bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Aspergillus foetidus as a potent producer for β-galactosidase utilizing lemon peels and coffee waste powder: production optimization, purification, kinetic and thermodynamic characterization
Authors: Wahab Walaa A. Abdel , Saleh Shireen A. A. , Elzairy Nermeen H. , Ahmed Samia A. , Zaki Eman R. , Salama Walaa H. , Mostafa Faten A.
Published: December 2024

Background

The main obstacle facing the utilization of microbial enzymes in industrial applications is the high cost of production substrates. As a result of the mentioned different wastes (coffee powder waste, dates nawah powder, molokhia stems, pea peels, lemon peels, and corn cobs) were investigated as low-cost nutritional substrates for the production of microbial β-galactosidase in this study. The purification of the enzyme and its kinetic and thermodynamics were investigated.

Results

β-galactosidase was effectively produced by Aspergillus foetidus utilizing lemon peels and coffee powder waste by solid-state fermentation technique. The production yield was improved through Plackett-Burman Design declaring the significant effect of lemon peels and coffee waste powder, and beef extract quantities on A. foetidus β-galactosidase production. Followed by Central Composite Design investigating each factor with five levels resulting in 37363.1 U.ml− 1 production. The enzyme was fully purified by gel filtration technique through Sephadex G-150 giving one band with a molecular weight 40 KDa on SDS-PAGE gel. The maximal β-galactosidase activity was obtained at 50 °C with 0.4% ONPG. Cu2+, Fe2+, and Hg2+ showed severe inhibitory effect on pure enzyme activity. Energy required for enzyme activation (Ea) and denaturation (Ed) were determined to be 17.40, and 43.86 KJ.mol− 1, respectively. Parameters reflecting β-galactosidase thermal stability at 40, 45, and 50 °C as T1/2 and D-values values were determined to be 283.92, 209.43, and 168.56 min, and 943.34, 695.84, and 560.06 min, respectively.
A prospective, multicentre study evaluating safety and efficacy of a fixed dose combination of Remogliflozin etabonate, Vildagliptin, and Metformin in Indian patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (Triad-RMV)
Authors: Agarwal Prabhat K , Bhushan Divendu , Bhate Amit , Naik Sunil , Adwani Shailesh , Kushwaha J S , Bhushan Sumit , Mane Abhishek , Gadkari Rujuta , Choudhari Sanjay , Patil Saiprasad , Barkate Hanmant
Published: December 2024

Aims

The ICMR INDIAB-17 study revealed a diabetes prevalence of 11.4% in India, emphasizing the need for effective treatment for glycemic control. A Phase IV study was conducted to evaluate the safety and efficacy of a Fixed Dose Combination (FDC) of Remogliflozin, Metformin and Vildagliptin (RMV) in Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus (T2DM) patients uncontrolled on Metformin plus SGLT2 inhibitor or Metformin plus DPP4 inhibitor dual therapy.

Methods

A total of 215 patients (mean age: 46.4 years; 64% male, 36% female) were enrolled across multiple centers in India. The study population included patients with a baseline HbA1c ≥ 8% at the time of screening. The primary objective was to assess safety based on treatment-emergent adverse events (TEAEs), while the secondary. aim was to evaluate effectiveness in terms of glycemic (HbA1c, fasting plasma glucose, postprandial glucose) and extra-glycemic measures (renal and lipid parameters). Statistical analysis was conducted using paired t-tests and the Wilcoxon signed-rank test for within-group comparisons, and the Bonferroni correction was applied to adjust for multiple comparisons. Effectiveness was evaluated at baseline, week 12, and week 24.

Results

The study demonstrated statistically significant reductions in mean HbA1c levels from baseline to both week 12 and week 24 (p < 0.00001). At 24, weeks, 45.1% of patients achieved target HbA1c levels of ≤ 7%. Significant reduction was also observed in fasting plasma glucose (FPG) and postprandial glucose (PPG) levels. Renal parameters remained stable or improved, and lipid profile parameters, including LDL-C and triglycerides, showed favorable changes. Adverse events of special interest, including hypoglycemia and urinary tract infections, were reported in 4.7% of patients, with no serious adverse event recorded.

Conclusions

The twice daily triple FDC of RMV was well tolerated, safe and effective in patients with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus uncontrolled on dual drug therapy of Metformin plus SGLT2i or Metformin plus DPP4i. The treatment led to significant improvements in glycemic control and other metabolic parameters over 24 weeks, without compromising renal function or causing serious adverse events.

Trial registration

CTRI, CTRI/2022/05/042581. Registered 17 May 2022, https//ctri.nic.in/Clinicaltrials/rmaindet.php? trialid=68,757&EncHid=36127.16500&modid=1&compid=19.
A study of stressful life events in patients with first-episode acute coronary syndrome (ACS)—a hospital-based case–control study
Authors: Kousar Muntaqueem Ul , Parveen Shaheena , Maqbool Masood , Rather Yasir Hassan , Bhat Fazle Roub , Jan Neelofar , Rasool Ubaid
Published: December 2024

Background

There is considerable evidence in the literature highlighting the impact of psychological factors on the development of coronary heart disease. In India, there's a rising incidence of traumatic life events alongside coronary heart disease, yet the connection between them remains relatively understudied. Therefore, this study aims to investigate stressful life events among patients experiencing their first episode of acute coronary syndrome (ACS) and compare this with controls.

