bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Highly mismatch-tolerant homology testing by RecA could explain how homology length affects recombination
Authors: Prentiss Mara , Wang Dianzhuo , Fu Jonathan , Prévost Chantal , Godoy-Carter Veronica , Kleckner Nancy , Danilowicz Claudia
Published: July 2023

In E. coli, double strand breaks (DSBs) are resected and loaded with RecA protein. The genome is then rapidly searched for a sequence that is homologous to the DNA flanking the DSB. Mismatches in homologous partners are rare, suggesting that RecA should rapidly reject mismatched recombination products; however, this is not the case. Decades of work have shown that long lasting recombination products can include many mismatches. In this work, we show that in vitro RecA forms readily observable recombination products when 16% of the bases in the product are mismatched. We also consider various theoretical models of mismatch-tolerant homology testing. The models test homology by comparing the sequences of Ltest bases in two single-stranded DNAs (ssDNA) from the same genome. If the two sequences pass the homology test, the pairing between the two ssDNA becomes permanent. Stringency is the fraction of permanent pairings that join ssDNA from the same positions in the genome. We applied the models to both randomly generated genomes and bacterial genomes. For both randomly generated genomes and bacterial genomes, the models show that if no mismatches are accepted stringency is ∼ 99% when Ltest = 14 bp. For randomly generated genomes, stringency decreases with increasing mismatch tolerance, and stringency improves with increasing Ltest. In contrast, in bacterial genomes when Ltest ∼ 75 bp, stringency is ∼ 99% for both mismatch-intolerant and mismatch-tolerant homology testing. Furthermore, increasing Ltest does not improve stringency because most incorrect pairings join different copies of repeats. In sum, for bacterial genomes highly mismatch tolerant homology testing of 75 bp provides the same stringency as homology testing that rejects all mismatches and testing more than ∼75 base pairs is not useful. Interestingly, in vivo commitment to recombination typically requires homology testing of ∼ 75 bp, consistent with highly mismatch intolerant testing.
Change in the faunal composition of mosquitoes (Diptera: Culicidae) along a heterogeneous landscape gradient in the Brazilian Amazon
Authors: Almeida Jessica Feijó , Belchior Heliana Christy Matos , Batista Fernando Antonio Jutahy Colares , Guimarães Rebeca Cristina de Souza , Maitra Ahana , Ríos Velásquez Claudia María , Izzo Thiago Junqueira , Pessoa Felipe Arley Costa
Published: July 2023

This study aimed to evaluate the influence of different anthropic landscape profiles on the diversity and distribution of mosquito species in a rural settlement of the Brazilian Amazon. Eight field collections were conducted at 18 sampling points interspersed throughout 2020–2021. Plastic containers, bamboo internodes, and tires were used as traps to capture immature mosquitoes in three distinct habitats: forest, forest edge, and peridomicile. A total of 15,547 individuals, distributed in 26 species of culicids, were collected. The most abundant species were Culex urichii (8,376 specimens), Culex (Melanoconion) (2,473 specimens), and Aedes albopictus (1,252 specimens). Forest habitat showed the highest abundance, and forest edge showed the highest species richness. Different types of environments influenced both the abundance and richness of mosquitoes. The species composition was also significantly different between the analyzed sites, mainly between forest and peridomicile environments. The change in species dominance could largely explain this change in mosquito community composition. Haemagogus janthinomys, an important sylvatic arbovirus vector, was found in peridomicile habitats and Ae. albopictus, a vector associated with human environments, was found in forest habitats, thus providing evidence of species spillover. Our results indicated that landscape changes affect mosquito communities, influencing their richness and abundance. These changes may have implications for future arboviral outbreaks in this rural settlement due to the possible establishment of sylvatic vector species in anthropic environments.
Framing expertise: Greek media representations of experts during the COVID-19 pandemic
Authors: Minotakis Alexandros , Tastsoglou Michalis
Published: July 2023

During the 2020 lockdown, news outlets played an important role on the public perceptions on public health crisis. Through framing, news outlets shape a given reality, present possible interpretations, exclude certain persons and organizations while providing visibility to others. In that sense, media influence public perceptions of expertise. In the case of COVID-19, experts’ views were crucial in raising public awareness as well as promoting appropriate and effective ways with addressing the crisis. Present research considers as an expert any person or organization who was deemed capable by news outlets to consult the audience on how to protect themselves from COVID-19. This study focuses on major news outlets in the Greek media system and their framing of expertise from 1 February 2020 to 30 April 2020. This period begins with the emergence of COVID-19 as the dominant issue in news stories. The sample consists of 2389 news items from six websites and six television (TV) stations. The research aims to understand whether news outlets frame (or not) certain organizations and persons as experts. By employing quantitative content analysis, general tendencies in framing are analysed. The results infer that public officials were framed as the main category of experts. Greek news outlets in most cases avoided framing World Health Organization (WHO) representatives as experts, especially after the first death by COVID-19 in Greece (12 March 2020). In general, the reference period was proven to be a crucial factor as expertise frames were differentiated before and after the first death in Greece and the implementation of lockdown measures. Moreover, research also confirmed that during health crises journalists prefer the thematic frame.
Coronavirus, immobility and informal work in a secondary city in Thailand
Authors: Walsh John , Jitpaisan Sopin , Mongkolchu Duangjan
Published: July 2023

