bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Flexibility of cutaneous evaporative water loss in response to hydration in pregnant prairie rattlesnakes (Crotalus viridis) and their neonates
Authors: Bedard Robin E. , Weaver Savannah J. , Moniz Haley A. , Boback Scott M. , Taylor Emily N.
Published: December 2024

Viviparous snakes may be particularly vulnerable to predicted increases in drought because of the high hydric costs associated with embryonic development and gestation, and their reliance on limited free-standing bodies of water or rain events for hydration. Drought will have negative implications for viper populations if females become increasingly water stressed and resorb developing embryos to conserve bodily water. We conducted a study to investigate the importance of drinking water in late-term pregnancy and its effect on cutaneous evaporative water loss (CEWL). We measured hydration and water loss in response to supplemental hydration during the final stages of embryonic development and gestation in arid-adapted prairie rattlesnakes (Crotalus viridis). Our goal was to assess how supplemental water affects hydration status and water loss (via CEWL) of females during and after pregnancy, and of their neonates before and after their first ecdysis. Supplemental hydration of pregnant C. viridis improved their hydration state and their neonates were also born more hydrated than those from control mothers, showing that they transfer water to neonates via the placenta even over a very short period in the late stages of pregnancy. The supplementally hydrated maternal C. viridis experienced slightly higher rates of CEWL compared with control snakes, but CEWL was primarily driven by ambient temperature and vapor pressure deficit at the time of measurement. At birth, neonate plasma osmolality and CEWL were both directly associated with their mothers' plasma osmolality and CEWL. Additionally, we found that neonate CEWL increased after the first ecdysis, suggesting that natal skin may help neonates avoid desiccation. Investigating and quantifying physiological implications of water shortage and dehydration can help us better understand the effects of drought and predict how wild populations of arid-adapted reptiles may respond to the predicted increase in frequency and severity of droughts.
Comparative Genomics of Genes for rhamnolipid synthesis and monoaromatic hydrocarbon tolerance in environmental strains of Pseudomonas aeruginosa
Authors: PALOMINO HUARCAYA ROGER A. , Castillo-Vilcahuaman Camila , Martel-Torres Sandro B. , Merino Rafael Fernando A. , Gutiérrez Moreno Susana M.
Published: December 2024

Background Aromatic hydrocarbons such as Benzene, Toluene, Ethylbenzene and Xylene (BTEX), give us an environmental challenge. They can be degraded by strains of Pseudomonas aeruginosa, through emulsification (rhl genes) and biodegradation processes. The BTEX tolerance genes (mlaABCD) may be present in it. The aim of this research was to evaluate, through comparative genomics, the genes of the rhl and mla systems in six strains isolated from hydrocarbon polluted environments. Methods This study examines six Pseudomonas aeruginosa strains isolated from hydrocarbon-contaminated sites in Peru. Each strain shows capabilities like hydrocarbon degradation and heavy metal tolerance. After DNA extraction, sequencing, and quality-controlled assembly, functional genome annotation was performed using BAKTA. Comparative analysis included high-quality Pseudomonas genomes from RefSeq, with ANI metrics to assess genetic similarity. A phylogenetic tree, built from core gene alignment, reveals evolutionary connections and was visualized with iTOL. Results Results showed that all strains had a double copy of the rhlB gene, arranged in the same organization, with rhlABRI genes always adjacent in a 3′-5′ direction. However, rhlG varied in position and orientation among strains, often near rhlC. The C1BHIC5 strain had only one copy of the rhlB gene, and the 3′ – 5 orientation of the rhlG gene was the exception. Most strains had two copies of mlaA, mlaFEDC, and mlaEFD genes for toluene tolerance, with diverse orientations across strains. High synteny was noted within mla gene blocks. Compared to Pseudomonas putida, where mla genes are positioned between murA and ppcD with an additional toluene tolerance gene (ttg2D), strains of P. aeruginosa strains display a similar yet distinct gene arrangement. Conclusions In conclusion, the presence of the rhlABC genes in all the strains analyzed and the BTEX tolerance genes allowed us to understand the great ability of P. aeruginosa to survive in polluted environments.
Wydział Sztuk Pięknych na Uniwersytecie Stefana Batorego w Wilnie (1919–1939/45). Dydaktyka, twórczość i tradycja artystyczna
Authors: Geron Małgorzata
Published: December 2024

Redakcja/Edited by Małgorzata Geron
Tłumaczenie/Translation by Krzysztof Z.Cieszkowski
The Faculty of Fine Arts of the Stefan Batory University in Wilno (1919–1939/45).Education, creativity and artistic tradition
Institutions: theory and practice
Authors: Pietryka Ilona , Topolewski Łukasz
Published: December 2024

Fifth Scientific Conference, abstrack book
Obraz ludności polskiej w Białorusi Sowieckiej w oczach komunistów Polaków z połowy lat dwudziestych XX wieku
Authors: Karaliou Maxim
Published: December 2024