Results

The mean number of stressful life events (SLEs) observed was 5.07 ± 2.04 in cases and 4.35 ± 1.88 in controls, with a p-value of < 0.05. Cases had a significantly higher prevalence of medical and psychiatric morbidity than controls, with rates of 89.3% compared to 69.6% for medical issues, and 56.7% versus 24.0% for psychiatric conditions, respectively. Univariate analyses revealed a significant difference between cases and controls in the types of stressors experienced, with cases showing higher odds ratios (OR) for specific events such as Fire or Explosion (OR = 4.5), Transportation accident (OR = 3.4), and Captivity (OR = 2.3). Additionally, bivariate analyses indicated that presence of a comorbid medical illness had an OR of 5.95. At the same time, specific life events like Exposure to fire or explosion (OR = 3.35) and Transportation accidents (OR = 3.08) were more likely to occur in cases. Overall, there were significant differences in the prevalence and pattern of various types of SLEs between cases and controls.

Conclusion

The higher number of SLEs observed in cases compared to controls underscores their potential role in cardiac risk. While transportation accidents and fires/explosions demonstrated robust associations with ACS, the variable significance across different types of SLEs suggests a complex relationship between stressor type and cardiac outcomes. These findings highlight the need for prospective studies with larger sample sizes and further research to ascertain and quantify the role of stressful events and the risk of a cardiac event.
Nuyorican Vanguards
Authors: Ramirez Yasmin
Published: December 2024

This chapter uncovers the dynamic emergence of the Puerto Rican alternative art space movement, catalyzed by organizing in 1969 when disenfranchised Puerto Rican artists met each other at exhibitions and rallies. This generation joined civil rights movements and radical groups like the Young Lords and El Comité, fueling the birth of an art movement. The Art Workers’ Coalition set the stage for alternative art spaces, with the Puerto Rican branch forming pivotal spaces like El Museo del Barrio and Taller Boricua. These spaces provided platforms for collaboration between poets and visual artists, challenging institutional norms. On NYC streets in the 1970s, a socially conscious photographic practice emerged while muralism and graffiti blossomed. In the mid-1970s, Puerto Rican alternative spaces began opening in Loisaida and SoHo, contributing to New York’s landscape and propelling artists into influential roles.
Puerto Rican Arts in Philadelphia
Authors: Irizarry Johnny
Published: December 2024

This chapter explores the cultural expressions of Philadelphia’s Puerto Rican population, highlighting how these contributions have been acts of survival and resistance. The chapter traces the growth of the Puerto Rican community in the city, including visual arts, media, and other forms of community building and representation. Organizations like Taller Puertorriqueño and Asociación de Músicos Latino Americanos (AMLA) played significant roles in nurturing Puerto Rican arts and cultural programs. The author cites the community-focused practice of artists Pepón Osorio, Michelle Angela Ortiz, Betsy Z. Casañas, Roberto Lugo and José Ortiz-Pagán. The chapter emphasizes the integration of the arts into education, activism, and community-building efforts, showcasing the resilience and impact of Philadelphia’s Puerto Rican community in the face of various challenges, including prejudice, gentrification, and the hiv/aids crisis.
Visual Artists, Surrealist Communions
Authors: Cáceres Joseph Anthony
Published: December 2024

This chapter delves into the unexplored Surrealist connections between visual artists affiliated with the Nuyorican Poets Café during the late 1970s and early 1980s, challenging the conventional understanding of the Café’s legacy. By spotlighting the poetry and visual art of Lois Elaine Griffith, one of the last surviving founders of the Café, the chapter aims to highlight the cultural dialogues and exchanges that took place at the Café. This exploration also focuses on Griffith’s collaborations with Nuyorican visual artist Jorge Soto Sánchez and their works that engaged with shared cultural legacies, such as Yoruba, to create an anti-colonial aesthetic. The impetus for this study came from the Nuyorican Poets Café Founders Archive Project, initiated after the passing of Miguel Algarín, a Café founder. The narrative weaves together personal interactions, memories, and artworks stored in Griffith’s archive, shedding light on the surrealist nature of the artists’ work.
¡No te luzcas!
Authors: Cruz-Malavé Arnaldo M.
Published: December 2024

This chapter explores the interplay between Puerto Rican identity, visibility, and performance in the context of the Nuyorican experience. It examines how notions of respectability have evolved in the Puerto Rican community, from attempts to conform to US norms to the emergence of the term “Nuyorican” as a marker of difference and cultural identity. The chapter delves into the tension between hypervisibility and invisibility, revealing how certain strands of Nuyorican visual arts challenge sensationalized representation. Through the work of artists like David Antonio Cruz, Luis Carle, Adál Maldonado, and others, the chapter highlights an alternative current in Nuyorican art. These artists disrupt traditional representational norms, engaging in a spectacle of the self that dislocates, dislodges, and empowers. By focusing on the performative methods and principles inherent in these artworks, the chapter presents an alternative perspective on Nuyorican aesthetics and its connection to cultural agency and transformation.
Antioxidant activity and resistance traits of Aesculus species against Cameraria ohridella Deschka & Dimić infestation in the Ukraine steppe
Authors: Shupranova Larysa , Holoborodko Kyrylo , Zhukov Oleksandr , Shulman Maria , Loza Iryna , Seliutina Oksana , Ivanko Iryna
Published: December 2024

