bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Latewood intra-annual density fluctuations indicate wet summer conditions and enhanced canopy activity in a Mediterranean ring-porous oak
Authors: Camarero J. Julio , Serra-Maluquer Xavier , Colangelo Michele , Gazol Antonio , Pizarro Manuel
Published: November 2023

The climatic significance and ecosystem implications of latewood intra-annual density fluctuations (IADFs) are still not fully understood in Mediterranean ring-porous oak species. To solve this issue, we investigated: (i) the climate drivers of radial growth and latewood IADFs in the Mediterranean oak Quercus faginea, and (ii) whether they were correlated to increased canopy cover and greenness as recorded by the Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI). IADFs were formed in the mid to late latewood and they were characterized by rows of parenchyma cells. Such IADFs were uncommon and only present in 30–50% of sampled trees during 1999 and 2014, both years characterized by high precipitation in late July and early August. This relationship between IADFs formation and summer wet conditions differed from the conditions that enhance Q. faginea annual growth, wet winter-spring conditions, and low summer temperatures. Furthermore, IADFs formation showed a positive relationship with August NDVI values, indicating a correspondence of canopy greenness with secondary growth reactivation. We conclude that latewood IADFs in Q. faginea are a robust proxy of rare late-summer wet conditions and enhanced canopy activity as reflected by increased August NDVI values. Further monitoring of xylogenesis in other Mediterranean hardwoods along climatic gradients is suggested to mechanistically explain IADF production in seasonally dry biomes.
Eucosma subvittana (Staudinger 1892) stat. rev., a Mediterranean species resurrected by DNA barcodes and morphology (Lepidoptera, Tortricidae)
Authors: ZLATKOV BOYAN , HUEMER PETER
Published: November 2023

Eucosma subvittana is resurrected from synonymy with E. cana (Haworth, 1811) and redescribed from extensive material collected in Greece (Crete) and Tunisia. It is distinguished from the similar E. cana by constant differences in wing pattern and the female genitalia, whereas the male genitalia are inseparable. A lectotype of E. subvittana is designated in order to fix the identity of this species. Adults and genitalia of both species are figured extensively. Furthermore, the DNA barcodes (cytochrome c-oxidase subunit 1) of both species are clearly divergent. In comparison, several cryptic taxa of related species-groups are genetically inseparable.
Seasonal Variations in Eddy-Induced Atmospheric Perturbations in the South China Sea
Authors: Zhang Ningning , Lan Jian , Yu Yi , Zhang Youguang , He Yijun
Published: November 2023

This study investigates the impact of eddy-induced sea surface temperature (SST) anomalies on the overlying atmosphere in the South China Sea, utilizing observational and reanalysis datasets. The results reveal that SST anomalies caused by anticyclonic or cyclonic eddies have a significant impact on the acceleration or deceleration of surface winds, with a stronger response in summer compared to winter. Moreover, atmospheric responses, such as heat flux, precipitation, and marine atmospheric boundary layer (MABL) depth above anticyclonic or cyclonic eddies, exhibit in-phase seasonal variations as surface winds. The study also explores the mechanisms leading to atmospheric response, pointing toward the vertical mixing mechanism as the dominant cause, supported by both the in-phase relationship between SST and surface wind anomalies and the linear relationship between the wind stress divergence anomaly and downwind SST gradient anomaly. Seasonal variations in coupling intensity are attributed to varying background atmospheric conditions, with more effective vertical turbulence mixing and stronger coupling intensity caused by more unstable MABL and enhanced large-scale vertical wind shear during summer than winter. Besides, the atmosphere above eddies is under a quasi-equilibrium condition, in which the surface wind stress increases monotonically with the depth of MABL. Given that the MABL depth response to eddy-induced SST anomaly is stronger in summer than in winter, it is reasonable to expect a more intense wind response during this season. Thus, the MABL depth coupling works together with the vertical mixing mechanism to explain the proportional relationship between SST and wind anomalies, and why the atmospheric response is stronger in summer than in winter.

Significance Statement

The atmosphere exerts a significant influence on the ocean, with strong winds cooling the sea surface temperature on a large scale (more than 1000 km). Conversely, the ocean tends to drive the atmosphere at a mesoscale level (10–1000 km), whereby a warm sea surface temperature causes surface wind to accelerate. This study aims to better understand how mesoscale eddies in the South China Sea influence the overlying atmosphere in different seasons. Our research explores factors that control mesoscale air–sea coupling, and highlights the importance of stability and depth change of marine atmospheric boundary layer. These results will establish a foundation for future research examining how the atmospheric perturbations caused by mesoscale eddies can in turn impact both ocean circulation and eddies.
Long-Term Evaluation of Revascularization Strategies for Medina 0.1.0 Left Main Bifurcation Lesions: The LM-CROSSOVER Registry
Authors: Güner Ahmet , Akman Cemalettin , Çiloğlu Koray , Gökçe Kaan , Uzun Fatih , Can Cemil , Kahraman Serkan , Çizgici Ahmet Yaşar , Güler Arda , Demirci Gökhan , Güner Ezgi Gültekin , Ertürk Mehmet
Published: November 2023

