implementation of measures that have been advocated over decades, including most recently in the Hewitt Review of the new system of NHS governance in England.Public health measures have been held back by the dominance of a libertarian public philosophy that is sceptical of the ‘nanny state’. In place of this libertarian philosophy, the book sets out the terms of a new social contract underpinning the active government that is required if public health is to be advanced.
Public health and the devolved governments
Authors: Littlejohns Peter , Hunter David J. , Weale Albert , Johnson Jacqueline , Khatun Toslima
Published: May 2024

Devolution is a notable constitutional change in the UK. The devolution of health responsibilities has been associated over time with the establishment of public health responsibilities in the home nations other than England. Public Health Scotland, Public Health Wales and the Public Health Agency in Northern Ireland have acquired responsibilities, though the precise configuration varies among them. These differences suggest that there is no one right way of organising public health responsibilities, although it is notable that all the devolved governments have brought together health protection and health promotion. Important policy initiatives, like the minimum unit pricing of alcohol, are independent of organisational questions.
A Science of Otherness?
Authors: Mehozay Yoav
Published: May 2024

Criminological knowledge has served as an important source of legitimacy for regimes of social control. Yet relatively little reflexive and historical attention has been given to this pivotal realm of thought. The book presents a short intellectual history that critically rereads Western criminological thought from the Enlightenment to the emergence of modern criminological approaches, mainly developed in the United States, over the last hundred years. The book focuses on the production of knowledge itself, before its translation into policy, and analyses, in this respect, the classical school, the various currents of positivist criminology, and the managerial movement in criminology. It argues that Western criminological thought should not simply be considered as knowledge that aims to explain criminal behaviour or perfect criminal jurisprudence and practices, but also as an ideological apparatus to inscribe, reproduce, and legitimize a certain social structure. In this respect, Western criminological thought has also been an ideological project based on ‘otherness’, designed to bridge the gap between the universalism of liberal legal systems and the interests of social control in a hierarchical capitalist society. Such an ideology helps to establish a discourse of responsibilization, which justifies social hierarchies and sustains regimes of control by some over others. The book demonstrates how specialized knowledge, based on the logic of othering that guides Western criminological theories, has over the years constructed the degenerate other, the delinquent other, the dangerous other, or simply the pathological other, thus legitimizing authority for and over the other.
Exploring New Temporal Horizons
Authors: Leccardi Carmen , Jedlowski Paolo , Cavalli Alessandro
Published: May 2024

Within a horizon of meaning pervaded by the idea of crisis, and in front of analytical categories inherited from the previous century and increasingly less useful to decodify contemporary social dynamics, the temporal lens can provide an unexpected wealth of resources. With their expertise in the field of memory, future and generations, the authors are committed to starting a reflection on 21st-century temporal horizons able to overcome cliches and oversimplifications. While presentification and social acceleration cannot be ignored, as they are reducing both past and future, it would be misleading to stop here. For instance, the development of global social movements able to open up new perspectives towards the link between past, present and future challenges the mere recognition of a temporal crisis. In this respect, the book can be considered as an outcome of contemporary critical thought, conceptualizing both the limits of current temporal horizons and possibilities for their reconstruction.
The Best Knowledge and the Best Mode of Governance
Authors: Soneryd Linda , Sundqvist Göran
Published: May 2024

