bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The Diversity of Spotted Fever Group Rickettsia Found in Ixodidae Hard Ticks Removed from Humans in Karachay-Cherkessia, North Caucasus, Russia
Authors: Rakov Alexey V. , Chekanova Tatiana A. , Petremgvdlishvili Ketevan , Linnik Svetlana B. , Batchaev Khusey Kh. , Akimkin Vasiliy G.
Published: June 2024

Karachay-Cherkessia is the region in the Russian Federation that has been overlooked in terms of research on the human bacterial pathogens transmitted by ticks. In this study, we investigated the infection status of ticks with Rickettsia, Borrelia, Coxiella burmetii, Anaplasma phagocytophilum, and Ehrlichia chaffeensis/Ehrlichia muris associated with natural focal infections in Karachay-Cherkessia. A total amount of 159 ticks from three species across three genera (Ixodes ricinus, Dermacentor marginatus, Hyalomma scupense) removed from humans were collected for analysis. Additionally, we used 53 individual ticks and 40 tick pools from the vegetation of three species (I. ricinus, D. marginatus, and Rhipicephalus bursa). Screening of the studied pathogens was performed by using commercial qPCR kits. Sanger sequencing utilizing partial sequences of gltA and ompA genes was employed to identify the Rickettsia species. Our findings revealed the presence of DNA from five species within the spotted fever group Rickettsia, namely Rickettsia raoultii, R. slovaca, R. helvetica, R. monacensis, and R. aeschlimannii. Moreover, two distinct genotypes were identified within R. aeschlimannii, R. helvetica, and R. monacensis. Additionally, DNA from Borrelia burgdoferi s.l., B. miyamotoi, and A. phagocytophilum was detected in the tested ticks. This study provides valuable insights into the prevalence and the diversity of bacterial pathogens transmitted by ticks in the Karachay-Cherkessia region.
Phage Display Technology in Biomarker Identification with Emphasis on Non-Cancerous Diseases
Authors: Sadraeian Mohammad , Maleki Reza , Moraghebi Mahta , Bahrami Abasalt
Published: June 2024

In recent years, phage display technology has become vital in clinical research. It helps create antibodies that can specifically bind to complex antigens, which is crucial for identifying biomarkers and improving diagnostics and treatments. However, existing reviews often overlook its importance in areas outside cancer research. This review aims to fill that gap by explaining the basics of phage display and its applications in detecting and treating various non-cancerous diseases. We focus especially on its role in degenerative diseases, inflammatory and autoimmune diseases, and chronic non-communicable diseases, showing how it is changing the way we diagnose and treat illnesses. By highlighting important discoveries and future possibilities, we hope to emphasize the significance of phage display in modern healthcare.
Theoretical Analysis of Coordination Geometries in Transition Metal–Histidine Complexes Using Quantum Chemical Calculations
Authors: Zhang Dapeng , Kishimoto Naoki
Published: June 2024

A theoretical investigation utilizing density functional theory (DFT) calculations was conducted to explore the coordination complexes formed between histidine (His) ligands and various divalent transition metal ions (Mn2+, Fe2+, Co2+, Ni2+, Cu2+, and Zn2+). Conformational exploration of the His ligand was initially performed to assess its stability upon coordination. Both 1:1 and 1:2 of metal-to-ligand complexes were scrutinized to elucidate their structural features and the relative stability of the complexes. This study examined the ability of His to act as a bidentate or tridentate coordinating ligand, along with the differences in coordination geometry when solvent effects were incorporated. The reduced density gradient (RDG) analysis and local electron attachment energy (LEAE) analysis were employed to elucidate the interaction planes and the nucleophilic and electrophilic properties. The electronic properties were analyzed through electrostatic potential (ESP) maps and natural population analysis (NPA) of atomic charge distributions. This computational study provides valuable insights into the diverse coordination modes of His and its interactions with divalent transition metal ions, contributing to a better understanding of the role of this amino acid ligand in the formation of transition metal complexes. The findings can aid in the design and construction of self-assembled structures involving His-metal coordination.
Synthesis of 2-Ethylhexyl 5-Bromothiophene-2-Carboxylates; Antibacterial Activities against Salmonella Typhi, Validation via Docking Studies, Pharmacokinetics, and Structural Features Determination through DFT
Authors: Nazeer Waseem , Qamar Muhammad Usman , Rasool Nasir , Taibi Mohamed , Salamatullah Ahmad Mohammad
Published: June 2024

A new class of thiophene-based molecules of 5-bromothiophene-2-carboxylic acid (1) have been synthesized in current research work. All analogs 4A–4G were synthesized with optimized conditions by coupling reactions of 2-ethylhexyl 5-bromothiophene-2-carboxylate (3) with various arylboronic acids. The results indicated that the majority of compounds showed promising effective in vitro antibacterial activity. Herein, 2-ethylhexyl-5-(p-tolyl)thiophene-2-carboxylate (4F), in particular among the synthesized analogs, showed outstanding antibacterial action (MIC value 3.125 mg/mL) against XDR Salmonella Typhi compared to ciprofloxacin and ceftriaxone. The intermolecular interaction was investigated by using a molecular docking study of thiophene derivatives 4A–4G against XDR S. Typhi. The values of the binding affinity of functionalized thiophene molecules and ciprofloxacin were compared against bacterial enzyme PDB ID: 5ztj. Therefore, 4F appears to be a promising antibacterial agent and showed the highest potential value. Density functional theory (DFT) calculations were executed to examine the electronic, structural, and spectroscopic features of the newly synthesized molecules 4A–4G.
A Recyclable Polypropylene Multilayer Film Maintaining the Quality and the Aroma of Coffee Pods during Their Shelf Life
Authors: Calabrese Martina , De Luca Lucia , Basile Giulia , Lambiase Gianfranco , Romano Raffaele , Pizzolongo Fabiana
Published: June 2024

