bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Generalization Capabilities of Machine Learning-based PDM Equalization
Authors: Lennard Samuel , Barbosa Fabio A. , Ferreira Filipe M.
Published: February 2024

We investigate the generalization capabilities of a novel machine learning-based receiver for recovering PDM 16-QAM symbols over unseen chromatic dispersion, Kerr nonlinear distortion, and stochastic polarization evolution.
Proposal for integrated optical isolator at visible wavelength on silicon nitride waveguide platform
Authors: Das Risov , Corbett Brian , Ghosh Samir
Published: February 2024

We propose an integrated optical isolator for the visible region of electromagnetic spectrum using silicon nitride waveguide platform. Nonreciprocal phase shift (NRPS) for two different integration routes of Ce-YIG on SiN waveguide is shown.
Quantum-inspired Frequency-agile Rangefinding
Authors: Nie Weijie , Zhang Peide , McMillan Alex , Rarity John G.
Published: February 2024

Inspired by quantum rangefinding, a three-channel frequency-agile optical source was demonstrated for a rangefinding scheme experimentally, maintaining the quantum advantage of high noise rejection, and realizing six orders of magnitude brightness enhancement compared to quantum illumination.
Simultaneous realization of high gain and low DMG of four-mode EDFA under bidirectional hybrid-mode pump
Authors: Fang Yihong , Zhang Cong , Huang Xiheng , Zhang Xinyi , Zeng Yan , Xu Ou , Li Jianping , Fu Songnian , Qin Yuwen
Published: February 2024

We theoretically and experimentally verify that, the bidirectional hybrid-mode pumping scheme can address the optimization problem of trade-off between high gain and low differential modal gain (DMG) of four-mode erbium-doped fiber amplifier (4M-EDFA), in comparison with traditional both forward and backward hybrid-mode pumping scheme. It is noticed that, when the total pump power is fixed, the bidirectional hybrid-mode pumping scheme can not only achieve higher gain, but also suppress DMG due to different overlap integrals for the forward and backward pumping schemes. The bidirectional hybrid-mode pumped 4M-EDFA is developed with the forward pumping at LP02 mode and the backward pumping at LP21 mode, under a pump power ratio of 30%:70%. Thus, we can achieve an average gain of up to 21.16 dB and a low DMG of 0.43 dB at 1550 nm, and an average gain of up to 20.64 dB with a DMG of less than 1.6 dB over the C-band. In particular, the bidirectional hybrid-mode pumping scheme allows us to tailor the gain characteristics of the few-mode erbium-doped fiber amplifiers (FM-EDFAs), by adjusting the power ratio between forward and backward pumps.
Temperature eigenfunction basis for accelerated transverse mode instability simulation
Authors: Hunt John , Talghader Joseph
Published: February 2024

This work presents a model for the simulation of transverse mode instability (TMI) in rare earth doped optical fiber amplifiers. The model evaluates the internal temperature of a fiber using a superposition of a finite number of thermal eigenmodes. This simplification greatly enhances the speed of calculation with negligible impact on calculation accuracy. This new method is described and quantitatively compared to an older model that uses standard, spatially resolved FDTD to integrate the heat diffusion equation. When tested over a range of spatial and temporal resolutions, this model reduces runtime by a factor of ∼13.9 on average relative to identical simulations using the spatially resolved model.
Time delay reservoir computing with a silicon microring resonator and a fiber-based optical feedback loop
Authors: Donati Giovanni , Argyris Apostolos , Mancinelli Mattia , Mirasso Claudio R. , Pavesi Lorenzo
Published: February 2024

Silicon microring resonators serve as critical components in integrated photonic neural network implementations, owing to their compact footprint, compatibility with CMOS technology, and passive nonlinear dynamics. Recent advancements have leveraged their filtering properties as weighting functions, and their nonlinear dynamics as activation functions with spiking capabilities. In this work, we investigate experimentally the linear and nonlinear dynamics of microring resonators for time delay reservoir computing, by introducing an external optical feedback loop. After effectively mitigating the impact of environmental noise on the fiber-based feedback phase dependencies, we evaluate the computational capacity of this system by assessing its performance across various benchmark tasks at a bit rate of few Mbps. We show that the additional memory provided by the optical feedback is necessary to achieve error-free operation in delayed-boolean tasks that require up to 3 bits of memory. In this case the microring was operated in the linear regime and the photodetection was the nonlinear activation function. We also show that the Santa Fe and Mackey Glass prediction tasks are solved when the microring nonlinearities are activated. Notably, our study reveals competitive outcomes even when employing only 7 virtual nodes within our photonic reservoir. Our findings illustrate the silicon microring’s versatile performance in the presence of optical feedback, highlighting its ability to be tailored for various computing applications.
Method for producing identical spectral copies of ultra-broadband arbitrary light fields
Authors: Chesnut K. D. , Barty C. P. J.
Published: February 2024

An ultra-broadband beam splitter arrangement, with a spectral amplitude response that is over seven orders-of-magnitude more uniform than broadband, multi-layer dielectric beam splitters, can be created by the combination of multiple Fresnel events on an uncoated, optical flat when used at a specific angle-of-incidence. This beam splitter arrangement produces three, spectral copies of the original, two of which have identical spectral phase. In this manuscript we derive the precise angle at which this maximally flat spectral amplitude response occurs for any material and present this angle’s material and polarization dependence.
21.83% incident light can circumvent a 6.6 × 6.6 cm2 obstruction by introducing a layer of bubbles into the photovoltaic glass
Authors: Li Yingfeng , An Jiayuan , Gong Yongshuai , Wang Chao , Liu Dongxue , Liu Zhihan , Gao Wenxiang , Liu Yingjian , Li Meicheng
Published: February 2024