Science, in its very basic sense, means knowledge, from the Latin scientia; and democracy, in its very basic sense, means rule of the people, from the Greek demos (people) and kratos (rule). Throughout history, science and democracy have each developed with a keen ability to alter their shape in various contexts. Nevertheless, science has come to denote certain ways of producing knowledge as opposed to others, and democracy is associated with particular modes of governance as opposed to others. The reason why it is impossible to not use the plural in relation to these two concepts – ways of producing knowledge and modes of governance – is simply that there are multiple versions and practices of doing both science and democracy. Even so, science and democracy have taken shape as the grandeurs of modern societies. This suggests there is something fixed about them: science has become established as the best way of producing knowledge and democracy has become established as the best mode of governance. Of course, the grandeur refers to the general ideas and principles that are associated with science and democracy, respectively. Even though these ideas and principles have generated deep thoughts, lengthy discussions, and many thick books, dominating versions of both science and democracy can be summed up in one word: representation. Scientists represent nature and elected politicians represent the people. To gain legitimate authority, however, representations and representatives must resonate with the represented. It is this resonance and the relational aspect involved in both science and democracy that distinguish them as particular ways of producing knowledge and particular modes of governance.
Participation as Co-production
Authors: Soneryd Linda , Sundqvist Göran
Published: May 2024

Both science and democracy are based on representation. It has been suggested in this book that this means a dividing line is created between those who represent and those who are represented. Concerning science, and expert knowledge more generally, fears are sometimes raised in relation to expert rule. However, this is often an unproblematic, and even a desirable, situation. The desire to hand over certain tasks to experts is especially strong when non-experts have no interest in knowing the details, or would not even be able to learn them, but still need to get things done. This applies to everything from healthcare to plumbing, architecture, and energy production. But sometimes engagement and resistance can be mobilized among citizens because the representation – the delegation to experts – is unsatisfactory. Experts can be wrong or can claim authority on issues that go far beyond their expertise and yet have great influence over the course of events. Citizens can sometimes contribute to better representation since they have other, often more local, experiences than the experts. But above all, citizens, relevant groups, and the general public have an important role to play in judging expertise as credible and relevant, or not. Participation and its role for democracy is much more complex than a simple dividing line between unquestioned delegation to experts and direct participation of laypeople. It involves parliamentary debate and decision-making, practices of public policy making and administration, issue formation and mobilization in social movements, practices of investigative journalism and media reporting, and so on.
Introduction
Authors: Stedman Gesa , Gohrisch Jana
Published: May 2024

The Introduction explains the extended concept of affective polarisation as developed by Sara Hobolt and colleagues adopted in this book as well as setting out our understanding of emotion as a socially acquired, historically contingent aspect of collective human experience and behaviour, heavily dependent on a given social context. For the case of the UK, this context is governed by social inequality, exacerbated by austerity politics, the fallout of Brexit, COVID-19, the cost-of-living crisis as well as geographical and regional inequality and issues of ethnicity. The Introduction also explains how the different chapters discuss cultural and historical dimensions of the specific topic that each chapter treats, and explains why a four nations perspective was adopted.
An ‘Artificial’ Concept as the Opposite of Human Dignity
Authors: Shibuya Kazuhiko
Published: May 2024

The goal of this chapter is to review and discuss human existence and dignity from both an ethical and social scientific perspective in light of recent trends of the sociological study of science and technology. In common parlance, ‘artificial’ denotes technological achievements that rely on principles that are based on natural phenomena, and any artefact made by our engineering can be simultaneously regarded as a straightforward demonstration of the limitations of our knowledge and technology. While we have tended to seek to overcome these limits, we also often perceive the risks that these limits entail. I then articulate the existential risks and key factors involved in artificial concepts. Feeling the threat of such risks often produces existential anxiety about the loss of stable existence in the face of symbols of the highest level of future technology, or a discomfort over risk to the dignity of life. Thus, especially, in crises such as hazards, disasters (for example, Fukushima nuclear power plant accidents), climate change and wars, social scientific research of science and technology still needs to continue to examine the unforeseen risks around the technologies we produce.
Research: Setting Terms
Authors: Benjamin Garfield
Published: May 2024

