bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Musculoskeletal manifestations in childhood-onset systemic lupus erythematosus: an in-depth exploration
Authors: Sukharomana Maynart , Vonginyoo Siritida , Piyaphanee Nuntawan , Charuvanij Sirirat
Published: August 2024

Background

Childhood-onset systemic lupus erythematosus (c-SLE) is a multifaceted autoimmune disorder predominantly affecting the musculoskeletal (MSK) system. This investigation delineated the spectrum and sequelae of MSK involvement in c-SLE patients.

Methods

This retrospective analysis included SLE patients aged ≤ 18 years treated at a tertiary center between 2009 and 2019. Data were extracted from electronic health records.

Results

The cohort comprised 321 SLE patients (mean age 13.2 ± 2.5 years, 91.3% female). MSK manifestations were observed in 134 (41.7%) individuals, with joint pain universally present, followed by joint swelling in 32.1% and morning stiffness in 9.7%. Arthritis was documented in 52 (38.8%) patients, whereas 82 (61.2%) had arthralgia. Symmetrical joint involvement was observed in 96 (71.7%) subjects. The knees, wrists, and fingers were most commonly affected, with incidences of 43.3%, 40.3%, and 33.6%, respectively. Neither erosive arthritis nor Jaccoud’s arthropathy was detected. MSK symptoms were significantly correlated with older age at diagnosis, the presence of non-scarring alopecia, neuropsychiatric manifestations, and elevated SLE disease activity index scores at diagnosis. Over a median follow-up of 53.6 months (IQR 26.1–84.6), five patients developed septic arthritis or osteomyelitis, and avascular necrosis was identified in 16 (4.9%) patients.

Conclusions

Nearly half of c-SLE patients demonstrated MSK manifestations, chiefly characterized by symmetrical involvement of both large and small joints without evidence of erosive arthritis or Jaccoud’s arthropathy. Avascular necrosis is a critical concern and warrants close monitoring.
Non- or minimally displaced distal radius fractures in adult patients < 50 years of age
Authors: van Delft Eva A. K. , van Bruggen Suus G. J. , Sosef Nico L. , Bloemers Frank W. , Schep Niels W. L. , Vermeulen Jefrey
Published: August 2024

Background

Currently, non- or minimally displaced distal radius fractures are treated by 3 to 5 weeks of cast immobilisation. Many patients with a distal radius fracture suffer from long-term functional restrictions, which might be related to stiffness due to cast immobilisation. Current literature indicates that 1 week of immobilisation might be safe; however, no level 1 evidence is available. This trial aims to compare 1 week of brace immobilisation with 3 weeks of cast immobilisation in patients with distal radius fractures that do not need reduction.

Methods

The aim of this trial is to evaluate the non-inferiority of 1 week of brace immobilisation in patients with non- or minimally displaced distal radius fractures. A two-armed single blinded multicentre randomised clinical trial will be conducted in three hospitals. Adult patients, between 18 and 50 years old, independent for activities of daily living, with a non- or minimally displaced distal radius fracture can be included in this study. The intervention group is treated with 1 week of brace immobilisation, and the control group with 3 weeks of cast immobilisation. Primary outcome is the patient-reported outcome measured by the Patient-Related Wrist Evaluation score (PRWE) at 6 months. Secondary outcomes are patient-reported outcome measured by the Quick Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder and Hand score at 6 weeks and 6 months, PRWE at 6 weeks, range of motion, patient-reported pain score measured by VAS score, radiological outcome (dorsal/volar tilt, radial height, ulnar variance, presence of intra-articular step off), complications and cost-effectiveness measured by the EuroQol 5 Dimension questionnaire, Medical Consumption Questionnaire and Productivity Cost Questionnaire.

Discussion

This study will provide evidence on the optimal period of immobilisation in non-operatively treated displaced and reduced distal radius fractures. Both treatment options are accepted treatment protocols and both treatment options have a low risk of complications. Follow-up will be according to the current treatment protocol. This study will provide level 1 evidence on the optimal period and way of immobilisation for non- or minimally displaced distal radius fractures in adult patients.

Trial registration

ABR 81638 | NL81638.029.22 | www.toetsingonline.nl. 18th of October 2023
Efficacy of personalized repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation based on functional reserve to enhance ambulatory function in patients with Parkinson’s disease: study protocol for a randomized controlled trial
Authors: Yun Seo Jung , Lee Ho Seok , Kim Dae Hyun , Im Sun , Yoo Yeun Jie , Kim Na Young , Lee Jungsoo , Kim Donghyeon , Park Hae-Yeon , Yoon Mi-Jeong , Kim Young Seok , Chang Won Hyuk , Seo Han Gil
Published: August 2024

Background

Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) is one of the non-invasive brain stimulations that modulate cortical excitability through magnetic pulses. However, the effects of rTMS on Parkinson’s disease (PD) have yielded mixed results, influenced by factors including various rTMS stimulation parameters as well as the clinical characteristics of patients with PD. There is no clear evidence regarding which patients should be applied with which parameters of rTMS. The study aims to investigate the efficacy and safety of personalized rTMS in patients with PD, focusing on individual functional reserves to improve ambulatory function.