The study aimed to assess the enzymatic antioxidant system for determining the species-specific response of Aesculus species different in tolerance to C. ohridella attacks. Antioxidant activity of non-infested and infested leaves in six species of the genus Aesculus was investigated on 15-year-old representatives growing in Dnipro city (Steppe zone, Ukraine). The leaves of Aesculus both healthy and mined by C. ohridella were sampled within Dnipro city in 2023. Activity of benzidine and guaiacol peroxidase (BPx, GPx), catalase (CAT), and content of soluble proteins (SP) were determined. The isoenzyme composition of BPx was determined by isoelectric focusing (IEF). Statistical differences between the species were corroborated via ANOVA using Statistica software. High constitutive levels of BPx, GPx activities and soluble protein concentrations were detected in the leaves of Aesculus parviflora; this species was highly resistant to the leaf miner infestation compared to unresistant Ae. hippocastanum and moderately resistant species. Different adaptative ways of Aesculus species to C. ohridella influence were shown to occur due to the diverse functional role of oxidative enzymes. In A. glabra, catalase was activated; induction of this enzyme occurs only at high ROS concentrations. BPX stimulation found in A. hippocastanum and A. flava could indicate the participation of this enzyme in hydrogen peroxide neutralization and synthesis of phenolic compounds. Increased GPx activity (in A. pavia) occurred mainly (except for the disposal of H2O2) to strengthen the cell wall; it enhanced the resistance response against the influence of the horse-chestnut leaf miner. Under the influence of the oligophagous insect, only quantitative changes in IEF profiles of isoperoxidase were recorded specifically depended on the species of Aesculus. This output may be beneficial for application of Aesculus plants (A. parviflora, A. × carnea, A. flava) highly resistant to stress in urban green plantings. This study showed that the antioxidant status of leaves in the genus Aesculus can be a reliable indicator of the plant tolerance to C. ohridella attacks.
Συνεργατικός έλεγχος προδιαγεγραμμένης απόκρισης
Authors: Κατσούκης Ηλίας
Published: December 2024

Η παρούσα διατριβή πραγματεύεται το πρόβλημα του κατανεμημένου έλεγχου μη γραμμικών Π.Ε.Π.Ε. πολυπρακτορικών συστημάτων που αποτελούνται από ένα πλήθος πρακτόρων - ακολούθων και έναν ή πολλούς πράκτορες - ηγέτες. Κύριος στόχος της αποτελεί την ανάπτυξη καινοτόμων σχημάτων ελέγχου που εντάσσονται στο ευρύτερο πλαίσιο της μεθοδολογίας προδιαγεγραμμένης απόκρισης. Συγκεκριμένα, αρχικά προτείνεται ελεγκτής που επιλύει το πρόβλημα του συγχρονισμού εξόδου σε συστήματα ανώτερης τάξης με κατευθυνόμενο γράφο επικοινωνίας επιβάλλοντας προαποφασισμένα χαρακτηριστικά σύγκλισης, όσον αφορά τον ελάχιστον χρόνο σύγκλισης καθώς και το μέγιστο σφάλμα στη μόνιμη κατάσταση. Εν συνεχεία, ενσωματώνοντας σε κάθε έναν ακόλουθο έναν εκτιμητή ταχύτητας προδιαγεγραμμένης απόκρισης επιτυγχάνεται συγχρονισμός ολόκληρου του διανύσματος κατάστασης του ακόλουθου με εκείνο του ηγέτη για συστήματα υψηλής τάξης και σχετικού βαθμού δύο με την επικοινωνία να περιγράφεται από έναν κατευθυνόμενο γράφο επικοινωνίας, ενώ γίνεται ειδική αναφορά στα αποτελέσματα που επιτυγχάνονται όταν ο γράφος είναι μη κατευθυνόμενος. Κατόπιν, συνδυάζοντας τη θεωρία παρατηρητών υψηλού κέρδους και αυτή της προδιαγεγραμμένης απόκρισης, επιλύεται το πρόβλημα του συγχρονισμού κατάστασης για συστήματα υψηλής τάξης, ενώ τέλος εξετάζεται το πολυπρακτορικό σύστημα με την παρουσία πολλαπλών ηγετών με τους ακόλουθους να περιγράφονται από υψηλής τάξης μη γραμμικές διαφορικές εξισώσεις.
Η ισχύς της πολιτιστικής διπλωματίας στην άσκηση εξωτερικής πολιτικής
Authors: Καψάσκης Πέτρος
Published: December 2024

