bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Once again on the evolution of the Anatolian hieroglyphic script
Authors: Yakubovich Ilya
Published: March 2023

The Anatolian hieroglyphic script represents a logosyllabic system, which gradually evolved in Asia Minor in the course of the second millennium BCE. Although the first syllabic values of Anatolian hieroglyphs are attested about 1400 BCE, there have been recent attempts to demonstrate that linguistic considerations prompt the projection of the development of the syllabic script further back in time. The present paper addresses the arguments advanced in favour of such a hypothesis and shows their inconclusive character. A collateral result of the present investigation is the segmentation of the set of earliest syllabic signs for which logographic readings are also attested. The comparison between the logographic and syllabic values within this set is conducive to a conclusion that the Hittite language, as opposed to Luwian, played a decisive role in assigning the syllabic values to Anatolian hieroglyphs in Hattusa between 1400 and 1250 BCE.
Rebus compositions in Linear A?
Authors: Montecchi Barbara
Published: March 2023

This paper deals with some Linear A logograms which might have been occasionally used not because of their meaning, but phonetically, on the basis of the sound of the words underlying the signs, to spell out different words, in rebus compositions with one or more syllabograms. This would be the case with the logogram for wine (AB 131a) on two clay tablets from Agia Triada (HT 14.1 and 123a.3), the logogram for human (A 100/102) on several clay documents from different sites (HT 72, KH Wc 2100, and PE Zb 7), and the logogram for olives (AB 122) on stone tables KO Za 1 and SY Za 2. The last two examples imply the reappraisal of the debate about the uncertain reading of one sign on KO Za 1 either as AB 27 or 122. In this paper it is shown how the latter is the only one supported by paleography.
Some observations on the language of Linear A
Authors: Monti Orazio
Published: March 2023

Examination of the Linear A texts confirms that

- the language of Linear A is probably only one (§ 1);

- the alternation a-/ja- in a-sa-sa-ra-me/ja-sa-sa-ra-me etc. is likely due to the presence of a prefix i/j- and not to a laryngeal or a graphic variant (§ 2);

- the sequence -i-*301- of a-ta-i-*301-wa-ja and variants is probably a verbal root (§§ 3-4);

- (j)a-sa-sa-ra-me probably means ‘gift, homage’ vel. sim. (but not necessarily ‘sacred’) and not ‘offering’ (§ 5);

- the prefix i/j- probably has the function of an article and i-na- could be its plural form (§ 6).

More generally, convincing arguments have already been put forward which strongly suggest that the language of Linear A is probably neither Indo-European nor Semitic (Afro-Asiatic), nor an ergative language such as Hurro-Urartian (§ 7).
A Lydian inscription from Denizli
Authors: Rojas Felipe , Öztürk Esengül Akıncı
Published: March 2023

A marble anthemion stele with a funerary inscription in Lydian was unearthed in 2010, during excavations led by Professor Kadir Pektaş at the Eski Mezarlık (or Old Cemetery) in the İlbadı neighbourhood of Denizli. The stone is currently in the Hierapolis Museum in Pamukkale. We present here a description of the stone and relief ornament, an edition of the Lydian text with commentary, a tentative partial translation, and a brief historical contextualization of the artifact. The text should be of interest to both Anatolianists and Indo-Europeanists, given its length and good state of preservation.
A novel autophagy-related long non-coding RNAs signature predicting progression-free interval and I-131 therapy benefits in papillary thyroid carcinoma
Authors: Hao Jie , Wang Shoujun , Wang Jinmiao , Zhang Zhendong , Gao Ming , Wan Yajuan
Published: March 2023

This study aimed to explore the prognostic and predictive value of autophagy-related lncRNAs in papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC). The expression data of autophagy-related genes and lncRNAs of the PTC patients were obtained from TCGA database. Autophagy-related-differentially expressed lncRNAs (DElncs) were identified and used to establish the lncRNAs signature predicting patients’ progression-free interval (PFI) in the training cohort. Its performance was assessed in the training cohort, validation cohort, and entire cohort. Effects of the signature on I-131 therapy were also explored. We identified 199 autophagy-related-DElncs and constructed a novel six-lncRNAs signature was constructed based on these lncRNAs. This signature had a good predictive performance and was superior to TNM stages and previous clinical risk scores. I-131 therapy was found to be associated with favorable prognosis in patients with high-risk scores but not those with low-risk scores. Gene set enrichment analysis suggested that a series of hallmark gene sets were enriched in the high-risk subgroup. Single-cell RNA sequencing analysis suggested that the lncRNAs were mainly expressed in thyroid cells but not stromal cells. In conclusion, our study constructed a well-performed six-lncRNAs signature to predict PFI and I-131 therapy benefits in PTC.
Dealing with Migration at an Institutional Level: The Collective Securitization Actions of the European Union
Authors: Doğanyılmaz Duman Didem , Duman Gökhan , Oral Gül
Published: March 2023

