bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Therapeutic potential and possible mechanisms of ginseng for depression associated with COVID-19
Authors: Zhao Fangyi , Zhang Kai , Chen Hongyu , Zhang Tianqi , Zhao Jiayu , Lv Qianyu , Yu Qin , Ruan Mengyu , Cui Ranji , Li Bingjin
Published: November 2023

Recently, a global outbreak of COVID-19 has rapidly spread to various national regions. As the number of COVID-19 patients has increased, some of those infected with SARS-CoV-2 have developed a variety of psychiatric symptoms, including depression, cognitive impairment, and fatigue. A distinct storm of inflammatory factors that contribute to the initial disease but also a persistent post-acute phase syndrome has been reported in patients with COVID-19. Neuropsychological symptoms including depression, cognitive impairment, and fatigue are closely related to circulating and local (brain) inflammatory factors. Natural products are currently being examined for their ability to treat numerous complications caused by COVID-19. Among them, ginseng has anti-inflammatory, immune system stimulating, neuroendocrine modulating, and other effects, which may help improve psychiatric symptoms. This review summarizes the basic mechanisms of COVID-19 pneumonia, psychiatric symptoms following coronavirus infections, effects of ginseng on depression, restlessness, and other psychiatric symptoms associated with post-COVID syn-dromes, as well as possible mechanisms underlying these effects.
Sharing a medical decision
Authors: Engelsma Coos
Published: November 2023

During the last decades, shared decision making (SDM) has become a very popular model for the physician-patient relationship. SDM can refer to a process (making a decision in a shared way) and a product (making a shared decision). In the literature, by far most attention is devoted to the process. In this paper, I investigate the product, wondering what is involved by a medical decision being shared. I argue that the degree to which a decision to implement a medical alternative is shared should be determined by taking into account six considerations: (i) how the physician and the patient rank that alternative, (ii) the individual preference scores the physician and the patient (would) assign to that alternative, (iii) the similarity of the preference scores, (iv) the similarity of the rankings, (v) the total concession size, and (vi) the similarity of the concession sizes. I explain why shared medical decisions are valuable, and sketch implications of the analysis for the physician-patient relationship.
The roles of public libraries in enhancing educational systems and social inclusion in Africa
Authors: Bouaamri Asmaa
Published: November 2023

Public libraries constitute an important part of social life and are crucial for supporting the educational system in any society. However, in many African countries, awareness of the role that public libraries can play in strengthening the social contract is largely unrecognized. This may be partly due to the social background that was/is based on oral tradition, to which libraries can adapt in order to sustain the tradition. In the current era, with the fast advancement of technologies, the library's role has changed from a passive institution to an active one by creating new interactive services and activities. The human right for each and every person to have access to information, education, and knowledge plays a significant role in the inclusion and integration of citizens for their lifelong learning and continuous development. Countries’ development relies on the participation of each citizen, who needs equal opportunities and quality education, including the right to benefit from public institutions such as libraries. Hence, this article explores the roles of public libraries in enhancing educational systems and social inclusion in Africa and provides some of the challenges and obstacles faced in this concern. It also examines some remedies and recommendations that can help strengthen social inclusion, particularly in certain African developing countries, as they aim to support the development of educational systems in isolated areas.
Seasonal variations of microplastic in sediment, Chironomus sp. larvae, and chironomid tubes in two wastewater sites in Sohag Governorate, Egypt
Authors: Khedre Azza M. , Ramadan Somaia A. , Ashry Ali , Alaraby Mohamed
Published: November 2023

Microplastic (MP) contamination is an acknowledged global problem that poses a severe risk to aquatic ecosystem biota. Nevertheless, little is known about their prevalence in animal construction. The main objective of our study was to reduce the gap information of seasonal abundance, distribution, composition, and risk assessment of MP contamination. The concentrations of MPs in sediment,Chironomussp. larvae, and their tubes were found to be higher in site 2 (S2) than in site 1 (S1) during the four seasons of the year. However, MP concentrations ranged from 312 ± 64.7 to 470 ± 70 items/kg dry weight, 0.79 ± 0.16 to 1.1 ± 0.3 particles/individual, and 0.5 ± 0.04 to 0.9 ± 0.04 particles/tube in sediment,Chironomus, and chironomid tubes, respectively. Blue and red polyester fibers are the most dominant MPs which are distributed in sediment,Chironomus, and chironomid tubes. The length of the dominant fiber accumulates inChironomus, and their tubes are highly varied compared to that of the substrate. Additionally, we found that the mean number of MPs/individual larvae in the fourth instar was significantly higher than that in the second instar. Risk indicators for the environment, polymer risk assessment, and pollution load were estimated, where they were higher in S2 than in S1 correlated to MPs abundance and polymer type. The seasonal fluctuation in MP concentration, characterization, and risk in the two sites could depend on the amount of sewage effluent discharged into the wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs), which was reflected byChironomussp. larvae. Therefore, further research should be done to adopt the applicability ofChironomusas MP bioindicators in various freshwater environments throughout the world.
Building bridges or digging the trench? International organizations, social media, and polarized fragmentation
Authors: Ecker-Ehrhardt Matthias
Published: November 2023

