bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Patient-Reported Symptom Burden and Supportive Care Needs of Patients With Stage II-III Colorectal Cancer During and After Adjuvant Systemic Treatment: A Real-World Evidence Study
Authors: Cuthbert Colleen A. , O'Sullivan Dylan E. , Boyne Devon J. , Brenner Darren R. , Cheung Winson Y.
Published: January 2023

PURPOSE:

Patients with colorectal cancer (CRC) experience a range of physical and psychologic symptoms, and supportive care needs throughout the illness trajectory. We used patient-reported outcomes and administrative health data to describe symptom burden and supportive care needs during and after adjuvant treatment and determine factors associated with changes to symptom burden.

METHODS:

A retrospective population-based cohort study of patients who were newly diagnosed with stage II-III CRC in Alberta, Canada, between January 1, 2016, and January 31, 2019. Adults age 18 years or older who completed a patient-reported outcomes survey (Edmonton Symptom Assessment System) and supportive care needs (Canadian Problem Checklist) within 3 months after starting adjuvant treatment (during treatment) and > 7 months after starting treatment (after treatment) were included. Changes to symptom severity were stratified as stable, improved, or deteriorated. Multivariable logistic regression was used to evaluate factors associated with these changes.

RESULTS:

We included 303 patients (median age 60 years, 62% male, 84.5% stage III, 51.2% rectal v colon). Prevalent symptoms included tiredness (80.5%), pain (50.8%), and poor well-being (50%) during treatment, and tiredness (71.3%), pain (44.2%), and poor well-being (62.1%) after treatment. The results were heterogeneous with respect to improvements, stability, or deterioration. Pain worsened for 25% of the cohort, tiredness for 28%, and depression, anxiety, and well-being for 21%, 22%, and 31%, respectively. Deterioration of some symptoms was associated with older age, stage II, comorbidities, rural setting, and higher income.

CONCLUSION:

We demonstrated symptom severity was generally low and most symptoms remained stable or improved after treatment. Particular groups of patients were at greater risk for more severe and/or more persistent symptoms. Ongoing assessments and interventions to address physical and psychologic symptoms, and supportive care needs in patients with CRC during and after treatment are needed.
The AKT1-FOXO4 axis reciprocally regulates hemochorial placentation
Authors: Kozai Keisuke , Moreno-Irusta Ayelen , Iqbal Khursheed , Winchester Mae-Lan , Scott Regan L. , Simon Mikaela E. , Muto Masanaga , Parrish Marc R. , Soares Michael J.
Published: January 2023

Hemochorial placentation involves the differentiation of invasive trophoblast cells, specialized cells that possess the capacity to exit the placenta and invade into the uterus where they restructure the vasculature. Invasive trophoblast cells arise from a well-defined compartment within the placenta, referred to as the junctional zone in rat and the extravillous trophoblast cell column in human. In this study, we investigated roles for AKT1, a serine/threonine kinase, in placental development using a genome-edited/loss-of-function rat model. Disruption of AKT1 resulted in placental, fetal and postnatal growth restriction. Forkhead box O4 (Foxo4), which encodes a transcription factor and known AKT substrate, was abundantly expressed in the junctional zone and in invasive trophoblast cells of the rat placentation site. Foxo4 gene disruption using genome editing resulted in placentomegaly, including an enlarged junctional zone. AKT1 and FOXO4 regulate the expression of many of the same transcripts expressed by trophoblast cells, but in opposite directions. In summary, we have identified AKT1 and FOXO4 as part of a regulatory network that reciprocally controls critical indices of hemochorial placenta development.
TMJ Disorders in Athletes
Authors: Starr Carter L. , McGrew Christopher
Published: January 2023

Temporomandibular joint dysfunction is common in both the general population and athletes with a much higher incidence in women than in men. We review current research on temporomandibular joint disorders, discuss relevant risk factors, manifestations of temporomandibular disorders in athletes, and treatment options. Certain sports, particularly contact sports, pose an increased risk for problems with the temporomandibular joint. The stress of athletic performance also may be a contributing factor. Mouthguards should be encouraged for prevention of injury and physical therapy is the most effective treatment.
The Mode of Endurance Exercise Influences Changes in EEG Resting-State Graphs among High-Level Cross-Country Skiers
Authors: BÜCHEL DANIEL , TORVIK PER ØYVIND , LEHMANN TIM , SANDBAKK ØYVIND , BAUMEISTER JOCHEN
Published: January 2023

Purpose

Acute bouts of exercise influence the communication and organization of brain networks, with exercise intensity and volume regarded as key moderators. However, differences in coordination demands and limb involvement between exercise modes may also affect the communication and organization of brain networks after exercise and should be considered additionally. This study aimed to investigate the effect of mode on exercise-induced changes in electroencephalogaphy (EEG) resting-state networks comparing running (RUN) and cross-country skating (XC).

