bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Submarine paleoseismology in the Japan Trench of northeastern Japan: turbidite stratigraphy and sedimentology using paleomagnetic and rock magnetic analyses
Authors: Kanamatsu Toshiya , Ikehara Ken , Hsiung Kan-Hsi
Published: March 2023

Previous studies of sediments recovered from the Japan Trench between 37° 25′ N and 38° 30′ N document distinctive turbidite beds induced by huge earthquakes. We studied two sediment cores at 39°N to investigate the depositional record further north along the Japan Trench. These investigations spatially extend our knowledge of the depositional record of earthquakes in the Japan Trench. We examined specifically the precise stratigraphy of turbidite beds using paleomagnetic secular variation, and a tephra correlation. Additionally, anisotropy of magnetic susceptibility (AMS) was investigated to understand the depositional conditions of each turbidite bed. The inferred ages of turbidite beds in this study closely approximate their previously reported ages, which are correlated with the historical and prehistorical huge earthquakes off Tohoku, northeastern Japan. The paleo current directions during deposition of turbidite are inferred from their grain alignment based on AMS data. The directions of basal part reveal northeastward in the slope-side basin and north-northeast in oceanward basin. The directions of basal and upper thick muddy part of a turbidite bed are not always consistent, which suggests the hydraulic condition in the narrow elongated deep-sea basin. This fact could be essential information to elucidate a unique hydraulic condition during the turbidite deposition in the confined basin in the Japan Trench.
The pattern of alternative splicing and DNA methylation alteration and their interaction in linseed (Linum usitatissimum L.) response to repeated drought stresses
Authors: Wang Ling , Wang Lei , Tan Meilian , Wang Linhai , Zhao Wei , You Jun , Wang Lijun , Yan Xingchu , Wang Wei
Published: March 2023

Background

Drought stress has significantly hampered agricultural productivity worldwide and can also result in modifications to DNA methylation levels. However, the dynamics of DNA methylation and its association with the changes in gene transcription and alternative splicing (AS) under drought stress are unknown in linseed, which is frequently cultivated in arid and semiarid regions.

Results

We analysed AS events and DNA methylation patterns in drought-tolerant (Z141) and drought-sensitive (NY-17) linseed under drought stress (DS) and repeated drought stress (RD) treatments. We found that the number of intron-retention (IR) and alternative 3’ splice site (Alt3’SS) events were significantly higher in Z141 and NY-17 under drought stress. We found that the linseed response to the DS treatment was mainly regulated by transcription, while the response to the RD treatment was coregulated by transcription and AS. Whole genome-wide DNA methylation analysis revealed that drought stress caused an increase in the overall methylation level of linseed. Although we did not observe any correlation between differentially methylated genes (DMGs) and differentially spliced genes (DSGs) in this study, we found that the DSGs whose gene body region was hypermethylated in Z141 and hypomethylated in NY-17 were enriched in abiotic stress response Gene Ontology (GO) terms. This finding implies that gene body methylation plays an important role in AS regulation in some specific genes.

Conclusion

Our study is the first comprehensive genome-wide analysis of the relationship between linseed methylation changes and AS under drought and repeated drought stress. Our study revealed different interaction patterns between differentially expressed genes (DEGs) and DSGs under DS and RD treatments and differences between methylation and AS regulation in drought-tolerant and drought-sensitive linseed varieties. The findings will probably be of interest in the future. Our results provide interesting insights into the association between gene expression, AS, and DNA methylation in linseed under drought stress. Differences in these associations may account for the differences in linseed drought tolerance.
The evaluation of an artificial intelligence system for estrus detection in sows
Authors: Verhoeven Steven , Chantziaras Ilias , Bernaerdt Elise , Loicq Michel , Verhoeven Ludo , Maes Dominiek
Published: March 2023

Background

Good estrus detection in sows is essential to predict the best moment of insemination. Nowadays, a technological innovation is available that detects the estrus of the sow via connected sensors and cameras. The collected data are subsequently analyzed by an artificial intelligence (AI) system. This study investigated whether such an AI system could support the farmer in optimizing the moment of insemination and reproductive performance.

M&M

Three Belgian sow farms (A, B and C) where the AI system was installed, participated in the study. The reproductive cycles (n = 6717) of 1.5 years before and 1.5 years after implementation of the system were included. Parameters included: (1) farrowing rate (FR), (2) percentage of repeat-breeders (RB), (3) farrowing rate after first insemination (FRFI) and (4) number of total born piglets per litter (NTBP). Also, data collected by the system were analyzed to describe the weaning-to-estrus interval (WEI), estrus duration (ED) and the number of inseminations used per estrus. This dataset included 2261 cycles, collected on farms B and C.

Results

In farm A, all parameters significantly improved namely FR + 4.3%, RB − 3.75%, FRFI + 6.2% and NTBP + 1.06 piglets. In farm B, the NTBP significantly decreased with 0.48 piglets, but in this farm the insemination dose was too low (0.8 × 109 spermatozoa per dose). In farm C, only the NTBP significantly increased with 0.45 piglets after the implementation of the system. The WEI as determined by the system varied between 78 and 90 h, being 10–20 h shorter in comparison with the WEI as determined by the farmer. The ED, determined by the system ranged from 48 to 60 h, and was less variable as compared to the ED as assessed by the farmer. The mean number of inseminations per estrus remained similar over time in farm B whereas it decreased over time from approximately 1.6–1.2 in farm C.