Methods

This is a prospective, exploratory, multi-center, single-blind, parallel-group, randomized controlled trial. Sixty patients with PD will be recruited for this study. This study comprises two sub-studies, each structured as a two-arm trial. Participants are classified into sub-studies based on their functional reserves for ambulatory function, into either the motor or cognitive priority group. The Timed-Up and Go (TUG) test is employed under both single and cognitive dual-task conditions (serial 3 subtraction). The motor dual-task effect, using stride length, and the cognitive dual-task effect, using the correct response rate of subtraction, are calculated. In the motor priority group, high-frequency rTMS targets the primary motor cortex of the lower limb, whereas the cognitive priority group receives rTMS over the left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex. The active comparator for each sub-study is bilateral rTMS of the primary motor cortex of the upper limb. Over 4 weeks, the participants will undergo 10 rTMS sessions, with evaluations conducted pre-intervention, mid-intervention, immediately post-intervention, and at 2-month follow-up. The primary outcome is a change in TUG time between the pre- and immediate post-intervention evaluations. The secondary outcome variables are the TUG under cognitive dual-task conditions, Movement Disorder Society-Unified Parkinson’s Disease Rating Scale Part III, New Freezing of Gait Questionnaire, Digit Span, trail-making test, transcranial magnetic stimulation-induced motor-evoked potentials, diffusion tensor imaging, and resting state functional magnetic resonance imaging.

Discussion

The study will reveal the effect of personalized rTMS based on functional reserve compared to the conventional rTMS approach in PD. Furthermore, the findings of this study may provide empirical evidence for an rTMS protocol tailored to individual functional reserves to enhance ambulatory function in patients with PD.

Trial registration

ClinicalTrials.gov NCT06350617. Registered on 5 April 2024.
Sexually dimorphic DNA methylation and gene expression patterns in human first trimester placenta
Authors: Gonzalez Tania L. , Willson Bryn E. , Wang Erica T. , Taylor Kent D. , Novoa Allynson , Swarna Akhila , Ortiz Juanita C. , Zeno Gianna J. , Jefferies Caroline A. , Lawrenson Kate , Rotter Jerome I. , Chen Yii-Der Ida , Williams John , Cui Jinrui , Goodarzi Mark O. , Pisarska Margareta D.
Published: August 2024

Background

Fetal sex and placental development impact pregnancy outcomes and fetal–maternal health, but the critical timepoint of placenta establishment in first trimester is understudied in human pregnancies.

Methods

Pregnant subjects were recruited in late first trimester (weeks 10–14) at time of chorionic villus sampling, a prenatal diagnostic test. Leftover placenta tissue was collected and stored until birth outcomes were known, then DNA and RNA were isolated from singleton, normal karyotype pregnancies resulting in live births. DNA methylation was measured with the Illumina Infinium MethylationEPIC BeadChip array (n = 56). Differential methylation analysis compared 25 females versus 31 males using a generalized linear model on 743,461 autosomal probes. Gene expression sex differences were analyzed with RNA-sequencing (n = 74). An integrated analysis was performed using linear regression to correlate gene expression and DNA methylation in 51 overlapping placentas.

Results

Methylation analysis identified 151 differentially methylated probes (DMPs) significant at false discovery rate < 0.05, including 89 (59%) hypermethylated in females. Probe cg17612569 (GABPA, ATP5J) was the most significant CpG site, hypermethylated in males. There were 11 differentially methylated regions affected by fetal sex, with transcription factors ZNF300 and ZNF311 most significantly hypermethylated in males and females, respectively. RNA-sequencing identified 152 genes significantly sexually dimorphic at false discovery rate < 0.05. The 151 DMPs were associated with 18 genes with gene downregulation (P < 0.05) in the direction of hypermethylation, including 2 genes significant at false discovery rate < 0.05 (ZNF300 and CUB and Sushi multiple domains 1, CSMD1). Both genes, as well as Family With Sequence Similarity 228 Member A (FAM228A), showed significant correlation between DNA methylation and sexually dimorphic gene expression, though FAM228A DNA methylation was less sexually dimorphic. Comparison with other sex differences studies found that cg17612569 is male-hypermethylated across gestation in placenta and in human blood up to adulthood.

Conclusions

Overall, sex dimorphic differential methylation with associated differential gene expression in the first trimester placenta is small, but there remain significant genes that may be regulated through methylation leading to differences in the first trimester placenta.
Democratizing cheminformatics: interpretable chemical grouping using an automated KNIME workflow
Authors: Moreira-Filho José T. , Ranganath Dhruv , Conway Mike , Schmitt Charles , Kleinstreuer Nicole , Mansouri Kamel
Published: August 2024

With the increased availability of chemical data in public databases, innovative techniques and algorithms have emerged for the analysis, exploration, visualization, and extraction of information from these data. One such technique is chemical grouping, where chemicals with common characteristics are categorized into distinct groups based on physicochemical properties, use, biological activity, or a combination. However, existing tools for chemical grouping often require specialized programming skills or the use of commercial software packages. To address these challenges, we developed a user-friendly chemical grouping workflow implemented in KNIME, a free, open-source, low/no-code, data analytics platform. The workflow serves as an all-encompassing tool, expertly incorporating a range of processes such as molecular descriptor calculation, feature selection, dimensionality reduction, hyperparameter search, and supervised and unsupervised machine learning methods, enabling effective chemical grouping and visualization of results. Furthermore, we implemented tools for interpretation, identifying key molecular descriptors for the chemical groups, and using natural language summaries to clarify the rationale behind these groupings. The workflow was designed to run seamlessly in both the KNIME local desktop version and KNIME Server WebPortal as a web application. It incorporates interactive interfaces and guides to assist users in a step-by-step manner. We demonstrate the utility of this workflow through a case study using an eye irritation and corrosion dataset.

