bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Broadband tunable electro-optic switch/power divider as potential building blocks in integrated lithium niobate photonics
Authors: Tseng Quan-Hsiang , Niko Aloysius , Pham Tien-Dat , Chung Hung-Pin , Deng Lin-Ming , Chen Yen-Hung
Published: May 2022

We demonstrate an electro-optic (EO) switch or in general, an EO controllable power divider based on a periodically poled lithium niobate (PPLN) polarization mode converter (PMC) and a five-waveguide adiabatic coupler integrated on a Ti:LN photonic circuit chip. In this integrated photonic circuit (IPC) device, the PPLN works as an EO controllable polarization rotator (and therefore a PMC), while the adiabatic coupler functions as a broadband polarization beam splitter (PBS). The 1-cm long PPLN EO PMC of the IPC device is characterized to have a half-wave (or switching) voltage of Vπ∼20 V and a conversion bandwidth of ∼2.6 nm. The splitting ratios of the adiabatic coupler PBS in the IPC device are >99% for both polarization modes over a broad spectral range from 1500–1640 nm. The EO mode of the implemented IPC device is activated when the PPLN EO PMC section is driven by an external voltage; the characterized EO switching/power division behavior of the device is in good agreement with the theoretical fit. The tunability of the EO IPC device in the 100-nm experimental spectral range is also demonstrated via the temperature tuning. The featured broad tunability and high integrability of the EO device presented in this study facilitates it to be an advantageous building block for realizing an on-chip photonic system.
Investigation of signal-to-noise ratio performance of microwave photonic links enhanced by optical injection locking and channelized spectrum stitching
Authors: Liu Chenyu , Ma Weichao , Yang Jiyao , Wang Ruixuan , Xie Qinyu , Li Wangzhe , Wu Yirong
Published: May 2022

A signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) improvement method for microwave photonic (MWP) links enhanced by optical injection locking (OIL) and channelized spectrum stitching (CSS) is investigated and experimentally demonstrated. By exploiting the resonant amplification characteristics of OIL, both optical gain and in-band noise suppression of the input radio frequency signal can be achieved. The injection bandwidth is channelized to further suppress noise during OIL, and the input signal can be well reconstructed by spectrum stitching in the digital domain. Experimental results show that the optimal improvement in SNR of 3.6 dB is achieved for linear frequency modulated signals and at least an additional improvement of 7.2 dB can be obtained by adopting CSS. Other broadband signals for radar and communication are used to further verify the ability to improve SNR. The potential for application scenarios with large operating bandwidth and high optical gain is also demonstrated.
Multi-timescale infrared quantum cascade laser ellipsometry
Authors: Furchner Andreas , Kratz Christoph , Rappich Jörg , Hinrichs Karsten
Published: May 2022

We recently introduced a versatile infrared laser ellipsometer for sub-decisecond spectroscopy [Opt. Lett. 44, 4387 (2019)10.1364/OL.44.004387] and 0.03 mm2 spot-sized hyperspectral imaging [Opt. Lett. 44, 4893 (2019)10.1364/OL.44.004893]. Here we report on the next device generation for thin-film sensitive simultaneous single-shot amplitude and phase measurements. The multi-timescale ellipsometer achieves 10 µs time resolution and long-term stability over hours at high spectral resolution (0.2 cm−1). We investigate the temporal stages (from minutes to milliseconds) of fatty acid thin-film formation upon solvent evaporation from acetone-diluted microliter droplets. Optical thickness variations, structure modifications, and molecular interactions are probed during the liquid-to-solid phase transition. Multi-timescale ellipsometry could greatly impact fields like in situ biosensing, microfluidics, and polymer analytics, but also operando applications in membrane research, catalysis, and studies of interface processes and surface reactions.
Generation of Airy beams in Smith–Purcell radiation
Authors: Jing Liqiao , Liao Dashuang , Tao Jie , Chen Hongsheng , Wang Zuojia
Published: May 2022

The metasurface has recently emerged as a powerful platform to engineer wave packets of free electron radiation at the mesoscale. Here, we propose that Airy beams can be generated when moving electrons interact with bianisotropic metasurfaces. By changing the intrinsic coupling strength, full amplitude coverage and 0-to-π phase switching of Smith–Purcell radiation can be realized from the meta-atoms. This unusual property shifts the wave front of the assembled Airy beam toward a parabolic trajectory. Experimental implementation displays that evanescent fields bounded at slotted waveguides can be coupled into Airy beams via Smith–Purcell radiation from a designed bianisotropic metasurface. Our method and design strategy offer an alternative route toward free-electron lasers with diffraction-free, self-accelerating, and self-healing beam properties.
Kerr-lens mode-locked ytterbium-activated orthoaluminate laser
Authors: Lin Zhang-Lang , Xue Wen-Ze , Zeng Huang-Jun , Zhang Ge , Zhang Peixiong , Chen Zhenqiang , Li Zhen , Petrov Valentin , Loiko Pavel , Mateos Xavier , Lin Haifeng , Wang Li , Chen Weidong
Published: May 2022

