bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Random laser emission from neodymium doped alumina lead–germanate glass powder
Authors: Câmara Josivanir G. , da Silva Davinson M. , Kassab Luciana R. P. , de Araújo Cid B. 
Published: January 2023

Random lasing is reported for the first time, to our knowledge, in neodymium doped alumina lead–germanate (GPA) glass powder. The samples were fabricated by a conventional melt-quenching technique at room temperature, and x-ray diffraction was used to confirm the amorphous structure of the glass. Powders with average grain size of about 2 µm were prepared by grinding the glass samples and using sedimentation in isopropyl alcohol to remove the coarsest particles. The sample was excited using an optical parametric oscillator tuned to 808 nm, in resonance with the neodymium ion (

N
d

3
+

) transition

4

I

9

/

2

→

{
4

F

5

/

2

,

2

H

9

/

2

}

. Random laser (RL) emission at 1060 nm (

N
d

3
+

transition:

4

F

3

/

2

→

4

I

11

/

2

) was observed for an energy fluence excitation threshold (

E
F

E

r
m
t
h

) of about

0.3

m
J

/

m
m

2

. Above the

E
F
E

t
h

, a short RL pulse in the nanosecond range is observed, corroborating the lasing process. Contrary to what one might suppose, the use of large quantities of neodymium oxide (10% wt. of

N
d

2

O

3

) in the GPA glass, which leads to luminescence concentration quenching (LCQ), is not a disadvantage, once stimulated emissions (RL emission) occur faster than the nonradiative energy-transfer time among

N
d

3
+

ions responsible for the LCQ.
Calibration reinforcement regularizations for optimized snapshot spectral imaging
Authors: Garcia Hans , Bacca Jorge , Wohlberg Brendt , Arguello Henry 
Published: January 2023

Optical coding is a fundamental tool in snapshot computational spectral imaging for capturing encoded scenes that are then decoded by solving an inverse problem. Optical encoding design is crucial, as it determines the invertibility properties of the system sensing matrix. To ensure a realistic design, the optical mathematical forward model must match the physical sensing. However, stochastic variations related to non-ideal characteristics of the implementation exist; therefore, these variables are not known a priori and have to be calibrated in the laboratory setup. Thus, the optical encoding design leads to suboptimal performance in practice, even if an exhaustive calibration process is carried out. This work proposes an algorithm to speed up the reconstruction process in a snapshot computational spectral imaging, in which theoretically optimized coding design is distorted by the implementation process. Specifically, two regularizers are proposed that perform the gradient algorithm iterations of the distorted calibrated system in the direction of the originally, theoretically optimized system. We illustrate the benefits of the reinforcement regularizers for several state-of-the-art recovery algorithms. For a given lower bound performance, the algorithm converges in fewer iterations due to the effect of the regularizers. Simulation results show an improvement of up to 2.5 dB of peak signal-to-noise ratio (PSNR) when fixing the number of iterations. Furthermore, the required number of iterations reduces up to 50% when the proposed regularizers are included to obtain a desired performance quality. Finally, the effectiveness of the proposed reinforcement regularizations was evaluated in a test-bed implementation, where a better spectral reconstruction was evidenced when compared with a non-regularized system’s reconstruction.
Continuous-variable quantum key distribution with on-chip light sources
Authors: Li Lang , Wang Tao , Li Xinhang , Huang Peng , Guo Yuyao , Lu Liangjun , Zhou Linjie , Zeng Guihua 
Published: January 2023

Integrated quantum key distribution (QKD) systems based on photonic chips have high scalability and stability, and are promising for further construction of global quantum communications networks. On-chip quantum light sources are a critical component of a fully integrated QKD system; especially a continuous-variable QKD (CV-QKD) system based on coherent detection, which has extremely high requirements for the light sources. Here, for what we believe is the first time, we designed and fabricated two on-chip tunable lasers for CV-QKD, and demonstrated a high-performance system based on these sources. Because of the high output power, fine tunability, and narrow linewidth, the involved on-chip lasers guarantee the accurate shot-noise-limited detection of quantum signals, center wavelength alignment of nonhomologous lasers, and suppression of untrusted excess noise. The system’s secret key rate can reach 0.75 Mb/s at a 50 km fiber distance, and the secure transmission distance can exceed 100 km. Our results mark a breakthrough toward building a fully integrated CV-QKD, and pave the way for a reliable and efficient terrestrial quantum-secure metropolitan area network.
A validity study to consult on a protocol of a home hazard management program for falls prevention among community dwelling stroke survivors
Authors: Ahmad Ainuddin Husna , Romli Muhammad Hibatullah , S. F. Salim Mazatulfazura , Hamid Tengku Aizan , Mackenzie Lynette 
Published: January 2023