Scientific contributions

This work presents a novel, comprehensive chemical grouping workflow in KNIME, enhancing accessibility by integrating a user-friendly graphical interface that eliminates the need for extensive programming skills. This workflow uniquely combines several features such as automated molecular descriptor calculation, feature selection, dimensionality reduction, and machine learning algorithms (both supervised and unsupervised), with hyperparameter optimization to refine chemical grouping accuracy. Moreover, we have introduced an innovative interpretative step and natural language summaries to elucidate the underlying reasons for chemical groupings, significantly advancing the usability of the tool and interpretability of the results.
Stochastic geometry models for texture synthesis of machined metallic surfaces: sandblasting and milling
Authors: Jeziorski Natascha , Redenbach Claudia
Published: August 2024

Training defect detection algorithms for visual surface inspection systems requires a large and representative set of training data. Often there is not enough real data available which additionally cannot cover the variety of possible defects. Synthetic data generated by a synthetic visual surface inspection environment can overcome this problem. Therefore, a digital twin of the object is needed, whose micro-scale surface topography is modeled by texture synthesis models. We develop stochastic texture models for sandblasted and milled surfaces based on topography measurements of such surfaces. As the surface patterns differ significantly, we use separate modeling approaches for the two cases. Sandblasted surfaces are modeled by a combination of data-based texture synthesis methods that rely entirely on the measurements. In contrast, the model for milled surfaces is procedural and includes all process-related parameters known from the machine settings.
A theory-informed deep learning approach to extracting and characterizing substance use-related stigma in social media
Authors: Roesler David , Johnny Shana , Conway Mike , Chen Annie T.
Published: August 2024

Background

Stigma surrounding substance use can result in severe consequences for physical and mental health. Identifying situations in which stigma occurs and characterizing its impact could be a critical step toward improving outcomes for individuals experiencing stigma. As part of a larger research project with the goal of informing the development of interventions for substance use disorder, this study leverages natural language processing methods and a theory-informed approach to identify and characterize manifestations of substance use stigma in social media data.

Methods

We harvested social media data, creating an annotated corpus of 2,214 Reddit posts from subreddits relating to substance use. We trained a set of binary classifiers; each classifier detected one of three stigma types: Internalized Stigma, Anticipated Stigma, and Enacted Stigma, from the Stigma Framework. We evaluated hybrid models that combine contextual embeddings with features derived from extant lexicons and handcrafted lexicons based on stigma theory, and assessed the performance of these models. Then, using the trained and evaluated classifiers, we performed a mixed-methods analysis to quantify the presence and type of stigma in a corpus of 161,448 unprocessed posts derived from subreddits relating to substance use.

Results

For all stigma types, we identified hybrid models (RoBERTa combined with handcrafted stigma features) that significantly outperformed RoBERTa-only baselines. In the model’s predictions on our unseen data, we observed that Internalized Stigma was the most prevalent stigma type for alcohol and cannabis, but in the case of opioids, Anticipated Stigma was the most frequent. Feature analysis indicated that language conveying Internalized Stigma was predominantly characterized by emotional content, with a focus on shame, self-blame, and despair. In contrast, Enacted Stigma and Anticipated involved a complex interplay of emotional, social, and behavioral features.

Conclusion

Our main contributions are demonstrating a theory-based approach to extracting and comparing different types of stigma in a social media dataset, and employing patterns in word usage to explore and characterize its manifestations. The insights from this study highlight the need to consider the impacts of stigma differently by mechanism (internalized, anticipated, and enacted), and enhance our current understandings of how each stigma mechanism manifests within language in particular cognitive, emotional, social, and behavioral aspects.
Deep-Transfer-Learning–Based Natural Language Processing of Serial Free-Text Computed Tomography Reports for Predicting Survival of Patients With Pancreatic Cancer
Authors: Kim Sunkyu , Kim Seung-seob , Kim Eejung , Cecchini Michael , Park Mi-Suk , Choi Ji A , Kim Sung Hyun , Hwang Ho Kyoung , Kang Chang Moo , Choi Hye Jin , Shin Sang Joon , Kang Jaewoo , Lee Choong-kun
Published: August 2024

PURPOSE

To explore the predictive potential of serial computed tomography (CT) radiology reports for pancreatic cancer survival using natural language processing (NLP).

