bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Improving farm productivity through the reduction of managerial and technology gaps among farmers in Rwanda
Authors: Ngango Jules , Hong Seungjee 
Published: April 2021

AbstractBackgroundRwanda and most parts of sub-Saharan Africa face severe challenges of increasing maize productivity, which has direct consequences on food security. Due to these challenges, policy-makers have paid particular attention to finding the cost-effective strategies of boosting maize production. In an effort to increase productivity, the literature suggests that the adoption of yield-enhancing technologies and production efficiency should be given priority. The objective of this study is to examine and compare the technical efficiency and technological gaps of maize farms that grow different seed varieties in Rwanda.MethodsThe data used in this study were obtained from a survey of 360 household farmers conducted in the Eastern Province of Rwanda during the 2018–2019 cropping season. The study applies the stochastic meta-frontier production function approach to estimate the technical efficiency and technological gaps of maize farms operating under heterogeneous production technologies.ResultsResults indicate that there are differences in technical efficiency measures among the three groups of farmers (i.e., adopters of hybrids, open-pollinated varieties, and local maize varieties). In particular, we find that on average, farms growing hybrid maize varieties appear to have higher values of technical efficiency, technology gap ratio, and meta-frontier technical efficiency than farms growing OPVs and local maize varieties. Thus, the analysis shows that there are significant technological and managerial performance gaps among farmers.ConclusionsFrom a policy perspective, the results of this study suggest the development of policy measures that may reduce the managerial and technological gaps existing among farmers to improve productivity and food security. Based on the results of this study, one of the crucial avenues to close this gap would be to improve access to improved agricultural technologies such as certified hybrid seeds. Additionally, policies aiming to enhance technical efficiency and productivity should focus on expanding the delivery of extension services and strengthening the technical assistance provided to farmers’ cooperatives.
Identification of differentially expressed genes and signaling pathways in human conjunctiva and reproductive tract infected with Chlamydia trachomatis
Authors: Zhu Guo-Dong , Cao Xun-Jie , Li Ya-Ping , Li Jia-Xin , Leng Zi-Jian , Xie Li-Min , Guo Xu-Guang 
Published: April 2021

Abstract
Background
Currently, Chlamydia trachomatis–specific host defense mechanisms in humans remain poorly defined. To study the characteristics of host cells infected early with Chlamydia trachomatis, we used bioinformatics methods to analyze the RNA transcription profiles of the conjunctiva, fallopian tubes, and endometrium in humans infected with Chlamydia trachomatis.

Method
The gene expression profiles of GSE20430, GSE20436, GSE26692, and GSE41075 were downloaded from the Gene Expression Synthesis (GEO) database. Then, we obtained the differentially expressed genes (DEGs) through the R 4.0.1 software. STRING was used to construct protein–protein interaction (PPI) networks; then, the Cytoscape 3.7.2 software was used to visualize the PPI and screen hub genes. GraphPad Prism 8.0 software was used to verify the expression of the hub gene. In addition, the gene–miRNA interaction was constructed on the NetworkAnalyst 3.0 platform using the miRTarBase v8.0 database.

Results
A total of 600 and 135 DEGs were screened out in the conjunctival infection group and the reproductive tract infection group, respectively. After constructing a PPI network and verifying the hub genes, CSF2, CD40, and CSF3 in the reproductive tract infection group proved to have considerable statistical significance.

Conclusion
In our research, the key genes in the biological process of reproductive tract infection with Chlamydia trachomatis were clarified through bioinformatics analysis. These hub genes may be further used in clinical treatment and clinical diagnosis.
The fabric of Post-Western sociology: ecologies of knowledge beyond the “East” and the “West”
Authors: Roulleau-Berger Laurence 
Published: April 2021