We report on the first, to the best of our knowledge, Kerr-lens mode-locked laser based on an Yb3+-doped perovskite-type orthoaluminate crystal exploiting two different principal light polarizations. The Yb:(Y,Gd)AlO3 laser delivers soliton pulses as short as 32 fs at 1067 nm with an average output power of 328 mW and a pulse repetition rate of ∼84.6 MHz for E || a polarization. For the orthogonal E || b polarization, 33-fs pulses are generated at 1057 nm with an average output power of 305 mW. Power scaling to a maximum average output power reaching 2.07 W is achieved at the expense of longer pulse duration (72 fs for E || b), corresponding to an optical efficiency of 43.9% and a peak power of 303 kW.
Non-resonant luminescence enhancement in sol-gel coatings for broadband UV-light conversion on side-emitting optical fibers
Authors: Schröder Jan , Reupert Aaron , Wondraczek Lothar
Published: May 2022

Photoluminescence (PL) is a key mechanism for many light conversion
applications but often provides only low yield and poor efficiency due
to a small interaction cross-section and a relatively narrow range of
spectral activity. Here, we present a simple technique to enhance the
PL of europium(III) (Eu3+) from sol-gel coatings on
the surface of a side-emitting optical fiber. We use small clusters of
Ag to boost the emission of Eu3+ by an energy
transfer mechanism. The coating's performance is studied as a
function of Ag concentration and annealing time. We report a
substantial enhancement in Eu3+ emission under
resonant and non-resonant excitation with UV light. However, this
enhancement vanishes when the Ag clusters grow into larger
nanoparticles with plasmon activity: we demonstrate that silver
clusters produce stronger amplification with a broader excitation
range than metallic nanoparticles. Moreover, these clusters are easily
generated and stabilized in a coating using standard sol-gel
techniques, suitable for deposition on the surface of side-emitting
fibers. Such fibers can then be employed as line-shaped emitters, for
example, for structured illumination purposes.
Superinfection exclusion: A viral strategy with short-term benefits and long-term drawbacks
Authors: Hunter Michael , Fusco Diana
Published: May 2022

Viral superinfection occurs when multiple viral particles subsequently infect the same host. In nature, several viral species are found to have evolved diverse mechanisms to prevent superinfection (superinfection exclusion) but how this strategic choice impacts the fate of mutations in the viral population remains unclear. Using stochastic simulations, we find that genetic drift is suppressed when superinfection occurs, thus facilitating the fixation of beneficial mutations and the removal of deleterious ones. Interestingly, we also find that the competitive (dis)advantage associated with variations in life history parameters is not necessarily captured by the viral growth rate for either infection strategy. Putting these together, we then show that a mutant with superinfection exclusion will easily overtake a superinfecting population even if the latter has a much higher growth rate. Our findings suggest that while superinfection exclusion can negatively impact the long-term adaptation of a viral population, in the short-term it is ultimately a winning strategy.
Seropositivity for Coxiella burnetii in suspected patients with dengue in São Paulo state, Brazil
Authors: França Danilo Alves de , Mioni Mateus de Souza Ribeiro , Fornazari Felipe , Duré Ana Íris de Lima , Silva Marcos Vinicius Ferreira , Possebon Fábio Sossai , Richini-Pereira Virgínia Bodelão , Langoni Helio , Megid Jane
Published: May 2022

Q fever and brucellosis are zoonoses that cause fever and other systemic clinical signs in humans; their occurrences are neglected and the differential diagnosis for some diseases is disregarded. This study aimed to investigate the seropositivity forCoxiella burnetiiandBrucellaspp. antibodies in patients suspected of dengue from 38 municipalities in the state of São Paulo, Brazil. The samples (n = 604) were obtained by convenience from the Adolfo Lutz Institute serum bank. Sera were subjected to an indirect immunofluorescence assay (IFA) usingin-houseand commercial diagnostic protocols to evaluateC.burnetiipositivity. ForBrucellaspp., sera were subjected to rapid plate serum agglutination with buffered acidified antigen (AAT), slow tube serum agglutination (SAL), and 2-mercaptoethanol (2-ME) techniques. Associations and statistical inferences of the results were performed by logistic regression according to the clinical and demographic variables collected from the patients. Statistical analyses were performed using Statistical Analysis Software (SAS) and associations were considered when p value was <0.05. In all, 129 patients showed positive results for Q fever, indicating a seropositivity of 21.4% (95% CI 18.15–24.85). Patients with 14–20 days of symptoms had 2.12 (95% CI 1.34–3.35) times more chances of being seropositive for Q fever than patients with 7–13 days, and patients with 21–27 days of fever had 2.62 (95% CI 1.27–5.41) times more chances of being seropositive for Q fever than patients with 7–13 days. For the other variables analyzed, there were no significant associations between the groups. No positivity for brucellosis was observed. This is the most comprehensive study of people seropositive for Q fever in São Paulo state and provides additional data for the medical community in Brazil. It is suggested that Q fever may be an important differential diagnosis of febrile illnesses in the region, demanding the government’s attention and investment in health.
Direct assessment of possible mutations in the 23S rRNA gene encoding macrolide resistance in Chlamydia trachomatis
Authors: van Niekerk J. M. , van Loo I. H. M. , Lucchesi M. , Morré S. A. , Hoebe C. J. P. A. , Dukers-Muijrers N. H. T. M. , Wolffs P. F. G.
Published: May 2022