METHODS

Deep-transfer-learning–based NLP models were retrospectively trained and tested with serial, free-text CT reports, and survival information of consecutive patients diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in a Korean tertiary hospital was extracted. Randomly selected patients with pancreatic cancer and their serial CT reports from an independent tertiary hospital in the United States were included in the external testing data set. The concordance index (c-index) of predicted survival and actual survival, and area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUROC) for predicting 1-year survival were calculated.

RESULTS

Between January 2004 and June 2021, 2,677 patients with 12,255 CT reports and 670 patients with 3,058 CT reports were allocated to training and internal testing data sets, respectively. ClinicalBERT (Bidirectional Encoder Representations from Transformers) model trained on the single, first CT reports showed a c-index of 0.653 and AUROC of 0.722 in predicting the overall survival of patients with pancreatic cancer. ClinicalBERT trained on up to 15 consecutive reports from the initial report showed an improved c-index of 0.811 and AUROC of 0.911. On the external testing set with 273 patients with 1,947 CT reports, the AUROC was 0.888, indicating the generalizability of our model. Further analyses showed our model's contextual interpretation beyond specific phrases.

CONCLUSION

Deep-transfer-learning–based NLP model of serial CT reports can predict the survival of patients with pancreatic cancer. Clinical decisions can be supported by the developed model, with survival information extracted solely from serial radiology reports.
Sex-specific Associations of Aldosterone and Renin With Body Composition: A Population-based Cohort Study
Authors: Hundemer Gregory L , Agharazii Mohsen , Madore François , Piché Marie-Eve , Gagnon Claudia , Bussières Alexandra , St-Jean Matthieu , Leung Alexander A , Kline Gregory A , Sood Manish M , Burger Dylan , Ramsay Tim , Goupil Rémi
Published: August 2024

Context

Renin–angiotensin–aldosterone system (RAAS) activation is closely linked to obesity; however, the sex-specific associations between RAAS activity and body composition among individuals without obesity are not well understood.

Objective

To investigate the associations of aldosterone and renin with body composition according to sex in the general population.

Design

Population-based cohort study.

Setting

Québec (Canada).

Participants

Adults aged 40 to 69 years enrolled in CARTaGENE between 2009 and 2010 (N = 3687).

Exposures

Plasma aldosterone and renin concentrations.

Main Outcome Measures

Body composition assessed via anthropometrics (waist circumference and waist-to-hip ratio), bioelectrical impedance (lean body mass, fat mass, and muscle mass), and cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (epicardial and pericardial adipose tissue volumes).

Results

The mean (SD) age and body mass index were 55 (8) years and 27.3 (4.8) kg/m2, respectively. Among males, higher aldosterone and renin were associated with increased waist circumference, increased waist-to-hip ratio, increased fat mass, decreased lean body mass, and decreased muscle mass (P < .05). Aldosterone (P = .02), but not renin (P = .43), was associated with increased ectopic cardiac adiposity in males. In contrast, higher renin (P < .05), but not aldosterone (P ≥ .05), was associated with increased waist circumference, increased waist-to-hip ratio, and increased cardiac adiposity in females. Among females, higher renin and aldosterone were associated with increased fat mass (P < .05) but were not associated with lean body mass or muscle mass (P ≥ .05). All aforementioned associations were independent of body weight.

Conclusion

Independent of body weight, increased RAAS activity is associated with unfavorable differences in body composition; however, the strength and pattern of association varies by sex.
Starvation Ketoacidosis in Pregnancy: An Unusual Presentation and Brief Literature Review
Authors: Abraham Lisa , Ning Xinyuan , Whitlatch Hilary B
Published: August 2024

Starvation ketoacidosis in pregnant patients is a rare but life-threatening condition that requires prompt diagnosis and timely treatment. A 35-year-old pregnant woman at 33 weeks’ gestation was admitted for abdominal pain with poor oral intake. She was diagnosed with perforated appendicitis and underwent emergent laparotomy. During the procedure and afterwards, she was found to have an anion gap metabolic acidosis. She was treated with a dextrose infusion with a fixed-rate insulin with correction of metabolic parameters. Women in late pregnancy are at increased risk for ketosis from increased relative insulin resistance and enhanced lipolysis. There is no consensus on optimal management of starvation ketoacidosis of pregnancy; however, carbohydrate administration is a cornerstone of treatment. We chose simultaneous administration of carbohydrates with insulin to overcome any inherent insulin resistance and to suppress lipolysis with rapid resolution of the patient's metabolic derangements.
Friends or foes? Coordenação regulatória no âmbito do Conselho Administrativo de Defesa Econômica (Cade) e das agências reguladoras federais
Authors: Seixas Luiz Felipe Monteiro
Published: August 2024