Communication departments of international organizations (IOs) are important intermediaries of global governance who increasingly use social media to reach out to citizens directly. Social media pose new challenges for IO communication such as a highly competitive economy of attention and the fragmentation of the audiences driven by networked curation of content and selective exposure. In this context, communication departments have to make tough choices about what to communicate and how, aggravating inherent tensions between IO communication as comprehensive public information (aimed at institutional transparency)—and partisan political advocacy (aimed at normative change). If IO communication focuses on advocacy it might garner substantial resonance on social media. Such advocacy nevertheless fails to the extent that it fosters the polarized fragmentation of networked communication and undermines the credibility of IO communication as a source of trustworthy information across polarized “echo chambers.” The paper illustrates this argument through a content and social network analysis of Twitter communication on the Global Compact for Safe, Orderly and Regular Migration (GCM). Remarkably, instead of facilitating cross-cluster communication (“building bridges”) Twitter handles run by the United Nations Department of Global Communications (UNDGC) seem to have substantially fostered ideological fragmentation (“digging the trench”) by their way of partisan retweeting, mentioning, and (hash)tagging.
Prevalence of Sexual Violence and Intimate Partner Violence Among US Military Veterans: Findings from Surveys with Two National Samples
Authors: Iverson Katherine M. , Livingston Whitney S. , Vogt Dawne , Smith Brian N. , Kehle-Forbes Shannon M. , Mitchell Karen S.
Published: November 2023

Background

Sexual violence (SV) and intimate partner violence (IPV) experiences are major social determinants of adverse health. There is limited prevalence data on these experiences for veterans, particularly across sociodemographic groups.

Objective

To estimate the prevalence of SV before, during, and after military service and lifetime and past-year IPV for women and men, and explore differences across sociodemographic groups.

Design

Data are from two national cross-sectional surveys conducted in 2020. Weighted prevalence estimates of SV and IPV experiences were computed, and weighted logistic regression models were used for comparisons across gender, race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, and age.

Participants

Study 1 included veterans of all service eras (N = 1187; 50.0% women; 29% response rate). Study 2 included recently separated post-9/11 veterans (N = 1494; 55.2% women; 19.4% response rate).

Main Measures

SV was assessed with the Deployment Risk and Resilience Inventory-2 (DRRI-2). IPV was assessed with the extended Hurt-Insult-Threaten-Scream Tool.

Key Results

Women were more likely than men to experience pre-military SV (study 1: 39.9% vs. 8.7%, OR = 6.96, CIs: 4.71–10.28; study 2: 36.2% vs. 8.6%, OR = 6.04, CIs: 4.18–8.71), sexual harassment and/or assault during military service (study 1: 55.0% vs. 16.8%, OR = 6.30, CIs: 4.57–8.58; study 2: 52.9% vs. 26.9%, OR = 3.08, CIs: 2.38–3.98), and post-military SV (study 1: 12.4% vs. 0.9%, OR = 15.49, CIs: 6.42–36.97; study 2: 7.5% vs. 1.5%, OR = 5.20, CIs: 2.26–11.99). Women were more likely than men to experience lifetime IPV (study 1: 45.7% vs. 37.1%, OR = 1.38, CIs: 1.04–1.82; study 2: 45.4% and 34.8%, OR = 1.60, CIs: 1.25–2.04) but not past-year IPV (study 1: 27.9% vs. 28.3%, OR = 0.95, CIs: 0.70–1.28; study 2: 33.1% vs. 28.5%, OR = 1.24, CIs: 0.95–1.61). When controlling for gender, there were few differences across other sociodemographic groups, with the exception of sexual orientation.

Conclusions

Understanding veterans’ experiences of SV and IPV can inform identification and intervention efforts, especially for women and sexual minorities.
“Anxiety, COVID, Burnout and Now Depression”: a Qualitative Study of Primary Care Clinicians’ Perceptions of Burnout
Authors: Goldberg Debora Goetz , Soylu Tulay , Hoffman Carolyn Faith , Kishton Rachel E. , Cronholm Peter F.
Published: November 2023

Background

Clinician burnout has become a major issue in the USA, contributing to increased mental health challenges and problems with quality of care, productivity, and retention.

Objective

The objective of this study was to understand primary care clinicians’ perspectives on burnout during the COVID-19 pandemic as well as their perspectives on the causes of burnout and strategies to improve clinician well-being.

Approach

This qualitative research involved in-depth interviews with 27 primary care clinicians practicing in a range of settings across the USA. Semi-structured interviews lasted between 60 and 90 min and were conducted using Zoom video conferencing software between July 2021 and February 2023. Transcripts were analyzed in NVivo software using multiple cycles of coding.

Key Results

Clinicians shared their experiences with burnout and mental health challenges during the COVID-19 pandemic. Contributors to burnout included high levels of documentation, inefficiencies of electronic health record (EHR) systems, high patient volume, staffing shortages, and expectations for responding to patient emails and telephone calls. The majority of participants described the need to work after clinic hours to complete documentation. Many clinicians also discussed the need for health system leaders to make sincere efforts to enhance work-life balance and create a culture of health and well-being for health professionals. Suggested strategies to address these issues included supportive leadership, accessible mental health services, and additional administrative time to complete documentation.

