bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Diversity of mitochondrial genes and predominance of Clade B in different head lice populations in the northwest of Iran
Authors: Ghavami Mohammad Bagher , Ghanbari Maryam , Panahi Sanaz , Taghiloo Behrooz
Published: September 2020

Background

The head louse, Pediculus humanus capitis, is the most important ectoparasite causing many health problems. Several linkages are presented for this parasite, each representing a particular geographical distribution, prevalence rate, vector competence, susceptibility to pediculicides, and infestation rate. Determining the genetic nature of these linkages is necessary to identify the population structure and also to develop and monitor control programmes against head lice. This study was designed to analyse cox1 and cytb genes and determine the mitochondrial clades in head lice populations in the northwest of Iran.

Methods

Adult head lice were collected from infested females of Ardabil, East and West Azerbaijan, and Zanjan Provinces from 2016 to 2018. Partial fragments of the mitochondrial genes cox1 and cytb were amplified by PCR and some of the amplicons were sequenced. All confirmed sequences were analysed, and the frequency of each mitochondrial clade was determined in the studied areas.

Results

A total of 6410 females were clinically examined, and 897 adult head lice were collected from 562 infested cases. Genomic DNA was extracted from 417 samples, and fragments of cox1 and cytb genes were amplified in 348 individuals. Analysis of the 116 sequences showed the 632-bp and 495-bp fragments for cox1 and cytb genes, respectively. The nucleotide and haplotype diversities of cytb and cox1 genes were 0.02261 and 0.589 and 0.01443 and 0.424, respectively. Sequence analysis indicated 6 haplotypes clustered in two clades, A and B. The relative prevalence of clade B was 73% for cytb and 82% for cox1 gene. Haplotypes of clade B were found in all the studied areas, while those of clade A were observed only in rural and suburban areas.

Conclusions

To our knowledge, this is the first study investigated deeply the field populations of Pediculus and documented two clades in the Middle East. The considerable prevalence of pediculosis in the studied areas requires authorities’ attention to establish effective control and preventive measures. Given the role of cytb in monitoring population groups, application of this marker is suggested for future epigenetic studies to evaluate the factors affecting the abundance of these clades.
Importation of cats and risk of parasite spread: a Caribbean perspective and case study from St Kitts
Authors: Ketzis Jennifer , Bork-Larsen Helle , Bustria Jernea , Conan Anne
Published: September 2020

Background

In more recent years, international travel with cats has increased. The distribution of cat parasites can change with this movement. Already, subtropical and tropical parasites have been reported by veterinarians in areas where they are not naturally present. Understanding the prevalence of tropical and subtropical parasites in Caribbean islands and the risk of importation to temperate areas could enable improved prevention recommendations and border control import requirements.

Methods

We present a study focused on cat owning students enrolled in a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM) programme on St Kitts. Owners were interviewed about their cats and their use of parasiticides. Cats were examined forTrichuris felisandPlatynosomum fastosumusing sugar flotation,Lynxacarus radovskyiusing an adhesive tape test, andDirofilaria immitisusing commercial antigen and antibody tests.

Results

Data on 115 cats owned by 87 DVM students were collected and 90 cats, all expected to travel to the USA, were examined. Most of the cats were adults and born in St Kitts. Prevalence was reported as 6.8% (95% confidence interval (CI): 2.2–15.1%) forT. felis, 16.2% (95% CI: 8.7–26.6%) forP. fastosumand 6.8% (95% CI: 2.5–14.3%) forL. radovskyi. AllD. immitistests were negative. DVM students reported a high level of deworming (83.3% of the cats), but the number of cats treated per recommendations were low (56.1% for endoparasites and 70.8% for ectoparasites). Also, there was a lack of clarity regarding the purpose of the treatments used and treatments did not appear to be targeted for the parasites present.

Conclusion

Our results indicate a low prevalence of the parasites of interest in the DVM student cat population compared to other prevalence studies from the Caribbean. However, a degree of non-compliance with parasiticide uses and the high number of cats traveling to the USA indicate a medium risk of importation of tropical and subtropical cat parasites to temperate areas. We recommend stronger health inspections and health screening requirements at the borders including the development of specific parasiticide protocols for cat importation.
Planning capacity for 5G and beyond wireless networks by discrete fireworks algorithm with ensemble of local search methods
Authors: Ali Hafiz Munsub , Liu Jiangchuan , Ejaz Waleed
Published: September 2020

In densely populated urban centers, planning optimized capacity for the fifth-generation (5G) and beyond wireless networks is a challenging task. In this paper, we propose a mathematical framework for the planning capacity of a 5G and beyond wireless networks. We considered a single-hop wireless network consists of base stations (BSs), relay stations (RSs), and user equipment (UEs). Wireless network planning (WNP) should decide the placement of BSs and RSs to the candidate sites and decide the possible connections among them and their further connections to UEs. The objective of the planning is to minimize the hardware and operational cost while planning capacity of a 5G and beyond wireless networks. The formulated WNP is an integer programming problem. Finding an optimal solution by using exhaustive search is not practical due to the demand for high computing resources. As a practical approach, a new population-based meta-heuristic algorithm is proposed to find a high-quality solution. The proposed discrete fireworks algorithm (DFWA) uses an ensemble of local search methods: insert, swap, and interchange. The performance of the proposed DFWA is compared against the low-complexity biogeography-based optimization (LC-BBO), the discrete artificial bee colony (DABC), and the genetic algorithm (GA). Simulation results and statistical tests demonstrate that the proposed algorithm can comparatively find good-quality solutions with moderate computing resources.
The impact of eHealth group interventions on the mental, behavioral, and physical health of adults: a systematic review protocol
Authors: Currie Cheryl L. , Larouche Richard , Voss M. Lauren , Higa Erin K. , Spiwak Rae , Scott David , Tallow Treena
Published: September 2020