This chapter focuses on the role of trust and metricization in academia and global tech research communities. It starts with a discussion of the colonial roots of academic power, and the role of epistemic injustice in defining certain privileged voices as more important than others. Credibility is assessed across academic metrics and discourse, to think about the power structures that shape research agendas and funding, and entrench historical biases around knowledge production. Examples discussed include the UK’s REF research assessment system, the uberfication of the university, the role of the lab, and the relations between academia and other forms of power. Discourses of quantification, extraction, objectivity and expertise are confronted in the way they perform barriers to who can shape, do or talk about creating knowledge.
Comparison of plane-to-sky contrast and detection range performance in the visible, short-wave infrared, mid-wave infrared, and long-wave infrared bands
Authors: Cavanaugh Richard , Jordan Shane , Rubis Jordan , Ledbetter Jamie , Driggers Ronald
Published: May 2024

Recent advances in uncrewed aerial vehicle (UAV) technology have the
potential to benefit diverse civil, commercial, scientific, and
defense projects. Many applications would benefit from beyond visual
line-of-sight (BVLOS) operations. Such operations require automated
safety systems that allow uncrewed aircraft to avoid collisions with
both crewed and uncrewed aircraft. Electro-optical and infrared
(EO/IR) sensors are commonly employed by aircraft collision avoidance
systems. This study compares plane-to-sky contrast in the VIS (0.4 to
0.7 µm), SWIR (1 to 1.7 µm), MWIR (3 to 5 µm),
and LWIR (8 to 14 µm) to determine which band is most sensitive
to an aircraft signal against a clear sky background. Contrast in the
two reflective bands (VIS and SWIR) is determined in terms of
equivalent reflectivity, and contrast in the two emissive bands (MWIR
and LWIR) is determined in terms of equivalent blackbody temperature.
Sensitivity data are then used alongside resolution specifications to
estimate the detection performance at-range using the night vision
integrated performance model (NVIPM). The results are extrapolated to
a maritime atmosphere using MODTRAN. An analysis of the range
performance and recommendations on band selection are provided for
reference in the design of EO/IR systems for aircraft collision
avoidance. Future research may study the band performance at night and
against other backgrounds (e.g. clouds, ocean, ground terrain).
Grating design methodology for laser cooling
Authors: Calviac Romain , Monmayrant Antoine , Dubreuil Pascal , Mazenq Laurent , Charlot Samuel , Gauguet Alexandre , Allard Baptiste , Gauthier-Lafaye Olivier
Published: May 2024

We present a design strategy for grating magneto-optical traps (GMOTs). It takes the three most relevant optical properties for laser cooling (radiation pressure balance, specular reflection cancellation, and diffracted polarization) to build a scalar figure of merit. We use a rigorous coupled wave analysis (RCWA) simulation to find a geometry that maximizes this figure of merit. We also introduce a criterion that takes into account the robustness of the manufacturing processes to select a geometry that is reliable to manufacture. Finally, we demonstrate that the fabricated grating exhibits the expected optical properties and achieves typical GMOT performance.
Observation of THz surface waves escaping from metal gratings through a dielectric substrate
Authors: Qi Hong , Yang Jinfeng , Wang You wei , Yang Zihao , Zhang Jiaming , Kato Kosaku , Nakajima Makoto , Li Dazhi , Tsai Cheng-Ying , Liu Zhengzheng , Wang Jian , Fan Kuanjun
Published: May 2024

Extensive research has been conducted on generating THz waves using Smith-Purcell radiation, yet a portion of the electron bunch’s interaction energy with the gratings is confined to the metal gratings’ surface, leading to a low THz radiation power. This paper experimentally demonstrates that metal gratings with a dielectric substrate can emit the resonant modes in surface waves when excited by relativistic femtosecond electron bunches. The observed spectra of the resonant THz waves align well with the theoretical estimations derived from the configuration’s dispersion relation and 3D simulations. In comparison to traditional Smith-Purcell radiation generated by the grating, these resonant THz waves exhibit significantly higher intensity and improved orientation. Additionally, we investigated the radiation characteristics of the resonant THz waves, including radiation angle, beam-grating distance, beam energy, and bunch length. This innovative approach presents a novel method for generating high-power coherent terahertz radiation.
Real-time ghost image characterization for panoramic annular lenses
Authors: Liao Yiqi , Ke Fang , Pan Yiru , Gao Shaohua , Bai Jian , Wang Kaiwei
Published: May 2024

