bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Minimal rank weak Drazin inverses: a class of outer inverses with prescribed range
Authors: Wu Cang , Chen Jianlong
Published: February 2023

For any square matrix $A$, it is proved that minimal rank weak Drazin inverses (Campbell and Meyer, 1978) of $A$ coincide with outer inverses of $A$ with range $\mathcal{R}(A^{k})$, where $k$ is the index of $A$. It is shown that the minimal rank weak Drazin inverse behaves very much like the Drazin inverse, and many generalized inverses such as the core-EP inverse and the DMP inverse are its special cases.
Nonlinear Analysis of Cable Structures with Geometric Constraints
Authors: Joli Pierre , Azouz Naoufel , Wezdou Manel Ben , Neji Jamel
Published: February 2023

The purpose of this paper is the modelling in large displacement of systems composed of a rigid platform suspended by flexible cables, as can be observed in lifting systems of a construction crane or in cable-driven parallel robots (CDPRs). A recent approach has been proposed in the literature to model the nonlinear behavior of a cable element based on three dimensional catenary elastic modelling and the general displacement control method (GDCM) as solver. In this paper, two modifications of this method are proposed to take into account the geometric constraints coupling the large displacements of the cable extremities. The first approach is to consider these constraints using penalty functions thus modifying the tangent stiffness matrix and the second method by adding external explicit elastic forces. These two methods are tested and compared by using numerical examples. The first method is numerically safer because it is not dependent on the poor numerical conditioning of the cable’stiffness matrix encountered when internal cable’s tension cannot balance the external forces.
Sustainable Strategy for Gas Supply in China: Based on Foam Drainage Gas Recovery Technology
Authors: Kang Hao , Han Haishui , Hui Gang , Gao Jian , Su Yina
Published: February 2023

With the increasing demand of natural gas in China, its production is extremely important to fulfill the requirement of society. However, in reality, the natural gas production from the gas well in the gas field is often accompanied by the production of formation water. For gas well with low production, the gas flow rate in the well is too low to carry out the formation water from the bottom of the well. The water will thus accumulate in the well bore and the gas production will be greatly diminished. To solve this problem, based on the developing status of M gas field in China, foaming surfactant Z301 is synthesized and then foaming agent ZK3012 is developed through combination of Z301 with CAT after optimization experiments. After that, the compatibility tests are conducted to ensure that ZK3012 can work together well with formation fluids, and the water carrying rate tests are conducted concerning the optimum concentration of ZK3012. Finally, pilot test is conducted in 2 gas wells on site in M gas field, good results are obtained that accumulated water is discharged by foam drainage and the gas well production is increased. Studies demonstrate the main steps involved for application of this technology. In regard to the high external dependence degree of China in gas supply, operators of gas fields should give prominence to related studies of this technology to achieve sustainable development.
Silence as agency: Yazidi women’s security strategies during ISIS rule
Authors: Sarac Busra Nisa
Published: February 2023

ISIS is well known for its brutal mistreatment of those deemed ‘enemies’ and ‘infidels’. In the Kurdistan region of Iraq, having been abducted by ISIS in 2014, many Yazidi women were subjected to different types of violence: sexual, physical and mental. This study investigates how silence was employed by these women as a security strategy to survive their brutal mistreatment under ISIS. The use of silence as a security strategy challenges the assumption that silence is a sign of disempowerment. Drawing on feminist security studies, this study proposes an alternative analysis of security, agency and gendered violence; it demonstrates the need to recognise the complex strategies these Yazidi women developed to resist ISIS rule. It suggests that this approach may be used to critique established narratives about women in the Global South and reveal the under-reported security strategies women employ in conflict settings.
For a ‘marginal criminological realism’: Zaffaroni and the birth of a critical perspective on the criminal question from the Global South
Authors: Garcia Nicolás , Sozzo Máximo
Published: February 2023

In this paper we address how in the birth of critical criminology in Latin America, one of its key architects, Eugenio Raúl Zaffaroni, poses in detail a problematisation that has acquired a very great centrality in the current debate: the hierarchy, asymmetry and dependency between the Global North and the Global South in the production of criminological knowledge, and offers ways to challenge the reproduction of this dynamic as a long-term phenomenon. His theoretical and political position in the 1980s, defined as a ‘marginal criminological realism’, anticipates a series of revealing points that we rediscover in the contemporary discussion. In this way, this paper seeks to avoid falling into an ‘amnesia’ by revitalising the historical exploration of the critical perspectives on the criminal question. In this exploration, we identify what constitutes, from our point of view, a firm foundation on which to build our own critical work from both a scientific and political point of view in Latin America and, more generally, in peripheral, marginal contexts.
Introduction
Authors: Kilkelly Ursula , Bergin Pat
Published: February 2023