The present study aimed to compare long-term outcomes of patients with Medina 0.1.0 left main (LM) bifurcation lesions treated by crossover stenting (COS) versus accurate ostial stenting (AOS). A total of 229 consecutive eligible patients with Medina 0.1.0 LM bifurcation lesions were enrolled and were stratified according to the stenting techniques. The primary end-point was major cardiovascular and cerebral events (MACCE), defined as the combination of all-cause death, target vessel related-myocardial infarction (MI), clinically driven target lesion revascularization (TLR), stroke, or stent thrombosis. COS and AOS were applied to 78 (34%) and 151 (66%) patients, respectively. During a mean of 40.6 ± 21.1 months of follow-up, the rate of MACCE (27.8 vs 12.8%; P=.007) was higher in patients treated with AOS than those treated with the COS technique, mainly driven by more frequent all-cause death (13.9 vs 3.8%, P = .013) and TLR (6.4 vs 15.9%; P = .029). In multivariable Cox regression analysis, AOS strategy was one of the independent predictors of MACCE (odds ratio: 2.166; 95% confidence interval, 1.080–4.340; P = .029). The current study suggests that COS was associated with a better long-term MACCE rate and lower all-cause mortality rate than AOS in patients with Medina 0.1.0 LM bifurcation disease.
Financial autonomy in Spanish local governments: Empirical evidence of beta and sigma convergence
Authors: Cifuentes-Faura Javier , Fülöp Melinda Timea , Topor Dan Ioan
Published: November 2023

Territorially, Spanish public administrations are organized into State Administration, Autonomous Community Administration, and Local Administration. Local government has the closest contact with citizens and therefore the powers and decisions taken by local institutions have the greatest impact on the social welfare of citizens. To ensure this well-being, it is necessary to analyze and pay attention to the administrative and financial autonomy of local governments. Financial autonomy translates into the capacity of local entities to govern their respective finances, determining, within certain limits, the level of the volume of their own resources and organizing their expenditures. In this work, we study the Financial Autonomy Indicator, which aims to determine the tax resources available to the local entity. Taking into account that Spanish municipalities have, depending on their population size, different obligations when providing services to citizens, the convergence of financial autonomy is studied to detect whether there are common trends by applying the techniques of β-convergence and σ-convergence. It is analyzed whether municipalities starting from lower indicators achieve higher growth over time ( β-convergence), and whether dispersion between municipalities is reduced ( σ-convergence).

Points for practitioners

Local autonomy grants local entities the freedom to manage their own interests within the State's legal framework. Greater economic diversity and the ability to raise more money on their own through taxes, fees, and other sources characterize larger communities. They have a wider tax base thanks to their higher economic diversification, which opens up more opportunities for revenue collection. The speed of convergence is highest in the smallest municipalities. Knowing whether there is convergence or divergence in financial autonomy can help policy makers.
Power resources, institutional legacy and labour standards transformation: Lessons from two developing countries
Authors: Madi Sari
Published: November 2023

This article assesses the political dynamics behind labour standards reform attempts and their divergent outcomes in Lebanon and Tunisia during the neoliberal era according to a success/failure and flexibility/security configuration. It emphasises the interconnection of three power resources. Institutional legacies mattered for organised labour’s influence on these reforms. Having already had access to formal channels of decision-making since the 1970s, Tunisian labour effectively used these channels during the 1990s reforms. Such channels were not historically well-developed for Lebanese labour and were critical in the reform failure. Furthermore, thanks to its ideational power (i.e. legitimacy), Tunisian organised labour was part of the political coalition of reform. Consequently, Tunisian labour was successful in gaining some job security privileges in exchange for flexibility. Conversely, Lebanese organised labour lacked such legitimacy, which contributed to their exclusion from the political coalition. Instead, employers used their informal channels (e.g. networks) with the political coalition’s elites to halt job security reform.
A Bayesian Random Weights Linear Logistic Test Model for Within-Test Practice Effects
Authors: Lozano José H. , Revuelta Javier
Published: November 2023

The present paper introduces a random weights linear logistic test model for the measurement of individual differences in operation-specific practice effects within a single administration of a test. The proposed model is an extension of the linear logistic test model of learning developed by Spada (1977) in which the practice effects are considered random effects varying across examinees. A Bayesian framework was used for model estimation and evaluation. A simulation study was conducted to examine the behavior of the model in combination with the Bayesian procedures. The results demonstrated the good performance of the estimation and evaluation methods. Additionally, an empirical study was conducted to illustrate the applicability of the model to real data. The model was applied to a sample of responses from a logical ability test providing evidence of individual differences in operation-specific practice effects.
Curious about race: Generous methods and modes of knowing in practice
Authors: M’charek Amade
Published: November 2023