AbstractFor several centuries, the history of the West has merged with the history of the world. The global economy of knowledge is structured around epistemic inequalities, hegemonies, and dominations. A clear division of scientific practices has developed among academic “peripheries,” “semi-peripheries,” and “core.” The question of epistemic injustice, which includes the indigenization of knowledge, was posed very early in the twentieth century in China, Japan, and Korea without being linked to coloniality, which was the case in Indian sociology. Based on the production of an epistemology shared with Chinese sociologists, we proposed a Post-Western sociology to enable a dialogue—on a level footing—addressing common concepts. This sociology also addresses concepts situated in European and Asian theories that consider the modes of creating continuities and discontinuities as well as the conjunctions and disjunctions between the knowledge spaces situated in different social contexts. We aim to fill the gaps between these social contexts. We will describe an ecology of knowledge in theWestern-West,the non-Western-West,the semi-Western West,the Western East,the Eastern East, andthe re-Easternized Eastsituated on an epistemological continuum. While Chinese sociology has constantly oscillated between indigenization and universalism, and while epistemic autonomies are diverse, Chinese sociologists agree that Western sociologies should not be considered hostile to Chinese sociology. We will offer a definition of Post-Western sociology and demonstrate how it can be theoretically and methodologically applied. We will then identify some transnational theories, theoretical discontinuities and continuities, and common knowledge situated in Western and non-Western contexts.
Urinary tract infections in culled sows from Greek herds: prevalence and associations between findings of histopathology, bacteriology and urinalysis
Authors: Cernat Mihaela , Skampardonis Vassilis , Papadopoulos Georgios A. , Kroustallas Fotios , Chalvatzi Sofia , Petridou Evanthia , Psychas Vassilios , Marouda Christina , Fortomaris Paschalis , Leontides Leonidas 
Published: April 2021

AbstractBackgroundUrinary tract infections (UTI) of sows characterized by cystitis, which may progress to ureteritis and pyelonephritis, can affect their productivity, longevity and welfare. In this study, we determined the prevalence of UTI by histopathology and bacteriology. Furthermore, we investigated possible associations between histologically confirmed cystitis and the results of urinalysis and urine cultures in culled sows from three farrow-to-finish herds in Greece.Materials and methodsOne hundred eighty-five routinely culled sows were included in the study. Their urinary bladder was collected from abattoirs and subjected to histopathology. Furthermore, urinalysis and urine cultures were performed on urine samples aseptically collected from the bladders.ResultsHistologically confirmed cystitis was evident in 85/185 (45.94%) culled sows. Among those, 44 (51.76%) suffered from acute and 41 (48.24%) from chronic inflammation. The majority of positive urine cultures were due to colonization of the urinary tract withE.coli, which accounted for 55.81% of the total cases, followed byStaphylococcusspp. which accounted for 18.60% of detected infections. Evidence of cystitis was associated with bacteriuria and sows with bacteriuria were 2.30 (P = 0.03, 95% CI: 1.10–4.83) times more likely to have histologically confirmed cystitis compared to sows with negative urine cultures. Bacteriuria was associated with proteinuria (P < 0.01, OR = 9.72, 2.63–35.88), increased urine pH (P < 0.01, 3.40, 1.10–10.56) and presence of sediment (P < 0.01, 6.00, 1.50–23.76) in urine. Sows with proteinuria had 9.72 (P < 0.01, 2.63–35.88) times higher odds of bacteriuria than those without. Histologically defined cystitis was associated with proteinuria (P < 0.01, 2.03–13.20) and decreased urine pH (P < 0.01, 0.13–0.72). Sows with proteinuria were 5.18 (P < 0.01, 2.03–13.2) times more likely to have histological lesions consistent with cystitis, than those without. For one unit increase in pH, it was 3.20 (P = 0.006, 1.39–7.69) times less likely for a sow to have chronic or acute cystitis compared to absence of cystitis.ConclusionIn the studied population, UTI affected almost one out of two culled sows. Bacteriuria, which was more common among sows with UTI than those without, was mainly ascribed to members of the intestinal and environmental bacteria. Proteinuria and the existence of urine sediment which were associated with UTI, could be used as proxy traits for UTI in live sows.
Does a pedagogical agent’s gesture frequency assist advanced foreign language users with learning declarative knowledge?
Authors: Davis Robert O. , Vincent Joseph , Wan Lili 
Published: April 2021

