bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Paleozoic subduction of the Palaeo-Asian Ocean plate: constraints from Ordovician–Carboniferous volcano-sedimentary rocks in the northern Beishan orogenic collage, NW China
Authors: Du Qingxiang , Wu Sainan , Han Jinrui , Shen Xiaoli , Zhang Yong
Published: August 2024

The subduction history of the Hongshishan Ocean within the Beishan orogenic collage is crucial to our understanding of the evolutionary mechanisms of the Palaeo-Asian Ocean. We describe the petrography, age and geochemistry of an Ordovician–Carboniferous volcano-sedimentary succession that provides a record of the subduction history of the Hongshishan Ocean. We obtained early Ordovician zircon U–Pb ages (482 ± 6 and 472 ± 2 Ma) from the Xianshuihu Formation. The youngest weighted mean detrital zircon age from the Yuanbaoshan Formation is 421.0 ± 8.8 Ma. Most detrital zircons have prominent age peaks at 900–840 and 543–462 Ma, suggesting a main source from the southern Mongolian microcontinent. Volcanic rocks from the Baishan Formation yielded weighted mean ages of 300.3–299.3 Ma. During the Ordovician–Devonian, some volcanic arcs formed on the northern side of the Hongshishan–Baiheshan–Erlegen Ula ophiolitic belt, indicating that the Hongshishan Ocean had a northward subduction polarity. During the Carboniferous, continental arcs were well developed on both sides of the Hongshishan–Baiheshan–Erlegen Ula belt, suggesting bidirectional subduction. An archipelago of multiple arcs of the Hongshishan Ocean resembles that of the West Pacific Ocean. The change in subduction polarity can be attributed to the characteristics of multi-oceanic accretion.
Toward the Fractal Dimension of Classes
Authors: Pan Weifeng , Wu Wei , Ming Hua , Kim Dae-Kyoo , Yang Zijiang , Ma Yutao
Published: August 2024

The
fractal property
has been regarded as a fundamental property of complex networks, characterizing the
self-similarity
of a network. Such a property is usually numerically characterized by the
fractal dimension
metric, and it not only helps the understanding of the relationship between the structure and function of complex networks but also finds a wide range of applications in complex systems. The existing literature shows that class-level software networks (i.e., class dependency networks) are complex networks with the fractal property. However, the fractal property at the feature (i.e., methods and fields) level has never been investigated, although it is useful for measuring class complexity and predicting bugs in classes. Furthermore, existing studies on the fractal property of software systems were all performed on un-weighted software networks and have not been used in any practical quality assurance tasks such as bug prediction. Generally, considering the weights on edges can give us more accurate representations of the software structure and thus help us obtain more accurate results. The illustration of an approach’s practical use can promote its adoption in practice. In this article, we examine the
fractal property
of classes by proposing a new metric. Specifically, we build a
Feature-Level Software Network (FLSN)
for each class to represent the methods/fields and their couplings (including coupling frequencies) within the class and propose a new metric,
Fractal Dimension for Classes (FDC)
, to numerically describe the fractal property of classes using FLSNs, which captures class complexity. We evaluate
FDC
theoretically against Weyuker’s nine properties, and the results show that
FDC
adheres to eight of the nine properties. Empirical experiments performed on a set of 12 large open source Java systems show that (i) for most classes (larger than

\(96\%\)

), there exists the fractal property in their FLSNs, (ii)
FDC
is capable of capturing additional aspects of class complexity that have not been addressed by existing complexity metrics, (iii)
FDC
significantly correlates with both the existing class-level complexity metrics and the number of bugs in classes, and (iv)
FDC
, when used together with existing class-level complexity metrics, can significantly improve bug prediction in classes in three scenarios (i.e.,
bug-count
,
bug-classification
, and
effort-aware
) of the
cross-project
context, but in the
within-project
context, it cannot.
Relation Constrained Capsule Graph Neural Networks for Non-Rigid Shape Correspondence
Authors: Lian Yuanfeng , Pei Shoushuang , Chen Mengqi , Hua Jing
Published: August 2024