Η παρούσα διατριβή, θεραπεύει το γνωστικό αντικείμενο της Πολιτιστικής Διπλωματίας και μελετά τις νέες πρακτικές που ανακύπτουν στο πεδίο της εξωτερικής πολιτικής, σε μια προσπάθεια επανατοποθέτησης της έννοιας του πολιτισμού μέσα στο γενικό θεωρητικό πλαίσιο των διακρατικών σχέσεων. Η μελέτη θέτει το θεωρητικό πλαίσιο για την κατανόηση του τρόπου με τον οποίον διαχέεται η ισχύς στην άσκηση Πολιτιστικής Διπλωματίας και αναλύεται η επίδραση της παγκοσμίωσης στην άσκηση της εξωτερικής πολιτικής. Εν συνεχεία, καταγράφονται οι πρακτικές και τα εργαλεία με τα οποία ασκούν Πολιτιστική Διπλωματία, τα πιο προηγμένα κράτη στον κόσμο, με απώτερο σκοπό να εντοπιστούν τα κενά στη λειτουργία, τη διαχείριση και τον σχεδιασμό της Ελληνικής Πολιτιστικής Διπλωματίας. Η διεπιστημονική προσέγγιση που ακολουθείται για την ορθότερη κατανόηση του επιστημονικού αντικειμένου, τοποθετεί την Πολιτιστική Διπλωματία σε ένα υπόβαθρο ανθρωπολογικό, αφ΄ης στιγμής ο πολιτισμός προσδιορίζει την εν λόγω διπλωματία και υπό αυτή την έννοια εντάσσει την έννοια της αλληλοκατανόησης, στη διεκδίκηση του εθνικού συμφέροντος. Υπό αυτή την έννοια, ο πολιτισμός δεν εξετάζεται ως το «βελούδινο γάντι που καλύπτει τη σιδερένια γροθιά»,1 δηλαδή ως ένα εργαλείο προπαγάνδας, επιβολής ή μονολόγου το οποίο έχει ως στόχο την υποταγή του πολιτιστικά διαφορετικού ή οικονομικά ασθενέστερου κράτους, αλλά ως ένα μέσο διαλόγου, του οποίου η μεθοδολογική προσέγγιση εδράζεται στην έννοια του συμπολιτισμού (acculturation), αφ' ης στιγμής έχει την ικανότητα να δημιουργεί πολιτισμική σύνθεση και αμοιβαία επωφελείς σχέσεις μεταξύ των λαών με διαφορετική κουλτούρα. Συνεπώς, η Πολιτιστική Διπλωματία προσεγγίζεται ως μια πολιτική αμοιβαίας επωφελείας, της οποίας η μεθοδολογία και η πρακτική, εξέρχονται από τα στενά όρια του κράτους και λαμβάνουν υπόψιν την ανερχόμενη κοινωνία των πολιτών. Το στοιχείο της θρησκείας διαδραματίζει έναν ιδιαίτερα σημαντικό ρόλο στην κατανόηση της κουλτούρας ενός λαού και εξετάζεται επισταμένως στην έρευνα ως προϊόν του ήδη διαμορφωμένου πολιτισμού του, ο οποίος φανερώνει την εσωτερική οργάνωση, τους φόβους αλλά και τις προσδοκίες ενός λαού στη διεθνή ζωή του. Για τον λόγο αυτόν αναλύεται συγκριτικά το πνευματικό υπόβαθρο των πολιτισμών στη βάση του ιστορικοκοινωνικού τους πλαισίου και παρατίθενται τα συμπεράσματα και οι διαπιστώσεις που προκύπτουν από τις διαστάσεις της κουλτούρας, καθώς και από την επίδραση που ασκεί στην εξωτερική πολιτική των κρατών.
Transient global amnesia – current state of knowledge
Authors: Tymoszuk Patrycja , Kasperek Bartosz , Augustowska Katarzyna , Żak Agata , Sierzpowski Rafał , Protasiuk Agnieszka
Published: December 2024

Introduction and purpose
Transient global amnesia (TGA) is a sudden, short-lasting episode of anterograde and retrograde memory loss not caused by stroke or epileptic seizure. It affects 3.4-10.4 per 100,000 people per year, especially those in their 70s. There are several hypotheses regarding the etiopathology of this disorder, none of which have been unequivocally confirmed. This study aims to review the current knowledge about TGA, and to show its essence to the wider community.
Description
TGA is mainly manifested by a sudden, up to 24-hour loss of anterograde and retrograde memory, which may be accompanied by mild neuropsychological deficits. Diagnosis is based on a neurological examination and exclusion of numerous possible differential diagnoses, including laboratory and imaging tests. There is no specific treatment for this condition, and patient care is based primarily on patient education and risk factor control. They rarely recur and do not cause long-term complications.
Summary
Although TGA is considered a benign condition, its sudden onset and the temporary nature of memory loss can cause significant anxiety for both patients and their families. Increased awareness and prompt diagnosis are essential to provide reassurance and to rule out more serious conditions such as stroke or epilepsy. Expanding research on TGA is crucial to uncover potential preventive strategies and enhance our understanding of transient memory dysfunctions.
Medição do conforto na mobilidade urbana
Authors: Kronenberger Eliza , Quaresma Manuela
Published: December 2024

A mobilidade urbana é um campo interdisciplinar que impacta significativamente a qualidade de vida urbana. O conforto na mobilidade urbana é fundamental para a experiência do viajante, englobando diversos meios de transporte e tecnologias. Fatores como duração da viagem, infraestrutura e segurança influenciam o bem-estar. Este estudo realiza uma revisão sistemática das métricas objetivas e subjetivas usadas para avaliar o conforto na viagem, como dados cardiológicos, questionários de satisfação, e métodos geoespaciais. Conclui-se que uma abordagem interdisciplinar e o uso de dados psicométricos e biométricos são essenciais para entender e melhorar a experiência de mobilidade urbana, promovendo políticas que considerem tanto os aspectos físicos quanto psicológicos do bem-estar dos usuários.
Virgínia Artigas, artista gráfica
Authors: Fukushima Kando
Published: December 2024

O presente artigo apresenta brevemente aspectos biográficos de Virgínia Artigas, que além de suas contribuições nas artes plásticas, trabalhou como ilustradora em periódicos e desenvolveu cartazes ligados à contestação política no Brasil. Para o escopo deste artigo, serão apresentados e discutidos uma ilustração publicada na revista Voz Operária em 1954 e dois cartazes ligados à militância política de Virgínia Artigas, produzidos em 1975, no contexto da ditadura militar. Ao destacar as obras dessa artista, pretende-se dar mais visibilidade para sua produção no campo do design gráfico e a relação desses artefatos com o contexto social e histórico.
EDITORIAL
Authors: Carmelini Leandro
Published: December 2024

O presente dossiê é uma continuação da homenagem à obra e a vida de Heliana de Barros Conde Rodrigues. No dia 26 de julho de 2024, uma multidão de professores, alunos, leitores, mas sobretudo amigos, povoou o auditório do 11º andar da UERJ para saudá-la: Heliana presente!1 No Encontro Modulações Helianas: docência, militância, escrita,celebramos a vívida presença de seu pensamento no nosso. Aproveitamos o dia de seu nascimento, 26 de julho, para definir a data, porém, foi o abalo provocado meses antes por sua morte que nos convocou a mover tais homenagens. O encontro, assim, funcionou também como um rito de despedida, um dispositivo coletivo de luto. A um só tempo, aniversário e gurufim, presença e ausência, nascimento e morte, celebração e lamento.
A mãe cujos filhos são peixes
Authors: Adriana Rosa Cruz Santos
Published: December 2024

