bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Elevated cortisol lowers thermal tolerance but results in limited cardiac remodelling in rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) experiencing chronic social stress
Authors: Bard Brittany , Dodge Annette , Joyce William , Lawrence Michael , Cooke Steven J , Gilmour Kathleen M
Published: June 2021

Juvenile rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) held in pairs form dominance hierarchies in which subordinate individuals experience chronic social stress accompanied by lowered thermal tolerance (assessed as the critical thermal maximum, CTmax). Here we tested the hypothesis that chronic elevation of circulating cortisol levels reduces thermal tolerance in subordinate trout. In support of this hypothesis, subordinate trout that recovered from social stress for 48 h, a period sufficient to return cortisol to normal baseline levels, no longer showed reduced CTmax. Further, thermal tolerance was not restored in subordinates treated with cortisol during recovery from social stress. To explore possible mechanisms underlying the effect of chronic stress on CTmax, we also tested the hypothesis that chronic cortisol elevation induces cardiac remodelling in subordinate trout, as previously reported for cortisol-treated rainbow trout. Ventricle mass and cardiac hypertrophy markers were unaffected by social stress. Picrosirius red staining revealed a trend for lower collagen levels in the ventricles of subordinate relative to dominant trout. However, collagen type I transcript and protein levels, and markers of collagen turnover were unaffected. Indicators of cardiac function, including ventricle passive stiffness and intrinsic heart rate (fH), similarly were unaffected. In vivo fH was also similar between subordinate and dominant fish. Nevertheless, in keeping with their lower CTmax, subordinate fish exhibited cardiac arrhythmia at significantly lower temperatures than dominant fish during CTmax trials. Thus, high baseline cortisol levels in subordinate trout result in lowered thermal tolerance, but 5 d of social stress did not greatly affect cardiac structure and function.
Case Report: Heparin-induced thrombocytopenia in a patient with COVID-19
Authors: Aly Ragia , Gupta Sachin , Gupta Sorab , Singh Balraj , Goyal Abhinav , Kalathil Sheila
Published: June 2021

With the spread of the novel coronavirus disease of 2019 (COVID-19) worldwide and associated high incidence of thromboembolic complications, the use of heparin is on the rise. It therefore is crucial to identify patients with contraindications for heparin. Heparin-induced thrombocytopenia (HIT) is a life-threatening complication of exposure to heparin. We report a 66-year-old woman, who was admitted to the hospital with COVID-19 infection. Her course was complicated by pulmonary embolism and dialysis catheter thrombosis. Our patient had a known history of HIT. Treatment of this patient with heparin would have been catastrophic. The COVID-19 pandemic has overwhelmed healthcare systems and is causing a global health crisis. Nevertheless, this case serves as a reminder of the importance of making every effort to obtain thorough history and review of records of every patient.
Designing and developing an app to perform Hofstee cut-off calculations
Authors: Masters Ken , Al-Wardy Nadia
Published: June 2021

Determining a Hofstee cut-off point in medical education student assessment is problematic: traditional methods can be time-consuming, inaccurate, and inflexible.  To counter this, we developed a simple Android app that receives raw, unsorted student assessment data in .csv format, allows for multiple judges’ inputs, mean or median inputs, calculates the Hofstee cut-off mathematically, and outputs the results with other guiding information. The app contains a detailed description of its functionality.
Active flexibility in girls before and after the annual cycle of stretching classes
Authors: Andriichuk Olga , Zadvorniy Bohdan
Published: June 2021

Background and Study Aim: the decrease of motor activity among the younger generation and reducing interest in traditional physical education lessons requires finding ways to attract students to specially organized motor activity. The aim of the study is to analyze the indicators of active flexibility and mobility in the joints of the spine after an annual cycle of extracurricular stretching classes.

Material and Methods: We involved 35 high school girls (15-16 years old) in the study. Mobile tests were performed (control exercises and tests): bending the trunk forward from a standing position and from a sitting position, bending and unbending the cervical spine, bending the thoracic and lumbar spine, bending the trunk to the right and to the left from a standing position, the rotational ability of the spine to the sides, the exercise "Bridge" (calculated in conventional units).

Results: After a year of systematic stretching classes, the level of joint mobility and overall flexibility increased in the study participants. At the beginning of the study, the vast majority of high school girls had average and below-average levels of physical fitness. At the end of the study, the level was above average. There is a certain correlation between the indicators and the statistical significance of the results obtained.

