bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Abdominal Obesity: An Independent Influencing Factor of Visuospatial and Executive/Language Ability and the Serum Levels of Aβ40/Aβ42/Tau Protein
Authors: Fan Xin , Zhong Yun , Zhang Lingling , Li Jiaqi , Xie Fei , Zhang Zhiyuan
Published: April 2022

Background. Although obesity affects human health and cognitive function, the influence of abdominal obesity on cognitive function is still unclear. Methods. The MoCA scale was used to evaluate the overall cognitive function and the function of each subitem of 196 subjects, as well as the SDMT and TMT-A scales for evaluating the attention and information processing speed. In addition, radioimmunoassay was used to detect the serum levels of Aβ40, Aβ42, and tau protein in 45 subjects. Subjects were divided into abdominal and nonabdominal obesity groups. Before and after correcting confounding factors, the differences in cognitive scale evaluation indexes and three protein levels between the two groups were compared. We also explore further the correlation between various cognitive abilities and the waist circumference/levels of the three proteins. Linear regression was used to identify the independent influencing factors of various cognitive functions and three protein levels. Results. After correcting for multiple factors, we observed the lower scores of visuospatial function, execution, and language in the MoCA scale, as well as higher levels of Aβ40 and tau protein in the abdominal obesity group, supported by the results of correlation analysis. Abdominal obesity was identified as an independent negative influencing factor of MoCA visual space, executive power, and language scores and an independent positive influencing factor of Aβ40, Aβ42, and tau protein levels. Conclusion. Abdominal obesity may play a negative role in visuospatial, executive ability, and language function and a positive role in the Aβ40, Aβ42, and tau protein serum levels.
Flow Graph Anomaly Detection Based on Unsupervised Learning
Authors: Yang Zhengqiang , Tian Junwei , Li Ning
Published: April 2022

In this paper, a flow graph anomaly detection framework based on unsupervised learning is proposed. Compared with traditional anomaly detection, graph anomaly detection faces some problems. Firstly, the training of a reasonable network embedding is challenging. Secondly, the information data in the real world is often dynamically changing. Thirdly, due to the lack of sufficient training labeled data in most cases, anomaly detection models can only use unsupervised learning methods. In order to resolve these problems, three modules in the framework are proposed in this paper: preprocessor, controller, and optimizer. Additionally, a reasonable negative sampling strategy is applied to generate negative samples to deal with the lack of labeled data. Finally, experiments on real-world data sets are conducted, and the experimental results show that the accuracy of the proposed method reaches 87.6%.
Clinical Application of Bioextracts in Supporting the Reproductive System of Animals and Humans: Potential and Limitations
Authors: Kowalczyk Alicja , Kupczyński Robert , Gałęska Elżbieta , Araujo Jose P. , Czerniawska-Piątkowska Ewa
Published: March 2022

There is an increasing demand of spices and herbs in developing countries due to the beneficial effects of plants and herbal preparations as medicines. The basic technological process of obtaining extracts from natural raw materials is extraction, consisting in etching with solvents. Plant extracts are extremely complex, multicomponent mixtures obtained from flowers, fruits, leaves, stems, twigs, or seeds of various plant materials. They are a rich source of polyphenols, flavonoids, phytosterols, carotenoids, and vitamins. The search for alternative methods of treatment is increasingly replacing the scientists’ excessive focus on the healing properties of bioextracts. Recent research offers great hope for the development of alternative methods to improve the reproductive system. The use of animal models in experimental research has increased knowledge regarding the beneficial effects of bioextracts on both male and female reproductive systems and reproductive cells. Demonstrating the positive effect of plant extracts creates new opportunities for the use of biowaste, which is a by-product in various production sectors. The aim of this review is to present the functional properties of extracts of natural origin, a cross section of modern methods of their preparation, and a discussion of the possibilities of their use in the auxiliary reproductive system.
Coupling Model of Music Education and Fujian Ecoculture Based on Genetic Algorithm
Authors: Zheng Xiaofang
Published: April 2022

Public music education in universities can promote the improvement of students’ moral feelings, the cultivation of students’ cultural quality, and the development of students’ physical and mental health. Music education is an essential part of quality education in universities. The relationship between music education and Fujian ecological culture is investigated in this paper. The evaluation index system of regional music education and Fujian ecological culture construction is constructed from five aspects, green economy, social development, resource conservation, environmental pressure, and ecological culture, based on GA (genetic algorithm) and regional characteristics of music education and Fujian ecological culture construction. The principal component clustering coupling model is built on this foundation. According to the findings, Fujian’s ecocultural construction is still in the process of coordinating and integrating economic, ecological, and cultural systems, and it is necessary to follow the path of regional integration, coordinate the development steps of each subsystem as a whole, and promote the region’s coordinated development.
Advanced Glycation End Product Blocker Drugs Have a Great Potential to Prevent Diabetic Cardiomyopathy in an Animal Model of Diabetes Mellitus Type-2
Authors: Heydari Amir Hossein , Fathi Mojtaba , Heydari Sophia , Heidari Mohammad Esmaeil
Published: March 2022