Non-rigid 3D shape correspondence aims to establish dense correspondences between two non-rigidly deformed 3D shapes. However, the variability and symmetry of non-rigid shapes usually lead to mismatches due to shape deformation, topological changes, or data with severe noise. To finding an accurate correspondence between 3D dynamic shapes for the local deformation complexity, this article proposes a Relation Constrained Capsule Graph Network (RC-CGNet), which combines global and local features by encouraging the relation constraints between the embedding feature space and the input shape space based on the functional maps framework. Specifically, we design a Diffusion Graph Attention Network (DGANet) to segment the surface into parts with correct edge boundary between two regions. The Minimum Spanning Tree (MST) of geodesic curves among the singularities obtained from the segmented parts is added as relation constraints, which can compute isometric correspondences in both direct and symmetric directions. Besides that, the relation-and-attention constrained neural networks are designed to learn the shape correspondence via attention-aware CapsNet and functional maps under relation constraints. To improve the convergence speed and matching accuracy, we propose an optimized residual network structure based on the Nesterov Accelerated Gradient (NAG) to extract local features, and use graph convolution structure to extract global features. Moreover, a lightweight Gated Attention Module (GAM) is designed to fuse global and local features to obtain a richer feature representation. Since the capsule network has better spatial reasoning ability than the traditional convolutional neural network, our novel network architecture is a dual-route capsule network based on Routing Attention Fusion Block (RAFB), filtering low-discriminative capsules from a holistic view by exploiting geometric hierarchical relationships of semantic parts. Experiments on open datasets show that our method has excellent accuracy and wide adaptability.
“Protect Me Tomorrow”: Commitment Nudges to Remedy Compromised Passwords
Authors: Peer Eyal , Frik Alisa , Gilsenan Conor , Egelman Serge
Published: August 2024

Internet users often neglect important security actions (e.g., installing security updates or changing passwords) because they interrupt users’ main task at inopportune times. Commitment devices, such as reminders and promises, have been found to be effective at reducing procrastination in other domains. In a series of online experiments (

\(n{\gt}3{,}000\)

), we explored the effects of reminders and promises on users’ willingness to change a compromised password. We find that adding an option to delay the task increases the share of people willing to eventually change their password considerably. Critically, the option to delay yields this overall increase without reducing the share of people choosing to change their password immediately. Additionally, most participants who promised to change their password later, or asked to be reminded to do so, indeed followed through on their commitment, leading to a net positive effect. Reminding participants of their previous commitment further increased this effect.
Triumphs and Challenges of Natural Product Discovery in the Postgenomic Era
Authors: Cano-Prieto Carolina , Undabarrena Agustina , de Carvalho Ana Calheiros , Keasling Jay D. , Cruz-Morales Pablo
Published: August 2024

Natural products have played significant roles as medicine and food throughout human history. Here, we first provide a brief historical overview of natural products, their classification and biosynthetic origins, and the microbiological and genetic methods used for their discovery. We also describe and discuss the technologies that revolutionized the field, which transitioned from classic genetics to genome-centric discovery approximately two decades ago. We then highlight the most recent advancements and approaches in the current postgenomic era, in which genome mining is a standard operation and high-throughput analytical methods allow parallel discovery of genes and molecules at an unprecedented pace. Finally, we discuss the new challenges faced by the field of natural products and the future of systematic heterologous expression and strain-independent discovery, which promises to deliver more molecules in vials than ever before.
Reactive Condensation of Cr Vapor on Aluminosilicates Containing Alkaline Oxides
Authors: van Leeuwen T. K. , Guerrero A. , Dowdy R. , Satritama B. , Rhamdhani M. A. , Will G. , Gannon P.
Published: August 2024