Conclusions

The results of this study provide an in-depth view of participating primary care clinicians’ experiences and perceptions of burnout and other mental health challenges. These viewpoints can improve awareness of the issues and strategies to improve the health and well-being of our clinician workforce. Strategies include aligning payment models with the best approaches for delivering quality patient care, reducing administrative burden related to documentation, and redesigning EHR systems with a human factors approach.
Justified Evidence Resistance
Authors: Bernecker Sven
Published: November 2023

The paper proposes a novel account of justified evidence resistance. When S inquires as to whether p is the case, S resists available counterevidence e if S either fails to countenance e or is insensitive to e’s probative force. S is justified in resisting available counterevidence e if and only if e is irrelevant.
Effects of recalling episodes of influencing attempts on cognition in Japan
Authors: Imai Yoshiaki
Published: November 2023

This study examined the power-cognition relationships in Japan, considering the differences related to interpersonal influence from Western cultures. Participants were instructed to recall episodes of influencing others (high-power condition) or being influenced by others (low-power condition), think about managing a group as a leader, or recall the summary of a drama or movie as a control condition. In Study 1, participants in the high-power condition reported a higher sense of power than those in the low-power condition. Participants in the control condition of Study 2 rated their sense of power the least among the four experimental conditions. However, there were no differences in innovativeness, positive affection, and the Behavioral Approach System between the high-power and control conditions. Many of the results of Bayesian factors supported the null hypotheses. These results did not support the power-cognition relationships. Considering that the Japanese are globally considered to be less assertive, these results suggest a low susceptibility to the activation of a sense of power and the possibility of a weakness in the frame of power in Japanese interpersonal relationships.
Multi-level effects of authentic leadership on self-actualization at work – the mediating roles of authentic followership and basic psychological need satisfaction
Authors: Schoofs Laura Klara , Maunz Lucas Alexander , Glaser Jürgen
Published: November 2023

Authentic leaders are self-aware of their values and beliefs and continuously strive to create meaningful organizational contexts that promote the growth and selfactualization of subordinates. Following self-determination theory (SDT), this study examines whether follower authenticity and basic psychological need satisfaction (BPNS) serve as mediators between the association of authentic leadership and indicators of self-actualization at work. We used the data of 53 team leaders and 171 team members from one global company. Results of three multi-level mediation models indicated that followers? authenticity and BPNS mediate the link between group leaders? authentic leadership and followers? self-actualization at work. In line with fundamental assumptions of SDT, our findings suggest that follower self-actualization is influenced by authentic leadership but also emerges from a synergistic effect between leader and follower authenticity and follower BPNS. We discuss how future research and practice may promote employee authenticity and personal development in work environments.
Cobalt-Free BaFe0.6Zr0.1Y0.3O3−δ Oxygen Electrode for Reversible Protonic Ceramic Electrochemical Cells
Authors: Yang Chenghao , Li Jin , Hu Ao , Pu Jian , Chi Bo
Published: November 2023

Reversible protonic ceramic electrochemical cells (R-PCECs) are ideal, high-efficiency devices that are environmentally friendly and have a modular design. This paper studies BaFe0.6Zr0.1Y0.3O3−δ (BFZY3) as a cobalt-free perovskite oxygen electrode for high-performance R-PCECs where Y ions doping can increase the concentration of oxygen vacancies with a remarkable increase in catalytic performance. The cell with configuration of Ni-BZCYYb/BZCYYb/BFZY3 demonstrated promising performance in dual modes of fuel cells (FCs) and electrolysis cells (ECs) at 650 °C with low polarization resistance of 0.13 Ω cm2, peak power density of 546.59 mW/cm2 in FC mode, and current density of − 1.03 A/cm2 at 1.3 V in EC mode. The alternative operation between FC and EC modes for up to eight cycles with a total of 80 h suggests that the cell with BFZY3 is exceptionally stable and reversible over the long term. The results indicated that BFZY3 has considerable potential as an air electrode material for R-PCECs, permitting efficient oxygen reduction and water splitting.
What can be done with today’s budget and demand? Scenarios of rural public transport automation in Mühlwald (South Tyrol)
Authors: Dianin Alberto , Gidam Michael , Hauger Georg
Published: November 2023