Background

COVID-19 has resulted in an increased demand for eHealth services globally. There is emerging evidence for the efficacy for group eHealth interventions that support population-based mental health and wellbeing, but a systematic review is lacking. The primary objective of this systematic review is to summarize the evidence for eHealth group counseling and coaching programs for adults. A second objective is to assess, within studies selected for our primary objective, the impact of programs that encourage PA on outcomes compared to those that do not.

Methods

Randomized controlled trials that assess the impact of eHealth group counseling or coaching programs on mental health, health behavior, or physical health activity among community-dwelling adults will be included. We will search the following electronic databases (from January 2005 onwards): MEDLINE, PsycINFO, CINHAL, and the Central Register of Controlled Trials. The primary outcomes will be changes in mental health conditions (e.g., depression, anxiety, stress, quality of life), behavioral health conditions (e.g., substance use, smoking, sexual behavior, eating behavior, medication adherence), and physical health conditions (e.g., coping with cancer, menopausal symptoms, arthritis pain). Secondary outcomes will be changes in physical activity. Two reviewers will independently screen all citations, full-text articles, and abstract data. Potential conflicts will be resolved through discussion with a third reviewer. A narrative synthesis without meta-analysis will be conducted. The strength of the body of evidence will be assessed using GRADE. The risk of bias in individual studies will be appraised using the Cochrane Risk of Bias 2.0 tool. Potential sources of gender bias in included studies will be considered at all stages of the planned review.

Discussion

This review will contribute to the literature by providing evidence on the effectiveness of eHealth counseling and coaching programs delivered to adults in a group format.

Systematic review registration

The protocol has been registered at the International Prospective Register of Systematic Reviews (PROSPERO: CRD42020187551).
Effect of exogenous salicylic acid or indole acetic acid on their endogenous levels, germination, and growth in maize
Authors: El-Mergawi Ragab A. , Abd El-Wahed Mohamed S. A.
Published: September 2020

Background

Exogenous hormone applications modify the plant growth and development by inducing changes in their endogenous contents. However, it is not clear whether the effects of exogenous hormones on growth are direct or related with changes induced in endogenous hormones. Laboratory and greenhouse experiments were conducted to study the effect of exogenous salicylic acid (SA) or indole acetic acid (IAA) on endogenous levels in soaked seeds, 5-day-old seedlings, and in vegetative growth of foliar-sprayed plants. The effects of different concentrations of two hormones on germination and growth of maize were also studied.

Results

The effect of presoaking maize seeds in solutions of SA or IAA (0, 0.25, 0.5, 1, and 2 mM) on their endogenous contents in soaked seeds or in 5-day-old seedlings. Soaked seeds absorbed more SA than IAA. In young seedlings, the majority of two hormones which absorbed during seed soaking remained in the residual seeds. Presoaking seeds in SA or IAA solutions suppressed the growth of 5-day-old seedlings. In the greenhouse experiment, endogenous SA and IAA increased after spraying two compounds at 0.25–2 mM, peaking 2 days after treatment then decreased on. However, plants treated with SA at 1 mM or 2 mM continued to pose higher levels of endogenous SA, 8 days later. At 20 days after treatments, all tested concentrations of two hormones significantly increased the fresh and dry weights of the whole plant. These inducing effects disappeared 40 days after spraying.

Conclusion

The obtained results demonstrated the changes in endogenous SA and IAA in soaked seeds, seedling, and foliar-sprayed plants due to their exogenous application. However, concentrations of two hormones did not produce any permanent enhancement effects on germination and plant growth.
Repositioning the Alpha Cell in Postprandial Metabolism
Authors: El Kimberley , Capozzi Megan E , Campbell Jonathan E
Published: September 2020

Glucose homeostasis is maintained in large part due to the actions of the pancreatic islet hormones insulin and glucagon, secreted from β- and α-cells, respectively. The historical narrative positions these hormones in opposition, with insulin primarily responsible for glucose-lowering and glucagon-driving elevations in glucose. Recent progress in this area has revealed a more complex relationship between insulin and glucagon, highlighted by data demonstrating that α-cell input is essential for β-cell function and glucose homeostasis. Moreover, the common perception that glucagon levels decrease following a nutrient challenge is largely shaped by the inhibitory effects of glucose administration alone on the α-cell. Largely overlooked is that a mixed nutrient challenge, which is more representative of typical human feeding, actually stimulates glucagon secretion. Thus, postprandial metabolism is associated with elevations, not decreases, in α-cell activity. This review discusses the recent advances in our understanding of how α-cells regulate metabolism, with a particular focus on the postprandial state. We highlight α- to β-cell communication, a term that describes how α-cell input into β-cells is a critical axis that regulates insulin secretion and glucose homeostasis. Finally, we discuss the open questions that have the potential to advance this field and continue to evolve our understanding of the role that α-cells play in postprandial metabolism.
Update on the Health Effects of Bisphenol A: Overwhelming Evidence of Harm
Authors: vom Saal Frederick S , Vandenberg Laura N
Published: September 2020