Informal work requires mobility. When that movement is prevented, many forms of informal work (just like in the formal sector) are disrupted because of the lack of mobility of suppliers, products, customers and other stakeholders. Lacking access to government support in these circumstances, informal sector workers are obliged to find new forms of activity and to compensate for the loss of principal streams of income. This situation was investigated through a programme of in-depth, personal interviewing with 60 respondents in a secondary city in the northeast of Thailand, Roi Et. Respondents report living on their own resources as long as they can to avoid the spectre of debt. Many seek different forms of mobility in making a living to replace what has been lost. Good relations with the state, including the police, mean that mobility restrictions can be negotiated to a certain extent and, in any case, the main focus of restrictions has been on inter-provincial rather than intra-provincial travel. While respondents are willing to be patient, a sense of resentment at the central government is evident owing to its response to the situation. The forms of resilience demonstrated by respondents are considered.
Contesting Chineseness: Nationality, Class, Gender and New Chinese Migrants, Sylvia Ang (2022)
Authors: Lu Yanxuan
Published: July 2023

Review of: Contesting Chineseness: Nationality, Class, Gender and New Chinese Migrants, Sylvia Ang (2022)

Amsterdam: Amsterdam University Press, 154 pp.,

ISBN 978-9-46372-246-9, h/bk, €95.00

ISBN 978-9-04855-441-6, p/bk, €94.99
Landscape of Psychological Profiles in Patients with Esophageal Achalasia
Authors: Xu Jia-Qi , Geng Zi-Han , Liu Zu-Qiang , Yao Lu , Zhang Zhao-Chao , Zhong Yun-Shi , Zhang Yi-Qun , Hu Jian-Wei , Cai Ming-Yan , Yao Li-Qing , Li Quan-Lin , Zhou Ping-Hong
Published: July 2023

Introduction:

Esophageal achalasia is a chronic esophageal dysmotility disease, of which the psychological distress was poorly understood. The study aims to assess the status of psychosocial characteristics in esophageal achalasia (EA) and to determine the relationship between psychological distress and EA.

Methods:

70 pairs of age and gender matched patients with EA and healthy control individuals were prospectively enrolled From December 2019 to April 2020 at our hospital. Demographic, psychosocial, and clinical data were obtained. Psychosocial assessments contained psychological distress (Symptom Checklist-90Revised, SCL-90R), perceived stress (Perceived Stress Scale-14, PSS-14), and stressful life events (Life Events Scale, LES). Comparison for psychological parameters was made between EA and controls as well as for EA before/after POEM. Spearman’s rank correlation coefficients were used to testify the association between psychological distress and achalasia symptoms.

Results:

The mean course and Eckardt score of patients with EA were 4.26±5.11 years and 6.63±2.21. There was a significant difference between patients and healthy individuals in global severity index (P=0.039) and positive symptoms total (P=0.041) for SCL-90R as well as positive intensity (P=0.011) for LES. Somatization (P<0.001), anxiety (P=0.021), anger-hostility (P=0.009) and others (appetite and sleep, P=0.010) accounted for the most difference. Somatization was positively associated with chest pain (P=0.045). Two EA patients developed recurrence and showed no relationship with psychological status. Psychological status was significantly improved after POEM.

Conclusions:

Psychological distress especially somatization was more prevalent in patients with EA than healthy controls. POEM seemed able to improve psychological distress.
Novel Genetic Risk Variants and Clinical Predictors Associated With Primary Sclerosing Cholangitis in Patients With Ulcerative Colitis
Authors: Wang Ming-Hsi , Friton Jessica J. , Rebert Nancy , Monroe Kelly , Nix Billy D. , Fiocchi Claudio , Raffals Laura E. , Leighton Jonathan A. , Pasha Shabana F. , Picco Michael F. , Newberry Rodney D. , Achkar Jean-Paul , Faubion William A.
Published: July 2023

Background:

Patients with ulcerative colitis who are likely to have primary sclerosing cholangitis should be identified since PSC can influence UC clinical behavior and outcomes.

Aim:

To establish a model incorporating clinical and genetic risk predictors that identifies patients with UC at risk of developing PSC.

Materials and Methods:

We conducted a retrospective case-control study. Inflammatory bowel disease cohorts from multiple institutions were used as discovery and replicate data sets. Quality control criteria, including minor allele frequency, call rates, Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium, cryptic relatedness, and population stratification (through principal components), were used. Discriminative accuracy was evaluated with area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC).

Results:

Fifty-seven of 581 patients (9.8%) with UC had PSC. Multivariate analysis showed that patients with UC-PSC had more extensive disease (odds ratio [OR], 5.42; P=1.57E-04), younger diagnosis age (<20 years; OR, 2.22; P=.02), and less smoking (OR, 0.42; P=.02) than those with UC. After LD pruning and multivariate analyses, 3 SNPs (rs3131621 at 6p21.33; rs9275596 and rs11244 at 6p21.32) at the HLA region were found associated with a 2- to 3-fold increased risk of PSC. Our model demonstrated good discriminatory power (AUC, 88%).