Artykuł poświęcony jest zagadnieniom wdrażania bolszewickiej polityki narodowościowej wśród Polaków w BSRS w połowie lat dwudziestych XX w. W pierwszej części autor na podstawie dokumentów archiwalnych opisuje powstanie i działalność Biura Komunistów Polskich (Polbiura) w Mińsku, wymienia problemy, które napotykała ta instytucja w pierwszych latach swojego istnienia. Druga część to edycja dokumentu ze zbiorów Narodowego Archiwum Republiki Białorusi, powstałego na początku 1925 r. w Polbiurze. Jego treść odzwierciedla spojrzenie komunistów Polaków na ludność polską w BSRS oraz ówczesny stan pracy wśród Polaków i główne trudności w jej wcieleniu.
System radzieckiej cenzury w latach dwudziestych i trzydziestych XX wieku – zarys problematyki
Authors: Kamińska-Chełminiak Kamila
Published: December 2024

W artykule przybliżono złożony system radzieckiej cenzury w latach dwudziestych i trzydziestych XX w. Proces tworzenia systemu cenzury politycznej, z rozbudowanym systemem represji, rozpoczął się w Rosji sowieckiej natychmiast po przejęciu władzy przez bolszewików, kilka lat przed oficjalnym powołaniem Gławlitu (Głównego Urzędu do spraw Literatury i Wydawnictw Ludowego Komisariatu RFSRR) w 1922 r. Cenzura instytucjonalna, która powstała w Rosji sowieckiej, miała charakter prewencyjny oraz represyjny, a jej cechą był brak ram prawnych dla kontroli druku i słowa oraz jasno sprecyzowanych wytycznych do kontrolowania środków przekazu.
Strategia i taktyka polityczna Komunistycznej Partii Jugosławii – od momentu powstania do ataku Niemiec na ZSRS w czerwcu 1941 roku
Authors: Zacharias Michał J.
Published: December 2024

W artykule została przedstawiona strategia i taktyka polityczna Komunistycznej Partii Jugosławii. Była ona typową organizacją kierowaną przez naczelne instancje Kominternu, szczególnie od czasu, gdy władzę w partii przejęli Josip Broz-Tito i jego podwładni. Poddana stalinizacji, partia jugosłowiańskich komunistów miała wykonywać polecenia zgodne z celami i interesami władców na Kremlu. Tak też było w istocie, stopniowe zmiany zaczęły występować dopiero w czasie wojny z Niemcami oraz ich sojusznikami.
ASPECTS OF MACEDONIAN INFLUENCE IN PAPHOS
Authors: Hadjisavvas Sophocles
Published: December 2024

In 1982, the author presented a paper at the XII International Conference on Classical Archaeology in Athens, exploring the influence of Macedonia on the funerary architecture of Paphos. The renowned Greek archaeologist, Fotios M. Petsas, appreciated recognising Macedonia’s impact on other countries. Later, in 1996, as a member of the UNESCO World Heritage Commission, the author added Cyprus’ vote for the inclusion of Vergina in the World Heritage List. This paper aims to demonstrate Macedonia’s influence not only on neighbouring regions but also on more distant areas, such as Cyprus. The author emphasises the Macedonia–Cyprus relationship and references findings from ancient Thrace by colleagues from Bulgaria, which are otherwise less known. The author suggests that Macedonia was one of the centres of Hellenistic influence rather than just copying Attic and other models. Despite the numerous publications on Macedonia since 1982, the relations between this region and Cyprus have not been thoroughly explored. While this paper is not exhaustive, the author’s interest in the topic and numerous visits to Macedonia and Thrace help to some extent balance the lack of information concerning the relations between Macedonia and Cyprus.
CONTRIBUTION TO THE HELLENISTIC CULTS OF CYPRUS: SABAZIOS IN THE PAPHOS REGION
Authors: Raptou Eustathios
Published: December 2024

The following paper presents an unpublished votive assemblage discovered in rural Paphos District, on a site where a sanctuary of Sabazios existed during the Hellenistic Period. The finds uncovered, mostly terracotta figurines, provide valuable insight into aspects of cultic and social behaviour of Hellenistic Cyprus. Despite the poorly preserved and fragmentary condition of the material, an attempt will be made to define the nature of the deities worshipped and the cult that was celebrated.
THE DIGITAL REVOLUTION IN DOCUMENTING ARCHAEOLOGICAL WORK: EXPERIENCE FROM POLISH EXCAVATIONS IN NEA PAPHOS, CYPRUS
Authors: Miszk Łukasz , Ostrowski Wojciech
Published: December 2024

The article explores the evolution of archaeological excavation documentation during the 21st century’s second decade, coinciding with Ewdoksia Papuci‑Władyka’s leadership in Nea Paphos. This period witnessed a profound revolution driven by the democratisation of photogrammetry, UAV advancements, and spatial databases like BIM and GIS. Archaeologists must embrace interdisciplinary collaboration to harness these tools effectively. While photogrammetry’s widespread adoption marks a significant shift, challenges persist in digitising archaeological contexts. Implementing GIS‑based databases like ArcGIS initially, then transitioning to the more user‑friendly Arches system, has posed technical hurdles requiring specialist expertise. Despite these challenges, the article underscores the indispensable role of technology in archaeological documentation. Advancements in AI and machine learning present further opportunities, potentially reshaping documentation practices. However, traditional methods and the expertise of seasoned archaeologists remain irreplaceable, highlighting the need for a balanced integration of technology into archaeological research methodologies.
TERRACOTTAS OF MOUNTED AND SHIELDED MERCENARIES FROM KOURION, CYPRUS
Authors: Sekunda Nicholas
Published: December 2024