Films for coffee-pod packaging usually contain aluminium as an impermeable foil that is not recyclable and has to be discharged as waste. In this study, a recyclable polypropylene multilayer film is proposed as an alternative. The performance on the chemical composition of coffee was evaluated and compared to that of film containing aluminium (standard). The oxygen in the headspace, moisture, lipidic oxidation, and volatile organic compounds were studied in coffee pods during storage for 12 months at 25 and 40 °C. In addition, the acidity and acceptability of extracted coffee were evaluated. In the polypropylene-packaged pods, the percentage of oxygen during storage at 25 °C was lower than that in the standard. Moisture was not affected by the type of packaging materials. No differences were found between the peroxide values, except in pods stored for 3, 10, and 11 months at 25 °C, where they were even lower than the standard. Furans and pyrazines were the main volatile organic compounds detected. No differences were found in the pH and titratable acidity of the coffee brew either. All samples were well accepted by consumers without any perceived difference related to the packaging film. The polypropylene multilayer film is a sustainable recyclable material with high performance, in particular, against oxygen permeation.
Sorption of Iodine on Biochar Derived from the Processing of Urban Sludge and Garden Waste at Different Pyrolysis Temperatures
Authors: Bai Bing , Liu Qingyang , Li He , Liu Dan , Wang Haichao , Zhang Chengliang , Yang Zheng , Yao Jingjing
Published: June 2024

The United Nations proposed the Sustainable Development Goals with the aim to make human settlements in cities resilient and sustainable. The excessive discharge of urban waste including sludge and garden waste can pollute groundwater and lead to the emission of greenhouse gases (e.g., CH4). The proper recycling of urban waste is essential for responsible consumption and production, reducing environmental pollution and addressing climate change issues. This study aimed to prepare biochar with high adsorption amounts of iodine using urban sludge and peach wood from garden waste. The study was conducted to examine the variations in the mass ratio between urban sludge and peach wood (2/1, 1/1, and 1/2) as well as pyrolysis temperatures (300 °C, 500 °C, and 700 °C) on the carbon yield and adsorption capacities of biochar. Scanning electron microscopy, Brunauer–Emmett–Teller analysis, Fourier transform infrared spectrometry, powder X-ray diffraction, and elemental analysis were used to characterize the biochar produced at different pyrolysis temperatures and mass ratios. The results indicate that the carbon yield of biochar was found to be the highest (>60%) at a pyrolysis temperature of 300 °C across different pyrolysis temperatures. The absorbed amounts of iodine in the aqueous solution ranged from 86 to 223 mg g−1 at a mass ratio of 1:1 between urban sludge and peach wood, which were comparably higher than those observed in other mass ratios. This study advances water treatment by offering a cost-effective method by using biochar derived from the processing of urban sludge and garden waste.
Effective Transport Recovery of Palladium(II) from Hydrochloric Acid Solutions Using Polymer Inclusion Membrane with Tetrabutylammonium Bromide
Authors: Pospiech Beata
Published: June 2024

This article reports on the extraction of palladium(II) from hydrochloric acid (HCl) solutions using polymer inclusion membranes (PIMs) containing tetrabutylammonium bromide (TBAB) as the ion carrier. The membranes were based on cellulose triacetate (CTA) as the polymer support. The main aim of this study is to determine the possibility of TBAB’s application as the effective ion carrier/extractant of Pd(II) from hydrochloric acid solutions. At first, the effect of the hydrochloric acid concentration in the aqueous phase on palladium(II) extraction was investigated. Next, cellulose triacetate membranes with TBAB as the carrier were prepared and applied for the recovery of Pd(II) from HCl solutions. As a result of the investigations, the optimal composition of the receiving phase was determined to be 0.5 M thiourea in 0.1 M hydrochloric acid. The effect of the acid concentration in the source phase was investigated. The results show a linear decrease in the permeability coefficient and initial flux of palladium(II) with an increase in the hydrochloric acid concentration in the source phase. The separation of Pd(II) from Pt(IV) from the hydrochloric acid solution was also studied. The transport rate of Pd(II) was higher than Pt(IV). The separation coefficient SPd/Pt was 1.3. The results show that transport through PIMs with TBAB can be used as an effective method to recover Pd(II) from hydrochloric acid, especially at a low concentration of this acid.
Synthesis, Anticancer Activity, and Molecular Docking of New 1,2,3-Triazole Linked Tetrahydrocurcumin Derivatives
Authors: Duan Meitao , Mahal Ahmed , Alkouri Anas , Wang Chen , Zhang Zhiqiang , Ren Jungang , Obaidullah Ahmad J.
Published: June 2024