Obstruction is inevitable and will significantly impact the actual output performance of photovoltaic modules, even jeopardize their operational safety. We introduced a layer of bubbles into photovoltaic glass. These bubbles can alter the path of incident light, while the internal reflection at the glass/air interface enables the redirected light rays to have longer lateral propagation distance, circumventing the obstructions. The optimized photovoltaic glass with a bubble diameter of 1.8 mm and a surface density of 16 cm-2 enables the light intensity underneath a 6.6 × 6.6 cm2 obstruction to reach 21.83% of the incident light intensity. This enhancement permits a partial shading of the photovoltaic module, increasing its output power by ∼20.8% and decreasing the reverse bias voltage on the shaded cell by ∼1.4 V.
Tunable double notch filter on a thin-film lithium niobate platform
Authors: Hou Songyan , Hu Hao , Liu Zhihong , Xing Weichuan , Zhang Jincheng , Hao Yue
Published: February 2024

Tunable optical filters at the chip scale play a crucial role in fulfilling the need for reconfigurability in channel routing, optical switching, and wavelength division multiplexing systems. In this Letter, we propose a tunable double notch filter on thin-film lithium niobate using dual microring architecture. This unique integrated filter is essential for complex photonic integrated circuits, along with multiple channels and various frequency spacing. With only one loaded voltage, the device demonstrates a wide frequency spacing tunability from 16.1 to 89.9 GHz by reversely tuning the resonances of the two microrings while the center wavelength between the two resonances remains unaltered. Moreover, by utilizing the pronounced electro-optic properties of lithium niobate associated with the tight light confined nanophotonic waveguides, the device demonstrates a spacing tunability of 0.82 GHz/V and a contrast of 10–16 dB. In addition, the device has an ultracompact footprint of 0.0248 mm2.
Computer-generated holography with ordinary display
Authors: Shigematsu Otoya , Naruse Makoto , Horisaki Ryoichi
Published: February 2024

We propose a method of computer-generated holography (CGH) using incoherent light emitted from a mobile phone screen. In this method, we suppose a cascade of holograms in which the first hologram is a color image displayed on the mobile phone screen. The hologram cascade is synthesized by solving an inverse problem with respect to the propagation of incoherent light. We demonstrate a three-dimensional color image reproduction using a two-layered hologram cascade composed of an iPhone and a spatial light modulator.
High quality holographic 3D display with enhanced focus cues based on multiple directional light reconstruction
Authors: Wang Zi , Liang Li , Chen Tao , Lv Guoqiang , Feng Qibin , Wang Anting , Ming Hai
Published: February 2024

Holographic display faces the trade-off between image quality and focus cues, resulting from the specific choice of phase distribution. In this Letter, we propose a speckle-free holographic display with enhanced focus cues by multiple directional light reconstruction. The uniform phase hologram is first generated by the gradient descent optimization algorithm. The blazed grating phase is used to steer the object light to a specific direction. Multiple sub-holograms with different blazed gratings are refreshed fast to reconstruct the images from different directions. Thus, the defocus blur is improved due to the separation of multiple spots on the defocus plane. The multi-plane reconstruction is also realized by pre-processing the depth images to eliminate image separation. The proposed method provides apparent focus cues while maintaining high image qualities, which is expected to realize comfortable holographic near-eye display in the near future.
Pre-equalization scheme for visible light communications with trial-and-error learning
Authors: Li Shupeng , Zou Yi , Liu Fangming , Song Jian
Published: February 2024

In this Letter, we propose a novel, to the best of our knowledge, neural network pre-equalizer based on the trial-and-error (TE) mechanism for visible light communication. This approach, unlike indirect learning (IL) architecture, does not require an additional auxiliary post-equalizer. Instead, it allows the pre-equalizer to be trained directly from the transmitter side through continuous interaction with the actual system. In a 1.95-Gbps 64-QAM carrier-less amplitude phase (CAP) free space optical transmission platform, the proposed scheme demonstrates superior nonlinear approximation capabilities and noise resilience. Specifically, the TE-recurrent neural network (RNN)-based pre-equalizer exhibits signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) gains of 0.8 dB and 1.8 dB over the IL-RNN-based and IL-Volterra-based pre-equalizers, respectively. We believe this is the first application of trial-and-error learning for training pre-equalizer in visible light communications.
Designing high thermally stable deep red phosphors based on low thermal expansion coefficients for optical applications
Authors: Sun Jianqiang , Jia Mochen , Xu Wei , Wang Mingli , Sun Zhen
Published: February 2024

Mn4+-activated oxide phosphors with low cost and unique luminescent properties have been considered as a promising candidate for various optical applications, while the search for high thermal stable red-emitting phosphors is still a huge challenge. In our work, we find and unveil the relationship between luminescence thermal quenching behavior and thermal expansion coefficients (α/10−6 K−1) based on double-perovskite niobate phosphors Ca2LnNbO6:Mn4+ (Ln3+ = Y3+, Gd3+, La3+, or Lu3+). It can be concluded that the phosphors with low thermal expansion coefficients contribute to high thermal stability. Subsequently, Ca2LuNbO6:Mn4+ accomplishes accurate temperature testing and high-CRI white light-emitting diodes. Thus, a thermal expansion coefficient strategy is a new guide to select the appropriate substrate with high thermal stability for an Mn4+-activated emitter.
Improvement of light extraction efficiency in AlGaInP-based vertical miniaturized-light-emitting diodes via surface texturing
Authors: Cui Siyuan , Shi Lang , Jin Leonard , Zhou Qianxi , Sun Yuechang , Jin Conglong , Hu Jiahui , Wen Kuosheng , Xu Zhou , Zhou Shengjun
Published: February 2024