Methods

Fifteen male, highly trained participants were tested for peak oxygen uptake (V̇O2peak) during RUN (65.3 mL·min−1·kg−1) and XC (63.5 mL·min−1·kg−1) followed by incremental protocols at 50%, 70%, and 90% of speed at V̇O2peak in both modes on the treadmill. After each exercise bout, 5-min resting-state EEG assessments using 64 channels were performed. Upon graph theory, small world index (SWI), clustering coefficient (CC), and path length (PL) were assessed in theta, alpha-1 and alpha-2 frequency bands. Repeated-measures ANOVA was applied to analyze the influence of exercise intensity and mode on modulations in brain network efficiency.

Results

Main effects of mode on SWI (P = 0.047), CC (P < 0.001), and PL (P = 0.031) in the alpha-2 network indicated stronger modulations in network efficiency after XC. Main effects of exercise intensity in the theta network indicated modulated SWI (P < 0.001), CC (P < 0.001), and PL (P = 0.003) after exercise at 90% of V̇O2peak speed. Physiological outcomes (heart rate, blood lactate concentration, and rating of perceived exertion) were influenced by intensity solely.

Conclusions

The present study demonstrates that an acute bout of coordinatively challenging endurance exercise may affect brain networks differently compared with running. Future studies may consider exercise mode as a potential moderator in the acute interaction between exercise and the brain.
Diagnostic accuracy of magnetic resonance imaging to evaluate axillary lymph node status in breast cancer patients receiving neoadjuvant chemotherapy
Authors: Bansal Gaurav Jyoti , Jaipal Amarta , Wu Genie K C , Syed Ayesha
Published: January 2023

Objectives:

Axillary lymph node status is an important prognostic factor for breast cancer patients. This study aimed to assess the accuracy of MRI in assessing the axillary nodal status in breast cancer patients receiving neo-adjuvant chemotherapy (NACT).

Methods:

Data were retrospectively collected for 88 patients between 2011 and 2016 from the hospital records. All patients had baseline MRI, followed by the end of neoadjuvant chemotherapy MRI. Patient demographics, cancer type, grade, stage, receptor status, and the number of positive lymph nodes identified on the baseline and preoperative MRI were recorded. The imaging results were compared to post-operative histopathological lymph node findings. The median patient age of the patients was 54 years (32–77 years)

Results:

There were 67 (76.1%) patients with histologically proven positive axillary lymph nodes on baseline MRI. The overall conversion from abnormal to normal axillary nodes following chemotherapy (ypN0) was 38.8% (26 patients out of 67). The sensitivity and specificity of MRI for predicting axillary status was 68.85 and 85.71%, respectively, with an overall MRI diagnostic accuracy of 73.07%.

Conclusion:

MRI has low sensitivity and diagnostic accuracy in predicting axillary nodal status in breast cancer patients receiving neoadjuvant chemotherapy. Given the low NPV of MRI of the axilla, a negative MRI does not obviate the need for definitive axillary surgery.

Advances in knowledge:

In its current state, MRI cannot obviate the need for axillary surgery in patients receiving NACT. Long: short axis ratio (L: S) of the axillary lymph node is not a good predictor of axillary metastases.
Lung nodules: sorting the wheat from the chaff
Authors: O’Dowd Emma L , Baldwin David R
Published: January 2023

Pulmonary nodules are a common finding on CT scans of the chest. In the United Kingdom, management should follow British Thoracic Society Guidelines, which were published in 2015. This review covers key aspects of nodule management also looks at new and emerging evidence since then.
Pharmacy students' empathy and its determinants: a systematic review
Authors: Pratiwi Hening , Ari Kristina Susi , Wahyuni Widayanti Anna , Suryo Prabandari Yayi
Published: January 2023

Background: Empathy in the context of healthcare is an immersion experience to comprehend patients' viewpoints, feelings, and emotions, without passing judgment, to ensure they receive the necessary treatment to feel comfortable. Empathy for others must be possessed by healthcare professionals and healthcare students as healthcare professionals’ candidates, including the pharmacy student. This study aimed to identify and assess the determinants related to pharmacy students' empathy.

Methods: Three electronic databases were used for the first searches. We used peer-reviewed original papers, full text, must assess determinants that are associated with pharmacy students' empathy, and only be focused on pharmacy students (first to the fourth year) as healthcare professionals candidates. We utilized Joanna Briggs Institute Critical Appraisal Checklists to observe the quality of published publications and reduce bias.

Results: This review examined 14 papers that reported on determinants connected to pharmacy students' empathy. Nine studies evaluated the association between sex and the level of empathy, seven studies reported educational intervention, four studies discussed the year of study, two studies explained the type of school, four studies evaluated experience, and others determinants that discussed in the included studies were career preference, intercultural sensitivity, stigma, altruism, grit, self-awareness, marital status, and family income

Conclusions: Educational intervention, experience, gender or sex, type of school, year of study, intercultural sensitivity, career preference, altruism, grit, self-awareness, marital status, and family income, can all have a positive impact on increased empathy among pharmacy students. We acknowledge that the included studies are heterogeneous, indicating that additional studies are necessary before reaching any firm conclusions. More research is needed to properly understand how empathy can be improved with the most effective pharmacy educational strategies. Higher levels of evidence are also required in studies to address the potential bias caused using self-report questionnaires, as well as other potential biases and inaccuracies.
3D-printing of porous structures for reproduction of a femoral bone
Authors: Alessandri Giulia , Santi Gian Maria , Martelli Paolo , Guidotti Eleonora , Liverani Alfredo
Published: January 2023

Background: 3D-printing has shown potential in several medical advances because of its ability to create patient-specific surgical models and instruments. In fact, this technology makes it possible to acquire and study physical models that accurately reproduce patient-specific anatomy. The challenge is to apply 3D-printing to reproduce the porous structure of a bone tissue, consisting of compact bone, spongy bone and bone marrow.