Rural public transport is typically limited in its coverage, frequency and service period. This is often linked to a low and dispersed demand, which makes the provision of competitive transport services often financially unsustainable. Autonomous vehicles (AVs) might change this condition, allowing for an upgrade of public transport in rural areas. Nevertheless, current studies are mostly focused on urban areas, while the potential for rural applications remains underexplored. This paper contributes to this research line by developing a set of so-called AV scenarios for a potential upgrade of public transport in the rural study area of Mühlwald (South Tyrol, Italy). These scenarios are designed following three core principles. First, line-based and on-demand applications of AVs are not only individually tested, but even combined over space and time in different manners to exploit their synergy. Second, the performances of the scenarios are quantified by assuming the today´s agency cost budget, public-transport demand and peak-hour system capacity to be fixed parameters to comply with. Third, the uncertainties regarding the impacts of AVs on the agency costs are taken into account by defining optimistic, neutral and pessimistic variants of each scenario. Results indicate that the full replacement of current bus lines with a system of on-demand shared taxis might provide the highest performance improvements with the same budget as today, but only with a much bigger fleet. At the same time, the combination of bus lines and on-demand services over time (and space) might provide similarly competitive results while keeping the needed fleet size, service distance and service time relatively low. With this study, policy makers may get insights into the potential improvements of rural public transport that might be initially obtained with different uses of AVs, given a fixed agency cost budget and demand.
Computation of topographic and three-dimensional atomic force microscopy images of biopolymers by calculating forces
Authors: Sumikama Takashi
Published: November 2023

Atomic force microscopy (AFM) is widely utilized to visualize the molecular motions of biomolecules. Comparison of experimentally measured AFM images with simulated AFM images based on known structures of biomolecules is often necessary to elucidate what is actually resolved in the images. Experimental AFM images are generated by force measurements; however, conventional AFM simulation has been based on geometrical considerations rather than calculating forces using molecular dynamics simulations due to limited computation time. This letter summarizes recently developed methods to simulate topographic and three-dimensional AFM (3D-AFM) images of biopolymers such as chromosomes and cytoskeleton fibers. Scanning such biomolecules in AFM measurements usually results in nonequilibrium-type work being performed. As such, the Jarzynski equality was employed to relate the nonequilibrium work to the free energy profiles, and the forces were calculated by differentiating the free energy profiles. The biomolecules and probes were approximated using a supra-coarse-grained model, allowing the simulation of force-distance curves in feasible time. It was found that there is an optimum scanning velocity and that some of polymer structures are resolved in the simulated 3D-AFM images. The theoretical background adopted to rationalize the use of small probe radius in the conventional AFM simulation of biomolecules is clarified.
Self-learning Agents for Recommerce Markets
Authors: Groeneveld Jan , Herrmann Judith , Mollenhauer Nikkel , Dreeßen Leonard , Bessin Nick , Tast Johann Schulze , Kastius Alexander , Huegle Johannes , Schlosser Rainer
Published: November 2023

Nowadays, customers as well as retailers look for increased sustainability. Recommerce markets – which offer the opportunity to trade-in and resell used products – are constantly growing and help to use resources more efficiently. To manage the additional prices for the trade-in and the resale of used product versions challenges retailers as substitution and cannibalization effects have to be taken into account. An unknown customer behavior as well as competition with other merchants regarding both sales and buying back resources further increases the problem’s complexity. Reinforcement learning (RL) algorithms offer the potential to deal with such tasks. However, before being applied in practice, self-learning algorithms need to be tested synthetically to examine whether they and which work in different market scenarios. In the paper, the authors evaluate and compare different state-of-the-art RL algorithms within a recommerce market simulation framework. They find that RL agents outperform rule-based benchmark strategies in duopoly and oligopoly scenarios. Further, the authors investigate the competition between RL agents via self-play and study how performance results are affected if more or less information is observable (cf. state components). Using an ablation study, they test the influence of various model parameters and infer managerial insights. Finally, to be able to apply self-learning agents in practice, the authors show how to calibrate synthetic test environments from observable data to be used for effective pre-training.
Optimization of solar tree performance in Egypt: a simulation-based investigation
Authors: Rabie Ahmed , Thabet Doha , Elsayed Kariman , Elbadawy Marwa , Abdellatif Ibrahim , Shalaby Raafat
Published: November 2023

The paper discusses the orientation and positions of solar panels in a solar tree. Solar energy contributes to the most available and abundant energy source in Egypt. Hence, The PV system is considered a promising solution to generate power from this source. However, its energy density is low. Therefore, the solar tree is considered in this paper as it has higher density and fits the urban cities of Egypt. The design of the solar tree is divided into two sections: the study of the solar panel’s orientation and positions. For the solar tree orientation, a single-objective genetic algorithm is used to maximize the total incident irradiance on a tilted solar panel. The output of this optimization problem is 20 optimal angles for the tilt angle ($$\beta$$
β
) and surface azimuth angle of the solar panel ($$\gamma$$
γ
). These angles are inputted to the second methodology to determine their positions. In this methodology, a multi-objective genetic algorithm is used to trade between the area occupied by the solar tree representing the cost and the power loss due to the shading of the solar panels on each other; the output is the coordinates of the center of each solar panel. The proposed solar tree design increased the incident irradiance from 4427.389 to 4496.584 watts/m2/year using the optimal angles and the output power increased as the shadow loss decreased from 904.685 watts to 300 watts. The final design of the solar tree is 5 m in height and 1.13 m wide.
Die Rolle der artifiziellen Intelligenz in der Gastroenterologie – Already changing the game!
Authors: Heinrich Henriette S. , Bauerfeind Peter
Published: November 2023

Die Artifizielle Intelligenz (AI) wird oft als Zukunftsmusik abgetan – dabei verändert sie bereits zum jetzigen Zeitpunkt die Gegenwart vieler Gastroenterolog/innen. Die beiden prominentesten Beispiele sind der Einsatz einer AI im Bereich der Polypendetektion bei der Vorsorgekoloskopie und die Veränderungen, die die Verwendung von ChatGPT im Bereich der Administration und Patientenversorgung mit sich bringt.