AlGaInP-based light-emitting diodes (LEDs) suffer from a low external quantum efficiency (EQE), which is mainly restrained by the poor light extraction efficiency. Here, we demonstrate AlGaInP-based vertical miniaturized-LEDs (mini-LEDs) with a porous n-AlGaInP surface using a wet etching process to boost light extraction. We investigated the effects of etching time on the surface morphology of the porous n-AlGaInP surface. We found that as the etching time is prolonged, the density of pores increases initially and decreases subsequently. In comparison with the vertical mini-LED with a smooth n-AlGaInP surface, the vertical mini-LEDs with the porous n-AlGaInP surface reveal improvement in light output power and EQE, meanwhile, without the deterioration of electrical performance. The highest improvement of 38.9% in EQE measured at 20 mA is observed from the vertical mini-LED with the maximum density of the pores. Utilizing a three-dimensional finite-difference time-domain method, we reveal the underlying mechanisms of improved performance, which are associated with suppressed total internal reflection and efficient light scattering effect of the pores.
Low-power, agile electro-optic frequency comb spectrometer for integrated sensors
Authors: Han Kyunghun , Long David A. , Bresler Sean M. , Song Junyeob , Bao Yiliang , Reschovsky Benjamin J. , Srinivasan Kartik , Gorman Jason J. , Aksyuk Vladimir A. , LeBrun Thomas W.
Published: February 2024

Sensing platforms based upon
photonic integrated circuits have shown considerable
promise; however, they require
corresponding advancements in integrated optical readout technologies.
Here, we present an on-chip spectrometer that leverages an integrated
thin-film lithium niobate modulator to produce a frequency-agile
electro-optic frequency comb for interrogating chip-scale temperature
and acceleration sensors. The chirped comb process allows for ultralow
radiofrequency drive voltages, which are as much as seven orders of
magnitude less than the lowest found in the literature and are
generated using a chip-scale, microcontroller-driven direct digital
synthesizer. The on-chip comb spectrometer is able to simultaneously
interrogate both an on-chip temperature sensor and an off-chip,
microfabricated optomechanical accelerometer with cutting-edge
sensitivities of ≈5µK⋅Hz−1/2 and ≈130µm⋅s−2⋅Hz−1/2, respectively. This platform is
compatible with a broad range of existing photonic integrated circuit
technologies, where its combination of frequency agility and ultralow
radiofrequency power requirements are expected to have applications in
fields such as quantum science and optical computing.
Proteins that carry dual targeting signals can act as tethers between peroxisomes and partner organelles
Authors: Bittner Elena , Stehlik Thorsten , Lam Jason , Dimitrov Lazar , Heimerl Thomas , Schöck Isabelle , Harberding Jannik , Dornes Anita , Heymons Nikola , Bange Gert , Schuldiner Maya , Zalckvar Einat , Bölker Michael , Schekman Randy , Freitag Johannes
Published: February 2024

Peroxisomes are organelles with crucial functions in oxidative metabolism. To correctly target to peroxisomes, proteins require specialized targeting signals. A mystery in the field is the sorting of proteins that carry a targeting signal for peroxisomes and as well as for other organelles, such as mitochondria or the endoplasmic reticulum (ER). Exploring several of these proteins in fungal model systems, we observed that they can act as tethers bridging organelles together to create contact sites. We show that in Saccharomyces cerevisiae this mode of tethering involves the peroxisome import machinery, the ER–mitochondria encounter structure (ERMES) at mitochondria and the guided entry of tail-anchored proteins (GET) pathway at the ER. Our findings introduce a previously unexplored concept of how dual affinity proteins can regulate organelle attachment and communication.
The successor representation subserves hierarchical abstraction for goal-directed behavior
Authors: Wientjes Sven , Holroyd Clay B.
Published: February 2024

Humans have the ability to craft abstract, temporally extended and hierarchically organized plans. For instance, when considering how to make spaghetti for dinner, we typically concern ourselves with useful “subgoals” in the task, such as cutting onions, boiling pasta, and cooking a sauce, rather than particulars such as how many cuts to make to the onion, or exactly which muscles to contract. A core question is how such decomposition of a more abstract task into logical subtasks happens in the first place. Previous research has shown that humans are sensitive to a form of higher-order statistical learning named “community structure”. Community structure is a common feature of abstract tasks characterized by a logical ordering of subtasks. This structure can be captured by a model where humans learn predictions of upcoming events multiple steps into the future, discounting predictions of events further away in time. One such model is the “successor representation”, which has been argued to be useful for hierarchical abstraction. As of yet, no study has convincingly shown that this hierarchical abstraction can be put to use for goal-directed behavior. Here, we investigate whether participants utilize learned community structure to craft hierarchically informed action plans for goal-directed behavior. Participants were asked to search for paintings in a virtual museum, where the paintings were grouped together in “wings” representing community structure in the museum. We find that participants’ choices accord with the hierarchical structure of the museum and that their response times are best predicted by a successor representation. The degree to which the response times reflect the community structure of the museum correlates with several measures of performance, including the ability to craft temporally abstract action plans. These results suggest that successor representation learning subserves hierarchical abstractions relevant for goal-directed behavior.
Intra-ripple frequency accommodation in an inhibitory network model for hippocampal ripple oscillations
Authors: Schieferstein Natalie , Schwalger Tilo , Lindner Benjamin , Kempter Richard
Published: February 2024