Migration has been placed high on the agenda by the EU as being securitized related to policy changes as well as border security. Growing numbers of irregular migrants have paved the way for a systematic coordination and a consequent regional response in the region; therefore, dedicated security-based policies have been revised. This research analyzes the response that the EU put in action to the irregular migration due to the Arab Uprisings within the scope of collective securitization, and answers the question of why the EU has needed to respond to the demographic changes in the neighborhood as a supra-national securitizing actor. The empirical part of the research will be limited to the policy changes in the European Neighborhood Policy and the Schengen Agreement within the framework of institutional response between 2011 and 2015.
The effects of fine particulate matter on the blood-testis barrier and its potential mechanisms
Authors: Zheng Shaokai , Jiang Lianlian , Qiu Lianglin
Published: March 2023

With the rapid expansion of industrial scale, an increasing number of fine particulate matter (PM2.5) has bringing health concerns. Although exposure to PM2.5 has been clearly associated with male reproductive toxicity, the exact mechanisms are still unclear. Recent studies demonstrated that exposure to PM2.5 can disturb spermatogenesis through destroying the blood-testis barrier (BTB), consisting of different junction types, containing tight junctions (TJs), gap junctions (GJs), ectoplasmic specialization (ES) and desmosomes. The BTB is one of the tightest blood-tissue barriers among mammals, which isolating germ cells from hazardous substances and immune cell infiltration during spermatogenesis. Therefore, once the BTB is destroyed, hazardous substances and immune cells will enter seminiferous tubule and cause adversely reproductive effects. In addition, PM2.5 also has shown to cause cells and tissues injury via inducing autophagy, inflammation, sex hormones disorder, and oxidative stress. However, the exact mechanisms of the disruption of the BTB, induced by PM2.5, are still unclear. It is suggested that more research is required to identify the potential mechanisms. In this review, we aim to understand the adverse effects on the BTB after exposure to PM2.5 and explore its potential mechanisms, which provides novel insight into accounting for PM2.5-induced BTB injury.
Facilitation of Behavioral and Cortical Emergence from Isoflurane Anesthesia by GABAergic Neurons in Basal Forebrain
Authors: Cai Ping , Su Wei-Kun , Zhang Jin-Sheng , Liu Pei-Chang , Liu Feng , Liu Ren-Fu , Li Zhang-Shu , Zhu Zhong-Hua , Xiao Wen-Hao , Hu Yong-Huai , Cai Hong-Da , Wu Xiao-Dan , Zhang Liang-Cheng , Yu Changxi , Chen Li
Published: March 2023

General anesthesia shares many similarities with natural sleep in behavior and electroencephalogram (EEG) patterns. The latest evidence suggests that general anesthesia and sleep–wake behavior may share overlapping neural substrates. The GABAergic neurons in the basal forebrain (BF) have recently been demonstrated to play a key role in controlling wakefulness. It was hypothesized that BF GABAergic neurons may participate in the regulation of general anesthesia. Here, usingin vivofiber photometry, we found that the activity of BF GABAergic neurons was generally inhibited during isoflurane anesthesia, having obviously decreased during the induction of anesthesia and being gradually restored during the emergence from anesthesia, in Vgat-Cre mice of both sexes. Activation of BF GABAergic neurons with chemogenetic and optogenetic approaches decreased sensitivity to isoflurane, delayed induction, and accelerated emergence from isoflurane anesthesia. Optogenetic activation of BF GABAergic neurons decreased EEG δ power and the burst suppression ratio (BSR) during 0.8% and 1.4% isoflurane anesthesia, respectively. Similar to the effects of activating BF GABAergic cell bodies, photostimulation of BF GABAergic terminals in the thalamic reticular nucleus (TRN) also strongly promoted cortical activation and behavioral emergence from isoflurane anesthesia. Collectively, these results showed that the GABAergic BF is a key neural substrate for general anesthesia regulation that facilitates behavioral and cortical emergence from general anesthesia via the GABAergic BF-TRN pathway. Our findings may provide a new target for attenuating the depth of anesthesia and accelerating emergence from general anesthesia.

SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENTThe basal forebrain (BF) is a key brain region controlling sleep–wake behavior. Activation of GABAergic neurons in the BF potently promotes behavioral arousal and cortical activity. Recently, many sleep–wake-related brain structures have been reported to participate in the regulation of general anesthesia. However, it is still unclear what role BF GABAergic neurons play in general anesthesia. In this study, we aim to reveal the role of BF GABAergic neurons in behavioral and cortical emergence from isoflurane anesthesia and elucidate the underlying neural pathways. Understanding the specific role of BF GABAergic neurons in isoflurane anesthesia would improve our understanding of the mechanisms of general anesthesia and may provide a new strategy for accelerating emergence from general anesthesia.
Virtual (Zoom) Interactions Alter Conversational Behavior and Interbrain Coherence
Authors: Balters Stephanie , Miller Jonas G. , Li Rihui , Hawthorne Grace , Reiss Allan L.
Published: March 2023

A growing number of social interactions are taking place virtually on videoconferencing platforms. Here, we explore potential effects of virtual interactions on observed behavior, subjective experience, and neural “single-brain” and “interbrain” activity via functional near-infrared spectroscopy neuroimaging. We scanned a total of 36 human dyads (72 participants, 36 males, 36 females) who engaged in three naturalistic tasks (i.e., problem-solving, creative-innovation, socio-emotional task) in either an in-person or virtual (Zoom) condition. We also coded cooperative behavior from audio recordings. We observed reduced conversational turn-taking behavior during the virtual condition. Given that conversational turn-taking was associated with other metrics of positive social interaction (e.g., subjective cooperation and task performance), this measure may be an indicator of prosocial interaction. In addition, we observed altered patterns of averaged and dynamic interbrain coherence in virtual interactions. Interbrain coherence patterns that were characteristic of the virtual condition were associated with reduced conversational turn-taking. These insights can inform the design and engineering of the next generation of videoconferencing technology.

SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENTVideoconferencing has become an integral part of our lives. Whether this technology impacts behavior and neurobiology is not well understood. We explored potential effects of virtual interaction on social behavior, brain activity, and interbrain coupling. We found that virtual interactions were characterized by patterns of interbrain coupling that were negatively implicated in cooperation. Our findings are consistent with the perspective that videoconferencing technology adversely affects individuals and dyads during social interaction. As virtual interactions become even more necessary, improving the design of videoconferencing technology will be crucial for supporting effective communication.
Megahertz Sampling of Prestin (SLC26a5) Voltage-Sensor Charge Movements in Outer Hair Cell Membranes Reveals Ultrasonic Activity that May Support Electromotility and Cochlear Amplification
Authors: Santos-Sacchi Joseph , Bai Jun-Ping , Navaratnam Dhasakumar
Published: March 2023

Charged moieties in the outer hair cell (OHC) membrane motor protein, prestin, are driven by transmembrane voltage to power OHC electromotility (eM) and cochlear amplification (CA), an enhancement of mammalian hearing. Consequently, the speed of prestin's conformational switching constrains its dynamic influence on micromechanics of the cell and the organ of Corti. Corresponding voltage-sensor charge movements in prestin, classically assessed as a voltage-dependent, nonlinear membrane capacitance (NLC), have been used to gauge its frequency response, but have been validly measured only out to 30 kHz. Thus, controversy exists concerning the effectiveness of eM in supporting CA at ultrasonic frequencies where some mammals can hear. Using megahertz sampling of guinea pig (either sex) prestin charge movements, we extend interrogations of NLC into the ultrasonic range (up to 120 kHz) and find an order of magnitude larger response at 80 kHz than previously predicted, indicating that an influence of eM at ultrasonic frequencies is likely, in line with recentin vivoresults (Levic et al., 2022). Given wider bandwidth interrogations, we also validate kinetic model predictions of prestin by directly observing its characteristic cut-off frequency under voltage-clamp as the intersection frequency (Fis), near 19 kHz, of the real and imaginary components of complex NLC (cNLC). The frequency response of prestin displacement current noise determined from either the Nyquist relation or stationary measures aligns with this cut-off. We conclude that voltage stimulation accurately assesses the spectral limits of prestin activity, and that voltage-dependent conformational switching is physiologically significant in the ultrasonic range.

SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENTThe motor protein prestin powers outer hair cell (OHC) electromotility (eM) and cochlear amplification (CA), an enhancement of high-frequency mammalian hearing. The ability of prestin to work at very high frequencies depends on its membrane voltage-driven conformation switching. Using megahertz sampling, we extend measures of prestin charge movement into the ultrasonic range and find response magnitude at 80 kHz an order of magnitude larger than previously estimated, despite confirmation of previous low pass characteristic frequency cut-offs. The frequency response of prestin noise garnered by the admittance-based Nyquist relation or stationary noise measures confirms this characteristic cut-off frequency. Our data indicate that voltage perturbation provides accurate assessment of prestin performance indicating that it can support cochlear amplification into a higher frequency range than previously thought.
Evaluation of meteorological time series trends in Southeastern Anatolia, Turkey
Authors: Gümüş Veysel , Avşaroğlu Yavuz , Şimşek Oğuz , Doğan Dinsever Latif
Published: March 2023

In this study, trend analyses of six climatic variables (mean, minimum, and maximum temperature, relative humidity, wind speed, and precipitation) for 1966-2020 are conducted for the Southeastern Anatolia Region, which is the main focus of the integrated development project in Turkey (Turkish acronym GAP). The trends for seasonal and annual periods are determined using the Mann-Kendall (MK) test, and Sen's slope method and regression analyses are used to find the trends' slopes. Moreover, Innovative Trend Analysis (ITA) is also used to find the time series changes for low, medium, and high values. As a result of the analyses, the mean, minimum, and maximum temperatures in the GAP region show increasing trends according to both methods. Significant trends are obtained at a limited number of stations for the precipitation, relative humidity, and wind speed with the MK test, while consistent decreasing trends are found at most stations with the ITA method.
Joanna Rapacka, književna povjesničarka i komparatistica (1939. – 2000.)
Authors: Fališevac Dunja
Published: March 2023

Poljska kroatistica, polonistica i komparatistica Joanna Rapacka (1939. – 2000.) objavila je niz knjiga i velik broj rasprava o hrvatskoj književnosti i kulturi, u rasponu od srednjega vijeka pa sve do razdoblja moderne. Sve njezine rasprave, bilo one kroatističke, bilo one kroatističko-polonističke ili pak kroatističko-komparatističke postavljaju relevantna pitanja ne samo o hrvatskoj književnosti nego i o njezinoj dubljoj biti, o njezinu idejnom, ideološkom, društvenopolitičkom ili pak antropološkom kontekstu. Lucidno uočavajući „podzemne“ procese u oblikovanju hrvatske književne kulture, Joanna Rapacka postavlja niz relevantnih pitanja i na njih daje odgovore koji na posve nov način vide hrvatsku književnu i kulturnu prošlost. Svojim radom ona je uvelike pridonijela upoznavanju poljske javnosti s hrvatskom kulturom i njezinim vezama ne samo s poljskom kulturom nego i s njezinim europskim kontekstom.
„Noch jetzt ist der Athos die Urburg Europas“ Das Verhältnis von Mensch und Natur in Theodor Däublers Reisefeuilleton Der heilige Berg Athos
Authors: Blioumi Aglaia
Published: March 2023