Introduction. Sphingosine 1 phosphate (S1P) is a product of the sphingosine kinase 1 (SphK1) enzyme. Increased S1P can lead to tissue fibrosis that is also one of the pathways for developing diabetic cardiomyopathy. Advanced glycation end products (AGEs) increase S1P in cells. The study is aimed at using aminoguanidine (AG) as an AGEs blocker drug to prevent diabetic cardiomyopathy. Materials and methods. 210 rats were enrolled in the study. Diabetes mellitus type-2 was induced, and rats were divided into AG treated diabetic and nondiabetic groups. The heart histology was assessed with Masson’s trichrome and hematoxylin-eosin staining. Cardiac function was measured with transthoracic echocardiography. S1P level and SphK1 gene expression were measured by western-blot and RT-qPCR, respectively. Results. Results showed that S1P level increases in diabetes, and its augmentation in cardiac tissue with K6PC-5 leads to cardiac fibrosis. 50 and 200 mg/kg of AG prevented cardiac fibrosis, but 100 mg/kg had no significant preventive effect. AG suppressed the SphK1 gene expression and reduced the fibrotic effect of S1P. AG preserved cardiac function by keeping ejection fraction and fractional shortening within the normal range in diabetic rats. Conclusion. AG has a suppressor effect on SphK1 gene expression besides its AGEs blocker role. AG is a potential drug to use in diabetic patients for preventing the development of diabetic cardiomyopathy. Other drugs that have AGEs or S1P blocker effects are a good choice for diabetic cardiomyopathy prevention.
Study on Angular Free Vibration Stability and Parameters Influence of Dry Gas Seal Based on the Characteristic Equation
Authors: Teng Liming , Jiang Jinbo , Peng Xudong , Li Jiyun , Zheng Simin
Published: April 2022

Based on Laplace transform and Hurwitz stability criterion, the system characteristic equation and algebraic stability criterion of the two degree-of-freedom angular free vibration of dry gas seal are derived. The effects of rotational inertia, stiffness and damping parameters on the angular free vibration stability of dry gas seal are analyzed by using the root locus method and the concept of the closed-loop dominant pole. The results show that the constraint condition of rotational inertia is the most demanding of all stability conditions. Both the angular main damping and main stiffness are not simply the larger the better, but there are preferred values in the interval greater than the stability threshold. The approach of the absolute value of the cross coefficient to zero is beneficial to the suppression of angular free vibration. There is a threshold of rotational inertia, which makes the cross stiffness change from having only the lower limit value to both the upper and lower critical values at the same time.
A Study on the Influence of Sodium Silicate Concentration and SiO2 : Na2O Ratio on the Properties of Low-Calcium Fly Ash-Based Alkali-Activated Materials Cured at Ambient Condition
Authors: Rasuli Mohammad Idris
Published: April 2022

Low-calcium Fly ash-based alkali-activated materials (AAM) have some extraordinary properties such as high fire resistance and low shrinkage. However, they have lower strength and high setting time when curing at ambient temperature conditions. Therefore, this research aimed to improve the strength and setting time of low-calcium fly ash-based AAM curing at ambient temperature conditions. The effect of the changes in concentration and modulus of sodium silicate and curing condition of the materials were studied on the properties of the AAM. Fly ash type II, 32% sodium metasilicate pentahydrate, 32 and 56% sodium disilicate solution, 8M sodium hydroxide, and standardized were used. Using 32% sodium disilicate solution significantly improved the flowability of mortar. Moreover, it increased the compressive strength and remarkably decreased the setting time of AAM at ambient temperature curing. The decrease in the concentration of sodium disilicate has a significant influence on the reactivity of fly ash.
Acute and Subchronic Toxicity Study of Flavonoid Rich Extract of Glycyrrhiza glabra (GutGard®) in Sprague Dawley Rats
Authors: Bhide Ranjit M. , Bethapudi Bharathi , Chalichem Nehru Sai Suresh , Nithyanantham Muruganantham , Murugan Sasi Kumar , Mundkinajeddu Deepak
Published: April 2022

Glycyrrhiza glabra (G. glabra) is well known for its health benefits based on the traditional and current scientific evidence. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the safety of GutGard, a standardised-flavonoid rich extract of G. glabra. The study was designed to evaluate the acute and subchronic oral toxicity of GutGard in Sprague Dawley rats according to the procedures and methods of Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) test guidelines for acute and subchronic toxicity. A single dose of GutGard at 5000 mg/kg body weight did not produce treatment related clinical signs of toxicity or mortality in any of the animals tested during the 14-day observation period. Therefore, the median lethal dose was estimated to be more than 5000 mg/kg. A subchronic oral toxicity study for 90 days in rats at the dose levels of 250, 500, and 1000 mg/kg did not show any treatment related adverse clinical signs. The treated animals exhibited normal weight gain and comparable feed intake. Ophthalmoscope examination did not reveal any abnormalities. Further, GutGard administration in rats did not show any clinical evidence of toxicity with respect to urinalysis, haematology, and blood chemistry parameters. The relative organ weight of vital organs did not differ significantly as compared to control. Gross and histopathological findings did not show any remarkable and treatment related changes. Based on the current experimental study findings, the median lethal dose (LD50) of GutGard was found to be >5000 mg/kg b.wt and the no observed adverse effect level (NOAEL) was found to be 1000 mg/kg rat b.wt.
Hipertensión arterial pulmonar y la eritrocitosis precede a la enfermedad pulmonar obstructiva crónica en fumadores residentes de grandes alturas
Authors: Velarde Zegada Ariel Oliver , Vásquez Durán Gustavo , Villena Cabrera Mercedes
Published: April 2022

