bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Physiological oxygen conditions enhance the angiogenic properties of extracellular vesicles from human mesenchymal stem cells
Authors: Phelps Jolene , Hart David A. , Mitha Alim P. , Duncan Neil A. , Sen Arindom
Published: August 2023

Background

Following an ischemic injury to the brain, the induction of angiogenesis is critical to neurological recovery. The angiogenic benefits of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) have been attributed at least in part to the actions of extracellular vesicles (EVs) that they secrete. EVs are membrane-bound vesicles that contain various angiogenic biomolecules capable of eliciting therapeutic responses and are of relevance in cerebral applications due to their ability to cross the blood–brain barrier (BBB). Though MSCs are commonly cultured under oxygen levels present in injected air, when MSCs are cultured under physiologically relevant oxygen conditions (2–9% O2), they have been found to secrete higher amounts of survival and angiogenic factors. There is a need to determine the effects of MSC-EVs in models of cerebral angiogenesis and whether those from MSCs cultured under physiological oxygen provide greater functional effects.

Methods

Human adipose-derived MSCs were grown in clinically relevant serum-free medium and exposed to either headspace oxygen concentrations of 18.4% O2(normoxic) or 3% O2(physioxic). EVs were isolated from MSC cultures by differential ultracentrifugation and characterized by their size, concentration of EV specific markers, and their angiogenic protein content. Their functional angiogenic effects were evaluated in vitro by their induction of cerebral microvascular endothelial cell (CMEC) proliferation, tube formation, and angiogenic and tight junction gene expressions.

Results

Compared to normoxic conditions, culturing MSCs under physioxic conditions increased their expression of angiogenic genesSDF1andVEGF,and subsequently elevated VEGF-A content in the EV fraction. MSC-EVs demonstrated an ability to induce CMEC angiogenesis by promoting tube formation, with the EV fraction from physioxic cultures having the greatest effect. The physioxic EV fraction further upregulated the expression of CMEC angiogenic genesFGF2,HIF1,VEGFandTGFB1, as well as genes (OCLNandTJP1) involved in BBB maintenance.

Conclusions

EVs from physioxic MSC cultures hold promise in the generation of a cell-free therapy to induce angiogenesis. Their positive angiogenic effect on cerebral microvascular endothelial cells demonstrates that they may have utility in treating ischemic cerebral conditions, where the induction of angiogenesis is critical to improving recovery and neurological function.
Geochemical investigation of the mixed Máriahalom vertebrate fauna at the Paleogene–Neogene boundary in the Central Paratethys: environmental conditions and age constrain
Authors: Kocsis László , Rabi Márton , Ulianov Alex , Cipriani Anna , Farkas Izabella M. , Botfalvai Gábor
Published: August 2023

The fossil vertebrate fauna of Máriahalom contains remains from a wide range of ecologies including terrestrial and aquatic mammals, crocodiles, sharks, and rays among others. All these were found mixed in mollusc-rich, shallow water, coastal deposits. The aim of the study is to trace the origin of the fossils using their rare earth element (REE) content and their respective ecology with stable oxygen isotopic compositions. In addition, marine vertebrates and calcareous marine fossils were analysed for their Sr isotope composition to provide a new age estimate for the locality. The REE content and their distribution in the fossils indicate similar early diagenetic environments and possible contemporaneous fossilization for the entire vertebrate assemblage. Reworked fossils of significantly different age can be excluded. The enamel/enameloid-derived phosphate oxygen isotope composition of selected fossil taxa fit well with previously inferred habitats that include marine, brackish, and terrestrial environments. Notably, the stem-pinnipedPotamotherium valletoniis best interpreted as freshwater dweller instead of marine, consistent with the sedimentology of other occurrences. Our novel87Sr/86Sr data suggest an Aquitanian age (21.4 ± 0.5 Ma) for the Máriahalom site that is younger than the previously proposed Late Oligocene age based on biostratigraphy (MP28–30 European Mammal Paleogene Reference Levels). An Aquitanian age raises the possibility that the index fossil taxon, the anthracothere mammalMicrobunodon minimum, may have vanished earlier in Western Europe than in the Central Paratethys region.
MuscleJ2: a rebuilding of MuscleJ with new features for high-content analysis of skeletal muscle immunofluorescence slides
Authors: Danckaert Anne , Trignol Aurélie , Le Loher Guillaume , Loubens Sébastien , Staels Bart , Duez Hélène , Shorte Spencer L. , Mayeuf-Louchart Alicia
Published: August 2023