In 1997, the first in vivo bisphenol A (BPA) study by endocrinologists reported that feeding BPA to pregnant mice induced adverse reproductive effects in male offspring at the low dose of 2 µg/kg/day. Since then, thousands of studies have reported adverse effects in animals administered low doses of BPA. Despite more than 100 epidemiological studies suggesting associations between BPA and disease/dysfunction also reported in animal studies, regulatory agencies continue to assert that BPA exposures are safe. To address this disagreement, the CLARITY-BPA study was designed to evaluate traditional endpoints of toxicity and modern hypothesis-driven, disease-relevant outcomes in the same set of animals. A wide range of adverse effects was reported in both the toxicity and the mechanistic endpoints at the lowest dose tested (2.5 µg/kg/day), leading independent experts to call for the lowest observed adverse effect level (LOAEL) to be dropped 20 000-fold from the current outdated LOAEL of 50 000 µg/kg/day. Despite criticism by members of the Endocrine Society that the Food and Drug Administration (FDA)’s assumptions violate basic principles of endocrinology, the FDA rejected all low-dose data as not biologically plausible. Their decisions rely on 4 incorrect assumptions: dose responses must be monotonic, there exists a threshold below which there are no effects, both sexes must respond similarly, and only toxicological guideline studies are valid. This review details more than 20 years of BPA studies and addresses the divide that exists between regulatory approaches and endocrine science. Ultimately, CLARITY-BPA has shed light on why traditional methods of evaluating toxicity are insufficient to evaluate endocrine disrupting chemicals.
The Perception-Cognition Border: A Case for Architectural Division
Authors: Green E. J.
Published: September 2020

A venerable view holds that a border between perception and cognition is built into our cognitive architecture and that this imposes limits on the way information can flow between them. While the deliverances of perception are freely available for use in reasoning and inference, there are strict constraints on information flow in the opposite direction. Despite its plausibility, this approach to the perception-cognition border has faced criticism in recent years. This article develops an updated version of the architectural approach, which I call the dimension restriction hypothesis (DRH). According to DRH, perceptual processes are constrained to compute over a bounded range of dimensions, while cognitive processes are not. This view allows that perception is cognitively penetrable, but places strict limits on the varieties of penetration that can occur. The article argues that DRH enjoys both theoretical and empirical support, and also defends the view against several objections.
Social hierarchy reveals thermoregulatory trade-offs in response to repeated stressors
Authors: Robertson Joshua K. , Mastromonaco Gabriela F. , Burness Gary
Published: September 2020

Coping with stressors can require substantial energetic investment, and when resources are limited, such investment can preclude simultaneous expenditure on other biological processes. Among endotherms, energetic demands of thermoregulation can be immense, yet our understanding of whether a stress response is sufficient to induce changes in thermoregulatory investment is limited. Using the black-capped chickadee as a model species, we tested a hypothesis that stress-induced changes in surface temperature, a well-documented phenomenon across vertebrates, stem from trade-offs between thermoregulation and stress responsiveness. Because social subordination is known to constrain access to resources in this species, we predicted that surface temperature and dry heat loss of social subordinates, but not social dominants, would fall under stress exposure at low ambient temperatures (“Ta”), and rise under stress exposure at high Ta, thus permitting a reduction in expenditure toward thermoregulation. To test our predictions, we exposed four social groups of chickadees to repeated stressors and control conditions across a Ta gradient (ndays/treatment/group=30), whilst remotely monitoring social interactions and surface temperatures. Supporting our hypothesis, we show that: 1) social subordinates (n=12), who fed less than social dominants and alone experienced stress-induced mass-loss, displayed significantly larger changes in surface temperature following stress exposure than social dominants (n=8), and 2) stress-induced changes in surface temperature significantly increased heat conservation at low Tas and heat dissipation at high Tas among social subordinates alone. These results suggest that chickadees adjust their thermoregulatory strategies under stress when resources are limited by ecologically relevant processes.
Low frequency electroencephalogram oscillations govern left-eye lateralization during anti-predatory responses in the music frog
Authors: Shen Jiangyan , Fang Ke , Liu Ping , Fan Yanzhu , Yang Jing , Shen Di , Song Jinjin , Fang Guangzhan
Published: September 2020