Cancer is one of the deadliest diseases to humanity. There is significant progress in treating this disease, but developing some drugs that can fight this disease remains a challenge in the field of medical research. Thirteen new 1,2,3-triazole linked tetrahydrocurcumin derivatives were synthesized by click reaction, including a 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition reaction of tetrahydrocurcumin baring mono-alkyne with azides in good yields, and their in vitro anticancer activity against four cancer cell lines, including human cervical carcinoma (HeLa), human lung adenocarcinoma (A549), human hepatoma carcinoma (HepG2), and human colon carcinoma (HCT-116) were investigated using MTT(3-(4,5-dimethylthiazole-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetraz-olium bromide) assay. The newly synthesized compounds had their structures identified using NMR HRMS and IR techniques. Some of prepared compounds, including compounds 4g and 4k, showed potent cytotoxic activity against four cancer cell lines compared to the positive control of cisplatin and tetrahydrocurcumin. Compound 4g exhibited anticancer activity with a IC50 value of 1.09 ± 0.17 μM against human colon carcinoma HCT-116 and 45.16 ± 0.92 μM against A549 cell lines compared to the positive controls of tetrahydrocurcumin and cisplatin. Moreover, further biological examination in HCT-116 cells showed that compound 4g can arrest the cell cycle at the G1 phase. A docking study revealed that the potential mechanism by which 4g exerts its anti-colon cancer effect may be through inhabiting the binding of APC–Asef. Compound 4g can be used as a promising lead for further exploration of potential anticancer agents.
Facile Access to Solifenacin Impurity K: One-Step Synthesis and an HPLC-MS Method for Its Determination
Authors: Xifra Raúl , Lukach Andrés E. , Turcu Andreea L.
Published: June 2024

Solifenacin (SFC) is a potent muscarinic antagonist that effectively reduces bladder muscle contraction, thereby alleviating symptoms such as frequency of micturition and urgency. Oxidation of SFC leads to the formation of impurities like Impurity K. Effective analysis and control of this impurity is crucial for ensuring compliance with regulatory standards and safeguarding patient health. To address these challenges, we propose a novel one-step synthesis of Impurity K from SFC. Impurity K was synthesized using cerium(IV) ammonium nitrate (CAN) in water/acetonitrile as the solvent. Additionally, we describe a new HPLC-MS method for the detection of Impurity K in solifenacin succinate tablets.
Fluorescence of Half-Twisted 10-Acyl-1-methyltetrahydrobenzoquinolines
Authors: Abelt Christopher , Day Ian , Zhao Junkai , Pike Robert
Published: June 2024

The steric interference of proximal dialkyl amino and acyl groups at the peri (1,8) positions of naphthalene affects the intramolecular charge transfer fluorescence. Previous studies indicate that acyl and freely rotating dimethyl amino groups twist toward coplanarity with the naphthalene ring in the excited state. The present study examines the effect of constraining the amino group in a ring. The photophysical properties of 2,2-dimethyl-1-(1-methyl-1,2,3,4-tetrahydrobenzo[h]quinolin-10-yl)propan-1-one (4), ethyl 1-methyl-1,2,3,4-tetrahydrobenzo[h]quinoline-10-carboxylate (5), and 1-methyl-1,2,3,4-tetrahydrobenzo[h]quinoline-10-carbaldehyde (6) are compared with the dimethyl amino derivatives 2 and 3. Crystal structures of 4–6 show that the amine ring adopts a chair conformation, where the N-methyl group is axial. Computational results suggest that the pyramidal amino group planarizes and twists together with the acyl toward coplanarity in the excited state. The ring structure does not thwart the formation of a planar intramolecular charge transfer (PICT) state.
From Genes to Stress Response: Genomic and Transcriptomic Data Suggest the Significance of the Inositol and Raffinose Family Oligosaccharide Pathways in Stylosanthes scabra, Adaptation to the Caatinga Environment
Authors: Ferreira-Neto José Ribamar Costa , Silva Manassés Daniel da , Binneck Eliseu , Vilanova Elayne Cristina Ramos , Melo Ana Luíza Trajano Mangueira de , Silva Jéssica Barboza da , de Melo Natoniel Franklin , Pandolfi Valesca , Benko-Iseppon Ana Maria
Published: June 2024

S. scabra is an important forage and extremophilic plant native to the Brazilian Caatinga semiarid region. It has only recently been subjected to omics-based investigations, and the generated datasets offer insights into biotechnologically significant candidates yet to be thoroughly examined. INSs (inositol and its derivatives) and RFO (raffinose oligosaccharide family) pathways emerge as pivotal candidates, given their critical roles in plant physiology. The mentioned compounds have also been linked to negative impacts on the absorption of nutrients in mammals, affecting overall nutritional intake and metabolism. Therefore, studying these metabolic pathways is important not just for plants but also for animals who depend on them as part of their diet. INS and RFO pathways in S. scabra stood out for their abundance of identified loci and enzymes. The enzymes exhibited genomic redundancy, being encoded by multiple loci and various gene families. The phylogenomic analysis unveiled an expansion of the PIP5K and GolS gene families relative to the immediate S. scabra ancestor. These enzymes are crucial for synthesizing key secondary messengers and the RFO precursor, respectively. Transcriptional control of the studied pathways was associated with DOF-type, C2H2, and BCP1 transcription factors. Identification of biological processes related to INS and RFO metabolic routes in S. scabra highlighted their significance in responding to stressful conditions prevalent in the Caatinga environment. Finally, RNA-Seq and qPCR data revealed the relevant influence of genes of the INS and RFO pathways in the S. scabra response to water deprivation. Our study deciphers the genetics and transcriptomics of the INS and RFO in S. scabra, shedding light on their importance for a Caatinga-native plant and paving the way for future biotechnological applications in this species and beyond.
Metabolism-Based Herbicide Resistance to Mesosulfuron-methyl and Identification of Candidate Genes in Bromus japonicus
Authors: Li Qi , Wang Hengzhi , Yu Jinping , Zhang Wei , Guo Wenlei , Liu Yixue
Published: June 2024