Hippocampal ripple oscillations have been implicated in important cognitive functions such as memory consolidation and planning. Multiple computational models have been proposed to explain the emergence of ripple oscillations, relying either on excitation or inhibition as the main pacemaker. Nevertheless, the generating mechanism of ripples remains unclear. An interesting dynamical feature of experimentally measured ripples, which may advance model selection, is intra-ripple frequency accommodation (IFA): a decay of the instantaneous ripple frequency over the course of a ripple event. So far, only a feedback-based inhibition-first model, which relies on delayed inhibitory synaptic coupling, has been shown to reproduce IFA. Here we use an analytical mean-field approach and numerical simulations of a leaky integrate-and-fire spiking network to explain the mechanism of IFA. We develop a drift-based approximation for the oscillation dynamics of the population rate and the mean membrane potential of interneurons under strong excitatory drive and strong inhibitory coupling. For IFA, the speed at which the excitatory drive changes is critical. We demonstrate that IFA arises due to a speed-dependent hysteresis effect in the dynamics of the mean membrane potential, when the interneurons receive transient, sharp wave-associated excitation. We thus predict that the IFA asymmetry vanishes in the limit of slowly changing drive, but is otherwise a robust feature of the feedback-based inhibition-first ripple model.
Aedes aegypti CCEae3A carboxylase expression confers carbamate, organophosphate and limited pyrethroid resistance in a model transgenic mosquito
Authors: Poulton Beth C. , Colman Fraser , Anthousi Amalia , Sattelle David B. , Lycett Gareth J.
Published: February 2024

Insecticide resistance is a serious threat to our ability to control mosquito vectors which transmit pathogens including malaria parasites and arboviruses. Understanding the underlying mechanisms is an essential first step in tackling the challenges presented by resistance. This study aimed to functionally characterise the carboxylesterase, CCEae3A, the elevated expression of which has been implicated in temephos resistance in Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus larvae. Using our GAL4/UAS expression system, already established in insecticide-sensitive Anopheles gambiae mosquitoes, we produced transgenic An. gambiae mosquitoes that express an Ae. aegypti CCEae3A ubiquitously. This new transgenic line permits examination of CCEae3A expression in a background in which there is not a clear orthologue in Vectorbase and allows comparison with existing An. gambiae GAL4-UAS lines. Insecticide resistance profiling of these transgenic An. gambiae larvae indicated significant increases in resistance ratio for three organophosphate insecticides, temephos (6), chloropyriphos (6.6) and fenthion (3.2) when compared to the parental strain. Cross resistance to adulticides from three major insecticide classes: organophosphates (malathion, fenitrothion and pirimiphos methyl), carbamates (bendiocarb and propoxur) and pyrethroid (alpha-cypermethrin) was also detected. Resistance to certain organophosphates and carbamates validates conclusions drawn from previous expression and phenotypic data. However, detection of resistance to pirimiphos methyl and alphacypermethrin has not previously been formally associated with CCEae3A, despite occurring in Ae. aegypti strains where this gene was upregulated. Our findings highlight the importance of characterising individual resistance mechanisms, thereby ensuring accurate information is used to guide future vector control strategies.
Transmission ecology of Trypanosoma cruzi by Rhodnius prolixus (Reduviidae: Triatominae) infesting palm-tree species in the Colombian Orinoco, indicates risks to human populations
Authors: Urbano Plutarco , Hernández Carolina , Velásquez-Ortiz Natalia , Ballesteros Nathalia , Páez-Triana Luisa , Vega Laura , Urrea Vanessa , Ramírez Angie , Muñoz Marina , Ibarra-Cerdeña Carlos N. , González Camila , Ramírez Juan David
Published: February 2024

Background

Chagas disease, affecting approximately eight million individuals in tropical regions, is primarily transmitted by vectors. Rhodnius prolixus, a triatomine vector, commonly inhabits in ecotopes with diverse palm tree species, creating optimal conditions for vector proliferation. This study aims to explore the transmission ecology of Trypanosoma cruzi, the causative parasite of Chagas disease, by investigating the feeding patterns and natural infection rates of R. prolixus specimens collected from various wild palm species in the Colombian Orinoco region.

Materials and methods

To achieve this objective, we sampled 35 individuals from three palm species (Attalea butyracea, Acrocomia aculeata, and Mauritia flexuosa) in a riparian forest in the Casanare department of eastern Colombia, totaling 105 sampled palm trees. DNA was extracted and analyzed from 115 R. prolixus specimens at different developmental stages using quantitative PCR (qPCR) for T. cruzi detection and identification of discrete typing units. Feeding preferences were determined by sequencing the 12S rRNA gene amplicon through next-generation sequencing.

Results

A total of 676 R. prolixus specimens were collected from the sampled palms. The study revealed variation in population densities and developmental stages of R. prolixus among palm tree species, with higher densities observed in A. butyracea and lower densities in M. flexuosa. TcI was the exclusive T. cruzi discrete typing unit (DTU) found, with infection frequency positively correlated with R. prolixus abundance. Insects captured in A. butyracea exhibited higher abundance and infection rates than those from other palm species. The feeding sources comprised 13 mammal species, showing no significant differences between palm species in terms of blood sources. However, Didelphis marsupialis and Homo sapiens were present in all examined R. prolixus, and Dasypus novemcinctus was found in 89.47% of the insects.