Conclusions:

Three variants in HLA (6p21.3) region significantly distinguished patients with UC-PSC from patients with UC alone. Once further validated in an independent large cohort, our model could be used to identify patients with UC at risk of PSC, and it could also help guide disease management.
Fecal calprotectin for the diagnosis and management of inflammatory bowel diseases
Authors: Kapel Nathalie , Ouni Hamza , Benahmed Nacer Adam , Barbot-Trystram Laurence
Published: July 2023

Calprotectin is a heterodimeric calcium and zinc-binding protein mainly derived from the cytoplasm of neutrophils that has direct antimicrobial functions and a role in the regulation of the innate immune response. It can be found in various biological compartments, in particular, the stool, with concentrations related to the level of mucosal inflammation. The measurement of fecal calprotectin has thus been recognized as a useful surrogate marker to distinguish patients with inflammatory bowel disease from those with irritable bowel syndrome. Moreover, it allows the monitoring of intestinal inflammation with a high negative predictive value, making it possible to exclude the diagnosis of inflammatory bowel disease for symptomatic patients. It also shows high sensitivity for the identification of patients requiring additional examinations for diagnosis, such as colonoscopy, and the evaluation of therapeutic responses, providing evidence of relapse or mucosal healing, which can lead to the intensification or reduction of treatment. As calprotectin levels are a measure of mucosal inflammation, high fecal concentrations are also found in other diseases with an inflammatory component, such as infectious enteritis or colorectal cancer. Interpretation of the concentration must therefore always take into account the clinical history and symptoms specific to each patient.
As formas discursivas do pastorado bolsonarista
Authors: Souza Costa Sandson , Freire Tavares Edgley
Published: July 2023

Este artigo examina a atualidade das práticas discursivas da política brasileira com o objetivo de propor uma crítica às formas de poder pastoral atualizadas nas práticas fundamentalistas no Governo Bolsonaro. Para tanto, dialogamos com as teses foucaultianas em dois pontos: na proposição de uma teoria das formas discursivas, centralmente expressa na obra Arqueologia do saber (FOUCAULT, [1969] 2007) e na atualização dos estudos da genealogia do poder pastoral, notadamente, no curso Segurança, território e população (FOUCAULT, [1977-1978] 2008). Recortamos do arquivo uma série de enunciados que circularam na plataforma Twitter no período de 2018 a 2022. Como problemática relevante da atualidade, o pastorado bolsonarista se estrutura histórica e semiologicamente propagando formas de racionalidade e correlações de força que articulam o político ao religioso, ao militarismo e à crença em valores morais absolutos. O exercício da tecnologia de poder pastoral no Brasil torna visíveis na conjuntura nacional a emergência da vontade por uma sociedade autoritária e a crise da experiência político democrática.
¿Y a dónde me voy sí éste es mi hogar?
Authors: Rodriguez Milagros Elena
Published: July 2023

Se trata de una investigación transparadigmática compleja, transmetódica, con la hermenéutica comprensiva, ecosófica y diatopia; donde el sentipensar de su autora redarguye e interviene en el discurso, doliente y agente de cambio en su país; se analizan respuestas a la pregunta: ¿Y a dónde me voy sí éste es mi hogar?, a la luz de los re-ligajes ecosóficos urgentes de la crisis en cuestión, es éste el objetivo complejo de la indagación. Pasamos por los momentos analíticos, empíricos y propositivos en la disertación rizomática, rupturante. Muertes en la inmensa selva que separa a Venezuela de Brasil, de México para EEUU, secuestros y embarcaciones desaparecidas, atracos en medio de sus fronteras; maltratos en países vecinos, entre otros; niñas violadas en la huida del siglo; inmensas miserias en profesionales que construyeron una nación, niños desnutridos en el país con mayor cantidad de recursos naturales del planeta; destrozos del medio ambiente en la explotación inhumana. Si, les hablo de la cuna de Simón Bolívar el libertador de cinco (5) naciones. El país más rechazado, bloqueado y apapuchado del planeta, en este lado. Hablamos de Venezuela, el lugar donde todos acudían errantes de sus crisis, llegaban grandes barcos de Europa en plena guerra.
construção do Curso Pré-Vestibular Popular Liberato por meio do projeto de extensão “Por Dentro da UFRGS”
Authors: Vieira Rhian Vilar da Silva
Published: July 2023

Democratizar o acesso ao ensino superior para além da oferta de vagas é um papel fundamental das universidades brasileiras. O objetivo do presente estudo é relatar a experiência da dinâmica de organização, seleção e funcionamento do Curso Pré-Vestibular Popular Liberato, criado e desenvolvido por meio do projeto de extensão “Por Dentro da UFRGS”, em Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul. O curso se desenvolve com aulas ao longo de um ano letivo de trabalho, sendo estruturado e desenvolvido por educadores voluntários dentro da perspectiva da educação popular, que se dividem em comissões de apoio e desenvolvimento pedagógico do curso. Uma seleção anual específica é empregada com o objetivo de atender em especial alunos de escolas públicas, autodeclarados negros, indígenas e pessoas com deficiência. O curso baseia-se na troca de experiências e gestão democrática em diálogo constante com a realidade dos discentes, o que tem rendido aprovações em instituições de ensino superior.
Atuação do tratamento odontológico em pacientes acometidos por câncer de cabeça e pescoço
Authors: Lerner Fabiana Evangelista , Guerra Gabriel Júlio , Carvalho Mary Stefany Andrade , Simamoto Veridiana Resende Novais
Published: July 2023