Conclusion

The AI system can help farmers to improve the reproductive performance, assess estrus characteristics and reduce the number of inseminations per estrus. Results may vary between farms as many other variables such as farm management, genetics and insemination dose also influence reproductive performance.
Teachers’ conflicts in implementing comprehensive sexuality education: a qualitative systematic review and meta-synthesis
Authors: Shibuya Fumiko , Estrada Crystal Amiel , Sari Dian Puspita , Takeuchi Rie , Sasaki Hirono , Warnaini Cut , Kawamitsu Saki , Kadriyan Hamsu , Kobayashi Jun
Published: March 2023

Introduction

Comprehensive sexuality education (CSE) enables children and young people to learn about the cognitive, emotional, physical, and social characteristics of sexuality. Teachers experience conflicts in teaching CSE due to different cultural and religious backgrounds. This qualitative systematic review aimed to describe the conflicts experienced by teachers in the implementation of CSE in schools. Furthermore, this study aimed to identify the causes of conflict among teachers in implementing CSE.

Methods

This article focused on teachers’ conflicts in implementing CSE from 2010 to 2022. Online bibliographic databases, such as PubMed, Web of Science, and ERIC, were used to search for relevant articles. The following search term was used: Teacher, Comprehensive Sexuality Education, and Conflict.

Results

A total of 11 studies were included in the review. All 11 studies were conducted in countries with a predominantly Christian population. The majority of the studies were conducted in Africa. The study respondents included teachers, school principals, and school coordinators. The studies identified that CSE implementation is related to multiple conflicts, depending on the context of the country. Five themes on the causes of conflict emerged from the thematic meta-synthesis: (1) Hesitancy in talking about sex education among teachers due to the cultural and religious context; (2) non-integration of traditional sex education into comprehensive sexuality education, (3) fostering effective facilitation of CSE among teachers, (4) determining the appropriate age to start sex education, and (5) roles of stakeholders outside the school.

Conclusions

This qualitative systematic review and thematic meta-synthesis highlighted several conflicts among teachers in CSE implementation. Despite the teachers having a perception that sex education should be provided, traditional sex education has not yet transformed to CSE. The study findings also emphasize the need to identify the teacher’s role in CSE implementation. The thematic meta-synthesis also strongly reflected the context of Christianity in Europe and Africa; thus, further research on the religious context in other regions is needed.
Seismic predictions of fluids via supervised deep learning: Incorporating various class-rebalance strategies
Authors: Gao Shunli , Xu Minghui , Zhao Luanxiao , Chen Yuanyuan , Geng Jianhua
Published: March 2023

Seismic fluids prediction under the machine-learning framework is of great significance for the exploration and development of oil and gas resources, geothermal energy exploitation, carbon dioxide sequestration monitoring, and groundwater management. Data-driven supervised machine-learning algorithms often rely heavily on the characteristics of the data (number of labels and data distribution). The disparity in the number of different labels for the majority and minority samples can hinder the generalization ability of the machine-learning model, especially weakening the predicting power for minority groups (e.g., hydrocarbon-bearing rocks) which are often of essential interest to us. For a clastic reservoir exhibiting a typical class imbalance (the ratio of gas sandstone to other lithofluids is significantly low), under the framework of a supervised convolutional neural network, we investigate and compare various class-rebalance methods to enhance the model’s prediction ability for gas-bearing sandstones. To achieve the purpose of class rebalance, we mainly use sampling methods to obtain class-balanced data sets and cost-sensitive learning methods to modify loss functions. The crosswell blind tests indicate that the ensemble-based undersampling method of BalanceCascade is found to be most effective in enhancing the prediction performance, increasing the F1 score of gas sandstone by as much as 15%. We also propose the combination of Balance Cascade and focal-loss (FL) methods, which can further improve the F1 score of gas-bearing sandstone in several wells compared with using BalanceCascade or FL alone. By incorporating class-rebalance strategies into model building, we finally obtain more reliable seismic prediction results for gas-bearing sandstone.
Geotechnical site characterization with 3D ambient noise tomography
Authors: Wang Yao , Tran Khiem T. , Cox Brady R. , Vantassel Joseph P.
Published: March 2023

We develop a new 3D ambient noise tomography (3D ANT) method for geotechnical site characterization. It requires recording ambient noise fields using a 2D surface array of geophones, from which experimental crosscorrelation functions (CCFs) are then extracted and directly inverted to obtain an S-wave velocity ([Formula: see text]) structure. The method consists of a forward simulation using 3D P-SV elastic wave equations to compute the synthetic CCF and an adjoint-state inversion to match the synthetic CCFs to the experimental CCFs for extraction of [Formula: see text]. The main advantage of the presented method, as compared with conventional passive-source seismic methods using characteristics of Green’s function (GF), is that it does not require equal energy on both sides of each receiver pair or far-field wavefields to retrieve the true GF. Instead, the source power spectrum density is inverted during the analysis and incorporated into the forward simulation of the synthetic CCFs to account for source energy distribution. After testing on synthetic data, the 3D ANT method is applied to 3 h of ambient noise recordings at the Garner Valley Downhole Array (GVDA) site in California, using a surface array of 196 geophones placed on a 14 × 14 grid with 5 m spacing. The inverted 3D [Formula: see text] model is found to be consistent with previous invasive and noninvasive geotechnical characterization efforts at the GVDA site.
Randomized Phase II Trial of Ficlatuzumab With or Without Cetuximab in Pan-Refractory, Recurrent/Metastatic Head and Neck Cancer
Authors: Bauman Julie E. , Saba Nabil F. , Roe Denise , Bauman Jessica R. , Kaczmar John , Bhatia Aarti , Muzaffar Jameel , Julian Ricklie , Wang Steven , Bearelly Shethal , Baker Audrey , Steuer Conor , Giri Anshu , Burtness Barbara , Centuori Sara , Caulin Carlos , Klein Robert , Saboda Kathylynn , Obara Stefanie , Chung Christine H.
Published: March 2023