This article deals with the chronology and iconography of a group of Hellenistic terracottas depicting shielded mounted warriors from the Sanctuary of Apollo Hylates from Kourion, Cyprus.
A FEW WORDS ABOUT ANCIENT GREEK NIKONION
Authors: Mielczarek Mariusz , Sekerskaya Natalia M. , Okhotnikov Sergey B.
Published: December 2024

This article presents fragments of the history of Ancient Nikonion, a Greek city on the northern coast of the Black Sea, one of the most important in the lower reaches of the Tyras (Dniester) River. The data presented on Nikonion are the result of many years of excavations at Nikonion by Ukrainian archaeologists from the Odesa Archaeological Museum and Polish archaeologists from the Nicolaus Copernicus University in Toruń as well as from the Institute of Archaeology and Ethnology, Polish Academy of Sciences.
STONE PROJECTILES FROM POLISH EXCAVATIONS IN TANAIS (RUSSIA), TRENCH XXV
Authors: Scholl Tomasz , Łuszczewska Marzena
Published: December 2024

The paper concerns a set of stone projectiles from Polish excavations conducted in 1995-2019 by archaeologists from the University of Warsaw in the ancient city of Tanais, located at the mouth of the river Don in today’s Russia. All objects come from the Western Tanais area (trench XXV) and date to the Hellenistic Period. The objects were made of sandstone or limestone and have various sizes, from large projectiles weighing over one kilogramme to small balls several centimetres in diameter. All stones have traces of smoothing of the surface. A few projectiles were reused as grinding stones. An important issue is to determine the function of the found objects. The largest ones were probably intended for ballistae; the smaller ones were used as slingshot projectiles, while the smallest ones could have been used as game balls.
NEW FINDS FROM THE SANCTUARY OF APOLLO PYTHAIOS/ PYTHAEUS AT ANCIENT HALASARNA (MODERN KARDAMAINA) ON KOS
Authors: Kokkorou‑Alevras Georgia , Kalavria Eleni , Hein Anno
Published: December 2024

Professor Ewdoksia Papuci‑Władyka is a key collaborator in the systematic excavation by the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens at the sanctuary of Apollo Pythaios/Pythaeus at ancient Halasarna (modern Kardamaina) on the Dodecanesian island of Kos. Τhis site, excavated since 1985, has brought to light significant buildings: two monumental temples, one of the Hellenistic (building C) and the other of the Roman Period (building D), a monumental enclosure wall with a propylon (building E), a long stoa (building Z), a public building (A+B+ colonnade) as well as bases of altars, inscriptions, fragments of sculptures and terracottas. Also, large amounts of pottery from the 8th century BC to the 7th century AD, metal objects, coins, etc., have been found. Most of this material has already been published in the series ΑΛΑΣΑΡΝΑ (HALASARNA). However, as the excavation continues, new finds come to light. To honour Professor E. Papuci‑Władyka for her long‑lasting and most fruitful collaboration for studying the Hellenistic pottery of the Apollo sanctuary, three new, unpublished findings will be presented in this paper. These are two fragmentary preserved marble sculptures of small size and a new terracotta statuette representing Eros, all connected to the sanctuary under excavation. The marble statuettes were found close to the coastline, to the southwest of the sanctuary; the Eros statuette turned up in the excavation. Both marble sculptures to be presented here, a statuette of a draped woman and a miniature Hermaic stele, have parallels among the finds from the sanctuary, which are closely related to the cults attested by epigraphic testimonies located in it. This fact makes their provenance from the Apollo Pythaios/Pythaeus sanctuary also most probable, enrich the catalogue of sculptures dedicated to it and already published in ΑΛΑΣΑΡΝΑ (HALASARNA) volume VI (2017a) and corroborate our conclusions on the typology and character of the dedications therein. On the other hand, the clay statuette of an Eros is an iconographic addition to the offerings at the sanctuary.
THE HELLENISTIC CERAMIC OIL LAMPS FROM SARAPIEIA A AND B ON DELOS
Authors: Kajzer Małgorzata , Marzec Edyta
Published: December 2024

The paper presents the investigation of the Hellenistic (314-69 BC) ceramic oil lamps recovered on Delos in two sanctuaries dedicated to the Egyptian god – Serapis. Despite a relatively small number of lamps, the assemblage shows variability in the appearance of the clay paste, forming technique, shape, and surface treatment. These reflect differences in their chronology and various regional and intra‑regional sources. However, considering the buildings’ sacral function, the number of recovered lamps seems to be relatively low and contrasts with other places of the same function, suggesting the utilisation of additional light sources.
THE MEMORY OF A FISH: NEW APPROACH TOWARDS CHRONOLOGY AND PRIMARY CONTENT OF AYLA-AXUM AMPHORAE
Authors: Oleksiak Jerzy M.
Published: December 2024