Introducción: la eritrocitosis excesiva afecta a los habitantes de grandes alturas como La Paz, Bolivia, a 3600 msnm. El objetivo del presente trabajo es determinar la existencia de hipertensión arterial pulmonar en pacientes fumadores con eritrocitosis excesiva, residentes de la gran altura entre 20 y 60 años de edad, casos estudiados en el Instituto Boliviano de Biología de Altura (IBBA) a lo largo de tres décadas. Materiales y métodos: estudio retrospectivo en el que revisamos sistemáticamente expedientes clínicos del IBBA. Se hallan 540 expedientes clínicos de la unidad de fisiología y fisiopatología respiratoria, de los cuales el 7% (30) fueron incluidos. Se buscaron correlaciones lineales entre edad, tabaquismo, hemoglobina sérica, altitud de residencia, presión arterial pulmonar y pruebas de función pulmonar. Resultados: existe correlación entre presión arterial pulmonar sistólica y hemoglobina sérica con R=0,579 (p=0,005). El índice de Tiffeneau (TIFF.O) tiene una correlación con la presión arterial media sistémica (PAM) (p=0,006). Conclusión: en pacientes con eritrocitosis excesiva fumadores residentes de grandes alturas, existe una correlación positiva entre presión arterial pulmonar sistólica y concentración de hemoglobina sin existir correlación con valores espirométricos que sugieran patrones obstructivos.
Overproduction of IFNγ by Cbl-b–Deficient CD8+ T Cells Provides Resistance against Regulatory T Cells and Induces Potent Antitumor Immunity
Authors: Han SeongJun , Liu Zhe Qi , Chung Douglas C. , Paul Michael St. , Garcia-Batres Carlos R. , Sayad Azin , Elford Alisha R. , Gold Matthew J. , Grimshaw Natasha , Ohashi Pamela S.
Published: April 2022

Regulatory T cells (Treg) are an integral component of the adaptive immune system that negatively affect antitumor immunity. Here, we investigated the role of the E3 ubiquitin ligase casitas B-lineage lymphoma-b (Cbl-b) in establishing CD8+ T-cell resistance to Treg-mediated suppression to enhance antitumor immunity. Transcriptomic analyses suggested that Cbl-b regulates pathways associated with cytokine signaling and cellular proliferation. We showed that the hypersecretion of IFNγ by Cbl-b–deficient CD8+ T cells selectively attenuated CD8+ T-cell suppression by Tregs. Although IFNγ production by Cbl-b–deficient T cells contributed to phenotypic alterations in Tregs, the cytokine did not attenuate the suppressive function of Tregs. Instead, IFNγ had a profound effect on CD8+ T cells by directly upregulating interferon-stimulated genes and modulating T-cell activation. In murine models of adoptive T-cell therapy, Cbl-b–deficient T cells elicited superior antitumor immune response. Furthermore, Cbl-b–deficient CD8+ T cells were less susceptible to suppression by Tregs in the tumor through the effects of IFNγ. Collectively, this study demonstrates that the hypersecretion of IFNγ serves as a key mechanism by which Cbl-b–deficient CD8+ T cells are rendered resistant to Tregs.

See related Spotlight by Wolf and Baier, p. 370.
Holistic Characterization of Tumor Monocyte-to-Macrophage Differentiation Integrates Distinct Immune Phenotypes in Kidney Cancer
Authors: Mujal Adriana M. , Combes Alexis J. , Rao Arjun A. , Binnewies Mikhail , Samad Bushra , Tsui Jessica , Boissonnas Alexandre , Pollack Joshua L. , Argüello Rafael J. , Meng Maxwell V. , Porten Sima P. , Ruhland Megan K. , Barry Kevin C. , Chan Vincent , Krummel Matthew F.
Published: April 2022

The tumor immune microenvironment (TIME) is commonly infiltrated by diverse collections of myeloid cells. Yet, the complexity of myeloid-cell identity and plasticity has challenged efforts to define bona fide populations and determine their connections to T-cell function and their relationship to patient outcome. Here, we have leveraged single-cell RNA-sequencing analysis of several mouse and human tumors and found that monocyte–macrophage diversity is characterized by a combination of conserved lineage states as well as transcriptional programs accessed along the differentiation trajectory. We also found in mouse models that tumor monocyte-to-macrophage progression was profoundly tied to regulatory T cell (Treg) abundance. In human kidney cancer, heterogeneity in macrophage accumulation and myeloid composition corresponded to variance in, not only Treg density, but also the quality of infiltrating CD8+ T cells. In this way, holistic analysis of monocyte-to-macrophage differentiation creates a framework for critically different immune states.
Validation of the Apraxia Screen TULIA (AST) in Schizophrenia
Authors: Bachofner Hanta , Scherer Konstantin A. , Vanbellingen Tim , Bohlhalter Stephan , Stegmayer Katharina , Walther Sebastian
Published: April 2022