As a common but troublesome branch of stray light, ghost images in catadioptric optical systems greatly limit the performances of such optics, including panoramic annular lenses (PAL). A versatile and robust real-time characterization algorithm for ghost images in PAL systems is proposed, with a new ray behavior quantifying index. It characterizes any kind of ghost image in the catadioptric unit with a high reliability, regardless of the actual existence of the ghost images. With newly extracted common feature and properly designed numerical methods specified to PAL systems locating representative rays, the evaluation runs almost instantly, allowing itself to be implemented in optical design process to perform real-time analyses on and to suppress ghost images. Multiple examples show the ability of the method on analyzing ghost image behaviors and achieving ghost-image-suppressed PAL designs. Along with further discussions, the potential of extending the method and its possible wider prospects can be reflected.
Laguerre–Gaussian laser filamentation for the control of electric discharges in air
Authors: Fu Silin , Arantchouk Leonid , Lozano Magali , Mysyrowicz André , Couairon Arnaud , Houard Aurelien
Published: May 2024

We study the use of Laguerre–Gaussian (LG) femtosecond laser filament with multi GW peak power to guide electric sparks in the atmosphere. We demonstrate that an LG beam with a vortex phase or with 6 azimuthal phase steps generates a filamentation regime, where a longer and more uniform energy deposition is produced compared to a normal beam with a flat phase. Such filaments can guide electric discharges over much longer distances. This technique could significantly extend the guiding range of laser filaments for lightning control and other long-range atmospheric experiments involving filamentation.
Engineering the passband shape of coupled-cavity filters for low loss and/or narrow bandwidth
Authors: Zhang Xinchang , Singh Manuj , Li Dingning , Popović Miloš A.
Published: May 2024

Emerging applications of photonic integrated circuits are calling for extremely narrowband and/or low-insertion-loss bandpass filters. Both properties are limited by cavity losses or intrinsic quality factors. However, the choice of inter-cavity and bus couplings establishes trade-offs between these two properties and the passband shape, which have been little explored. Using the widely used second-order resonant system as an example, we present new, to the best of our knowledge, classes of filter passband shapes that provide the lowest insertion loss and the narrowest bandwidth for a given loss Q. A normalized design and novel properties based on a temporal coupled-mode theory model are presented, including a design tool to apply these results. These results may benefit loss-sensitive filtering applications such as quantum-correlated photon pair sources and RF-photonic integrated circuits.
Near 2π solid angle fluorescence collection for laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy
Authors: Bai Yuting , Zhang Nan , Dong Haosheng , Lin Lie , Liu Bing
Published: May 2024

Detecting heavy metal and radioactive elements distributed in the environment and human body is crucial for life and environmental safety. A lens with a high numerical aperture (NA) is used in laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy to collect the plasma fluorescence as much as possible and improve the limit of detection. However, even a lens with NA up to 0.6, only the fluorescence in a solid angle of 0.4π can be collected. In this work, a novel, to our knowledge, fluorescence collecting scheme composed of a parabolic mirror and a lens is proposed which can collect the plasma fluorescence in a solid angle of ∼1.4π for an opaque material and ∼1.9π for a transparent material. Simulation results show that for opaque samples, this method can improve the fluorescence collection ability by 3.8 times compared to a single lens (NA = 0.5) collection scheme, and for transparent samples 4.5 times may be achieved. In experiments, a 2.8-fold enhancement in the fluorescence collection ability is demonstrated, and the signal-to-noise ratio is increased by 2.5 times for opaque samples.
The Female Global Scholars Program: A mixed-methods evaluation of a novel intervention to promote the retention and advancement of women in global health research
Authors: Cordeiro Alexandra A. , Walsh Kathleen F. , Sundararajan Radhika , Reif Lindsey K. , McNairy Margaret , Mathad Jyoti , Downs Jennifer A. , Fahme Sasha A.
Published: May 2024