In recent years, the chronology and original content of Ayla-Axum amphorae have been widely disputed. Developing research on these vessels has contributed to various ideas, but a comprehensive summary of all knowledge has never been provided, and no conclusion has ever been drawn. This paper aims to establish the first typo‑chronological outline of these container types, to indicate the most probable content based on new pottery evidence from Berenike and Khirbet eḏ-Ḏarīḥ, and to integrate it with a distribution pattern analysis of pottery imports from Ayla/Aqaba, supported by zooarchaeological finds. The research focuses on Ayla-Axum amphorae finds from the Red Sea region (between Southern Transjordan and Southern Arabia), extending beyond the amphorae category to other transport forms originating from the kilns of Ayla/Aqaba.
A FOLLIS WITH EAGLE COUNTERMARK DISCOVERED IN ‘MAREA’/ PHILOXENITE
Authors: Jellonek Szymon
Published: December 2024

Countermarks minted on early Byzantine coins continue to be a fascinating and enigmatic phenomenon. They have been found in the Crimea, Cyprus, Sicily, and Syro‑Palestine. Conversely, there aren’t many known countermarks from Egypt. Scholars are currently aware of five countermarks from Egypt that depict an eagle. Over eight thousand coins were found at ‘Marea’/Philoxenite during excavations. The majority of Byzantine issues are Alexandrian 12‑nummi, which comprise about 10% of the total. Nonetheless, 22 coins are folles made in different imperial mints. Two of these are countermarked. Undoubtedly, one has a countermark featuring the depiction of an eagle. The discovery of this particular follis during regular archaeological excavations in Egypt is especially significant in the context of hypotheses concerning the provenance of the eagle countermark.
A Bilevel Optimization Approach for a Class of Combinatorial Problems with Disruptions and Probing
Authors: Lozano Leonardo , Borrero Juan S.
Published: December 2024

We consider linear combinatorial optimization problems under uncertain disruptions that increase the cost coefficients of the objective function. A decision maker, or planner, can invest resources to probe the components (i.e., the coefficients) in order to learn their disruption status. In the proposed probing optimization problem, the planner, knowing just the disruptions’ probabilities, selects which components to probe subject to a probing budget in a first decision stage. Then, the uncertainty realizes, and the planner observes the disruption status of the probed components, after which the planner solves the combinatorial problem in the second stage. In contrast to standard two-stage stochastic optimization, the planner does not have access to the full uncertainty realization in the second stage. Consequently, the planner cannot directly optimize the second-stage objective function, which is given by the actual cost after disruptions, and the decisions have to be made based on an estimate of the cost. By assuming that the estimate is given by the conditional expected cost given the information revealed by probing, we reformulate the probing optimization problem as a bilevel problem with multiple followers and propose an exact algorithm based on a value function reformulation and three heuristic algorithms. We derive theoretical results that bound the value of information and the price of not having full information and a bound on the required probing budget that attains the same performance as full information. Our extensive computational experiments suggest that probing a fraction of the components is sufficient to yield large improvements in the optimal value, that our exact algorithm is competitive for small- to medium-scale instances, and that the proposed heuristics find high-quality solutions in large-scale instances.

History: Accepted by Andrea Lodi, Area Editor for Design & Analysis of Algorithms–Discrete.

Funding: This work was supported by the Air Force Office of Scientific Research [Grant FA9550-22-1-0236] and the Division of Civil, Mechanical and Manufacturing Innovation [Grant CMMI 2145553].

Supplemental Material: The software that supports the findings of this study is available within the paper and its Supplemental Information ( https://pubsonline.informs.org/doi/suppl/10.1287/ijoc.2024.0629 ) as well as from the IJOC GitHub software repository ( https://github.com/INFORMSJoC/2024.0629 ). The complete IJOC Software and Data Repository is available at https://informsjoc.github.io/ .
Auctions of Auctions
Authors: Zeithammer Robert , Choi W. Jason
Published: December 2024

Online advertising impressions are traded through a multitiered network of intermediaries. We model the revenue optimization of a publisher that auctions off advertising impressions to intermediary exchanges, which, in turn, run their own internal auctions among the advertisers they represent. We show that the resulting auction-of-auctions market arrangement suffers from a double marginalization problem: the multitier bid shading prompts the publisher to raise the reserve price above the level under the nonintermediated benchmark. The reserve distortion decreases channel efficiency as well as the profits of all channel members. Our findings also demonstrate that, in the auction of auctions, reserve price optimization is both more intricate and more important than in the direct mechanism: optimal reserves depend on the number of both exchanges and advertisers. Moreover, optimizing the reserve price given a fixed number of bidders may be more profitable than keeping the auction absolute and adding more bidders. Interestingly, we find that a simple scheme in which exchanges coordinate to charge their advertisers a fixed percentage commission perfectly coordinates the channel.

This paper was accepted by Dmitri Kuksov, marketing.