Der vorliegende Beitrag stellt einen ganz besonderen Ort des Mittelmeerraums in den Vordergrund, nämlich die Mönchsrepublik des Athos (Chalkidiki, Griechenland). Konkret wird im Reisefeuilleton Theodor Däublers Der heilige Berg Athos in einer textnahen Lektüre das Verhältnis von Mensch und Natur unter die Lupe genommen, und die Bedeutung des Athos in der Privatmythologie des Autors beleuchtet.
Specificity of the northern Velebit speleonymy
Authors: Mataija Ivica
Published: March 2023

Based on archival research and reference literature, the paper presents a toponymic treatment of the speleonymy of northern Velebit. Special attention is paid to the names coined at the end of the 20th century, when, following a strong interest in speleological research in this area, especially after the discovery of Lukina jama at Hajdučki kukovi in 1992, extensive speleological research was conducted by Slovak and Polish, Hungarian, Belgian, Dutch and Lithuanian speleologists. The findings led to the discovery of hundreds of Velebit pits, for which the researchers provided names characterized by motivational, structural and linguistic features that do not belong to the traditional geographical nomenclature of Velebit karst, or local cultural patterns and idioms that constitute the basis for older Velebit speleonymy.
Pedagoški odnos u Frommovu konceptu ljubavi
Authors: Opić Siniša , Pintar Željka
Published: March 2023

U radu se tematizira odgojna pozicija djeteta u obitelji i društvu. Afirmacija suvremenog djeteta kao socijalnog aktera – osobe autonomnih prava, u velikoj je mjeri doprinijela uvažavajućem pristupu odraslih spram njega. Istovremeno, određivanje djeteta kao subjekta koji u velikoj mjeri određuje svoj život i razvoj, odgojnu ulogu odraslog čini prilično nedorečenom. Suvremeni odgojitelj učestalo je poistovjećen s poticateljem razvoja. Društveni život okarakteriziran konkurentskim suživotom jedinki u natjecateljskom okruženju orijentira odrasle na ustrajanje u dominantnom doprinošenju spoznajama djeteta. Budu-ći da je takav pristup odgojno nedostatan, ovim se radom tematizira pedagoški odnos promotren u Frommovoj perspektivi. Upućuje se na orijentiranost na brigu, odgovornost, poštovanje i znanje kao temeljne preduvjete odgoja samosigurnog, pouzdanog, socijalno zainteresiranog i empatičnog djeteta.
Treatment burden, adherence, and quality of life in children with daily GH treatment in France
Authors: Coutant Régis , Tauber Maithé , Demaret Béatrice , Henocque Robin , Brault Yves , Montestruc François , Chassany Olivier , Polak Michel , _ _
Published: March 2023

Objective

The objective of this study was to describe in a real-life setting the treatment burden and adherence and quality of life (QOL) of children treated with daily injections of growth hormone and their relationship with treatment duration.

Design

This non-interventional, multicenter, cross-sectional French study involved children aged 3–17 years treated with daily growth hormone injections.

Methods

Based on a recent validated dyad questionnaire, the mean overall life interference total score (100 = most interference) was described, with treatment adherence and QOL, using the Quality of Life of Short Stature Youth questionnaire (100 = best). All analyses were performed according to treatment duration prior to inclusion.

Results

Among the 275/277 analyzed children, 166 (60.4%) had only growth hormone deficiency (GHD). In the GHD group, the mean age was 11.7 ± 3.2 years; median treatment duration was 3.3 years (interquartile range 1.8–6.4). The mean overall life interference total score was 27.7 ± 20.7 (95% CI (24.2; 31.2)), with non-significant correlation with treatment duration (P = 0.1925). Treatment adherence was good (95.0% of children reported receiving >80% of planned injections over the last month); it slightly decreased with treatment duration (P = 0.0364). Children’s overall QOL was good (81.5 ± 16.6 and 77.6 ± 18.7 according to children and parents, respectively), but subscores of the coping and treatment impact domains were <50. Similar results were observed in all patients independently of the condition requiring treatment.

Conclusions

This real-life French cohort confirms the treatment burden of daily growth hormone injections, as previously reported in an interventional study.
Conserved H3K27me3-associated chromatin remodelling allows STRA8 but not MEIOSIN expression in mammalian germ cells
Authors: Ishihara Teruhito , Fenelon Jane C , Griffith Oliver W , Ishiguro Kei-ichiro , Renfree Marilyn B
Published: March 2023

In brief

Apart from mice, meiosis initiation factors and their transcriptional regulation mechanisms are largely unknown in mammals. This study suggests that STRA8 and MEIOSIN are both meiosis initiation factors in mammals, but their transcription is epigenetically regulated differently from each other.