Fewer than 25% of global health leadership positions worldwide are held by women, adversely impacting women’s health and widening gendered health disparities. The Female Global Scholars (FGS) Program, established in 2018 at Weill Cornell Medicine, is a two-year hybrid training and peer-mentorship program that promotes the retention and advancement of early-career female investigators conducting health research in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). The purpose of this study is to determine the impact of the FGS Program on individual career advancement, academic productivity, and research self-efficacy. This mixed-methods study followed an explanatory sequential design. Participants completed an electronic survey collecting information on demographics, academic milestones, and research skill competency. Survey data were descriptively analyzed using R (Version 1.4.1106). In-depth interviews explored perceptions of the impact of the FGS Program on career development. The authors independently reviewed and thematically analyzed de-identified transcripts using NVivo (Version 13). In June 2022, twelve participants completed the survey. The median age was 40 years; 90% carried an MD, PhD, or other post-graduate degree. Since joining the FGS Program, respondents achieved a combined total of eight awarded grants, five academic promotions, 12 oral scientific presentations and 35 first-author peer-reviewed publications. Thematic analysis identified four overarching themes: gaining confidence through mimicry; improved self-efficacy to address gendered challenges; real-world application of scientific and career development skills; and building multi-disciplinary communities in a protected female-only space. We demonstrate that this low-cost training and mentorship program successfully addresses critical barriers that impede women’s advancement in global health research. Our data may inform the adaptation of this initiative across other academic institutions.
Adaptive clinical trials in surgery: A scoping review of methodological and reporting quality
Authors: Staibano Phillip , Oulousian Emily , McKechnie Tyler , Thabane Alex , Luo Samuel , Gupta Michael K. , Zhang Han , Pasternak Jesse D. , Au Michael , Parpia Sameer , Young J. E. M. (Ted) , Bhandari Mohit
Published: May 2024

Importance

Adaptive surgical trials are scarce, but adopting these methods may help elevate the quality of surgical research when large-scale RCTs are impractical.

Objective

Randomized-controlled trials (RCTs) are the gold standard for evidence-based healthcare. Despite an increase in the number of RCTs, the number of surgical trials remains unchanged. Adaptive clinical trials can streamline trial design and time to trial reporting. The advantages identified for ACTs may help to improve the quality of future surgical trials. We present a scoping review of the methodological and reporting quality of adaptive surgical trials.

Evidence review

We performed a search of Ovid, Web of Science, and Cochrane Collaboration for all adaptive surgical RCTs performed from database inception to October 12, 2023. We included any published trials that had at least one surgical arm. All review and abstraction were performed in duplicate. Risk of bias (RoB) was assessed using the RoB 2.0 instrument and reporting quality was evaluated using CONSORT ACE 2020. All results were analyzed using descriptive methods.

Findings

Of the 1338 studies identified, six trials met inclusion criteria. Trials were performed in cardiothoracic, oral, orthopedic, and urological surgery. The most common type of adaptive trial was group sequential design with pre-specified interim analyses planned for efficacy, futility, and/or sample size re-estimation. Two trials did use statistical simulations. Our risk of bias evaluation identified a high risk of bias in 50% of included trials. Reporting quality was heterogeneous regarding trial design and outcome assessment and details in relation to randomization and blinding concealment.