Ireland has undergone significant reform of child detention, adopting a child-centred and rights-based model of detention which is increasingly in line with international children’s rights standards. Reform of law and policy and its implementation, including through the development of the national child detention facility - Oberstown Children Detention Campus – has supported the introduction of a rights based approach to children in detention. Drawing from this experience of applying rights based approaches in practice, this book presents a model to advance the rights of children in detention based on a child-centred model, informed by children’s rights to Provision, Protection, Participation, Preparation and Partnership. The challenges of implementing this model in practice are explained. This chapter sets the context, establishes the aims of the book, details the methodology employed, and outlines the structure of the book.
Implementing Children’s Rights in Detention
Authors: Kilkelly Ursula , Bergin Pat
Published: February 2023

Advancing children’s rights in detention requires the implementation of child-centred care and fulfilment of the child’s Provision, Protection, Participation, Preparation and Partnership rights. These include provision for the child’s basic needs including health, education and development, considering how Oberstown Children Detention Campus measures against these standards. Co-ordinated placement planning, including education and development, multi-agency and individualised therapeutic services, is key to the delivery of these rights to children in detention. The child’s family must also be supported to engage in the child’s care and the planning process. Partnership is vital to a rights-based approach and collaboration with community-based agencies ensures that the goals of reintegration are met and the child returns safely to their community. Finally, the child’s right to participate in decision-making is central to the rights-based approach and it is here that Oberstown has begun to show that the children’s rights-based approach to detention can be transformative. This right means involving children in decision-making about their individual care, in the residential units and at Campus level, maximising the potential to shape their own lives. Effective and accessible complaints and inspection mechanisms provide vital safeguards.
Reflection from uniaxial crystals: symmetries, and formulae for near-normal incidence
Authors: Lekner John
Published: February 2023

The following symmetries and interrelationships are established: the direct reflection amplitudes rss,rpp are independent of the signs of the direction cosines of the optic axis. For example, they are unchanged by ϕ→π−ϕ or ϕ→−ϕ, where ϕ is the azimuthal angle of the optic axis. The cross-polarization amplitudes rspandrps are both odd in ϕ; they also satisfy the general relations rsp(ϕ)=rps(π+ϕ) and rsp(ϕ)+rps(π−ϕ)=0. All of these symmetries apply equally to absorbing media with complex refractive indices, and thus complex reflection amplitudes. Analytic expressions are given for the amplitudes which characterize the reflection from a uniaxial crystal when the incidence is close to normal. The amplitudes for reflection in which the polarization is unchanged (rssandrpp) have corrections which are second order in the angle of incidence. The cross-reflection amplitudes rspandrps are equal at normal incidence and have corrections (equal and opposite) which are first order in the angle of incidence. Examples for normal incidence and small-angle (6°) and large-angle (60°) incidence reflection are given for non-absorbing calcite and absorbing selenium.
High-efficiency FBG array sensor interrogation system via a neural network working with sparse data
Authors: Ren Sufen , Chen Shengchao , Yang Jianli , Wang Jiahao , Yang Qian , Xue Chenyang , Wang Guanjun , Huang Mengxing
Published: February 2023

FBG array sensors have been widely used in the multi-point monitoring of large structures due to their excellent optical multiplexing capability. This paper proposes a cost-effective demodulation system for FBG array sensors based on a Neural Network (NN). The stress variations applied to the FBG array sensor are encoded by the array waveguide grating (AWG) as transmitted intensities under different channels and fed to an end-to-end NN model, which receives them and simultaneously establishes a complex nonlinear relationship between the transmitted intensity and the actual wavelength to achieve absolute interrogation of the peak wavelength. In addition, a low-cost data augmentation strategy is introduced to break the data size bottleneck common in data-driven methods so that the NN can still achieve superior performance with small-scale data. In summary, the demodulation system provides an efficient and reliable solution for multi-point monitoring of large structures based on FBG array sensors.
High frequency near-infrared up-conversion single-photon imaging based on the quantum compressed sensing
Authors: Bai Huidan , Wu Shuxiao , Qiao Zhixing , Hu Jianyong , Chen Ruiyun , Qin Chengbing , Zhang Guofeng , Xiao Liantuan , Jia Suotang
Published: February 2023

Infrared up-conversion single-photon imaging has potential applications in remote sensing, biological imaging, and night vision imaging. However, the used photon counting technology has the problem of long integration time and sensitivity to background photons, which limit its application in real-world scenarios. In this paper, a novel passive up-conversion single-photon imaging method is proposed, in which the high frequency scintillation information of a near infrared target is captured by using the quantum compressed sensing. Through the frequency domain characteristic imaging of the infrared target, the imaging signal-to-noise ratio is significantly improved with strong background noise. In the experiment, the target with flicker frequency on the order of GHz is measured, and the signal-to-background ratio of the imaging reaches up to 1:100. Our proposal greatly improved the robustness of near-infrared up-conversion single-photon imaging and will promote its practical application.
Group delay dispersion monitoring for computational manufacturing of dispersive mirrors
Authors: Ji Xiaochuan , Dai Jianglin , Zhang Jinlong , Jiao Hongfei , Jupé Marco , Ristau Detlev , Cheng Xinbin , Wang Zhanshan
Published: February 2023