In the mouse, the timing of meiosis onset differs between sexes due to the sex-specific regulation of the meiosis initiation factors, STRA8 and MEIOSIN. Before the initiation of meiotic prophase I, the Stra8 promoter loses suppressive histone-3-lysine-27 trimethylation (H3K27me3) in both sexes, suggesting that H3K27me3-associated chromatin remodelling may be responsible for activating STRA8 and its co-factor MEIOSIN. Here we examined MEIOSIN and STRA8 expression in a eutherian (the mouse), two marsupials (the grey short-tailed opossum and the tammar wallaby) and two monotremes (the platypus and the short-beaked echidna) to ask whether this pathway is conserved between all mammals. The conserved expression of both genes in all three mammalian groups and of MEIOSIN and STRA8 protein in therian mammals suggests that they are the meiosis initiation factors in all mammals. Analyses of published DNase-seq and chromatin-immunoprecipitation sequencing (ChIP-seq) data sets confirmed that H3K27me3-associated chromatin remodelling occurred at the STRA8, but not the MEIOSIN, promoter in therian mammals. Furthermore, culturing tammar ovaries with an inhibitor of H3K27me3 demethylation before meiotic prophase I affected STRA8 but not MEIOSIN transcriptional levels. Our data suggest that H3K27me3-associated chromatin remodelling is an ancestral mechanism that allows STRA8 expression in mammalian pre-meiotic germ cells.
Risks in Online College Student Lending in China and Coordinated Regulation
Authors: Bu Qingyun
Published: March 2023

Since its introduction to China in 2007, online lending has witnessed a boom, aided by the impetus of internet development. Due to the peculiarities of the borrowers, online college student loans facilitated by peer-to-peer lending platforms have sparked widespread public concern. Many issues plague online lending operations for college students, including unclear duties of the platform, immature approval and exit regulations, interest rates, and fee structures; knowledge asymmetry in the transaction; and false publicity of the platform for profiteering purposes. As a result, internet lending risks are increasing, including credit risk, usury risk, and information leakage risk. The objective of this research was to provide implications for risk avoidance and action by exploring the causes of these risks and describing the current governance of online student lending.
Anxiety and Depression in Patients with Diabetic Retinopathy
Authors: Ortiz Jonnie Ella
Published: March 2023

The blinding eye condition known as diabetic retinopathy (DR) is preventable and manageable. DR is becoming more common right now, and both prevention and therapy are extremely difficult. However, the precise mechanism of the association between DR and anxiety and depression has not yet been fully elucidated. Recent studies have demonstrated that DR is linked to negative psychology, and research on DR accompanied by anxiety and depression has also made some headway. In addition to offering fresh perspectives on the multi-factor regulation mechanism of DR, early detection and prevention, and bolstering diabetes health management, this paper examines the clinical, mechanism, and influencing aspects of DR and anxiety and depression in recent years.
Pre-Service Primary School Teachers’ Application of the Features of the Nature of Science to Socioscientific
Authors: Saka Mehpare
Published: March 2023

The purpose of this study is to determine which features of the nature of science pre-service primary school teachers refer to while making a decision on a socioscientific issue at the end of the explicit reflective nature of science education. For this purpose, an exploratory qualitative research design was used in the study. The research group comprised 77 pre-service primary school teachers in their third year of studies at a public university. The study was carried out within the scope of the “Science and Technology Teaching” course. As a data collection tool, the socioscientific scenario “Babies with Three Parents” was used. Content analysis and descriptive analysis were used to analyze the data. According to the findings of the study, pre-service primary school teachers have a good level of ability to use the features of the nature of science, the changeable nature of scientific knowledge, and the fact that it is based on observation and experimentation when deciding on a socioscientific issue. Furthermore, pre-service class teachers primarily used the subjectivity and creativity features of scientific knowledge as well as the features of observation.
La importancia de las subjetividades del discurso hagiográfico postridentino: María de Ajofrín
Authors: García Suárez Pedro
Published: March 2023

Este artículo trata de arrojar sobre luz sobre la importancia del discurso y las subjetividades a la hora de aproximarse al estudio de la hagiografía postridentina sobre mujeres visionarias medievales. Para tratar de demostrar que se debe abandonar la presuposición de un discurso único masculino y atender a las peculiaridades de cada mirada, me sumerjo en las Vidas que relatan la experiencia visionaria de María de Ajofrín de Pedro de la Vega, Alonso de Villegas, Juan de la Cruz y José de Sigüenza.
Trials heard by a foreign ear
Authors: Ng Eva
Published: March 2023

Previous studies into jury comprehension have focused on Anglo-American courts and highlighted concerns about lay English-speaking jurors’ ability to understand jury instructions. Such studies have pointed to the use of legalese as the major cause of the problem and overlooked the impact of the manner of delivery on jury comprehension. This study sets out to examine Chinese jurors’ ability to understand trials conducted in English, which they speak as a second or even a foreign language (L2), and to explore what L2 speakers of English find problematic for their comprehension of courtroom discourse. A random sample of local Chinese eligible for jury service (n=53) are recruited from the community to take part in a comprehension test of courtroom discourse using authentic audio recordings of two jury trials from the High Court of Hong Kong. Taking the Voice Projection Framework (Heffer 2018) as a point of reference, this study demonstrates that, while discursive voicing is to blame for the participants’ comprehension problem, as manifested by studies with native English-speaking jurors, in the case of L2-speaking jurors, the speakers’ physical voicing of courtroom discourse is found to be a significant factor in impeding jurors’ comprehension of the discourse. This article argues that making courtroom discourse accessible to L2 speaking jurors requires more than improving discursive voicing. Physical voicing matters as much, if not more.
Philip JENKINS, La historia olvidada del cristianismo. El milenio dorado de la Iglesia en Oriente Medio, África y Asia... y su destrucción, Salamanca: Sígueme, 2020, 317 pp., 13,5 x 21, ISBN 978-84-301-2061-1.
Authors: Torres Eduardo
Published: March 2023