Supplemental Material: The online appendix is available at https://doi.org/10.1287/mnsc.2024.05233 .
A–Z of prescribing for children
Authors: Davies Kate
Published: December 2024

This series focuses on aspects of prescribing for neonates, children and young people, from A–Z. Aspects of pharmacokinetics will be considered, alongside legal considerations, consent and medications in schools
Effect of Different Plant Density and Nitrogen Doses on Cotton Yield and Quality
Authors: Ipekci Orhan , Karademir Emine
Published: December 2024

This study was carried out to determine the effects of different nitrogen doses and plant density on cotton yield, fiber quality criteria and some physiological properties.
A field experiment was conducted according to the split plots design in randomized blocks with 4 replications and 4 different nitrogen doses (6, 12, 18 and 24 kg da-1 N) were formed in the main plots and plant density (5, 10 and 15 cm) in the sub plots. In the study, it was determined that there were significant statistical differences between applications in terms of seed cotton yield, number of sympodial, monopodial branches and number of nodes. It was determined that plant density had a significant effect on seed cotton yield and number of sympodial branches, nitrogen doses had a significant effect on the number of monopodial branches and number of nodes, and the interaction of nitrogen dose x plant density was effective on plant height.
The results showed that the highest seed cotton yield was obtained from 5 cm intra-row and the highest number of sympodial branch was obtained from 15 cm plant density. Among the nitrogen doses, it was determined that the highest number of monopodial branches and number of nodes were obtained at the nitrogen dose of 6 kg da-1.
As a result of the study, in the light of this information, it was concluded that the Olivia cotton variety can be recommended because it has the highest yield when planted in 5 cm intra-row and also has the highest monopodial and sympodial branches when a nitrogen dose of 6 kg da-1 is applied.
Common tumors in cats: A comprehensive review of epidemiological and clinicopathological aspects
Authors:   Department of Medicine, Surgery and Reproduction, Agronomy and Veterinary Institute Hassan II, Rabat 6202, Morocco, Laissaoui Nadia ,   Department of Veterinary Pathology and Public Health, Agronomy and Veterinary Institute Hassan II, Rabat 6202, Morocco, Betz Daniela Simon ,   Independent Scientific Writing, Translation & Consultancy Clinical Oncology, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Hannover 30559, Germany, Millán Yolanda ,   Department of Comparative Pathology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Córdoba, Campus Universitario de Rabanales Ctra. Córdoba 14071, Spain, El Mrini Meryem ,   Department of Animal Health, National Office of Sanitary Safety of Food Products, Avenue El Hadj Ahmed Charkaoui, Rabat 10000, Morocco, Azrib Rahma ,   Department of Medicine, Surgery and Reproduction, Agronomy and Veterinary Institute Hassan II, Rabat 6202, Morocco, Tligui Noursaid ,   Department of Veterinary Pathology and Public Health, Agronomy and Veterinary Institute Hassan II, Rabat 6202, Morocco
Published: December 2024

Feline tumors continue to be a rising problem in veterinary oncology. Knowledge of the actual epidemiological situation, circumstances of appearance and clinicopathological features of this pathology is essential to establish adequate diagnosis and preventive strategies, thus improving feline welfare. This review aims to update the current knowledge on three of the most common feline tumors: Squamous cell carcinoma (SCC), mammary tumors (MTs) and fibrosarcoma. For this, the recent epidemiological data published in scientific literature was summarized, potential risk factors incriminated in the occurrence of these tumors was explored, and their clinicopathological aspects were determined
A descriptive review of the role of exogenous bovine somatotropin on milk secretion mechanisms at different stages of lactation in crossbred Holstein cattle in the tropics
Authors:   Department of Physiology, Faculty of Veterinary Science, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok 10330, Thailand Academic of Science, Royal Society of Thailand, Chaiyabutr Narongsak ,   Queen Saovabha Memorial Institute, The Thai Red Cross Society, Bangkok 10330, Thailand, Chanpongsang Somchai ,   Department of Animal Husbandry, Faculty of Veterinary Science, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok 10330, Thailand, Thammacharoen Sumpun ,   Department of Physiology, Faculty of Veterinary Science, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok 10330, Thailand
Published: December 2024

This review aims to better understand the regulation of milk yield in response to the prolonged administration of recombinant bovine somatotropin (rbST) in 87.5% crossbred Holstein cattle in the tropics. Prolonged administration of rbST at different stages of lactation is associated with an increase in milk yield, which correlates with an increase in milk lactose yield and mammary glucose uptake, due to an increase in mammary blood flow. Lactose synthesis is up-regulated in response to the administration of rbST. The glucose taken up by the mammary gland in early lactation increases flux through the lactose synthesis and pentose phosphate pathways, leading to significant increases in NADPH formation for fatty acid synthesis during rbST administration. The incorporation of glucose carbon into milk increases milk citrate and triacylglycerol concentrations but not milk lactose as lactation advances under rbST treatment. The stimulatory effect of rbST on milk yield would be transiently and significantly increased in early lactation and decrease in late lactation, even though there is a high level of udder blood flow. With prolonged administration of rbST, the regulation of biosynthetic capacity within the mammary gland would be influenced more by intra-mammary factors than by systemic factors. As lactation advances, a smaller proportion of glucose would be metabolized for lactose synthesis, with more being metabolized via the Embden-Meyerhof pathway and the tricarboxylic acid cycle.
Discussion on the 6th Problem of the 29th International Mathematical Olympiad
Authors: Yue Zhang
Published: December 2024

With respect to the 6th problem of the 29th IMO, let b = a + n for the equation of the problem, it gets an equation about a, using the mathematical theory to solve the equation about a, because a > 0, b > 0 in order to obtain a positive root a, the calculation results in k < n2, it demonstrates that k = n2. Moreover, from b = a + n , if a and b take all of the positive integers, n will also take all of the positive or negative integers. Therefore, the paper proves that there are no positive integers a > 0, b > 0 and k > 0 such that a2 + b2/ab + 1 = k is the square of an integer except the case of a = b = 1.
Numerical Evaluation of Adverse Effects of Economic Fluctuations on the Investment Returns of Insurance Industry in Nigeria
Authors: Chibuisi C. , Egwe M. E. , Osu B. O. , Ishola C. Y.
Published: December 2024