What is race? And how does it figure in different scientific practices? To answer these questions, I suggest that we need to know race differently. Rather than defining race or looking for one conclusive answer to what it is, I propose methods that are open-ended, that allow us to follow race around, while remaining curious as to what it is. I suggest that we pursue generous methods. Drawing on empirical examples of forensic identification technologies, I argue that the slipperiness of race—the way race and its politics inexorably shift and change—cannot be fully grasped as an ‘object multiple’. Race, I show, is not race: The same word refers to different phenomena. To grasp this, I introduce the notion of the affinity concept. Drawing on the history of race, along with contemporary work in forensic genetics, the affinity concept helps us articulate how race indexes three different scientific realities: race as object, race as method, and race as theory. These three different, yet interconnected realities, contribute to race’s slipperiness as well as its virulence.
A novel multiaxial fatigue life prediction model based on the critical plane theory and machine-learning method
Authors: Tang Jianxiong , Zhou Jie , Tan Zheng chao
Published: November 2023

In order to characterize the fatigue failure and damage mechanism under complex multiaxial loads, several multiaxial semi-empirical fatigue models, such as Fatemi-Socie (FS), Smith-Watson-Topper (SWT) and Wang-Brown (WB) models, were proposed to explain the relationship between fatigue life and stress/strain based on experimental analysis or observation. Although the semi-empirical model is widely used in practice because of its simplicity, but it is difficult to uniformly model the mean stress effect of a wide range of materials and loading conditions. To address this issue, a multiaxial fatigue life prediction model based on critical plane theory and machine learning is proposed in this work. Through the multi-layer stacking mechanism, the model comprehensively utilizes domain knowledge and original data information, and integrates the advantages of different models in capturing data and utilizing features. The experimental results showed that the proposed model achieves stable and highly accurate fatigue life prediction of the GH4169, wrought Ti-6Al-4V and TC4 materials with complex working conditions.
Role of U.S. Airports’ Attributes in the Output Response to the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Stochastic Frontier Analysis with the Difference-in-Differences Method
Authors: Karanki Fecri , Lim Siew Hoon
Published: November 2023

Airports are vital to economic development, the connectivity of people and services, and the movement of goods. Moreover, airports are critical infrastructure for the COVID-19 response. In this study, we attempt to examine the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on U.S. airports’ outputs. Specifically, our analysis focuses on the impact on output with respect to airport size, legacy carriers’ hubs, and multi-airport systems. Using the data on 59 U.S. hub airports in 2019 and 2020 and a stochastic frontier analysis with the difference-in-differences method, we find that large hub airports faced a sharper decline in their operations compared with medium hub airports; airports serving as a major hub to the three legacy carriers experienced larger output declines possibly as a result of their greater exposure to international markets; there is no significant difference in output decreases between airports in a multi-airport system and standalone airports. Regardless of the pandemic impact, large airports, airports serving as a hub of the legacy carriers, and airports belonging to a multi-airport system are on average more efficient than their respective counterparts. The initial impact of the pandemic on airports’ output sheds light on the likely structural changes in demand that airports will face in the future.
A silk fibroin scaffold that accelerates both biodegradation and cell proliferation by incorporating sericin
Authors: Zhang Wenjing , Sun Xiaoxiao , Pan Peng , Liu Xueping , Hu Cheng , Wang Mengmeng , Li Mingzhong , Liu Yu
Published: November 2023

When 3D silk fibroin scaffolds are used for the regeneration of soft tissues with fast regeneration rates, such as skin dermis, one concern is to accelerate the biodegradation of scaffolds and to match the degradation rate of scaffolds with the regeneration rate of tissues. In this study, sericin was incorporated into 3D silk fibroin scaffolds through crosslinking and followed by freeze-drying. The effects of incorporating sericin on the pore wall microstructure within the scaffolds, the biodegradability of scaffolds and cell proliferation within scaffolds were investigated. It was found that a large number of secondary pores and nanoscale particles were generated on the pore walls within the scaffolds due to the incorporation of sericin and that the number of secondary pores and the size of the particles increased with increasing sericin proportion. The results of in vitro biodegradation and coculture with human umbilical vein vascular endothelial cells demonstrated that the incorporation of sericin not only significantly accelerated the degradation of 3D silk fibroin scaffolds, but also promoted cell adhesion and proliferation. The secondary pores and particles generated on the pore walls inside the fibroin/sericin hybrid scaffolds had a positive contribution to promoting cell adhesion and proliferation. This study provides a biocompatible method for the modification of silk fibroin scaffolds, which can not only accelerate the biodegradation of the scaffold but also promote the adhesion and proliferation of seeded cells.
Nano-injectable pH/NIR-responsive hydrogel for chemo-photothermal synergistic drug delivery
Authors: Zhao Qian , Yue Xu , Miaomiao Liu , Yanming Wang , Wu Guolin
Published: November 2023