Book Review
Miguel PONCE CUÉLLAR, Teología del sacerdocio ministerial. Llamados a servir, Madrid: BAC («Subsidia Theologica», 5), 2016, 448 pp., 14 x 22, ISBN 978-84-220-1913-8.
Authors: Blanco Pablo
Published: March 2023

Book Review
Roland MILLARE, A Living Sacrifice. Liturgy and Eschatology in Joseph Ratzinger, Steubenville: Emmaus Academic, 2022, 309 pp., 15,5 x 23,5, ISBN 978-1-64585-203-2.
Authors: Biedron Maciej
Published: March 2023

Book Review
Quality of Life of Patients on Peritoneal Dialysis and Contributing Factors
Authors: Nili Niloofar , Seirafian Shiva , Hosseini Sayed Mohsen , Atapour Abdolamir , Kazemi Naeini Maryam , Mortazavi Mojgan
Published: March 2023

In recent years, interest in Health-Related Quality of Life (HRQoL) as a major indicator of clinical efficacy and treatment outcome in patients of End-Stage Renal Disease (ESRD) has grown significantly. This study aimed to determine the contributing factors affecting the quality of life (QoL) of ESRD patients undergoing peritoneal dialysis (PD). A cross-sectional study was conducted on PD patients presented at PD centres of Al-Zahra and Noor hospitals in Isfahan, Iran, from May to August 2019. A total of 173 patients having peritoneal dialysis for more than 3 months filled the validated 36-item short-form health survey questionnaire (SF-36). Baseline demographic details and dialysis-related factors were collected from patients’ medical records. The overall QoL score of patients was 50.28 ± 20.87. Male patients had a higher QoL score than female patients (58.18 in males, compared to 48.18 in females; P = 0.04). A significant association between frequency of dialysis and quality of life was observed, where three sessions of dialysis per day yielded the highest quality of life (QoL score = 59.62; P = 0.047). A significant positive correlation was discovered between QoL score and residual renal function (P = 0.013). In addition, a higher QoL score was observed in self-employed patients (60.95), compared to housewives (46.49) (P = 0.001). QoL assessment should be included as an integral part of patient follow-up to evaluate treatment outcomes and implement possible interventions to improve patient’s quality of life.
Investigation of structure and properties of melt-spun NiTi based shape memory alloys
Authors: Kieu Xuan Hau , Nguyen Hai Yen , Nguyen Huy Ngoc , Truong Viet Anh , Pham Thi Thanh , Nguyen Van Toan , Tran Dang Thanh , Nguyen Huy Dan
Published: March 2023

In this work, we investigated the structure, mechanical properties and corrosion resistance of Ti50Ni50 and Ti16.667Zr16.667A16.667Ni25Cu25 (A = Hf, Nb, Co, Cr and Ga) shape memory alloys (SMAs) fabricated by using melt-spinning method. X-ray diffraction (XRD) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) analyses reveal that the alloy ribbons are partially crystallized with B19' martensitic structure in the added alloys. The crystalline phase formation and the atomic size difference (δ = 4.33 - 10.25%) significantly affect the hardness, tensile strength, tensile strain, elastic modulus and corrosion resistance of the alloys. The hardness of the alloy gradually increases from 583 HV to 873 HV when adding elements in the order of Hf, Nb, Co, Cr and Ga. Tensile strength, tensile strain and elastic modulus simultaneously reach their maximum of 669.2 MPa, 0.899% and 28.82 GPa, respectively, when Hf is added to the alloy. Ga enhances the corrosion resistance of the alloy ribbons more than other additional elements.
A model-free controller for uncertain robot manipulators with matched disturbances
Authors: Cao Thanh Trung , Nam Nguyen Hoai , Phuoc Nguyen Doan
Published: March 2023

Precise control is critical for robots, but it is difficult to obtain an accurate dynamic model of the robot due to the presence of modeling errors and uncertainties in the complex working environment, resulting in decreased control performances. The article proposes a method for designing a digital controller for output tracking of disturbed repetitive robot manipulators that does not require a mathematical model of the controlled robots, with the goal of improving tracking accuracy. This controller consists of two separate intelligent parts. The first part aims to stabilize the original robot manipulators via a model-free state feedback linearization technique. The suggested model-free state feedback linearization technique does not make use of the original Euler-Lagrange model of the robot. The second part will then employ the concept of iterative learning control to asymptotically drive the obtained stable linear system to desired references. Both of these parts use only the robot’s measured data from the past for carrying out their tasks instead of robot models. Moreover, the proposed controller is structurally simple and computationally efficient. Finally, to validate the theoretical results, a simulation verification on a 2-degree-of-freedom (DOF) uncertain planar robot is performed, and the results show that excellent tracking performance is feasible.
A simple SPE-UPLC-MS/MS method for determination of 9 antibiotics in surface water
Authors: Bui Van Hoi , Pham Thi Thu Hoai , Chu Dinh Binh , Vu Cam Tu , Nguyen Thi Thao , Duong Thi Quynh Mai , Nguyen Thi Thu , Ta Thi Thao , Vu Van Tu , Nguyen Thi Hue
Published: March 2023