As atribuições do Conselho Administrativo de Defesa Econômica (Cade) e das agências reguladoras federais possuem importância capital por se tratar dos principais órgãos responsáveis pela atuação no campo da defesa da concorrência e da regulação no Brasil, apresentando sinergias, mas também divergências. Uma questão que tem recebido destaque no cenário atual — em especial após a edição da Lei nº 13.848/2019 (Lei das Agências Reguladoras) — diz respeito às interações entre os referidos órgãos, em particular nos casos de sobreposição ou conflitos de competência. Mediante abordagem teórica, com base em pesquisa bibliográfica e documental, este trabalho examina o funcionamento dos mecanismos de coordenação regulatória entre o Cade e as agências reguladoras federais, a partir de uma análise descritiva e crítica, bem como propondo medidas de aperfeiçoamento para os problemas identificados.
Anticancer activities of tocotrienols: A Systematic Scoping Review
Authors: Mohamedahmed Shaza M , Kamarudin Muhamad Noor Alfarizal , Ramdas Premdass , Khalid Ali Qusay , Sundralingam Usha , Radhakrishnan Ammu Kutty
Published: August 2024

Background: The increasing number of cancer cases requires developing newer approaches to treat this disease. One approach uses natural compounds with known anticancer effects, such as tocotrienols. Many cell-based and animal-model studies found that tocotrienols possess potent anticancer activities. However, the exact molecular regulatory mechanism through which tocotrienols exert anticancer actions remains unclear. Methods: This scoping review analysed data from original research articles reporting on the anticancer effects of tocotrienols on human cancer cell lines published in the last seven years (January 2015 and September 2021) using a systematic scoping review approach. From the initial 619 research papers [ProQuest (n= 61), PubMed (n= 84), Embase (n = 148), Ovid Medline (n =53), Scopus (n = 137), Web of Science (n =136)] identified using pre-defined keywords, only 37 articles met the inclusion and exclusion criteria for this review. Human cancers commonly studied in the 37 research articles include breast, lung, prostate and colorectal cancer cell lines. Results: The analysis showed that exposing human cancer cell lines to tocotrienols triggered common anticancer mechanisms such as activation of apoptosis and inhibition of proliferation, angiogenesis and cell migration through regulation of key regulatory genes and proteins involved in these pathways. Conclusions: The findings show that tocotrienols regulate a number of biomarkers that induce cell death and regulate cell cycle in various types of human cancer cells. Further targeted studies are required to map the definite pathways by which T3 exerts their action and to better understand the cellular actions and the regulatory pathways.
The Emotional Meaning of Life Events: A Qualitative Study of the Perspective of Patients with Eating Disorders
Authors: Pinto Raquel , Albuquerque Pedro B. , Sousa Bárbara , Gonçalves Sónia
Published: August 2024

Positive and negative life events play a decisive role in the development, maintenance, and recovery of eating disorders (Schmidt et al., 1997). For this reason, they can be considered risk and protective factors for eating disorders. However, little is known about how these life events relate to the experience of specific emotions or feelings and their meaning from the patient’s perspective. Only recently has psychological theory begun to consider the role of emotions in eating disorders. Therefore, in this study, 18 female patients with ages ranging between 16 and 21 years with anorexia and bulimia nervosa identified their happiest and saddest life events, as well as their related emotional experiences. Text analyses were conducted using the software program QSR-N*Vivo. Findings showed that the saddest events (e.g., the death of a relative) were related to feelings of perceived lack and loss of support and selfworth, and the happiest events (e.g., the beginning of a relationship) were related to feelings of perceived social support and affection, personal valuation, a sense of family unity, autonomy and independence. In treatment programs, it is essential to enhance patient resources and increase the presence of positive emotional experiences Additionally, emotional regulatory strategies and competencies should be promoted to deal with negative emotional experiences, considering that some eating disorder behaviors may be used to moderate or suppress negative emotions related specific past or current life events.
“I would love to have these conversations with family”: A Listening Guide exploration of the relational experiences of first-generation students in helping professions
Authors: Mosier-Puentes Miranda
Published: August 2024

First-generation students are, by and large, working-class students. While many have focused on their experiences of academic and social integration into college, first-generation students are often just as concerned with remaining integrated in their home communities, reflecting their tendency to value interdependence. This qualitative study explored the relational experiences of first-generation students attempting to share their learning in family conversations. I conducted focus groups with 19 first-generation students enrolled in programs preparing them for the helping professions, particularly social work and teaching. Transcripts were analyzed using the Listening Guide (Brown & Gilligan, 1992; Gilligan, 2015). Findings highlighted participants’ struggles to share their learning within their home communities, and varied responses, including self-silencing, being silenced by family, and an emerging sense of relational loss.
Spray Drift Characterization of a Remotely Piloted Aerial Application System
Authors: Martin Daniel E. , Tang Zhenxu , Yang Yaning , Latheef Mohamed A. , Fritz Bradley K. , Kruger Greg R. , Houston Trenton W.
Published: August 2024

Highlights

RPAAS drift study with 12 replications at fine spatial resolution (0.5 m).

RPAAS produced more drift than a tractor-mounted boom sprayer up to 10 m off field.

Data confirmed use of an extra coarse nozzle best mitigated spray drift.

Swath offset proved to be a BMP for RPAAS drift mitigation and regulatory consideration.