Uma despedida, um mergulho, um descalabro. Recusar, aceitar. E a teimosia de continuar em variações contínuas a conversa com a memória e a presença inarredável de Heliana Conde, esta existência oceânica interessada nos ínfimos e infinitos grãos de areia. Odoyá!
Modulações Helianas: Encontros
Authors: Cecília Maria Bouças Coimbra
Published: December 2024

O texto "Modulações Helianas: Encontros" é uma homenagem a Heliana Conde, destacando sua trajetória como militante, acadêmica e transgressora. A autora revisita momentos marcantes de colaboração com Heliana, especialmente na luta pelos direitos humanos e na politização da psicologia. São evocados encontros no Ibrapsi, a fundação do Núcleo de Psicanálise e Análise Institucional, e a criação do Dia Internacional de Luta Contra a Tortura. Heliana desafiava as normas acadêmicas com humor e audácia, como a criação do fictício Jérôme Jabin. O texto encerra com a poesia "Cântico Negro", simbolizando a liberdade e a resistência que definiram a vida e o trabalho de Heliana.
Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease: a single institution case series
Authors: Waran Eswaran , Bach Danielle , Amos Jo-Anne
Published: December 2024

Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (CJD) is a rare neurodegenerative condition. This report presents the largest published case series on the condition. The palliative care symptom burden and management of these patients is considered. Early advanced care planning and goals of care discussions are necessary.
Nurses’ knowledge of paediatric palliative care in a children's hospital
Authors: Pérez-Pérez José Tubal , Vázquez-Sánchez Juan Manuel , Martín-Romero Irene , de Noriega Iñigo
Published: December 2024

Background:

Effective training of health professionals is essential to end-of-life care.

Aims:

To explore the level of knowledge on paediatric palliative care (PPC) of nurses in a children's monographic hospital.

Methods:

Cross-sectional observational analytical study. A sample of 53 nurses were selected. The translated and validated Spanish version of the Palliative Care Quiz for Nurses was used.

Findings:

Statistically significant differences (Mann-Whitney U; p=0.0346) were found between the knowledge of nurses in non-PPC-specific wards and nurses working in PPC, with the latter having a higher level of training in PPC (Chi-square; p=0.042).

Conclusion:

Professional experience with children with palliative needs and training seems to be related to increased knowledge of palliative care.
‘Can You Tell Me What Ethics Means?’
Authors: Thomas Gareth M.
Published: December 2024

Accounts of doing ‘inclusive research’ – in which people with learning disabilities are considered as major stakeholders in the research agenda – have proliferated in recent years. These largely focus on the process of such pursuits, including project planning, research design, data collection, and disseminating results. Yet, whilst scholars have identified the challenges of doing inclusive research, they rarely sketch out the more messy, and everyday, ethical moments when doing research with people with learning disabilities. Drawing on an ethnography in two settings run for and/or with people with learning disabilities in the UK, I ponder the use of an advisory committee, the notion of ‘voice’, and the consent process, to explore how my experiences complicate the philosophies of, and desire for, inclusivity. I conclude by urging researchers attempting to work inclusively to put their approaches under the microscope, in ways that can support others to fine-tune their practices.
A Geography of Agrarian Structures in Argentina: Productive Models, Socioenvironmental Impacts and Neodevelopmentalism
Authors: Adriaensens Jonas , Dessein Joost , Adam Jeroen
Published: December 2024

En 2022, la Unión de Trabajadores de laTierra propuso por cuarta vez al Congreso argentino su Ley de Acceso a la Tierra. Esta propuesta siguió a la publicación de los resultados del censo agropecuario de 2018, publicado en 2021, que fue el primer censo agropecuario válido desde 2002. En este artículo, comparamos los resultados del censo de 2018 con los de 2002 a través de dos temas distintos: a) la concentración y distribución de la tierra; y b) los cultivos y la aplicación de agroquímicos. Encontramos que los productores de pequeña escala han disminuido drásticamente tanto en unidades como en hectáreas de cobertura en los últimos veinte años, debido principalmente a la expansión de los monocultivos, que forman parte de un modelo de agricultura que se caracteriza por una aplicación intensificada de agroquímicos y el cultivo de organismos genéticamente modificados. Aunque los gobiernos posneoliberales enfatizan la importancia de los pequeños agricultores, han impulsado en vez de detenido la expansión de los agronegocios a costa de la agricultura de pequeña escala.
"You're Not Even a Real Human Woman": Contrarecognition and Black Women's Epistemologies in Gayl Jones's The Healing
Authors: Yang Caroline H.
Published: December 2024

Abstract: This essay argues for reading Gayl Jones's The Healing (1998) through the framework of what I call contrarecognition in Black women's stories. Predominantly about a relationship between two Black women, the novel centers the stories that the two women tell themselves and each other. In the process, it posits Black women's epistemologies as a contrarecognition, one that not only counters the recognition of the Man as the Human but also resists the way of knowing that buttresses the social order constituted by that recognition and calls attention to the limitations in dominant understandings and narrativizations of identities. Specifically, by situating different figures of Asian femininity within the genre of Black women's stories, The Healing makes space for a way of reading and knowing that has the potential to enable not only ethical but also political communions beyond a desire for recognition.
Dear Mosquito: A Practice
Authors: Quezada Janet Arelis
Published: December 2024