The investment landscape in Nigeria is inherently influenced by economic fluctuations that pose substantial challenges and opportunities for investors and policyholders. This paper aims to investigate and provide solutions to the adverse effects of economic fluctuations on the investment returns of Insurance Industry in Nigeria through a numerical evaluation. These adverse effects are capable of resulting into future delay and volatility-noise of economic fluctuations in the financial market which influences the investment returns of Insurance Industry. These adverse effects are modeled as Advanced Stochastic Time-Delay Differential Equation (ASTDDE). The modeled equation is solved using a two-step Hybrid Block Adams Moulton Methods (2HBAMM) with the help of new sequence for delay and noise terms computations. Numerically, through mathematical demonstration, these adverse effects are expressed in form of some examples of Advanced Stochastic Time-Delay Differential Equation (ASTDDE) and were solved using the proposed method which revealed its financial and economic implications.
Variation in support by family, specialist project and mainstream services improves, mitigates and exacerbates the impacts of young carer responsibilities
Authors: Janes Edward Alex
Published: December 2024

Support can moderate the impacts of caring for family members during childhood, but while specialist projects have been found to be beneficial for those with substantial responsibilities, there is limited evidence on how mainstream services can identify and support the larger population. This phenomenological study of the wider spectrum investigated experiences of accessing support over a year-long period. The findings highlight the diversity of the spectrum in terms of family support, care-receiver relationships and motivations for privacy or disclosure. Participants also contrasted the individualised support offered by projects with the lack of engagement and identification by mainstream services.
The Contradictions of Merchant Capital and Nationality between the Qing and Japanese Empires (1895–1905)
Authors: Gerien-Chen James
Published: December 2024

Abstract: In 1901, Lin Chaodong proposed a camphor company in Fujian; two years later, Zhang Yunan proposed a railway between Shantou and Chaozhou. Both promised these patriotic investments would solve Qing economic crisis, but sought investment and technical expertise from Japanese officials in Taiwan. Why? This article examines how investment intersected with debates over the nationality of “transimperial” investors that, rather than Chinese “patriots” or “collaborators” or “true or “fake” Japanese subjects, might present themselves as both. Centering officials’ reliance on these transimperial figures as negotiations unfolded demonstrates the limits of Japanese and Qing imperial power in different yet parallel ways.
Colonial Actors in Dualities: Japanese Research on Colonial Era Philippine Forestry
Authors: Yeh Er-Jian
Published: December 2024

Abstract: This article provides an overview of Japan’s involvement in acquiring forestry data in the Philippines and the demand for timber since the 1910s. It explores the inter-empire network between Japan, the US, Taiwan and the Philippines, with a focus on Taiwan’s dispatch of individuals for forestry surveys. The article highlights the role of Taiwan and its impact on Japanese forestry information about the Philippines. It argues that while colony-oriented knowledge-making served government purposes, the central government in Tokyo maintained control over the colonial network, revealing the duality of actors involved in forestry information collection.
Enslaved People and the Demonic in the Sasanian Empire
Authors: Manekin-Bamberger Avigail
Published: December 2024

Abstract: Studies of slavery in the Sasanian Empire have focused mainly on the legal status of slaves, based primarily on Middle Persian legal compilations. While these studies have advanced our understanding of Sasanian institutions of slavery, the social history and daily experiences of enslaved individuals remain largely unknown. An overlooked source for reconstructing the social history of enslaved individuals is magical texts and artifacts, in particular the Aramaic incantation bowls. This article therefore focuses on three analyses of the Aramaic bowl texts: occurrences of slaves in lists, magic spells to retrieve runaway slaves, and persistent textual and pictorial connections between slaves and demons. These analyses not only enrich our picture of slavery in the Sasanian Empire but also demonstrate the usefulness of studying magical artifacts for reconstructing the social and cultural history of societies in Late Antiquity.
Transgender Materialism: Gender and Sexuality in the Life and Passion of Susanna
Authors: Bodnaruk Mariana
Published: December 2024

Abstract: An ambiguity lays at the heart of late antique religious literature, and in particular trans saints’ lives: the celebration of what is ordinarily prohibited in both canon law and imperial legislation. These popular late-antique narratives include the anonymous Life and Passion of Susanna, which depicts a literary character of a trans monk, virgin, and martyr in the mid-fourth-century Palestinian setting. Such texts and images mediate social identities, albeit their treatment is constrained due to the ramifications of the literary genre and iconographic traditions. Examining this rarely discussed vita, which has not yet been translated in full into any modern language, and the concomitant hagiographic iconography, this article investigates late antique social and religious identities at the intersection of ethnicity, gender, and sexuality. It begins with critical historiography of scholarly accounts of the late antique “trans saint” that drew on methodological paradigms of psychoanalysis, structuralism, and poststructuralism, often interpreting these saintly figures as transhistorical and literary constructions. The article argues for an intersectional-materialist transfeminist analysis of these texts as a heuristic approach to the historical record attentive to material life after the end of the linguistic turn in the humanities.
Monastic Teaching and Episcopal Preaching: Education in the Lives of the Bishops of Arles in Late Antiquity
Authors: Gemeinhardt Peter
Published: December 2024