Abstract. The phenomenal growth of remotely piloted aerial application systems (RPAASs) in recent years has raised questions about their impact on off-target movement of crop protection products. Few quality field data currently exist to improve the understanding of the fundamental factors that govern spray drift and deposition for RPAASs and to compare such data with conventional ground application platforms. A field study was conducted to compare spray deposition and downwind drift from a 10-L RPAAS with a conventional tractor-mounted boom sprayer. Applications were made with two different agricultural spray nozzles, which produced medium and extra coarse spray droplet spectra. Spray drift and deposition were measured up to 100 m downwind, and airborne drift was determined up to 50 m downwind at heights of 0.2 and 2 m. Regardless of the delivery platforms, overall spray drift was greater for the medium nozzle than that for the extra coarse nozzle, indicating that the applied droplet size was a critical factor governing spray deposition. The RPAAS had significantly higher ground spray deposition than the tractor-mounted boom sprayer for both the medium and extra coarse nozzle treatments out to 10 and 6 m downwind without swath offset, respectively. With swath offset, these distances were reduced to 4.5 and 2.7 m downwind, respectively. Utilizing swath offset to account for displacement of the swath caused by wind-driven off-target movement could be effective in reducing drift for the RPAAS platform, particularly for the medium nozzle treatment. The use of swath offset with careful consideration of wind speed proved to be a best management practice for mitigating spray drift for RPAAS applications and is recommended for consideration for ongoing regulation development on spray drift characterizations. Keywords: Boom sprayer, RPAAS, Remotely piloted aerial application system, Spray deposition, Spray drift, Spray drone, Tractor-mounted boom sprayer, UAS, UAV.
Psyllid Detector: A Web-Based Application to Automate Insect Detection Utilizing Image Processing and Deep Learning
Authors: da Cunha Vitor Andrade Gontijo , Pullock Dyllan Andrew , Ali Mohamed , Neto Antonio de Oliveira Costa , Ampatzidis Yiannis , Weldon Christopher William , Kruger Kerstin , Manrakhan Aruna , Qureshi Jawwad
Published: August 2024

Highlights

An AI-enabled web application was developed to classify insects on sticky traps.

The AI models were trained on images exposed to real environmental conditions.

Automated insect identification can enhance integrated pest management.

This technology could be used in other environmental applications.

Abstract. The Huanglongbing (HLB) disease has had a devastating impact on several citrus production areas across the world. The disease is associated with three phloem-limited bacteria of the Candidatus Liberibacter group, which can be vectored by citrus-infesting psyllids. In Florida, it is vectored by Diaphorina citri, also known as Asian citrus psyllid (ACP), and in South Africa, by a native species, Trioza erytreae, or African citrus triozid (ACT). For better disease management, continued monitoring of these vectors is highly recommended. Furthermore, it is important to keep track of other related psyllids that reside in citrus environments (e.g., the South African native Diaphorina specimens DN, such as D. virgata, D. punctulata, and D. zebrana), as well as natural predators of psyllids (e.g., lady beetles, LB). Among the tools used to monitor pests in the field, sticky traps are one of the most common and widely used. Analyzing the traps and identifying the specimens of interest usually require specialized personnel, which can be costly and time-consuming. In an effort to automate this process, a web application called “Psyllid Detector” was developed. Three YOLOv7-based object detection algorithms (YOLOv7, YOLOv7-ResNet50, and YOLOv7-ResNeXt50) were selected to train six models using two datasets (South Africa and Florida datasets) composed of yellow sticky trap pictures taken from several citrus orchards. Three models were trained to detect ACP and LB using the Florida dataset, and three were trained to detect DN and ACT in the South Africa dataset. The models trained with the original YOLOv7 for both datasets showed the best overall results. For example, for the ACT detection in the South Africa dataset, precision, recall, and F1 scores of 90%, 70%, and 79% were achieved, respectively. By automating the process of insect detection, farmers can save time and resources and make informed decisions about pest control measures. Keywords: ACP, ACT, Huanglongbing, Machine learning, Object detection, YOLO.
I segnali discorsivi interazionali nel parlato di bambini plurilingui.
Authors: Salzmann Katharina , Videsott Ruth
Published: August 2024

The aim of this paper is to investigate the use of interactional pragmatic markers in a multilingual corpus of child language in the Ladin valleys in South Tyrol (Italy). It has been argued that in contact-induced contexts speakers tend to prefer the set of elements of the pragmatically dominant language, in order to reduce the cognitive pressure they are exposed to, in particular in a minority language (cf. Matras 2000). Yet, very little is known about the use of pragmatic markers in child language, even though the pragmatic competence, i. e. the appropriate use of language as well as the proper realization of speech acts in a particular situational context, is one of the key competences children need to acquire during the language acquisition process. The present study was carried out within the sociolinguistic framework of the Ladin valleys, which is characterized by a varied multilingualism on the institutional level and in family contexts. The corpus contains approximately eight hours of spoken data from eight children aged three to six across the three official languages Ladin, German and Italian. This work aims at analysing the micro-functions of interactional pragmatic markers and at investigating how the use of these elements is linked to the linguistic and cognitive development of preschool children. It also contributes to the study of contact-induced phenomena that emerge in a multilingual context.
Becoming a Place: Speaking Landscapes in the Homeric Hymn to Apollo
Authors: Catenaccio Claire , Hutchins Richard
Published: August 2024

summary: The Homeric Hymn to Apollo features two of the earliest instances in Greek literature of speaking landscapes: the island of Delos and the spring Telphousa in Boeotia, both of which become cult sites for the god Apollo. By personifying these wild landscapes, the hymn allows for a reading in which the exploitation of the earth is called into question. Drawing on theoretical paradigms from ecocriticism, this article proposes an understanding of place in the hymn centered on concepts of negotiation, power, and care. Delos and Telphousa, along with the silent sites of Thebes and Onchestos, become recognized sacred places in the hymn through a complex process of negotiation between gods, humans, and the personified landscapes themselves.
Steven Levitsky on the Global State of Democracy and the Future of Authoritarianism in the United States
Authors: Levitsky Steven , Harper River , Zhang Yuki
Published: August 2024