Abstract: In this creative work, "Dear Mosquito: A Practice," the author writes a letter to the narrator of the novel Mosquito as a conversational offering that follows Jones's lead and use of her narrator to put forward important practices for those engaged in liberatory literary work. That is, through Mosquito , Jones argues for starting stories when they need to start and centering Black readers rather than non-Black readers who may need more explanation and contextualization. Moreover, Jones's narrator inspires others in the Black Diaspora to take seriously the urgent questions of political interiority and practice that are at the core of her creation. By writing to Mosquito herself, the letter writer invites readers to go back to the text to look for signposts for their own routes to escape professional demands to be confessional, digestible, linear, and performative.
‘Comme si quelqu’un écrivait à ma place: ’ Materiality and Interactivity in Exaheva’s Digital Comics
Authors: Rossby Emma
Published: December 2024

ABSTRACT: As part of an emerging generation of comics creators in Belgium, Exaheva’s art resists binaries and challenges an assumed disembodied reader of Franco-Belgian bande dessinée. This article places tools from comics and visual studies in conversation with queer and reception theories to analyze three of Exaheva’s comics: apocalyptic short story Slowly , sci-fi series Mekka Nikki, and interactive comic Still Heroes . By considering how these stories meet readers across virtual and physical spaces, I argue that Exaheva’s comics take visual pleasure in fictional storytelling seriously while also pointing to the nuanced visual literacies required to decode these approachable stories and characters.
Direct detection and classification of E. coli and fecal streptococci using an optical water droplet method and convolutional neural networks
Authors: Chia Lizette Nange , Talla Mbé Jimmi Hervé , Tatietse Thomas Tamo
Published: December 2024

Detecting harmful bacteria in drinking water is a significant concern for public health. Indicator bacteria like E. coli and fecal streptococci serve as markers for fecal contamination of water [Environmental and Pollution Science (2019), pp. 191]. Several detection methods of these markers require costly equipment, and specialized laboratories and technicians, and are time-consuming, resulting in labor-intensive processes [J. Phys. Conf. Ser. 995, 012065 (2018)1742-658810.1088/1742-6596/995/1/012065]. This paper proposes an optimal method that combines an optical water droplet method and convolutional neural networks (CNNs) to provide an accurate and cost- and time-effective approach to directly detect and classify E. coli and fecal streptococci in water. The system captures images of indicator bacteria and then classifies them. We obtain a classification accuracy of up to 0.89 and a loss of 0.13. This work constitutes a step toward an integrated, real-time, and automatic optical-based detection system for water-borne pathogenic agents.
SOI-based parallel-ring microresonator for simultaneous sensing of refractive index and temperature
Authors: Zheng Shengmei , Jiang Xiaowei , Jiang Dafei
Published: December 2024

In this paper, a new structure of microring
resonator that is composed of
two rings arranged in parallel coupling with two straight waveguides,
to our knowledge. is proposed. The rings are of different widths;
therefore the resonance wavelength shift is different with varying
surroundings. By measuring the resonance wavelength shift of the two
rings respectively, reflective index (RI) and temperature can be
sensed simultaneously. Our results revealed that the RI sensitivities
are 141.54 nm/RIU and 73.85 nm/RIU, respectively, and
temperature sensitivities are 40 pm/K and 46.25 pm/K,
respectively. By constructing a characteristic matrix, it is
demonstrated that the simultaneous measurement of RI and temperature
can be achieved. The simulation results show the error in measuring
refractive index is within the range from −1.11×10−4 to 2.19×10−4, and error in measuring the
temperature is within the range from −0.69K to 0.59 K. Sensitivity of the
device to analyst thickness is also investigated, and the results
reveal first sharp, and then saturated, redshift of the resonance
wavelength with increasing analyst thickness. The sensor has many
advantages, such as small footprint, simple structure, and easy
fabrication, which make it an ideal sensor to be used in
environmental, biological, and medical fields.
Causes of high-order thermal aberrations and their influence on beam quality in end-pumped Nd:YVO4 crystals
Authors: Shen Yuhong , Liu Bin , Qiu Xiaoyan , Jin Yiwen , Liu Yang , Ye Zhibin , Liu Dong , Liu Chong
Published: December 2024

The causes of high-order aberrations, such as triangular astigmatism and coma, are investigated in end-pumped Nd:YVO4 crystals. A high-resolution infrared thermal camera is utilized to obtain the temperature distribution on the end face of Nd:YVO4 crystals with high-power pumping. It is demonstrated that errors in optical path adjustment and non-uniform heat dissipation would produce additional high-order aberrations, leading to a deterioration in beam quality. The required operating conditions and tolerance ranges for the precise optical path are provided. The experimental results are consistent with the theoretical analysis.
Structural parameter optimization of a fused all-fiber probe for light manipulation and multi-particle capture
Authors: Zhang Shuaishuai , Chen Yuxin , Bi Shubo , Cui Bolun , Wang Chi
Published: December 2024

We propose and experimentally demonstrate an economical optical tweezers probe based on the fusion of several commercial optical fibers. By optimizing the structural parameters of the probe, non-contact active capture and manipulation of single or multiple biological particles were achieved. First, the probe structural parameter range was analyzed theoretically, and the theory was cross-verified by the finite element method. Second, the influence of the probe structure and length parameters on the laser focusing performance and particle capture ability was studied, and the optimal structural parameters of the probe in particle capture were determined. The measured capture distance exceeded 50 µm, and the movement velocity of the particle during manipulation was measured. Finally, the capture performance before and after parameter optimization was compared with the dynamic effect of the particles, and the generation mechanism of multiple light traps and the mechanical properties of multi-particles during multi-particle capture were studied. The results indicate that this probe is expected to be used in biological or chemical micromanipulation research.
Frequency response mechanism of surface smoothing and material removal on fused silica
Authors: Li Fukun , Bai Yang , Hu HaiXiang , Qiao Guanbo , Li Lingzhong , Zhang Feng , Zhang Xuejun
Published: December 2024