Conclusions: it can be argued that specially organized motor activity in the form of stretching classes changes the mobility indicators in large joints and joints of the spine.
Sport psychology in the physical culture sciences. A review
Authors: Piepiora Paweł , Rauk-Kubacka Agnieszka , Kubacki Rafał
Published: June 2021

Background and aim. The important role of sports psychology is often emphasized. But not everyone is aware that it applies to the entire area of physical culture. The aim of this article is to present the role of sports psychology and the positioning of this discipline in physical culture sciences. Matherial and method. The collected material consisted only of the works of sports psychologists available in Poland. The method of source materials analysis was used. Analysis with deductive reasoning and synthesis with inductive reasoning were used. Results. The importance of sport psychology for the sciences of physical culture and its theoretical and practical tasks are presented. Conclusions. Sport psychology is a discipline in the field of physical culture sciences. It deals with theoretical (research, education, diagnosis, analyzes, interventions, counseling) and practical (mental training) mechanisms and laws governing the psyche and human behavior in sport, physical education, tourism and recreation, rehabilitation and health training, using knowledge in the field of psychology and physical culture.
August 1914: From the Cadre Company to Cadre Battalion
Authors: Stepan Kamil
Published: June 2021

The article presents theoretical concepts connected with the mobilization of Polish shooting organizations in the years 1912-1914, the course of the initial phase of development of shooting troops in Kraków in early August of 1914, as well as the history, composition and staff of each of the three so-called Cadre Companies during the period of their creation at the outbreak of World War I until the reoccupation of Kielce by the troops of Józef Piłsudski.
The Creation of the Polish Legions and the Supreme National Committee in August 1914.
Authors: Drozdowski Mateusz
Published: June 2021

The aim of the article is to present the events of the end of July and the fi rst weeks of August 1914 which led to the creation of two parallel structures: the Polish Legions and the Supreme National Committee, providing political and organizational infrastructure to the former. This topic has already been repeatedly tackled by Polish historians. Most studies, however, focused on the person of Jozef Piłsudski, as well as on the military aspect of the history of Polish Legions. However, this article presents the political aspect of the events in question, including the attempts to answer two important questions about the genesis of the Polish Legions, ie. who and under what circumstances came up with the idea of creating the Legions as regular military units being a part of the armed forces of the Austro- -Hungarian Empire and at the same time having a national, Polish character.
Ecological Issues in the Clandestine Press Publications in the 1980s
Authors: Łabędź Krzysztof
Published: June 2021

The text presents the basic statements concerning ecological issues published in the clandestine press that was functioning illegally in the People’s Republic of Poland in the 1980s. Initially such texts appeared relatively rarely but their frequency increased after the catastrophe in Chernobyl. The texts described the state of the natural environment – in fact, it was unanimously evaluated as very bad, one that borders on an ecological catastrophe, one that poses a threat to people’s lives and health. The blame for this state of affairs was put – also almost unanimously – on the existing system of the exercise of power and the activities of the authorities which realised an ideological project without taking into account people’s lives and health. Exerting pressure on the authorities was suggested above all as a possible remedy to the situation, although sometimes a statement was formulated that improvement requires the change of the existing system. One may claim the object of engaging ecological problems was not only to pursue the improvement of the state of the environment and to build ecological awareness but perhaps it was above all an expression of the criticism of the authorities, the criticism of the strategy of development that was embraced in the post-war period, the criticism of the activities that were engaged. The object of these texts was also to demonstrate that the existing system dismissed fundamental human rights and that it was in fact irreformable.
Successful Conservative Treatment of a Complicated Aortic Thrombus in a Woman with Factor V Leiden Mutation
Authors: Frebutte Elise , Bibombe Myriam , Dumont Arthur , Haxhe Maxime , Reper Pascal
Published: June 2021

Thrombus in the aortic trunk is a rare complication. We report the case of a 63-year-old patient with a factor V Leiden mutation in whom an aortic arch thrombus was discovered accidentally. Conservative treatment was initiated with therapeutic anticoagulation with low-molecular-weight heparin leading to complete thrombus lysis after 3 months but associated shortly after anticoagulation initiation with a large splenic and limited renal infarctions.
Application of Problem-Based Learning to Enhance Student Learning Outcomes in Basic Competencies of Maintaining Brake Systems
Authors: Reinsini Cristian Emanuel , Susila I Wayan , Cholik Mochammad , Rijanto Tri
Published: June 2021

The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of the application of problem-based learning to improve student learning outcomes in the subject of Basic Competencies for Maintaining Brake Systems at SMK Negeri 2 Kupang. This study used a 2x2 factorial research design with experimental methods with a quantitative approach, consisting of two classes: the experimental and control classes. The control class is taught using a direct learning model, and the experimental class is taught using a problem-based learning model. The research sample was 70 students, 36 students from TKR 2 class (experiment class), and 34 students from class XI TKR 3 (control class). The instrument used consisted of a questionnaire of analytical skills, a test of learning outcomes in the cognitive domain, affective domain, and psychomotor domain. This study's results indicate that (1) student learning outcomes using problem-based learning models are significantly higher than learning outcomes for students who use the direct learning model; (2)  the learning outcomes of students who have high analytical skills are significantly higher than the learning outcomes of students who have low analytical skills; and (3) there is an interaction between the use of problem-based learning models and direct learning models on learning outcomes in the basic competency subject of the brake system at SMKN 2 Kupang.
The Implementation of The Competence Certification for Professional Welders at Smkn 2 Wonosari and Smkn 2 Pengasih
Authors: Syamsuddin Arief , Prasetio Widagdo Eka
Published: June 2021