Reports of potential treatment failure have raised particular concerns regarding the efficacy of the single dose azithromycin regimen in the treatment of urogenital and anorectal Chlamydia trachomatis (CT) infections. Several factors have been suggested, including heterotypic resistance. Antimicrobial susceptibility testing in CT requires cell culture with serial dilutions of antibiotics, which is laborious and for which there is no standardized testing methodology. One method to partly overcome these difficulties would be to use a genotypic resistance assay, however most current available assays do still require prior CT culture. In order to facilitate the assessment of genotypic resistance directly from clinical samples, without the need for prior culture, the aim of this study was to develop a CT specific PCR assay for the assessment of resistance associated mutations (RAMs) in the 23S rRNA gene, and to evaluate a sample of clinical cases in which CT PCR’s remained positive during follow-up despite azithromycin treatment. Neither the in silico analysis nor the analytical specificity testing demonstrated clinically relevant cross-reactivity with other bacterial species. These results in conjunction with the analytical sensitivity demonstrating consistent CT 23S rRNA gene detection in the range of 10e3 IFU/mL, exemplify the assay’s apt performance. Although no known macrolide RAMs were detected in the clinical cases, the described assay allows future culture independent macrolide RAM surveillance in CT, and increases accessibility for other laboratories to engage in screening.
Virulence-associated genes analysis of carbapenemase-producing Escherichia coli isolates
Authors: Jomehzadeh Nabi , Jahangirimehr Fateme , Chegeni Sina Ahmadi
Published: May 2022

Carbapenem-resistant Escherichia coli has emerged as a major public health issue across the world. This study was aimed to determine the virulence content and phylogenetic groups of carbapenemase-producing E. coli isolates in southwest Iran. One hundred and fifty-two non-duplicate E. coli isolates were collected from various clinical samples. Antibiotic susceptibility and minimum inhibitory concentrations (MIC) were determined according to the Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute (CLSI) guidelines by Kirby-Bauer disc diffusion and agar dilution methods. Phenotypic screening of carbapenemase enzymes was performed by modified Hodge test (MHT). Detection of carbapenemase genes, phylogenetic groups, and virulence-associated genes were also performed by the PCR assay. The highest and lowest resistance rates were observed against mezlocillin (70.4%) and doripenem (13.1%), respectively. Out of 28 isolates that were resistant to carbapenem antibiotics, 12 (7.9%) strains were phenotypically carbapenemase producers. The blaOXA-48 was the predominant carbapenemase gene, detected in 58.3% of isolates, followed by blaIMP (41.7%) and blaNDM (8.3%). None of the isolates harbored blaVIM and blaKPC genes. Among the twelve carbapenemase-producing strains, urinary isolates were mostly classified into B2 (41.7%) and D (25%) phylogenetic groups, while other clinical isolates belonged to B1 (25%) and A (8.3%) groups. The frequency of virulence-associated genes was also investigated in all isolates and ranged from 6.6% for hly to 75% for fimA. The emergence of carbapenemase-producing strains is a growing concern to public health. Therefore, the proper implementation of monitoring programs is crucial for limiting their dissemination.
Analysis of temporal changes in HIV-1 CRF01_AE gag genetic variability and CD8 T-cell epitope evolution
Authors: Rafaqat Wardah , Tariq Uroosa , Farooqui Nida , Zaidi Maheen , Raees Aanish , Zuberi Maaz , Batool Amna , Abidi Syed Hani
Published: May 2022

Currently, little is known about the time-dependent evolution of human immunodeficiency virus-1 (HIV-1) circulating recombinant forms (CRF) 01_AE, a dominant recombinant form associated with HIV-1 epidemics worldwide. Sincegagis a highly immunodominant HIV-1 protein, we performed a comparative analysis of the CRF01_AEgagprotein’s time-dependent changes and evolution. A total of 3105 HIV-1 CRF01_AEgagsequences representing 17 countries from the timeline 1990–2017 were obtained. The sequences’ phylogenetic relationship and epidemic dynamics were analyzed through a Maximum Likelihood tree and Bayesian Skyline plot, respectively. Genomic variability was measured through Shannon entropy and time-dependent immunoevolution was analyzed using changes in proteasomal degradation pattern, cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTL) epitopes, and Human leukocyte antigens (HLA) restriction profile. The most recent common ancestor of the HIV CRF01_AE epidemic was estimated to be 1974±1. A period of exponential growth in effective population size began in 1982, fluctuated, and then stabilized in 1999. Genetic variability (entropy) consistently increased, however, epitope variability remained comparable; the highest number of novel CTL epitopes were present in 1995–1999, which were lost over time. The spread of the HIV-1 CRF01_AE epidemic is predominant in countries within Asia. Population immunogenetic pressures in the region may have contributed to the initial changes and following adaptation/stabilization of epitope diversity withingagsequences.
Experimental evaluation of a metofluthrin passive emanator against Aedes albopictus
Authors: Zarella Olivia , Ekwomadu Uche , Romer Yamila , Kirstein Oscar D. , Che-Mendoza Azael , González-Olvera Gabriela , Manrique-Saide Pablo , Devine Gregor , Vazquez-Prokopec Gonzalo M.
Published: May 2022

Background

With the recent occurrence of locally transmitted Aedes-borne viruses in the continental United States and Europe, and a lack of effective vaccines, new approaches to control Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus are needed. In sub-tropical urban settings in the US, Ae. albopictus is a dominant nuisance and arbovirus vector species. Unfortunately, the vector control toolbox against Ae. albopictus is not as well developed as for Ae. aegypti. Here, we evaluate the efficacy, longevity, and range of protectiveness of a novel passive metofluthrin emanator (10% active ingredient in a polyethylene mesh) against Ae. albopictus indoors and outdoors.

Methods

Four studies were conducted comparing the presence of the metofluthrin emanator to a control lacking emanator with interest in quantifying efficacy by human landing counts. Studies evaluated the effect of an emanator at varying distances from one or more human volunteers indoors and outdoors. Efficacy of emanators over time since activation was also evaluated.