The overuse of antibiotics is losing its effectiveness due to increased antibiotic resistance in bacteria. Over the last two decades, the evaluation of antibiotic residues in the environment has greatly attracted the attention of researchers around the world. The more new groups of antibiotics were validated to use in medical treatment, the more antibiotic residues were discharged into the environment. In this work, a combined SPE-UPLC-MS/MS method was developed and validated for simultaneously analyzing 9 antibiotic compounds belonging 3 different groups which are tetracyclines (tetracycline – TET, chlortetracycline – CHL, oxytetracycline – OXY), fluoroquinolones (ciprofloxacin – CIP, norfloxacin – NOR, ofloxacin – OFL) and macrolides (azithromycin – AZI, erythromycin – ERY, clarithromycin – CLA) in surface water. All target analytes were separated on a reversed-phase column (Water BEH C18 column, 1.7 µm particle size, 100 x 2.1 mm) coupled with a mass in tandem employing positive electrospray ionization (+ESI). All target analytes were well separated with an overall run time of 16 minutes. The limit of detection was from 0.2 to 10 µg L-1. The extraction process has been successfully optimized using the HLB column (Oasis, 6mL, 200mg, Waters) with recoveries from 71 to 125%. The optimized method was finally applied to analyze ten surface water samples (lake and river). OFL, CLA, and ERY were most found in lake samples at concentrations from 35 – 570.3 ng.L-1 while only CIP was found in all river samples. The other compounds were also detected in both types of samples but the concentrations were lower than the quantification limit.
Психічне здоров’я молоді в умовах військових конфліктів
Authors:   Львівський національний медичний університет імені Данила Галицького, Лотоцька Леся , Лотоцька-Дудик Уляна ,   Львівський національний медичний університет імені Данила Галицького, Брейдак Юлія ,   ТзОВ Медичний коледж «Монада»
Published: March 2023

The complex set of political, social, economic and environmental factors that result from military conflicts have an indirect and prolonged effect on public health. The destruction of medical and public health infrastructure complicates the process of providing assistance to victims, limiting both access and quality. Mental health is an important dimension of human capital that significantly affects aspects of human life such as well-being, employment, work, capital, stigma, and so on. According to the WHO, in situations of armed conflict, about 10% of traumatized people will have serious mental health problems, and another 10% will develop behaviors that interfere with their ability to function effectively. Depression, anxiety and psychosomatic problems, such as insomnia, are the most common consequences. The younger generation living in conflict-affected areas is vulnerable to mental health problems. During the war, young people face two types of traumatic events: type I (sudden traumatic event) and type II (prolonged exposure to adverse events, which leads to dysfunctional coping mechanisms). As a result, young people suffer from anxiety disorders, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), depression, and dissociative disorders. The most important variables that determine the impact of war on the mental health of young people are the deprivation of basic resources (housing, water, food, education, health, etc.); broken family relationships (due to loss, separation or relocation); stigma and discrimination (significantly affect identity); pessimistic worldview (constant feeling of loss and grief, inability to see a bright future). Meta-analyzes use mixed methods to study mental health and psychosocial well-being in non-standard settings, such as focus groups and in-depth interviews. This is necessary for the formation of the research question, modification of tools for the analysis of local situations and interpretation of the collected epidemiological data. Models of rehabilitation of psychosocial systems are based on the need for a multilevel approach to psychosocial interventions that take into account the individual, family and the community as a whole. The public health model requires the interaction between social and individual age and time variables, with particular emphasis on risk and protection groups at different stages of life.
Chemistry Web Quests in Distance Learning
Authors:   Cherkasy Medical Academy, Karpenko Yuliіa
Published: March 2023

This article is devoted to innovative learning technology, namely web quest, an effective learning tool that promotes the cognitive activity of applicants for higher medical educational institutions, focused on today’s challenges related to forming an independent, creative, competent personality. The main attention is paid to using quests in studying chemical disciplines in distance learning. The purpose of the study is to identify the main aspects of web quests’ effectiveness in the training of future medical professionals, revealing the main stages of the organisation. Specific examples of quests are also given from my own practical experience. An analysis of recent publications on this issue was carried out, and as a result, we argue that scientific sources do not sufficiently cover tuse of web quests in the study of chemical disciplines in higher medical education institutions, which is the impetus for the study. The article presents the stages of organising quests for students in the discipline “Medical Chemistry”, which include both the actual creation of a blog (initial, thematic, address, final), as well as the choice of topic, goals, tasks, division of responsibilities between participants and publication of results during distance learning (online conferences, videos, projects, booklets, commercials, prevention essays). It is presented an analysis of a survey of teachers and students on the effectiveness of the introduction of this technology in the training of future medical professionals. The analysis of the results shows that web quests meet modern requirements for implementing the educational process in medical and educational institutions and contribute to acquiring professional competence. Teachers and students who participated in the survey noted that web quests are an effective modern technology that promotes motivation, interest in the subject and chosen profession, and the formation of key competencies that must have a modern medical professional to be competitive. Specific examples of involving students in web quests on the subject of “Medical Chemistry” during research activities in the scientific section of Cherkasy Medical Academy.
Використання інноваційних технологій у процесі професійно орієнтованого навчання іноземних студентів економічних спеціальностей
Authors:   Одеський національний економічний університет, Гейна Оксана
Published: March 2023