Methods: An interesting approach is presented here for reproducing the structure of a bone tissue of a femur by 3D-printing porous structure. Through the process of CT segmentation, the distribution of bone density was analysed. In 3D-printing, the bone density was compared with the density of infill.

Results: The zone of compact bone, the zone of spongy bone and the zone of bone marrow can be recognized in the 3D printed model by a porous density additive manufacturing method.

Conclusions: The application of 3D-printing to reproduce a porous structure, such as that of a bone, makes it possible to obtain physical anatomical models that likely represent the internal structure of a bone tissue. This process is low cost and easily reproduced.
Experiences of the International In-Training Examination (I-ITE) by Rwandan pediatric residents – a survey-study describing candidate feedback
Authors: Cartledge Peter Thomas , Umuhoza Christian , McCall Natalie
Published: January 2023

Background: The University of Rwanda is the only African residency to have implemented the pediatric International In-Training Examination (I-ITE) as a tool to monitor resident knowledge acquisition. The objective of this study was to better understand the acceptance and relevance of this exam to residents from this setting and their perceptions regarding this assessment tool.

Methods: A retrospective, survey-study was undertaken to describe candidate feedback. Immediately on completing the I-ITE residents provided feedback by filling in an electronic questionnaire comprised of four closed Likert questions and an open text box for free-text feedback. Participants were pediatric residents from the University of Rwanda, the only university in Rwanda with a pediatric residency program. Quantitative analysis of the Likert questions was undertaken descriptively using SPSS. Free-text feedback was coded and analysed employing a phenomenological approach, with coding and analysis undertaken by two researchers.

Results: Eighty-four residents completed a total of 213 I-ITE sittings during the five exam cycles undertaken during the study period. The survey was completed after 206 of the 213 exam sittings, giving a response rate of 97%.  Five themes emerged from the qualitative analysis; 1) undertaking the I-ITE was a positive experience; 2) exam content; 3) formative nature of the assessment; 4) challenges to completing the exam; 5) practicalities to undertaking the exam.

Conclusion: Qualitative feedback demonstrates that the I-ITE, a standardized, and independent exam, produced by the American Board of Pediatrics, was valued and well accepted by Rwanda pediatric residents. Its formative nature and the breadth and quality of the questions were reported to positively contribute to the residents' formative development.
Environmental surveillance for Salmonella Typhi as a tool to estimate the incidence of typhoid fever in low-income populations.
Authors: Uzzell Christopher B. , Troman Catherine M. , Rigby Jonathan , Raghava Mohan Venkata , John Jacob , Abraham Dilip , Srinivasan Rajan , Nair Satheesh , Meschke John Scott , Elviss Nicola , Kang Gagandeep , Feasey Nicholas A. , Grassly Nicholas C.
Published: January 2023

Background: The World Health Organisation recommends prioritised use of recently prequalified typhoid conjugate vaccines in countries with the highest incidence of typhoid fever. However, representative typhoid surveillance data are lacking in many low-income countries because of the costs and challenges of diagnostic clinical microbiology. Environmental surveillance (ES) of Salmonella Typhi in sewage and wastewater using molecular methods may offer a low-cost alternative, but its performance in comparison with clinical surveillance has not been assessed.

Methods: We developed a harmonised protocol for typhoid ES and its implementation in communities in India and Malawi where it will be compared with findings from hospital-based surveillance for typhoid fever. The protocol includes methods for ES site selection based on geospatial analysis, grab and trap sample collection at sewage and wastewater sites, and laboratory methods for sample processing, concentration and quantitative polymerase chain reaction (PCR) to detect Salmonella Typhi. The optimal locations for ES sites based on digital elevation models and mapping of sewage and river networks are described for each community and their suitability confirmed through field investigation. We will compare the prevalence and abundance of Salmonella Typhi in ES samples collected each month over a 12-month period to the incidence of blood culture confirmed typhoid cases recorded at referral hospitals serving the study areas.

Conclusions: If environmental detection of Salmonella Typhi correlates with the incidence of typhoid fever estimated through clinical surveillance, typhoid ES may be a powerful and low-cost tool to estimate the local burden of typhoid fever and support the introduction of typhoid conjugate vaccines. Typhoid ES could also allow the impact of vaccination to be assessed and rapidly identify circulation of drug resistant strains.
The genome sequence of the dark-saddled leucozona, Leucozona laternaria (Muller, 1776)
Authors: Falk Steven ,   University of Oxford and Wytham Woods Genome Acquisition Lab,   Darwin Tree of Life Barcoding collective,   Wellcome Sanger Institute Tree of Life programme,   Wellcome Sanger Institute Scientific Operations: DNA Pipelines collective,   Tree of Life Core Informatics collective, Chua Physilia ,   Darwin Tree of Life Consortium
Published: January 2023