The evolved resistance of Bromus japonicus Houtt. to ALS-inhibiting herbicides is well established. Previous studies have primarily focused on target-site resistance; however, non-target-site resistance has not been well characterized. This investigation demonstrated that ALS gene sequencing did not detect any previously known resistance mutations in a mesosulfuron-methyl-resistant (MR) population, and notably, treatment with the P450 monooxygenase (P450) inhibitor malathion markedly heightened susceptibility to mesosulfuron-methyl. Utilizing UPLC-MS/MS analysis confirmed elevated mesosulfuron-methyl metabolism in MR plants. The integration of Isoform Sequencing (Iso-Seq) and RNA Sequencing (RNA-Seq) facilitated the identification of candidate genes associated with non-target sites in a subpopulation with two generations of herbicide selection. Through qRT-PCR analysis, 21 differentially expressed genes were characterized, and among these, 10 genes (comprising three P450s, two glutathione S-transferases, one glycosyltransferase, two ATP-binding cassette transporters, one oxidase, and one hydrolase) exhibited constitutive upregulation in resistant plants. Our findings substantiated that increased herbicide metabolism is a driving force behind mesosulfuron-methyl resistance in this B. japonicus population.
Pharmacognostic Evaluation, Chemical Characterization, and Antibacterial Activity of Bassia indica (Wight) A.J. Scott
Authors: Anjum Fayyaz , Touqeer Saad , Khan Muhammad Younus , Jamil QurratUlAin , Rida Ayesha , Shirazi Jafir Hussain , Ejaz Syeda Abida , Attaullah Hafiz Muhammad , Sarwar Ghulam , Khan Zaeem Hayat , Wazir Muhammad Asif , Malik Barizah , Aufy Mohammed , Iqbal Shahid Muhammad
Published: June 2024

Bassia indica (Wight) A.J. Scott is an Indian origin plant with documented medicinal and nutritional value, but has not been fully characterized yet. The present study was designed to establish pharmacognostic standards for the proper identification of the B. indica plant and its chemical characterization. The plant was standardized with World Health Organization (WHO) standardization tools and chemically characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and gas chromatography-mass spectroscopy (GC-MS) analysis. Antibacterial potential was assessed by the zone of inhibition and minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC), and molecular docking studies were also performed. Pharmacognostic evaluation established the macroscopic and microscopic parameters for the identification of whole plant and its powder. Physicochemical parameters were also set forth while quantitative phytochemical analysis showed that the ethyl acetate fraction had the highest quantity of phenols, flavonoids, and tannins. FTIR analysis showed several functional groups such as phenols, alkanes, and alcohols while 55 phytochemicals were identified in the GC-MS analysis of the crude fraction. The crude extract and other fractions showed marked antibacterial activity, while the ethyl acetate fraction showed the least MIC (1.95–31.25 mg/mL). Phytochemicals identified in the GC-MS showed good molecular docking interactions against the DNA gyrase subunit B of bacteria with binding energies ranging from −4.2 to −9.4 kcal/mol. The current study describes the pharmacognostic characterization and phytochemical profiling of B. indica and provides scientific evidence to support its use in infections.
A Study on the Promoting Role of Renewable Hydrogen in the Transformation of Petroleum Refining Pathways
Authors: Shi Xiaofei , Wang Gang , Wang Xiaolin , Chen Bo
Published: June 2024

The refining industry is shifting from decarbonization to hydrogenation for processing heavy fractions to reduce pollution and improve efficiency. However, the carbon footprint of hydrogen production presents significant environmental challenges. This study couples refinery linear programming models with life cycle assessment to evaluate, from a long-term perspective, the role of low-carbon hydrogen in promoting sustainable and profitable hydrogenation refining practices. Eight hydrogen-production pathways were examined, including those based on fossil fuels and renewable energy, providing hydrogen for three representative refineries adopting hydrogenation, decarbonization, and co-processing routes. Learning curves were used to predict future hydrogen cost trends. Currently, hydrogenation refineries using fossil fuels benefit from significant cost advantages in hydrogen production, demonstrating optimal economic performance. However, in the long term, with increasing carbon taxes, hydrogenation routes will be affected by the high carbon emissions associated with fossil-based hydrogen, losing economic advantages compared to decarbonization pathways. With increasing installed capacity and technological advancements, low-carbon hydrogen is anticipated to reach cost parity with fossil-based hydrogen before 2060. Coupling renewable hydrogen is expected to yield the most significant economic advantages for hydrogenation refineries in the long term. Renewable hydrogen drives the transition of refining processing routes from a decarbonization-oriented approach to a hydrogenation-oriented paradigm, resulting in cleaner refining processes and enhanced competitiveness under emission-reduction pressures.
Correction: Schaser, Nicholas J. 2021. Israel and the Individual in Matthew and Midrash: Reassessing “True Israel”. Religions 12: 425
Authors: Schaser Nicholas J.
Published: June 2024