In vielen anderen Bereichen wie der Diagnostik des Barrettkarzinomes oder bei der Klassifizierung von Pankreaszysten wird die AI in Zukunft die diagnostischen Fähigkeiten von Gastroenterolog/innen verbessern. Offene Fragen bleiben in Bezug auf die Sichtweise des Patienten auf den Einsatz dieser neuen Techniken und den Einsatz der AI in der Ausbildung und Lehre.
The Significance of Nursing Care in the Post-anesthesia Care Unit and Barriers to Care
Authors: Mert Selda
Published: November 2023

The post-anesthesia care unit (PACU) is the section where the effects of anesthesia are expected to pass following surgery, the patient's vital signs are aimed to be stable, and the prevention of possible complications is aimed. In PACU, patients may encounter many complications after surgery and anesthesia. The most common complications include acute pain, hypoxemia, nausea, vomiting, delirium, hypothermia, etc. It is stated that most of the complications in the post-anesthesia care phase are seen between the first 1 and 5 h. Nursing care is significant in PACU to improve the quality of recovery of patients and to prevent complications that may occur. Nurses must be highly qualified and have knowledge and skills in the treatment and care of patients from different surgeries of varying complexity that require specialized and individualized care. Complications and side effects can be detected early with adequate nursing observation, care, and treatment in PACU, and the incidence of complications, mortality rates, and length of hospital stay can be reduced with timely intervention. However, unexpected increases in patient volume or acuity, prolonged patient stay in the unit, nurses' lack of knowledge and skills in some subjects, lack of staff, excessive workload, communication barriers between surgeons, anesthesiologists, and nurses, the absence of structured information reporting systems, lack of a standard PACU transfer checklist, and inability to allocate sufficient time for nursing care due to heavy administrative burden in addition to psychosocial factors such as high stress, insufficient sleep, and lack of active rest intervals, prevent adequate nursing care in PACU. The existing literature does not offer a comprehensive examination of nursing care in the PACU, the complications arising therein, impediments to nursing care, or recommendations to address these challenges. This review, seeking to elucidate the methodologies of nursing care within the PACU, highlighting its significance, identifying challenges, and proposing solutions, is anticipated to act as a foundational guide for practitioners, administrators, and scholars in the domain, facilitating the resolution of nursing care barriers and enhancing the body of knowledge on this topic.
The power of Drosophila genetics in studying insect toxicology and chemical ecology
Authors: Huang Jia , Lee Youngseok
Published: November 2023

Insect toxicology and chemical ecology are inherently interconnected disciplines, both dedicated to unraveling the intricate relationships between insects and the diverse array of chemical compounds that pervade their surroundings. Drosophila melanogaster, owing to its genetic and physiological similarities to other insects, serves as a robust model system in the study of insect toxicology. Moreover, state-of-the-art techniques in Drosophila neurobiology have extensively probed the chemosensory system of insects, providing significant insights into their adaptation to chemical environments. In this review, we emphasize the advancements achieved through the application of Drosophila genetics in investigations spanning both of these fields, significantly enhancing our understanding of the mode of action and resistance mechanisms of insecticides, as well as unraveling the molecular and cellular mechanisms underlying insect chemosensation and associated behaviors. The profound insights derived through this tiny fly not only enrich our understanding of the broader world of insects but also hold the potential to develop more effective and sustainable strategies for pest management.
Physics-agnostic and physics-infused machine learning for thin films flows: modelling, and predictions from small data
Authors: Martin-Linares Cristina P. , Psarellis Yorgos M. , Karapetsas George , Koronaki Eleni D. , Kevrekidis Ioannis G.
Published: November 2023

Numerical simulations of multiphase flows are crucial in numerous engineering applications, but are often limited by the computationally demanding solution of the Navier–Stokes (NS) equations. The development of surrogate models relies on involved algebra and several assumptions. Here, we present a data-driven workflow where a handful of detailed NS simulation data are leveraged into a reduced-order model for a prototypical vertically falling liquid film. We develop a physics-agnostic model for the film thickness, achieving a far better agreement with the NS solutions than the asymptotic Kuramoto–Sivashinsky (KS) equation. We also develop two variants of physics-infused models providing a form of calibration of a low-fidelity model (i.e. the KS) against a few high-fidelity NS data. Finally, predictive models for missing data are developed, for either the amplitude, or the full-field velocity and even the flow parameter from partial information. This is achieved with the so-called ‘gappy diffusion maps’, which we compare favourably to its linear counterpart, gappy POD.
Darfur Model, Rwanda, and the ICTR: John Hagan’s Sociology of Genocide Continued
Authors: Savelsberg Joachim J. , Chambers Brooke B.
Published: November 2023