Visual lateralization is widespread for prey and anti-predation in numerous taxa. However, it is still unknown how the brain governs this asymmetry. In this study, we conducted both behavioral and electrophysiological experiments to evaluate anti-predatory behaviors and dynamic brain activities in the Emei music frogs (Nidirana daunchina) in order to explore the potential eye bias for anti-predation and the underlying neural mechanism. To do this, the predator stimuli (the head of a snake model and leaf as control) were moved around the subjects in clockwise and anticlockwise at steady velocity, respectively. We counted the number of anti-predatory responses and measured electroencephalogram (EEG) power spectra for each band and each brain area (the telencephalon, diencephalon and mesencephalon). The results showed that: (1) no significant eye preferences could be found for the control (leaf), however, the laterality index was significantly lower than zero when the predator stimulus was moved anticlockwise, suggesting left-eye advantage exists in this species for anti-predation; (2) compared with no stimulus in the visual field, the power spectra of delta and alpha bands were significantly greater when the predator stimulus was moved into LVF anticlockwise; and (3) generally, the power spectra of each band in the right-hemisphere for LVF were higher than those in the left counterpart. These results support that the left-eye mediates monitoring of the predator in the music frogs and the lower frequency EEG oscillations govern this visual lateralization.
Relationship of Hospital Star Ratings to Race, Education, and Community Income
Authors: Shi Bo , King Christopher J , Huang Sean Shenghsiu
Published: September 2020

INTRODUCTION

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) publishes hospital quality ratings to provide more transparent and useable quality information to patients and stakeholders. However, there is a gap in the literature regarding the geographic distribution of the hospitals with higher star ratings. In this paper, we focus on the associations between star ratings and community characteristics, including racial/ethnic mix, household income, educational attainment, and regional difference.

METHODS

A retrospective study and cross‐sectional logistic and multinomial logistic regression analyses.

RESULTS

According to the multivariate regression results, hospitals in areas with lower income, lower educational attainment, and higher minority population shares have lower quality ratings (lower income: odds ratio [OR] 0.67; 95% CI, 0.49‐0.91; lower education: OR 0.66; 95% CI, 0.51‐0.85; higher minority: OR 0.52; 95% CI, 0.40‐0.69). Compared with hospitals in the Midwest, hospitals in Northeast, South, and West regions have lower quality ratings (Northeast: OR 0.37; 95% CI, 0.25‐0.56; South: OR 0.68; 95% CI, 0.51‐0.91; West: OR 0.69; 95% CI, 0.49‐0.97).

DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION

Overall, our results show that hospitals with higher star ratings are less likely to be located in communities with higher minority populations, lower income, and lower levels of educational attainment. Findings contribute to the discussion of integrating social factors in hospital quality star rating calculation methodologies.
Are Online Reviews of Physicians Reliable Indicators of Clinical Outcomes? A Focus on Chronic Disease Management
Authors: Saifee Danish H. , Zheng Zhiqiang (Eric) , Bardhan Indranil R. , Lahiri Atanu
Published: September 2020

Are Online Reviews of Physicians Reliable Indicators of Clinical Outcomes? A Focus on Chronic Disease Management
Children's dentistry in secondary care during COVID-19
Authors: Patel Kunal B , Fong Franchesca , Kaur Ravinder , Davies Janet , Whatling Rosemary
Published: September 2020

The COVID-19 pandemic has brought a unique set of challenges to assessing and treating paediatric dental patients in the secondary care setting. These children often present with high disease burdens and high levels of anxiety. In addition, they may have medical conditions which add to their treatment complexity. At the Royal London Dental Hospital, innovations have been put in place to improve the patient journey in a time where access to both out-patient and general anaesthetic services have been severely limited. Long term these innovations will help us to improve our service and facilitate communication with patients/carers, general dental and medical practitioners, safeguarding and specialist medical teams. It will create more flexible and creative work patterns for the dental team.

CPD/Clinical Relevance: This paper illustrates the innovations that were introduced to overcome the challenges faced during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Supporting Urgent Dental Care as the New Normal
Authors: Truman Angharad , Forbes-Haley Claire , Bell Christopher , Jerreat Matthew
Published: September 2020

Across healthcare systems stringent measures have been introduced to prevent the sustained transmission of COVID-19. With the ease of lockdown the provision of all routine, non-urgent dental care will continue to be affected in England for some time. The provision of urgent dental care (UDC) via a robust and safe service has been constructed across every NHS region. In the South West, phone triaging has been an integral part of UDC centres operating procedure. Phone triaging will be required for some time. This proforma will be a valuable resource, especially for primary care practices as they move to re-opening.

CPD/Clinical Relevance: The clinical relevance is to share the effective use of a standardized telephone triage form supported by NHS England and NHS Improvement – South West (NHSE/I SW).
Back pain in inflammatory bowel disease: could it be axial spondyloarthritis?
Authors: Harrison Heather
Published: September 2020

Patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), including Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis, commonly face the additional burden of extraintestinal manifestations (EIMs). The most frequently occurring of these EIMs are musculoskeletal problems, with axial spondyloarthritis reported as affecting as many as 12% of IBD patients. This inflammatory condition, which primarily affects the spine, results in pain, stiffness and reduced quality of life. The social consequences of the condition are significant, with patients more likely to have depression and/or retire early from work and less likely to have children. In recent years, there have been advances in the treatment of this chronic, debilitating condition. However, delay to diagnosis still remains high, at an average of 8.5 years. Gastrointestinal nurses have the potential to identify patients attending gastroenterology clinics who exhibit symptoms that are suggestive of spondyloarthritis. This could have an important influence on the time taken to get a diagnosis.
A literature review of customer behaviour patterns on e-commerce websites using an eye tracker
Authors: Kamangar Arash
Published: September 2020