This study is part of a series with the objective of improving fundamental understanding of reactive condensation of Chromium (Cr) vapors, which are generated from Cr containing alloys used in many high-temperature (>500 °C) process environments and can form potentially problematic condensed hexavalent (Cr(VI)) species downstream. This study specifically focuses on the effects of alkaline oxide additives in aluminosilicate fibers on Cr condensation and speciation. Cr vapors were generated by flowing high-temperature (800 °C) air containing 3% water vapor over chromia (Cr2O3) powder, with aluminosilicate fiber samples positioned downstream where the temperature decreases (<500 °C). Total condensed Cr and ratios of oxidation states were measured using inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectroscopy (ICP-OES) and diphenyl carbazide (DPC) colorimetric/direct UV–vis spectrophotometric analyses. Results indicate presence of hexavalent Cr (Cr(VI)) species condensed on all samples investigated. The ratio of Cr(VI) to total Cr detected was consistently higher on aluminosilicate fiber samples containing alkaline oxide (CaO and MgO) additions. Computational thermodynamic equilibrium modelling corroborated experimental results showing stabilities of Ca and Mg chromate (Cr(VI)) compounds. Comparative results and analyses are presented and discussed to help inform mechanistic understanding and future related research and engineering efforts.
Constipation is associated with an increased risk of major adverse cardiac events in a UK population
Authors: Zheng Tenghao , Camargo Tavares Leticia , D’Amato Mauro , Marques Francine Z.
Published: August 2024

Analyzing 408,354 participants of the UK Biobank, we show that constipation cases exhibited a significantly higher risk of major adverse cardiac events (MACEs) than those with regular bowel habits. In comparison with patients with constipation-free hypertension, patients with hypertension with constipation showed significantly higher odds of MACE and a 34% increased risk of subsequent MACE occurrence. Finally, we detected positive genetic correlations between constipation and MACE. This association holds potential for therapeutic exploitation and prevention based on individuals’ risk assessment.
Effect of Rotor Faults on Wind Turbine Shutdown or Continued Operation
Authors: Biazar Dariush , Khaloozadeh Hamid , Siahi Mehdi
Published: August 2024

The dynamics of wind turbine (WT) behavior and the identification of factors influencing its performance are both highly complex and challenging. Additionally, component damage, along with sensor and actuator failures, can lead to system faults that significantly reduce performance. Understanding these impacts provides control system designers with valuable insights to develop strategies for mitigating faults and enhancing WT performance. This study presents a novel evaluation of rotor fault effects on output power and measured variables in WTs using Monte Carlo simulation and sensitivity analysis. Through comprehensive simulation and numerical analysis, the faults with the greatest impact on WT performance are identified. The results of this research not only provide a better understanding of the WT performance during faults but also identify the significant effects of these faults on the performance of wind turbines and specifically identify and prioritize the main faults. These results are instrumental in improving control strategies, developing preventive maintenance programs, and offering practical solutions to reduce operational costs and extend the equipment’s useful life.
Economic and Environmental Comparison of the Monosodium Glutamate (MSG) Production Processes from A‐Molasses in an Integrated Sugarcane Biorefinery
Authors: Petersen Abdul M. , Louw Jeanne , Görgens Johann F.
Published: August 2024

Due to unfavourable market conditions, the sugar industry is looking to diversify its product portfolio by producing economically feasible and environmentally sustainable products in addition to crystalline sugar. The production of monosodium glutamate (MSG) from sugar is a well‐established commercial process, and a new local production facility could be a potential low‐risk diversification option for the South African sugar industry. While the consumption of MSG has been a controversial topic due to possible negative health effects, the global market, especially in developing and sugar‐producing countries such as China, Indonesia, and Vietnam is growing at a cumulative annual growth rate (CAGR) of 6.2%. In this study, the economic feasibility and environmental sustainability performance of the production of monosodium glutamate (MSG) from A‐molasses in a biorefinery annexed to a typical sugar mill are assessed. Five different process scenarios were investigated, including three indirect (two‐pot) processing routes through glutamic acid fermentation and two one‐pot conversion scenarios. The indirect scenarios include the conventional route with fertiliser as a byproduct; second, the conventional route with fertiliser and animal feed as byproducts; and third, a state‐of‐the‐art membrane‐assisted nanofiltration method with animal feed and fertiliser as byproducts. The one‐pot scenarios include syrup being sold as a byproduct or syrup being recycled back to the fermenter. The three indirect process scenarios resulted in the highest minimum selling price (MSP) of approximately 1.8 US$/kg and the highest greenhouse gas (GHG) emission potential of around 0.64 kgCO2/kgMSG. Development of a more direct (one‐pot) conversion process can reduce the MSP to 1.6 US$/kg, which is close to the current market price and reduce the GHG emissions to 0.55 kgCO2/kgMSG, if the fermentation microbe can convert sugars to glutamate efficiently in the presence of high sodium ion concentrations.
A De Novo Missense MYLK Variant Leading to Nonsyndromic Thoracic Aortic Aneurysm and Dissection Identified by Segregation Analysis
Authors: Nishijo Daigo , Yagi Hiroki , Akiyama Nana , Takeda Norifumi , Ando Masahiko , Yamauchi Haruo , Takeda Norihiko , Komuro Issei
Published: August 2024