There was an error in the original publication (Schaser 2021) [...]
Application of Normalized Radar Backscatter and Hyperspectral Data to Augment Rangeland Vegetation Fractional Classification
Authors: Rigge Matthew , Bunde Brett , Postma Kory , Oliver Simon , Mueller Norman
Published: June 2024

Rangeland ecosystems in the western United States are vulnerable to climate change, fire, and anthropogenic disturbances, yet classification of rangeland areas remains difficult due to frequently sparse vegetation canopies that increase the influence of soils and senesced vegetation, the overall abundance of senesced vegetation, heterogeneity of life forms, and limited ground-based data. The Rangeland Condition Monitoring Assessment and Projection (RCMAP) project provides fractional vegetation cover maps across western North America using Landsat imagery and artificial intelligence from 1985 to 2023 at yearly time-steps. The objectives of this case study are to apply hyperspectral data from several new data streams, including Sentinel Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) and Earth Surface Mineral Dust Source Investigation (EMIT), to the RCMAP model. We run a series of five tests (Landsat-base model, base + SAR, base + EMIT, base + SAR + EMIT, and base + Landsat NEXT [LNEXT] synthesized from EMIT) over a difficult-to-classify region centered in southwest Montana, USA. Our testing results indicate a clear accuracy benefit of adding SAR and EMIT data to the RCMAP model, with a 7.5% and 29% relative increase in independent accuracy (R2), respectively. The ability of SAR data to observe vegetation height allows for more accurate classification of vegetation types, whereas EMIT’s continuous characterization of the spectral response boosts discriminatory power relative to multispectral data. Our spectral profile analysis reveals the enhanced classification power with EMIT is related to both the improved spectral resolution and representation of the entire domain as compared to legacy Landsat. One key finding is that legacy Landsat bands largely miss portions of the electromagnetic spectrum where separation among important rangeland targets exists, namely in the 900–1250 nm and 1500–1780 nm range. Synthesized LNEXT data include these gaps, but the reduced spectral resolution compared to EMIT results in an intermediate 18% increase in accuracy relative to the base run. Here, we show the promise of enhanced classification accuracy using EMIT data, and to a smaller extent, SAR.
Exploring the Nature of Diversity Dishonesty within Predominantly White Schools of Medicine, Pharmacy, and Public Health at the Most Highly Selective and Highly Ranked U.S. Universities
Authors: Burrell Darrell Norman
Published: June 2024

The concept of “diversity dishonesty” has emerged as a pressing concern within highly selective and highly ranked schools of medicine, pharmacy, and public health at elite and highly ranked U.S. universities, particularly in the context of diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) efforts. This phenomenon, defined as a lack of sincerity and genuineness in an organization’s commitment to genuine and measurable change regarding diversity, raises significant questions about the authenticity of their endeavors. Organizations often engage in surface-level or performative actions related to diversity, creating the illusion of progress and dedication while failing to enact substantive and meaningful advancements in promoting diversity and inclusivity. This applied research inquiry uses a review of literature, research theories, and research frameworks to delve into the nuanced dynamics of diversity dishonesty, exploring how organizations demonstrate a commitment in form but not in substance. The practice of tokenism, where diverse individuals are hired and prominently featured in organizational materials but are not genuinely valued, emerges as a defining characteristic of diversity dishonesty. Moreover, when questions regarding the authenticity of their commitment arise, organizations may resort to gaslighting minorities, further exacerbating the issue. Recognizing the critical need to address diversity dishonesty, this article comprehensively explores frameworks to understand and combat this phenomenon. It seeks to engage with viable theories, problem-solving approaches, and contextual models that can illuminate the complex interplay of factors contributing to diversity dishonesty. By shedding light on the mechanisms through which elite and highly ranked predominantly White schools of medicine, pharmacy, and public health engage in performative acts without enacting transformative cultural change, this research aims to pave the way for more genuine and impactful DEI efforts and future research in this area.
Unlearning Communication for Social Change—A Pedagogical Proposition
Authors: Tufte Thomas
Published: June 2024

We have in recent years seen growing calls for pedagogies for social change amongst communication and development scholars, identifying resistances, critiques, and emerging practices in the field. This review article addresses this ‘pedagogical turn’, suggesting that it is in these pedagogies we can see the pathways to unlearn and relearn communication for social change. Offering a decolonial analytical lens, this article asks two questions: What characterizes these critical pedagogies? And how can the various pedagogies contribute to unlearning and relearning the field of communication and social change? This article is structured in five parts, first offering a review of key critiques articulated within the field of communication and social development in the past two decades, arguing that, in practice, what we are seeing is the organic development of a pluriverse of knowledges, values, and visions of society. Secondly, it proposes the decolonial term of ‘unlearning’ as a pedagogical pathway and epistemological ambition for the production and recognition of a pluriverse of knowledges, thereby challenging dominant perceptions of society and social change. Thirdly, it introduces a model of analysis which structures ways whereby we can think about monocultures and ecologies in relation to a range of dimensions of the pluriverse. Fourthly, it reviews key critical pedagogies, discussing how they address epistemic injustice both in broader societal contexts as well as in the university space. This article concludes by discussing how the process of unlearning through critical pedagogies has implications for the configuration and definition of the field of communication and social change, suggesting three areas for further research: ways of seeing (positionality), new subject positions (relationality), and new design processes (transition).
Rethinking International Scholarships as Peace Interventions in the Palestinian Context of Conflict
Authors: Almassri Anas N.
Published: June 2024