Introduction: Deficits in social interaction and community functioning, including impaired use, performance, and perception of hand gestures, are key features in schizophrenia. A well-established tool to assess gesture deficits is the test of upper limb apraxia (TULIA). However, given its time-consuming application based on video analyses, research has proposed the bedside apraxia screen of TULIA (AST). This study aims to test the validity and reliability of the AST to detect gesture abnormalities at bedside in a sample of 27 patients diagnosed with schizophrenia, schizotypal disorder, acute and transient psychotic disorders, or schizoaffective disorder. Methods: Patients completed the 48-item TULIA and the 12-item AST. Two different raters assessed the AST: one at bedside (online) and the other based on the video recordings. Results: The total AST scores demonstrated a high parallel reliability, moderate inter-rater reliability on a single-item level, and good construct validities. Conclusions: The psychometric properties of the AST suggest it can well be used for the clinical assessment of gesture deficits in schizophrenia. However, when detailed information is required, the AST rated from video or conducting the full TULIA is recommended. The findings call for refining the selection of the TULIA items for a psychosis-AST bedside test to increase specificity.
Toward a Unified Model of Design Knowledge
Authors: Thoring Katja , Mueller Roland M. , Desmet Pieter , Badke-Schaub Petra
Published: April 2022

The theoretical understanding of design knowledge is a crucial concern for research in the design discipline. This article extends the rich existing research on design knowledge by providing a unifying model of design knowledge. The insights are derived from a rigorous review of existing literature. The resulting model presents an original framework of design knowledge that can help practitioners, scholars, and educators from the design discipline to better understand the characteristics of design knowledge and the possibilities for transferring it.
Murasaki’s Epistemological Awakening: Buddhist Philosophical Roots of The Tale of Genji
Authors: Wawrytko Sandra A.
Published: April 2022

I approach Murasaki Shikibu’s marvelous literary pearl The Tale of Genji (Genji Monogatari) as analogous to glistening orbs that “come out of the disease of suffering oysters,” the suffering being the death of her beloved husband Fujiwara no Nobutaka (950?–1001). In addition to drawing evidence from the novel itself, I have relied on Murasaki’s lesser-known Poetic Memoirs and Diary that offer important insights into her state of mind and circumspect literary style. The Lotus Sūtra is the key that unlocks Murasaki’s philosophical intent, with its use of parables and poems to provoke deeper understandings of Buddhism and personal realizations. The Buddhist principle of impermanence (Sanskrit anitya; Japanese mujōkan) serves as both the aesthetic of aware and an unavoidable fact that residents of the Heian court (like those in the Lotus Sūtra’s Burning House) choose to ignore or escape by reveling in superficial pursuits of beauty and political power. Various characters in the novel attempt to follow the path to the epistemological awakening the author Murasaki sought for herself.
Female Chastity in Confucianism: Genealogy and Radicalization
Authors: Pang-White Ann A.
Published: April 2022

Confucian scholars often reference the Yijing 《易經》 (the Classic of Changes), the Liji 《禮記》 (Records of Rituals), and other classics in their advocacy for female chastity. Perplexingly, vocabulary that suggests extremism, which often results in self-imposed – or public sanctioned – suicide, starvation, or physical disfigurement of women during the pre-modern China and the early republic, either does not appear or rarely appears in the Yijing or other early Confucian canons. In these early texts, both zhen 貞 and jie 節 have multiple meanings. Neither term is confined to a specific gender. This fact suggests that the original meanings of zhen and jie in the Yijing, composed around 1046 BCE–771 BCE, had likely been altered and radicalized in later times. I use word frequency analysis, examination of hexagrams, and the method of intertextuality to expose and deconstruct interpretive contradictions and attempt to restore these concepts to their original meaning without distortion.
The Confucian Way of Family under the Gongfu 功夫 Perspective – A Re-description (I)
Authors: Ni Peimin
Published: April 2022

Unlike typical journal articles that deal with specific issues in detail, this article offers a sketchy comprehensive re-description of the Confucian Way of family that serves the purpose of providing a bird’s-eye view to grasp the fact that, for Confucianism, family is not merely a part of the puzzle of human life, nor merely an ontological entity that serves as the foundation of the Confucian theory, but more a “Way” of living or gongfu 功夫 (aka kung fu) that comprised of values toward which cultivation of the person is practiced, an art of life to be mastered, and a model of social order to be implemented.
The Provocations of Contact Zones: Spaces for Negotiating Post-Migrant Identities
Authors: Winkler Kathrin
Published: April 2022

Post-migrant societies in Europe are characterized by political, cultural, religious, and social changes. Where people meet under the conditions of migration and globalization, new places and spaces of negotiating are arising. They are formed by provocative questions, dynamic reorientation, and social transformation, in particular regarding religious affiliations, contexts and experiences. This article will consider challenges and the resources of religion in terms of coping with ambiguity and building up post-migrant community relations. In this context, the concept of the ‘contact zone’ as a post-migrant place or space provides an insight to social spaces where cultures and religions meet, clash and grapple with each other, often in emotionally charged contexts of highly asymmetrical relations of power, like displacement and their aftermaths. These contact zones offer a place of discussing power, oppression, and religious diversities, but also find innovative perspectives for post-migrant identities. With reference to this, three case studies based on experiences of refugees in Europe with contact zones in refugee centers, schools and educational institutions allow for an understanding of the significance of places, the feeling of rootlessness and the findings of new places of religious identity, of ‘embodied’ habitation and participation. Finally, this article emphasizes the meaning of public speech in post-migrant societies from a Christian perspective.
Space, Place and the Church: Fostering a Consciousness and a Theology of Spatial Justice in South African Churches
Authors: Powell Caroline , Mlambo Ntandoyenkosi
Published: April 2022