We present a computational manufacturing program for monitoring group delay dispersion (GDD). Two kinds of dispersive mirrors computational manufactured by GDD, broadband, and time monitoring simulator are compared. The results revealed the particular advantages of GDD monitoring in dispersive mirror deposition simulations. The self-compensation effect of GDD monitoring is discussed. GDD monitoring can improve the precision of layer termination techniques, it may become a possible approach to manufacture other optical coatings.
High resolution compact spectrometer system based on scattering and spectral reconstruction
Authors: Wang Xin , Sun Qi , Chu Yushi , Brambilla Gilberto , Wang Pengfei , Beresna Martynas
Published: February 2023

In this Letter, we present a compact scattering spectrometer system based on fluorosilicate glass ceramics. By the algorithmic spectral calibration and reconstruction, we achieve wavelength detection with a resolution of 0.1 nm. Numerous nanocrystals embedded in the glass host in the glass ceramics result in a significant natural multilayer scattering medium, which can provide a 60% scattering efficiency for incident light while increasing the optical path of incident light transmitting in the medium. The glass ceramics scattering medium with a rather compact physical size is integrated with a low-cost camera to compose an optical spectral system, which has potential application in lab-on-a-chip optical spectroscopy.
Offset lock with a 440-GHz range using electro-optic modulation
Authors: Zhou Ocean , Neely Andrew O. , Pagel Zachary R. , Bernstein Madeline , Roth Jack , Mueller Holger
Published: February 2023

Offset locking is crucial to many physics experiments. Wide range offset locks are desirable, as they increase the span of usable frequencies in an experiment. Here, we experimentally realize a wide-range offset lock using a beat-note setup combined with electro-optic phase modulation. By using frequency down-conversion of the beat note and locking to sidebands generated by electro-optic modulation, we achieve an offset range of ± 220.1 GHz with offset frequency fluctuations under 0.1 Hz and a phase error variance of 0.017 rad2 over a 100 kHz bandwidth, greatly widening the range compared to past setups using this method. The relative simplicity of our setup provides a compelling method for locking at offsets in the hundreds of GHz range.
Automatic synthesis of light-processing functions for programmable photonics: theory and realization
Authors: Gao Zhengqi , Chen Xiangfeng , Zhang Zhengxing , Chakraborty Uttara , Bogaerts Wim , Boning Duane S.
Published: February 2023

Linear light-processing functions (e.g., routing, splitting, filtering) are key functions requiring configuration to implement on a programmable photonic integrated circuit (PPIC). In recirculating waveguide meshes (which include loop-backs), this is usually done manually. Some previous results describe explorations to perform this task automatically, but their efficiency or applicability is still limited. In this paper, we propose an efficient method that can automatically realize configurations for many light-processing functions on a square-mesh PPIC. At its heart is an automatic differentiation subroutine built upon analytical expressions of scattering matrices that enables gradient descent optimization for functional circuit synthesis. Similar to the state-of-the-art synthesis techniques, our method can realize configurations for a wide range of light-processing functions, and multiple functions on the same PPIC simultaneously. However, we do not need to separate the functions spatially into different subdomains of the mesh, and the resulting optimum can have multiple functions using the same part of the mesh. Furthermore, compared to nongradient- or numerical differentiation-based methods, our proposed approach achieves
3×
time reduction in computational cost.
An electrophysiological and kinematic model of Paramecium, the “swimming neuron”
Authors: Elices Irene , Kulkarni Anirudh , Escoubet Nicolas , Pontani Léa-Laetitia , Prevost Alexis Michel , Brette Romain
Published: February 2023

Parameciumis a large unicellular organism that swims in fresh water using cilia. When stimulated by various means (mechanically, chemically, optically, thermally), it often swims backward then turns and swims forward again in a new direction: this is called the avoiding reaction. This reaction is triggered by a calcium-based action potential. For this reason, several authors have calledParameciumthe “swimming neuron”. Here we present an empirically constrained model of its action potential based on electrophysiology experiments on live immobilized paramecia, together with simultaneous measurement of ciliary beating using particle image velocimetry. Using these measurements and additional behavioral measurements of free swimming, we extend the electrophysiological model by coupling calcium concentration to kinematic parameters, turning it into a swimming model. In this way, we obtain a model of autonomously behavingParamecium. Finally, we demonstrate how the modeled organism interacts with an environment, can follow gradients and display collective behavior. This work provides a modeling basis for investigating the physiological basis of autonomous behavior ofParameciumin ecological environments.
GWAS on retinal vasculometry phenotypes
Authors: Jiang Xiaofan , Hysi Pirro G. , Khawaja Anthony P. , Mahroo Omar A. , Xu Zihe , Hammond Christopher J. , Foster Paul J. , Welikala Roshan A. , Barman Sarah A. , Whincup Peter H. , Rudnicka Alicja R. , Owen Christopher G. , Strachan David P. ,   The UK Biobank Eye and Vision Consortium
Published: February 2023