Conclusion

This study highlights the significance of wild palms, particularly A. butyracea, as a substantial risk factor for T. cruzi transmission to humans in these environments. High population densities and infection rates of R. prolixus were observed in each examined palm tree species.
Non fire-adapted dry forest of Northwestern Madagascar: Escalating and devastating trends revealed by Landsat timeseries and GEDI lidar data
Authors: Percival Joseph Emile Honour , Sato Hiroki , Razanaparany Tojotanjona Patrick , Rakotomamonjy Ando Harilalao , Razafiarison Zo Lalaina , Kitajima Kaoru
Published: February 2024

Ankarafantsika National Park (ANP), the last significant remnant of Northwestern Madagascar’s tropical dry forests, is facing rapid degradation due to increased incidences of fire. This poses severe threats to biodiversity, local livelihoods, and vital ecosystem services. Our study, conducted on 3,052-ha of ANP’s pristine forests, employed advanced remote-sensing techniques to assess fire impacts during the past 37 years. Our aims were to understand historical fire patterns and evaluate forest recovery and susceptibility to repeated fires following initial burns. Using data from multiple Landsat satellite sensors, we constructed a time series of fire events since 1985, which revealed no fire activity before 2014. The Global Ecosystem Dynamics Investigation (GEDI) lidar sensor data were used to observe forest structure in both post-fire areas and undisturbed zones for comparison. We recorded six fire incidents from 2014–2021, during which the fire-affected area exponentially grew. A significant fire incident in October 2021 impacted 1,052 hectares, 59% of which had experienced at least one fire in two-to-four years prior, with 60% experiencing two preceding incidents: one in 2017 and another in 2019. The initial fire drastically reduced plant cover and tree height, with subsequent fires causing minor additional loss. Post-fire recovery was negligible within the initial four years, even in patches without recurrent fires. The likelihood for an initial burn to trigger subsequent fires within a few years was high, leading to larger, more severe fires. We conclude that ANP’s dry forests exhibit high vulnerability and low resilience to anthropogenic fires. Prompt preventive measures are essential to halt further fire spread and conserve the park’s unique and invaluable biodiversity.
Sperm Toolbox—A selection of small molecules to study human spermatozoa
Authors: Gruber Franz S. , Richardson Anthony , Johnston Zoe C. , Myles Rachel , Norcross Neil R. , Day David P. , Georgiou Irene , Sesma-Sanz Laura , Wilson Caroline , Read Kevin D. , Martins da Silva Sarah , Barratt Christopher L. R. , Gilbert Ian H. , Swedlow Jason R.
Published: February 2024

Male contraceptive options and infertility treatments are limited, and almost all innovation has been limited to updates to medically assisted reproduction protocols and methods. To accelerate the development of drugs that can either improve or inhibit fertility, we established a small molecule library as a toolbox for assay development and screening campaigns using human spermatozoa. We have profiled all compounds in the Sperm Toolbox in several automated high-throughput assays that measure stimulation or inhibition of sperm motility or the acrosome reaction. We have assayed motility under non-capacitating and capacitating conditions to distinguish between pathways operating under these different physiological states. We also assayed cell viability to ensure any effects on sperm function are specific. A key advantage of our studies is that all compounds are assayed together in the same experimental conditions, which allows quantitative comparisons of their effects in complementary functional assays. We have combined the resulting datasets to generate fingerprints of the Sperm Toolbox compounds on sperm function. The data are included in an on-line R-based app for convenient querying.
Fluorescence-guided assessment of bone and soft-tissue sarcomas for predicting the efficacy of telomerase-specific oncolytic adenovirus
Authors: Uotani Koji , Tazawa Hiroshi , Hasei Joe , Fujiwara Tomohiro , Yoshida Aki , Yamakawa Yasuaki , Omori Toshinori , Sugiu Kazuhisa , Komatsubara Tadashi , Kondo Hiroya , Morita Takuya , Kiyono Masahiro , Yokoo Suguru , Hata Toshiaki , Kunisada Toshiyuki , Takeda Ken , Urata Yasuo , Fujiwara Toshiyoshi , Ozaki Toshifumi
Published: February 2024

Bone and soft-tissue sarcomas are rare malignancies with histological diversity and tumor heterogeneity, leading to the lack of a common molecular target. Telomerase is a key enzyme for keeping the telomere length and human telomerase reverse transcriptase (hTERT) expression is often activated in most human cancers, including bone and soft-tissue sarcomas. For targeting of telomerase-positive tumor cells, we developed OBP-301, a telomerase-specific replication-competent oncolytic adenovirus, in which the hTERT promoter regulates adenoviral E1 gene for tumor-specific viral replication. In this study, we present the diagnostic potential of green fluorescent protein (GFP)-expressing oncolytic adenovirus OBP-401 for assessing virotherapy sensitivity using bone and soft-tissue sarcomas. OBP-401-mediated GFP expression was significantly associated with the therapeutic efficacy of OBP-401 in human bone and soft-tissue sarcomas. In the tumor specimens from 68 patients, malignant and intermediate tumors demonstrated significantly higher expression levels of coxsackie and adenovirus receptor (CAR) and hTERT than benign tumors. OBP-401-mediated GFP expression was significantly increased in malignant and intermediate tumors with high expression levels of CAR and hTERT between 24 and 48 h after infection. Our results suggest that the OBP-401-based GFP expression system is a useful tool for predicting the therapeutic efficacy of oncolytic virotherapy on bone and soft-tissue sarcomas.
Seroepidemological investigation of Toxoplasma gondii and Trichinella spp. in pigs reared by tribal communities and small-holder livestock farmers in Northeastern India
Authors: Milton A. A. P. , Das Samir , Ghatak S. , Srinivas K. , Priya G. Bhuvana , Angappan M. , Prasad M. C. B. , Wahlang L. , Sailo Blessa , Lalhruaipuii Lalhruaipuii , Singh Mahak , Garam G. B. , Sen A.
Published: February 2024