The purpose of this paper is to provide a systematic literature review of 26 papers in which an eye tracker has been used to analyse how e-commerce websites can impact customers' behaviour. Most journal articles included in the literature on consumer neuroscience only provide a summary
of the actual functions of neuroscience techniques. There are no reviews of studies that focus on the use of an eye tracker on e-commerce websites in either the consumer neuroscience or marketing research literature. The findings show that websites affect customers differently according to
variables such as age, gender, nationality, etc., so there is a need to make changes in how the website is designed, depending on the types of users and audiences of the websites. This review article discusses limitations and suggestions for future research as well as detailing the theoretical
and practical implications for neuromarketing.
Performance analysis of phase retrieval using transport of intensity with digital holography [Invited]
Authors: Zhou Haowen , Stoykova Elena , Hussain Mallik , Banerjee Partha P.
Published: September 2020

The performance of direct and unwrapped phase retrieval, which combines digital holography with the transport of intensity, is examined in detail in this paper. In this technique, digital holography is used to numerically reconstruct the intensities at different planes around the image plane, and phase retrieval is achieved by the transport of intensity. Digital holography with transport of intensity is examined for inline and off-axis geometries. The effect of twin images in the inline case is evaluated. Phase-shifting digital holography with transport of intensity is introduced. The performance of digital holography with transport of intensity is compared with traditional off-axis single- and dual-wavelength techniques, which employ standard phase unwrapping algorithms. Simulations and experiments are performed to determine and compare the accuracy of phase retrieval through a mean-squared-error figure of merit as well as the computational speeds of the various methods.
Aligning an optical cavity: with reference to cavity ring-down spectroscopy
Authors: Telfah Hamzeh , Paul Anam C. , Liu Jinjun
Published: September 2020

A procedure for timely, accurate, and reproducible alignment of an
optical cavity is described.
Dynamic calibration for enhancing the stability of a channeled spectropolarimeter
Authors: Chrysler Benjamin D. , Oka Kazuhiko , Otani Yukitoshi , Hagen Nathan
Published: September 2020

Channeled spectropolarimeters are optical instruments that measure the spectral dependence of the polarization of light without any mechanically moving parts. An important factor in achieving stable and accurate measurements is the calibration process, especially in dynamic environments where temperature fluctuations or other factors affect the retardance of the components in the polarimeter. In previous research, a self-calibration algorithm that accounts for these variations was developed, without any additional reference measurements. In this paper, we identify an ambiguity in the self-calibration phase, which limits the allowed temperature changes to surprisingly small ranges. We show how to adaptively estimate and correct for the phase ambiguity using a polynomial curve-fitting algorithm, extending the temperature range to virtually all practical scenarios. Lastly, we demonstrate the ability of the modified self-calibration algorithm to provide stable reconstruction of the Stokes vector for a temperature range

>

40
∘

C

, using an experimental channeled spectropolarimeter.
Wiener-Hammerstein model and its learning for nonlinear digital pre-distortion of optical transmitters
Authors: Sasai Takeo , Nakamura Masanori , Yamazaki Etsushi , Matsushita Asuka , Okamoto Seiji , Horikoshi Kengo , Kisaka Yoshiaki
Published: September 2020

We present a simple nonlinear digital pre-distortion (DPD) of optical transmitter components, which consists of concatenated blocks of a finite impulse response (FIR) filter, a memoryless nonlinear function and another FIR filter. The model is a Wiener-Hammerstein (WH) model and has essentially the same structure as neural networks or multilayer perceptrons. This awareness enables one to achieve complexity-efficient DPD owing to the model-aware structure and exploit the well-developed optimization scheme in the machine learning field. The effectiveness of the method is assessed by electrical and optical back-to-back (B2B) experiments, and the results show that the WH DPD offers a 0.52-dB gain in signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) and 6.0-dB gain in optical modulator output power at a fixed SNR over linear-only DPD.
Multifunctional focusing and accelerating of light with a simple flat lens
Authors: Talukdar Tahmid H. , Ryckman Judson D.
Published: September 2020

The wavefronts emerging from phase gradient metasurfaces are typically sensitive to incident beam properties such as angle, wavelength, or polarization. While this sensitivity can result in undesired wavefront aberrations, it can also be exploited to construct multifunctional devices which dynamically vary their behavior in response to tuning a specified degree of freedom. Here, we show how incident beam tilt in a one dimensional metalens naturally offers a means for changing functionality between diffraction limited focusing and the generation of non-paraxial accelerating light beams. This attractively offers enhanced control over accelerating beam characteristics in a simple and compact form factor.
High-peak-power 786 nm and 452 nm lasers based on 1064 nm intracavity-driven cascaded nonlinear optical frequency conversion
Authors: Chen Haiwei , Huang Haitao , Wu Fuyan , Wang Fei , Shen Deyuan
Published: September 2020

We demonstrated high-peak-power 786 nm and 452 nm lasers based on 1064 nm intracavity-driven cascaded nonlinear optical frequency conversion (CNOFC). The 1064 nm fundamental wave generated from the LD-side-pumped Nd:YAG was first intracavity converted to 1572 nm by a noncritically phase-matched KTP OPO. Then a LBO-based second harmonic generation of 1572 nm was served as cascaded process to produce 786 nm laser radiation. The maximum average output power at 786 nm was 1.34 W, corresponding to a pulse peak power of 14.2 kW with 11.2 ns pulse width and 8 kHz pulse repetition rate. Furthermore, a third stage of sum frequency mixing between 786 nm and 1064 nm was designed to achieve the blue emission at 452 nm. The 452 nm blue laser delivers 263 mW, 6.2 ns pulses with a peak power of 5.3 kW, paving the way for achieving high-peak-power blue lasers.
Regulation of Internet-of-Things cybersecurity in Europe and Germany as exemplified by devices for children
Authors: Hessel Stefan , Rebmann Andreas
Published: September 2020