The rapid development of the society requires changes in technologies and methods of the educational process. Therefore, the implementation of innovative technologies aimed at individual approach, mobility and distance in education is necessary and inevitable. In this regard, modern higher education institutions must radically change their educational objectives, update the content of education, implement innovative technologies in the development of student personality as a subject aimed at developing a competent person who is creative in solving problems. Nowadays, the students and teachers are the most important figures in educational institutions who should work creatively, learn, improve themselves as well as the teachers must work to develop and improve methods of teaching and education, including interactive ones. The article is devoted to the problem of preparing foreign students of specialized specialties for professionally oriented innovative technologies. Problems related to various methods and techniques of innovative technologies are highlighted. Emphasis is placed on the process of professional foreign language training, which should be aimed at the development of creative personality, its self- -improvement, the formation of socially active and independent people in the context of intercultural dialogue, the disclosure of creative potential. The basic principles of realization of the communicative approach as a communicative method of teaching speech activity in the specialty in foreign language classes (Ukrainian) are formulated. The main features of the presentation as one of the types of information processing of the text as a practical result of research conducted in the framework of interactive forms of learning. The stages of preparation of foreign students to create and conduct a presentation on the specialty in foreign language classes (Ukrainian) are considered. The importance of formation of foreign language communicative competence in the context of professional training of future specialists is proved, attention is focused on one of the main types of information processing of professional text – compression. The list of features of presentation as one of the types of compression of a scientific text is given, the main stages of preparation of foreign students for creating and conducting a presentation in the specialty in foreign language classes (Ukrainian) are analyzed. It is proved that teaching compression is the formation of students’ culture of working with scientific text, improving skills and abilities of understanding, analysis of scientific text and writing a secondary scientific text based on the disclosure of the semantic structure of the original text.
Nuevas observaciones en tipología areal sobre lenguas indígenas habladas en la Amazonía Colombiana
Authors: Romero Camilo Enrique Díaz
Published: March 2023

Van Gijn et al. (2017) y Epps y Michael (2017) postularon la división lingüística de la Amazonía colombiana entre el Vaupés y una zona occidental. El presente estudio hace una revisión en tipología areal de esta información a partir de los datos consignados sobre 21 lenguas del país en el compilado de González de Pérez y Rodríguez de Montes (2000) siguiendo la parametrización fonológica y gramatical de Donegan y Stampe (2004; 2009), una escala territorial adaptada de Ruiz (2020) y la georreferenciación y los métodos de compilación cartográfica de Nerbonne et al. (2018). Se reconoce que el Vaupés guarda convergencias en la fonología, pero no frente a propiedades morfológicas y sintácticas, estableciéndose una división en el eje norte-sur. La zona occidental involucra no solo a lenguas del Caquetá o del Putumayo, como se consideraba en los antecedentes, sino también a unas del Amazonas. El caso del andoque, que se vincula con el Vaupés sur en lo gramatical, pero con lenguas tukano-occidentales en lo fonológico, establece la necesidad de postular más de una propuesta de división territorial.
Relationship between gut microbiome and allergic asthma
Authors: Ryoji Hirota
Published: March 2023

Since the late 20th century, environmental exposure to endotoxins has been very low and type I allergic disease has increased. In addition, we have increased exposure to PM2.5 and other chemicals. Recently, there is concern that the daily use of hygiene products containing antimicrobial substances is associated with an increased prevalence of allergies. It has been noted that these antimicrobial substances may exacerbate allergies. In our study, we confirmed that intratracheal administration of aqueous mite solution as an inhaled antigen and antimicrobial substance as an aggravating chemical induced much stronger allergic bronchial asthma in mice than in mice that received intratracheal mite solution alone. Thus, allergies have been found to be exacerbated by simultaneous exposure to both environmental antigens and man-made chemicals (adjuvants). Next, we analyzed 16S rRNA of the gut microbiota of triclosan-treated mice that developed an allergy. The bacterial gene abundance of 16S rRNA of Deltaproteobacteria, Erysipelotrichi and Clostridia was increased in a dose-dependent manner in triclosan-treated mice, while Bacteroides were decreased in these mice. The composition of the gut microbiota was altered after triclosan treatment and correlated with the exacerbation of asthmatic disease in these mice. In conclusion, because triclosan exacerbated the condition of allergic asthma in mice that inhaled mite antigens and were given triclosan to drink, and this condition was associated with an increase or decrease in certain bacteria in the gut, we suspect that if allergy sufferers continue to use triclosan, they will inhale dust mites and house dust on a daily basis, which may aggravate their allergy symptoms. Overall, the overuse of antimicrobials and preservatives in current daily life risks further increasing the number of allergic patients. The authors believe that it is time to rethink this lifestyle.