Located within the wider questions that the South African church is asking about the relationship between reconciliation and restitution in post-apartheid South Africa, this article tracks the emergence of a movement of churches seeking to address the urban and rural land restitution question and puts it into conversation with the praxis of spatial justice. The authors introduce insight into the history of land and specifically church land in South Africa and explore what actions have been taken towards restitution of church-owned land and what this means for the development of a theology of spatial justice. Additionally, it includes an overview of South African churches’ declarations on land over the last thirty years and what has been done since these declarations. Finally, the authors will look at how these actions help develop a theology of spatial justice for a renewed praxis on land and space in South Africa.
Kaplan’s Way with Skepticism
Authors: Williams Michael
Published: April 2022

Austin is not much in fashion these days. In Austin’s Way with Skepticism, Mark Kaplan swims against the current, arguing that Austin still has much to teach us about how to do epistemology. Methodologically, Austin’s insistence on fidelity to ordinary ways of talking about knowledge is a non-negotiable constraint on epistemological theorizing. Substantively, Austin has important things to say about knowledge. But while I am fully in accord with the spirit of Kaplan’s enterprise, I take Austin to occupy a more radical position: that getting the linguistic facts straight should lead us to call into question the very idea of a theory of knowledge, at least as ‘theory of knowledge’ has traditionally been understood.
The Legal Framework for Foreign Investment in the Iranian Banking Sector
Authors: Ansaripour M.A. , Mohammadi Ahmad
Published: April 2022

The banking services are heavily regulated in the Islamic Republic of Iran. The regulatory framework is based on the Monetary and Banking Act 1351 (1972) which was supplemented with the Interest-Free Banking Operations Act 1362 (1983) in post-revolutionary period. The Council of Money and Credit of the Central Bank of Iran performs the regulatory functions. Iran has tried to attract foreign investment in its banking sector under the Promotion and Protection of Foreign Investment Act 1381 (2002). The current regulatory regime provides four channels to foreign investors for investment in the banking sector. First is partnership with the existing Iranian banks; second is establishing a development bank, third is to establish foreign banks, and fourth is to establish branches of foreign banks. Iran is likely to attract foreign investment in its banking sector especially after its accession to the Shanghai Cooperation Organization on September 22, 2021. This however will require reforms in the current regulatory regime that is stringent and ambiguous in many aspects related to the establishment, functions, operations, winding up of banks.
Tkhelidze v. Georgia: Domestic Abuse and the European Court of Human Rights
Authors: McQuigg Ronagh J.A.
Published: April 2022

On 8 July 2021, in Tkhelidze v. Georgia, the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR) added to its growing body of jurisprudence on domestic abuse. This case is noteworthy as being the first decision of the ECtHR on this issue since the Grand Chamber issued its judgment in Kurt v. Austria, the only domestic abuse case to date which has been heard by the Grand Chamber. In its judgment, the Grand Chamber set out a number of general principles to be applied in such cases, and these principles were subsequently applied in Tkhelidze. The decision in Tkhelidze also highlighted that a procedural breach of article 2 can be established by a lack of an effective investigation into the failings of state authorities to respond sufficiently to domestic abuse.
Avifauna diversity and conservation challenges in Lake Arekit, Southern Ethiopia
Authors: Tilahun Belete , Hailu Abera , Abie Kassahun , Kidane Teklebrehan , Alemkere Azmeraw
Published: April 2022

This study was conducted to explore bird species diversity and conservation challenges in Lake Arekit located in the Guraghe Zone of Ethiopia. Point counts along the shoreline of the lake were employed to identify and record birds. Potential threats to the lake were identified through field observation and via key informant interviews. A total number of 56 bird species belonging to 23 families, and 11 orders were observed. One species, the Blue winged Goose (Cyanochen cyanoptera) was endemic, three species were near-endemic, and five species were vulnerable in their conservation status. A significantly higher number of species (i.e., 47) was recorded in the dry season than in the wet season (i.e., 24). The relative abundance of birds was also significantly higher during the dry season (t = 2.23, P > 0.05). The study also showed that Lake Arekit is under severe threats including urbanization with unwise waste disposals, siltation, and intensive agricultural expansion. Therefore, urgent stakeholder actions are required to save this lake and thereby the vast array of its biodiversity particularly the birds.
Opposite Directions
Authors: Rosendahl Thomsen Mads
Published: April 2022

The Covid-19 pandemic is a powerful reminder that there is only one humanity and that all individuals are subject to infections and illness. However, news media and the internet are overflowing with data that reminds us of the fact that we are living in an unequal world in which even neighbors close their borders and observe how other countries are faring in the battle against the virus. Literature is no stranger to these opposing orientations, between local and global, national and universal. This essay will address some of the historical uses of global issues in literature and how they play a particular role in world literature, as well as comparing them to the current situation. Traumatic literature is of particular concern in terms of representation and decorum, and the formal inventiveness that this demands and inspires.
Microcuentos
Authors: Medina Cordova Luis A.
Published: April 2022

This article brings attention to a form of narrative fiction that has engaged with the Covid-19 outbreak by embracing social media. Microcuentos, a form of very brief short stories usually referred to as flash fiction in English, have widely circulated across Latin America through digital platforms in pandemic times. But more than simply thriving in a context of globally spread fear, death, and isolation, I argue that – in the 2020s – microcuentos are uniquely suited for pandemic times. By combining narrative intensity condensed in a structurally limited wordcount with social media’s capacity to circulate swiftly and widely, writers of microcuentos across the region have been exceptionally capable of responding to the crisis as it is happening. The case of the Latin American microcuento in the time of Covid-19 invites us to question the hegemony of the novel while rethinking the meanings of World Literature in a pandemic and post-pandemic world.
Natural Mediation in Youth Street Groups as a Form of Resistance in the Peripheries: An Ethnographic Comparison between Barcelona and Madrid (Spain)
Authors: Oliver María , Ballesté Eduard
Published: April 2022