AbstractSince the conception of pedagogical agents in multimedia environments, researchers have advocated for agents to be designed to exhibit social cues that prime the social interaction of the target audience. One powerful social cue has been agent gesturing. While most agents are created only to use deictic (pointing) gestures, there is recent evidence that agents that perform all gesture types (iconic, metaphoric, deictic, and beat) with enhanced frequency help foreign language users learn more procedural knowledge. Therefore, this research examines how all gesture types and different frequencies influence agent persona and learning outcomes when foreign language users learn declarative knowledge. The results indicated that the use of gestures, regardless of frequency, significantly increase agent persona. However, gesture frequency produced conflicting learning outcomes. While enhancing gestures were beneficial for cued recall and recognition, the average gesture condition was not, which indicates that the strength of social cues is important.
Reproductive outcomes in women with hypogonadotrophic hypogonadism, a case series study
Authors: Abdelaal Ahmed Elsayed , Behery Mohamed Atef , Abdelkawi Ahmed Farouk 
Published: April 2021

Abstract
Background
Hypogonadotropic hypogonadism (HH) is a rare condition in which there is gonadal hypofunction due to absence of gonadotropin drive. In this condition, there are very low serum levels of gonadotropins. Pituitary gland may itself have some disease or disorder, or there may be loss of gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) pulses from the hypothalamus. The pharmacological interventions in HH women formed the basis for superovulation strategies for assisted reproduction techniques (ART) with a special reference to the role of LH and its impact on oocyte and embryo quality.

Results
The medians ±inter quartile ranges for number of oocytes retrieved, number of MII oocytes, and number of embryos transferred were 5±7, 4±3, and 3±1 respectively. The pregnancy rate was 31.5% for this group of patients. The live birth rate and miscarriage rate were 21% and 11.5% respectively.

Conclusion
The reproductive outcomes of patients of hypogonadotrophic hypogonadism are reasonable after ICSI and clinical trials are recommended to corroborate this concern.
Bringing Lived Lives to Swift’s Asylum: a psychiatric hospital perspective
Authors: Malone Kevin M. , Cleary Eimear , Kelleher Cecily C. , Jefferies Janis , Lane Abbie , Lucey James V. , McGuiness Seamus 
Published: April 2021

Background: Few “interventions” around suicide and stigma have reached into psychiatric institutions. Lived Lives is a science-arts approach to addressing suicide and stigma, informed by a psychobiographical and visual arts autopsy. The resulting artworks and mediated exhibition (Lived Lives), with artist, scientist and the Lived Lives families, co-curated by communities, has facilitated dialogue, response and public action around stigma-reduction, consistent with a community intervention. Recent evidence from Lived Lives moved us to consider how it may situate within a psychiatric institution, where stigma is chronically apparent. Methods: Lived Lives manifested in St. Patrick’s University Hospital (Ireland’s oldest and largest psychiatric hospital) in November 2017. The mediated exhibition was open to the public for 4 days. Audiences included service users, policy makers, health professionals, senior hospital administrators and members of the public. Opinions and feelings were collected. The event was documented. Bereavement support was available. A Clinician and an artist provided independent evaluation. Results: 86 participants engaged with the exhibition. 62% of participants were suicide-bereaved; 46% had experienced a mental health difficulty, and 35% had been suicidal in the past. 91% thought Lived Lives could be of benefit in the aftermath of a suicide death. Half of participants thought Lived Lives could help reduce suicidal feelings, whereas 88% thought it could benefit those with Mental Health difficulties. The emotional response was of a visceral nature, including fear, anger, sadness, disgust and anxiety. Bereavement support was occasionally called upon in a supportive capacity. Conclusions: Lived Lives sits comfortably in discomfort, unafraid to call out the home-truths about stigma and its pervasive and pernicious impact, and with restoring identity at its core. Lived Lives can operate within a psychiatric hospital, as well as in community. The challenge is to move it forward for greater exposure and impacts in at-risk communities.
Lived Lives at Fort Dunree: a rural community perspective
Authors: Cleary Eimear , Malone Kevin M. , Corry Collete , Sheridan Anne , Kelleher Cecily C. , Lane Abbie , McGuiness Seamus 
Published: April 2021