The eye is the window through which light is transmitted and visual sensory signalling originates. It is also a window through which elements of the cardiovascular and nervous systems can be directly inspected, using ophthalmoscopy or retinal imaging. Measurements of ocular parameters may therefore offer important information on the physiology and homeostasis of these two important systems. Here we report the results of a genetic characterisation of retinal vasculature. Four genome-wide association studies performed on different aspects of retinal vasculometry phenotypes, such as arteriolar and venular tortuosity and width, found significant similarities between retinal vascular characteristics and cardiometabolic health. Our analyses identified 119 different regions of association with traits of retinal vasculature, including 89 loci associated arteriolar tortuosity, the strongest of which was rs35131825 (p = 2.00×10−108), 2 loci with arteriolar width (rs12969347, p = 3.30×10−09 and rs5442, p = 1.9E-15), 17 other loci associated with venular tortuosity and 11 novel associations with venular width. Our causal inference analyses also found that factors linked to arteriolar tortuosity cause elevated diastolic blood pressure and not vice versa.
Safety and immunogenicity following co-administration of Yellow fever vaccine with Tick-borne encephalitis or Japanese encephalitis vaccines: Results from an open label, non-randomized clinical trial
Authors: Sandberg John Tyler , Löfling Marie , Varnaitė Renata , Emgård Johanna , Al-Tawil Nabil , Lindquist Lars , Gredmark-Russ Sara , Klingström Jonas , Loré Karin , Blom Kim , Ljunggren Hans-Gustaf
Published: February 2023

Background

Flavivirus infections pose a significant global health burden underscoring the need for the development of safe and effective vaccination strategies. Available flavivirus vaccines are from time to time concomitantly delivered to individuals. Co-administration of different vaccines saves time and visits to health care units and vaccine clinics. It serves to provide protection against multiple pathogens in a shorter time-span; e.g., for individuals travelling to different endemic areas. However, safety and immunogenicity-related responses have not been appropriately evaluated upon concomitant delivery of these vaccines. Therefore, we performed an open label, non-randomized clinical trial studying the safety and immunogenicity following concomitant delivery of the yellow fever virus (YFV) vaccine with tick-borne encephalitis virus (TBEV) and Japanese encephalitis virus (JE) virus vaccines.

Methods and findings

Following screening, healthy study participants were enrolled into different cohorts receiving either TBEV and YFV vaccines, JEV and YFV vaccines, or in control groups receiving only the TBEV, JEV, or YFV vaccine. Concomitant delivery was given in the same or different upper arms for comparison in the co-vaccination cohorts. Adverse effects were recorded throughout the study period and blood samples were taken before and at multiple time-points following vaccination to evaluate immunological responses to the vaccines. Adverse events were predominantly mild in the study groups. Four serious adverse events (SAE) were reported, none of them deemed related to vaccination. The development of neutralizing antibodies (nAbs) against TBEV, JEV, or YFV was not affected by the concomitant vaccination strategy. Concomitant vaccination in the same or different upper arms did not significantly affect safety or immunogenicity-related outcomes. Exploratory studies on immunological effects were additionally performed and included studies of lymphocyte activation, correlates associated with germinal center activation, and plasmablast expansion.

Conclusions

Inactivated TBEV or JEV vaccines can be co-administered with the live attenuated YFV vaccine without an increased risk of adverse events and without reduced development of nAbs to the respective viruses. The vaccines can be delivered in the same upper arm without negative outcome. In a broader perspective, the results add valuable information for simultaneous administration of live and inactivated flavivirus vaccines in general.

Trial registration

Eudra CT 2017-002137-32.
Scorpion envenomation in Brazil: Current scenario and perspectives for containing an increasing health problem
Authors: Guerra-Duarte Clara , Saavedra-Langer Rafael , Matavel Alessandra , Oliveira-Mendes Barbara B. R. , Chavez-Olortegui Carlos , Paiva Ana Luiza Bittencourt
Published: February 2023

Opportunistic scorpion species can colonize urban environments, establishing high-density communities that enhance the chances of human accidents. This scenario has been taking place in Brazil, in which some Tityus species have taken city centers, causing an explosion in the number of scorpion envenoming cases. The characteristics of this scorpionism epidemic in Brazil is discussed in the present work. The number of Brazilian scorpion stings has surpassed 120,000 cases in 2017, and has been maintained above this number ever since, representing a more than 3-fold increase in 10 years, which was higher than the number of cases for most of the neglected tropical diseases in the country. The escalation in scorpionism cases is even higher in some regions of Brazil. Fortunately, the proportion of mild cases has also increased in the analyzed period, as well as the number of victims seeking for medical attention within the first hour after the accident. The species Tityus serrulatus, Tityus stigmurus, Tityus bahiensis, and Tityus obscurus are traditionally accountable for most of the scorpion accidents in different regions of Brazil, but other species deserve to be closely watched. Despite scorpionism being a notable health problem in Brazil, accident prevention and pest control regarding this venomous animal have not been properly addressed by the scientific community nor by policy makers. Therefore, this review also aims to point possible fields of research that could help to contain the aggravation of the current scorpionism landscape in Brazil.
The burden of Chronic Pelvic Pain (CPP): Costs and quality of life of women and men with CPP treated in outpatient referral centers
Authors: Hutton David , Mustafa Aida , Patil Soha , Rathod Saira , Shrikhande Gautam , Advincula Arnold , Drummond Jessica , Gregersen Peter , Hall Jason , Metz Christine , Milspaw Alexandra , Orbuch Iris Kerin , Stahl Peter , Stein Amy , Shrikhande Allyson
Published: February 2023