O presente relato de experiência trata-se de um projeto de extensão do Curso de Odontologia, denominado “Suporte Odontológico Preventivo e Restaurador ao Paciente Oncológico (SOPRO)”, da Universidade Federal de Uberlândia, cujo objetivo é ampliar os cuidados orais preventivos e restauradores, assim como minimizar as complicações e/ou sequelas bucais de pacientes diagnosticados com câncer na região da cabeça e do pescoço submetidos ao tratamento oncológico, a fim de proporcionar a esses pacientes uma melhor qualidade de vida. Foram realizados atendimentos odontológicos todas as quartas-feiras, execução de procedimentos restauradores, orientações de saúde bucal e acompanhamento dos pacientes. 23 pacientes participaram do projeto durante o PEIC 2022. As ações foram desenvolvidas na instituição, na clínica odontológica do bloco 4T, no período de janeiro a dezembro de 2022. As atividades de extensão desse projeto permitiram interações entre graduandos e graduados em Odontologia e pacientes com diagnóstico de câncer de cabeça e pescoço em tratamento oncológico, o que contribuiu na formação profissional dos alunos participantes em relação aos cuidados e acompanhamento dos casos orientados no projeto.
Trigeminal Amyloidoma in a Patient With Cardiac Amyloidosis
Authors: Jhawar Nikita , Chirila Razvan , Leoni Moreno Juan Carlos
Published: July 2023

Trigeminal amyloidoma is a rare clinical phenomenon with scarce reports in the medical literature. This report presents a case of biopsy-proven trigeminal amyloidoma in a patient with cardiac amyloidosis. This case report sheds light on the differential diagnoses that may resemble trigeminal amyloidoma and strategies for workup and treatment.
Structure and function of spliceosomal DEAH-box ATPases
Authors: Enders Marieke , Neumann Piotr , Dickmanns Achim , Ficner Ralf
Published: July 2023

Splicing of precursor mRNAs is a hallmark of eukaryotic cells, performed by a huge macromolecular machine, the spliceosome. Four DEAH-box ATPases are essential components of the spliceosome, which play an important role in the spliceosome activation, the splicing reaction, the release of the spliced mRNA and intron lariat, and the disassembly of the spliceosome. An integrative approach comprising X-ray crystallography, single particle cryo electron microscopy, single molecule FRET, and molecular dynamics simulations provided deep insights into the structure, dynamics and function of the spliceosomal DEAH-box ATPases.
¿Habilidad o identidad?: tensiones entre las ideologías neoliberales y las raciolingüísticas en el trabajo de los y las jóvenes bilingües de origen latino en EEUU
Authors: Villa Galán Laura , Alonso Lara
Published: July 2023

Este artículo explora la tensión entre las ideologías lingüísticas neoliberales que señalan el valor económico del lenguaje en la economía globalizada y los procesos raciolingüísticos que co-naturalizan la raza y la lengua. Enfocándonos en el mercado laboral estadounidense, analizamos las experiencias de jóvenes profesionales de origen latino que, inspirados por la ideología de la ventaja bilingüe, esperan sacar provecho de sus habilidades lingüísticas en el trabajo. Partiendo de la economía política y basándonos en entrevistas semiestructuradas y encuestas realizadas con 23 jóvenes, analizamos dos prácticas laborales concretas para ilustrar la tensión entre (1) la conceptualización del conocimiento del idioma como un componente del “paquete de habilidades” que se espera que posean los trabajadores neoliberales (y que se supone los empleadores deben compensar), y (2) la esencialización de las habilidades lingüísticas de las personas racializadas y de clase trabajadora que se dan por sentadas y se disocian del mérito personal o académico (haciendo que no merezcan compensación económica). Además, exploramos la relación entre la dimensión afectiva de las prácticas lingüísticas y la asimilación entre trabajo y placer que propone el régimen neoliberal. El primer momento que analizamos es la corroboración del conocimiento de español en las entrevistas de trabajo, donde las habilidades lingüísticas no se ven como competencias profesionales que requieren verificación sino como atributos identitarios que se evalúan mediante el perfil racial de los candidatos. La segunda situación que estudiamos es la práctica recurrente de asignar trabajo lingüístico extra a las personas latinas, una práctica que se ha naturalizado y que no halla oposición o cuestionamiento por parte de los y las trabajadoras bilingües. Concluimos que mientras que el neoliberalismo destaca el valor económico de las lenguas, las personas racializadas no se benefician de ese valor puesto que la autoridad lingüística y las jerarquías raciales tradicionales continúan sin ser cuestionadas.
Prenatal tobacco exposure on brain morphometry partially mediated poor cognitive performance in preadolescent children
Authors: Rodriguez Rivera Pedro J. , Liang Huajun , Isaiah Amal , Cloak Christine C. , Menken Miriam S. , Ryan Meghann C. , Ernst Thomas , Chang Linda
Published: July 2023

Objectives

To evaluate whether prenatal tobacco exposure (PTE) is related to poorer cognitive performance, abnormal brain morphometry, and whether poor cognitive performance is mediated by PTE-related structural brain differences.