PURPOSE

Primary or acquired resistance to cetuximab, an antiepidermal growth factor receptor monoclonal antibody (mAb), minimizes its utility in recurrent/metastatic head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC). Aberrant hepatocyte growth factor/cMet pathway activation is an established resistance mechanism. Dual pathway targeting may overcome resistance.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

This multicenter, randomized, noncomparative phase II study evaluated ficlatuzumab, an antihepatocyte growth factor mAb, with or without cetuximab in recurrent/metastatic HNSCC. The primary end point was median progression-free survival (PFS); an arm met significance criteria if the lower bound of the 90% CI excluded the historical control of 2 months. Key eligibility criteria were HNSCC with known human papillomavirus (HPV) status, cetuximab resistance (progression within 6 months of exposure in the definitive or recurrent/metastatic setting), and resistance to platinum and anti–PD-1 mAb. Secondary end points included objective response rate (ORR), toxicity, and the association of HPV status and cMet overexpression with efficacy. Continuous Bayesian futility monitoring was used.

RESULTS

From 2018 to 2020, 60 patients were randomly assigned and 58 were treated. Twenty-seven versus 33 patients were allocated to monotherapy versus combination. Arms were balanced for major prognostic factors. The monotherapy arm closed early for futility. The combination arm met prespecified significance criteria with a median PFS of 3.7 months (lower bound 90% CI, 2.3 months; P = .04); the ORR was 6 of 32 (19%), including two complete and four partial responses. Exploratory analyses were limited to the combination arm: the median PFS was 2.3 versus 4.1 months ( P = .03) and the ORR was 0 of 16 (0%) versus 6 of 16 (38%; P = .02) in the HPV-positive versus HPV-negative subgroups, respectively. cMet overexpression was associated with reduced hazard of progression in HPV-negative but not HPV-positive disease ( P interaction = .02).

CONCLUSION

The ficlatuzumab-cetuximab arm met significance criteria for PFS and warrants phase III development. HPV-negative HNSCC merits consideration as a selection criterion.
An outlook to centrality dependence of event-by-event fluctuations of maximum pseudo-rapidity gap
Authors: Bhattacharyya Swarnapratim , Firu Elena , Neagu Alina Tania
Published: March 2023

A detailed study of centrality dependence of event-by-event fluctuations of maximum pseudo-rapidity gap of the produced particles has been carried out in terms of the scaled variance ω for 22Ne-emulsion interactions at 4.1 AGeV/c and 28Si-emulsion interactions at 4.5 AGeV/c. Depending on the values of the total charges or sum of the charges of non interacting projectile fragments, event samples were classified into three different centrality classes. Presence of centrality dependence of event-by-event fluctuations of maximum pseudo-rapidity gap is reflected in the multiparticle production process from this analysis. The event-by-event fluctuations are found to increase with decreasing centrality of collisions. Experimental analysis has been compared with the results obtained from the analysis of Monte Carlo simulated (MC-RAND) events in order to extract dynamical fluctuations. The difference between the experimental and simulated values of event-by-event fluctuations establishes the existence of true dynamical correlation among the produced particles.
An ancient testis-specific IQ motif-containing H gene regulates specific transcript isoform expression during spermatogenesis
Authors: Navarrete-López Paula , Lombó Marta , Maroto Maria , Pericuesta Eva , Fernández-González Raúl , Ramos-Ibeas Priscila , Parra María Teresa , Viera Alberto , Suja José Ángel , Gutiérrez-Adán Alfonso
Published: March 2023

Spermatogenic cells express more alternatively spliced RNAs than most whole tissues; however, the regulation of these events remains unclear. Here, we have characterized the function of a testis-specific IQ motif-containing H gene (Iqch) using a mutant mouse model. We found that Iqch is essential for the specific expression of RNA isoforms during spermatogenesis. Using immunohistochemistry of the testis, we noted that Iqch was expressed mainly in the nucleus of spermatocyte and spermatid, where IQCH appeared juxtaposed with SRRM2 and ERSP1 in the nuclear speckles, suggesting that interactions among these proteins regulate alternative splicing (AS). Using RNA-seq, we found that mutant Iqch produces alterations in gene expression, including the clear downregulation of testis-specific lncRNAs and protein-coding genes at the spermatid stage, and AS modifications – principally increased intron retention – resulting in complete male infertility. Interestingly, we identified previously unreported spliced transcripts in the wild-type testis, while mutant Iqch modified the expression and use of hundreds of RNA isoforms, favouring the expression of the canonical form. This suggests that Iqch is part of a splicing control mechanism, which is essential in germ cell biology.
The Relationship Among the Rule of Law, Morality, and the Modern State
Authors: Yılmaz Alim , Geylani Didem
Published: March 2023