Introduction

Chronic Pelvic Pain (CPP) is a complex, multifaceted condition that affects both women and men. There is limited literature on the cost utilization the healthcare system and CPP patients incur. The purpose of this analysis is to characterize the overall healthcare utilization, cost burden, and quality-of-life restrictions experienced by CPP patients using data from an outpatient pelvic rehabilitation practice.

Methods

Healthcare utilization data was gathered by systematically reviewing and analyzing data from new patient visit progress notes stored in the clinic’s electronic health records (EHR). We obtained in-network costs by using the FAIR Health Consumer online database. Overall costs were then calculated as the utilization times the per-unit costs from the FAIR database. Additionally, data on patients’ visual analogue scale (VAS), absenteeism, presenteeism emergency room visits, usage of common pain medications, use of diagnostics, and participation in common treatment modalities was gathered.

Results

Data from 607 patients was used. The overall cost burden per patient for all surgeries combined was $15,750 for in-network services. The cost burden for diagnostics was $5,264.22 and treatments was $8,937 per patient for in-network treatments.

Conclusion

Chronic Pelvic Pain was found to have a large cost burden of $29,951 for in-network services which includes treatments, diagnostics, and surgeries.

This analysis sets the stage for future investigations involving data on costs of medications that patients have tried prior to presenting to us and costs associated with work hours lost.
In vitro evaluation of dioscin and protodioscin against ER-positive and triple-negative breast cancer
Authors: Bouchmaa Najat , Ben Mrid Reda , Bouargalne Youssef , Ajouaoi Sana , Cacciola Francesco , El Fatimy Rachid , Nhiri Mohamed , Zyad Abdelmajid
Published: February 2023

Women’s breast cancer is one of the most significant healthcare issues for the human race that demands a proactive strategy for a cure. In this study, the cytotoxic activity (MTT assay) of two natural steroidal compounds, protodioscin and dioscin, against two major subtypes of human breast cancer estrogen receptor-positive (ER-positive)/MCF-7 and triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC)/MDA-MB-468), was assessed. The clonogenic capacity was evaluated using the clonogenic assay. Oxidative stress was determined by measuring the formation of malondialdehyde and H2O2 and the assessment of total antioxidant enzyme activities (SOD, GPx, GR, and TrxR). Protodioscin and dioscin were highly cytotoxic against the tested cell lines (1.53 μM <IC50< 6 μM) with low cytotoxicity on normal cells (PBMC; IC50 ≥ 50 μM). Interestingly, these compounds were responsible for a substantial decrease in the clonogenic capacity of both cell lines. Moreover, dioscin was able to reduce the cell motility of the invasive breast cancer cells (MDA-MB-468). At the molecular level, the two treatments resulted in an increase of reactive oxygen species. Notably, both compounds were responsible for decreasing the enzymatic activities of glutathione reductase and thioredoxin reductase. On the basis of such considerations, protodioscin and dioscin may serve as promising natural compounds to treat TNBC and ER-positive breast cancer through the induction of oxidative stress.
A color image contrast enhancement method based on improved PSO
Authors: Zhang Xiaowen , Ren Yongfeng , Zhen Guoyong , Shan Yanhu , Chu Chengqun
Published: February 2023

Image contrast enhancement uses the object intensity transformation function to maximize the amount of information to enhance an image. In this paper, the image enhancement problem is regarded as an optimization problem, and the particle swarm algorithm is used to obtain the optimal solution. First, an improved particle swarm optimization algorithm is proposed. In this algorithm, individual optimization, local optimization, and global optimization are used to adjust the particle’s flight direction. In local optimization, the topology is used to induce comparison and communication between particles. The sparse penalty term in speed update formula is added to adjust the sparsity of the algorithm and the size of the solution space. Second, the three channels of the color images R, G, and B are represented by a quaternion matrix, and an improved particle swarm algorithm is used to optimize the transformation parameters. Finally, contrast and brightness elements are added to the fitness function. The fitness function is used to guide the particle swarm optimization algorithm to optimize the parameters in the transformation function. This paper verifies via two experiments. First, improved particle swarm algorithm is simulated and tested. By comparing the average values of the four algorithms under the three types of 6 test functions, the average value is increased by at least 15 times in the single-peak 2 test functions: in the multi-peak and multi-peak fixed-dimension 4 test functions, this paper can always search for the global optimal solution, and the average value is either the same or at least 1.3 times higher. Second, the proposed algorithm is compared with other evolutionary algorithms to optimize contrast enhancement, select images in two different data sets, and calculate various evaluation indicators of different algorithms under different images. The optimal value is the algorithm in this paper, and the performance indicators are at least a 5% increase and a minimum 15% increase in algorithm running time. Final results show that the effects the proposed algorithm have obvious advantages in both subjective and qualitative aspects.
Conserved chloroplast genome sequences of the genus Clerodendrum Linn. (Lamiaceae) as a super-barcode
Authors: Chen Haimei , Chen Haodong , Wang Bin , Liu Chang
Published: February 2023