IoT devices are omnipresent in children‘s rooms. At the same time these devices and their infrastructure have become notorious for security flaws. The following paper analyses current and future legal reglementation and IT security measures to protect children as an especially vulnerable group.
Mediated heroes? Media-made heroes and the mediation of the heroic
Authors: Jerslev Anne
Published: September 2020

The article asks to what extent Daniel Boorstein’s generalized and cultural pessimistic description of the rise of the culture of celebrified visibility and the demise of the hero in the 1960s can be used in order to understand contemporary mediated heroism? In answering the question, the article suggests that it is useful to distinguish between media-made heroism and mediated heroism. Moreover, it argues that celebrification does not in itself mean that heroism vanishes. By contrast, the suggestion is that we should instead look into ways different media genres allow for different kind of heroes. The article goes through three different examples in order to substantiate these claims: the finale of the first Big Brother programme in Denmark from 2001, a CBS 60 Minutes news segment about air captain Chesley Sullenberger’s landing his plane on the Hudson River and rescuing all onboard in January 2009 and finally a more lengthy discussion of the Danish version of the US factual entertainment programme Alene i vildmarken (Alone in the Wilderness). The point of the article is that generic framing is crucial to the negotiation and, hence, to both setting limits and expanding possibilities for contemporary interpretations of heroism.
Design and validation of a music technology course for initial music teacher education based on the TPACK framework and the project-based learning approach
Authors: Tejada Jesús , Morel Tomás Thayer
Published: September 2020

This project outlines a design for, and presents an evaluation and validation of, an information and communication technology (ICT) training course on an initial teacher education programme for pre-service music teachers at a Spanish University. The primary objective was to improve initial teacher education in music technology through a course design with two key components: (1) constructivist learning through collaborative projects (PBL) and (2) the technological pedagogical content knowledge (TPACK) integration framework. The course saw students carry out four real-life projects, three of which involved the elaboration of educational material through the exclusive use of musical technology, and one of which involved an ICT research project. Results were obtained through an end-product evaluation and a self-assessment questionnaire and indicated that the course was well received and highly valued by the participants. In their self-assessment responses, students spoke of the academic value of the course, a confidence in their own skills, their willingness to use ICTs in future teaching contexts, the importance of ICTs in their degree programme, the fact that the course surpassed their expectations in terms of achievement (a fact corroborated through data triangulation in the end-product evaluation) and the transferability of the knowledge acquired to the music classroom. Finally, they provided suggestions for potential improvements to the course.
Inner Ear: A tool for individualizing sound-focused aural skill acquisition
Authors: Tsabary Eldad , Savage Danielle , Ogborn David , Beckett Christine , Szigetvári Andrea , Beverley Jamie , Del Angel Luis N. , Leblond-Chartrand Jasmine , Park Spencer
Published: September 2020

Inner Ear is a browser-based aural training software designed to improve and better understand the process and means through which students acquire sound-focused aural skills. Its ongoing development follows educational principles established through years of research with undergraduate music students who major in electroacoustic studies, beginning in 2005. It provides users with ongoing detailed feedback about their performance, areas that need additional work, and an accessible notepad for students to record their insights during practice. It collects data on users’ performance and settings that can later be analysed and shared with their instructor. The design of Inner Ear follows insights that emerged in students’ feedback, provided mostly in home practice reports. Primary among these insights are the needs for individualizable practice environments, diversified exercises, speedy and informative feedback and progress evaluation methods.
Thinking, being, teaching and learning with Spotify: Aspects of existential and essential musical bildung through listening in the classroom
Authors: Almqvist Cecilia Ferm
Published: September 2020

Streaming media seems to have become a natural part in teachers’ professional life. Streamed music, primarily distributed by the company Spotify, sounds in most music and dance classrooms, not least in Swedish schools. Hence, the concepts of digitalization and listening are accentuated within the area of music education. Within the frames of a larger border-crossing research project financed by Wallenbergstiftelsen – ‘Evolving bildung in the nexus of streaming services, art and users: Spotify as a case’, which aims to explore the meaning and function of streaming media as a facilitator of bildung, using Spotify as a case – this presentation takes two interviews regarding Spotify use as a starting point. One music teacher and one dance teacher, among sixteen participants, were interviewed about their use of Spotify. The aim with the specific analysis was to describe the phenomenon of bildung regionalized to relational school settings, where streamed music, teachers and students come together in intended learning situations. The interviews were stimulated by the teachers’ own Spotify interfaces, and documented by the virtual communication tool Zoom. They were transcribed and analysed in a phenomenological narrative manner. The narrative is shaped as a dialogue between the two teachers, to make similarities and differences regarding relations with Spotify in the classroom setting visible. The result shows aspects of existential and essential bildung through listening taking place as being, thinking and acting with Spotify in the spirit of Heidegger.
Prevalence and antibiotic susceptibility of Mannheimia haemolytica and Pasteurella multocida isolated from ovine respiratory infection: A study from Karnataka, Southern India
Authors: Sahay Swati , Natesan Krithiga , Prajapati Awadhesh , Kalleshmurthy Triveni , Shome Bibek Ranjan , Rahman Habibur , Shome Rajeswari
Published: September 2020

Background and Aim: Respiratory infection due to Mannheimia haemolytica and Pasteurella multocida are responsible for huge economic losses in livestock sector globally and it is poorly understood in ovine population. The study aimed to investigate and characterize M. haemolytica and P. multocida from infected and healthy sheep to rule out the involvement of these bacteria in the disease.