Conventional cancer treatments are highly toxic and ineffective; therefore, it is essential to develop less toxic and minimally invasive treatment methods. A pH/Near Infra-red (NIR) dual-responsive, nano-injectable smart hydrogel was fabricated by incorporating CuS nanoparticles into the hydrogel networks formed by a random copolymer of N-isopropylacrylamide (NIPAM) and double-bond functionalized uracil. Microstructural characterizations of synthesized polymer and hydrogels were carried out using transmission electron microscope (TEM), scanning electron microscope (SEM), nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) and fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR). Multiple hydrogen bonding interactions between uracils function as physical cross-linking points to construct the network structure of the polymeric nanogel without the addition of additional cross-linking agents, ensuring the material's safety. The amino group on the structure of uracil gives the uracil-modified polymeric hydrogel excellent pH responsiveness. Notably, as a temperature-responsive material, poly (N-isopropylacrylamide) (PNIPAM) nanogel solution can achieve in situ gel formation (within 100 s at 37°C) above its lower critical solution temperature (LCST), granting injectability to polymeric solutions. Moreover, using a hierarchical construction strategy, the variable loading of DOX and CuS was achieved. First, a heterogeneous system was created by encapsulating doxorubicin (DOX) inside the nanogel via hydrophobic and π-π stacking interactions, followed by the introduction of CuS nanoparticles as photosensitizers outside of the nanogels. Due to the presence of CuS nanoparticles, the gel is able to convert NIR light into local heat to enhance the destruction of tumor cells while simultaneously achieving rapid in situ gel formation. The in situ-forming hydrogel showed promising tissue biocompatibility. The in vitro antitumor test demonstrated the capacity of the nanocomposite hydrogel for chemo-photothermal synergistic therapy. Therefore, this prepared platform has the potential to become a safe and effective, smart-responsive drug carrier for chemotherapy and PTT synergy, a minimally invasive material for tumor treatment.
Science museum educators’ views on object-based learning: The perceived importance of authenticity and touch
Authors: de Kluis Tirsa , Romp Sanne , Land-Zandstra Anne M.
Published: November 2023

Museum educators play an important role in mediating visitors’ museum experiences. We investigated the perspectives of science museum educators on the role of touching authentic objects and replicas in visitors’ learning experiences during educational activities. We used a mixed-methods approach including surveys with 49 museum educators and interviews with 12 museum educators from several countries in Europe. Our findings indicate the importance of context when presenting museum visitors with objects. Participating museum educators based their choices for including authentic objects or replicas in educational activities more often on narrative and context than on the authenticity status of an object. In addition, educators used various definitions of authenticity, which may hinder the discussion about the topic within the field.
Comparative Chemical Profiling of a Polyherbal Formulation with Respect to its Ingredient Plants Using Spectrophotometric and High-performance Thin-layer Chromatographic Techniques
Authors: Sulaiman Cheruthazhakkat , Shafna Thankayathil , Advaya Geetha Raguthaman , Ramesh Poovathusseri Raghava Varier , Mahesh Kamalakshan Pillai , Praveen Mooriath , Anandan Erayur Mana , Balachandran Indira
Published: November 2023

Background

Guggulutiktam Kashayam (GTK) is a water decoction used in Ayurveda for the treatment of various diseases like skin diseases, ulcers, anemia, thyroid problems, stress, liver disease, and leucorrhoea. It is a polyherbal formulation prepared from specific parts of 28 medicinal plants.

Objectives

The study aimed at a comparative phytochemical evaluation of an important polyherbal formulation with its ingredient plants.

Materials and Methods

Chemical profiling of GTK has been carried out in comparison with its ingredient plants. Spectrophotometric estimation of major class compounds and high-performance thin-layer chromatography (HPTLC) profiling were done using a standardized protocol.

Results

The results of the study showed that the phytochemical contents of the finished formulation are different from those of the ingredient plants, which might be due to the numerous synergistic and antagonistic interactions of numerous chemical components extracted from different ingredient drugs. HPTLC-based comparative chromatograms showed the differences and similarities in certain compounds that are specific to some of the plant ingredients.

Conclusion

The study established the cumulative chemical interactions of various phytochemicals during the preparation of an important polyherbal formula used in Ayurveda.
Knowledge, Attitude and Practice Towards Milk Banking and Lactation Aids – Similarities and Differences of Medical and Nursing Staff in a Tertiary Care Hospital in India
Authors: Singh Srijan , Mane Sushant , Singh Srishti , Rai Rohit
Published: November 2023

Introduction

Lactation education is an integral part of healthcare. In order to recognise and address the inconsistencies in perceptions, attitudes and delivery of lactation care, we developed the Lactation Aids and Milk Banking (LAMB) survey.

Aim

The purpose of the study was to compare the knowledge, attitude and practices of doctors and nurses about human milk banking and lactation aids and to examine institutional and individual barriers to and facilitators of the delivery of lactation care.

Methods

It was a cross-sectional study, and the survey questionnaire was administered electronically to neonatal physicians and nurses in a tertiary care hospital in India.