International education scholarships can be significant interventions at times of conflict and peace. Extant research in International Relations and in International Education begins to demonstrate this significance but predominantly in neo-liberal terms of human capital import, North-facing cosmopolitanism, and Western-style democratization and global (economic) integration. This is valuable framing, but it misses more complex political effects of scholarships as conflict and peace interventions. This paper presents empirical evidence illuminating the need for a broader ontology in researching the potential contribution of scholarships to peace. The paper draws on qualitative data collected from 32 Palestinian scholarship alumni and alumnae, sampling a national group nowhere to be found in scholarly or policy works dealing with international education and conflict/peace. Developed through a critical realist thematic analysis of the collected data, the experiential findings reported here show strong perceived gains in the research participants’ critical reflexivization and domestic and global (re)socialization of their sense of national identity and awareness. An interdisciplinary discussion of these gains demonstrates that scholarships may represent deep and significant advocacy and capacity-building interventions in the contexts of conflict, with these interventions spanning the humanitarian, development, and, to a lesser extent, political spheres. The discussion is concluded with a reflection on the methodological-conceptual challenge these findings outline to framing international education impacts in only neo-liberal terms. Overall, this paper contributes a timely Global South perspective to inform critical thought and practice of international scholarships for Palestinians and other conflict-affected groups/nations.
Percepções e práticas de professores universitários em turmas com estudantes surdos
Authors: Moreira de Souza Corrêa Adriana , Soares Dantas Daniel
Published: June 2024

Esta pesquisa visa a discutir as percepções e práticas de professores universitários em turmas inclusivas, com estudantes surdos. Para isso, foi realizado um estudo exploratório, bibliográfico, com dados analisados por meio de uma abordagem qualitativa. Por meio da Análise do Conteúdo, foram organizadas quatro categorias de análise: formação de professores universitários e o ensino de surdos; orientações recebidas e a socialização de saberes entre os educadores; práticas educativas em classes com surdos; profissionais e recursos didáticos utilizados em turmas com surdos. Os resultados indicam que os professores precisam conhecer o seu papel e de outros educadores no processo de ensino de surdos, bem como as possibilidades de acesso desse estudante ao conhecimento, seja por meio da Língua Brasileira de Sinais, da Língua Portuguesa ou de outros recursos linguísticos. Tais conhecimentos facilitarão o planejamento, utilizando-se das parcerias técnicas e práticas, a fim de favorecer a socialização de surdos e de ouvintes, além da construção colaborativa do conhecimento.
The Effect of Giving Warm Compresses on the Level of Menstrual Pain in Adolescent Girls at the Hidayatus Sholikin Islamic Boarding School in Pembuang Hulu, Central Kalimantan
Authors: Ferri Ardiyansah Akhmad , Wijayanti Wijayanti , Puji Astuti Hutari
Published: June 2024

Dysmenorrhea is an individual response to a disruptive state of the endocrine system that can cause pain during menstruation. The cause of the pain is the imbalance of progesterone hormones in the blood. The more severe the pain can disrupt the psychological condition of the individual, where pain stimulates the brain, leading to changes in life, social relationships, feelings of anger, fear, and depression. This study aims to determine the effect of giving warm compresses on the level of menstrual pain in adolescent girls.
The research is a Pre-Experimental Design conducted from August 2023 to March 2024. The research population is 222 teenage girls from Islamic Boarding School Hidayatus Sholikin Pembuang Hulu Central Kalimantan, and the sample obtained from a calculation of 68 teenage girls. The sampling technique used is simple random sampling, with the Standard Operating Procedure for the independent variable on the application of warm compresses and the dependent variable with the observation of menstrual pain in teenage girls. Data is analyzed using the Wilcoxon Rank Test on SPSS.
The results of the research show that the characteristics of the respondents, with the majority of 43 respondents (63.3%) being 12 years old, 44 respondents (64.7%) having regular menstrual cycles, 31 respondents (45.6%) having a menstrual cycle of 28 days, 36 respondents (52.9%) experiencing menstrual pain (Dysmenorrhea) on the first day, 38 respondents (55.9%) having a high level of menstrual pain in teenage girls before being given warm compresses, and most of 35 respondents (51.5%) having a low level of menstrual pain in teenage girls after being given warm compresses. There is an impact of applying warm compresses on the level of menstrual pain in teenage girls (p value=0.000).
The conclusion of this research is that there is an impact of applying warm compresses on the level of menstrual pain in teenage girls.
Variable Determinism in Social Applications: Translating Science to Society
Authors: Evers Kathinka
Published: June 2024

The debate over whether the belief in possessing a “ free will” can be maintained in the light of modern science, in particular neuroscience, has often been presented as a choice between two extremes. On the one hand, we have the conception of strict determinism excluding free will ; on the other hand, we have a conception of freedom of choice excluding determinism. Neither position, I claim, is scientifically realistic. The introduction in neuroscience of “ variable determinism” suggests that we can be simultaneously determined and “ free”. The important questions before us rather concern how to understand this balance and how to structure our societies accordingly. In this article, I focus on the doxastic and normative questions about the possible role of free will in our belief systems and social structures and on the role of neuroscience in challenging, or supporting, different positions. In line with a previously developed theoretical framework, I argue that the variability theorem, if correct, may offer empirical support for the compatibility of free will and causality, thus allowing for a rational belief in free will understood as a non-zero capacity to influence the causal processes of states and behaviour. So long as there is contingency in the causal relations (i. e. determinism including variability), there may be a fundamental dimension of voluntary influence in our choices. This measure of variability and control is sufficient to safeguard the possibility of “ free will” under these particular aspects, leaving open the extent of the freedom that we actually possess.