Histological analysis of skeletal muscle is of major interest for understanding its behavior in different pathophysiological conditions, such as the response to different environments or myopathies. In this context, many software programs have been developed to perform automated high-content analysis. We created MuscleJ, a macro that runs in ImageJ/Fiji on batches of images. MuscleJ is a multianalysis tool that initially allows the analysis of muscle fibers, capillaries, and satellite cells. Since its creation, it has been used in many studies, and we have further developed the software and added new features, which are presented in this article. We converted the macro into a Java-language plugin with an improved user interface. MuscleJ2 provides quantitative analysis of fibrosis, vascularization, and cell phenotype in whole muscle sections. It also performs analysis of the peri-myonuclei, the individual capillaries, and any staining in the muscle fibers, providing accurate quantification within regional sublocalizations of the fiber. A multicartography option allows users to visualize multiple results simultaneously. The plugin is freely available to the muscle science community.
More grateful, less addicted! Understanding how gratitude affects online gaming addiction among Chinese college students: a three-wave multiple mediation model
Authors: Gao Bin , Xu Yi , Bai Lu , Luo Gui , Li Weiyi
Published: August 2023

Background

Online game addiction has become a prominent public concern, particularly among emerging adults, warranting in-depth investigation. Despite prior cross-sectional research indicating a negative correlation between gratitude and online gaming addiction, a dearth of longitudinal research exists in this area. Furthermore, the underlying mechanisms that explain the link between gratitude and online gaming addiction remain poorly understood, highlighting a critical research gap in the field.

Methods

To bridge this gap, our study adopted a three-wave longitudinal design and constructed a multiple mediation model. Over the course of one year, data was collected from a sample of Chinese undergraduates, with 319 students participating at Time 1, 305 at Time 2, and 292 at Time 3. Participants were administered online self-report surveys, enabling the acquisition of valuable data regarding their levels of gratitude, online game addiction, self-control, and loneliness.

Results

The findings revealed a negative correlation between gratitude measured at Time 1 and online game addiction assessed at Time 3. Further analysis demonstrated that both self-control and loneliness played multiple mediating roles at Time 2 in the link between gratitude and online game addiction.

Conclusion

These research findings shed light on the underlying mechanisms between gratitude and online game addiction, which provide implications for developing interventions (e.g., interventions based on gratitude) for reducing young adults’ online game addiction.
Super-strong and high-performance electrical film heater derived from silver nanowire/aligned bacterial cellulose film
Authors: Hu Guichun , Varamesh Amir , Zhong Na , Kong Fangong , Hu Jinguang
Published: August 2023

High-performance electrical Joule heaters with high mechanical properties, low driving voltage, rapid response, and flexibility are highly desirable for portable thermal management. Herein, by using aligned bacterial cellulose (BC) and silver nanowire (AgNW), we fabricated a novel film heater based on Joule heating phenomena. The aligned BC film prepared by stretching BC hydrogel and hot-pressing drying technology showed outstanding mechanical properties and flexibility. The ultrahigh strength of up to 1018 MPa and the toughness of 20 MJ/m3 were obtained for the aligned BC film with 40% wet-stretching (BC-40). In addition, the aligned BC film could be folded into desirable shapes. The AgNW was spray-coated on the surface of aligned BC-40 film and then covered with polydimethylsiloxane to form a P@AgNW@BC heater. P@AgNW@BC heater showed excellent conductivity, which endowed the film heater with an outstanding Joule heating performance. P@AgNW@BC heater could reach ~ 98 ℃ at a very low driving voltage of 4 V with a rapid heating response (13 s) and long-term temperature stability. The P@AgNW@BC heater with such an outstanding heating performance can be used as a flexible heating device for different applications in daily life like deicing/defogging device, wearable thermotherapy, etc.Affiliations: Please check and confirm that the authors and their respective affiliations have been correctly identified and amend if necessary.yes, we confirmed the affiliations are correct.
Article title: Kindly check and confirm the edit made in the article title.Thanks, the title is no problem.

Graphical Abstract
Effect of steel and PVA fibres as monofibres on strength and cracking properties of fly ash and slag-based alkali-activated concrete
Authors: Venkateswarlu Mangalapuri , Gunneswara Rao T. D.
Published: August 2023

The present paper explores the experimental study on the influence of steel fibres (SF) and polyvinyl alcohol fibres (PVAF) as monofibres on the strength, and cracking properties of alkali-activated concrete with varying ground granulated blast furnace slag (GGBFS) and fly ash amounts was examined under ambient curing in this study. The alkali activator was a mixture of sodium hydroxide (NaOH) and sodium silicate (Na2SiO3) solutions. A molarity of 2 M NaOH solution and a fixed alkaline ratio (AR) of 1.5 were used in all mixes. Steel and polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) fibres were employed as monofibres. Steel fibres were added in 0.5%, 0.75%, and 1.00% volume fractions, whereas PVAF were added in 0.15%, 0.30%, and 0.45% volume fractions. In this study, a compressive strength test was performed; furthermore, a uni-axial tension test on reinforced concrete prisms was performed for tensile (first crack load, yield load, tensile stress in concrete, and tension stiffening effect) and cracking (crack spacing and crack width) properties. From the test results, better improvements in compressive strength, first crack load, yield load, tensile stress in concrete, and tension stiffening effect were observed in specimens having 1.00% steel fibres and specimens having 0.30% PVA fibres as monofibres. In the mixes containing 100% GGBFS, there was an improvement in the first crack load of approximately 46% due to 1.00% steel fibres and an approximately 29% improvement due to 0.30% PVA fibres. Furthermore, reduced crack spacings and minimum crack widths were found at 1.00% volume fraction of steel fibres and also in specimens having 0.30% PVA fibres. Overall, this study found that 1.00% steel and 0.3% PVA fibres as monofibres in fly ash-slag-based alkali-activated concrete (FSAAC) were optimal doses in terms of strength and cracking characteristics.
In situ stress field detection of stress-induced strong anisotropy media based on Mohr circle theory
Authors: Yang Jingyang , Zhang Fanchang , Xu Xunyong
Published: August 2023