We present a genome assembly from an individual female Leucozona laternaria (the dark-saddled leucozona; Arthropoda; Insecta; Diptera; Syrphidae). The genome sequence is 614 megabases in span. Most of the assembly (99.69%) is scaffolded into five chromosomal pseudomolecules including the assembled X sex chromosome. The mitochondrial genome has also been assembled and is 18.3 kilobases in length. Gene annotation of this assembly on Ensembl has identified 11,677 protein coding genes.
Application of Vertical Electrical Sounding for Subsurface Characterization to Determineslope Instability at Perizie, Nagaland
Authors: Ezung Meripeni , Walling Temsulemba , C. Chelladura C. Chelladura
Published: January 2023

Vertical Electrical Sounding (VES) technique which employs the Schlumberger depth sounding method was used to investigate the subsurface conditions at the landslide in Perizie colony, Kohima. The interpretation of the VES curves shows differing lithology consisting of weathered shales with associated clay, which is considered an important factor for slope instability. The shear strength of the slope materials, including the country rocks and the soil cover, is also significantly reduced and easily detached due to the effects of weathering and erosion, causing the landslides. Three to six possible geo-electric layers are delineated from the variations in the resistivity values, with the lithologies consisting of topsoil followed by alternate layers of weathered and fractured rocks of varying thickness. The analysis also points to the presence of a weak zone at a depth of about 10 m, which is not apparent from the surface. The formation of groundwater aquifers in the fractured zones indicates high risk for slope failure as this accelerates the weak country rocks to weather. The results obtained by this study correspond well with the available borehole data of the area.
Environmental Risk Assessment from 2018 To 2022 for Kota, Rajasthan (India)
Authors: Kamboj Kuldeep , Mathur Anil K.
Published: January 2023

Particulate matter pollution in the metropolis has become an international concern because of its dangerous short and long-term effects on humans and the environment. This research aims to quantify particulate matter's severe impact on inhabitants and identify the ecological environment risk category of Kota city, Rajasthan (India), throughout the selected study period from 2018 to 2022 for four years. Human health risk assessment has been assessed through AirQ+ software (WHO invented), while ecological hazard risk categories were recognised through risk quotient (RQ). The present scenario of particulate matter concentration is compared with standards given by different regulating agencies (WHO, USEPA, and Indian NAAQS) to verify particulate matter pollution. The current particulate matter concentration levels of Kota city are also compared with different regional cities of Rajasthan (India), namely, Jaipur, Udaipur, Ajmer, Pali, Alwar, and Jodhpur. The dust ratio (PM2.5/PM10) is computed for Kota and regional cities to validate the increasing levels of fine particulates than the larger ones. The four-year average concentration of PM10 and PM2.5 were 121 and 58 µg/m3, respectively, with a dust ratio of 0.48. Particulate matter concentrations (PM10 and PM2.5) are violating the standards set by environmental agencies during the study period. The mean risk quotient (RQ) is 2.02 for PM10 and 1.43 for PM2.5, which implies a high-risk hazard category (RQ > 1) in the ecological environment of Kota city. The mortality cases evaluated from AirQ+ software were 5024 for all natural causes, 885 for lung cancer, 272 for acute lower respiratory infection, 464 for COPD, 2060 for IHD, and 1880 for stroke. The number of hospital admissions was 1485 for respiratory disease, 58 for cardiovascular disease, and 784 for adult mortality (30+ years) to PM2.5. Chronic bronchitis incidence in adults was 14469, postneonatal infant mortality was 355816, and the prevalence of bronchitis in children was 767 due to PM10 exposure for a long time, while asthma symptoms in asthmatic children were 349 due to exposure for a short time. The results of this study are terrifying, and it is an earlier sign to government representatives and stakeholders to implement the new policies and technologies to curb the pollution level originating from particulate matter; otherwise, impacts on the environment become more acute.
Suitable Site Selections for Artificial Recharge Structure in Bandalli Watershed. Chamaraja Nagar District, Karnataka, India Using Remote Sensing, and GIS Techniques.
Authors: Pradeepraju N Pradeepraju N , Nagaraju D Nagaraju D , Sudeep S R Sudeep S R
Published: January 2023

Bandalli watershed is characterized as an arid to semi-arid region with little access to water. Water is essential for all life forms for human consumption, agriculture and industry. Artificial groundwater recharge is a process by which the groundwater scrounges is reduced at a rate almighty the augmentation rate beneath natural replenishment conditions. The work aims to understand the groundwater scenario in distinction to the geological point of view as the geology of the area concerned is the primary control of groundwater recharge and potentiality. The study began with gathering and analyzing necessary data for creating water balance and determining the best techniques for artificial recharge. The best artificial recharge sites in the vicinity have been validated. The present investigation is to find and select ideal sites for future zones to create a new shape using GIS (Geographic Information System) software version 10.8. To estimate the appropriateness of the site for artificial recharge, the model incorporated numerous criteria, various parameters slope, Lu/Lc, stream order, soil aspect and hydrology. Artificial recharge planning was calculated using runoff availability, aquifer dimension, priority locations, and local water table conditions. Most areas are undulating to recommend recharge structures, which will help the water table and the agricultural sector to augment the water harvesting to improve the groundwater.
Gamelan Demung Music Transcription Based on STFT Using Deep Learning
Authors: Hermawan Andi Rokhman , Yuniarno Eko Mulyanto , Wulandari Diah Puspito
Published: January 2023