Abstract: The present paper discusses the relationship between ascetic authority and classical education in Late Antiquity with special regard to bishops in fifth-and sixth-century Gaul. A period of ascetic formation was reckoned a common marker of quality for future bishops. Among them, Honoratus, Hilary, and Caesarius of Arles stand out by their ability to preach and thus put their rhetorical skills to good use for their parish. All three had been members of the monastic community at Lérins (founded by Honoratus himself). While their Lives follow different strategies to appreciate these literate competencies as part of the episcopal agency, they all testify to the formation of a new type of a Christian rhetorician, trained as an ascetic but skilled as an orator. In specific ways, ascetic training appears as an indispensable resource for coping with the upheavals of Late Antiquity during the migration period, including the ability to hold up traditional Roman values, connected to Christian faith and lifestyle. In sum, these Lives do not only testify to the “monastic turn of education” as a one-way road: instead, in the hagiography connected to Arles, monastic teaching and episcopal preaching entered a surprisingly harmonious relationship.
Archangel Michael as Justinian’s Imperial Protector
Authors: Croke Brian
Published: December 2024

Abstract: Roman and Byzantine devotion to Archangel Michael began in the fourth century, but only with the reign of Justinian (527 to 565) did attachment to him become entrenched in imperial ideology and action. Recent research on angels, especially their depiction and their role in Roman and Byzantine society, has pointed to the extent and significance of Archangel Michael as imperial archistratēgos, the heavenly military chief and protector of the earthly emperor. Research on Justinian, however, has overlooked Michael’s role as the emperor’s protector. This paper shows how Justinian elevated and adapted the established cult of Michael to reinforce his legitimacy and his claim to orthodoxy through a range of means, direct and indirect: the introduction of the Archangel into imperial oaths; annual liturgical commemorations for Michael; construction and reconstruction of churches; iconography (coins, seals, frescoes, icons); and aristocratic nomenclature. Justinian facilitated the Michael cult as an integral component of his political ideology and propaganda.
Trade in Mercury: Crafts, Networks, and Demand in Post-Roman Western Europe
Authors: Bavuso Irene
Published: December 2024

Abstract: In Late Antiquity and the medieval period, gilded objects and lavish manuscripts attest to the widespread diffusion and use of mercury, a material that circulated over large distances in western Europe. Relevant instructions in recipe books show that mercury was essential to specialized crafts. However, given the paucity of the written sources between the fifth and the eighth centuries, mercury has remained elusive. In particular, we do not know much about its circuits of trade and distribution. The present article combines an analysis of the textual sources having to do with mercury, including the fundamental evidence offered by craft treatises and the archaeological remains for production. This interdisciplinary approach opens new perspectives on the system of long-distance maritime routes which, through the Atlantic Ocean, connected Spain with France, Ireland, and Britain during Late Antiquity; particular attention is devoted to Britain and its position at the periphery of this network. Moreover, tracing this neglected but important metal permits us to ask questions about the demand for specialized crafts in different social strata in the post-Roman period.
Marginalia as Texts: Early Modern Marks in the Emmerson Collection at State Library Victoria
Authors: Smith Rosalind
Published: December 2024

Abstract: When John Emmerson's collection of over five thousand early modern rare books entered public hands in 2015, a new corpus of sixteenth- and seventeenth-century marginalia within those books became available for analysis for the first time. Rather than studying this exciting new body of marks primarily as evidence of reading, this article takes up the idea of marginalia as a collection of 'texts', subject to generic convention and available to formalist literary analysis. It provides a taxonomy of kinds of marginalia found in the collection, from marks of ownership through reader annotation to marks of recording, followed by an analysis of these kinds in the near complete run of editions of works by Philip Sidney in the collection (1593–1674). Through these examples, I argue for a new approach to marginalia that focuses on form: textual, visual, and material. This approach is shaped by John Emmerson's collecting practices and the distinctive contours of the Emmerson Collection, allowing us to rethink what marginalia are and who might be considered to be marginalists in early modern England.
Memory, but Not Memory
Authors: Loftus Elizabeth F.
Published: December 2024

Abstract: Based on a presentation at the American Philosophical Society's Member Meeting in April 2021, this brief essay tackles the subject of memory and the ways it can be unreliable. The author shares some of her research into how easily memories can be altered, especially by leading questions and misinformation that changes peoples' perceptions of past events even when they are sincerely trying to tell the truth and relate those events accurately. This includes the category of false memories, which can be richly detailed and felt despite being "memories" of events that never happened. The author also notes that her research, which has been influential in the U.S. legal system, originated as a way to help defendants wrongly accused or even convicted on the basis of incorrect or entirely false memories, though the application of her work has become controversial among victim advocates.
The Assassination of Shidibala (r. 1320–1323) Reconsidered: Assumed Identities and Historiographical Erasures in Fourteenth-Century Yuan China
Authors: Dunnell Ruth W.
Published: December 2024