Background

The plants of the genus Clerodendrum L. have great potential for development as an ornamental and important herbal resource. There is no significant morphological difference among many species of the genus Clerodendrum, which will lead to confusion among the herbs of this genus and ultimately affect the quality of the herbs. The chloroplast genome will contribute to the development of new markers used for the identification and classification of species.

Methods and results

Here, we obtained the complete chloroplast genome sequences of Clerodendrum chinense (Osbeck) Mabberley and Clerodendrum thomsoniae Balf.f. using the next generation DNA sequencing technology. The chloroplast genomes of the two species all encode a total of 112 unique genes, including 80 protein-coding, 28 tRNA, and four rRNA genes. A total of 44–42 simple sequence repeats, 19–16 tandem repeats and 44–44 scattered repetitive sequences were identified. Phylogenetic analyses showed that the nine Clerodendrum species were classified into two clades and together formed a monophyletic group. Selective pressure analyses of 77 protein-coding genes showed that there was no gene under positive selection in the Clerodendrum branch. Analyses of sequence divergence found two intergenic regions: trnH-GUG-psbA, nhdD-psaC, exhibiting a high degree of variations. Meanwhile, there was no hypervariable region identified in protein coding genes. However, the sequence identities of these two intergenic spacers (IGSs) are greater than 99% among some species, which will result in the two IGSs not being used to distinguish Clerodendrum species. Analysis of the structure at the LSC (Large single copy) /IR (Inverted repeat) and SSC (Small single copy)/IR boundary regions showed dynamic changes. The above results showed that the complete chloroplast genomes can be used as a super-barcode to identify these Clerodendrum species. The study lay the foundation for the understanding of the evolutionary process of the genus Clerodendrum.
Provenancing 16th and 17th century CE building timbers in Denmark–combining dendroprovenance and Sr isotopic analysis
Authors: Van Ham-Meert Alicia , Daly Aoife
Published: February 2023

Dendrochronology (tree-ring analysis) allows us to precisely date and identify the origin of timber from historic contexts. However, reference datasets to determine the origin can include timber of non-local origin. Therefore, we have applied Sr isotopic on timbers from three buildings in Jutland, Denmark, mostly dating from the late 16th and early 17th centuries CE to improve and refine the provenance identification. The dendrochronology suggested that some timbers analysed were imported from the Swedish side of Øresund/Kattegat while others were local, and others again might be from south Norway. By adding the Sr isotopic analysis, a far more detailed interpretation of the origin of these timbers can be presented for non-Danish timbers. In this paper we suggest that Danish ports in the provinces of Halland and Skåne played a major role in the timber trade between the Danish and Swedish parts of the Danish kingdom. For Danish timbers dendroprovenancing proved better than Sr isotopic analysis. Furthermore, a small number of Sr isotopic analyses were performed to contribute to the base-line along the Göta-river in Southern-Sweden.
Investigating the origin of subtelomeric and centromeric AT-rich elements in Aspergillus flavus
Authors: Lustig Arthur J.
Published: February 2023

An in silico study of Aspergillus flavus genome stability uncovered significant variations in both coding and non-coding regions. The non-coding insertions uniformly consisted of AT-rich sequences that are evolutionarily maintained, albeit distributed at widely different sites in an array of A. flavus strains. A survey of ≥ 2kb AT-rich elements (AT ≥ 70%; ATEs) in non-centromeric regions uncovered two major categories of ATEs. The first category is composed of homologous insertions at ectopic, non-allelic sites that contain homology to transposable elements (TEs; Classes B, C, D, and E). Strains differed significantly in frequency, position, and TE type, but displayed a common enrichment in subtelomeric regions. The TEs were heavily mutated, with patterns consistent with the ancestral activity of repeat-induced point mutations (RIP). The second category consists of a conserved set of novel subtelomeric ATE repeats (Classes A, G, G, H, I and J) which lack discernible TEs and, unlike TEs, display a constant polarity relative to the telomere. Members of one of these classes are derivatives of a progenitor ATE that is predicted to have undergone extensive homologous recombination during evolution. A third category of ATEs consists of ~100 kb regions at each centromere. Centromeric ATEs and TE clusters within these centromeres display a high level of sequence identity between strains. These studies suggest that transposition and RIP are forces in the evolution of subtelomeric and centromeric structure and function.
A novel MADM algorithm for physical education teaching quality evaluation based on 2-tuple linguistic neutrosophic numbers power heronian mean operators
Authors: Rao Fengshuo , Xiao Minyu
Published: February 2023