This study was aimed to describe and interpret the implementation of the competence certification for professional welders at SMKN 2 Wonosari and SMKN 2 Pengasih which included: (1) the administrators’ readiness, (2) the implementation, (3) the supporting and obstacles factors, and (4) the impact of the program of competence certification for professional welders for learner outputs at SMKN 2 Wonosari and SMKN 2 Pengasih. This research used phenomenological qualitative approach. The subjects were the principal, the teachers, the committee of certification program, and the assessors. To collect the data, the researcher conducted interviews, observation, and analyzing the documents on the subject of the research. The results of the study show that the implementation of the competence certification for professional welders in terms of : (1) The administrators’ readiness had been appropriate with the stages of the certification process; (2) The implementation of the program went well according to the schedule at the stage of plan, implementation, and evaluation; (3) Supporting factors in the implementation of the program has been well supported with the form of moral and material as well as inhibiting factors is the lack of funds to repair facilities and infrastructure; (4 ) Impact of welding competence certification program for the learner outputs embedded in increasing learner outputs' achievements, confidence, and easiness to get their jobs at the company and earn higher salary.
Influence of short message service reminders on utilisation of focused antenatal care among women in rural Kenya: a randomised controlled trial
Authors: Gitonga Eliphas , Nyamari Jackim , Warutere Peterson , Wanyoro Anthony
Published: June 2021

Background/aims

The short message service is a part of mobile health, which is defined as medical and public health practices that are supported by mobile devices, such as mobile phones, personal digital assistants, and other wireless devices. Mobile health has documented positive outcomes on other health services, including focused antenatal care. The focused antenatal care model emphasises quality of care rather than quantity of antenatal visits, and the World Health Organization recommends a minimum of four targeted antenatal visits. This study examines the influence of short message service reminders on utilisation of focused antenatal care in rural Kenya.

Methods

This was a randomised controlled trial with 118 respondents in each of two study arms, intervention and control, conducted in Tharaka Nithi, Kenya. The study group were pregnant women attending their first antenatal care visit in Tharaka sub-county health facilities. The intervention was three short message service reminders a week before the scheduled visit. Structured questionnaires were used to collect baseline and exit interviews. The chi-square test and logistic regression were used to check associations between uptake of antenatal care and participant characteristics at 5% significance level.

Results

Three quarters (75%) of the respondents in the intervention group completed the four targeted antenatal visits, whereas only 10% of respondents attended the required four visits in the control group. None of the sociodemographic variables were found to have any association or influence on focused antenatal care attendance. Short message reminders increased the chances of attending the recommended visits by 27 times (P<0.001).

Conclusions

Short message service reminders have a positive influence on utilisation of focused antenatal care. This research paper recommends that policymakers and health managers use short message service reminders to increase the uptake of focused antenatal care.
Preventing, recognising and managing compassion fatigue in care provision
Authors: Mendes Aysha
Published: June 2021

Compassion fatigue and burnout affect many health and social care staff—something that the COVID-19 pandemic has exacerbated. Aysha Mendes looks at underlying causes and the importance of personal and organisational prevention strategies.
Cartesian blind spot correction using two non-equal Risley elements
Authors: Lentz Joshua K. , Letsinger Alec W.
Published: June 2021

Traditional Risley prism applications employ two identical prisms to create a pointing/steering function through axial rotation of the prisms. In system assembly, finite separation of the elements results in an inaccessible blind spot in the system output. Past blind spot corrections introduced a third element, increasing system complexity, size, weight, and power and complicating output angular resolution. An alternative method is presented, using two non-equal Risleys to overcome the blind spot in Cartesian space, at the cost of creating a blind spot in angular space. For a subset of Risley prism applications, the presented approach offers significant utility.
Three-step model for third-harmonic generation in air by nanosecond lasers
Authors: Stafe Mihai
Published: June 2021

Understanding the phenomena involved in harmonic generation in plasmas by high-power pulsed lasers is a paramount task for developing new techniques for generation of coherent radiation in ultrashort bursts. Although first experiments on harmonic generation involved nanosecond lasers and inspired further interest in the subject, numerical simulations on harmonic generation are currently mainly oriented toward ultrashort fs lasers. This paper presents a combined theoretical–experimental approach to the generation mechanisms and the properties of third-harmonic (TH) radiation generated by infrared nanosecond laser pulses in air-breakdown plasma. The paper indicates that, at the microscopic level, the generation of TH can be described by a three-step model, which involves breakdown of nitrogen molecules in the air. First, the nitrogen molecules undergo cascade-impact ionization; then, the ionized molecules are quasi-resonantly excited through three-photon absorption; in the third step, the nitrogen molecules de-excite to the fundamental level with associated emission of TH radiation. At the macroscopic level, the three-step model is implemented considering that the breakdown plasma is a conductive nonlinear medium whose third-order susceptibility and complex conductivity depend upon the cubic root of the driving laser intensity. The 2D numerical simulations performed in the frame of this model are in good agreement with the experimental data in terms of TH generation efficiency, collimation, and polarization of TH radiation, indicating the validity of the theoretical model presented here. The model enables realistic calculations with affordable computing power for prediction and control of the TH generation process driven by nanosecond laser pulses. The results are important from the fundamental and practical points of view, thus providing an efficient tool for prediction of nonlinear optical phenomena in laser-produced plasmas and for noncontact diagnosis of harmonic-generating plasmas.
Long-distance distributed pressure sensing based on frequency-scanned phase-sensitive optical time-domain reflectometry
Authors: Zhang Li , Yang Zhisheng , Szostkiewicz Łukasz , Markiewicz Krzysztof , Mikhailov Sergei , Geernaert Thomas , Rochat Etienne , Thévenaz Luc
Published: June 2021