Conclusion and relevance

Surgical trialists should consider implementing adaptive components to help improve patient recruitment and reduce trial duration. Reporting of future adaptive trials must adhere to existing CONSORT ACE 2020 guidelines. Future research is needed to optimize standardization of adaptive methods across medicine and surgery.
Effects of eicosapentaneoic acid on innate immune responses in an Atlantic salmon kidney cell line in vitro
Authors: Gjøen Tor , Ruyter Bente , Østbye Tone Kari
Published: May 2024

Studies of the interplay between metabolism and immunity, known as immunometabolism, is steadily transforming immunological research into new understandings of how environmental cues like diet are affecting innate and adaptive immune responses. The aim of this study was to explore antiviral transcriptomic responses under various levels of polyunsaturated fatty acid. Atlantic salmon kidney cells (ASK cell line) were incubated for one week in different levels of the unsaturated n-3 eicosapentaneoic acid (EPA) resulting in cellular levels ranging from 2–20% of total fatty acid. These cells were then stimulated with the viral mimic and interferon inducer poly I:C (30 ug/ml) for 24 hours before total RNA was isolated and sequenced for transcriptomic analyses. Up to 200 uM EPA had no detrimental effects on cell viability and induced very few transcriptional changes in these cells. However, in combination with poly I:C, our results shows that the level of EPA in the cellular membranes exert profound dose dependent effects of the transcriptional profiles induced by this treatment. Metabolic pathways like autophagy, apelin and VEGF signaling were attenuated by EPA whereas transcripts related to fatty acid metabolism, ferroptosis and the PPAR signaling pathways were upregulated. These results suggests that innate antiviral responses are heavily influenced by the fatty acid profile of salmonid cells and constitute another example of the strong linkage between general metabolic pathways and inflammatory responses.
Existence and uniqueness of well-posed fractional boundary value problem
Authors: Wang Yuanheng , Jurrat Barrira , Ejaz Muddasir , Azeem Muhammad , Elashiry M. I.
Published: May 2024

In this paper, the existence and uniqueness of solution for a fractional differential model involving well-posed boundary conditions and implicit fractional differential equation is considered. The desired goals are achieved by using Banach contraction principle and Scheafer’s fixed point theorem. To show the results applicability some examples are presented. The basic mathematical concept of well-posed fractional boundary value issues is investigated in this study. It dives into the existence and uniqueness of these difficulties, offering light on the conditions that allow for both practical and singular solutions. This study contributes to a better knowledge of fractional calculus and its applications in a variety of scientific and technical areas, giving significant insights for both scholars and practitioners.
An interview with Dr G. James Daichendt
Authors: Brooks Mirella
Published: May 2024

Dr G. James Daichendt is an art critic, art historian, art educator and arts administrator, living and working in San Diego, California. Through an interview on 2 February 2023, we discussed his childhood, people and ideas that influenced his philosophy of art education. The interview captures the biographical history and ideas of this unique arts scholar celebrating both Jim the person and Dr Daichendt the arts academic.
Potassium silicate as a new micronutrient agent in the initial development of sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.)
Authors: Malta Felipe da Silva , Sharma Porshia , Menezes Filho Antonio Carlos Pereira de , Castro Carlos Frederico de Souza , Teixeira Marconi Batista , Soares Frederico Antônio Loureiro , Melo Aurélio Ferreira , Ventura Matheus Vinícius Abadia
Published: May 2024

Silicon (Si) is considered a non-essential micronutrient for vegetables, although it has important functions during vegetative development in some large crops of agricultural interest. This study aimed to evaluate the action of Silicon on vegetative development in a sunflower cultivar ‘Multissol’. The experiment was carried out in full sun in February 2024, with five dosages (0; 150; 300; 600 and 900 kg ha-1) using potassium silicate as a source of Si. The vigor variables for humidity, germination, accelerated aging, weight of 100 grains, electrical conductivity, cold test and emergence in sand and soil were analyzed. Vegetative parameters for plant height, root size, number of leaves, aerial and root fresh mass and aerial and root dry mass were also evaluated. The germination rate was greater than 90%, the electrical conductivity was 100 µS cm-1.g-1, emergence in sand and soil was greater than 90%, regarding the variables of the vegetative phase, there were substantial gains (p < 0.05) in all parameters analyzed, especially for the highest dosage of 900 kg ha-1 when compared between the control. Si has a positive effect on the evaluated parameters and is a non-essential element that has positive effects on sunflower crops, especially on the Multissol cultivar.