ObjectiveA fall after a stroke is common but the consequences can be devastating not only for the stroke survivors, but also for caregivers, healthcare, and the society. However, research on falls prevention among the stroke population are limited, particularly on home hazards assessment and home modifications, demanding for a study to be conducted. The aim of the study is to validate the protocol and content of a home hazard management program guided by the Person-Environment-Occupation (PEO) Model for falls prevention among community dwelling stroke survivors.MethodResearchers developed their own questionnaire for content validation which consist of 23 items that covers two domains, namely justification for telehealth home hazard management practice and the protocol’s overall methodology. Occupational therapists with at least one year of experience in conducting a home hazard assessment were consulted for the content validation of a two-group clinical controlled trial protocol utilizing a home hazard assessment, home modifications and education over the usual care. Written consent was obtained prior to the study. The occupational therapists were given a Google Form link to review the protocol and intervention based on the questionnaire and rated each item using a four-point Likert scale for relevance and feasibility. Open-ended feedback was also recorded on the google form. Content Validity Index (CVI), Modified Kappa Index and Cronbach’s Alpha was calculated for the content validity and reliability analysis.ResultsA total of sixteen occupational therapists participated in the study. 43.7% of participants had a master’s degree, 93.7% worked in the government sector and 56.2% had six years and more experience on conducting home hazard assessments. Content validity of the protocol is satisfactory for relevancy and feasibility (CVI = 0.84, ranging from 0.5 to 1.00), and for the reliability (α = 0.94 (relevance) and α = 0.97 (feasibility), respectively. The Modified Kappa ranged from 0.38 to 1.00 for all items. Feedback was also received regarding the design and procedure of the study protocol which included participant’s selection criteria, sample size, equipment provided, cost, location, and care for the participants during the intervention.ConclusionsIntroducing a home hazard management program to prevent falls among the stroke population is viewed relevant and feasible. Practical suggestions from the consultation panel were adopted, and minor adjustments were required to strengthen the protocol’s overall methodology. This study established a rigorous and robust experimental protocol for future undertaking.
Molecular characterization of antimicrobial resistance related genes in E. coli, Salmonella and Klebsiella isolates from broilers in the West Region of Cameroon
Authors: Leinyuy Jude Fonbah , Ali Innocent Mbulli , Ousenu Karimo , Tume Christopher B. 
Published: January 2023

Background
Antibiotic resistance has become an enduring threat to human health. This has prompted extensive research to identify the determinants responsible in a bid to fight the spread of resistance and also develop new antibiotics. However, routine procedures focus on identifying genetic determinants of resistance only on phenotypically resistant isolates. We aimed to characterise plasmid mediated resistance determinants in key Enterobacteriaceae isolates with differential phenotypic susceptibility profiles and evaluated the contribution of resistance genes on phenotypic expression of susceptibility.

Methods
The study was carried out on 200 Enterobacteriaceae isolates belonging to the genera E. coli, Salmonella, and Klebsiella; 100 resistant and 100 susceptible to quinolones, aminoglycosides, and ESBL-producing as determined by disk diffusion. Reduced susceptibility in susceptible isolates was determined as an increased MIC by broth microdilution. Plasmid-borne resistance genes were sought in all isolates by endpoint PCR. We performed correlations tests to determine the relationship between the occurrence of resistance genes and increased MIC in susceptible isolates. We then used the notion of penetrance to show adequacy between resistance gene carriage and phenotypic resistance as well as diagnostic odds ratio to evaluate how predictable phenotypic susceptibility profile could determine the presence of resistant genes in the isolates.