The prediction and evaluation of in situ stress field plays an important role in many engineering fields. How to accurately obtain in situ stress field information of a large area becomes a focus in geophysics. Wide-azimuth seismic data establish a bridge between in situ stress and rock anisotropy, making it possible to predict the large-scale in situ stress field. Ellipse fitting (EF) is a common method to predict in situ stress according to the characteristics of seismic attribute change with azimuth, but there are some problems such as 90° ambiguity in orientation prediction and the unclear stress-related physical meaning of the fitting parameters. Moreover, the variation of azimuthal seismic attribute in strongly anisotropic media does not meet ellipse hypothesis, which also limits the application of EF method. Through mathematical simulation experiment, the mechanism of seismic response characteristics under orthotropic stress situation is explored. Focusing on the property of strong anisotropy induced by in situ stress in subsurface media, a new stress circle fitting (SCF) method for in situ stress prediction is established by combining the azimuthal variation characteristics of reflection coefficient with the Mohr circle theory. The fitting results have clear physical significance related to in situ stress. In addition, through analysis of fitting parameters, the influence of 90° ambiguity problem can be eliminated. EF and SCF methods are applied to actual wide-azimuth seismic data. Comparison indicates that the SCF result is more suitable for azimuth seismic data in strongly anisotropic media. Compared to EF, in situ stress field distribution predicted by SCF method is more reasonable. The actual imaging logging results also prove the accuracy of SCF method.
Thunderstorm ground enhancements observed on Aragats mountain in Armenia in the wintertime
Authors: Chilingarian A. , Hovsepyan G. , Aslanyan D. , Karapetyan T. , Sargsyan B. , Svechnikova E.
Published: August 2023

Thunderstorm ground enhancements (TGEs) occur in the spring-autumn seasons at Aragats due to warm air updrafts that cause hydrometeor charging. However, particle detectors recorded three TGEs within 10 hours on February 7, 2023, despite the temperature being −10 °C. Upon analyzing the energy spectra of TGE electrons and gamma rays, it was discovered that the atmospheric electric-field strength above Aragats, at heights 3300–5300 m, could be around 2.1 kV/cm even in winter. We provide details on the fluxes and energy spectra of TGE electrons and gamma rays, as well as discuss models of cloud electrification in winter.
Salivary Diurnal Glucocorticoid Profiles in Monozygotic Twins With Intratwin Birthweight Differences
Authors: Schulte Sandra , Eberhardt Nora , Roedig Thea , Schreiner Felix , Plamper Michaela , Bartmann Peter , Holterhus Paul-Martin , Kulle Alexandra E , Gohlke Bettina
Published: August 2023

Context

Low birthweight (bw) and unfavorable intrauterine conditions have been associated with metabolic sequelae in later life, but little is known about their impact on glucocorticoid metabolism.

Objective

We studied monozygotic twins with intratwin bw differences to analyze the long-term impact of bw on glucocorticoid metabolism.

Methods

46 monozygotic twin pairs with bw differences of <1 SDS (concordant; n = 29) and ≥1 SDS (discordant; n = 17) were recruited. At 6.9 years (mean age), saliva samples were collected (at 7 hours, 13 hours, 18 hours and 21 hour) and analyzed with liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS).

Results

We found significant or highly significant intratwin correlations in all twin pairs at 3 of 4 (cortisol), and 4 of 4 (cortisone) time points. Graphic evaluation of the diurnal cortisol patterns for each twin pair showed a distinct alignment in all groups. Analyses of the change of intratwin differences over the day by mixed linear modeling showed no intratwin differences in diurnal patterns. Regression analyses of intratwin differences at 7:00 hours showed a significant influence of catch-up growth, indicating lower cortisol concentrations in smaller twins with more catch-up growth (adj. R2 = 0.159, P = .014, ß = −3.71, F(1,42) = 9.15, f2 = 0.19).