Results

There were 86 participants, including 54 doctors (63%) and 32 (37%) nurses. There was no significant difference in the knowledge score of doctors and nurses ( p = .61), although doctors scored significantly higher on the attitude and practices score as compared to nurses ( p < .0001). Amongst the doctors, the knowledge score was higher for faculty than residents ( p < .0001), though residents scored significantly higher on the attitude and practices score than faculty ( p = .0002). This study highlighted five facilitators and two barriers to LAMB and also revealed that physicians and nurses have relatively inadequate knowledge about lactational aids and milk banking.

Conclusion

Lactation education for staff can reinforce support for milk banking and lactation aids, thereby achieving the goal of exclusive breastfeeding. It is also important to mitigate barriers by establishing policies and guidelines in the unit for milk banking and the use of lactation aids.
Negotiating Non-normative Identities: Gender Nonconforming Malaysian Muslims on Instagram
Authors: Kamaruzaman Nur Atirah
Published: November 2023

This paper delves into the utilisation of Instagram as a platform for self-expression and the establishment of non-normative identities among gender nonconforming Malaysian Muslims. Specifically, the research focuses on Malaysian Muslim males who identify as gender nonconforming and analyse their video posts on Instagram. These individuals construct and manifest their nonconforming identities while navigating the complexities of Malaysian Muslim identity, cultural norms, and religious influences. The deeply rooted Malay identity, combined with the adherence to Islamic principles, presents a challenging conflict for gender nonconforming Malaysians seeking to establish their identities. To address this, many gender nonconforming Malay males adopt the “femeskulin” mode of micro-celebrities on Instagram, blending gender nonconformity with religious values. The findings highlight the potential for coexistence and the significant role played by gender nonconforming individuals in shaping “femeskulin” identity and expression among Malaysian Muslims within the social media platform.
Untangling the Influence of Corporate Sustainability on Export Intensity: The Moderating Role of R&D Intensity
Authors: Aksoy Mine , Yilmaz Mustafa K. , Golgeci Ismail , Tatoglu Ekrem , Canci Metin , Hızarcı Atike Elanur
Published: November 2023

Growing global environmental and social issues have imposed increased pressure on firms to address sustainability challenges in international markets, with a particular focus on improving their export performance. This is of significant importance for emerging market firms aiming to expand their presence in international markets, as they are compelled to bolster their environmental and social sustainability capacity to enhance their export intensity. This study delves into the relationship between corporate sustainability and export intensity through a longitudinal examination of 141 firms listed on Borsa Istanbul from 2014 to 2021. The results suggest that corporate sustainability positively influences export intensity, and this influence is further positively moderated by research and development (R&D) intensity. Additionally, post hoc analysis employing supplementary data pertaining to the environmental, social, and governance dimensions of corporate sustainability reveals that environmental performance plays a positive role in shaping export intensity, with R&D intensity positively moderating this relationship. In summary, the findings underscore that exporting firms that effectively integrate impactful R&D intensity into their international business operations are likely to harness their sustainability strategies, particularly those related to the natural environment, to achieve higher export intensity.
Rising Tides or Political Ripcurrents? Gentrification and Minority Representation in 166 Cities
Authors: Lee Diana Da In , Velez Yamil Ricardo
Published: November 2023

Transformative changes in urban economies are raising vital questions about minority representation. Given that cities are sites of political power for communities of color, gentrification and the housing affordability crisis threaten to deteriorate decades of progress. This article considers the impact of these economic and demographic shifts on minority candidate supply and success. Collecting data on 166 city councils across several decades, we find that White population growth is associated with reductions in local political power for Black and Latino councilors. We also observe modest evidence that local economic improvements may not have deleterious effects on the diversity of city councils. We probe these findings using data on local elections, as well as over 380,000 tweets from city councilors, and uncover evidence of a candidate supply mechanism in the case of “racial gentrification” and a credit-claiming mechanism in the case of “economic gentrification.” We conclude by discussing the political implications of the cross-cutting effects we observe.
Understanding Ethnic Disparities in Lethal Police Incidents in the Netherlands Between 2016 and 2020
Authors: van Breen Jolien , ten Voorde Jeroen , Liem Marieke
Published: November 2023

This Research Note outlines a novel approach to studying the role of ethnicity in lethal police incidents (LPI). We take data from the Netherlands, between 2016 and 2020, to show—first—that the representation of individuals with minority ethnic backgrounds in LPI is 350% of what would be expected based on their proportion of the population. Comparisons with other indicators (prison population; homicide) showed that the proportion of individuals with minority ethnic backgrounds was particularly high in outcomes that meet two conditions: (1) the outcome is more serious (vs. less serious), and (2) the authorities are involved (vs. not involved). These findings generate relevant recommendations for future work on lethal police incidents.
Flatwise compression behaviour and mechanical properties of gradient-tandem nomex honeycomb sandwich panels
Authors: Fan Jinbo , Li Penghui , Guo Weiqi , Zhao Xiuguo , Su Chen , Xu Xinxi
Published: November 2023