Results
Reduced susceptibility was detected in 30% (9/30) ESBL negative, 50% (20/40) quinolone-susceptible and 53.33% (16/30) aminoglycoside-susceptible isolates. Plasmid-borne resistance genes were detected in 50% (15/30) of ESBL negative, 65% (26/40) quinolone susceptible and 66.67% (20/30) aminoglycoside susceptible isolates. Reduced susceptibility increased the risk of susceptible isolates carrying resistance genes (ORs 4.125, 8.36, and 8.89 respectively for ESBL, quinolone, and aminoglycoside resistance genes). Resistance gene carriage correlated significantly to reduced susceptibility for quinolone and aminoglycoside resistance genes (0.002 and 0.015 at CI95). Gene carriage correlated with phenotypic resistance at an estimated 64.28% for ESBL, 56.90% for quinolone, and 58.33% for aminoglycoside resistance genes.

Conclusions
A high carriage of plasmid-mediated genes for ESBL, quinolone, and aminoglycoside resistance was found among the Enterobacteriaceae tested. However, gene carriage was not always correlated with phenotypic expression. This allows us to suggest that assessing genetic determinants of resistance should not be based on AST profile only. Further studies, including assessing the role of chromosomal determinants will shed light on other factors that undermine antimicrobial susceptibility locally.
Advance care planning (ACP) to promote receipt of value-concordant care: Results vary according to patient priorities
Authors: Prigerson Holly G. , Viola Martin , Maciejewski Paul K. , Falzarano Francesca 
Published: January 2023

Background
Benefits of advance care planning (ACP) have recently been questioned by experts, but ACP is comprised of discrete activities. Little is known about which, if any, ACP activities are associated with patients’ greater likelihood of receiving value-concordant end-of-life (EoL) care.

Objectives
To determine which ACP activities [Do-Not-Resuscitate (DNR) order completion, designation of a healthcare proxy (HCP), and/or EoL discussions with physicians], individually and in combination, are associated with the greatest likelihood of receiving value-concordant care, and how results may vary based on patient-reported EoL care priorities.

Methods
Data from 2 federally-funded, multisite, prospective cohort studies of EoL cancer care from 2002–2019 were analyzed. Cancer patients (N = 278) with metastatic disease refractory to chemotherapy were interviewed for a baseline assessment and followed prospectively until death. Interviews regarding patient priorities occurred a median of 111 days prior to death; data regarding EoL medical care were collected post-mortem from caregiver interviews and medical record abstraction. Patients who 1) prioritized life-extending care, and then received life-extending care (or avoided hospice care), or 2) prioritized comfort-focused care, and then avoided life-extending care (or received hospice care) in the last week of life, were coded as receiving value-concordant care.

Results
After inverse propensity score weighting, the ACP combination associated with the largest proportion of patients receiving value-concordant care was DNR, HCP, and EoL discussions (87% vs. 64% for no ACP activities; OR = 3.91, p = 0.006). In weighted analyses examining each ACP activity individually, DNR orders were associated with decreased likelihood of life-extending care (89% vs. 75%; p = 0.005) and EoL discussions were associated with increased likelihood of hospice care (77% vs. 55%; p = 0.002) among patients prioritizing comfort. ACP activities were not significantly associated with increased likelihood of receiving value-concordant care among patients prioritizing life-extension.

Conclusions and relevance
For patients who prioritize comfort, EoL discussions with physicians and completion of DNR orders may improve odds of receiving value-concordant EoL care. For patients who prioritize life-extension, ACP does not appear to improve odds of receiving value-concordant EoL care.
The exterior Dirichlet problem for the homogeneous complex k-Hessian equation
Authors: Gao Zhenghuan , Ma Xinan , Zhang Dekai 
Published: January 2023

Abstract
In this article, we consider the homogeneous complex

k

k

-Hessian equation in an exterior domain

C

n

⧹
Ω

{{\mathbb{C}}}^{n}\setminus \Omega

. We prove the existence and uniqueness of the

C

1
,
1

{C}^{1,1}

solution by constructing approximating solutions. The key point for us is to establish the uniform gradient estimate and the second-order estimate.
A curvature flow to the L

p
Minkowski-type problem of q-capacity
Authors: Liu Xinying , Sheng Weimin 
Published: January 2023