Core contributions from John Hagan’s scholarship on genocide are at stake in this article. First, this article examines, for the Rwandan genocide, the applicability of Hagan and Wenona Rymond-Richmond’s multi-level causal model of genocide, developed in Darfur and the Crime of Genocide. Asking how causal factors and processes highlighted in that model play out in scholarship on the Rwandan genocide, it moves toward answering the question of external validity versus historical specificity. Second, the article examines, again with a focus on Rwanda, the relationship between social scientific explanation and judicial thought. While it highlights—in line with the first author’s previous work—how judicial narratives address or select out core factors highlighted in the Darfur model, the article focuses—in line with Hagan’s Justice in the Balkans—on the question of what knowledge social science can nevertheless gain from court proceedings. An analysis of a sample of cases processed by the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda identifies overlaps with social science analyses, but it also highlights distinctions.
California Civil Asset Forfeiture and the Policing of Minority Residents
Authors: Joseph Jared , McCarthy Bill
Published: November 2023

In Who Are the Criminals?, John Hagan argues that legislators use “crisis framing” to influence how the general public thinks about crime. President Ronald Reagan used reports of a drug use epidemic fueled by organized crime as part of his crisis framing. In 1984, he signed the Comprehensive Crime Control Act (CCCA) as part of his “war on drugs.” The CCCA allowed law enforcement to use civil asset forfeiture (CAF) to keep or sell property that it suspected was connected to illegal activity. State legislators followed suit and passed their own CAF laws. Some critics argue that law enforcements’ use of CAF has disproportionately targeted minority populations. We draw on racial threat theory to examine connections between the size of minority populations and the use of CAF in California. Our analysis uses nineteen years of CAF cases filed with the California Attorney General’s Office. Consistent with racial threat theory, we find a positive association between the number of forfeitures in a jurisdiction and a logged measure of the percentage of Black residents, net of crime, and other jurisdiction attributes. Our results support concerns that law enforcement has incorporated CAF as a technique used disproportionately against some minority communities.
Is White-Collar Crime White? Racialization in the National Press Coverage of White-Collar Crime from 1950 to 2010
Authors: Zaloznaya Marina , Yakes Alexandria , Wo James
Published: November 2023

While much is written about racialization of street criminals in the American media, racial dimensions of the media framing of white-collar crime remain underexplored. To address this issue, we analyze the coverage of bribery, electoral fraud, tax evasion, and insider trading in five national newspapers between 1950 and 2010. Drawing on John Hagan’s (2012) work, we trace the racialization of white-collar crime in the press back to Richard Nixon’s presidency and the beginnings of the War on Drugs. We also find that race is a significant predictor of offenders’ individualization, or the length of description accorded to them by writers. We argue that by individualizing black offenders significantly more than white perpetrators, reporters connote their oddity in the context of white-collar criminality and contribute to their collective framing as an exception. Finally, we find that black perpetrators receive significantly more positive coverage than white offenders, which serves to further underscore their distinctiveness from stereotypical black criminals and their similarity to nonthreatening (white) Americans. These findings support Hagan’s (2012) argument that racialization of street crime is mirrored by the collective framing of elite economic crime as white and, by extension, a nonthreatening side effect of American capitalism.
Children of War Resisters: Intergenerational Transmission of Activism, Political Orientation, Injustice Frames, and Law Resistance
Authors: Rymond-Richmond Wenona
Published: November 2023

American Vietnam War resisters participated in one of the largest politically motivated emigrations in US history. John Hagan provided the most comprehensive study of American war resisters living in Canada in his award-winning book Northern Passage. Hagan documented how law resistance intersected with social movement participation and sustained activism. In this article, I extend Hagan’s life course analysis of law resistance by interviewing fifty-one adult children of the war resisters originally in Hagan’s sample, supplemented with eighteen surveys completed by the parents about their child, producing eighty-two distinct parent-child relationship pairs. This unique intergenerational study finds that American war resister parents radically influenced their offspring’s activism. The adult children of war resisters highly resemble their parents’ political views and activism. Further, I elaborate on the concept of a participation identity to suggest four fundamental mechanisms that facilitate activism of the offspring of war resisters: (1) resonates with their identities and life histories; (2) inspired by their parents’ activism; (3) adoption of an injustice frame; and (4) optimism that social movements are effective vehicles of social change. This research demonstrates that American war resister children in Canada are both attitudinally disposed to, and structurally available for, activism.
NEW LIGHT ON THE ADDITAMENTVM ALDINVM (SILIUS ITALICUS, PVNICA 8.144–223)
Authors: Nagy Benjamin C. , Lee †Janice M.
Published: November 2023

The authenticity of the Additamentum Aldinum (Sil. Pun. 8.144–223) has long been a matter of debate. While many scholars have expressed doubts that it is by Silius and suggest rather that it is from the hands of a skilful humanist, it has not, up to this time, been possible to provide solid evidence to support their intuition. This paper not only re-examines the standard arguments for and against authenticity but brings the latest computational stylometric techniques to bear on the question. These analyses reveal that the style of the Additamentum differs in statistically significant terms from the rest of Silius’ Punica.1
Modeling the Evolution of Lunar Regolith: 2. Growth Rate and Spatial Distribution
Authors: Zhang Mingwei , Fa Wenzhe , Barnard Emily M. , Eke Vincent R.
Published: November 2023