Learning to play a gamelan instrument would be easier when there’s a musical notation guide. The process of converting a musical signal into a notation guide is called transcription. In this paper, we would like to transcript the gamelan music especially the Demung instrument using the Deep Learning method. Each Demung’s note from 6-low until 1-high would be converted to the time-frequency domain using STFT (Short-Time Fourier Transform). Then, those data will be treated as an input for the multilayers perceptron. The training method is a single label of each notation. The output returned by the model is a music roll transcription.
Measurement And Characterization of Radio Propagation Channels from The Patient Room Hub to The Nurse Station Server for WBAN Medical Applications
Authors: Mauludiyanto Achmad , Hendrantoro Gamantyo , Krisdaniawan Darien Raditya
Published: January 2023

As time passes, technology is demanded to be more sophisticated, efficient, and fully automatic. Technology development also impacts the medical field since hospitals require a tool that can automatically, thoroughly, and accurately record the physical condition of patients in the inpatient room and forward the results to be checked by the nurses on duty at the nurse station. Automation of patient data recording needs to be performed flexibly and comfortably for patients; thus, a wireless device channelling sensors on the patient's body to the nurse station is required. On this account, it demands a measurement to characterise the radio propagation channels. Therefore, this paper highlights the radio channel between the inpatient room hubs and the nurse station server. The measurement was performed in two rooms separated by a wall in the Antenna and Propagation Laboratory, representing an inpatient room and the nurse station. Further, the channel frequency was set at 3 GHz with a bandwidth of 200 MHz. Through the Vector Network Analyzer (VNA), the result revealed the channel response characteristic that the denser the propagation channels, the lower the power received and vice versa.
Current Mode Control of Non-Isolated Multi-Phase Interleaved Buck-Boost Converter for Military Battery Charging Application.
Authors: Shaibu Ali , Karaarslan Ahmet
Published: January 2023

Power conversion devices are essential in a remote off-grid site, typically for military purposes where several types of equipment with varying input characteristics are supplied essentially by the same energy source, necessitating the use of a buck-boost converter for DC-DC applications. Because the conventional buck-boost converter's inverting output voltage is incompatible with some applications, the two-switch buck-boost converter is recommended for battery charging in military applications. The nominal input voltage range of the five-phase interleaved buck-boost converter is 9 – 36 V, the output voltage is 28 V, the output power is 3.3 kW, and the switching frequency is 100 kHz. The simulation of the converter with current mode control in the MATLAB/Simulink simulation environment was performed to confirm validity of the operational theory and the simulation results show consistency with theoretical values. Maximum of 74.41 ms and 51.35 % were recorded under all conditions of operation for the settling and overshoot respectively. The obtained data indicates a 1–2 % variation between the measured and theoretical duty cycle.
Modified Extremum Seeking Control for Target Tracking and Formation Control in Pursuit-Evasion Game
Authors: Setiawan Fachruddin Ari , Agustinah Trihastuti , Fuad Muhammad
Published: January 2023

In a pursuit-evasion game, the mobile robot pursuer's ability to navigate from its initial position to the evader while maintaining a safe distance from other objects requires a good obstacle avoidance system. This study aims to perform target tracking in evader sieges and obstacle avoidance against other pursuer robots and static obstacles by proposing a modified extreme seeking controller (ESC). A modified backstepping control (BC) was used as an autopilot control for a nonholonomic mobile robot to execute the modified ESC command. The modified BC based on the modified ESC requires the positions of the targeted evader, pursuers, and obstacles. The pursuer uses this information to capture an evader by arranging the desired formation without colliding with static obstacles or other robots. The results of the simulations show that the pursuers successfully surround the evader and construct the formation without colliding with obstacles. The proposed method resulted in the closest distance of 2.071 m between the pursuers, 1.954 m between each pursuer and the evader, and 2.425 m between the pursuers and static obstacles.
Obstacle Detection Using Monocular Camera with Mask R-CNN Method
Authors: Santoso Ari , Darmawan Rafif Artono , Hady Mohamad Abdul , Fatoni Ali
Published: January 2023

An autonomous car is a car that can operate without being controlled by humans. Autonomous cars must be able to detect obstacles so that the car does not hit objects that are on the path to be traversed. Therefore, it takes a variety of sensors to determine the surrounding conditions. The sensors commonly used in autonomous cars are cameras and LiDAR. Compared to LiDAR, the camera has a relatively long detection distance, lower cost, and can be used to classify objects. In this final project, the monocular camera and Mask R-CNN algorithm are used to create a system that can detect obstacles in the form of cars, motorcycles, and humans. The system will generate segmentation instances, bounding boxes, classifications, distance, and width estimation for each detected object. By using a custom dataset that is created manually it fits perfectly with the surrounding environment. The system used can produce a Mean Average Precision of 0.81, a Mean Average Recall of 0.89, an F1 score of 0.86, and a Mean Absolute Percentage Error of 13.4% for the distance estimator. The average detection speed of each image is 0.29 seconds.
Negotiation of Representation of Rohingya in Thailand through Faith-Based Media
Authors:   Faculty of Social Sciences, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai  50200, Thailand, Boonreak Kunnawut
Published: January 2023