In this paper, a long-distance distributed pressure sensing system based on a special fiber and using frequency-scanned phase-sensitive optical time-domain reflectometry is proposed. The fiber shows high pressure sensitivity (159 MHz/bar) and low loss (3 dB/km) owing to its simple structure made of two large air holes in the cladding. The pressure response of the two orthogonal polarization axes of the fiber is explored distinctively. Distributed pressure sensing over a long sensing range (720 m) and high spatial resolution (5 cm) is demonstrated, resulting in 14,400 resolved sensing points with uncertainty on pressure of 0.49 bar. Discrimination between the temperature/strain and pressure responses is demonstrated, taking advantage of the different pressure and temperature sensitivities of the two polarization axes. In addition, the temperature response of the fiber is studied and the simulation results show the possibility of scaling the temperature sensitivity by adjusting the size of the core. The sensing distance limit due to crosstalk between the polarization axes is also discussed.
Genetic-algorithm-assisted coherent enhancement absorption in scattering media by exploiting transmission and reflection matrices
Authors: He Yu , Wu Daixuan , Zhang Runsen , Cao Zhaolong , Huang Yin , Shen Yuecheng
Published: June 2021

The investigations on coherent enhancement absorption (CEA) inside scattering media are critically important in biophotonics. CEA can deliver light to the targeted position, thus enabling deep-tissue optical imaging by improving signal strength and imaging resolution. In this work, we develop a numerical framework that employs the method of finite-difference time-domain. Both the transmission and reflection matrices of scattering media with open boundaries are constructed, allowing the studies on the eigenvalues and eigenchannels. To realize CEA for scattering media with local absorption, we develop a genetic-algorithm-assisted numerical model. By minimizing the total transmittance and reflectance simultaneously, different realizations of CEA are observed and, without setting internal monitors, can be differentiated with cases of light leaked from sides. By modulating the incident wavefront at only one side of the scattering medium, it is shown that for a 5-μm-diameter absorber buried inside a scattering medium of 15 μm × 12 μm, more than half of the incident light can be delivered and absorbed at the target position. The enhancement in absorption is more than four times higher than that with random input. This value can be even higher for smaller absorption regions. We also quantify the effectiveness of the method and show that it is inversely proportional to the openness of the scattering medium. This result is potentially useful for targeted light delivery inside scattering media with local absorption.
Suppression of spallation induced nanoparticles by high repetition rate femtosecond laser pulses: realization of precise laser material processing with high throughput
Authors: Shin Sungkwon , Park Jong Kab , Kim Doh-Hoon
Published: June 2021

This paper reports a mechanism to suppress nanoparticle (NP) generation during femtosecond laser processing of 64FeNi alloy (Invar) to realize high precision fine metal masks. Nanoparticle redeposition during processing can reduce precision and ablation efficiency. Since Gaussian laser beams have spatially distributed fluence, NP types can vary even within a laser spot. Surface areas irradiated by the beam center with high peak fluence can be decomposed into vapor and liquid droplets by phase explosion; whereas positions irradiated by the beam edge, where fluence is close to ablation threshold, can be decomposed by stress confinement under the surface, known as spallation. Spallation characteristics were verified from target surfaces covered with exfoliation and fragments. It occurred above a certain number of pulses, indicating a significant incubation effect. Spallation induced NPs, i.e., agglomerated fragments, distort micro-hole size and shape, but were effectively suppressed by increasing repetition rate, due to increased surface temperature, i.e., heat accumulation. Suppression also occurred from direct sample heating using a hot plate. Thus, thermal energy can relax stress confinement and inhibit spallation induced NPs. Numerical simulation for heat accumulation also confirmed that suppression arises from thermal effects. Increasing repetition rate also helped to increase productivity.
Transportable mid-infrared laser heterodyne radiometer operating in the shot-noise dominated regime
Authors: Shen Fengjiao , Wang Gaoxuan , Wang Jingjing , Tan Tu , Wang Guishi , Jeseck Pascal , Te Yao-Veng , Gao Xiaoming , Chen Weidong
Published: June 2021

A transportable laser heterodyne radiometer (LHR) based on an external cavity quantum cascade laser, operating in the mid-infrared (mid-IR) around 8 µm, was developed for ground-based remote sensing of multiple greenhouse gases. A newly available novel flexible mid-IR polycrystalline fiber was first exploited to couple solar radiation, real-time captured using a portable sun-tracker, to the LHR receiver. Compared to free space coupling of sunlight, the technique usually used nowadays in the mid-IR, such fiber coupling configuration makes the LHR system readily more stable, simpler, and robust. Operation of the LHR with quasi-shot-noise limited performance was analyzed and experimentally achieved by optimizing local oscillator power. To the best of our knowledge, no such performance approaching the fundamental limit has been reported for a transportable LHR operating at a long mid-IR wavelength around 8 µm.