At the heart of modern society and states is the concept of the rule of law as a fundamental principle. In the context of Stoicism, it is considered as a moral principle and Roman legal philosophy for removing arbitrariness from political judgments, practices, and processes. Accordingly, this article’s main goal is to examine the phenomenon of modern states, which began in Europe but has since spread to many other regions of the world, in terms of the rule of law as this notion is the basis for all modern states (i.e., positive law). A comparative study is conducted in this regard in order to compare and contrast Western legal precedents such as Stoicism, Rechtsstaat [rule of law], also known as État de droit in French and Stato di diritto in Italian, with respect to its philosophical and historical development over time. The relevant literature was analyzed in order to determine the best method. In this framework, the study explores the notions of Rechtsstaat as the German, État de droit as the French, and Stato di diritto as the Italian philosophy of law.
Sigmoid volvulus and diabetes mellitus
Authors: Disci Esra , Peksoz Rifat , Atamanalp Sabri Selcuk
Published: March 2023

Objectives: Diabetes mellitus (DM) complicates about 15.7% of sigmoid volvulus (SV) cases. However, the pathophysiology of this relation is still unclear. Our objective was to evaluate the association of DM and SV.

Methods: The clinical data of 1,051 patients treated in Ataturk University Faculty of Medicine during 56 years between June 1966 and July 2022 were considered. The records of 612 cases (58.2%) were evaluated retrospectively till June 1986, while 439 (41.8%) were investigated prospectively thereafter. To obtain the worldwide data, an electronic search of the last 56-years’ literature (from 1967 to date) was performed in Web of Science and PubMed databases.

Results: DM was statistically higher in SV patients than of general population (15.7% vs. 8.3%, p<0.001). Conversely, SV and DM co-occurrence was statistically lower in our series than of world-wide data (2.9% vs. 15.7%, p<0.001). In our series, SV and DM comorbidity was statistically higher in elders that that of children (3.9% vs. 0.0%, p<0.05). Although sigmoid gangrene was more common in DM patients when compared with that of total, the difference was not statistically significant (42.9% vs. 27.4%, p>0.05). Conversely, the mortality rate was statistically higher in DM cases than that of no diabetics in SV (28.6% vs. 7.8%, p<0.001).

Conclusion: Although the pathophysiology of SV and DM comorbidity is still relatively unexplainable, our study suggests that DM worsens the prognosis of SV. For this reason, early diagnosis and proper treatment have great importance in such patients.

doi: https://doi.org/10.12669/pjms.39.3.7309

How to cite this: Disci E, Peksoz R, Atamanalp SS. Sigmoid volvulus and diabetes mellitus. Pak J Med Sci. 2023;39(3):825-828.  doi: https://doi.org/10.12669/pjms.39.3.7309

This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
Tropical Field Observation of Weed Permanent Shading on Solar PV Surface
Authors:   Department of Process & Food Engineering, Hybrid Agrivoltaic System Showcase (HAVs), Faculty of Engineering, Universiti Putra Malaysia, 43400 Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia, Ya’acob Mohammad Effendy , Othman Noor Fadzlinda ,   Department of Agricultural Technology, Faculty of Agricultural, Universiti Putra Malaysia,43400 Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia, Mansor Wan Amirah Wan ,   Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Universiti Putra Malaysia, 43400 Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia, Zulkiply Mohammad Amirul Faiz ,   Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Universiti Putra Malaysia, 43400 Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia
Published: March 2023

Solar Photovoltaic (PV) largely depends on the sun irradiation or insolation level (in W/m2) on its surface for electricity conversion process. Cloud movement especially thick cloud near to earth surface creates a non-permanent shading on solar PV farms top surface which significantly reduce the electricity yield. Improper weed management in large scale solarfarms would create a permanent shading to the PV surface especially with creeping plants. Thus, this work implies freely available application namely Pl@ntNet and Canopeo to analyse the impacts of weed surface cover in Solarfarms. Images of specified weed growing above the solar PV surface are captured and identified using Pl@ntNet application to determine the type of weed. Weed identification is the first stage of efficient weed management to aid in a fundamental understanding of the life cycle and biology of the weeds for proper control measures. The same images are used in Canopeo application to determine the surface coverage by means of Quadrat sampling. This information will be invaluable to solarfarm operators showing the significant energy reduction when the solar PV surface are covered by weeds.
Topical Issues of Ensuring and Managing the Quality of Services of Audit Organizations
Authors: Loseva N. , Glazkova G.
Published: March 2023

The article discusses the issues of quality assurance of other services provided by audit organizations and their quality management, factors and conditions, management levels, quality assurance and management system.
Electromagnetic ULF/ELF oscillations caused by the eruption of the Tonga volcano
Authors: Martines-Bedenko Valeriy , Pilipenko Vyacheslav , Shiokawa K. , Akbashev Rinat
Published: March 2023