This article analyzes media representations in Thailand of the Rohingya, an ethnic minority being persecuted in Myanmar, with a focus on those representations in faith-based media like the White Channel. Media representations help form people’s perceptions of others. Representations of the Rohingya as refugees and migrants, as a result of the interaction of rhetoric and ideology within the nation state, demonizes and paints the Rohingya as the ‘Other’, influencing public dialogue. However, individual Rohingya in Thailand are also steering the course for their own future by trying to tell their own stories. Keywords: Rohingya, Media and migration, Representation, Media portrayals, Faith-based organization.
China Pakistan Economic Corridor of Belt and Road Initiative During Covid-19
Authors:   Department of Defense and Strategic Studies (DSS), Quaid-i-Azam University (QAU), Islamabad, Ali Irfan
Published: January 2023

The fatal COVID-19 pandemic generated panic across the world and disturbed global economic and social structures. It had a severe psychological effect on most of the world’s population. It also affected the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor, a flagship project of China’s Belt and Road Initiative. This article analyzes the importance of the corridor for China and Pakistan and how it has been affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. The article also aims to assess the preparation of China and Pakistan for similar threats in the future. China and Pakistan’s steadfast friendship has grown even more vital during the global battle against the coronavirus. The Chinese government immediately provided masks, protective equipment, and ventilators to Pakistan, and continued work on joint projects after the outbreak of COVID-19. Keywords: CPEC, BRI, COVID-19, HSR, Global structure, China, Pakistan, Connectivity.
A fiscal perspective of policy responses to COVID-19: Evidences from Emerging Economy India
Authors:   Doctoral Candidate, Department of Economics, Central University of Kerala, Kasaragod, Kerala, India - 671316., C. Prasanth
Published: January 2023

The COVID-19 health crisis became a global economic crisis with mitigation measures leading to a steep decline in economic activity, disrupting demand and supply. To attenuate the economic impact of the pandemic, monetary and fiscal policies were used by governments, central banks and supranational institutions. This article analyzes the implications of fiscal and monetary policies used in India in response to the COVID-19 pandemic on the country’s public debt. India’s adoption of a unique calibrated expenditure strategy through fiscal stimulus provided a cushion to mounting expenditure requirements in a scenario of falling government revenue. Widening fiscal deficits due to the increased need for fiscal spending on the one hand, and a decline in revenue generation owing to fall in economic activities on the other, saw a surge in India’s public debt. Coordinated efforts by monetary and fiscal authorities through conventional and non-conventional measures added new dimensions to India’s debt management strategy. The unprecedented magnitude of the crisis pushed the Government of India to relax its debt and deficit indicators until the economy can move back to normalcy. Keywords: COVID-19, Fiscal deficit, Fiscal policy, Fiscal stimulus, Monetary policy, Public debt.
Plankton potential as bioindicator of trophic status of Lokop River Leuser Ecosystem
Authors: Persada Andri Yusman , Febri Suri Purnama , Putri Kartika Aprilia , Endah Sari Herlina Putri , Djamani Rianjuanda
Published: January 2023

Lokop is one of the villages in East Aceh which has a watershed in the Leuser Ecosystem. Human activities have the potential to disrupt the Trophic Status of Lokop River, such as the use of pesticides for agriculture, household waste and the use of potassium for fishing. It is necessary to research the quality of the waters in the Lokop River. The plankton community present in river waters can be an indicator of environmental pollution by analyzing the saprobic index. This study aims to determine the index of plankton diversity and water quality in the Leuser Ecosystem of the Lokop River through the saprobic index. The research was conducted at three stations. A sampling of plankton was taken in the form of a 10 cc filtrate and five replications were carried out for each study site. Water quality measurements include pH, TDS, Temperature, transparancy, depth, and current. 11 potential species can be used as pollution indicators in the Lokop River, namely Cladophora sp, Diatoma elongatum, Fragilaria capucina, Oedogonium sp., Gonatozygon sp, Lyngbya agardh, Melosira sp., Merismopedia punctata, Microspora sp, Pinnularia sp, Synedra ulna. The plankton diversity index is in the medium category. Based on the Saprobic Index, the level of pollution at the research site was not to lightly loaded of organic pollution and lowly loaded of organic pollution.Keywords:IsoprobikPlanktonBioindicatorLokop
Relationship of ENSO (El Niño – Southernoscillation ) and monsoon index on variability of rainfall and sea surface height in coastal City Semarang, Central Java
Authors: Rosyidah Rosyidah , Kunarso Kunarso , Indrayanti Elis
Published: January 2023