Toxoplasma gondii and Trichinella spp. are critical tissue-dwelling foodborne zoonotic parasites associated with pork consumption and pig rearing. Despite being a major pig-rearing region in the country, Northeastern India has not undergone any investigation regarding the presence of T. gondii and Trichinella spp. in pigs. Therefore, this study aims to determine the seroprevalence of T. gondii and Trichinella spp. and identify associated risk factors in pigs reared by tribal communities and small-holder livestock farmers in the northeastern region of India. In a cross-sectional serological survey, 400 pigs from 400 households across five northeastern states of India underwent testing for the seroprevalence of porcine toxoplasmosis and trichinellosis. Serum samples (80 from each state) were analyzed using commercially available ELISA assays. Data on backyard farm characteristics and various management aspects were collected, and risk factors linked with prevalence were analyzed through univariate and multivariate logistic regression analysis. The findings revealed that the apparent and true prevalence of anti-T. gondii antibodies were 45% (40.12–49.88, 95% CI) and 45.7% (40.7–50.69, 95% CI), respectively. As for anti- Trichinella antibodies, both the apparent and true prevalence were 0.75% (-0.1–1.6, 95% CI). The univariate and multivariate analyses indicated that age above 24 months (OR 7.20, 95% CI 2.45–23.71), exposure to cats (OR = 5.87, 95% CI 2.55–14.05), and farms operating for breeding purposes (OR = 5.60, 95% CI 3.01–11.04) were significant risk factors associated with the seroprevalence of T. gondii. This study marks the initial documentation of the seroprevalence of T. gondii and Trichinella spp. in pigs reared by tribal communities in Northeastern India. The results emphasize the significance of these parasites as foodborne zoonotic threats in the region, potentially posing substantial public health risks, especially within tribal and rural communities. The insights derived from this research could be valuable in formulating targeted preventive and control strategies against T. gondii and Trichinella spp. in pigs, not only in this region but also in areas with similar rearing practices.
The NP protein of Newcastle disease virus dictates its oncolytic activity by regulating viral mRNA translation efficiency
Authors: Liao Tianxing , Chen Yu , Guo Lili , Zhu Shanshan , Zhan Tiansong , Lu Xiaolong , Xu Haixu , Hu Zenglei , Hu Jiao , Gu Min , Liu Xiaowen , Wang Xiaoquan , Hu Shunlin , Liu Xiufan
Published: February 2024

Newcastle disease virus (NDV) has been extensively studied as a promising oncolytic virus for killing tumor cells in vitro and in vivo in clinical trials. However, the viral components that regulate the oncolytic activity of NDV remain incompletely understood. In this study, we systematically compared the replication ability of different NDV genotypes in various tumor cells and identified NP protein determines the oncolytic activity of NDV. On the one hand, NDV strains with phenylalanine (F) at the 450th amino acid position of the NP protein (450th-F-NP) exhibit a loss of oncolytic activity. This phenotype is predominantly associated with genotype VII NDVs. In contrast, the NP protein with a leucine amino acid at this site in other genotypes (450th-L-NP) can facilitate the loading of viral mRNA onto ribosomes more effectively than 450th-F-NP. On the other hand, the NP protein from NDV strains that exhibit strong oncogenicity interacts with eIF4A1 within its 366–489 amino acid region, leading to the inhibition of cellular mRNA translation with a complex 5’ UTR structure. Our study provide mechanistic insights into how highly oncolytic NDV strains selectively promote the translation of viral mRNA and will also facilitate the screening of oncolytic strains for oncolytic therapy.
Costumes as palimpsests: Accumulation of narratives through reuse of costumes in film and theatre
Authors: Brookins Amelia
Published: February 2024

Palimpsest is a term traditionally associated with parchment manuscripts, referring to a writing surface on which the original text has been overwritten. As demonstrated by the famous Archimedes Palimpsest, despite the reuse of the parchment, it retains traces of its previous texts. This article argues that the term palimpsest can also describe costumes used in performance. This article seeks to investigate questions such as, what happens when a costume is taken out of one narrative and placed into another? If a costume is inscribed with narrative, like a palimpsest, does the original narrative remain, clinging to the fabric like ink on parchment? Drawing on Dillon and Colwell, the costume’s life cycle is a palimpsestic process through which the costume becomes layered as a material object and as a carrier of narrative meaning. These layers can be seen through the survival of the memory attached to the costume. The forms of survival for these memories are demonstrated by using theoretical frameworks proposed by Sampson and Pearce for analysing objects connected with meaning through memory. By exploring how the past survives through memory in the form of material culture, associated narratives, or individual memory, this article reveals how the palimpsest layers of a costume can be seen. As a result, costumes can continue to accumulate meaning even after they cease to be reused. The exploration of costumes as palimpsests reveals the remarkable ability of costumes to transform physically and metaphorically to reflect multiple narratives.
Análise sensorial de queijos Prato via modelo linear misto generalizado
Authors: Alvarenga Tatiane Carvalho , Rodrigues Jéssica Ferreira
Published: February 2024