Methods

The Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development study dataset was used to compare structural MRI data and neurocognitive (NIH Toolbox®) scores in 9-to-10-year-old children with (n=620) and without PTE (n=10,989). We also evaluated whether PTE effects on brain morphometry mediated PTE effects on neurocognitive scores. Group effects were evaluated using Linear Mixed Models, covaried for socio-demographics and prenatal exposures to alcohol and/or marijuana, and corrected for multiple comparisons using the false-discovery rate (FDR).

Results

Compared to unexposed children, those with PTE had poorer performance (all p-values <0.05) on executive function, working memory, episodic memory, reading decoding, crystallized intelligence, fluid intelligence and overall cognition. Exposed children also had thinner parahippocampal gyri, smaller surface areas in the posterior-cingulate and pericalcarine cortices; the lingual and inferior parietal gyri, and smaller thalamic volumes (all p-values <0.001). Furthermore, among children with PTE, girls had smaller surface areas in the superior-frontal (interaction-FDR-p=0.01), precuneus (interaction-FDR-p=0.03) and postcentral gyri (interaction-FDR-p=0.02), while boys had smaller putamen volumes (interaction-FDR-p=0.02). Smaller surface areas across regions of the frontal and parietal lobes, and lower thalamic volumes, partially mediated the associations between PTE and poorer neurocognitive scores (p-values <0.001).

Conclusions

Our findings suggest PTE may lead to poorer cognitive performance and abnormal brain morphometry, with sex-specific effects in some brain regions, in pre-adolescent children. The poor cognition in children with PTE may result from the smaller areas and subcortical brain volumes.
Description of Specialty Practice—10 Years Onward: The Changes in Geriatric Physical Therapy
Authors: De Vera Barredo Ronald , Beato Morris , Childers Christine , Chui Kevin , Doerhoff William Scott , Ganz Sandy , Gravano Tamara , McGonigle Tim , Peters Karma
Published: July 2023

Background:

An analysis of practice is conducted by the American Board of Physical Therapy Specialties (ABPTS) every 10 years to revalidate, update, and revise the description of specialty practice (DSP) for each specialty. The Geriatric Specialty Council recently conducted an analysis of practice and revised its content consistent with established procedures by the ABPTS.

Purpose:

The purpose of this article is threefold: first, to describe the process of the most recent practice analysis; second, to report revisions to the description of specialty practice based on the analysis of practice; and third, to identify elements of practice that define current specialist practice in geriatric physical therapy.

Methods:

A 10-member committee of subject matter experts (SMEs) and a psychometric consultant developed a survey instrument addressing geriatric physical therapy specialty practice areas. The survey was initially pilot-tested and subsequently administered online to a sample of 801 board-certified geriatric clinical specialists. The consultant facilitated the consensus process to determine decision rules in selecting the final competencies describing current geriatric physical therapy specialty practice.

Results:

A total of 372 respondents fully or partially completed the survey, resulting in a response rate of 46.4%. Based on a priori decision rules regarding survey data, consensus of the group of SMEs, and input from the ABPTS, the DSP for geriatric physical therapy specialty practice was revised. Revisions (elimination [−] of prior items and addition [+] of new items) were made in Section 1: Knowledge Areas (−8 and +6), in Section 2: Professional Roles, Responsibilities, and Values (−14 and +4), and Section 3: Practice Expectations (−53 and +28).

Conclusion:

The revised DSP will be used as the basis for the development of the examination blueprint for the specialist examination in geriatric physical therapy and the curricula for residency programs in geriatric physical therapy.
Vorschrift, Folgsamkeit und persönliche Verantwortung – Über den Wandel der (präskriptiven) pädagogischen Identität und die Bedeutung einer Anthropologie der Alterität
Authors: Skiera Ehrenhard
Published: July 2023

Precept, Obedience and Personal Responsibility – On the Transformation of (Prescriptive) Pedagogical Identity and the Meaning of an Anthropology of Alterity. Denis Vasse, Jesuit and psychoanalyst, once said: “When man identifies himself completely with the law, he degrades himself into a wolf being” (Vasse 1973, p. 148). The older generation will still know some “school wolves” from their own experience. But their strictness was by no means always the expression of sadistic lust. Rather, it corresponded to a “higher” and supreme mission for the betterment of the individual child and the human race. This attitude found its legitimation in Christian and Enlightenment contexts as well as in some (allegedly) child-oriented and still popular approaches of Reformpädagogik. However, for some time now there has been a critical counter-movement in the philosophy of education. It analyses the modern insecurity that can be understood as a consequence of the rejection of the human being as a child of God that has been emerging since the Renaissance. Furthermore, it criticises any definition of the nature of man that is presented with the claim of absolute truth.
The Group as a Means to Restore Community in Teacher Education? Therapeutising Technologies during the “Psycho-boom” of the 1970s in Zurich
Authors: De Vincenti De Vincenti, Andrea , Grube Norbert , Hoffmann-Ocon Andreas
Published: July 2023