Materials and Methods: A total of 374 healthy and infected sheep samples were processed for isolation, direct detection by multiplex PCR (mPCR), and antibiotic susceptibility testing by phenotypic and genotypic methods.

Results: Overall, 55 Pasteurella isolates (27 [7.2%] M. haemolytica and 28 [7.4%] P. multocida) were recovered and identified by bacteriological tests and species-specific PCR assays. Significant correlation between the detection of M. haemolytica (66.6%) with disease condition and P. multocida (19.1%) exclusively from infected sheep was recorded by mPCR. In vitro antibiotic susceptibility testing of 55 isolates revealed higher multidrug resistance in M. haemolytica (25.9%) than P. multocida (7.1%) isolates. Descending resistance towards penicillin (63.6%), oxytetracycline (23.6%), streptomycin (14.5%), and gentamicin (12.7%) and absolute sensitivity towards chloramphenicol were observed in both the pathogens. The antibiotic resistance genes such as strA (32.7%) and sul2 (32.7%) associated with streptomycin and sulfonamide resistance, respectively, were detected in the isolates.

Conclusion: The study revealed the significant involvement of M. haemolytica together with P. multocida in ovine respiratory infection and is probably responsible for frequent disease outbreaks even after vaccination against hemorrhagic septicemia in sheep population of Karnataka, southern province of India.
Unidades de Conservação em Terras de Uso da União: Subsídios à Implantação do Parque Natural Municipal Canto do Morcego, Itajaí/Santa Catarina
Authors: Zimmermann Carlos Eduardo , Silva Junior Luiz Alberto Severo , Gomes Rejane Teresinha Dahmer , Ceccato Mônica Weiler , Schroeder Rafael , Dambrowski Vanessa , Christofidis Marina , Polette Marcus , Marenzi Rosemeri Carvalho
Published: September 2020

Dentre as ações incluídas nas políticas públicas para a Conservação está a criação de Unidades de Conservação (UCs) e a respectiva elaboração dos planos de manejo. O objetivo deste trabalho foi identificar como são tratadas nos planos de manejo de UCs as áreas com cessão da SPU às Forças Armadas Brasileiras, em especial em Santa Catarina e à Marinha do Brasil, e o seu uso público, como forma de subsídio a implantação do Parque Natural Municipal Canto do Morcego, em Itajaí, onde incide um Farol. Foi realizado um levantamento junto aos documentos do SPU e em websites institucionais, além de entrevista a Delegacia da Capitania dos Portos em Itajaí. Verificou-se cinco UCs Federais de Santa Catarina com presença das Forças Armadas, além de mais cinco Federais em outros Estados e duas Estaduais. Nos planos de manejo há inserção das áreas militares, assim como a definição de medidas de manejo específicas para as áreas de cessão do SPU. Diferentes medidas de gestão foram verificadas com intuito de facilitar a gestão compartilhada com as Forças Armadas do Brasil. Quando a área militar está inserida na UC, prevalece o zoneamento como Zona de Uso Conflitante. Este fato ocorre não em função de haver um conflito, mas porque os objetivos das áreas militares possuem funções que não são compatíveis com o objetivo primordial das UCs. A parceria entre as Forças Armadas e os órgãos gestores foi verificada em todas as situações, mesmo onde a área não está inserida nos limites, mas na Zona de Amortecimento, ocorrendo importante colaboração em função de acesso, manutenção e fiscalização, seja da UC, ou dos Faróis de uso militar, que acabam sendo um atrativo para a visitação pública. Portanto, as informações contribuíram para definir que no planejamento do Parque Canto do Morcego possa existir uma gestão compartilhada entre o órgão ambiental municipal e o SPU/Marinha do Brasil, constituindo uma ZUC na área do Farol, com visitação de forma indireta.
IL PRIVATE ENFORCEMENT IN ITALIA DELLA CARTA DEI DIRITTI FONDAMENTALI DELL’UNIONE EUROPEA A VENT’ANNI DALLA SUA PROCLAMAZIONE
Authors: Ferraro Angelo Viglianisi
Published: September 2020

L’articolo analizza il contenuto e l’efficacia della Carta dei diritti fondamentali dell’Unione europea, proclamata solennemente a Nizza nel dicembre del 2000, concentrandosi sugli strumenti utilizzati in Italia per garantire un suo pieno private enforcement.
RESPONSABILITE SOCIETALE DES ENTREPRISES/RSE: CONTRIBUTIONS AU DROIT DES AFFAIRES A PARTIR DE L´EXPERIENCE DE LA UNION EUROPEENNE
Authors: Prieur Julien , Ladeira Garbaccio Grace , Stanziola Vieira Ricardo
Published: September 2020