Background: Elevated suicide rates have alarmed policy makers and communities. In these circumstances, the value of understanding more about communities and their potential role in suicide intervention is becoming more apparent. This study involved evaluating feedback from individuals with and without previous suicidal thinking who participated in an arts-science rural community-based intervention project around suicide (Lived Lives at Fort Dunree). Methods: A combined quantitative and qualitative questionnaire was used to evaluate individual and community responses to the Lived Lives project. Results: Participants (n = 83), with and without a mental health history and previous suicidal ideation, reported they believed Lived Lives could have potential to help suicide-bereaved families, people with mental illness and people with suicidal thinking. Qualitative results suggested its’ suitability for specific groups affected by suicide. Discussion: The evaluation of the Lived Lives project indicated that supervised, “safe-space” community intervention projects around suicide have inherent value with positive impacts for bereaved individuals and communities, including those who have experienced suicidal feelings. Future research should explore the transferability of these findings to other communities, and at-risk groups.
Building hybridized 28-baseline pupil-remapping photonic interferometers for future high-resolution imaging
Authors: Cvetojevic Nick , Norris Barnaby R. M. , Gross Simon , Jovanovic Nemanja , Arriola Alexander , Lacour Sylvestre , Kotani Takayuki , Lawrence Jon S. , Withford Michael J. , Tuthill Peter 
Published: April 2021

One key advantage of single-mode photonic technologies for interferometric use is their ability to easily scale to an ever-increasing number of inputs without a major increase in the overall device size, compared to traditional bulk optics. This is particularly important for the upcoming extremely large telescope (ELT) generation of telescopes currently under construction. We demonstrate the fabrication and characterization of a hybridized photonic interferometer, with eight simultaneous inputs, forming 28 baselines, which is the largest amount to date, to the best of our knowledge. Using different photonic fabrication technologies, we combine a 3D pupil remapper with a planar eight-port ABCD pairwise beam combiner, along with the injection optics necessary for telescope use, into a single integrated monolithic device. We successfully realized a combined device called Dragonfly, which demonstrates a raw instrumental closure-phase stability down to 0.9° over

8
π

phase piston error, relating to a detection contrast of

∼

6.5
×

10

−
4

on an adaptive-optics-corrected 8 m telescope. This prototype successfully demonstrates advanced hybridization and packaging techniques necessary for on-sky use for high-contrast detection at small inner working angles, ideally complementing what can currently be achieved using coronagraphs.
Graphene plasmonic coupling with intersubband radiation of truncated pyramidal-shaped InAs/GaAs quantum dots
Authors: Zekavat Mohammad Amin , Sabaeian Mohammad , Solookinejad Ghahraman 
Published: April 2021

It is well known that the intersubband radiation of InAs/GaAs quantum dots (QDs) falls in the terahertz/far-infrared spectral region. If these so-called atom-like systems are placed in the vicinity of graphene, their radiation can be coupled with plasmonic modes of graphene. As the graphene plasmons tightly concentrate the electromagnetic waves in the small zones, beyond the diffraction limit, the optical properties of QDs can then be enhanced by the so-called Purcell effect if frequency tuning and mode overlapping are well performed. Owing to this idea, in this work, we report on the enhancement of linear and third-order optical susceptibilities of truncated pyramidal-shaped InAs/GaAs QDs with use of graphene plasmonics. Graphene flakes in various configurations were located inside the QDs, and their transition dipole moments (TDMs) were calculated. Our results show 120-fold enhancement in TDM with optimization on the flakes’ and QDs’ geometries. Consequently, the linear and nonlinear optical susceptibilities of QDs are enhanced noticeably. Precisely, the linear and third-order susceptibilities of QDs with base length of 25 nm and height of 3 nm were enhanced enormously up to

1.18

×

10

5

and

1.4

×

10

10

times, respectively. This passive method is promising for enhancing the performance of QD-based optoelectronic devices such as lasers, LEDs, sensors, and so on.
Inverse design of an optical film filter by a recurrent neural adjoint method: an example for a solar simulator
Authors: Zhang Dasen , Bao Qiwen , Chen Wenqing , Liu Zhenzhen , Wei Guochao , Xiao Jun Jun 
Published: April 2021

Inverse design of photonic nanostructures based on machine learning (ML) methods has recently attracted much attention. An artificial neural network (ANN) showcases good performance on the photonic inverse design problem. However, there are still many unsolved issues regarding an efficient way to find a geometry that yields the target response by data-driven ML approaches. The design of air mass (AM) 1.5G filters for solar simulators represents such a challenging case. Here, we propose and show that a recurrent neural adjoint method is efficient in optimizing a multilayer optical filter for that purpose. Two examples of inverse design and optimization for an AM 1.5G filter with