C
H

4

and

N

2

O

were simultaneously measured in the atmospheric column using the developed mid-IR LHR. The experimental LHR spectrum of

C
H

4

and

N

2

O

was compared and is in good agreement with a referenced Fourier-transform infrared spectrum from the Total Carbon Column Observing Network observation site and with a simulation spectrum from atmospheric transmission modeling.
Suppression and revival of single-cavity lasing induced by polarization-dependent loss
Authors: Wei Yanxian , Zhou Hailong , Huang Dongmei , Li Feng , Dong Jianji , Zhang Xinliang , Wai P. K. A.
Published: June 2021

For most photonics devices and systems, loss is desperately averted, since it will increase the power consumption and degrade the performance. However, in some non-Hermitian systems, loss can induce a modal gain when the parity-time symmetry is broken, which offers a new way to manipulate the lasing of active cavities. Here we experimentally observe the counterintuitive phenomenon in a single laser cavity assisted by the polarization-dependent loss. A parity–time symmetric system is constituted by the two orthogonally polarized photonic loops in a single laser cavity, which can guarantee the consistency of two coupling loops. The measured output power of the cavity depends on the cross-polarization loss, which reveals virtually opposite relationships before and after the critical point. It provides a novel, to the best of our knowledge, understanding of polarization loss and shows great potential for lasing manipulation in a single cavity with polarization control.
Phase-stable repetition rate multiplication of dual-comb spectroscopy based on a cascaded Mach–Zehnder interferometer
Authors: Yu Haoyang , Qian Zhou , Xinghui Li , Wang Xiaohao , Ni Kai
Published: June 2021

In this Letter, we demonstrate a passive all-fiber pulse delay method for repetition rate multiplication of dual-comb spectroscopy. By combining a cascaded Mach–Zehnder interferometer and digital error correction, a mode-resolved spectrum with improved acquisition speed and sensitivity can be obtained. This technique has the strengths of compact, broadband, high energetic efficiency, and low complexity. Due to the use of an adaptive post-processing algorithm, sophisticated closed-loop feedback electronics are not required, which provides a simple and effective scheme to break through the physical limitation of the repetition frequency of the frequency comb for phase-stable dual-comb applications.
High-quality longitudinally polarized photonic nanojet created by a microdisk
Authors: Zhang Cheng , Lin Jian , Gu Min
Published: June 2021

The Letter reports the generation of a high-quality longitudinally polarized photonic nanojet by illuminating a dielectric microdisk with a focused radially polarized light. High-quality longitudinally polarized beams can be generated using a microdisk with a wide range of refractive indices. By optimizing the shape and refractive index of the microdisk, the radial component can be effectively suppressed, and a maximum beam quality of 90% and a field enhancement factor of up to two orders can be achieved with a sub-diffraction-limited spot size. Moreover, the focusing performance of the microdisk is observed to be stable within a wide range of focusing numerical aperture values of the incident light.
Incoherence suppression method of optical noises in a resonant fiber optic gyro based on the circularly polarized light propagation mechanism in a resonator
Authors: Wang Zhuo , Wang Guochen , Wang Zicheng , Gao Wei , Cheng Yu
Published: June 2021

Resonant fiber optic gyros (RFOGs) generally use fiber ring resonator propagating linearly polarized light, so it is inevitably affected by coherent optical noises between two counterpropagation beams such as nonlinear effect and backscattering noise. So, we propose the incoherent suppression method of optical noises in a RFOG based on the circularly state of polarization (CSOP) light. The spun-fiber is used to fabricate a resonator that can realize the reciprocal transmission of CSOP light for the first time, and the highly reciprocal signal processing scheme is applied in RFOG based on the Faraday effect. We demonstrate that the designed resonator realizes orthogonal separation of backscattered light thereby suppressing the backscattering noise, and we confirm that the reciprocal CSOP light can greatly reduce the nonlinear effect due to incoherence. With the closed-loop method based on the Faraday effect and spun-fiber resonator, whose finesse is 6.6 with a length of 11-meter spun-fiber and 6-meter single-polarization fiber, the long-term stability and short-term stability of a RFOG have been greatly improved. The incoherence method based on a reciprocal CSOP light propagation mechanism has great potential in the suppression of coherence optical noises in a RFOG, which provides a new, to the best of our knowledge, idea to solve the problem.
Broad tunable photonic microwave generation in an optically pumped spin-VCSEL with optical feedback stabilization
Authors: Huang Yu , Zhou Pei , Li Nianqiang
Published: June 2021

We propose and numerically demonstrate a photonic microwave generation scheme based on the dynamic period-one oscillation of a solitary spin-polarized vertical-cavity surface-emitting laser (spin-VCSEL). The evolution of the oscillation amplitude, frequency, power, and linewidth of the generated microwave is systematically investigated by using two-dimensional maps. The results show that the generated microwave signals with a dominant linewidth of about 3 MHz have a broad tunable frequency (from several gigahertz to hundreds of gigahertz), which benefits from the birefringence-induced oscillation in spin-VCSELs. Moreover, with the help of optical feedback, the microwave linewidth can be effectively minimized (