During the “psycho-boom” in the 1970s, there was a strong demand for the group as a multifaceted setting. In the sense of a therapy for “normal people”, psychologising and therapeutising technologies such as group dynamics or talk therapy were widely established in society e.g. in countercultural social movements and in pedagogical contexts. Group formats in general, such as conversational and discussion groups, as well as self-help groups and theatre or environmental groups were considered modern and conducive to pedagogical work. New technologies promised holistic help in finding the socalled true or authentic self at the individual level as well as consciousness at the collective level. It is the narrative of individual and collective processes yielding emancipatory demands. This article thus examines entanglements of psychologising and therapeutising knowledge in the context of teacher education in the Swiss canton of Zurich. Based on source materials, such as annual reports of teacher training seminars and publications by teachers, we persue the question to what extent the group was substantiated and used in psychologising and therapeutising ways in Zurich’s teacher education.
The Action of the Saint Sava Society on the Formation of Identity among Serbs in Old Serbia and Macedonia
Authors: Nikolova Maja
Published: July 2023

The Serbs in Old Serbia and Macedonia in the late 19th century, in national terms, were not recognized by the Turkish authorities. Their position in this region made it difficult for the Bulgarian and Greek propaganda and armed troops of Albanians, so the Serbs had to struggle to defend themselves and defend their national identity. One aspect of this struggle was the educational and cultural activity reflected in the establishment and development of the Serbian primary and secondary schools, the establishment of bookstores, and church-school communities. Support in all this was given by t he educational institutions, which had the task of minimizing foreign influences and using the potentials at their disposal to achieve national integrity. Thanks to their existence, at least for a short time, it seemed that the prevailing attitude was that the Serbs in those areas at the same time formed a bridge and an insurmountable gap between East and West. Besides the State government, support in dealing with educational issues was given by the Saint Sava Association established at the initiative of Svetomir Nikolajevic, professor of History and Literature at the Great School. Academic, political, and national activities of the Association were expressed through the establishment and work of Saint Sava evening, Preparatory and Theological-Teaching School in Belgrade.
„Natürliches Wachstum“ in einer bedrohlichen Welt – der Monte Verità als Inkubationsraum eines neuen Erzieherbildes
Authors: Klepper Beate
Published: July 2023

In the early years of the 20th century a small community or colony on Monte Verità near Ascona at the Lago Maggiore became refuge and encounter for different representatives of the Lebensreform. Main issues culminated here, and here the representatives conflicted with each other. Controversial response proposals uncovered the fundamental divergencies of a naturalistic world view. Thus, Monte Verità spotlights pedagogical problems in the context of Lebensreform and Reformpädagogik. Based on the writings of the respective protagonists and their environment, and referring to repeated visits to the Monte Verità, we propose a reflection of its development and central motives and deconstruct critically the understanding of the child and the new conception of the educator on the ‘Mount of Truth’. Ida Hofmann, as one of the main founders, individualist, and naturalist Gusto Gräser and the psychoanalyst and anarchist Otto Gross shaped essentially Monte Verità and formulated the motives that still nowadays keep floating like a will-o’-the-wisp in the models of Reformpädagogik. Education is always tempted to ‘tame’ contingent structures, to anticipate an uncertain future and to define clearly the role of the educator. Frequently teleological suppositions sneak into the educational praxis and confer the present action an image of validity and offer the educator tranquilizing certainties. Monte Verità represents a clear example for this. To understand pedagogical thinking as focusing on growth with open results, therefore guided by an anthropological perspective, requires a clear decision for continued questioning of subtle basic presuppositions. Instead of mental certainties, the search for always new, concrete, child-centered educational action, in short, an education that parts “from the Child”.
High‐throughput metabarcoding of SAR11 assemblages from the southwest Atlantic shelf and arid Patagonia: richness and associated rank abundance distributions
Authors: Jones Leandro R. , Manrique Julieta M.
Published: July 2023

The SAR11 clade is likely the most abundant microbial lineage on earth. Here, we provide detailed analyses of the group’s richness and AD in poorly studied Southern microbiomes. This requires whole community composition analyses to be performed, which are also provided in conjunction with the SAR11‐specific studies. In this way, the work describes unknown aspects of the diversity of an outstanding bacterial lineage and novel data on remote and relatively little‐studied microbial communities.

Background

Massively parallel sequencing of environmental DNA allows microbiological studies to be performed in greater detail than was possible with first‐generation sequencing. For example, it facilitates the use of approaches hitherto largely applied to flora and fauna, such as rank abundance distribution (RAD) analyses.

Methods

Here, we set out to advance the knowledge on Ca. Pelagibacterales (SAR11) communities from southern South America using environmental sequences from the open ocean in the Argentine sea, the uncharted Engaño Bay, as well as a river and an oligohaline shallow lake from the Patagonian Steppe ecoregion. The structures of the SAR11 assemblages present in these ecosystems were dissected by direct and rarefaction‐based estimates of species richness, and evaluations of the corresponding abundance distributions (ADs), which was addressed by RAD analyses.

Results

Microbial community composition analyses revealed that the studied SAR11 assemblages coexist with 27 bacterial phyla. SAR11 richness was in general very high, but ADs turned out to be highly uneven. The results were compatible with prior knowledge, and similar to that derived from point estimates of diversity. However, our comprehensive dissection allowed for more detailed quantitative comparisons to be made between the environments surveyed, and revealed differences regarding both richness and the underlying ADs.