A análise sensorial, área da Ciência dos Alimentos, é empregada para analisar e medir características dos alimentos, podendo avaliar quanto à aceitação das amostras. Tais avaliações podem ser realizadas por meio da escala hedônica numérica de 9 pontos, classificada como variável categorizada ordinal. Com o objetivo de verificar a significância de cada efeito envolvido na análise sensorial, foi realizado no Departamento de Ciências dos Alimentos da Universidade Federal de Lavras, um experimento com duas marcas de queijos Prato, avaliadas por 100 avaliadores de cada sexo masculino e feminino. Para isso foi utilizado modelos de efeito fixo e aleatório, considerando os efeitos de queijo e sexo e a interação entre ambos de efeitos fixos, e o efeito dos diferentes avaliadores considerado como efeito aleatório, pelo fato de serem as repetições no experimento. Concluiu-se que os efeitos de queijo Prato, sexo e a interação entre estes e o efeito do avaliador foram todos significativos no modelo (AIC=1465), mostrando que o melhor modelo para a análise das notas quanto à aceitação dos queijos, foi o modelo misto generalizado. A marca A teve melhor aceitação quanto a preferência (nota média na escala hedônica de 7 pontos).
La calidad de las leyes tributarias como aspiración en su elaboración e implementación
Authors: Vega Pedreño Iván
Published: February 2024

La Ley 38/2022, de 27 de diciembre, que aprobó diferentes gravámenes y el impuesto temporal de solidaridad de las grandes fortunas, fue tramitada en el Congreso por vía de una proposición de ley impulsada por los dos principales grupos parlamentarios que sustentaban al Gobierno en las Cortes Generales, y no como un proyecto de ley con autoría del poder ejecutivo. Esta circunstancia se presta a un análisis sobre las implicaciones jurídicas de su realización en conexión con la necesidad de elaborar leyes de calidad. Al hilo de este análisis se trata asimismo de identificar mecanismos jurídicos que permitan valorar la adecuación de las normas tributarias a ciertas características relacionadas con este atributo en un ámbito práctico.
El gravamen de los intereses de demora derivados de ingresos indebidos en el IRPF
Authors: Simón-Yarza María Eugenia
Published: February 2024

El TS ha declarado sujetos al IRPF los intereses de demora pagados por la Administración en un caso de devolución ingresos indebidos realizados como consecuencia de la actuación ilícita de la Administración. La sentencia supone un radical cambio en el criterio del Alto Tribunal que, en otra sentencia reciente, se había pronunciado en sentido contrario. En este trabajo pretendo demostrar que la nueva sentencia se aviene mejor a la letra y al sentido de la ley, aunque mantengo una ligera discrepancia en relación con la calificación que el TS ha atribuido a las rentas que estuvieron en el origen del conflicto.
La carga probatoria del abuso en la exención de dividendos transfronterizos a la luz de la STS de 8 de junio de 2023, recurso núm 6528/2021
Authors: Gómez Requena José Ángel
Published: February 2024

El presente trabajo analiza la sentencia del Tribunal Supremo de 8 de junio de 2023, recurso de casación núm. 6528/2021, la cual establece como doctrina que corresponde a la Administración tributaria la carga probatoria de la ausencia de motivos económicos válidos para denegar la aplicación de la exención del art. 14.1.h) LIRNR. El Tribunal Supremo avala la tesis argumental de la sentencia de instancia dictada por la Audiencia Nacional e interpreta la cláusula antiabuso del art. 14.1.h) LIRNR según la doctrina del TJUE sobre abuso del Derecho y dividendos transfronterizos, especialmente en las sentencias de 26 de febrero de 2019 en el célebre “caso de las danesas”.
La restricción injustificada a la libre circulación de capitales en el tratamiento de las retenciones sobre dividendos abonados a sociedades no residentes
Authors: Suberbiola Garbizu Irune
Published: February 2024

El auto analizado plantea una cuestión prejudicial ante el Tribunal de Justicia de la Unión Europea en relación con el principio de neutralización de un Convenio de Doble Imposición en el caso de que, incluso aplicándose el mismo porcentaje de retención que a los residentes, no devuelva a una entidad no residente la retención practicada en la fuente con motivo del pago de dividendos a cargo de una entidad residente en el supuesto de que la primera incurra en pérdidas en el ejercicio. El auto sirve de excusa para analizar la reciente jurisprudencia que, con ocasión del examen del tratamiento fiscal de los Hedge Funds no residentes, se ha producido, tanto en el Tribunal de Justicia, como en el Tribunal Supremo y la Audiencia Nacional, respecto a la restricción injustificada a la libre circulación de capitales.
La aplicación del IVA a los regalos por suscripción: análisis de la STJUE de 5 de octubre de 2023, c-505/22
Authors: González Aparicio Marta
Published: February 2024