The evolution of regolith thickness induced by continuous impact events on the lunar surface provides valuable information about lunar geology and the bombardment history of the inner Solar System. In this study, we develop a Lunar Topography and Regolith Evolution Model based on the production and distribution of lunar regolith resulting from individual impact craters. Considering the changing impact flux, evolving target properties, topographic degradation process, and crater superposition, our model simultaneously simulates both the spatial and temporal evolution of lunar cratered topography and regolith thickness. The modeled regolith thickness generally aligns with results estimated by in situ seismic experiments and measurements of small crater morphology. Through our simulations, we establish a novel quantitative relation between regolith growth rate and time, providing new constraints on the impact flux trend and buffering trend in the regolith growth process. By comparing this new relation with that predicted by our analytical regolith evolution model, we reveal the significant influences of evolving target properties and regolith distribution on the regolith growth rate. Our modeled results also show that the regional regolith thickness follows a characteristic long‐tailed distribution with substantial lateral variations. Both the root‐mean‐square fluctuation and correlation length of lunar regolith increase with lateral scale and the surface age, which are ∼4.7 and 18 m on the hectometer scale at 3.5 Ga. All these results contribute to a better understanding of the regolith evolution process and can provide valuable insights into the lunar surface dynamics.
Deubiquitinase USP1 enhances CCAAT/enhancer-binding protein beta (C/EBPβ) stability and accelerates adipogenesis and lipid accumulation
Authors: Kim Myung Sup , Baek Jung-Hwan , Lee JinAh , Sivaraman Aneesh , Lee Kyeong , Chun Kyung-Hee
Published: November 2023

Dysregulation of the ubiquitin-proteasome system has been implicated in the pathogenesis of several metabolic disorders, including obesity, diabetes, and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease; however, the mechanisms controlling pathogenic metabolic disorders remain unclear. Transcription factor CCAAT/enhancer binding protein beta (C/EBPβ) regulates adipogenic genes. The study showed that the expression level of C/EBPβ is post-translationally regulated by the deubiquitinase ubiquitin-specific protease 1 (USP1) and that USP1 expression is remarkably upregulated during adipocyte differentiation and in the adipose tissue of mice fed a high-fat diet (HFD). We found that USP1 directly interacts with C/EBPβ. Knock-down of USP1 decreased C/EBPβ protein stability and increased its ubiquitination. Overexpression of USP1 regulates its protein stability and ubiquitination, whereas catalytic mutant of USP1 had no effect on them. It suggests that USP1 directly deubiquitinases C/EBPβ and increases the protein expression, leading to adipogenesis and lipid accumulation. Notably, the USP1-specific inhibitor ML323—originally developed to sensitize cancer cells to DNA-damaging agents—decreased adipocyte differentiation and lipid accumulation in 3T3-L1 cells without cytotoxicity. Oral gavage of ML323 was administered to HFD-fed mice, which showed weight loss and improvement in insulin and glucose sensitivity. Both fat mass and adipocyte size in white adipose tissues were significantly reduced by ML323 treatment, which also reduced the expression of genes involved in adipogenesis and inflammatory responses. ML323 also reduced lipid accumulation, hepatic triglycerides, free fatty acids, and macrophage infiltration in the livers of HFD-fed mice. Taken together, we suggest that USP1 plays an important role in adipogenesis by regulating C/EBPβ ubiquitination, and USP1-specific inhibitor ML323 is a potential treatment option and further study by ML323 is needed for clinical application for metabolic disorders.
Engineered compact pan-neuronal promoter from Alphaherpesvirus LAP2 enhances target gene expression in the mouse brain and reduces tropism in the liver
Authors: Maturana Carola J.
Published: November 2023

Small promoters capable of driving potent neuron-restricted gene expression are required to support successful brain circuitry and clinical gene therapy studies. However, converting large promoters into functional MiniPromoters, which can be used in vectors with limited capacity, remains challenging. In this study, we describe the generation of a novel version of alphaherpesvirus latency-associated promoter 2 (LAP2), which facilitates precise transgene expression exclusively in the neurons of the mouse brain while minimizing undesired targeting in peripheral tissues. Additionally, we aimed to create a compact neural promoter to facilitate packaging of larger transgenes. Our results revealed that MiniLAP2 (278 bp) drives potent transgene expression in all neurons in the mouse brain, with little to no expression in glial cells. In contrast to the native promoter, MiniLAP2 reduced tropism in the spinal cord and liver. No expression was detected in the kidney or skeletal muscle. In summary, we developed a minimal pan-neuronal promoter that drives specific and robust transgene expression in the mouse brain when delivered intravenously via AAV-PHP.eB vector. The use of this novel MiniPromoter may broaden the range of deliverable therapeutics and improve their safety and efficacy by minimizing the potential for off-target effects.
Complex 33-beam simulated galactic cosmic radiation exposure impacts cognitive function and prefrontal cortex neurotransmitter networks in male mice
Authors: Desai Rajeev I. , Kangas Brian D. , Luc Oanh T. , Solakidou Eleana , Smith Evan C. , Dawes Monica H. , Ma Xiaoyu , Makriyannis Alexandros , Chatterjee Subhamoy , Dayeh Maher A. , Muñoz-Jaramillo Andrés , Desai Mihir I. , Limoli Charles L.
Published: November 2023