Results

Mixed-effects models determined that sitting in close proximity to an emanator reduced landings by 89.5% outdoors and by 74.6% indoors. The emanator was determined protective when located immediately next to a human volunteer outdoors but not uniformly protective when located further away. The emanator was protective at all tested distances from the device indoors. Mortality of mosquitoes exposed to metofluthrin emanators was ~2x higher than those who were not exposed in indoor conditions. Finally, a Generalized Additive Model determined that emanators used continuously outdoors lost their effect after 2.5 weeks and stopped inducing paralysis in mosquitoes after 3.8 weeks of use.

Conclusions

We show strong and lasting efficacy of 10% metofluthrin emanators against field Ae. albopictus both in indoor and outdoor conditions. Metofluthrin emanators can protect people from Ae. albopictus bites, representing a viable option for reducing human-mosquito contacts at home and beyond.
Use of antisense oligonucleotides to target Notch3 in skeletal cells
Authors: Canalis Ernesto , Carrer Michele , Eller Tabitha , Schilling Lauren , Yu Jungeun
Published: May 2022

Notch receptors are determinants of cell fate and function, and play an important role in the regulation of bone development and skeletal remodeling. Lateral Meningocele Syndrome (LMS) is a monogenic disorder associated with NOTCH3 pathogenic variants that result in the stabilization of NOTCH3 and a gain-of-function. LMS presents with neurological developmental abnormalities and bone loss. We created a mouse model (Notch3em1Ecan) harboring a 6691TAATGA mutation in the Notch3 locus, and heterozygous Notch3em1Ecan mice exhibit cancellous and cortical bone osteopenia. In the present work, we explored whether Notch3 antisense oligonucleotides (ASO) downregulate Notch3 and have the potential to ameliorate the osteopenia of Notch3em1Ecan mice. Notch3 ASOs decreased the expression of Notch3 wild type and Notch36691-TAATGA mutant mRNA expressed by Notch3em1Ecan mice in osteoblast cultures without evidence of cellular toxicity. The effect was specific since ASOs did not downregulate Notch1, Notch2 or Notch4. The expression of Notch3 wild type and Notch36691-TAATGA mutant transcripts also was decreased in bone marrow stromal cells and osteocytes following exposure to Notch3 ASOs. In vivo, the subcutaneous administration of Notch3 ASOs at 25 to 50 mg/Kg decreased Notch3 mRNA in the liver, heart and bone. Microcomputed tomography demonstrated that the administration of Notch3 ASOs ameliorates the cortical osteopenia of Notch3em1Ecan mice, and ASOs decreased femoral cortical porosity and increased cortical thickness and bone volume. However, the administration of Notch3 ASOs did not ameliorate the cancellous bone osteopenia of Notchem1Ecan mice. In conclusion, Notch3 ASOs downregulate Notch3 expression in skeletal cells and their systemic administration ameliorates cortical osteopenia in Notch3em1Ecan mice; as such ASOs may become useful strategies in the management of skeletal diseases affected by Notch gain-of-function.
Amino acid, sugar, phenolic, and terpenoid profiles are capable of distinguishing Citrus tristeza virus infection status in citrus cultivars: Grapefruit, lemon, mandarin, and sweet orange
Authors: Wallis Christopher M. , Gorman Zachary , Rattner Rachel , Hajeri Subhas , Yokomi Raymond
Published: May 2022

Citrus tristeza virus (CTV) is the most severe viral disease for citrus production. Many strains of CTV have been characterized and their symptomology widely varies, ranging from asymptomatic or mild infections to severe symptomology that results in substantial yield loss or host death. The capacity of the different CTV strains to affect the biochemistry of different citrus species has remained largely unstudied, despite that associated metabolomic shifts would be relevant toward symptom development. Thus, amino acid, sugar, phenolic, and terpenoid levels were assessed in leaves of healthy and CTV-infected grapefruit, lemon, mandarin, and two different sweet orange cultivars. Both mild [VT-negative (VT-)] and severe [VT-positive (VT+)] CTV genotype strains were utilized. When looking at overall totals of these metabolite classes, only amino acid levels were significantly increased by infection of citrus with severe CTV strains, relative to mild CTV strains or healthy plants. No significant trends of CTV infection on summed amounts of all sugar, phenolic, or terpenoid compounds were observed. However, individual compound levels were affected by CTV infections. Subsequent canonical discriminant analysis (CDA) that utilized profiles of individual amino acids, terpenoids, or phenolics successfully distinguished leaf samples to specific citrus varieties and identified infection status with good accuracy. Collectively, this study reveals biochemical patterns associated with severity of CTV infections that can potentially be utilized to help identify in-field CTV infections of economic relevance.
Prediction of emergency cerclage outcomes in women with cervical insufficiency: The role of inflammatory, angiogenic, and extracellular matrix-related proteins in amniotic fluid
Authors: Lee Kyong-No , Park Kyo Hoon , Kim Yu Mi , Cho Iseop , Kim Tae Eun
Published: May 2022

Objective

We aimed to determine whether various novel inflammatory, angiogenic, and extracellular matrix-related mediators in amniotic fluid (AF) can independently predict emergency cerclage outcomes in women with acute cervical insufficiency (CI).