Le rôle de la Responsabilité Sociétale des Entreprises - RSE n’est plus à démontrer aujourd’hui tant les entreprises responsables font partie du paysage économique. Pourtant cette notion, portée par les Nations-Unies à l’occasion du Global Compact de 1999 n’a pas toujours rencontré le succès escompté. L’Union Européenne a joué un rôle important en la matière, comme la France qui dès 2002 a légiféré en la matière. Si la RSE s’est peu à peu institutionnalisée et s’est finalement frayée un chemin dans l’évolution réglementaire du droit des affaires s’est incontestablement parce que le monde des affaires a besoin d’éthique, de transparence, de confiance. La méthodologie de recherche, utilisée dans cet article, est exploratoire et repose sur l’analyse de références d’articles et d’études bibliographiques.
A FLEXIBILIZAÇÃO PROCEDIMENTAL NA JUSTIÇA CRIMINAL: IMPACTOS DO CPC/15 E AS DISTINTAS PREMISSAS DO PROCESSO PENAL
Authors: Gomes de Vasconcellos Vinicius
Published: September 2020

Este artigo pretende analisar as premissas e o cenário de flexibilização procedimental que se expande no direito processual brasileiro, especialmente considerando os impactos do Código de Processo Civil de 2015 na esfera processual penal, a partir de revisão bibliográfica. Diante disso, almeja-se examinar os seguintes problemas: 1) as premissas teóricas da flexibilização procedimental do processo civil podem ser transplantadas ao processo penal?; 2) considerando eventuais distinções entre tais instrumentos e suas funções, a relativização da necessidade de respeito à legalidade pode ser aceita no processo penal? A partir das diferenças entre as esferas penal e civil, conclui-se que as premissas de aplicação da flexibilização procedimental não podem ser transplantadas da esfera civil à penal sem revisão crítica, de modo que as possibilidades de flexibilizações procedimentais legais alternativas e consensuais devem ser analisadas com cautela e limitadas em âmbito criminal.
EM DEFESA DA VIDA: UM OLHAR INTEGRANDO HANNAH ARENDT, ECOLOGIA INTEGRAL E CULTURA BÍBLICO-HEBRAICA
Authors: Hahn Noli Bernardo , Cervi Jacson Roberto , Damo Cervi Taciana
Published: September 2020

A questão problematizadora ao tema central do artigo se delimita nesta pergunta: Qual é o núcleo temático pelo qual se relaciona a cultura bíblico-hebraica, Hannah Arendt e Ecologia Integral, tendo a defesa da vida como o horizonte dessa relação? Como resposta, foca-se na diversidade e na pluralidade como núcleos temáticos para estabelecer esta relação. Centra-se na interação, na interdependência e na inter-relação do diverso e do plural como determinantes para a defesa da vida em sua dimensão e sentido lato (amplo) e stricto (restrito), ao mesmo tempo. Aponta-se Ecologia Integral como um conceito e uma categoria de compreensão que emerge num novo paradigma científico, em que não se compreende apenas pela analysis, que pressupõe separação, disjunção e o controle do conhecido, para poder explicar o que se conhece pela disjunção, mas se pressupõe relações que não se disjuntam. Este paradigma projeta desafios ao Direito.
FUNDAMENTOS CONSTITUCIONAIS DA REGULAÇÃO DO TRANSPORTE AQUAVIÁRIO E DOS PORTOS
Authors: De Castro Junior Osvaldo Agripino
Published: September 2020

O artigo objetiva discorrer sobre os fundamentos constitucionais da regulação do transporte aquaviário e da atividade portuária, em face da ausência de serviço adequado (previsibilidade, modicidade, pontualidade e eficiência) ao usuário. O tema se justifica pela necessidade de equilíbrio entre os interesses da carga (usuário), de um lado, e do transportador marítimo internacional e do operador portuário, de outro lado. Para tanto, o artigo está dividido em duas partes e tem a hipótese que os fundamentos constitucionais aumentam efetividade do serviço adequado no setor acima. O Capítulo 1 introduz o Direito Marítimo e o Direito Portuário e o Capítulo 2 discorre sobre os fundamentos constitucionais da regulação. As considerações finais comprovam a importância do constitucionalismo para a efetividade do serviço adequado, especialmente com base no art. 174, caput, da Constituição Federal.
Funkcjonowanie aktu życzeń w obszarze public relations – na przykładach z fanpage’ów serwisu społecznościowego Facebook
Authors: Joanna Smól Joanna Smól
Published: September 2020

The analysis included in the article concerns the wishes posted on company profiles on Facebook. The considerations begin with the description of wishes as a speech act that has ritual, etiquette-related and phatic functions. Next, the article discusses the role of social media in communication in the public relations area, particularly as a tool to contact customers. One of the ways of establishing this contact is extendingwishes on a company fan page. This is another stage of the evolution of the speech act in question. The analysis of companies’ wishes includes the description of the occasion for extending them, the content of the wishes, the relationship between the sender and the receiver and, in particular, the interaction that results from the very character of wishes as a speech act as well as from the opportunities provided by communication in social media.