∼

51

k
H
z

) by increasing the feedback strength and feedback delay time. Importantly, this Letter offers prospects for applications requiring a feasible and resource-efficient microwave source in microwave photonic fields.
Ink-jet printed, blended polymer-based microdisk resonators for controlling non-specific adsorption of biomolecules: publisher’s note
Authors: Nasir Abdul , Yatabe Rui , Mikami Yuya , Yoshioka Hiroaki , Vasa Nilesh , Oki Yuji
Published: June 2021

This publisher’s note contains corrections to Opt. Lett. 46, 262 (2021).OPLEDP0146-959210.1364/OL.412993
Design of a high extinction ratio silicon optical modulator at 2 µm using the cascaded compensation method
Authors: Hu Heming , Wang Shuxiao , Liu Yufei , Zhang Xindan , Ma Xiaoyue , Gu Miaomiao , Jia Lianxi , Chen Hua , Fang Qing
Published: June 2021

The effect of the free carrier effect is more significant in the mid-infrared band when compared with the 1310 band and 1550 band. In this paper, we propose a cascaded Mach-Zehnder interference (MZI) structure to improve the extinction ratio (ER) of the modulator in the mid-infrared band. The cascaded compensation method is to add the next-stage equal-arm MZI device to the two phase shifters of the major MZI. The output light intensity of the two phase shifters can be maintained at the same level by adjusting the output loss of both the equal-arm MZI. With the cascaded compensation method, the simulated ER of the optical modulator is increased from 36 dB to 55 dB under −4 Vbias while the device still maintains a low insertion loss (IL) of 12.5 dB. Through the cascaded compensation method, the modulation depth of the modulator at −2 V, −4 V, −6 V, and −8 V are 58 dB, 53 dB, 57 dB, and 59 dB, respectively. Meanwhile, the dynamic ER is 9.2 dB at a data rate of 40 Gbps, which is 4.5 dB higher than that of the original one.
Effect of cellular rearrangement time delays on the rheology of vertex models for confluent tissues
Authors: Erdemci-Tandogan Gonca , Manning M. Lisa
Published: June 2021

Large-scale tissue deformation during biological processes such as morphogenesis requires cellular rearrangements. The simplest rearrangement in confluent cellular monolayers involves neighbor exchanges among four cells, called a T1 transition, in analogy to foams. But unlike foams, cells must execute a sequence of molecular processes, such as endocytosis of adhesion molecules, to complete a T1 transition. Such processes could take a long time compared to other timescales in the tissue. In this work, we incorporate this idea by augmenting vertex models to require a fixed, finite time for T1 transitions, which we call the “T1 delay time”. We study how variations in T1 delay time affect tissue mechanics, by quantifying the relaxation time of tissues in the presence of T1 delays and comparing that to the cell-shape based timescale that characterizes fluidity in the absence of any T1 delays. We show that the molecular-scale T1 delay timescale dominates over the cell shape-scale collective response timescale when the T1 delay time is the larger of the two. We extend this analysis to tissues that become anisotropic under convergent extension, finding similar results. Moreover, we find that increasing the T1 delay time increases the percentage of higher-fold coordinated vertices and rosettes, and decreases the overall number of successful T1s, contributing to a more elastic-like—and less fluid-like—tissue response. Our work suggests that molecular mechanisms that act as a brake on T1 transitions could stiffen global tissue mechanics and enhance rosette formation during morphogenesis.
A cluster of Ankyrin and Ankyrin-TPR repeat genes is associated with panicle branching diversity in rice
Authors: Khong Giang Ngan , Le Nhu Thi , Pham Mai Thi , Adam Helene , Gauron Carole , Le Hoa Quang , Pham Dung Tien , Colonges Kelly , Pham Xuan Hoi , Do Vinh Nang , Lebrun Michel , Jouannic Stefan
Published: June 2021

The number of grains per panicle is an important yield-related trait in cereals which depends in part on panicle branching complexity. One component of this complexity is the number of secondary branches per panicle. Previously, a GWAS site associated with secondary branch and spikelet numbers per panicle in rice was identified. Here we combined gene capture, bi-parental genetic population analysis, expression profiling and transgenic approaches in order to investigate the functional significance of a cluster of 6 ANK and ANK-TPR genes within the QTL. Four of the ANK and ANK-TPR genes present a differential expression associated with panicle secondary branch number in contrasted accessions. These differential expression patterns correlate in the different alleles of these genes with specific deletions of potential cis-regulatory sequences in their promoters. Two of these genes were confirmed through functional analysis as playing a role in the control of panicle architecture. Our findings indicate that secondary branching diversity in the rice panicle is governed in part by differentially expressed genes within this cluster encoding ANK and ANK-TPR domain proteins that may act as positive or negative regulators of panicle meristem’s identity transition from indeterminate to determinate state.
Human papillomavirus seroprevalence in pregnant women following gender-neutral and girls-only vaccination programs in Finland: A cross-sectional cohort analysis following a cluster randomized trial
Authors: Gray Penelope , Kann Hanna , Pimenoff Ville N. , Eriksson Tiina , Luostarinen Tapio , Vänskä Simopekka , Surcel Heljä-Marja , Faust Helena , Dillner Joakim , Lehtinen Matti
Published: June 2021

Background

Cervical cancer elimination through human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination programs requires the attainment of herd effect. Due to its uniquely high basic reproduction number, the vaccination coverage required to achieve herd effect against HPV type 16 exceeds what is attainable in most populations. We have compared how gender-neutral and girls-only vaccination strategies create herd effect against HPV16 under moderate vaccination coverage achieved in a population-based, community-randomized trial.