The flatwise compression and mechanical response of gradient-tandem Nomex honeycomb sandwich panels were investigated by quasi-static compression tests. Finite element models of the gradient-tandem Nomex honeycomb sandwich panels were established to evaluate the effects of layer sequences, separator materials, and layer heights on the mechanical properties through parametric studies. The different assembly of honeycomb sequence and separator material affected the deformation sequence and peak stress of the sandwich panels. Under quasi-static compression, the response curves are smoother when the appropriate separator material and assembly sequence are chosen. Meanwhile, the peak stresses are effectively reduced. The research results can guide the individualized design of tandem Nomex honeycomb sandwich panels.
Demeaning, depriving, and isolating the academic subject: A case study of the degradation of professional autonomy
Authors: Hartz Ronald
Published: November 2023

This article explores the dismantling of professional autonomy during a change management programme at a business school in the United Kingdom. The change programme proposed the disinvestment from research in Critical Management Studies (CMS) and Political Economy and resulted in compulsory redundancies. The study reconstructs the managerial processing of this ‘case for change’ with a particular focus on the mechanisms behind the dismantling of professional autonomy. Specifically, three mechanisms of degradation are highlighted: first, a managerial attitude of censorship and anti-intellectualism that serves to demean academic scholarship, second, the regulation of time, space and information that deprives academics of the means to defend themselves and, finally, the isolation of professionals and the creation of docile academic subjects. By focussing on the micro-physics of power and understanding the mundane processes through which it takes effect and circulates, the ways in which it routinely undermines the autonomy of those it wants out, the article offers further avenues to discuss ways to resist the dismantling of professional autonomy in the managerial university.
Masculinized femininity of women characters on the Kabuki stage: Female Onnagata's “cross-gender” performance in the “all-male” theatre
Authors: Isaka Maki
Published: November 2023

This article explores four-century-old “all-male” kabuki theatre of Japan as the site of logics, mechanisms, and operations of onnagata's gender performance. The term onnagata signifies actors performing women's roles in kabuki, and since the first two and a half centuries of kabuki history overlapped with the time when women were legally expelled from performance activities, male onnagata mostly developed and established the artistry and traditions of onnagata acting. Women resumed kabuki performance when it was still illegal, but that did not cancel this fact. The present article studies kabuki in this historical context in order to investigate how dynamically genders are taking shape on the kabuki stage and off. To that end, this paper uses “cultivation” (a training methodology called shugyô) as a key point of investigation, while paying special attention to female onnagata as a main subject of examination. Cultivation is the training methodology of weight that has long been used and systematized in many circles engaged in activities established in premodern times, such as Buddhism, martial arts, and performing arts, and constitutes a blanket regime for these wide-ranging areas. Cultivation is to obtain and internalize second nature to the extent that it could function as if it were natural, the process of which takes place through two stages: (1) repetitive, long-lasting, personal, and somatic training in, e.g., posture, movements, and the like, and (2) internalization of said technique as second nature. That this cultivation process is congruous with the concept of performativity in contemporary critical theory suggests that an analysis of how female kabuki actors go through cultivation in order to internalize kabuki body grammar, including gender related code can contribute not only to kabuki studies but also to gender studies.
What feels like news? Young people’s perceptions of news on Instagram
Authors: Swart Joëlle , Broersma Marcel
Published: November 2023

What do young people consider “news”? Now that news is dislocated from dedicated outlets of news organizations, it has become increasingly difficult to distinguish from other cultural forms, including entertainment, advertising and misinformation. Especially on visual social media, where many different forms, topics and tones circulate, so-called “news feeds” offer blends of content that only partially match traditional journalistic conceptualizations. This paper advances current conceptual debates around news(-ness), by going beyond what is culturally accepted and cognitively recognized as news. We make an argument for the importance of capturing young people’s affective and tacit understandings of news, by analyzing what feels like news to them on Instagram. These judgments matter because what users understand as news or non-news also affects their assessments of trustworthiness and reliability. Drawing upon a three-wave study (2020-2022) employing in-depth interviews with and walk-throughs of the Instagram feeds of N = 111 Dutch smartphone users (aged 16-25), we find that while young people are strongly aware of societal norms around what news is or should be, these cognitive understandings do not necessarily align with what they experience as news(-like) within their everyday practices. Although some users do employ traditional journalistic conceptualizations of news, others negotiate or challenge such definitions through processes of compartmentalization, homogenization or reconceptualization, to mitigate tensions between what they cognitively recognize versus what they affectively perceive as news. Consequently, we argue that more inclusive epistemological approaches are needed to comprehend young people’s shifting experiences of news and conceptualize news from an audience perspective.
Holisticscape – the extended servicescape to influence tourists’ holistic health. From a systematic literature review to a research agenda
Authors: Valente-Pedro Cristina , de Matos Nélson , Pinto Patrícia
Published: November 2023