The city of Semarang is one of the coastal areas in Indonesia that is prone to flooding. Flood events that often occur in the Semarang City area can be triggered by high rainfall. Variations in rainfall and sea level are closely related to global atmospheric circulation such as ENSO and regional atmospheric circulation, Monsoon. This study aims to examine the relationship between ENSO and Monsoon with the distribution of rainfall and sea level in coastal city Semarang from 2012 to 2021. Correlation and composite analysis were used to analyze the relationship and impact of ENSO and Monsoon phenomena on rainfall and sea level. The results showed the strong correlation of the ENSO index (Southern Oscillation Index) to rainfall in the JJA and SON periods. Generally, El Niño (La Niña) has an impact on increasing (decreasing) rainfall. Meanwhile, Australian Summer Monsoon Index (AUSMI) only strongly correlates with rainfall in the SON period. The westerly (eastern) wind indicated by a positive (negative) monsoon index in the SON period has the effect of increasing (reducing) rainfall. The ENSO phenomenon with sea level during the JJA period has a strong relationship. In JJA, the highest sea level (maximum tide) rises by 12.6 cm during El Niño and decreases by 0.6 cm during La Niña. Meanwhile, the lowest sea level (minimum low tide) decreased by 16.6 cm during El Niño and increased by 0.7 cm during La Niña. These results can explain the influence of global and regional atmospheric circulation on a local scale on the coast of Semarang City.Keywords:RainfallSea levelEl NiñoLa NiñaMonsoon
Confronting increases to labour and capital taxes to finance the pension deficit in the Dominican Republic: a real business cycle approach
Authors: Brens Paola , Fenech Theresa , Romeo Domenica
Published: January 2023

Ageing demographics have prompted widespread pension reforms across Latin America. This has left several countries with a significant financial burden related to the transition from one system to another. In this article, we evaluate two alternative methods of financing the recent pension reform in the Dominican Republic. We build on a simple real business cycle model with perfect competition and add a fiscal block that allows us to simulate shocks to the tax rates on capital and labour, based on the present value of the pension reform cost. We find that increasing the tax rate on returns to capital would not only fill the pension deficit, but also have a significantly smaller adverse effect on the macroeconomy, when compared with an increase to the tax on labour.
Optical trapping force on a stratified chiral particle by high-order Bessel beam
Authors: Bai Jing , Liu Xuan , Ge Cheng-Xian , Wu Zhen-Sen , Zhang Xiao-Xiao
Published: January 2023

We examined optical trapping force (TF) exerted on non-uniform chiral stratified spheres by a high-order Bessel beam (HOBB). Present theories were proven to be valid by comparison with the existing reference. Numerical simulations considering the effects of various parameters on TF are displayed in detail. The results show that different chirality distributions in stratified chiral sphere will affect significantly the trapping characteristics, and a stable three-dimensional capture can be realized only by selecting the appropriate parameters of incident beam and particles. The theoretical investigations may provide an analytical method to help understand the interaction of light with more complex stratified chiral cells and thus become an encouraging approach to better design an optical manipulation system.
Low-frequency broadband multilayer microwave metamaterial absorber based on resistive frequency selective surfaces
Authors: Lan Hao Wen , Li Zhi Ming , Weng Xiao Long , Qi Lun , Li Kai , Zhou Zhang Rong , Wu Xue Yu , Bi Mei
Published: January 2023

Herein, a low-frequency broadband multilayer metamaterial absorber
(MMA) based on resistive
frequency selective surfaces
(RFSSs) is proposed, which consists of a three-layer RFSS, three-layer
polymethacrylimide (PMI) foam substrates, and a copper film. The
proposed absorber has the advantages of ultra-broadband absorption
with absorptivity more than 90% ranging from 1.91 to 20.78 GHz,
which covers the entire S, C, X, and Ku bands with the thickness of

0.102

λ

L

(where

λ

L

corresponds to the wavelength of the
lowest operating frequency). The absorption performance can keep good
stability in a wide angular range for both TE and TM modes. Moreover,
a prototype of the proposed MMA is fabricated and experimentally
measured to demonstrate its excellent performance. The experimental
results show excellent consistency with numerical simulations.
Measurement of the fractional topological charge of an optical vortex beam through interference fringe dislocation
Authors: Shikder Allarakha , Nishchal Naveen K.
Published: January 2023

An optical vortex beam carrying fractional topological charge (TC) has
become an immerging field of interest due to its unique intensity
distribution and fractional phase front in a transverse plane.
Potential applications include micro-particle manipulation, optical
communication, quantum information processing, optical encryption, and
optical imaging. In these applications, it is necessary to know the
correct information of the orbital angular momentum, which is related
to the fractional TC of the beam. Therefore, the accurate measurement
of fractional TC is an important issue. In this study, we demonstrate
a simple technique to measure the fractional TC of an optical vortex
with a resolution of 0.05 using a spiral interferometer and
fork-shaped interference patterns. We further show that the proposed
technique provides satisfactory results in cases of low to moderate
atmospheric turbulences, which has relevance in free-space optical
communications.
How to compress ultrashort vortex pulses
Authors: Baca-Montero Erick R. , Andrade-Ambriz Yair A. , Shulika Oleksiy V.
Published: January 2023