Conclusions

Despite SAR11 assemblages being extremely rich, their ADs are very uneven. Richness and ADs can vary, not only between fresh and salt water, but also between oceanic and coastal marine environments. The obtained results provide insights on general topics such as adaptation and the contrast between marine and freshwater radiations.
Deresination options in sulphite pulping
Authors: Sitholé Bruce , Shirin Salma , Zhang Xiao , Lapierre Luc , Pimentel Jorge , Paice Mike
Published: July 2023

Three methods for improved deresination of sulphite pulps were evaluated, namely, alkaline washing, enzyme treatment, and pulp fractionation. Alkaline washing appears to come at a high cost, because caustic is expensive and affects cellulose chain length, as indicated by lower viscosity of the pulps. Thus this is not a viable option for pulps that are sensitive to changes in viscosity. Enzyme treatment did not completely degrade the glycerides under the mill conditions used. Fibre fractionation studies showed that the fines fractions contained 8 to 13 times more residual lipophilic extractives than the whole pulps. Removing this fraction, which represents only a small percentage of the whole pulp, could reduce by about a half the amount of lipophilic extractives in the remaining pulp. Thus pulp fractionation appears to be a viable option to achieve further deresination of sulphite pulps.
Process optimization of tetra acetyl ethylene diamine activated hydrogen peroxide bleaching of populus nigra CTMP
Authors: Pu Junwen , Mao Shulei , Qi Guibo
Published: July 2023

To enhance the bleaching efficiency, the activator of tetra acetyl ethylene diamine (TAED) was used in conventional H2O2 bleaching. The H2O2/TAED bleaching system can accelerate the reaction rate and shorten bleaching time at relative low temperature, which can reduce the production cost. In this research, the process with hydrogen peroxide activated by TAED bleaching of Populus nigra chemi-thermo mechanical pulp was optimized. Suitable bleaching conditions were confirmed as follows: pulp consistency 10%, bleaching temperature 70oC, bleaching time 60 min when the charge of H2O2 was 4%, NaOH charge 2%, and molar ratio of TAED to H2O2 0.3. The pulp brightness gain reached 23.6% ISO with the optimized bleaching conditions. FTIR analysis indicated that the H2O2/TAED bleaching system can decrease carbonyl group further than that of conventional H2O2 bleaching, which contributed to the higher bleaching efficiency and final brightness. The H2O2/TAED bleaching had stronger oxidation ability on lignin than that of H2O2 bleaching.
Adsorption of cadmium(II) ions from aqueous solution by Tectona grandis L.f. (teak leaves powder)
Authors: Srinivasa Rao Karanam , Anand Shashi , Venkateswarlu Paladugu
Published: July 2023

Batch adsorption studies were undertaken with the abundantly available waste biosorbent Tectona grandis L.f. leaf powder for removal of cadmium(II) from aqueous solutions. The adsorption experiments were performed under various conditions such as time, temperature, different initial Cd(II) concentrations, pH, adsorbent dosage, and adsorbent particle size. The data showed that in 30 minutes, 1 g of Tectona grandis L.f. could remove 86.73% of cadmium(II) from 50 mL aqueous solution containing 100 mg L-1 of Cd. The isothermal data fitted well to both Langmuir and Freundlich models for Cd(II) adsorption on Tectona grandis L.f. Using the Langmuir model equation, the monolayer sorption capacity of Tectona grandis L.f. was evaluated to be 29.94 mg g-1. The optimum pH value was found to be 5.5. The pseudo-first-order and pseudo-second-order kinetic models were used to describe the kinetic data. The dynamic data fitted well to the pseudo-second-order kinetic model. Cd(II) adsorption was only marginally affected in the temperature range of 30 to 50oC. An SEM of Cd(II) loaded powder showed formation of agglomerates. The FTIR of Cd(II) loaded powder showed negative shift in the wave numbers.
A semi-empirical model of the tensile energy absorption of sack kraft paper
Authors: Shallhorn Paul , Gurnagul Norayr
Published: July 2023

We have developed a semi-empirical model to relate the tensile energy absorption (TEA) of paper sheets formed from high-consistency refined pulp to pulp properties, including water retention value (WRV), fibre length, and fibre curl. TEA is shown to be related to the normalized stretch (ratio of stretch to tensile strength) and the tensile strength of the pulp. Normalized stretch appears to be a function of fibre curl, whereas tensile strength for a given pulp is a function of the fibre length, fibre curl, and WRV. The manner in which these three pulp properties develop in a given refining operation determines the development of TEA.
Production of Trametes gallica lignocellulases for wheat straw degradation
Authors: Xie Jun , Luo Sishi , Feng Lei , Xu Ning , Wang Yuqi , Xu Xiaoli , Fu Shiyu
Published: July 2023

Trametes gallica (T. gallica) is a high producer of lignin-degrading enzymes including laccases, lignin peroxidases (LiPs), manganese-dependent peroxidases (MnPs), and hemicellulases (Hcels). The enzyme activities could peak at an early stage of fermentation. The activities of laccases and LiPs were high in high-nitrogen, low–carbon, and high inorganic salt media, while the activities of MnPs, and Hcels were the high in low-nitrogen, high–carbon, and high inorganic salt medium. It was found that T. gallica caused 34.4% mass losses after 20 days, 46.7% after 30 days, and 70.1% after 60 days, and at the same time T. gallica was able to degrade lignin at an early stage of solid fermentation. Based on these results, T. gallica may be a strain candidate for biopulping in the paper industry.
Sunflower press cake as a substrate for eicosapentaenoic acid production by representatives of the genus Mortierella
Authors: Jacobs Annali , Botha Alfred , Reddy Judy K. , Van Zyl Willem H.
Published: July 2023