Although the influence of environmental stimuli on tourist behaviour has been studied extensively in relation to the experiences in tourism, it remains a reality and needs to be fully addressed. This paper presents a systematic literature review of peer-reviewed articles on tourism’s environmental stimuli using three main search streams: atmospherics; servicescape; and experiencescape. Scopus and Web of Science databases were searched, and 66 papers referring to the stimuli elements in the tourism setting were identified and classified into three dimensions: physical; social; and experience. The results indicate that environmental psychology is complemented by marketing to explain the servicescape from the experience economy perspective. Based on the topic’s gaps and trends, the authors propose the novel construct of a “holisticscape” as an extension of the servicescape to influence tourists’ holistic health (body, mind, and spirit). Furthermore, a research agenda with three propositions is proposed to deepen the knowledge on holisticscape. The systematisation of the setting stimuli developed in this study can guide researchers and practitioners to design and operationalise the experiences for positive post-consumption behaviour.
Optimization of direct injection mixture formation for dual-fuel low speed marine engine using novel compound electric gas injection devices
Authors: Fan Xinyu , Huang Quanshui , Pang Hongyan
Published: November 2023

For two-stroke low speed marine engines, using a natural gas-diesel dual-fuel mode can effectively reduce emissions such as NOX, SOX, and CO2, making it an important approach to promote the low-carbon and environmentally friendly development of the shipping industry. To address the issues of abnormal combustion and gas leakage faced by low-pressure gas direct injection, a novel compound electric gas injection device is proposed, which is designed with a coaxial arrangement of a moving coil actuator and a moving iron actuator. Based on this new device, a three-dimensional computational fluid dynamics (CFD) model of the low speed marine engine operating process is established to simulate the distribution characteristics of the in-cylinder flow field under 16 different scenarios, including different injection side-slip angles and lower deflection angles, and to clarify the impact of these factors on the formation, diffusion, and evolution of the mixture. Based on this, an evaluation system was established from two dimensions: mixture uniformity and gas leakage rate. An improved multi-attribute decision-making TOPSIS algorithm based on the entropy weight method was used to define the attribute importance using information entropy, and to construct an optimization evaluation model for the spatial arrangement of the injection device. The optimal arrangement angle was calculated, in which a side-slip angle was 20° and a lower deflection angle was 10°. This method avoids the problem of unreasonable decisions caused by subjective factors such as designer preferences and experience, effectively improving the in-cylinder mixture uniformity and reducing gas leakage rate.
Reconfiguring the use of video in qualitative research through practices of filmmaking: A post-qualitative cinematic analysis
Authors: Menning Soern Finn , Murris Karin
Published: November 2023

The article shows how film can disrupt human-centred discourses about the use of video technology in qualitative research. Inspired in particular by Deleuze's film philosophy, a detailed analysis of an “ordinary” event in an early-childhood institution gestures at some of the possibilities that the manipulation of technology can offer. Filmmaking practices, such as framing, tracking, speed changes, reverse motion and use of sound, shape what counts as “data” and offer alternative modes of analysis that include more-than-human bodies. These playful techniques draw attention to how video technology can play a democratising role in qualitative research by paying more attention to the digital, the sensory and the visual and relying less on language as the mode of enquiry. Grounded in post-qualitative approaches of performativity, we indicate the radical implications of the ontological and epistemological paradigmatic shift in agency and causality when disrupting anthropocentrism in qualitative research.
Overcoming ‘Sheriff Syndrome’: Exploring Young Adults’ Experiences of Policing in Northern Ireland
Authors: Coyle Brendan
Published: November 2023

This article delves into the pivotal role that police encounters play in shaping the experiences of 18- to 25-year-olds who come into contact with the criminal justice system. The study is anchored in an analysis of in-depth narrative interviews with young adults, predominantly young men, in Belfast, Northern Ireland. Their accounts unveil the latent risks of police approaches that may pivot on the ‘age and/or lack of maturity’ of young adults. Introducing the concept of ‘sheriff syndrome’, the research sheds light on the detrimental effects of entrenched, antecedent expectations regarding the behaviours, attitudes and (in)capacity for change of those over the age of 18 years. Participants’ accounts underscore the need for interactions that recognise and protect subjective elements of maturity, while cultivating opportunities for open, respectful and bidirectional communication between suspect populations of young adults and the police.
Building Your Future Holographic Mentor: Can We Use Mixed Reality Holograms for Visual Spatial Motor Skills Acquisition in Surgical Education?
Authors: Leung Regina , Shi Ge
Published: November 2023