Potential applications of ultrashort vortex pulses (ultrashort pulses with helical wavefronts) require compact tools to compensate for dispersion during their generation and propagation. In this work, a global simulated-annealing optimization algorithm, based on analysis of the temporal properties and waveforms of femtosecond vortex pulses, is used to design and optimize chirped mirrors. Performances of the algorithm through different optimization approaches and chirped mirror designs are presented.
Selfrec-Net: self-supervised deep learning approach for the reconstruction of Cherenkov-excited luminescence scanned tomography
Authors: Zhang Wenqian , Hu Ting , Li Zhe , Sun Zhonghua , Jia Kebin , Dou Huijing , Feng Jinchao , Pogue Brian W.
Published: January 2023

As an emerging imaging technique, Cherenkov-excited luminescence scanned tomography (CELST) can recover a high-resolution 3D distribution of quantum emission fields within tissue using X-ray excitation for deep penetrance. However, its reconstruction is an ill-posed and under-conditioned inverse problem because of the diffuse optical emission signal. Deep learning based image reconstruction has shown very good potential for solving these types of problems, however they suffer from a lack of ground-truth image data to confirm when used with experimental data. To overcome this, a self-supervised network cascaded by a 3D reconstruction network and the forward model, termed Selfrec-Net, was proposed to perform CELST reconstruction. Under this framework, the boundary measurements are input to the network to reconstruct the distribution of the quantum field and the predicted measurements are subsequently obtained by feeding the reconstructed result to the forward model. The network was trained by minimizing the loss between the input measurements and the predicted measurements rather than the reconstructed distributions and the corresponding ground truths. Comparative experiments were carried out on both numerical simulations and physical phantoms. For singular luminescent targets, the results demonstrate the effectiveness and robustness of the proposed network, and comparable performance can be attained to a state-of-the-art deep supervised learning algorithm, where the accuracy of the emission yield and localization of the objects was far superior to iterative reconstruction methods. Reconstruction of multiple objects is still reasonable with high localization accuracy, although with limits to the emission yield accuracy as the distribution becomes more complex. Overall though the reconstruction of Selfrec-Net provides a self-supervised way to recover the location and emission yield of molecular distributions in murine model tissues.
Nonlocal Fourier modal method for analyzing nonlocal plasmonic periodic nanostructures
Authors: Kwiecien Pavel , Burda Milan , Richter Ivan
Published: January 2023

In accordance with growing scientific interests in nanoplasmonic structures, along with the increasing ability to fabricate them using proper nanotechnologies, we have developed a methodology to incorporate nonlocal optical responses, described with a simple hydrodynamic model, into the numerical Fourier modal method (FMM) technique to enable broadening of the simulation portfolio of such physical phenomena in plasmonic nanostructures. Here, we have newly incorporated the nonlocal response approximation (NRA) into the periodic FMM technique (called NonLocFMM) described with a proper hydrodynamic model, and we show in several examples that this implementation is capable of numerically analyzing periodic plasmonic systems, such as nonlocal periodic multilayers and resonant gratings. The implementation was performed in such a way that a future possible generalization of the hydrodynamic nonlocal description will be feasible, as well as the aperiodization of the technique. Such an extension is, indeed, viable and will be the subject of a subsequent paper.
Numerical study of transmissive liquid crystal Pancharatnam–Berry gratings with small periods
Authors: Liu Sha , Yu Hao , Jiang Miao , Feng Jun , Wei Qi-Huo
Published: January 2023

Advances in patterning molecular orientations in liquid crystals have made possible the fabrications of various high-quality flat optical elements, ranging from gratings to beam shaping devices. These devices are based on modulating the Pancharatnam–Berry (PB) phase. It is well known that the diffraction efficiency for liquid crystal PB optical elements decreases for large diffraction angles. Here we study this issue using numerical simulations based on finite-difference time-domain algorithms and show that the optical efficiency formula commonly used for liquid crystal gratings deviates significantly from numerical results and is inaccurate for small grating periods because of its assumption that light beams do not diffract inside the liquid crystal films. We show that, for large diffraction angles, the polarization of the diffracted beam is generally elliptically polarized, and we further show that, by using liquid crystal materials with larger birefringence

Δ
n
∼

0.4

, the diffraction efficiency for a grating period of 0.8 µm can go above 90%, which can be used for various flat optical elements with numerical aperture  

∼

0.7

.
Monolithic Yb3+-doped thin film lithium niobate microring laser fabricated by photolithography-assisted chemo-mechanical etching technology
Authors: Ma Yu , Zhou Junxia , Fang Zhiwei , Zhou Yuan , Huang Ting , Zhu Yiran , Wang Zhe , Liu Jian , Liu Zhaoxiang , Wu Rongbo , Wang Min , Zhang Haisu , Cheng Ya
Published: January 2023

We demonstrate an on-chip microring laser on

Y
b

3
+

-doped thin film lithium niobate (Yb:TFLN) fabricated by photolithography-assisted chemo-mechanical etching technology. Multiwavelength laser emissions around 1025 nm from the microring resonator pumped by a 980 nm laser diode are observed with the lasing threshold of 10 mW. Experimentally, up to 14 longitudinal modes are obtained from the fabricated Yb:TFLN microring laser, and this on-chip microring laser is a promising light source for multiple wavelength channels in optical communications and biosensors.