Methods

This was a retrospective cohort study conducted among 50 singleton pregnant women (18–25 weeks) who underwent emergency cerclage for CI and were subjected to amniocentesis. The AF samples were assayed for endoglin, endostatin, haptoglobin, insulin-like growth factor-binding protein (IGFBP)-3, -4, kallistatin, lumican, macrophage colony-stimulating factor (M-CSF), pentraxin 3, p-selectin, receptor for advanced glycation end products (RAGE), resistin, transforming growth factor beta-induced (TGFBI), and vitamin D-binding protein (VDBP) levels. Interleukin (IL)-6 levels in the AF were also measured for comparison with potential biomarkers assessed in this study. The primary endpoint was spontaneous preterm delivery (SPTD) at <34 weeks following emergency cerclage.

Results

The AF levels of pentraxin 3, RAGE, and resistin were significantly higher in women who had SPTD at <34 weeks after cerclage placement (pentraxin-3:P= 0.003; RAGE:P= 0.041; and resistin;P= 0.002). In multivariate analysis, elevated AF levels of pentraxin 3 (P= 0.007) and resistin (P= 0.006), but not those of RAGE (P= 0.069), were independently associated with the occurrence of SPTD at <34 weeks after cerclage, following adjustment for baseline clinical variables (e.g., cervical dilation). The area under the curve (AUC) values of AF pentraxin 3, RAGE, and resistin for the prediction of SPTD at <34 weeks were 0.749, 0.669, and 0.770, respectively, which were similar to those of AF IL-6. However, in univariate analyses, no differences in the AF levels of endoglin, endostatin, haptoglobin, IGFBP-3, IGFBP-4, kallistatin, lumican, p-selectin, TGFBI, and VDBP were found to be associated with SPTD at <34 weeks after cerclage placement.

Conclusions

In women with acute CI, the AF levels of pentraxin 3, RAGE, and resistin could be useful novel biomarkers for predicting SPTD following emergency cerclage. However, the clinical utility of these new biomarkers should be validated in larger multicenter studies.
Exome sequencing of Japanese schizophrenia multiplex families supports the involvement of calcium ion channels
Authors: Toyama Miho , Takasaki Yuto , Branko Aleksic , Kimura Hiroki , Kato Hidekazu , Nawa Yoshihiro , Kushima Itaru , Ishizuka Kanako , Shimamura Teppei , Ogi Tomoo , Ozaki Norio
Published: May 2022

Background

Most sequencing studies of schizophrenia (SCZ) have focused onde novogenetic variants due to interpretability. However, investigating shared rare variants among patients in the same multiplex family is also important. Relatively large-scale analyses of SCZ multiplex families have been done in Caucasian populations, but whether detected variants are also pathogenic in the Japanese population is unclear because of ethnic differences in rare variants.

Materials and methods

We performed whole-exome sequencing (WES) of 14 Japanese SCZ multiplex families. After quality control and filtering, we identified rare variants shared among affected persons within the same family. A gene ontology (GO) analysis was performed to identify gene categories possibly affected by these candidate variants.

Results

We found 530 variants in 486 genes as potential candidate variants from the 14 SCZ multiplex families examined. The GO analysis demonstrated significant enrichment in calcium channel activity.

Conclusion

This study provides supporting evidence that calcium ion channel activity is involved in SCZ. WES of multiplex families is a potential means of identifying disease-associated rare variants for SCZ.
Aspirational cosmopolitanism in classical music anime: Adapting Romantic legacies in Forest of Piano
Authors: Barratt-Peacock Ruth
Published: May 2022

This article argues that anime about musicians specializing in western classical music offers a vehicle for questioning normative narratives that tend to exclude East Asian musicians from classical music culture beyond tertiary education. This article explores how the series Forest of Piano, the 2018 anime adaptation of Makoto Isshiki’s manga, utilizes competing Romantic models of genius to negotiate the protagonists’ positions as East Asian musicians on the global stage. In the series, the idea that the spirit of a piece is bound to the composer’s relationship to a specific place competes with the idea of a Romantic genius that channels the transcendent universal music of the world-soul from Nature.
Topography of cinematic heroism: The transregional remakes of A Better Tomorrow (1986)
Authors: Li Jinhua
Published: May 2022

This article investigates the cultural politics and identity discourses in the two East Asian reproductions of A Better Tomorrow (1986). Rethinking the power dynamics of a homogenizing transnationalism from a vantage point that is alternative rather than resistant, this article employs a critical approach that is interconnective instead of hierarchical to refocus on the local and the heterogeneous and argues that each remake renegotiates Woo’s cinematic heroism and retools it into the trope for nationhood and identity. The transnational circulation of John Woo’s classical hero narrative traces how heroism and its historical, cultural, political, gender and ideological connotations are renegotiated and reconfigured for unique representational purposes and sociopolitical agendas. As a politically charged, culturally specific and historically circumscribed concept, heroism is deceptively transcendental, in the sense that its definition and expression defy ideological abstraction and cognitive certitude. This elusiveness precludes a consensus on heroism in the remakes; instead, each film contributes to a shifting topography of cinematic heroism mapped by the intricate dynamics of identity, politics and nationhood. Thus, whereas the tragedy of fragmented brotherhood metaphorized, divided and fractured nationhood in Moo-jeok-ja, Tomorrow 2018 propagandized heroism by replacing violence-glorifying brotherhood with nationalist patriotism.
The second life of a political cult: Official and popular reappropriation of Chiang Kai-shek statues in post-martial law Taiwan
Authors: Stolojan-filipesco Vladimir
Published: May 2022