De facto, our capacity for choice is strongly influenced by a variety of causal mechanisms and antecedent events over which we in reality have no or very limited influence : our natural, social and cultural environments all shape us. This variable determinism is also important to understand in terms of social applications, and the aim of this article is to translate this aspect of science and philosophy to society. In that endeavour, we need to be aware both of the freedom bestowed us by the variable determinism revealed by neuroscience and philosophy, and of the limits of this freedom. Understanding of this balance and its broader contexts should become more deeply integrated not only into our general world-views but also into our social structures shaping our legal and educational systems, child-care and moral upbringing favouring tolerance and respect of human rights.
La liberté augmentée
Authors: Kammerer François
Published: June 2024

Si l’on présente parfois le progrès des sciences, et notamment des sciences cognitives, comme une menace vis-à-vis du libre-arbitre, il existe plusieurs conceptions du libre-arbitre – ou de la liberté – qui semblent plus aisément compatibles avec ce que nous disent les sciences. Il semble même que, si l’on adopte ces conceptions, le progrès scientifique, en tant qu’il permet des capacités d’interventions technologiques nouvelles, pourrait permettre de nous rendre considérablement plus libres. Le résultat serait alors une forme de «liberté augmentée » . Cet article définit la liberté augmentée, tente d’établir sa possibilité de principe, et examine plusieurs grands problèmes et obstacles rencontrés par cette notion.
Gravure d'interprétation et échanges artistiques. Les estampes françaises d'après les peintres italiens contemporains (1655-1724)
Authors: Gady Bénédicte
Published: June 2024

S'appuyant sur un catalogue de plus de 700 estampes françaises d'après les peintres italiens contemporains, dans la seconde moitié du XVIIe siècle, accessible sur le site e-stampe.com, ce dossier étudie les relations entre foyers artistiques à travers la gravure d'interprétation. Les planches exécutées révèlent une nette prédominance des modèles romains, une prépondérance des sujets d'histoire, un faible intérêt pour le grand décor et les genres, ou encore l'importance de la gravure de portraits qui semble reconnue comme une spécificité française. Elles mettent en évidence de réelles affinités artistiques entre peintres et graveurs, comme Ferri et Roullet, Piola et Tasnière, isolent le cas particulier de Carlo Maratti et illustrent le rôle de certains éditeurs (les De' Rossi), de graveurs établis à Rome (Cornelis Bloemaert) ou de commanditaires (le cardinal Chigi). Enfin, elles permettent de réfléchir aux questions de méthode que pose l'analyse de la gravure d'interprétation en termes de fortune critique.
Ultimi ragguagli di Parnaso. Un percorso tra gli studi seicenteschi sui rapporti penna-pennello
Authors: Rossi Massimiliano
Published: June 2024

Cette étude prend en considération une part importante de la bibliographie internationale scientifique publiée depuis une dizaine d'années ayant trait au rapport entre arts et lettres dans le Seicento italien. Autour de différentes thématiques («langue et style», «fortune», «ut pictura poesis», «le parler visible»), ce parcours cherche à tracer un itinéraire critique entre les contributions les plus significatives, en en explorant les nombreuses ramifications avec l'aide d'autres textes et le recours à d'autres œuvres figuratives.
"Il avait retrouvé le secret de Pygmalion" : Girodet, Canova e l'illusione della vita
Authors: Savettieri Chiara
Published: June 2024

Chiara Savettieri, "Il avait retrouvé le secret de Pygmalion" : Girodet, Canova and the illusion of life ;

This paper intends to highlight the relationship between the French painter Anne-Louis Girodet-Trioson and the Italian sculptor Antonio Canova. The works by Girodet in which one can distinguish connections with the sculptor are the Endymion and Pygmalion and Galatea. In the former, one can observe various similarities with the aesthetics of Canova : these are particularly recognizable in the staging of the light in order to reproduce the smooth texture of flesh and in a conception of beauty particular to Winckelmann, which, by its "indeterminate" nature, appears androgynous and ephebic. Following the wishes of its patron, that is to say Sommariva, the Pygmalion was to constitute a tribute to Canova who was able to breathe life and the illusion of movement to his marble statues. In this painting, it is possible to distinguish precisely both the similarity but also the contrast with the sculptor. On the one hand, Girodet, like Canova, believes that art is composed of a significant intellectual element, which bathes the works in a cool sheen, far removed from the fervent spontaneity of Canova's marble statues. However, if one looks closer, it appears that this intellectualism stems from a deep mise en abyme of the values on which the neoclassical aesthetics was based : a crisis that appears extremely clearly in the numerous texts written by the painter throughout his life.
Iphigénie ou la représentation voilée
Authors: Hénin Emmanuelle
Published: June 2024

Iphigenie oder die verhüllte Darstellung.