Astronauts will encounter extended exposure to galactic cosmic radiation (GCR) during deep space exploration, which could impair brain function. Here, we report that in male mice, acute or chronic GCR exposure did not modify reward sensitivity but did adversely affect attentional processes and increased reaction times. Potassium (K+)-stimulation in the prefrontal cortex (PFC) elevated dopamine (DA) but abolished temporal DA responsiveness after acute and chronic GCR exposure. Unlike acute GCR, chronic GCR increased levels of all other neurotransmitters, with differences evident between groups after higher K+-stimulation. Correlational and machine learning analysis showed that acute and chronic GCR exposure differentially reorganized the connection strength and causation of DA and other PFC neurotransmitter networks compared to controls which may explain space radiation-induced neurocognitive deficits.
Synaptotagmin-7 outperforms synaptotagmin-1 to promote the formation of large, stable fusion pores via robust membrane penetration
Authors: Courtney Kevin C. , Mandal Taraknath , Mehta Nikunj , Wu Lanxi , Li Yueqi , Das Debasis , Cui Qiang , Chapman Edwin R.
Published: November 2023

Synaptotagmin-1 and synaptotagmin-7 are two prominent calcium sensors that regulate exocytosis in neuronal and neuroendocrine cells. Upon binding calcium, both proteins partially penetrate lipid bilayers that bear anionic phospholipids, but the specific underlying mechanisms that enable them to trigger exocytosis remain controversial. Here, we examine the biophysical properties of these two synaptotagmin isoforms and compare their interactions with phospholipid membranes. We discover that synaptotagmin-1—membrane interactions are greatly influenced by membrane order; tight packing of phosphatidylserine inhibits binding due to impaired membrane penetration. In contrast, synaptotagmin-7 exhibits robust membrane binding and penetration activity regardless of phospholipid acyl chain structure. Thus, synaptotagmin-7 is a super-penetrator. We exploit these observations to specifically isolate and examine the role of membrane penetration in synaptotagmin function. Using nanodisc-black lipid membrane electrophysiology, we demonstrate that membrane penetration is a critical component that underlies how synaptotagmin proteins regulate reconstituted, exocytic fusion pores in response to calcium.
In situ observation of a stepwise [2 + 2] photocycloaddition process using fluorescence spectroscopy
Authors: Wang Meng-Fan , Deng Yun-Hu , Hong Yu-Xuan , Gu Jia-Hui , Cao Yong-Yong , Liu Qi , Braunstein Pierre , Lang Jian-Ping
Published: November 2023

Using highly sensitive and selective in situ techniques to investigate the dynamics of intermediates formation is key to better understand reaction mechanisms. However, investigating the early stages of solid-state reactions/transformations is still challenging. Here we introduce in situ fluorescence spectroscopy to observe the evolution of intermediates during a two-step [2 + 2] photocycloaddition process in a coordination polymer platform. The structural changes and kinetics of each step under ultraviolet light irradiation versus time are accompanied by the gradual increase-decrease of intensity and blue-shift of the fluorescence spectra from the crystals. Monitoring the fluorescence behavior using a laser scanning confocal microscope can directly visualize the inhomogeneity of the photocycloaddition reaction in a single crystal. Theoretical calculations allow us to rationalize the fluorescence behavior of these compounds. We provide a convenient strategy for visualizing the solid-state photocycloaddition dynamics using fluorescence spectroscopy and open an avenue for kinetic studies of a variety of fast reactions.
Fragment-sequencing unveils local tissue microenvironments at single-cell resolution
Authors: Handler Kristina , Bach Karsten , Borrelli Costanza , Piscuoglio Salvatore , Ficht Xenia , Acar Ilhan E. , Moor Andreas E.
Published: November 2023

Cells collectively determine biological functions by communicating with each other—both through direct physical contact and secreted factors. Consequently, the local microenvironment of a cell influences its behavior, gene expression, and cellular crosstalk. Disruption of this microenvironment causes reciprocal changes in those features, which can lead to the development and progression of diseases. Hence, assessing the cellular transcriptome while simultaneously capturing the spatial relationships of cells within a tissue provides highly valuable insights into how cells communicate in health and disease. Yet, methods to probe the transcriptome often fail to preserve native spatial relationships, lack single-cell resolution, or are highly limited in throughput, i.e. lack the capacity to assess multiple environments simultaneously. Here, we introduce fragment-sequencing (fragment-seq), a method that enables the characterization of single-cell transcriptomes within multiple spatially distinct tissue microenvironments. We apply fragment-seq to a murine model of the metastatic liver to study liver zonation and the metastatic niche. This analysis reveals zonated genes and ligand-receptor interactions enriched in specific hepatic microenvironments. Finally, we apply fragment-seq to other tissues and species, demonstrating the adaptability of our method.