Conclusion

In monozygotic twins with intratwin bw differences, intratwin catch-up growth showed a moderate influence on intratwin differences in morning cortisol concentrations. We observed no differences regarding diurnal patterns. In contrast, in all groups, we found significant intratwin correlations for cortisol and cortisone over the day and a pronounced graphic alignment of cortisol diurnal patterns. We therefore suggest a predominant significance of the genetic background compared with bw differences on cortisol metabolism.
Treatment Patterns, Adherence, Persistence, and Health Care Resource Utilization in Acromegaly: A Real-World Analysis
Authors: Fleseriu Maria , Barkan Ariel , Brue Thierry , Duquesne Edouard , Houchard Aude , del Pilar Schneider Maria , Ribeiro-Oliveira Antonio , Melmed Shlomo
Published: August 2023

Context

Treatment of acromegaly is multimodal for many patients, and medical treatments include somatostatin receptor ligands (SRLs), dopamine agonists (DAs), and growth hormone receptor antagonists (GHRAs). However, recent real-world evidence on treatment patterns for patients with acromegaly is limited.

Objective

This study evaluated medication usage, treatment changes, adherence, persistence, comorbidities, and health care resource utilization using deidentified data from MarketScan, a US claims database.

Methods

Eligible patients (n = 882) were those receiving monotherapy or combination therapy for ≥90 days without treatment gaps.

Results

Mean age at diagnosis was 48.6 years; 50.1% of patients were female. Over half (59.4%) had 1 line of treatment (LOT); 23.1% had 2 LOTs; 17.5% had at least 3 LOTs. Most patients (94.6%) initiated treatment with monotherapies. The most common first-line monotherapy treatments were cabergoline (DA, 36.8%), octreotide long-acting release (first-generation SRL, 29.5%), and lanreotide depot (first-generation SRL, 22.5%). Adherence for first-line treatments (proportion of days covered) was higher for first-generation SRLs (lanreotide depot: 0.8) compared with DAs (0.7). Treatment persistence (time between the first treatment record and a change in LOT/censoring) in LOT 1 was higher for GHRAs (24.8 months) and first-generation SRLs (20.0 months) compared with DAs (14.4 months). Female patients and those diagnosed at a younger age were more likely to have shorter treatment persistence. The most prevalent comorbidities were hyperlipidemia, essential hypertension, and sleep apnea.

Conclusion

Patients with more comorbidities had more health care visits during the first year after diagnosis, suggesting increased disease burden. Real-world evidence on treatment patterns provides insights into recommendations for individualized therapy.
Spoiled History: Leprosy and the Lessons of Queer Medieval Historiography
Authors: Adler Shoshana
Published: August 2023

White supremacists fetishize the crusading knight; queer theorists claim an identification with the generative secret of the premodern sodomite. This essay attends to the epistemological circuits of transhistorical identification, examining the claims of recursive history and the theories of attachment betrayed by identification with the medieval past. Turning away from the solicitations of the crusader and the sodomite, the essay excavates histories of emotional attachment to the leper, a medieval figure whose status as abject incarnation of historical distance helps reconfigure transhistoric emotional identification. In medieval texts, the leper's ruined face scripts styles of recognition. In the medical writings of nineteenth-century imperial physicians, the medieval leper is used in negotiating fears of disease outbreaks in various colonies. The leper therefore comes to assume the status of reassuring historical distance as a result of imperial ideological needs. Attention to the circuits of desire that animate claims to the past on the basis of identification and personal attachment can account for the attraction the Middle Ages exerts on both medievalists and white supremacists.
The New Space Race: Between the Great Powers of our Era
Authors: Zanidis Themistoklis
Published: August 2023

This paper focuses on Space as the relatively new domain of the strategic rivalry between the two greatest powers of modern era, the United States and China. The rise of China during the last decades has had compelling consequences in the international system/order, which is led by the United States, especially since the collapse of the USSR and the end of the Cold War. China’s ambitions know no limits, and the country competes with the US in every domain including trade, politics, economic, military, and especially technology. The paper highlights the fact that the New Space Race (NSR) is primarily a technological competition which eventually can and will affect everyone on this planet. In this regard, the NSR has two main facets: space exploration and the weaponization of Space. The former refers to deep space exploration mainly to a manned mission on Mars, as the red planet is the ultimate prize, and the return of humans to the Moon. The latter refers to the development of sophisticated weapon systems and respectively defensive systems which can either threat or protect the great powers from competitors. In this NSR, each side has its comparative advantages, China cooperates with Russia; however, the US is leading the way because it has the advanced private space industry and more years of experience in space exploration than China, which is struggling to catch up. Undoubtedly, the NSR has already begun but it will take more years to be fully develop, leading the great powers, and their allies, to the edge of technology as they try to dominate in the last frontier for mankind.
Uptake of core outcome sets by clinical trialists in China: a protocol
Authors: Qiu Ruijin , Fan Xiaodan , Wang Wenhui , Clarke Mike , Chen Zhuo , Liu Shuling , Williamson Paula , Shang Hongcai
Published: August 2023

Background: The concept of core outcome sets (COS) has been introduced in China for about 10 years. In recent years, some Chinese researchers also committed to developing COS, though the majority of COS are ongoing. However, there were more than 500 published COS for research in the COMET database by 2020. Whether the disease category of ongoing and completed COS include the burden of disease in China is unclear. In addition, whether the published COS are used by clinical trialists is also unclear. In this research, we would like to investigate if COS are applicable to the burden of disease in China, and to ascertain whether completed COS are used by clinical trialists in China.