From 1945 to the beginning of the democratization, the Chinese nationalist party ruled Taiwan through a single-party regime. After being forced out of China in 1949, it implemented several policies promoting a national imagination in which Taiwan was turned into an ideal representation of China. One of the main symbolic pillars of the regime was the personality cult dedicated to its leader, Chiang Kai-shek. If the democratization put an end to the political ritual of the authoritarian era, the physical remnants of the cult have been subject to different reappropriations by public and private actors who publicly express a positive remembering of the deceased leader. This article explores the modalities of these reappropriations and their significance for the mnemonic divide characteristic from the symbolic Taiwanese landscape.
Hate Speech in Asia and Europe: Beyond Hate and Fear, Myungkoo Kang, Marie-Orange Rivé-Lasan, Wooja Kim and Philippa Hall (eds) (2020)
Authors: Yi Joseph
Published: May 2022

Review of: Hate Speech in Asia and Europe: Beyond Hate and Fear, Myungkoo Kang, Marie-Orange Rivé-Lasan, Wooja Kim and Philippa Hall (eds) (2020)

Oxford: Routledge, 206 pp.,

ISBN 978-0-36720-900-1, h/bk, £120.00
Quim Monzó and Contemporary Catalan Culture (1975–2018): Cultural Normalization, Postmodernism and National Politics, Guillem Colom-Montero (2021)
Authors: Dasca Maria
Published: May 2022

Review of: Quim Monzó and Contemporary Catalan Culture (1975–2018): Cultural Normalization, Postmodernism and National Politics, Guillem Colom-Montero (2021)

Cambridge: Legenda/Modern Humanities Research Association, 210 pp.,

ISBN 978-1-78188-392-1, h/bk, £80 ($110, €95)
Holistically embracing mindfulness: Enriching slow fashion for enhanced well-being
Authors: Thompson Hayley Alyce
Published: May 2022

This research explores slow fashion in relation to its capacity to holistically embrace mindfulness in order to enrich the sustainable approach to fashion for enhanced well-being. Slow fashion seems to embrace a concept at the heart of mindfulness practice: awareness. Mindfulness is a state of awareness that involves accepting a clear focus on present realities. The emerging phenomenon of mindfulness is developing as a potential force for cultural change. The current predominant fashion system supports growth-focused, fast fashion, which has been destructive to environmental and human well-being. Existing scholarly discourse has identified the urgency for a significant cultural shift to alternative approaches, resulting in the emergence of a sustainable and ethical fashion space. Slow fashion, within this space, is considered through a lens of mindfulness as a conceptual framework for both practices within a fashion context. The research aims to examine key components of the two movements and discuss how the practices unite or vary and the implications of their union within the fashion system. A close examination revealed a further intertwined relationship, identifying select components of mindfulness that contradict elements of slow fashion and other components theoretically congruent with slow fashion criteria. Slow fashion has the capacity for a more conscious and holistic embrace involving the theory and practice of mindfulness. In doing so, an enriched slow fashion approach, encompassing design, production and consumption, would be enabled within the current fashion system to improve outcomes for the environment and human well-being amongst the wider community. Critically, an alignment between slowness and mindfulness intrinsically guides us towards a collective consciousness of each other, our interconnection with the environment and our internal and external realities, signifying strength in connecting interdisciplinary theories that unite in methods and mindsets that may allow thriving within natural limits.
Sustainable Fashion: Responsible Consumption, Design, Fabrics and Materials, Wearme Fashion (2021)
Authors: Budnarowska Corinna
Published: May 2022

Review of: Sustainable Fashion: Responsible Consumption, Design, Fabrics and Materials, Wearme Fashion (2021)

Barcelona: Promopress, 176 pp.,

ISBN 978-8-41741-279-1, p/bk, £25
The first report on the prevalence of soil-transmitted helminth infections and associated risk factors among traditional pig farmers in Bali Province, Indonesia
Authors: Agustina Kadek Karang , Wirawan I. Made Ady , Sudarmaja I. Made , Subrata Made , Dharmawan Nyoman Sadra
Published: May 2022

Background and Aim: Pigs are the main livestock commodity in Bali Province, Indonesia, where traditional farming practices are widely used. Traditional pig farmers are often closely associated with poverty and a perceived lack of knowledge regarding health and hygiene. Data on soil-transmitted helminthiasis (STH) and risk factors associated with STH worm infection among traditional pig farmers in Bali were previously unavailable. This study aimed to analyze the prevalence and risk factors for STH infections among traditional pig farmers in Bali Province, Indonesia.

Materials and Methods: This study involved the fecal examination of 238 traditional pig farmers from all areas of Bali Province in Indonesia. In addition, several pig feces samples were combined into one pooled sample belonging to each farm. All fresh fecal samples were stored in a 5% formaldehyde solution before being analyzed using concentration flotation techniques. Subsequently, risk factors were determined through an interview and a questionnaire. The odds ratio (OR) and Chi-square tests were used to determine the risk factors associated with STH infections.

Results: The result showed that there was a high prevalence of STH infections among traditional pig farmers and pig farms in Bali, with rates of 21.8% and 76.5%, respectively. This could be due to risk factors, such as personal hygiene (OR: 5.756; confidence interval [CI]: 2.96-11.193; p=0.00), sanitation (OR: 1.914; CI: 1.024-3.576; p=0.042), education level (OR: 7.579; CI: 2.621-21.915; p=0.00), household income (OR: 2.447; CI: 1.122-5.338; p=0.025), and occupation (OR: 2.95; CI: 1.356-6.415; p=0.006).