Learning surgical skills require critical visual-spatial motor skills. Current learning methods employ costly and limited in-person teaching in addition to supplementation by videos, textbooks, and cadaveric labs. Increasingly limited healthcare resources and in-person training has led to growing concerns for skills acquisition of trainees. Recent Mixed Reality (MR) devices offer an attractive solution to these resource barriers by providing three-dimensional holographic representations of reality that mimic in-person experiences in a portable, individualized, and cost-effective form. We developed and evaluated two holographic MR models to explore the feasibility of visual-spatial motor skill acquisition from a technical development, learning, and usability perspective. In our first, a pair of holographic hands were created and projected in front of the trainee, and participants were evaluated on their ability to learn complex hand motions in comparison to traditional methods of video and apprenticeship-based learning. The second model displayed a 3D holographic model of the middle and inner ear with labeled anatomical structures which users could explore and user experience feedback was obtained. Our studies demonstrated that scores between MR and apprenticeship learning were comparable. All felt MR was an effective learning tool and most noted that the MR models were better than existing didactic methods of learning. Identified advantages of MR included the ability to provide true 3D spatial representation, improved visualization of smaller structures in detail by upscaling the models, and improved interactivity. Our results demonstrate that holographic learning is able to mimic in-person learning for visual-spatial motor skills and could be a new effective form of self-directed apprenticeship learning.
Introducing the Phenomenological Model of Performance Practice (PMPP): Phenomenological Research Design and the Lived Experience in Performance
Authors: Bouzioti Dionysia
Published: November 2023

While the use of phenomenological approaches in qualitative research increases in the field of performing arts, their legitimate application as research methods can prove to be challenging. The article introduces the dominant dichotomies and challenges in phenomenological research, such as concerns emerging from the researcher’s position, interdisciplinarity and mixed methods. The paper is addressed to novice researchers, researchers-practitioners and scholars with an interest in the theory of phenomenology. Drawing from a phenomenological research project that examined embodiment in Greek tragedy in the context of performer training and theatre directing, the article illustrates the methodological approach employed both in theory and practice. To this end, it proposes a model of data collection, organisation and analysis in interview design and practice-based research in performance. The proposed model sets subjectivity at its core and invests in the participants’ lived experience in an inclusive manner, concurrently calling on the investigator’s transparency as defined by the Husserlian epochè. It, therefore, comes into an inclusive step-by-step guide based on scientifically evident and ethically approved methods that accumulate Husserl and Giorgi’s phenomenological methods, Schön’s action research combined with Kolb’s reflective practice and tools for findings validation by Colaizzi (1978), Van Manen (1997) and Van Kaam (1966). Finally, in order to make phenomenological interviews more accessible, the article includes an interview schedule, which can be further developed and applied to practice-based research in both physical and digital environments.
The effect of cigarette smoke exposure on rat’s spermatogenesis: A systematic literature review and meta-analysis
Authors: Djuartina Tena , Budianto Iskandar Rahardjo , Steven Andreas , Stefani Maria , Kawilarang Melani , Kawilarang Melisa
Published: November 2023

Objective: To conduct a systematic review and meta-analysis of all available published data related to rats about spermatogenesis to provide a comprehensive overview of the effects of cigarette smoke exposure on the parameters of spermatogenesis.Methods: A comprehensive search of electronic databases including PubMed, EBSCO, ProQuest, Science Direct, Taylor & Francis, Springer Link, GARUDA, and Google Scholar, spanning from their inception until January 29th, 2021, was conducted to retrieve relevant studies and full-text articles evaluating the effect of cigarette smoke exposure on the parameters of spermatogenesis in rats. Data were taken from eligible studies. We use SYRCLE’s Risk of Bias tool for this animal studies. The overall size effect was measured, and forest plots and funnel plots were generated using the statistical software JASP.Results: The present study comprised 23 studies involving 527 rats. The findings of this meta-analysis revealed that parameters of spermatogenesis, such as sperm count, morphology, and viability, were substantially impaired in response to conventional cigarette smoke exposure, exhibiting and aggregate correlation coefficient of 0,70 (95% CI:0.61-0.79, p < .001).Conclusion: Exposure to conventional cigarette smoke has a significant negative effect on spermatogenic parameters in rats, particularly in terms of sperm count, morphology, and viability.
Basic Emotions or Constructed Emotions: Insights From Taking an Evolutionary Perspective
Authors: van Heijst Karlijn , Kret Mariska E. , Ploeger Annemie
Published: November 2023

The ongoing debate between basic emotion theories (BETs) and the theory of constructed emotion (TCE) hampers progress in the field of emotion research. Providing a new perspective, here we aim to bring the theories closer together by dissecting them according to Tinbergen’s four questions to clarify a focus on their evolutionary basis. On the basis of our review of the literature, we conclude that whereas BETs focus on the evolution question of Tinbergen, the TCE is more concerned with the causation of emotion. On the survival value of emotions both theories largely agree: to provide the best reaction in specific situations. Evidence is converging on the evolutionary history of emotions but is still limited for both theories—research within both frameworks focuses heavily on the causation. We conclude that BETs and the TCE explain two different phenomena: emotion and feeling. Therefore, they seem irreconcilable but possibly supplementary for explaining and investigating the evolution of emotion—especially considering their similar answer to the question of survival value. Last, this article further highlights the importance of carefully describing what aspect of emotion is being discussed or studied. Only then can evidence be interpreted to converge toward explaining emotion.