Abstract
This article concerns the

L

p

{L}_{p}

Minkowski problem for q-capacity. We consider the case

p
≥
1

p\ge 1

and

1
<
q
<
n

1\lt q\lt n

in the smooth category by a kind of curvature flow, which converges smoothly to the solution of a Monge-Ampére type equation. We show the existence of smooth solution to the problem for

p
≥
n

p\ge n

. We also provide a proof for the weak solution to the problem when

p
≥
1

p\ge 1

, which has been obtained by Zou and Xiong.
Digital transformation towards the clinical laboratory of the future. Perspectives for the next decade
Authors: Jovičić Snežana Ž. , Vitkus Dalius 
Published: January 2023

Abstract
The transformation of clinical laboratories towards digitalization requires processes that improve digital maturity. This requires establishing connectivity, end-to-end workflow, and advanced analytical technologies and techniques. Digital technologies have the key role here, directing laboratory personnel and scientists to move their focus from routine to more complex and meaningful work. This requires their empowerment in working with new instruments and software. Strategies leading clinical laboratories through this transformation are not without challenges, but different models are being developed to overcome them. The essential is the role of interoperability.
A novel NMDA receptor test model based on hiPSC-derived neural cells
Authors: Disse Paul , Aymanns Isabel , Ritter Nadine , Peischard Stefan , Korn Lisanne , Wiendl Heinz , Pawlowski Matthias , Kovac Stjepana , Meuth Sven G. , Budde Thomas , Strutz-Seebohm Nathalie , Wünsch Bernhard , Seebohm Guiscard 
Published: January 2023

Abstract

N-Methyl-D-aspartate receptors (NMDARs) are central for learning and information processing in the brain. Dysfunction of NMDARs can play a key role in the pathogenesis of neurodegeneration and drug addiction. The development of selective NMDAR modulators represents a promising strategy to target these diseases. Among such modulating compounds are ifenprodil and its 3-benzazepine derivatives. Classically, the effects of these NMDAR modulators have been tested by techniques like two-electrode voltage clamp (TEVC), patch clamp, or fluorescence-based assays. However, testing their functional effects in complex human systems requires more advanced approaches. Here, we established a human induced pluripotent stem cell-derived (hiPSC-derived) neural cell system and proved its eligibility as a test system for investigating NMDAR modulators and pharmaceutical effects on human neurons.
Complex dielectric, electric modulus, impedance, and optical conductivity of Sr3−x
Pb
x
Fe2TeO9 (x = 1.50, 1.88 and 2.17)
Authors: El Hachmi Abdelhadi , Manoun Bouchaib 
Published: January 2023

Abstract
Sr3−x
Pb
x
Fe2TeO9 (x = 1.50, 1.88 and 2.17) were synthesized in polycrystalline form via the solid-state reaction route in air, and were studied at room temperature using powder X-ray diffraction and ultraviolet visible spectroscopy techniques. The crystal structures were resolved by the Rietveld refinement method; x = 1.50 and 1.88 adopt a tetragonal phase (space group I4/mmm) while x = 2.17 adopts a hexagonal phase (space group R

3

̄

$\bar{3}$

m). The direct bandgap energy (E
g) of ∼1.89 eV for (x = 1.50), ∼1.87 eV for (x = 1.88) and ∼1.74 eV for (x = 2.17) was estimated from the Tauc plots of (αhʋ)2 versus photon energy. The Urbach energy (E
U) was determined from the plots of logarithmic absorption coefficient versus hυ. Plots of the incident photon energy dependence of optical parameters such as refractive index, extinction coefficient, real and imaginary parts of the dielectric function, dielectric loss, real and imaginary parts of the complex optical conductivity, linear and nonlinear optical susceptibilities, real and imaginary parts of the electric modulus, real and imaginary parts of the impedance were obtained by means of ultraviolet visible spectrophotometer experiments. Additionally, the estimated values of the single oscillator energy, dispersion energy, static refractive index and high-frequency dielectric constant were obtained from the linear portion of the (n
2 − 1)−1 versus (hυ)2 plots using the Wemple–DiDomenico model.
Linguistic ethnography and immigrant youth’s social lives in the liminal interludes of schooling
Authors: García-Sánchez Inmaculada M. 
Published: January 2023