Methods: The main burden of disease in China will be identified. Then we will search the COMET database to identify if there are ongoing or completed relevant COS research since 2012. Only COS for clinical trials or clinical research will be included. We will extract scopes of published eligible COS, including condition, population, interventions, and core outcomes. Then we will search the Chinese Clinical Trial Registry using disease names for each disease that has a published COS. We will assess the overlap in scope between clinical trials and COS. Then we will conduct an online survey and semi-structured interviews to identify the knowledge and perceptions of COS among primary investigators of included clinical trials.

Discussion: This research will fill in gaps between COS and the burden of disease in China. Understanding clinical trialists’ knowledge and perceptions of COS may help dissemination and application of COS in the future.

Trial registration: This research is registered in Core Outcome Measures in Effectiveness: https://www.comet-initiative.org/Studies/Details/2563.
Modelling energy demand under discontinuities from an energy economic point-of-view
Authors: Haas Reinhard , Kemfert Claudia , Auer Hans , Ajanovic Amela , Zwickl-Bernhard Sebastian
Published: August 2023

The major motivation for this paper is the need for the identification of policies required in principle for heading toward sustainable energy systems in any region world-wide. In particular, this work emphasizes modelling the demand side of energy systems and identifies interactions with energy policy measures. The core objective of this paper is to carry out a review of econometric energy demand modelling approaches over time. In this context, special attention is paid to lessons learned from modelling historical discontinuities and structural breaks in order to better understand issues of disruption.

Our analysis builds on econometric analyses using standard estimation approach for modelling energy demand by means of a production function, depending on price and income. We start with ordinary least-squares (OLS) and extend the approach to autoregressive distributed lag (ARDL)model. We identify long-term as well as short-term elasticities. Finally, we analyze whether elasticities are constant over time and whether structural breaks exist.

The major conclusions of our analyses are that approaches assuming constant elasticities over time are no longer useful. The magnitude of the impact made by economic parameters such as prices and income elasticities over time has been decreasing due to our analyses. This has an impact on energy policies, namely taxes and standard. The effect of taxes in an energy system is that they increase prices and reduce energy demand depending on the price elasticities. Yet, the smaller price elasticities are, the lower the impact of new taxes is. This leads to the conclusion that there is still a higher need for increased standards and technological innovations. The major useful policy suggestion based on this research is that technical measures for increasing energy efficiency are very important as a measure accompanying energy taxes.
War, Crime, Victimology, Human Rights and Criminal Justice Holistic Approach
Authors: Tuliakov Viacheslav
Published: August 2023

International and national substantial criminal law protects human rights and maintains a balance between people’s security and the state’s apparatus. New hybrid and aggressive war challenges necessitate understanding the stability of criminal legal form and social care amidst evolving public and social relations. By analyzing crime and abuse of power ten-dencies, we can challenge social control schemes related to international society, the state, perpetrators, victims, and civil society attitudes. This article explores the interrelationships among war consequences, crime, modern victimology, human rights, and criminal justice, using a holistic approach grounded in human rights discourse. It highlights the integration of international and national means within modern criminal justice to safeguard victims from crime and abuse of power at individual and collective levels. The article particularly focuses on the interplay between war and crime, fragmentation of international criminal law, victims’ reparations, and criminal policy development.
System of Human Rights Protection and Judicial Protection in Ukraine during the War and Its Compatibility Problems in the Context of EU Integration
Authors: Shcherbanyuk Oksana , Paužaitė- Kulvinskienė Jurgita
Published: August 2023

In order to ensure the smooth and efficient operation of the judicial system and non-ju-dicial institutions that protect human rights, especially during the period of martial law in Ukraine, the existing legal framework that regulates the activities of the Constitutional Court and the Commissioner for Human Rights in Ukraine is analyzed. The article ex-amines the supremacy of the Constitution as a prerequisite for the judicial system and the protection of human rights. It is emphasized that the Constitution should have a system of internal self-defense, contain the necessary constitutional guarantees of ensuring the rule of law, real distribution of power, recognition, guarantee and protection human rights. The concept of “militant democracy” is studied in connection with Russia’s military aggression against Ukraine. The article aims to investigate the functioning of the highest state authori-ties of Ukraine in the conditions of martial law. The problem of banning political parties and the judicial practice of Ukraine in this area is studied. The article reveals the features of reforming the system of selection of judges of the Constitutional Court of Ukraine and judicial authorities in Ukraine as a condition for Ukraine’s membership in the European Union. The article pays special attention to the peculiarities of the administration of justice in the conditions of military aggression.
Na drodze ku przełomowi. Cerkiew greckokatolicka w Polsce lat 80. XX w.
Authors: Hałagida Igor
Published: August 2023