The eruption of the Tonga volcano on January 13 and 15, 2022 and related intense lightning activity led to the excitation of a number of specific electromagnetic oscillations in different frequency ranges. We examine properties of these oscillations, using data from magnetometers of various types located in Kamchatka and in the Pacific region. We confirmed that there might have been a geomagnetic response to the formation of an acoustic resonance between the Earth surface and the ionosphere: localized harmonic oscillations with a frequency 3.5–4.0 mHz, which lasted for ~1.5 hr, were detected ~15 min after the beginning of the eruption at distance of ~800 km. An increase was observed in the intensity of the Schumann resonance at stations in the Far East. Broadband emission stimulated by intense volcanic lightning was detected to occur in the Pc1 range (2–5 Hz). The emission presumably results from the excitation of the magnetosonic waveguide in the upper ionosphere by lightning activity.
TOWARDS THE DEVELOPMENT OF A PATIENT MONITORING SYSTEM: REVIEW OF AVAILABLE SOLUTIONS AND ASSUMPTIONS FOR BUILDING A FUNCTIONALLY OPTIMAL SYSTEM
Authors:   Military Institute of Aviation Medicine, Warsaw, Poland, Piotrowski Marcin , Dereń Mirosław ,   Military Institute of Aviation Medicine, Warsaw, Poland
Published: March 2023

Abstract: The article reviews the technical solutions of devices that enable the patient to monitor selected medical parameters in time. The authors referred to solutions that record data in internal memory as well as solutions enabling direct transmission of medical data, including information on the current location of the patient in the open space and inside buildings. The latest technical solutions of subassemblies allowing us to design a functionally optimised patient monitoring system in the field of sensor and telecommunications technology were also reviewed. Finally, the authors proposed preliminary assumptions for a functionally optimised patient monitoring system.
Non-mechanical multidirectional optical beam steering using fringing fields in liquid crystals
Authors: Panchal Rahul , Sinha Aloka
Published: March 2023

Non-mechanical multidirectional and wide-angle beam-steering devices are of high interest in advanced laser scanning applications. We present a non-mechanical multidirectional beam-steering device utilizing fringing fields in the liquid crystals. An electrically tunable gradient refractive index (GRIN) region is created due to the fringing fields. The direction of GRIN and the steered beam is controlled by modulating the applied voltage across the designed four-electrode system. The presented device demonstrates a continuously varying steering angle up to ±3∘ at a low applied voltage of ±10Vpp. Moreover, the device is compact, cost-effective, and easy to fabricate, and delivers beam steering in eight different directions.
Grayscale-patterned integrated multilayer-metal-dielectric microcavities for on-chip multi/hyperspectral imaging in the extended visible bandwidth
Authors: Zhu Jingyuan , Zhou Siliang , Ning Yi , Dun Xiong , Dong Siyu , Wang Zhanshan , Cheng Xinbin
Published: March 2023

Pixelated filter arrays of Fabry-Perot (FP) cavities are widely integrated with photodetectors to achieve a WYSIWYG (“what you see is what you get”) on-chip spectral measurements. However, FP-filter-based spectral sensors typically have a trade-off between their spectral resolution and working bandwidth due to design limitations of conventional metal or dielectric multilayer microcavities. Here, we propose a new idea of integrated color filter arrays (CFAs) consisting of multilayer metal-dielectric-mirror FP microcavities that, enable a hyperspectral resolution over an extended visible bandwidth (∼300 nm). By introducing another two dielectric layers on the metallic film, the broadband reflectance of the FP-cavity mirror was greatly enhanced, accompanied by as-flat-as-possible reflection-phase dispersion. This resulted in balanced spectral resolution (∼10 nm) and spectral bandwidth from 450 nm to 750 nm. In the experiment, we used a one-step rapid manufacturing process by using grayscale e-beam lithography. A 16-channel (4 × 4) CFA was fabricated and demonstrated on-chip spectral imaging with a CMOS sensor and an impressive identification capability. Our results provide an attractive method for developing high-performance spectral sensors and have potential commercial applications by extending the utility of low-cost manufacturing process.
Real-time adaptive optical self-interference cancellation for in-band full-duplex transmission using SARSA(λ) reinforcement learning
Authors: Yu Xiao , Ye Jia , Yan Lianshan , Zhou Tao , Li Peng , Zou Xihua , Pan Wei , Yao Jianping
Published: March 2023

Self-interference (SI) due to signal leakage from a local transmitter is an issue in an in-band full-duplex (IBFD) transmission system, which would cause severe distortions to a receiving signal of interest (SOI). By superimposing a local reference signal with the same amplitude and opposite phase, the SI signal can be fully canceled. However, as the manipulation of the reference signal is usually operated manually, it is difficult to ensure a high speed and high accurate cancellation. To overcome this problem, a real-time adaptive optical SI cancellation (RTA-OSIC) scheme using a SARSA(λ) reinforcement learning (RL) algorithm is proposed and experimentally demonstrated. The proposed RTA-OSIC scheme can automatically adjust the amplitude and phase of a reference signal by adjusting a variable optical attenuator (VOA) and a variable optical delay line (VODL) achieved through an adaptive feedback signal, which is generated by evaluating the quality of the received SOI. To verify the feasibility of the proposed scheme, a 5 GHz 16QAM OFDM IBFD transmission experiment is demonstrated. By using the proposed RTA-OSIC scheme, for an SOI at three different bandwidths of 200, 400, and 800 MHz, the signal can be adaptively and correctly recovered within 8 time periods (TPs), which is the required time of a single adaptive control step. The cancellation depth for the SOI with a bandwidth of 800 MHz is 20.18 dB. The short- and long-term stability of the proposed RTA-OSIC scheme is also evaluated. The experimental results indicate that the proposed approach could be a promising solution for real-time adaptive SI cancellation in future IBFD transmission systems.
Generation and control of the circle Olver beams: erratum
Authors: Wang Ziyu , Yang Haobin , Xu Danlin , Liang Zehong , Shui Lingling , Deng Dongmei
Published: March 2023