This paper analyses the recent evolution of transnational youth street groups in the cities of Barcelona and Madrid (Spain) in the last two decades, with special focus in the Latin Kings and Queens group and based on the definitions and uses of the terms borders, peripheries and mediation. Our data presents part of the preliminary ethnographic results of the research carried on from 2019 until mid-2021 and focuses on the comparison of the current situation of the groups in both cities, attending to factors as internal structure, link to the territory and their position in the social space. In order to do this, we pay attention to the differences in the groups and the mediation processes in which they are implied, either internal or external, considering the possibilities of both natural and formal mediation.
Gold Sellers in the Streets of Bachdjerrah: El Houma: Community Identity and Globalised Economic Territory
Authors: Boucherf Kamel , Medjoub Razika
Published: April 2022

In Algeria, the informal dynamic experienced by the gold sector since the 1980s was accompanied by the creation of informal trading spaces, the most important of which are in Algiers and Oran. These markets play the role of intermediary between the various actors in the informal gold sector, in particular transnational networks for the supply and marketing of the precious metal. The latter is part of this non-hegemonic economic globalization which relies on adventurers of the new market capitalism. Its network spans from Italy, Dubai to Turkey, in particular the Grand Bazaar in Istanbul. These transnational networks do not only concern the import of jewelry for consumption, but also the smuggling of gold from Algeria and this is also the case for used gold. In the paper we try to come back to the experiences of informal gold sellers in these transnational precious metal networks.
How to Write a Coherent Introduction to the Commentary on the Apocalypse: On an Edition of the Writings of Joachim of Fiore (d. 1202)
Authors: Herbers Klaus
Published: April 2022

The article examines the various states of Joachim of Fiore’s eschatological works and their commentaries, thus assessing the evolution of eschatological thought in the thirteenth century.
From Untouchable to Dalit: Narratives and Strategies of Assertion among the Scheduled Castes of Pakistan
Authors: Mahmood Sadia
Published: April 2022

Tharparkar, a borderland area with India, provides insights into Scheduled Caste (SC) perceptions of their status and marginality in contemporary Pakistan. The article focuses on how SC activists, despite the absence of a national or provincial-level discourse in Pakistan, negotiate “untouchability” in Pakistan. It discusses the regional dynamics of SC movements in Tharparkar and how Pakistani lower castes, considered part of a homogenous and fixed religious minority (i.e., “Hindus”) by the Government of Pakistan (GOP), are engaged in producing a distinct social and political identity in the region.
A synthesis of the Chiococceae tribe (Cinchonoideae, Rubiaceae) in Mexico: morphology, diversity, and endemism
Authors: TORRES-MONTUFAR ALEJANDRO , SANCHEZ-BAUTISTA SARAY , AGUILAR-MORALES MARÍA
Published: April 2022

This study provides the first comprehensive checklist and analysis of species included in the Chiococceae tribe in Mexico, based on over 4000 herbarium specimens. We report 28 species in nine genera; including two endemic genera (Coutaportla and Nernstia) and 14 endemic species. It is estimated that 50 % of Chiococceae species found in Mexico are endemic. We mapped the diversity per grid cell of species using their occurrence records obtained from online databases. Distribution was concentrated in the tropical southern area of Mexico, with the most diverse states in terms of species and endemicity being Chiapas (17 species; 5 endemic), Veracruz (14 species; 4 endemic), and Oaxaca (14 species; 6 endemic). The combination of several traits in reproductive characters are useful to diagnose the generic entities of Chiococceae; for example form, size, symmetry, and merosity of the corolla; consistency, dorsiventral compression, and dehiscence of the fruit; and attachment and margin of the seed are useful for diagnosing the generic entities of Chiococceae. We also highlight taxonomic problems on the generic level (Asemnantha/Chiococca, Coutaportla/Lorencea; Solenandra/Exostema) and species level (e.g. Chiococca alba), for which further studies are needed to better comprehend the diversity of the Chiococceae tribe in Mexico.
Some novelties of Prunus subgenus Cerasus (Rosaceae) from Iran
Authors: HABIBI MEISAM , ARITAR FARIDEH , FALAHATI ANBARAN MOHSEN , MALEKI GISAVANDI HADI
Published: April 2022

Prunus mazandaranica is described as a new species from north Iran. The new species has been placed in the sect. Microcerasus and could readily be distinguished from the closest relative, P. microcarpa subsp microcarpa, Prunus yazdiana, and Prunus paradoxa by indistinct brachyblasts, fasciculate inflorescence of 2–5 sessile or subsessile flowers with 10–12 unequal-sized stamens and glabrous style and ovary. Also, Prunus jacquemontii is recorded for the first time from northeast Iran. It is similar to P. griffithii morphologically, an endemic species distributed in Afghanistan, but distinguished from it by its glabrous leaves and glabrous style and ovary. Micromorphological features of pollen grains and leaf epidermal cells, surface are presented using Scanning Electron Microscopy. The diagnostic traits, a geographic distribution map, and detailed photos of the taxa are also presented here.
Centaurea achilleifolia (Asteraceae), a new endemic species from the Oriental Middle Atlas of Morocco
Authors: HOMRANI BAKALI A. , SUSANNA A.
Published: April 2022