Article Abstract: Has Shidibala been whitewashed by literati officials, court historians, and later scholars? Who was Tegshi, leader of the assassination plot? What was his relationship to the hated minister Temüder, to Shidibala's empress Sukebala, and to Shidibala's successor, Yisün-Temür? This article seeks to answer these questions in an attempt to show how the political agency of this Mongol qa'an has been framed or obscured in Yuan sources. Portrayals of his grandmother Dagi likewise exemplify how political agency asserted by women in ruling circles is typically decried as wasteful, inappropriate, or as an immoral interference in government. Yet its institutionalization in the Mongol-Yuan government, especially in the empress dowagers' office, demonstrates that the official and unofficial networks of royal women were important channels through which Mongolian imperial sovereignty was constructed and negotiated, increasingly in tension with the Daidu bureaucracy and a throne seeking to centralize power in its own hands.
Zhedong Sea Merchants and the China-Japan Trade, ca. 800–1000 ce
Authors: Sattler Gregory
Published: December 2024

Article Abstract: This article aims to highlight the achievements and activities of a network of sea merchants from the Zhedong (Zhejiang) region of China whose members were among the earliest known private traders to arrive in Japan. They were the predominant group of Chinese merchants trading in Japan from the ninth to eleventh centuries, and from approximately 850 to 1000, they were the only sea merchant group known to operate there. Not only were merchants from the Zhedong region instrumental in commercial and religious exchange between China and Japan, they were also adept at navigating through the many political upheavals of the Tang-Song transition. As such, their sudden decline at the end of the tenth century, in tandem with the rise of Fujian merchants in overseas trade, raises questions as to the nature of trade administration at this time. This article will consider the political implications of the rise and fall of merchant networks in Chinese history, as well as present new information that calls into question the idea that Japan was diplomatically isolated throughout the tenth century.
Writing The 1973 Durban Strikes: The 'Birth Of Independent Trade Unions'
Authors: Bonnin Debby
Published: December 2024

ABSTRACT: The 'Durban strikes' is a signifier of many things – the 'start' of the independent labour movement, the onset of a period of labour reform, and the impetus for the resistance that eventually bought down the apartheid regime. While a Google Scholar search yields thousands of references, research specifically focusing on the strikes themselves has been limited. What, then, constitutes the scholarship of the Durban strikes? This article locates, documents and analyses the archive of research and writing on the 1973 Durban strikes. It poses the following questions: How extensive is the literature on the Durban strikes? What are the narratives of the strikes? What are the main themes in this literature? Does the literature change over time? The article argues that three distinct narratives emerge from the writings on the Durban Strikes. First, there is a focus on the causes of the strikes. Second, there is an argument suggesting that the strikes were unorganised and spontaneous. Third, there is the assertion that the 1973 Durban strikes marked the birth of the independent trade union movement. The narrative of the Durban strikes as the genesis of the independent trade union movement has become the dominant narrative over time. The article concludes by arguing that 50 years later, the IEE publication The Durban Strikes 1973 remains the seminal research on the strikes.
Half a century later: Durban Strikes 1973
Authors: Maré Gerhard
Published: December 2024

ABSTRACT: In 1974, under the authorship of the Institute for Industrial Education (IIE), a booklet was published to report and reflect on the 'Durban strikes – 1973'. Through the book, I returned to introduce the events, their context and importance in changing apartheid South Africa at an event to reflect on the strikes 50 years later, in January 2023 at the Durban University of Technology. A summary introduction to the strikes is followed by a description of the book itself, the context, process and participants: my brief for the 2023 event. In conclusion, I reflect on the very different world and country 50 years later, and the relevance to the present of what had been hoped for in 1973.
Dual-band polarization-independent maze-shaped absorber based on graphene for terahertz biomedical sensing
Authors: Khodadadi Bahareh , Rezaei Pejman , Hadipour Soheil
Published: December 2024

This paper introduces an adjustable metamaterial absorber in the terahertz spectrum with exclusive properties such as resistance to polarization variation. Although this absorber can operate in various applications like chemical and environmental industries, its captivating features in different refractive (RI) make it a good choice in sensing and biomedical applications such as cancer early detection, blood glucose monitoring, and detecting malaria mosquito bites. The structure originally includes four different layers from top to bottom: graphene/ SiO2/Si/Au, respectively. The finite integration technique has been used for simulation. In terms of absorbing parameters, the proposed structure reveals an outstanding absorption of 98.32% at 4.3 THz and 98.49% at 7.35 THz, with an average Q-factor of 8.92, by following simple absorption rules, simulation, and electric field distribution of the suggested structure, which is illustrated through diagrams to consider various parameters such as frequency, sensitivity, and physical mechanism.
Wide field-of-view interference filter based on strong light matter coupling
Authors: Manousiadis Pavlos , Samuel Ifor D. , Turnbull Graham
Published: December 2024

Distributed Bragg reflectors are an invaluable component in photonics with wide applications across many fields. They can be designed to give high transmission or reflection at specific wavelengths, but these characteristics vary strongly with the angle of incidence. In many fields, ranging from fluorescence microscopy to optical communications it would be desirable to have wavelength filters which exhibit the same transmission spectrum across a range of incidence angles. Here we show that strong light-matter coupling can be used to make a polaritonic narrowband filter which maintains the desired transmission spectrum for much wider ranges of angles of incidence. We experimentally demonstrate a device with maximum transmission >0.7, with narrowband transmission <20 nm, and wide-field of view of 44 degrees.