Abstract: GJIA sits down with Professor Steven Levitsky, a renowned expert in democratization and authoritarianism, to talk about the current global rise of illiberal democracy and the status of democracy in the United States. Professor Levitsky addresses the resilience of democracy, particularly in the United States, but also examines the rise of far-right populism, particularly in Europe and Latin America. He notes the reactionary nature of these trends, which historically have primarily been caused by increased immigration, ethnic diversity in the electorate, and economic insecurities. He underscores the continued adherence to democratic principles by far-right governments, contrasting this with the more worrisome developments in the United States under former President Trump.
The Politics of the Global Movement to Ban Face Surveillance
Authors: Dauvergne Peter , Alger Justin
Published: August 2024

Abstract: Activists are campaigning worldwide to ban the use of facial recognition technology to identify, track, and profile people in public spaces. The power of this global movement is rising steadily but unevenly. Scores of local jurisdictions in the Global North have banned face surveillance since 2019, slowing, although not halting, uptake by governments. Face surveillance for policing and security, meanwhile, is proliferating across the Global South, with China leading the way. Reining in face surveillance globally will require broader political support, national bans on usage and exports, and a deepening of transnational advocacy networks in developing countries.
Living with China and the United States: Singapore's Manual
Authors: Boon Hoo Tiang , Ramasamy Haridas
Published: August 2024

Abstract: Amid the intensifying United States-China rivalry, Singapore appears to be one of those states that has managed to keep and sustain an even keel between both sides, maintaining a careful equilibrium that has not led to prohibitive costs in its relations with either power. This piece examines the key pathways and logic behind Singapore's finely calibrated approach toward China and the US. This is an approach based on a gameplan of (1) enmeshing both powers in the regional security order; (2) doubling down on multilateralism to mitigate great power unilateralism; and (3) projecting a "non-Chinese" identity.
Migration, the Southern Border, and America's Polarized Politics: Is There a Way Forward?
Authors: Schwartz Eric
Published: August 2024

Abstract: This essay examines border migration policies in the context of mainstream political debates in the United States around irregular (undocumented) migration. The debates are taking place amidst a presidential campaign in which border migration is a key and highly contentious issue and has also been the subject of strong and partisan disagreement within the U.S. Congress. The essay reviews U.S. law and recent policies around border migration, highlights practices of other governments toward irregular migrants, and assesses evolving norms and laws. The essay makes clear that there is no singular immediate or transformative solution to this complex issue, which involves social and economic policy, law enforcement, and humanitarianism, all affected by national politics. Nevertheless, progress is still possible. In seeking to achieve substantial objectives around protection and migration management that are politically feasible, the author makes recommendations for political leadership, education and advocacy, regional cooperation in the Americas, expanded opportunities for migrants under U.S. law, and increased resources for management and enforcement.
Digital Sex Crime, Online Misogyny, and Digital Feminism in South Korea
Authors: Moon Minyoung
Published: August 2024

Abstract: In 2017, the South Korean government announced the "Comprehensive Countermeasures Against Digital Sex Crime" as part of a collaborative effort among multiple ministries to establish a prevention system for digital sex crimes. Given the widespread occurrence of these crimes and the heightened presence in South Korea (Korea) since the late 1990s, this action was long overdue. Korea is known as one of the most digitally advanced nations globally and has faced both challenges and opportunities in addressing gender-based violence facilitated by technology in recent decades. This paper discusses the development and diversification of gender-based violence, aided by evolving digital technologies, in Korea. Additionally, it explores how Korean women have responded to pervasive issues of digital sex crimes and online misogyny with the support of an increasing population of digital feminists. After examining the obstacles, the paper concludes with suggestions on how to overcome these difficulties, emphasizing efforts from both the government and private sectors.
High-efficiency 2.3 µm Tm:YLF laser based on 0.79 µm and 1.05 µm dual-wavelength pumping scheme
Authors: Zhou Xue , Li Jiatong , Huang Shengjun , Sun Qijia , Nie Hongkun , Li Tao , Zhang Baitao , He Jingliang , Yang Kejian
Published: August 2024