Conclusion: The infections seen in farmers were distributed among hookworm, Ascaris spp., and Trichuris spp., at 15.1%, 9.2%, and 4.2%, respectively. The risk factors associated with infections of STH and Ascaris spp. were personal hygiene, home sanitation, education level, household income, and having a primary occupation as a traditional pig farmer. In contrast, personal hygiene, education level, and primary occupation were the only risk factors for hookworm infection, while personal hygiene and home sanitation were the risk factors associated with Trichuris spp. infection. The limitation of this study was that the number of samples was relatively small due to the difficulty of obtaining stool samples from traditional pig farmers, with many individuals refusing to provide their stool for inspection. We suggest that future research focus on identifying the species of worms that infect traditional pig farmers and to better identify the zoonotic link of STH transmission from pigs to humans.
An overview of Indigenous peoples in Chile and their struggle to revitalise their native languages: the case of Mapudungun
Authors: Moya-Santiagos Paulina , Quiroga-Curín Javiera
Published: May 2022

Languages are not just sets of words. They are powerful tools essential to carry history, traditions, culture and wisdom. In Latin America, Mapudungun, the native language of Mapuche people – the largest ethnic group in Chile – can be threatened. A substantial linguistic shift has characterised the panorama of native languages of the current territory. However, language and education policies have been insufficient for their preservation. This article analyses Mapudungun from a general historical perspective to define Indigenous communities’ experience in the country: insufficient state support for revitalising their languages and decolonising the Chilean national curriculum. An overview of Mapudungun in the last century is provided by explaining relevant linguistic and educational policies. The PEIB (Intercultural Bilingual Education Programme), a linguistic and educational policy in Chile, is considered in depth. It aims to improve the quality and relevance of learning from curricular contextualisation. It also seeks to teach Indigenous children their culture, traditions and languages. However, the lack of support for traditional educators and the decontextualised curriculum have further impoverished their background and increased the gap between native peoples’ languages and Chilean society. The article ends with a call to policymakers to recognise the importance of the construction of Chilean identities.
Un nuevo libro sobre la regulación de la industria azucarera: Mercados del Azúcar e Intervención Estatal en el Caribe y México.Una comparación internacional en el siglo XX
Authors: Pierre Guy
Published: May 2022

Tras varios trabajos que abordan el complejo problema de la intervención del Estado en el negocio del azúcar, los historiadores económicos Oscar Zanetti Lecuona y Luis Anaya Merchant nos ofrecen un nuevo libro en torno a este mismo problema. Se trata del libro: «Mercados del Azúcar e Intervención Estatal en el Caribe y México. Una comparación internacional en el siglo XX» que la Universidad Autónoma del Estado de Morelos (UAEM) y la Casa editorial Miguel Ángel Porrúa han publicado conjuntamente a finales del año pasado. El libro aborda esta cuestión por medio de ocho estudios, los cuales no se limitan sólo, como tradicionalmente lo observamos en muchos trabajos, a la historia de los tres mayores productores hispanohablantes del azúcar sino que consideran también la misma con respecto a otros casos en el Caribe: Tales como, por ejemplo, los múltiples hechos relacionados a esta industria que se observaron en los países angloparlantes durante el siglo XX y en Guadalupe a finales de la primera mitad del siglo pasado. Y también el que se ha observado en México entre los Gobiernos de Calles y Cárdenas (1926-1940).
El Gran Caribe en el siglo XXI, crisis y respuestas
Authors: Canseco Gómez Beatriz Adriana
Published: May 2022

Decía José Martí: los pueblos que no se conocen han de darse prisa para conocerse, como quienes van a pelear juntos, y precisamente a cumplir ese objetivo de conocimiento –y reonocimiento– es que contribuye el contenido del libro que reseñamos, compilado por Luis Suárez Salazar y Gloria Amézquita. El texto nos ofrece 12 artículos escritos por reconocidos especialistas de la región que reunidos en el Grupo de Trabajo de CLACSO denominado “Crisis, alternativas y respuestas de los pequeños Estados insulares del Caribe” reflexionan sobre el impacto que la multifacética crisis estructural de la economía-mundo tiene sobre los países del llamado Gran Caribe.
El conflicto haitiano en la literatura caribeña
Authors: Rodríguez Amaury
Published: May 2022

El conflicto haitiano en la literatura caribeña es un libro publicado en castellano y francés como parte de la colección Bohío de la Biblioteca Nacional de Haití. En este breve ensayo de solo 133 páginas, la historiadora dominicana residente en Colombia Elissa L. Lister tiene como norte la desmitificación de la historia dominicana. El libro surge como respuesta al racismo y la xenofobia impulsado por la ultra-derecha y el estado dominicano en los últimos años. Desde los años 90, la elite dominicana ha incrementado sus ataques en contra de los trabajadores de origen haitiano. Pero esta práctica racista, que cobra fuerza en 1994 en la campaña racista en contra de ex candidato presidencial José Francisco Peña Gómez, un dominicano de origen haitiano, tiene como objetivo principal señalar a nacionales de Haití como chivo expiatorios ante la crisis económica y social del país y así mantener el estatus quo.
Entre la modernización y el desorden: Los problemas de salubridad pública en Barranquilla 1900-1950
Authors: Castro Fontalvo Jesús Ángel
Published: May 2022