Centaurea achilleifolia (C. sect. Melanoloma) is illustrated and described as a new species, with records in the Oriental Middle-Atlas of Morocco (Bou Naceur mountain). It differs from similar taxa in the section by its peculiar bipinnatisect leaves, which recall some Achillea species.
A new species of Bulbophyllum from Northern of Vietnam
Authors: NGUYEN VAN TU , AVERYANOV LEONID V. , DANG VAN SON , MAISAK TATIANA V. , BUI VAN HUONG , DANG MINH QUAN , BOO SUNG MIN , TRUONG BA VUONG
Published: April 2022

A species, new to science, is described from Son La province, Vietnam. The new species is similar to B. yongtaiense, B. layae and B. sridithii in the hairy lip at base but clearly differs by the papillose margin and inner surface of dorsal sepal and petals, lip without mid keel and dense hairs on lateral keels, stelidia 2 times longer than 3 similar species.
Interactions between Irregular Wave Fields and Sea Ice: A Physical Model for Wave Attenuation and Ice Breakup in an Ice Tank
Authors: Passerotti Giulio , Bennetts Luke G. , von Bock und Polach Franz , Alberello Alberto , Puolakka Otto , Dolatshah Azam , Monbaliu Jaak , Toffoli Alessandro
Published: April 2022

Irregular, unidirectional surface water waves incident on model ice in an ice tank are used as a physical model of ocean surface wave interactions with sea ice. Results are given for an experiment consisting of three tests, starting with a continuous ice cover and in which the incident wave steepness increases between tests. The incident waves range from causing no breakup of the ice cover to breakup of the full length of ice cover. Temporal evolution of the ice edge, breaking front, and mean floe sizes are reported. Floe size distributions in the different tests are analyzed. The evolution of the wave spectrum with distance into the ice-covered water is analyzed in terms of changes of energy content, mean wave period, and spectral bandwidth relative to their incident counterparts, and pronounced differences are found between the tests. Further, an empirical attenuation coefficient is derived from the measurements and shown to have a power-law dependence on frequency comparable to that found in field measurements. Links between wave properties and ice breakup are discussed.
Preparation and properties of silicon-containing benzoxazine with high thermal stability
Authors: Li Hui , Long Cijie , Zeng Kai , Li Yuntao , Zhao Chunxia , Xiang Dong , Wu Yuanpeng , Wang Bin , Sun Zhangmei , Que Yusheng
Published: April 2022

A silicon-containing benzoxazine (PDpsp-a) was synthesized from bis( p-hydroxyphenyl)diphenylsilane, aniline, and paraformaldehyde. The structure of the monomer was supported by 1H-NMR and FTIR spectra. The curing behavior of benzoxazine was evaluated by differential scanning calorimetry and in-situ FTIR spectra. The thermal properties were studied by MDSC, TGA, and Py-GC/MS. The results indicated that the characteristic peak of oxazine ring began to disappear when the temperature was heated to 180°C and completely disappeared at 260°C. The polybenzoxazine (PDpsp-a) possessed a high glass transition temperatures (174°C) and had good thermal stability (T10 = 420°C). In the pyrolysates of polybenzoxazine (PDpsp-a), no silicon-containing compounds, no phenol species, and more benzene were detected, we speculated that the Ar-Si bond would fracture with the increase of temperature. The benzene was volatilized from the system as a pyrolysis product and the silicon could react with oxygen to form siloxanes remained in the carbon residue in the form of siloxane compounds. The formed silica layer could endow the silicon-containing polybenzoxazine high thermal degradation stability and high char yield.
A randomized controlled trial into the effects of probiotics on electroencephalography in preschoolers with autism
Authors: Billeci Lucia , Callara Alejandro Luis , Guiducci Letizia , Prosperi Margherita , Morales Maria Aurora , Calderoni Sara , Muratori Filippo , Santocchi Elisa
Published: April 2022

Previous studies suggest that autism spectrum disorders are characterized by alterations in the microbiota–gut–brain axis. Probiotics may modify the composition and the functionality of the gut microbiota of autism spectrum disorder individuals, with possible cascading effects on brain function. In this study, we analyzed possible brain modifications induced by the administration of probiotics in 46 children with autism spectrum disorder using electroencephalography. A randomized 6-month controlled trial was performed. In subjects treated with probiotics, we observed a decrease of power in frontopolar regions in beta and gamma bands, and increased coherence in the same bands together with a shift in frontal asymmetry, which suggests a modification toward a typical brain activity. Electroencephalography measures were significantly correlated with clinical and biochemical measures. These findings support the importance of further investigations on probiotics’ benefits in autism spectrum disorder to better elucidate mechanistic links between probiotics supplementation and changes in brain activity.