We have found an error in our work reported in [Opt. Express 31(4), 6241 (2023)10.1364/OE.483433], which we correct in this erratum. The authors apologize for this error and emphasize that none of the results are affected by this error.
Operation at 1 MHz of 1.7-cycle multiple plate compression at 35-W average output power
Authors: Okamoto Takuya , Kunihashi Yoji , Shinohara Yasushi , Sanada Haruki , Chen Ming-Chang , Oguri Katsuya
Published: March 2023

We generate 1.7-cycle and 35-µJ pulses at a 1-MHz repetition rate by using two-stage multiple plate continuum compression of Yb-laser pulses with 80-W average input power. By adjusting the plate positions with careful consideration of the thermal lensing effect due to the high average power, we compress the output pulse with a 184-fs initial duration to 5.7 fs by using only group-delay-dispersion compensation. This pulse achieves a sufficient beam quality (M2 < 1.5) reaching a focused intensity over 1014 W/cm2 and a high spatial-spectral homogeneity (98%). Our study holds promise for a MHz-isolated-attosecond-pulse source for advanced attosecond spectroscopic and imaging technologies with unprecedentedly high signal-to-noise ratios.
Accurate dynamic 3D deformation measurement based on the synchronous multiplexing of polarization and speckle metrology
Authors: Du Yijun , Li Junxiang , Zhao Hong , Zhao Zixin , Fan Chen , Zhou Menghang , Yang Xingyu , Zhao Rong
Published: March 2023

An accurate dynamic 3D deformation measurement method realized by the combination of phase-shifting speckle interferometry and speckle correlation is proposed. By converting the speckle field and the reference field into a circular polarized and linear polarized state, the three-step phase-shifting speckle interferograms and one specklegram were recorded directly and simultaneously within a single image by using a polarization camera. Then, the out-of-plane deformation was demodulated from the synchronous phase-shifting fringe patterns, and the in-plane deformation was measured by performing correlation calculations by using specklegrams with the effect of the reference field ignored. Thus, the full-field 3D deformation was obtained precisely. Experimental results demonstrated the accuracy and dynamic measurement ability of the proposed method, which is compact and feasible for actual dynamic scenes.
Effects of a simulated high-energy space environment on a LaF3/MgF2 multilayer
Authors: Wang Xiaodong , Tian Hai , Ren Shuai , Zhou Peng , Wang Haifeng , Li Xinkai , Chen Bo
Published: March 2023

Due to their low absorption, the LaF3/MgF2 material pair is widely used in the far-ultraviolet space payload. In the space environment, there are plenty of energetic particles (electrons, protons, γ rays, and atomic oxygen) and strong ultraviolet lines. These energetic particles penetrate into the films, and may change the materials’ physical and chemical structures. Hence, these energetic particles and ultraviolet lines may degrade the performance of LaF3/MgF2. We examined the effect of a simulated high-energy space environment on a LaF3/MgF2 multilayer. Dendritic patterns were observed in LaF3/MgF2 multilayer irradiated by the 30 keV electrons. The generation mechanism was proposed. This pattern was gradient wrinkle delamination due to the electric discharge, and it was non-uniform, asymmetric. This problem can be avoided by decreasing the substrate heating temperature and lay number (total thickness), and choosing the fluoride material substrate. The LaF3/MgF2 multilayer demonstrated no changes after the irradiation of the protons, γ rays, atomic oxygen, and ultraviolet lines.
Impact of COVID-19 on healthcare utilization, cases, and deaths of citizens and displaced Venezuelans in Colombia: Complementary comprehensive and safety-net systems under Colombia’s constitutional commitment
Authors: Shepard Donald S. , Boada Adelaida , Newball-Ramirez Douglas , Sombrio Anna G. , Rincon Perez Carlos William , Agarwal-Harding Priya , Jason Jamie S. , Harker Roa Arturo , Bowser Diana M.
Published: March 2023

Objective

Colombia hosts 1.8 million displaced Venezuelans, the second highest number of displaced persons globally. Colombia’s constitution entitles all residents, including migrants, to life-saving health care, but actual performance data are rare. This study assessed Colombia’s COVID-era achievements.

Methods

We compared utilization of comprehensive (primarily consultations) and safety-net (primarily hospitalization) services, COVID-19 case rates, and mortality between Colombian citizens and Venezuelans in Colombia across 60 municipalities (local governments). We employed ratios, log transformations, correlations, and regressions using national databases for population, health services, disease surveillance, and deaths. We analyzed March through November 2020 (during COVID-19) and the corresponding months in 2019 (pre-COVID-19).