TOWARDS A BREAKTHROUGH: GREEK CATHOLIC CHURCH IN POLAND IN THE 1980s
The 1980s brought certain policy changes towards the Greek Catholic Church in the communist-run People’s Republic of Poland. While the communist government never recognized this community (this occurred only after the free elections in June 1989) de jure, during the 1980s, the activities of the Greek Catholic clergy began to be tolerated to some degree. This lenient treatment also included some tolerance for the activities of the laity and official contacts with representatives of the hierarchy in exile. Furthermore, the last decade of Polish communist rule in Poland brought substantial changes among the Greek Catholics,or, more broadly, within the Ukrainian minority in Poland. During this time, a new generation of lay activists and young clergymen became active. In addition, Ukrainians in Poland expanded their relations with the Polish majority, including contacts with the democratic anti-communist opposition, among others. As a result, Ukrainian themes appeared in the so called second circuit (samizdat) publications distributed in Poland. These changes coincided with other phenomena and events of the decade, such as the creation of an active Greek Catholic laity or the celebration of the Millennium of the Baptism of Kyivan Rus’ in 1988. All of these changes resulted in strengthening the Greek Catholic Church in Poland, which was swiftly reborn as an independent community after the fall of communism.
From Catacombs to Freedom: Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church in Face of Socio-political Changes in Central and Eastern Europe (late 1980s – early 1990s)
Authors: Bublyk Taras
Published: August 2023

The paper analyzes the details of the movement for legalizing the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church (UGCC) in the late 1980s and early 1990s, which acquired a special momentum in face of socio-political changes in the USSR and the other countries of Central and Eastern Europe. The UGCC, which was officially liquidated by the Soviet government in 1946, managed to form underground structures and continue pastoral activities. In the 1980s, the human rights organization Committee for the Protection of the Ukrainian Catholic Church (UCC) was formed and began to actively seek the official legalization of the UGCC. Western politicians and the Ukrainian diaspora became important factors influencing Soviet power. A combination of various factors, both internal and external, at the end of 1989 resulted in the authorities being forced to recognize the right of Greek Catholics to legally register their communities. Thus, a long ‘catacomb’ period came to an end and the UGCC received an opportunity to develop.
Status języka rosyjskiego na obszarze poradzieckim
Authors: Kozyrska Antonina
Published: August 2023

THE RUSSIAN LANGUAGE STATUS IN POST-SOVIET SPACE: LEGAL STATE – THREATS – PROSPECTS – CHALLENGESFor many years of the existence of the Soviet Union, the status of the Russian language was semi-official, although it played a large role in the public space. Only the act on the Languages of the Nations of the USSR of 1990 approved its status as an official language in the entire territory of the USSR. After the collapse of the Soviet Union, its former republics began to shape their own language policies, guided by national interests, considering the current linguistic situation and historical conditions. The effect of these activities was the diversified status of the Russian language (as state, official, inter-ethnic communication, national minority or foreign). The main purpose of the article is to present the differences in the status of the Russian language in the post-Soviet countries, primarily in the formal and legal aspect. An additional question was whether the legal status of the Russian language reflected its actual position in public and social life in the individual countries. The problem continues to be relevant, especially in the context of the foreign policy goals pursued by the Russian Federation and security threats.
Gospodarka – polityka – społeczeństwo
Authors: Abassy Małgorzata , Kosowska Katarzyna
Published: August 2023

ECONOMICS – POLITICS – SOCIETY: SYSTEMIC TRANSFORMATION SINCE THE OPENING TILL THE CLOSURE OF THE BORDERS – RUSSIA AFTER 1991
The article presents the breakthrough moments of the transformation of Russia as a dynamic system of interconnected elements and phenomena from the area of politics, economy and social life. The research period covered the years 1991-2021. The theoretical and methodological framework was provided by Marian Mazur’s systemic approach. It allowed to assess the system through the prism of the functionality of its main modules and the deliberate impact on the environment. As a result, a model of the system was provided. It allows to recognize, order, and predict the processes within the system. The final conclusions are the following: Since 1991, Russia, included in the system treated as the interaction of three functional modules: power, management, and information, has gone through a path that has led its inhabitants back to the Soviet-era scheme. The above-mentioned modules, functioning in democratic countries independently, in the case of Russia merged into one – previously managed. The latter took over the functions of the others, becoming the source of all information. On the one hand, it acts as a centrifugal force, generating the binding perspective of reality, and on the other hand, it has a centripetal character, attracting all resources to maintain its status quo.
Detecting Critical Nodes in Sparse Graphs via “Reduce-Solve-Combine” Memetic Search
Authors: Zhou Yangming , Li Jiaqi , Hao Jin-Kao , Glover Fred
Published: August 2023