Classroom teaching quality evaluation is an important link in the curriculum quality assurance system. It has important guiding significance for the timely feedback of classroom teaching effects, the achievement of teachers’ teaching goals, and the implementation of teaching plans. The evaluation system is scientific, objective and accurate. The classroom teaching quality evaluation is an important way to improve the level of teacher education and teaching and then determine the quality of talent training in various majors. At present, although the evaluation work has played a positive role, the backwardness of the evaluation system has seriously restricted the effectiveness of teaching feedback. The classroom teaching quality evaluation of college basketball training is viewed as the multi-attribute decision-making (MADM). In this article, we combine the generalized Heronian mean (GHM) operator and power average (PA) with 2-tuple linguistic neutrosophic sets (2TLNSs) to propose the generalized 2-tuple linguistic neutrosophic power HM (G2TLNPHM) operator. The G2TLNPHM operator is built for MADM. Finally, an example for classroom teaching quality evaluation of college basketball training is used to show the proposed methods.
Continuous glucose monitoring in acute ischemic stroke patients treated with endovascular therapy: A pilot study to assess feasibility and accuracy
Authors: Kersten C. J. B. A. , Zandbergen A. A. M. , Fokkert M. J. , Slingerland R. J. , den Hertog H. M.
Published: February 2023

Introduction

Hyperglycemia is common in acute ischemic stroke and is associated with larger infarct volume and unfavorable functional outcome, also in patients who undergo reperfusion therapy. Hyperglycemia during reperfusion may be a therapeutic target. However, previous randomized trials on the effect of glucose lowering in the acute phase of ischemic stroke failed to demonstrate effects on clinical outcome. Inaccurate glucose measurements and not focussing on patients who undergo reperfusion therapy are possible explanations. Our aim was to study the feasibility and accuracy of continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) in patients with acute ischemic stroke undergoing endovascular treatment (EVT).

Methods

All consecutive patients with ischemic stroke and large vessel occlusion (LVO) of the anterior circulation who were eligible for endovascular therapy within 24 hours of symptom onset and presenting at the emergency department of Isala Hospital Zwolle, the Netherlands, were enrolled in this study. CGM was performed using a Freestyle Libre Flash 2 device (FSL-CGM, Abbot Diabetes Care, Alameda, California, USA) which was implanted on arrival at the emergency department. Feasibility was defined as the number of patients who could be registered for 24 hours and delay in door-to-groin time because of sensor implantation. Accuracy of CGM versus capillary and venous based plasma glucose values was determined with the Parkes error grid analysis.

Results

Twenty-three patients were included of whom 20 completed 24 hours monitoring (87%). One patient did not give permission to use the data; one sensor broke during implantation and one meter was broken after a sensor was shot in so no measurements could be recorded. There was no significant delay in treatment due to implantation of the sensor and no adverse events. One hundred percent of CGM data are in zones A and B of the Parkes error grid analysis so data out of the sensor can be interpreted as accurate.

Conclusion

In this study, we showed that continuous glucose monitoring in patients with acute ischemic stroke due to large vessel occlusion of the anterior circulation in patients who were treated with endovascular therapy is feasible, safe and accurate.
The moral significance of protecting environmental and cultural objects
Authors: Bastian Brock , Crimston Charlie R. , Klebl Christoph , van Lange Paul A. M.
Published: February 2023

A powerful avenue through which to promote the preservation of the natural and cultural environment is to afford cultural and environmental objects moral significance. In this research, we examine a range of factors that may give rise to moral concern regarding the protection of culturel and environmental objects as ends in themselves. In this way, we also extend theorizing and evidence beyond a focus on sentience as a focal determinant of moral significance Across five studies we show that non-sentient objects can sometimes be viewed as possessing intrinsically valuable properties that afford them moral standing (independent of their extrinsic/means-end value or any perception of their capacity to think and feel). People judge it morally wrong to harm things that are beautiful, sacred, rare, or old, and this cannot be explained merely by their usefulness or economic value. Our findings provide new insight into ways to elevate the protection of natural and cultural objects to an issue of moral significance, and suggest avenues through which to motivate the preservation of a natural and cultural environments.
Customer knowledge management competence evaluation of agritourism enterprises by using the balanced scorecard and fuzzy-AHP: Evidence from Chengdu-Chongqing economic circle
Authors: Chen Guoyi , Zhang Jiansheng , Tan Wei , Zhang Shangmin , Yan Bangquan
Published: February 2023