Results

Compared to Venezuelans, Colombians used vastly more comprehensive services than Venezuelans (608% more consultations), in part due to their 25-fold higher enrollment rates in contributory insurance. For safety-net services, however, the gap in utilization was smaller and narrowed. From 2019 to 2020, Colombians’ hospitalization rate per person declined by 37% compared to Venezuelans’ 24%. In 2020, Colombians had only moderately (55%) more hospitalizations per person than Venezuelans. In 2020, rates by municipality between Colombians and Venezuelans were positively correlated for consultations (r = 0.28, p = 0.04) but uncorrelated for hospitalizations (r = 0.10, p = 0.46). From 2019 to 2020, Colombians’ age-adjusted mortality rate rose by 26% while Venezuelans’ rate fell by 11%, strengthening Venezuelans’ mortality advantage to 14.5-fold.

Conclusions

The contrasting patterns between comprehensive and safety net services suggest that the complementary systems behaved independently. Venezuelans’ lower 2019 mortality rate likely reflects the healthy migrant effect (selective migration) and Colombia’s safety net healthcare system providing Venezuelans with reasonable access to life-saving treatment. However, in 2020, Venezuelans still faced large gaps in utilization of comprehensive services. Colombia’s 2021 authorization of 10-year residence to most Venezuelans is encouraging, but additional policy changes are recommended to further integrate Venezuelans into the Colombian health care system.
Chronic cannabis use and error awareness: The effect on learning from errors
Authors: Dali Gezelle , Poulton Antoinette , Hester Robert
Published: March 2023

Background

Cannabis is the third most commonly used drug worldwide, with studies suggesting a deleterious effect on some aspects of performance monitoring. It is unknown, however, whether diminished error awareness influences adaptive behaviour in cannabis users. Therefore, this study examined the effect of error awareness on learning from errors in cannabis users.

Methods

Thirty-six chronic cannabis users (Mage = 23.81 years; female, 36%) and 34 controls (Mage = 21.53 years; female, 76%) completed a Go/No-Go task that allowed participants to learn from errors and adapt their behaviour. Multilevel models were specified to determine whether the effect of error awareness on learning from errors differs between cannabis users and controls, and whether cannabis-use measures predict error correction while accounting for error awareness.

Results

While error awareness and correction rates did not differ between the groups, there was a significant effect of age of use onset on error correction in cannabis users. Further, the effect of error awareness was dependent on age of onset, and cannabis use-related frequency and harm. That is, cannabis users reporting an earlier age of regular use or scoring higher on the cannabis use index were less likely to perform correctly following an aware error.

Conclusion

It appears overall cannabis use might not be tightly coupled to behavioural indices of performance monitoring. There is evidence, however, that aspects of cannabis use predict impairments in learning from errors that may be associated with treatment outcomes.
Identification of predicate creep under the 510(k) process: A case study of a robotic surgical device
Authors: Lefkovich Charlotte , Rothenberg Sandra
Published: March 2023

The FDA’s 510(k) process for medical devices is based on “substantial equivalence” to devices clearedpre-1976 or legally marketed thereafter, known as predicate devices. In the last decade, several high-profile device recalls have drawn attention to this regulatory clearance process and researchers have raised questions about the validity of the 510(k) process as a broad clearance mechanism. One of the issues raised is the risk of predicate creep, a cycle of technology change through repeated clearance of devices based on predicates with slightly different technological characteristics, such as materials and power sources, or have indications for different anatomical sites. This paper proposes a new way to identify potential “predicate creep” through the use of product codes and regulatory classifications. We test this method by applying it to a case study of a Robotic Assisted Surgery (RAS) device, the Intuitive Surgical Da Vinci Si Surgical System. We find that there is evidence of predicate creep using our method, and discuss implications of this method for research and policy.
Detection of bisphenol A in thermal paper receipts and assessment of human exposure: A case study from Sharjah, United Arab Emirates
Authors: Semerjian Lucy , Alawadhi Najla , Nazer Khulud
Published: March 2023

Bisphenol A (BPA) is an industrial chemical that is widely used in various industrial applications. It has concerns in its use as a color developer in thermal paper receipts since it is identified as an endocrine disruptor and causes hormonal disturbances. In this study, thirty thermal paper receipt samples were randomly collected from various locations in Sharjah, United Arab Emirates and analyzed using high performance liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry. Sixty percent (60%) of receipt samples showed BPA levels above the acceptable limit (200 ng/mg) set by the European Union (EU) for thermal papers. On the other hand, 40% of the samples reported very low BPA levels (< 0.02 ng/mg). However, estimated weight adjusted daily intakes (EDI) ranged between 8.22 ×10−11 and 0.000812 μg/kg bw/day for the general population, and between 7.89×10−9 and 0.0681 μg/kg bw/day for the occupationally exposed cashiers. Thus, all calculated EDIs were below the European Food Safety Authority Tolerable Daily Intake (4 μg/kg·bw/day) and the provisional Health Canada Tolerable Daily Intake (25 ug/kg bw/day) under varying paper-to-skin transfer coefficients and absorption fractions. Nevertheless, due to its health effects and recent legal restrictions by EU, the occurrence of co-exposure to dietary and non-dietary sources should be considered in the health risk assessment of Bisphenol A, mainly for people with frequent occupational exposure to thermal paper, and especially with the increased use of sanitizers. The current study is a first within the UAE context in relation to BPA in thermal paper receipts, thus its significance especially with the recent EU enforcement of BPA limits in paper receipts. The study highlights that proper policies as well as education and awareness may assist in limiting transdermal BPA exposure for the general and occupationally exposed populations.
Interobserver variability in interim PET assessment in Hodgkin lymphoma—reasons and solutions
Authors: Georgi Thomas W. , Kurch Lars , Hasenclever Dirk , Warbey Victoria S. , Pike Lucy , Radford John , Sabri Osama , Kluge Regine , Barrington Sally F.
Published: March 2023