Methods and findings

In 2007–2010, the 1992–1995 birth cohorts of 33 Finnish communities were randomized to receive gender-neutral HPV vaccination (Arm A), girls-only HPV vaccination (Arm B), or no HPV vaccination (Arm C) (11 communities per trial arm). HPV16/18/31/33/35/45 seroprevalence differences between the pre-vaccination era (2005–2010) and post-vaccination era (2011–2016) were compared between all 8,022 unvaccinated women <23 years old and resident in the 33 communities during 2005–2016 (2,657, 2,691, and 2,674 in Arms A, B, and C, respectively). Post- versus pre-vaccination-era HPV seroprevalence ratios (PRs) were compared by arm. Possible outcome misclassification was quantified via probabilistic bias analysis. An HPV16 and HPV18 seroprevalence reduction was observed post-vaccination in the gender-neutral vaccination arm in the entire study population (PR16= 0.64, 95% CI 0.10–0.85; PR18= 0.72, 95% CI 0.22–0.96) and for HPV16 also in the herpes simplex virus type 2 seropositive core group (PR16= 0.64, 95% CI 0.50–0.81). Observed reductions in HPV31/33/35/45 seroprevalence (PR31/33/35/45= 0.88, 95% CI 0.81–0.97) were replicated in Arm C (PR31/33/35/45= 0.79, 95% CI 0.69–0.90).

Conclusions

In this study we only observed herd effect against HPV16/18 after gender-neutral vaccination with moderate vaccination coverage. With only moderate vaccination coverage, a gender-neutral vaccination strategy can facilitate the control of even HPV16. Our findings may have limited transportability to other vaccination coverage levels.

Trial registration

ClinicalTrials.gov numberNCT00534638,https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT00534638.
COVID-19 pneumonia on chest X-rays: Performance of a deep learning-based computer-aided detection system
Authors: Hwang Eui Jin , Kim Ki Beom , Kim Jin Young , Lim Jae-Kwang , Nam Ju Gang , Choi Hyewon , Kim Hyungjin , Yoon Soon Ho , Goo Jin Mo , Park Chang Min
Published: June 2021

Chest X-rays (CXRs) can help triage for Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) patients in resource-constrained environments, and a computer-aided detection system (CAD) that can identify pneumonia on CXR may help the triage of patients in those environment where expert radiologists are not available. However, the performance of existing CAD for identifying COVID-19 and associated pneumonia on CXRs has been scarcely investigated. In this study, CXRs of patients with and without COVID-19 confirmed by reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) were retrospectively collected from four and one institution, respectively, and a commercialized, regulatory-approved CAD that can identify various abnormalities including pneumonia was used to analyze each CXR. Performance of the CAD was evaluated using area under the receiver operating characteristic curves (AUCs), with reference standards of the RT-PCR results and the presence of findings of pneumonia on chest CTs obtained within 24 hours from the CXR. For comparison, 5 thoracic radiologists and 5 non-radiologist physicians independently interpreted the CXRs. Afterward, they re-interpreted the CXRs with corresponding CAD results. The performance of CAD (AUCs, 0.714 and 0.790 against RT-PCR and chest CT, respectively hereinafter) were similar with those of thoracic radiologists (AUCs, 0.701 and 0.784), and higher than those of non-radiologist physicians (AUCs, 0.584 and 0.650). Non-radiologist physicians showed significantly improved performance when assisted with the CAD (AUCs, 0.584 to 0.664 and 0.650 to 0.738). In addition, inter-reader agreement among physicians was also improved in the CAD-assisted interpretation (Fleiss’ kappa coefficient, 0.209 to 0.322). In conclusion, radiologist-level performance of the CAD in identifying COVID-19 and associated pneumonia on CXR and enhanced performance of non-radiologist physicians with the CAD assistance suggest that the CAD can support physicians in interpreting CXRs and helping image-based triage of COVID-19 patients in resource-constrained environment.
Studying the functional connectivity of the primary motor cortex with the binarized cross recurrence plot: The influence of Parkinson’s disease
Authors: Rodriguez-Sabate Clara , Rodriguez Manuel , Morales Ingrid
Published: June 2021