Algunos estudios que toman como marco referencial de investigación la ciudad de Barranquilla, han profundizado sobre algunos cambios y transformaciones económicas y sociales que ésta experimentó en las postrimerías del siglo XIX e inicios del XX. Dichas transformaciones matizaron un discurso historiográfico épico sobre la ciudad, otorgándole las características de una de las ciudades más modernas y pionera de América Latina, razón por la cual, se le otorgó el epíteto de “La Puerta de Oro de Colombia”, a la urbe.
Un museo que vive para la cultura Caribe. Los retos en la gestión del Museo Histórico de Cartagena
Authors: Álvarez Marín Moisés
Published: May 2022

El Dr. Moisés Álvarez Marín, Director del Museo Histórico de Cartagena y Fundador del Archivo Histórico de la ciudad, quien cuenta con más de 30 años de experiencia en la gestión museal en Colombia. También es uno de los mayores promotores de la cultura en el Departamento de Bolívar y en el marco del proyecto de investigación Gestión de Organizaciones de Patrimonio quisimos que nos contara cómo se vive y gestiona el patrimonio en el MUHCA.
Diseño e instrumentación de la evaluación docente entre pares en México
Authors: Razo Ana , Hernandez-Fernandez Jimena , De la Cruz Ivania
Published: May 2022

Este artículo analiza las diferencias entre el diseño y la instrumentación de la política de evaluación entre pares (EeP) en México (2014-2017), creada con la Reforma Educativa de 2013. Se contrasta el proceso de diseño de la EeP, previsto en los lineamientos de la política, con su implementación en la práctica de evaluación docente. Esta comparación se realiza a partir de datos cualitativos obtenidos mediante análisis de gabinete, entrevistas y grupos de enfoque con actores clave que intervinieron en la política. Los hallazgos revelan la desvinculación entre el diseño e implementación de una política educativa de alcance nacional en donde destacan: poca claridad en las atribuciones de instancias involucradas, problemas de coordinación entre instituciones y niveles de gobierno, así como ausencia de algunos actores clave en la instrumentación.
Beyond “best practices”: Centering equity in teacher preparation evaluation
Authors: Cochran-Smith Marilyn , Reagan Emilie
Published: May 2022

Over the last decade, there have been multiple recommendations for evaluating, assessing, or holding teacher preparation accountable. This article analyzes recent policy proposals regarding “best practices for evaluating teacher preparation programs” by critiquing 19 major reports explicitly focused on evaluation. The analysis revealed that the reports’ primary goal was identifying preferred evaluation metrics using rigorous criteria for accuracy and utility. The majority of reports did not position equity as a central goal of evaluation and actually said little about equity explicitly, although some assumed equity was a by-product of rigorous evaluation systems. Building on previous efforts to focus on equity in teacher education, the article advocates an equity-centered approach to teacher preparation evaluation that acknowledges long-standing inequities in educational opportunity and attainment in the United States. Rejecting the idea of “best practices,” which are by definition decontextualized and inattentive to local contexts, the article offers 11 guiding principles for researchers, policymakers, and practitioners, to make strong equity the center of evaluation. These recommendations include: making equity an explicit goal during the entire process of evaluation and working at a systems/structural level; utilizing assessment models and tools that focus on equity; including all stakeholders, especially those from the minoritized communities served by programs, in decisions about evaluation criteria; and, supporting internal professional accountability.
The Effect of Substituting Eggshell Powder on the Consistency Limits of Lime-Stabilized Clay
Authors: Diana Willis , Hartono Edi , Widianti Anita , Apriliani Rinda
Published: May 2022

This study aimed to investigate the use of eggshell powder (ESP) to replace lime in soil-lime stabilization. Calcite was found in significant quantities in the ESP. The soil consistency limits are commonly used to evaluate the workability and estimate the mechanical properties of stabilized soil. The pH test was used to determine the initial Consumption of Lime (ICL), which was 8%. Several test variations were performed to investigate the effect of ESP replacement on the consistency limits of soil-lime stabilization soil, substituting ESP for a portion or all of the lime content required for stabilization. Soil-lime stabilization decreases the liquid limit, plasticity index, and linear shrinkage of the soil. With lime stabilization, the plasticity index reduced by 60% - 55%. The more lime content was substituted with ESP The greater the plasticity index. However, when all lime content was replaced with ESP, the soil plasticity index reduced by 29% compared to untreated soil. The shrinkage limit of untreated soil was 10.43%; after stabilization with 8% eggshell powder, the shrinkage limit increased by 26% to 13.22%. The shrinkage ratio, volumetric shrinkage, and linear shrinkage, on the other hand, are not significantly reduced. Lime types (hydrated lime and quicklime) have nearly identical behavior in terms of changes in soil plasticity. The eggshell powder can be used for soil stabilization and can affect soil plasticity. However, the changes in plasticity are not as significant as those seen with lime stabilization.
Polszczyzna jako język drugi w szkole. Wymagania leksykalne komunikacyjnej i edukacyjnej odmiany języka
Authors: Seretny Anna
Published: May 2022

In the recent years the number of migrant children in Polish schools has grown considerably. Many of them barely speak our language, most of them do not know it at all. Thanks to the state language support program most of the pupils within a year or two learn how to communicate in Polish. This ability however is often of little help during subject lessons due to immense differences between communicative and an academic language variety. The text presents the results of a preliminary study undertaken to prove that academic lexis makes on migrant children tremendous demands and to show that due to its specificity and quantity its teaching has to be both, explicit and well-organized. To achieve the research goal of the lexical material was excerpted from one of the history textbooks for primary school fourth graders and then subjected to detailed analysis which aimed at its structured organization. The paper ends with pedagogical implications: it presents some strategies for developing lexical competence of migrant pupils which can help them to meet the challenge and learn subject vocabulary more effectively.