Introduction

Interim PET (iPET) assessment is important for response adaptation in Hodgkin lymphoma (HL). The current standard for iPET assessment is the Deauville score (DS). The aim of our study was to evaluate the causes of interobserver variability in assigning the DS for iPET in HL patients and to make suggestions for improvement.

Methods

All evaluable iPET scans from the RAPID study were re-read by two nuclear physicians, blinded to the results and patient outcomes in the RAPID trial. The iPET scans were assessed visually according to the DS and, thereafter, quantified using the qPET method. All discrepancies of more than one DS level were re-evaluated by both readers to find the reason for the discordant result.

Results

In 249/441 iPET scans (56%) a concordant visual DS result was achieved. A “minor discrepancy” of one DS level occurred in 144 scans (33%) and a “major discrepancy” of more than one DS level in 48 scans (11%). The main causes for major discrepancies were 1) different interpretation of PET-positive lymph nodes—malignant vs. inflammatory; 2) lesions missed by one reader and 3) different assessment of lesions in activated brown fat tissue. In 51% of the minor discrepancy scans with residual lymphoma uptake, additional quantification resulted in a concordant quantitative DS result.

Conclusion

Discordant visual DS assessment occurred in 44% of all iPET scans. The main reason for major discrepancies was the different interpretation of PET positive lymph nodes as malignant or inflammatory. Disagreements in evaluation of the hottest residual lymphoma lesion can be solved by the use of semi-quantitative assessment.
KIMA: Voice: The human voice as embodied presence
Authors: Gingrich Oliver , Renaud Alain , Emets Evgenia , NegrÃo David
Published: March 2023

Through and post-COVID, disembodied technological interactions were experienced at an unprecedented, often involuntary level in households across the world, with the human voice often providing a link between geographically disconnected individuals, resulting in a decrease in perceived social connectedness. Recent research suggests that effects of social isolation and sensory deprivation can be mitigated through participatory media arts experiences (; , ). Over the last ten years, the art collective Analema Group has explored the pivotal role of the human voice as means for social connectedness through their artwork KIMA (Tate, National Gallery, Barbican). The current development of KIMA: Voice seeks to challenge experiences of embodiment in remote environments. This article and artwork presentation will present a new development KIMA: Voice designed to provide new forms of embodied experiences across a distance. The publication will be supported by a demonstration and exhibition of the artwork
Gestural interaction commonalities in body-based performance
Authors: Gibson Steve
Published: March 2023

This article considers gestural and motion-based interaction within the context of body-based audio-visual performance. More specifically the article describes some general commonalities between different approaches to both large-area and small-area interaction. This is discussed in relation to my own work with motion-tracking technologies (The Gesture and Media System [GAMS]), as well as more recent experiments with the Leap Motion hand/gesture tracker. In addition, the article references other strategies for gestural interaction such as a formal ‘method for mapping embodied gesture, acquired with electromyography and motion sensing’ () and a more human-centred ‘expansive and augmented performance environment that facilitates full-body musical interactions’ (). The article posits that while precise gestural mapping approaches are not universally applicable, enough commonalities between gestural interaction strategies exist that some insights can be generally applied to gestural performance, regardless of the technology employed or the scale of the interaction space.
Ejemplo de tabulae lusoriae procedente de Perceiana (Villafranca de los Barros, Badajoz)
Authors: Mena Méndez Cristina , Bustamante-Álvarez Macarena , García Cabezas Miriam
Published: March 2023

Presentamos una tabla romana de juego múltiple realizada sobre un ladrillo cerámico procedente del término municipal de Villafranca de los Barros –Badajoz, España-. En este trabajo se analizan sus características morfológicas, así como las ocho tablas de juego posicionadas sobre dicha pieza.
Sobre la pista de una iglesia desaparecida de la Mérida tardoantigua
Authors: Heras Mora Francisco Javier
Published: March 2023

El descubrimiento en 2009 de los restos de una construcción de planta absidada en Mérida, en la margen del río opuesta al recinto amurallado romano, sirve como punto de partida para reflexionar sobre la ubicación de una de las iglesias o ermitas citadas por el libro de las Vidas de los Santos Padres Emeritenses. En esta comunicación se pretende un recorrido historiográfico y arqueológico que atañe a algunos de los edificios cristianos que estaban en pie al menos en el siglo VI. Entre los argumentos que se esgrimen, se encuentra el interesante conjunto de fragmentos escultóricos -elementos litúrgicos o de arquitectura religiosa de “época visigoda”- rescatado en este mismo lugar hace casi setenta años.