Two new recurrence plot methods (the binary recurrence plot and binary cross recurrence plot) were introduced here to study the long-term dynamic of the primary motor cortex and its interaction with the primary somatosensory cortex, the anterior motor thalamus of the basal ganglia motor loop and the precuneous nucleus of the default mode network. These recurrence plot methods: 1. identify short-term transient interactions; 2. identify long-lasting delayed interactions that are common in complex systems; 3. work with non-stationary blood oxygen level dependent (BOLD) data; 4. may study the relationship of centers with non-linear functional interactions; 5 may compare different experimental groups performing different tasks. These methods were applied to BOLD time-series obtained in 20 control subjects and 20 Parkinson´s patients during the execution of motor activity and body posture tasks (task-block design). The binary recurrence plot showed the task-block BOLD response normally observed in the primary motor cortex with functional magnetic resonance imaging methods, but also shorter and longer BOLD-fluctuations than the task-block and which provided information about the long-term dynamic of this center. The binary cross recurrence plot showed short-lasting and long-lasting functional interactions between the primary motor cortex and the primary somatosensory cortex, anterior motor thalamus and precuneous nucleus, interactions which changed with the resting and motor tasks. Most of the interactions found in healthy controls were disrupted in Parkinson’s patients, and may be at the basis of some of the motor disorders and side-effects of dopaminergic drugs commonly observed in these patients.
S-ketamine in patient-controlled analgesia reduces opioid consumption in a dose-dependent manner after major lumbar fusion surgery: A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial
Authors: Brinck Elina C. V. , Virtanen Taru , Mäkelä Sanna , Soini Venla , Hynninen Ville-Veikko , Mulo Jukka , Savolainen Urmas , Rantakokko Juho , Maisniemi Kreu , Liukas Antti , Olkkola Klaus T. , Kontinen Vesa , Tarkkila Pekka , Peltoniemi Marko , Saari Teijo I.
Published: June 2021

Background

Spinal fusion surgery causes severe pain. Strong opioids, commonly used as postoperative analgesics, may have unwanted side effects. S-ketamine may be an effective analgesic adjuvant in opioid patient-controlled analgesia (PCA). However, the optimal adjunct S-ketamine dose to reduce postoperative opioid consumption is still unknown.

Methods

We randomized 107 patients at two tertiary hospitals in a double-blinded, placebo-controlled clinical trial of adults undergoing major lumbar spinal fusion surgery. Patients were randomly allocated to four groups in order to compare the effects of three different doses of adjunct S-ketamine (0.25, 0.5, and 0.75 mg ml-1) or placebo on postoperative analgesia in oxycodone PCA. Study drugs were administered for 24 hours postoperative after which oxycodone-PCA was continued for further 48 hours. Our primary outcome was cumulative oxycodone consumption at 24 hours after surgery.

Results

Of the 100 patients analyzed, patients receiving 0.75 mg ml-1 S-ketamine in oxycodone PCA needed 25% less oxycodone at 24 h postoperatively (61.2 mg) compared with patients receiving 0.5 mg ml-1 (74.7 mg) or 0.25 mg ml-1 (74.1 mg) S-ketamine in oxycodone or oxycodone alone (81.9 mg) (mean difference: -20.6 mg; 95% confidence interval [CI]: -41 to -0.20; P = 0.048). A beneficial effect in mean change of pain intensity at rest was seen in the group receiving 0.75 mg ml-1 S-ketamine in oxycodone PCA compared with patients receiving lower ketamine doses or oxycodone alone (standardized effect size: 0.17, 95% CI: 0.013–0.32, P = 0.033). The occurrence of adverse events was similar among the groups.

Conclusions

Oxycodone PCA containing S-ketamine as an adjunct at a ratio of 1: 0.75 decreased cumulative oxycodone consumption at 24 h after major lumbar spinal fusion surgery without additional adverse effects.
Transnational Political Engagement and the Civic Incorporation of Mexican Immigrants in the United States
Authors: McCann James A. , Leal David L. , Navarre Rachel , Cornelius Wayne A.
Published: June 2021

Many migrants to the U.S. are engaged in public affairs in their country of origin. Whether such engagement impedes or encourages engagement in American politics remains an open question. Drawing from a unique two-wave panel survey of Mexican immigrants conducted in 2006, with surveys waves fielded to correspond to national elections in Mexico and the United States, we examine the relationship between transnational political engagement and attentiveness to American politics. The findings indicate that remote political engagement in Mexican politics is not a barrier to incorporation in the U.S. context. On the contrary, engagement in Mexican campaigns can stimulate interest and participation in U.S. elections.
Labor Informality and Economic Political Accountability of Executive Incumbents in Latin America
Authors: Acevedo-Pardo Julán
Published: June 2021

Many governments across Latin America have been unable to reduce stubbornly high levels of labor informality and the lack of legal and social protection put informal workers in a situation of continuous economic peril and uncertainty. This paper argues that the inherent characteristics and conditions of informal workers act as noisy signals that diminish the effect that economic perceptions have on evaluations of the incumbent executive across Latin American countries. The empirical results support the argument, suggesting that the effect of perceptions of the economy on evaluations of the incumbent is lower among informal relative to formal workers. Furthermore, this dynamic is prevalent in urban areas where there is a more evident differentiation between formal and informal workers, and disappears in rural areas, where both formal and informal workers face challenges that produce noisy signals and diminish the effect of perceptions of the economy on evaluations of the incumbent.