To meet the stringent requirements for sub-nanometer surface roughness and full-spectrum spatial frequency error control in high-precision optical systems, this study systematically investigates the effects of varying Cerium oxide (CeO2) abrasive particle sizes and pitch pad hardness on the surface quality of fused silica glass during computer-controlled optical surfacing (CCOS). This study integrates experimental characterization with mathematical modeling to analyze the mechanisms by which abrasive particle size and polishing tool hardness influence material removal rates, contact pressure distribution, and surface roughness. The results indicate that smaller CeO2 particles effectively reduce high-spatial frequency roughness, making them suitable for precise micro-surface finishing, while larger particles exhibit higher material removal efficiency, making them more suitable for macro-surface machining. Hard pitch pads induce greater indentation depth and concentrated pressure, significantly improving mid-spatial frequency surface errors, while softer pitch pads are more suitable for overall surface smoothing. Experimental findings further validate the feasibility and effectiveness of the proposed optimization strategies in achieving ultra-precision processing at picometer scales across the full spectrum of frequency bands. This study provides a theoretical basis and practical guidance for selecting process parameters in the manufacturing of high-precision optical components.
Sub-Doppler spectroscopy of Rydberg atoms via velocity selection memory in a hot vapor cell
Authors: Butery Esther , Dutta Biplab , Santos Stephany , Barreiro Sergio , Martins Weliton , Failache Horacio , Laliotis Athanasios
Published: December 2024

We study resonance redistribution mechanisms inside a hot vapor cell. This is achieved by pumping cesium atoms on the 6S1/2→6P1/2 resonance and subsequently probing the velocity distribution of the 6P1/2 population by a linear absorption experiment on the 6P1/2→16S1/2 or 6P1/2→15D3/2 transitions at 514 nm and 512 nm, respectively. We demonstrate that despite the existence of thermalization processes, traces of the initial velocity selection, imposed by the pump, survive in both hyperfine levels of the intermediate (6P1/2) state. This observation allows us to perform sub-Doppler resolution vapor cell spectroscopy on Rydberg states using a simple pump–probe setup. At high cesium densities, redistribution mechanisms dominate, and the velocity selection vanishes. However, spectral analysis provides the collisional shifts and broadenings of the probed Rydberg states.
Hybrid Hermite–Laguerre–Gaussian vector modes
Authors: Medina-Segura Edgar , Miranda-Culin Leonardo , Perez-Garcia Benjamin , Rosales-Guzmán Carmelo , Cox Mitchell A.
Published: December 2024

Vector modes are well-defined field distributions with spatially varying polarization states, rendering them irreducible to the product of a single spatial mode and a single polarization state. Traditionally, the spatial degree of freedom of vector modes is constructed using two orthogonal modes from the same family. Here, we introduce a novel class of vector modes whose spatial degree of freedom is encoded by combining modes from both the Hermite– and Laguerre–Gaussian families, ensuring that the modes are shape-invariant upon propagation. This superposition is not arbitrary, and we provide a detailed explanation of the methodology employed to achieve it. This new class of vector modes, which we term hybrid Hermite–Laguerre–Gaussian (HHLG) vector modes, gives rise to subsets of modes exhibiting polarization dependence on propagation due to the difference in mode orders between the constituent modes, while remaining eigenmodes of free space. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first demonstration of vector modes composed of two scalar modes originating from different families.
High-sensitivity whispering-gallery mode sensor for simultaneous measurement of humidity and temperature
Authors: Zhang Chencheng , Pu Shengli , Liu Weinan , Xu Tengfei , Huang Siyang , Wu Mingjue , Yang Zhe , Ji Yu , Wu Qiang
Published: December 2024

A novel, to the best of our knowledge, optical fiber whispering-gallery mode (WGM) sensor for simultaneously measuring humidity and temperature is proposed and investigated. The proposed sensor is realized by a polyvinyl alcohol (PVA)-coated capillary tube coupling with an optical single-mode fiber (SMF), which is integrated with a fiber Bragg grating (FBG). The as-fabricated sensor can be used not only for relative humidity (RH) sensing but also for temperature detection. The achieved humidity and temperature sensitivities are −181.2 pm/%RH and 10.5 pm/°C, respectively. The easy fabrication and very high sensitivity of the proposed sensor are attractive features for high-precision and wide-range RH sensing applications.
Computing focused beam transmissions of photonic crystals using angular spectrum field synthesis
Authors: Kohlhaas Ralf , Siemons Marijn
Published: December 2024

Recently novel types of imaging spectrometers have been successfully demonstrated, where photonic crystals filters are placed onto a detector. For focused beams, it is however unclear how numerical aperture, aperture shape and aberrations affect the transmission of these filters and there is currently no established and computational efficient method to assess this. In this work we present an angular spectrum method to reconstitute focused beam fields and transmissions based on plane wave simulations. Once these plane wave simulations have been performed, the transmission of arbitrary pupils, aberrations and NA can be directly computed. We investigate the accuracy of this method by comparing the synthesized transmission and Poynting vectors with a fully simulated focused Gaussian beam. These results show that an angular sampling between 0.5º and 0.8º is required to achieve an accurate result depending on the mesh sampling of the simulation. Lastly, we demonstrate how this method can be used to investigate the effect of the pupil shape and aberrations on the transmission profiles. This analysis enables the identification of spectral regions which are sensitive to the instrument design but also regions which appear robust. We believe that the method described in this work can provide scientists and optical engineers a tool to perform detailed performance studies on these promising new instruments.
Single-layer IR reflectors with wideband spectra
Authors: Simlan Fairooz , ko Yeong , Bootpakdeetam Pawarat , Chen Ren-Jie , Magnusson Robert
Published: December 2024