AbstractIn this paper, I examine how liminal spatio-temporal contexts both afford and constrain how immigrant children navigate their social lives in educational settings. Liminal schooling contexts have largely been unexamined in micro-ethnographic approaches to schooling, despite the potential of these contexts for illuminating the educational lives of youth. Shifting the ethnographic lens to the interactions occurring in seemingly liminal schooling contexts (in between ratified activities, in between ratified places, etc.) reveal heightened forms of behavior at the extremes of a continuum ranging from empathy/inclusion to violence/exclusion. On the one hand, liminality can render immigrant youth more vulnerable to racialized bullying, including verbal and physical aggression, since many of the institutional protections that apply in ratified schooling contexts are in abeyance. On the other hand, liminal contexts also allow for displays of support and empathy that can lead to the development of cross-ethnic peer friendships, which can happen when social-ethnic boundaries and hierarchies that are reproduced in more central contexts are relaxed. This paper builds on a linguistic ethnography documenting the social lives of Moroccan immigrant children in a Southwestern Spanish town. Using videoanalysis and ethnographic methods in discourse analysis, I focus on videotaped interactions between immigrant students and their Spanish counterparts taking place in the interstices of school life – when students are walking between buildings, in the fringes/corners of the schoolyard, in between classes … etc. The long-term ethnography allows me to examine the interactions occurring in these liminal contexts in relation to institutional culture and to the relational history between children. This paper calls for examining youth’s schooling experiences more holistically. What happens in liminal contexts is crucial to achieving educational equity in the 21st century: it can, for example, undermine progressive curricular efforts and can have positive/negative implications for immigrant youth’s enduring feelings of belonging and educational enfranchisement.
Angolan children’s experiences in residential centers: displacement, liminality, and belonging
Authors: Nazimova Kristina João 
Published: January 2023

AbstractThis article examines how language, liminality, and social marginalization converge in the institutional lives of two displaced children in Angola. A displaced child is very likely to be placed into institutionalized care, which in Angola exists in the form ofcentros de acolhimento, residential centers that house minors affected by orphanhood, poverty, displacement, or abandonment. Drawing on one year of ethnographic research in two residential centers, the article argues that despite being sites of care and protection, some children come to desire living on the street as a byproduct of persistent marginalization and forms of liminality in the institutions. Utilizing audiovisual recordings of everyday interactions among children and the center’s staff as data, the focus of the article is a set of communicative practices that routinely positioned certain children as liminal subjects who possessed the negative attributes with which liminality is most often associated: danger, pollution, and being an ambiguous nonentity. As a result, those children occupied marginalized positions within the centers and their attempts at claiming their belonging were repeatedly undermined. The lived experience, talk, and perspectives of two children, a boy and a girl, are closely analyzed to illuminate the micro-processes involved in the discursive production of their liminality and social marginality. More broadly, the article elucidates the everyday forms of liminality that take place in the mundane, rather than in ritualized rites of passage, and questions the traditional notion of liminality as a temporary state.
Soil–water characteristic curve of unsaturated collapsible soils
Authors: Al-Obaidi Qasim A. , Schanz Tom 
Published: January 2023

AbstractCollapsible soils are almost found in unsaturated states and involved significant engineering problems. Geotechnical challenges of such soils are represented by the hydro-mechanical behaviour during wetting–drying cycles due to the humidity and climate conditions. The main objective of this paper is to investigate the soil–water characteristic curve (SWCC) of unsaturated collapsible soils. In this study, three types of collapsible soils were investigated such as natural soils of sandy gypseous, silty loess, and artificial soil of gypsum–sand mixture. Determination of soil–water characteristic curve represented by wetting and drying paths has been done using a combination of the axis-translation technique (i.e. pressure plate device) and vapour equilibrium technique (i.e. salts solution desiccators) to cover a wide range of applied suction. The test results show that the air-entry value for all soils occurs at a very low suction range. At the boundary effect zone, the coarse grain size of the soil mass cannot hold the water molecules in the pore space, even with a low value of imposed suction. Moreover, the amount of hysteresis varied based on the geological formation and homogeneity of the soil fabric. Furthermore, SWCC has been interpreted by insignificant volume change and a slight reduction in void ratio, especially at high applied suction.