This paper provides an evaluation framework to explore the linking mechanisms between customer knowledge management competence (CKMC) and Balanced Scorecard (BSC). With a case study from Chengdu-Chongqing Economic Circle of China, this paper attempts to empirically justify the framework. An index system was established for evaluating CKMC based on BSC and knowledge management process, the weight design and consistency check of the indexes were implemented by using the analytic hierarchy process (AHP), and the overall evaluation value and concrete index scores at all levels were obtained via the fuzzy evaluation method. Empirical results show that CKMC performance measurement indicators were ranked in order of importance as Business process performance dimensions (0.465), System support dimensions (0.289), Customer communication dimensions (0.152) and Market performance dimension (0.094). It also shows that the overall score of CKMC was 3.404, reflecting that the CKMC was in a state of general satisfaction. This research also identifies key factors hindering implementation of CKMC, including Attention from senior leaders (2.871), customer knowledge sharing efficiency (2.928), and information technology level (3.133). This research could contribute to CKM theory by extending customer knowledge management competence research with BSC initiatively. For practitioners, this study may provide useful suggestions to identify key factors promoting business CKMC, and finally promotes sustainable development of Agritourism.
Association of intraabdominal fat with the risk of incident chronic kidney disease according to body mass index among Korean adults
Authors: Lee Jeonghwan , Min Seran , Oh Seung-Won , Oh Sohee , Lee Yoon-Hye , Kwon Hyuktae , Lee Cheol Min , Choi Ho-Chun , Heo Nam Ju
Published: February 2023

Background

The association between abdominal visceral adipose tissue and the risk of incident chronic kidney disease according to body mass index in the Asian population, remains unclear. We evaluated the impact of abdominal adiposity stratified by body mass index on the risk of incident chronic kidney disease.

Methods

A cohort study included 11,050 adult participants who underwent health check-ups and re-evaluated the follow-up medical examination at a single university-affiliated healthcare center. Cross-sectional abdominal adipose tissue areas were measured using computed tomography. The primary outcome was progression to chronic kidney disease (estimated glomerular filtration rate <60 ml/min/1.73m2). The highest quartile of visceral adipose tissue was used for the cut-off of central obesity.

Results

During the mean of 5.6 follow-up years, 104 incident chronic kidney disease cases were identified. The risk for chronic kidney disease incidence was significantly increased in the 3rd and 4th quartile ranges of visceral adipose tissue [hazard ratio (95% confidence interval)]: 4.59 (1.48–14.30) and 7.50 (2.33–24.20), respectively. In the analysis stratified by body mass index, the chronic kidney disease incidence risk was increased in the highest quartile range of visceral adipose tissue in the normal weight group: 7.06 (1.35–37.04). However, there was no significant relationship between visceral adipose tissue and chronic kidney disease in the obese group. Compared to the subjects with normal weight and absent central obesity, the hazard ratio for chronic kidney disease incidence was 2.32 (1.26–4.27) among subjects with normal weight and central obesity and 1.81 (1.03–3.15) among subjects with obesity and central obesity.

Conclusion

Visceral adipose tissue was a significant risk factor for subsequent chronic kidney disease progression, and the association was identified only in the normal weight group. Normal-weight central obesity was associated with excess risk of chronic kidney disease, similar to the risk in the group with obesity and central obesity.
Theory and practice of using cell strainers to sort Caenorhabditis elegans by size
Authors: Lanier Vincent J. , White Amanda M. , Faumont Serge , Lockery Shawn R.
Published: February 2023

The nematodeCaenorhabditis elegansis a model organism widely used in basic, translational, and industrial research.C.elegansdevelopment is characterized by five morphologically distinct stages, including four larval stages and the adult stage. Stages differ in a variety of aspects including size, gene expression, physiology, and behavior. Enrichment for a particular developmental stage is often the first step in experimental design. When many hundreds of worms are required, the standard methods of enrichment are to grow a synchronized population of hatchlings for a fixed time, or to sort a mixed population of worms according to size. Current size-sorting methods have higher throughput than synchronization and avoid its use of harsh chemicals. However, these size-sorting methods currently require expensive instrumentation or custom microfluidic devices, both of which are unavailable to the majorityC.eleganslaboratories. Accordingly, there is a need for inexpensive, accessible sorting strategies. We investigated the use of low-cost, commercially available cell strainers to filterC.elegansby size. We found that the probability of recovery after filtration as a function of body size for cell strainers of three different mesh sizes is well described by logistic functions. Application of these functions to predict filtration outcomes revealed non-ideal properties of filtration of worms by cell strainers that nevertheless enhanced filtration outcomes. Further, we found that serial filtration using a pair of strainers that have different mesh sizes can be used to enrich for particular larval stages with a purity close to that of synchronization, the most widely used enrichment method. Throughput of the cell strainer method, up to 14,000 worms per minute, greatly exceeds that of other enrichment methods. We conclude that size sorting by cell strainers is a useful addition to the array of existing methods for enrichment of particular developmental stages inC.elegans.