We report development and characterization of single-layer long-wave infrared reflectors with performance comparable to traditional multi-layer Bragg stacks. Leveraging advancements in materials science and nanofabrication techniques, we explore the potential of single-layer structures to achieve high reflectance in the long-wave infrared (LWIR) spectral region. Through a combination of theoretical modeling and experimental validation, we demonstrate that these single-layer reflectors mimic the photonic stopband behavior characteristic of multi-layer Bragg stacks. Our findings reveal that by carefully selecting materials with appropriate optical properties and employing precise fabrication methods, it is possible to engineer single-layer reflectors that may simplify the design and manufacturing process. This work has implications for various applications, including thermal imaging, environmental monitoring, and stealth technology, where efficient IR reflection is crucial. Deployment of this device class in practice depends on advancing the precision and repeatability of attendant fabrication processes.
An improved biometric stress monitoring solution for working employees using heart rate variability data and Capsule Network model
Authors: M. Khayyat Mashael , Munshi Raafat M. , Alabduallah Bayan , Lamoudan Tarik , Ghith Ehab , Kim Tai-hoon , A. Abdelhamid Abdelaziz
Published: December 2024

Biometric stress monitoring has become a critical area of research in understanding and managing health problems resulting from stress. One of the fields that emerged in this area is biometric stress monitoring, which provides continuous or real-time information about different anxiety levels among people by analyzing physiological signals and behavioral data. In this paper, we propose a new approach based on the CapsNets model for continuously monitoring psychophysiological stress. In the new model, streams of biometric data, including physiological signals and behavioral patterns, are taken up for analysis. In testing using the Swell multiclass dataset, it performed with an accuracy of 92.76%. Further testing of the WESAD dataset reveals an even better accuracy at 96.76%. The accuracy obtained for binary classification of stress and no stress class is applied to the Swell dataset, where this model obtained an outstanding accuracy of 98.52% in this study and on WESAD, 99.82%. Comparative analysis with other state-of-the-art models underlines the superior performance; it achieves better results than all of its competitors. The developed model is then rigorously subjected to 5-fold cross-validation, which proved very significant and proved that the proposed model could be effective and efficient in biometric stress monitoring.
Body weight and body surface area of adult patients with selected cancers: An Italian multicenter study
Authors: Danesi Valentina , Andalò Alice , Cavallucci Martina , Balzi William , Gentili Nicola , Altini Mattia , Maltoni Roberta , Massa Ilaria , Vallicelli Giorgia , Montella Maria Teresa , Masini Carla , Roncadori Andrea
Published: December 2024

Although body weight (BW) and body surface area (BSA) are utilized to establish the appropriate dosage of anticancer drugs, their distribution in cancer patients is poorly studied, making it challenging to predict the amount of drug use and related costs of BW or BAS-dosed regimens. This study investigates the distribution of BW and BSA in adults with selected cancers who initiated systemic anticancer treatment in the eastern Emilia-Romagna region hospitals between 2011 and 2021. BW and BSA were collected at the first cycle of each new treatment line, with multiple measurements for patients receiving various treatments or treating for other primary malignancies. Results were grouped by sex, tumor site and treatment setting, and the normal distribution hypothesis was tested for each group. Both linear regression model and quantile regression at the 50th, 25th and 75th percentiles were run to explore the factors influencing BSA. The analysis included 20,634 treatment lines and the corresponding BW and BSA measures from a sample of 13,036 patients. The average BW was 68.05kg (64.20kg for females and 75.07kg for males) and the average BSA was 1.76m2 (1.66m2 for females and 1.87m2 for males). In women, the highest BW was in breast and colon groups, while in men, it was associated with prostate and rectum cancers. The model indicated significant association between BSA, age, sex and tumor localization. Notably, stomach and lung cancers were linked to lower BSA for both sexes (for females -0.081 and -0.041m2 respectively compared to those with breast cancer). Advanced settings were related to lower BSA than neoadjuvant treatment, especially for stomach cancer patients, who experienced a weight loss of 3 to 6kg as therapy progressed. The regression models for predicting BSA can assist regulatory bodies in determining reimbursement for new chemotherapy drugs and help hospitals forecast drug utilization and expenditure more accurately.
Stochastic step-wise feature selection for Exponential Random Graph Models (ERGMs)
Authors: El-Zaatari Helal , Yu Fei , Kosorok Michael R.
Published: December 2024

This study introduces a novel methodology for endogenous variable selection in Exponential Random Graph Models (ERGMs) to enhance the analysis of social networks across various scientific disciplines. Addressing critical challenges such as ERGM degeneracy and computational complexity, our method integrates a systematic step-wise feature selection process. This approach effectively manages the intractable normalizing constants characteristic of ERGMs, ensuring the generation of accurate and non-degenerate network models. An empirical application to nine real-life binary networks demonstrates the method’s effectiveness in accommodating network dependencies and providing meaningful insights into complex network interactions. Particularly notable is the adaptability of this methodology to both directed and undirected networks, overcoming the limitations of traditional ERGMs in capturing realistic network structures. The findings contribute to network analysis, offering a robust framework for modeling and interpreting social networks and laying a foundation for future advancements in statistical network analysis techniques.