This study considers a well-known critical node detection problem that aims to minimize a pairwise connectivity measure of an undirected graph via the removal of a subset of nodes (referred to as critical nodes) subject to a cardinality constraint. Potential applications include epidemic control, emergency response, vulnerability assessment, carbon emission monitoring, network security, and drug design. To solve the problem, we present a “reduce-solve-combine” memetic search approach that integrates a problem reduction mechanism into the popular population-based memetic algorithm framework. At each generation, a common pattern mined from two parent solutions is first used to reduce the given problem instance, then the reduced instance is solved by a component-based hybrid neighborhood search that effectively combines an articulation point impact strategy and a node weighting strategy, and finally an offspring solution is produced by combining the mined common pattern and the solution of the reduced instance. Extensive evaluations on 42 real-world and synthetic benchmark instances show the efficacy of the proposed method, which discovers nine new upper bounds and significantly outperforms the current state-of-the-art algorithms. Investigation of key algorithmic modules additionally discloses the importance of the proposed ideas and strategies. Finally, we demonstrate the generality of the proposed method via its adaptation to solve the node-weighted critical node problem.

History: Accepted by Erwin Pesch, Area Editor for Heuristic Search & Approximation Algorithms.

Funding: This work was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China [Grants 72371157, 61903144, 72031007].

Supplemental Material: The software that supports the findings of this study is available within the paper and its Supplemental Information ( https://pubsonline.informs.org/doi/suppl/10.1287/ijoc.2022.0130 ) as well as from the IJOC GitHub software repository ( https://github.com/INFORMSJoC/2022.0130 ). The complete IJOC Software and Data Repository is available at https://informsjoc.github.io/ .
There Is No Planet B: Aligning Stakeholder Interests to Preserve the Amazon Rainforest
Authors: McGahan Anita M. , Pongeluppe Leandro S.
Published: August 2023

How do firms address complex collective action problems effectively? Institutional and stakeholder research suggests that firms may avoid the tragedy of the commons by aligning the interests of critical proximate stakeholders in ways that governments cannot accomplish. This phenomenological paper investigates this possibility by analyzing Amazon rainforest preservation by Natura, a Brazilian cosmetics company. The results indicate that Natura internalized environmental externalities by linking ecologically conscious consumers with rural Amazonian communities. A differences-in-differences analysis compares forest preservation and fire activity in the municipalities that Natura entered with those in which it did not enter. Natura’s impact is identified through an instrumental variable analysis using missing satellite images, which Natura relied upon to decide which municipalities to enter. Quantitative results tie Natura’s entry into municipalities with forest preservation. Analysis of three mechanisms associates Natura’s involvement with stakeholder decisions to cultivate diverse forest-generated crops instead of clearing the land for conventional agriculture. This study contributes to the management literature by suggesting how firms can address important global challenges, such as rainforest preservation, by investing in stakeholder capability development and by creating institutional arrangements in line with those envisioned elsewhere.

This paper was accepted by George Serafeim, Special Section of Management Science on Business and Climate Change.

Funding: This work was supported by the Clarkson Centre for Business Ethics [CAD 7,500.00] and Canada’s Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council.

Supplemental Material: The data files and online appendices are available at https://doi.org/10.1287/mnsc.2023.4884 .
When is it justified to claim that a practice or policy is evidence-based? Reflections on evidence and preferences
Authors: Gade Christian
Published: August 2023

Background:

There has been a widespread call to adopt evidence-based practices and policies in various fields, including healthcare, education, social work, criminal justice, business management, and environmental management.

Key points:

This article discusses when it is justified for an individual or organisation to claim that a specific practice or policy is evidence-based. My argument is that this is the case if, and only if, three conditions are met. First, the individual or organisation possesses comparative evidence about the effects of the specific practice or policy in comparison to the effects of at least one alternative practice or policy. Second, the specific practice or policy is supported by this evidence according to at least one of the individual’s or organisation’s preferences in the given practice or policy area. Third, the individual or organisation can provide a sound account for this support by explaining the evidence and preferences that lay the foundation for the claim.

Conclusions and implications:

My argument has at least three noteworthy implications. First, it is possible that some, but not others, are justified in claiming a given practice or policy is evidence-based. Second, being justified in claiming that a practice or policy is evidence-based does not imply that this practice or policy ought to be implemented, not even according to the claimant. Third, the individual’s or organisation’s preferences ought to guide the collection of evidence to help them identify what the best practices and policies are based on their normative stance.
Tricolor narrowband planar perovskite photodetectors based on FP microcavity structure
Authors: Li Jia , Lu Qieni , Dai Haitao , Chen ZhenDa , Fu Yikai , Chen Xiaopeng
Published: August 2023