S
i

3

N

4

/

S
i
O

2

and (

S
i

3

N

4

/

S
i
O

2

)/(

T
a

2

O

5

/

S
i
O

2

) films at a different spectrum band (e.g.,

λ
=
280

n
m

−
800

n
m

and

λ
=
280

n
m

−
1350

n
m

) have been demonstrated. By comparing several strategies based on ANN approaches, a generic and efficient scheme is presented for photonic multilayer film structure engineering, which we believe could be applied to various photonic device designs.
Broad-intensity-range optical nonreciprocity based on feedback-induced Kerr nonlinearity
Authors: Tang Lei , Tang Jiangshan , Wu Haodong , Zhang Jing , Xiao Min , Xia Keyu 
Published: April 2021

Nonreciprocal light propagation plays an important role in modern optical systems, from photonic networks to integrated photonics. We propose a nonreciprocal system based on a resonance-frequency-tunable cavity and intensity-adaptive feedback control. Because the feedback-induced Kerr nonlinearity in the cavity is dependent on the incident direction of light, the system exhibits nonreciprocal transmission with a transmission contrast of 0.99 and an insertion loss of 1.5 dB. By utilizing intensity-adaptive feedback control, the operating intensity range of the nonreciprocal system is broadened to 20 dB, which relaxes the limitation of the operating intensity range for nonlinear nonreciprocal systems. Our protocol paves the way to realize high-performance nonreciprocal propagation in optical systems and can also be extended to microwave systems.
Nanohole array structured GaN-based white LEDs with improved modulation bandwidth via plasmon resonance and non-radiative energy transfer
Authors: Wan Rongqiao , Li Guoqiang , Gao Xiang , Liu Zhiqiang , Li Junhui , Yi Xiaoyan , Chi Nan , Wang Liancheng 
Published: April 2021

Commercial white LEDs (WLEDs) are generally limited in modulation bandwidth due to a slow Stokes process, long lifetime of phosphors, and the quantum-confined Stark effect. Here we report what we believe is a novel plasmonic WLED by infiltrating a nanohole LED (H-LED) with quantum dots (QDs) and Ag nanoparticles (NPs) together (M-LED). This decreased distance between quantum wells and QDs would open an extra non-radiative energy transfer channel and thus enhance Stokes transfer efficiency. The presence of Ag NPs enhances the spontaneous emission rate significantly. Compared to an H-LED filled with QDs (QD-LED), the optimized M-LED demonstrates a maximum color rendering index of 91.2, a 43% increase in optical power at 60 mA, and a lowered correlated color temperature. Simultaneously, the M-LED exhibits a data rate of 2.21 Gb/s at low current density of

96

A
/

cm

2

(60 mA), which is 77% higher than that of a QD-LED. This is mainly due to the higher optical power and modulation bandwidth of the M-LED under the influence of plasmon, resulting in a higher data rate and higher signal-to-noise ratio under the forward error correction. We believe the approach reported in this work should contribute to a WLED light source with increased modulation bandwidth for a higher speed visible light communication application.
An analytical model for the Maxwell radiation field in an axially symmetric galaxy
Authors: Arminjon Mayeul 
Published: April 2021

Abstract
The Maxwell radiation field is an essential physical characteristic of a galaxy. Here, an analytical model is built to simulate that field in an axisymmetric galaxy. This analytical model is based on an explicit representation for axisymmetric source-free Maxwell fields. In a previous work, the general applicability of this representation has been proved. The model is adjusted by fitting to it the sum of spherical radiations emitted by the composing “stars.” The huge ratio distance/wavelength needs to implement a numerical precision better than the quadruple precision. The model passes a validation test based on a spherically symmetric solution. The results for a set of “stars” representative of a disk galaxy indicate that the field is highest near the disk axis, and there the axial component of

E

{\bf{E}}

dominates over the radial one. This work will allow us in the future to check if the interaction energy predicted by an alternative theory of gravitation might be a component of dark matter.