Long chain omega-3 fatty acids such as eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) are essential for the regulation of critical biological functions in humans and other mammals. EPA production via solid state fermentation of sunflower press cake was investigated using eight fungal strains representing the genus Mortierella. During this study the effect of supplementing the sunflower press cake substrate with 10% (w/w) linseed oil was studied with regard to the supplement’s impact on EPA production and the polyunsaturated fatty acid profile of the fermented substrate. The addition of the linseed oil improved the EPA yield of most strains, leading to a reduction in the average arachidonic acid:EPA ratio from 50.68 to 3.66. The ratio of polyunsaturated to saturated fatty acids was increased significantly (t=5.75, p=0.05) by the addition of linseed oil, with higher desaturation levels among the 20-carbon fatty acids. The strains that produced the highest levels of EPA on sunflower press cake supplemented with linseed oil were Mortierella alpina Mo 46 and Mortierella basiparvispora Mo 88, which produced 6.4 mg and 5.8 mg EPA per g of sunflower press cake, respectively.
Effect of heat treatment on the change in color and dimensional stability of acacia hybrid wood
Authors: Tuong Vu Manh , Li Jian
Published: July 2023

Acacia hybrid (Acacia mangium x auriculiformis), a wood species of low dimensional stability which is used almost exclusively for pulp, paper, or as firewood, was heat treated in nitrogen at 210-230 ºC for 2 to 6 hours. The changes in color and anti-swelling efficiency (ASE) of wood after heat treatment were determined for the different heat treatment conditions. The results show that heat treatment mainly resulted in the darkening of wood tissues, and heat-treated wood had better dimensional stability than those of the control samples. Chemical modifications of wood components were determined by FT-IR analysis. Spectra indicated that the hydroxyl group content was reduced by increased treatment intensity. This result coincides with the increase in dimensional stability of heat-treated wood. Heat treatment of acacia hybrid wood shows an interesting potential to improve the quality and value for solid wood products from plantation-grown wood species.
Kinetic study of the thermal decomposition of hemicellulose isolated from corn stalk
Authors: Lv Gao-jin , Wu Shu-bin , Lou Rui
Published: July 2023

In order to study the thermal decomposition characteristics of hemicellulose, a highly efficient procedure was carried out to extract hemicellulose from corn stalk. Several different sugar units were observed by 13C NMR spectra to show the presence and species of hemicellulose. Following isolation of the hemicellulose, experimental research on its thermal behavior were carried out with a thermogravimetric analyzer under inert atmosphere at heating rates ranging from 10 to 50°C/min, and the kinetic parameters were calculated by the Kissinger and Ozawa methods, respectively. It was found that the thermal degradation of hemicellulose mainly occurred in the temperature range 180-340°C with a final residue yield of 24% at 700°C. An increase of the heating rate could slightly increase both the temperatures at which the peak weight loss rate was observed and the maximum value of weight loss rate. The activation energy (E) and the pre-exponential factor (lnA) obtained by the Kissinger and Ozawa methods were 213.3kJ mol-1, 211.6kJ mol-1 and 46.2min-1, 45.9min-1, respectively. Even though the data showed little difference, the fitting degree of the Ozawa method was better than that of the Kissinger method. The experimental results and kinetic parameters may provide useful data for effective design and improvement of thermochemical conversion units.
Solving the problems of recycled fiber processing with enzymes
Authors: Bajpai Pramod K.
Published: July 2023

The pulp and paper industry has started applying new, ecologically sound technology (biotechnology) in its manufacturing processes. Many interesting enzymatic applications have been proposed. Implemented technologies tend to change the existing industrial process as little as possible. Enzymes have great potentials in solving many problems associated with the use of recycled fiber, especially related to deinking, drainability, hornification, refining, and stickies. Based on the promising results of mill-scale trials, several mills in the world have started using enzymes for deinking. The potentials of cellulase enzymes have also been demonstrated for reducing the energy requirement in pulp refining, improving the machine runnability and stickies control when using recycled fiber. They have the important benefits in that they can be considered a “green” product. They are natural occurring compounds with little adverse impact on the environment. This paper deals with the importance of recycling of paper, problems associated with the recycling, and potentials of enzymes in solving these problems. A few case studies have also been included.
Reform of Life Imprisonment in Lithuania
Authors: Namavičius Justas
Published: July 2023

This article discusses the 2019 reform of criminal laws, providing for the possibility of releasing persons sentenced to life imprisonment. The legislator, establishing the model of punishment substitution instead of parole, chose a sufficiently strict regulation, and although he declared otherwise, he did not really dare to go beyond punishment as a retribution for extremely serious crimes. In addition to the historical development of life imprisonment and aspects of the theory of punishment, the work also focuses on individual release criteria; at the end, possible directions of reform are briefly defined.