This paper presents a novel tunable narrowband photodetector based on Ag-MgF2-Ag (metal-dielectric-metal: MDM) Fabry-Perot (FP) microcavity structure. The tunability is achieved through precise adjustment of the thickness of the metal and intermediate dielectric layers of the FP microcavity, taking into account the response spectral range of planar perovskite. After optimizing the parameters mentioned above, the prototype devices were prepared by combining the perovskite layer and MDM layer. The center wavelength of the planar detector can be tuned from 430 nm to 680 nm within the detection band of 400-800 nm, with a narrow FWHM about 30 nm and a relatively high response of 0.05 A/W @ 5 V bias voltage for 500 nm. Meanwhile the rise and fall times of the detector are 375 ms and 550 ms, respectively. The experimental results are corroborated by the theory. Our design is highly beneficial to such applications as hyperspectral photography and color-related active optical devices, which paves the way to design this kind of triple structure.
Scintillation mitigation via the cross phase of the Gaussian Schell-model beam in a turbulent atmosphere
Authors: Zhang Hui , Zhao Lingling , Gao Yaru , Cai Yangjian , Yuan Yangsheng
Published: August 2023

Scintillation is an important problem for laser beams in free space optical (FSO) communications. We derived the analytical expressions for the scintillation index of a Gaussian Schell-model beam with cross phase propagation in a turbulent atmosphere. The numerical results show that the quadratic phase can be used to mitigate turbulence-induced scintillation, and the effects of the turbulent strength and beam parameters at the source plane on the scintillation index are analyzed. The variation trend of the experimentally measured scintillation index is consistent with the numerical results. Our results are expected to be useful for FSO communications.
Chiral metasurface zone plate for transmission-reflection focusing of circularly polarized terahertz waves
Authors: Li Jie , Liu Xiao , Wang Yuting , Xu Hang , Li Hui , Yue Zhen , Yang Yue , He Yu , Liang Xiao , Luo Li , Tang Tingting , Yao Jianquan
Published: August 2023

The properties of traditional Fresnel zone plates have been greatly enhanced by metasurfaces, which allow the control of polarization, orbital angular momentum, or other parameters on the basis of focusing. In this Letter, a new, to the best of our knowledge, method for circularly polarized wave manipulation based on a zone plate is proposed. Chiral meta-atoms and binary geometric phase are used for the simultaneous focusing of reflected and transmitted terahertz waves. The silicon-based dielectric chiral units, which show great performance of spin-selective transmission near 0.54 THz, separate the orthogonal circularly polarized components. A binary Pancharatnam–Berry (P–B) phase gradient is obtained by rotating the unit 90 degrees, then the phase zone plate can be easily designed. The simulation results show that the proposed chiral metasurface zone plate has the function of reflection-transmission separation and focusing for the circularly polarized terahertz waves. In addition, we also demonstrate the possibility of using a 1064-nm continuous infrared laser to adjust the intensity of our devices, based on photo-generated carriers in silicon. The design principle of the chiral metasurface zone plates can be extended to other wavelengths, providing new ideas for the regulation of circularly polarized light.
Nonvolatile tuning of Bragg structures using transparent phase-change materials
Authors: Nobile Nicholas A. , Lian Chuanyu , Sun Hongyi , Huang Yi-Siou , Mills Brian , Popescu Cosmin Constantin , Callahan Dennis , Hu Juejun , Ríos Ocampo Carlos A. , Youngblood Nathan
Published: August 2023

Bragg gratings offer high-performance filtering and routing of light on-chip through a periodic modulation of a waveguide’s effective refractive index. Here, we model and experimentally demonstrate the use of Sb2Se3, a nonvolatile and transparent phase-change material, to tune the resonance conditions in two devices which leverage periodic Bragg gratings—a stopband filter and Fabry-Perot cavity. Through simulations, we show that similar refractive indices between silicon and amorphous Sb2Se3 can be used to induce broadband transparency, while the crystalline state can enhance the index contrast in these Bragg devices. Our experimental results show the promise and limitations of this design approach and highlight specific fabrication challenges which need to be addressed in future implementations.
Optimizing the design of broadband solar metamaterial absorbers based on titanium nitride nanorings [Invited]
Authors: Nga Do T. , Phan Anh D. , Lam Vu D. , Badloe Trevon , Rho Junsuk
Published: August 2023

We propose a design rule for broadband metamaterial absorbers and investigate their plasmonic properties under solar irradiation. The metamaterials consist of periodic arrays of titanium nitride (TiN) rings placed on an antireflective MgF2 dielectric film on a TiN bottom layer. We simulate the absorption of our metamaterials and find the dependence of the optical spectrum on structural parameters. From this, we propose a simple rule to design the nanostructures with an average spectral absorptivity greater than 95% over the solar spectrum from 200 to 3000 nm. Particularly, we introduce, for the first time, metamaterial perfect absorbers that can be designed using two-layer structures instead of higher-layer structures as conventional and sandwich designs. Our study would pave the way for great potential applications in the fields of solar energy harvesters and photo-to-thermal converters.
An Intermittent Cytochemist
Authors: Pederson Thoru
Published: August 2023

I wanted to be a cytochemist but encountered detours and then, in some of my work, became one of a different kind than classically defined. I recount this here to discourage young scientists from regarding cytochemistry as something that peaked in the past, but rather to be viewed as an entirely new form of the discipline, and so rich with opportunities. (J Histochem Cytochem 71: 475—480, 2023)