A high-efficiency Tm:YLF laser at 2.3 µm is demonstrated based on a dual-wavelength pumping scheme with 790 nm LD and a tunable Yb:CALGO laser at around 1.05 µm. When employing single-wavelength pumping at 790 nm, a maximum output power of 3.1 W is obtained, while the maximum output powers of 0.35 W and 0.25 W are achieved for single-wavelength up-conversion pumping at 1055 nm and 1041 nm, respectively. By using 790 nm and 1055 nm dual-wavelength pumping regime, the maximum output power is enhanced to be 3.52 W, which is the highest output power ever achieved from the 2.3 µm Tm:YLF lasers, to the best of our knowledge. The output power of 3.52 W achieved by dual-wavelength pumping exceeds the sum of output powers obtained with the separate single-wavelength pumping at 790 nm and 1055 nm, which well shows that the ground state absorption process 3H6→3H4 under intense 790 nm pumping would induce a significant accumulation of Tm3+ ions on metastable level 3F4 via cross-relaxation process, greatly promoting the excited-state absorption process 3F4→3F2,3 and enhancing the 2.3 µm radiation.
Optimized terahertz generation in BNA organic crystals with chirped Ti:sapphire laser pulses
Authors: Chen Hao , Liao Guo-Qian , Wu Hong-Yuan , Lei Hong-Yi , Ruan Jie-Ya , Wei Yan-Yu , Li Yi-Fei , Wang Jin-Guang , Sun Fang-Zheng , Wang Xuan , Lu Xin , Li Yu-Tong
Published: August 2024

We report on the efficient generation of intense terahertz radiation from the organic crystal N-benzyl-2-methyl-4-nitroaniline pumped by chirped Ti:sapphire femtosecond laser pulses. The THz energy and spectrum as a function of the pump fluence and duration of the chirped laser pulses are studied systematically. For the appropriate positively chirped pump pulses, a significant boost in the THz generation efficiency by a factor of around 2.5 is achieved, and the enhancement of high-frequency components (>1 THz) shortens the THz pulse duration. Via complete characterization of THz properties and transmitted laser spectra, this nonlinear behavior is attributed to the extended effective interaction length for phase matching as a result of the self-phase modulation of the intense pump laser pulses. Numerical calculations well reproduce the experimental observation. Our results demonstrate a robust, efficient, strong-field (up to several MV/cm) THz source using the common sub-10 mJ and sub-100 fs Ti:sapphire laser systems without optical parametric amplifiers.
Temperature distribution inversion in infrared multispectral imaging based on ensemble network
Authors: Yang Shuowen , Qin Hanlin , Dai Yang , Yan Xiang , Belén López-Baldomero Ana
Published: August 2024

Temperature distribution can be acquired through non-contact temperature measurement using multispectral imaging. However, the challenge lies in radiometric temperature inversion owing to the unknown emissivity. Despite the promising results demonstrated by traditional algorithms and neural networks, enhancing the precision and reliability of temperature inversion remains a challenge. To tackle these challenges, in this work, we propose the use of ensemble learning for temperature distribution inversion in infrared multispectral imaging. The network comprises a base-learner and a meta-learner, trained to establish the nonlinear relationship between temperature and multispectral distribution measurements. Moreover, the network architecture exhibits high robustness against noise arising in the testing environment. Simulations and real experiments on multispectral imaging measurements illustrate that ensemble learning can be a potent tool for multispectral imaging radiation temperature distribution measurement, achieving superior inversion performance compared to other neural networks. The reproducible code will be available at https://github.com/shuowenyang/Temperature-Inversion.
Near-zero distortion in TCSPC at more than one photon per excitation period: experimental validation
Authors: Fratta Gennaro , Daniele Piergiorgio , Labanca Ivan , Acconcia Giulia , Rech Ivan
Published: August 2024

The time-correlated single-photon counting (TCSPC) technique is widely renowned for its capability of reconstructing rapid and weak light signals with exceptional sensitivity and sub-picosecond timing resolution. Unfortunately, the speed of TCSPC has been historically severely limited to avoid a phenomenon known as pileup distortion. For this reason, the count rate of a classic TCSPC acquisition channel is kept below a few percent of the laser excitation rate (usually 1%–5%). In this work, we experimentally validate a novel, to our knowledge, TCSPC theory recently reported that effectively overcomes such a limitation and finally achieves high-speed operation without distortion. Exploiting a single-photon avalanche diode (SPAD), in this paper we show how to acquire additional information about the status of the system at run time, and by combining it with the classic TCSPC data histogram, we report how a count rate of approximately 60% of the excitation frequency with near-zero distortion can indeed be achieved with a commercial system.
Analysis of thermal instability for fiber backscatter phase and intensity
Authors: Xu Wen-cai , Cao Bin , Wu Kai-hang , Jia Fu-Ling , Xu Jie , Tan Ding-Yin , Duan Hui-Zong , Yeh Hsien-Chi
Published: August 2024

In this Letter, we utilize the speckle model to measure the average random scattering rate of fiber backscatter and analyze its dependence on length, yielding a linear fitting coefficient of 0.23 ppm/m for a PM980-XP fiber. We incorporate the temperature coupling effect into the model and validate the model’s accuracy by examining the distribution of the change rate of the backscattering rate relative to the temperature and the amplitude spectral density of the backscattered power. Our findings demonstrate that the typical shoulder-shaped noise in interferometer experiments is limited by stray light, and the dependence of shoulder-shaped noise on the fiber length and temperature noise level is analyzed.