La Sentencia del TJUE de 5 de octubre de 2023, asunto C-505/22, examina la tributación en el IVA de los regalos a clientes efectuados con la finalidad de promocionar la actividad económica. El caso enjuiciado presentaba la particularidad de que el regalo no cumplía con los requisitos para ser considerado un obsequio de escaso valor, por lo que el Tribunal examinó si la entrega del regalo constituía una prestación accesoria a la principal. El TJUE admite tanto la onerosidad de la prestación como tal accesoriedad, sin embargo, tal conclusión debe ser examinada a la luz de su jurisprudencia previa por la que se establecen los requisitos de las prestaciones accesorias.
Reflexiones sobre la constitucionalidad del impuesto temporal de solidaridad de las grandes fortunas: un análisis de la STC 149/2023, de 7 de noviembre
Authors: Navarro García Albert
Published: February 2024

La Sentencia del Tribunal Constitucional 149/2023, de 7 de noviembre, se ocupa de un recurso de inconstitucionalidad presentado por la Comunidad de Madrid contra el impuesto temporal de solidaridad de las grandes fortunas creado por la Ley 38/2022, de 27 de diciembre. La cuestión se centra en la posible violación de los arts. 9.3, 23.2, 31.1, 156.1, 157.3 de la Constitución Española, que se relacionan con la retroactividad de los impuestos, el ius in officium de los parlamentarios, el principio de capacidad económica y no confiscatoriedad de los tributos, y la autonomía financiera de las comunidades autónomas. En esta línea, se examina la validez de los argumentos del Tribunal Constitucional que respaldan la constitucionalidad del impuesto, a pesar del voto particular conjunto de cuatro magistrados en oposición al fallo de la sentencia. Finalmente, se realiza una breve reflexión sobre posibles fundamentos de ilegalidad adicionales del impuesto cuestionado que no fueron examinados en la decisión constitucional.
The Social, Economic, and International Relations Impact of the 2023 Israel-Hamas War
Authors: Mbah Ruth Endam , Hultquist Laura , Fonkem Beryl Ngum , Mbah Emmanuel Fonjindam
Published: February 2024

Hamas's attack on Israel on October 7th, 2023, is not the first of its type. The Israeli-Palestine tension can be traced back to 1947 following the UN Partition Plan that divided the British Mandate of Palestine into Jewish and Arab Nations. Following Britain’s withdrawal from the Peninsula, the Jewish leaders declared the State of Israel, sparking the first Arab-Israeli conflict and this tension has worsened over the years. We use Thomas Hobbes's Social Contract to explain the tension between both parties. According to Hobbes, man lives in a State of Nature which is characterized by war and the continuous fear of death. This fear of death is the reason why man enters into a contract (Social Contract). There have been diverse schools of thought as to the origin of the Israeli-Palestine tension. Some believe it is the 1947 UN Partition Plan, others believe it is the June 1967 war, while others believe it is religion. Regardless of the original cause, it is evident that both parties have retained severe casualties over the years. Hence, the purpose of this paper is to review the economic, social, and international relations consequences of the 2023 Israel-Hamas war. The current war has had several social consequences: refugee migrations, lack of basic survival necessities, withdrawal of medical aid groups, starving refugees, desolated cities, and allegations of rape and sexual torture. Economically, the war has led to the loss of income from economic activities, an increase in oil prices, reignited inflation, high-interest rates, increased government expenditures, and exchange rates. It has also impacted international relations among nations due to a split in support between Israel and Palestine. Nevertheless, there is an allowance for further study because this paper is limited only to the social, economic, and international relations impact of the war.
Neurophysiological basis of respiratory discomfort improvement by mandibular advancement in awake OSA patients
Authors: Valentin Rémi , Niérat Marie‐Cécile , Wattiez Nicolas , Jacq Olivier , Decavèle Maxens , Arnulf Isabelle , Similowski Thomas , Attali Valérie
Published: February 2024

Patients with obstructive sleep apneas (OSA) do not complain from dyspnea during resting breathing. Placement of a mandibular advancement device (MAD) can lead to a sense of improved respiratory comfort (“pseudo‐relief”) ascribed to a habituation phenomenon. To substantiate this conjecture, we hypothesized that, in non‐dyspneic awake OSA patients, respiratory‐related electroencephalographic figures, abnormally present during awake resting breathing, would disappear or change in parallel with MAD‐associated pseudo‐relief. In 20 patients, we compared natural breathing and breathing with MAD on: breathing discomfort (transitional visual analog scale, VAS‐2); upper airway mechanics, assessed in terms of pressure peak/time to peak (TTP) ratio respiratory‐related electroencephalography (EEG) signatures, including slow event‐related preinspiratory potentials; and a between‐state discrimination based on continuous connectivity evaluation. MAD improved breathing and upper airway mechanics. The 8 patients in whom the EEG between‐state discrimination was considered effective exhibited higher Peak/TTP improvement and transitional VAS ratings while wearing MAD than the 12 patients where it was not. These results support the notion of habituation to abnormal respiratory‐related afferents in OSA patients and fuel the causative nature of the relationship between dyspnea, respiratory‐related motor cortical activity and impaired upper airway mechanics in this setting.
On the area-preserving Willmore flow of small bubbles sliding on a domain’s boundary
Authors: Metsch Jan-Henrik
Published: February 2024

We consider the area-preserving Willmore evolution of surfaces ϕ that are close to a half-sphere with a small radius, sliding on the boundary S of a domain Ω while meeting it orthogonally. We prove that the flow exists for all times and keeps a “half-spherical” shape. Additionally, we investigate the asymptotic behavior of the flow and prove that for large times the barycenter of the surfaces approximately follows an explicit ordinary differential equation. Imposing additional conditions on the mean curvature of S, we then establish convergence of the flow.