Lay abstract

This study investigates the effects of a probiotic on preschoolers’ brain electrical activity with autism spectrum disorder. Autism is a disorder with an increasing prevalence characterized by an enormous individual, family, and social cost. Although the etiology of autism spectrum disorder is unknown, an interaction between genetic and environmental factors is implicated, converging in altered brain synaptogenesis and, therefore, connectivity. Besides deepening the knowledge on the resting brain electrical activity that characterizes this disorder, this study allows analyzing the positive central effects of a 6-month therapy with a probiotic through a randomized, double-blind placebo-controlled study and the correlations between electroencephalography activity and biochemical and clinical parameters. In subjects treated with probiotics, we observed a decrease of power in frontopolar regions in beta and gamma bands, and increased coherence in the same bands together with a shift in frontal asymmetry, which suggests a modification toward a typical brain activity. Electroencephalography measures were significantly correlated with clinical and biochemical measures. These findings support the importance of further investigations on probiotics’ benefits in autism spectrum disorder to better elucidate mechanistic links between probiotics supplementation and changes in brain activity.
Carbohydrate regulation response to cold during rhizome bud dormancy release in Polygonatum kingianum
Authors: Wang Yue , Liu Tao , Ma Changjian , Li Guoqing , Wang Xinhong , Wang Jianghui , Chang Jin , Guan Cong , Yao Huimin , Dong Xuehui
Published: April 2022

Background

The rhizome of Polygonatum kingianum Coll. et Hemsl (P. kingianum) is a crucial traditional Chinese medicine, but severe bud dormancy occurs during early rhizome development. Low temperature is a positive factor affecting dormancy release, whereas the variation in carbohydrates during dormancy release has not been investigated systematically. Therefore, the sugar content, related metabolic pathways and gene co-expression were analysed to elucidate the regulatory mechanism of carbohydrates during dormancy release in the P. kingianum rhizome bud.

Results

During dormancy transition, starch and sucrose (Suc) exhibited opposing trends in the P. kingianum rhizome bud, representing a critical indicator of dormancy release. Galactose (Gal) and raffinose (Raf) were increased in content and synthesis. Glucose (Glc), cellulose (Cel), mannose (Man), arabinose (Ara), rhamnose (Rha) and stachyose (Sta) showed various changes, indicating their different roles in breaking rhizome bud dormancy in P. kingianum. At the beginning of dormancy release, Glc metabolism may be dominated by anaerobic oxidation (glycolysis followed by ethanol fermentation). After entering the S3 stage, the tricarboxylic acid cycle (TCA) and pentose phosphate pathway (PPP) were may be more active possibly. In the gene co-expression network comprising carbohydrates and hormones, HYD1 was identified as a hub gene, and numerous interactions centred on STS/SUS were also observed, suggesting the essential role of brassinosteroids (BRs), Raf and Suc in the regulatory network.

Conclusion

We revealed cold-responsive genes related to carbohydrate metabolism, suggesting regulatory mechanisms of sugar during dormancy release in the P. kingianum rhizome bud. Additionally, gene co-expression analysis revealed possible interactions between sugar and hormone signalling, providing new insight into the dormancy release mechanism in P. kingianum rhizome buds.
Temporal trends in treatment strategies and clinical outcomes among patients with advanced chronic kidney disease and ST-elevation myocardial infarctions: results from the Bremen STEMI registry
Authors: Schmucker Johannes , Fach Andreas , Osteresch Rico , Mata Marin Luis Alberto , Retzlaff Tina , Rühle Stephan , Garstka Daniela , Kuhlmann Uwe , Eitel Ingo , Hambrecht Rainer , Wienbergen Harm
Published: April 2022

Background

Although the detrimental effects of advanced chronic kidney disease (CKD) on prognosis in coronary artery disease is known, there are few data on the efficacy and safety of modern interventional therapies and medications in patients with advanced CKD, because this special patient cohort is often excluded or underrepresented in randomized trials.

Methods

In the present study all patients admitted with ST-elevation myocardial infarctions (STEMI) from the region of Bremen/Germany treated between 2006 and 2019 were analyzed. Advanced CKD was defined as glomerular filtration rate < 45 ml/min.

Results

Of 9605 STEMI-patients, 1018 (10.6%) had advanced CKD with a serum creatinine of 2.22 ± 4.2 mg/dl at admission and with lower rates of primary percutaneous coronary intervention (pPCI) (84.1 vs. 94.1%, p < 0.01) and higher all-cause-mortality (44.4 vs. 3.6%, p < 0.01). Over time, advanced CKD-patients were more likely to be treated with pPCI (2015–2019: 90.3% vs. 2006–2010:75.8%, p < 0.01) and with ticagrelor/prasugrel (59.6% vs. 1.7%, p < 0.01) and drug eluting stents (90.7% vs. 1.3%, p < 0.01). During the study period a decline in adverse ischemic events (OR 0.3, 95% CI 0.1–0.7) and an increase in bleedings (OR 2.2, 95% CI 1.3–3.8) within 1 year after the index event could be observed in patients with advanced CKD while 1-year-mortality (OR 1.0, 95% CI 0.7–1.4) and rates of acute kidney injury (OR 1.2, 95% CI 0.8–1.7) did not change in a multivariate model. Both, ticagrelor/prasugrel (OR 0.48, 95% CI 0.2–0.98) and DES (OR 0.38, 95% CI 0.2–0.8) were associated with a decrease in ischemic events at 1 year.

Conclusions

During the observed time period STEMI-patients with advanced CKD were more likely to be treated with primary PCI, ticagrelor or prasugrel and DE-stents. These changes probably have contributed to the decline in ischemic events and the increase in bleedings within 1 year after STEMI while overall mortality at 1-year remained unchanged for this high-risk patient group.