Die Studie will die Rezeption eines antiken Apologs in der Malerei mittels zweier Theorien aufzeigen - bildlich und theatralisch, in Italien und in Frankreich, von der Antike bis zum 18. Jahrhundert : Die Darstellung Das Opfer der Iphigenie von Timanthes, ein heute verlorenes Bild, dazu bestimmt, das Modell schlechthin der Ausdruckskraft zu werden. Aber ein paradoxes Modell, weil das Gesicht des Agamemnons verhüllt war, um den Schrecken des Familienmordes nicht zu sehen. Oder um dem Betrachter nicht seine entstellten Züge zu zeigen ? Und wenn dies der Fall ist, aufgrund von Scham, oder aufgrund des Respekts für die unzerbrechliche Norm der Schönheit ? Es sei denn, es handelt sich um ein ausgekochtes Kalkül, und die Strategie des Litotes zielt darauf ab, umso mehr Wirkung auf die Gefühle des Betrachters auszuüben, indem man ihn sich selbst den schrecklichsten Ausdruck vorstellen lässt ? Und wenn es nur war, um die Ungeschicklichkeit des Malers zu verbergen, unfähig, eine extreme Leidenschaft darzustellen ? Die Debatte ist lebendig und reflektiert die gesamte Bandbreite der Ästhetik sowohl der Renaissance als auch der Klassik. Sie zeigt dabei die tiefe Einheit mit der Theorie der Darstellung, die über die gleichen topoi nachdachte, und die gleichen Fragestellungen diskutierte.
Transformations et pouvoirs de l'effigie pendant la Contre-Réforme : le portrait funéraire au XVIIe siècle (Rome, Paris)
Authors: Mazel-Nguyen Claire
Published: June 2024

The transformations and the power of the effigy during the Counter-Reformation : funerary portraiture in the seventeenth century (Rome, Paris)

The 1620s to 1640s in Rome, and 1650s in Paris, were the setting of a profound change in sculpted portraiture, which attempted representations "così al vivo". The funerary context of many of these portraits leads one to consider this artistic development in relation with the profound change in pastoral practices surrounding death and salvation during the Counter-Reformation. Where portraiture had once depicted the deceased in anticipation as time stood still, it now captured the living image of his devotion. Where it once solicited the prayers of the living, it now exhibited the perfect devotion of the deceased and led the faithful towards imitation. This artistic development therefore also contributed to an expansion of the power of images, to a problematic shift in their status.
Un ensemble de copies de dessins d'après l'Antique de Poussin
Authors: Rosenberg Pierre
Published: June 2024

Un insieme di copie di disegni da l'antico di Poussin.

Poussin ha disegnato poco: si tratta per lo più di disegni preparatori (382 numeri nel corpus di Pierre Rosenberg e Louis-Antoine Prat pubblicato nel 1994) per le sue composizioni pittoriche o di copie dall'Antico. La scoperta d'un gruppo di disegni, costituito non da copie d'antichità ma da copie di copie dall'Antico, chiarisce il metodo di Poussin e ci informa sull'importanza che egli conferiva all'Antichità. Queste copie non sono mai realizzate davanti alle opere, ma da un numero modesto di testi illustrati antichi. L'autore studia due insiemi di copie da Poussin ; il più importante è conservato in una collezione privata, mentre l'altro si trova a Roma nel Gabinetto Nazionale delle Stampe. Questi due gruppi completano le ricerche intraprese nel corpus pubblicato nel 1994.
Il collezionismo della famiglia Santacroce nella Roma del XVII secolo. I disegni
Authors: Pazzini Claudia
Published: June 2024

The collecting of the Santacroce family : the drawings

In Barberini court circles emerges, in the 1630s, a peculiar patron and collector, still relatively unknown to scholars : Cardinal Antonio Santacroce. During his time at the legation in Bologna and Urbino, from 1631 to 1639, the cardinal came in contact with the extremely active local artistic milieu, thanks to which he developed a specific taste that would steer his choices as a collector. Archival documents bear witness to a significant collection of paintings, while all evidence of the numerous drawing albums owned by Santacroce has been lost. The precious comments on the drawings of this amateur of Roman art recorded in the works of Pierre-Jean Mariette enable us to determine the distinctive features that led to the identification of the cardinal's drawings, today scattered in various public and private collections. Among the drawings found are numerous sheets by the hand of Raphael, Polidoro da Caravaggio, Primaticcio and the Carracci.
Appunti sul paesaggio nell'arte elettronica
Authors: Bordini Silvia
Published: June 2024

Notes on landscape in electronic art

The transformations of the vision of nature as landscape, undergone in contemporary art of the past years, are here examined. Particular attention is granted to the displacement of artistic practice, from painting to other forms of representational means, languages and experiments. From the 1960s onwards in fact, art was no longer conceived in pictorial terms but developed the concept of a work of art as a relationship, as a place for perceptive and dynamic experimentation in space and time, as well as an experience linked to the behaviors of the artist and the beholder. In this context, this essay focuses on landscape in electronic art, encompassing video, video installations, net art and interactive environments, and discusses the main historical and critical analyses of these works. Particular attention is given to references in interpretations of new media to traditional themes in landscape painting.