Nonsyndromic hereditary thoracic aortic aneurysm and dissection (TAAD) is an autosomal dominant disease; however, it is frequently difficult to identify the causative genes. We report in this study a 33‐year‐old Japanese male with TAAD (Stanford type A) that is complicated with severe aortic regurgitation. There was no family history of aortic diseases in the patient nor any specific clinical features suggestive of connective tissue diseases, such as Marfan syndrome. Genetic testing identified candidate causative variants in two different genes: MYLK (c.4819G > A, p.[Gly1607Ser]) and FBN1 (c.365G > A, p.[Arg122His]). Familial cosegregation analysis revealed that the novel de novo MYLK variant was present only in the proband, and the FBN1 variant was also found in his nonaffected mother, and thus the MYLK variant was classified as likely pathogenic. MYLK is a causative gene for nonsyndromic TAAD that requires careful management; however, the number of reports is limited. Accumulating data on the pathogenicity of rare variants by performing a comprehensive pedigree analysis would help establish better treatment strategies for life‐threatening hereditary TAAD cases.
Examining Work Engagement in Integrated Nursing‐Care Service Wards: Insights from Structural Equation Modeling
Authors: Cho Ok Yeon , Lee Seon-Heui , Yu Soyoung
Published: August 2024

Background. In 2016, the South Korean Integrated Nursing‐Care Service, covered by national insurance, was initiated, with a particular focus on cancer‐oriented units. Integrated Nursing‐Care Service Wards denote facilities wherein nursing professionals deliver holistic care, in the absence of paid informal caregivers (hereafter will be called caregiver). Aim. This study, framed within Demerouti’s Job Demands‐Job Resources Model, aimed to analyze variables influencing nurses’ work engagement in Integrated Nursing‐Care Service wards. Methods. From April to June 2022, 375 participants working at three certified tertiary hospitals operating Integrated Nursing‐Care Service wards completed the survey. Of the 400 distributed questionnaires, 375 were used for analysis, resulting in a response rate of 93.75%. The remaining 25 questionnaires were excluded due to insufficient responses. Job demands, job resources, and personal resources were assigned as exogenous variables that predicted burnout and work engagement of nurses, while burnout and work engagement were assigned as endogenous variables. In this model, 32 hypotheses were established, and to verify the hypotheses, the direct effect of each exogenous variable on work engagement and the indirect effect through burnout as a medium were analyzed. Results. Burnout partially mediated the impact of exogenous variables on work engagement. The subfactors revealed partial mediation between emotional labor and work engagement, full mediation for satisfaction with the recognition from patients and caregivers, and partial mediation for resilience. Conclusion. Emotional labor had the highest impact on nurses’ burnout in Integrated Nursing‐Care Service wards, followed by resilience and satisfaction with the recognition from patients and caregivers. Nurses’ burnout, work environment, emotional labor, work overload, and resilience significantly influenced their work engagement. Implications for Nursing Management. The results of this study are useful as basic data for research on intervention programs that reduce burnout and increase nurses’ work engagement in Integrated Nursing‐Care Service wards.
Existence of Weak Solutions for a Sturm–Liouville Type System Using Critical Points Theorems
Authors: Shokooh Saeid , Shamlou Amir Ali
Published: August 2024

In this paper, we will study a system of Sturm–Liouville differential equations under the Dirichlet boundary condition. First, by using a three‐critical‐point theorem, we check the existence of at least three weak solutions for the problem, and then, by utilizing a local minimum theorem, we present sufficient conditions so that the existence of at least one nontrivial weak solution for the problem is guaranteed. As an example, it will be mentioned that for λ ∈ (0, 2√e/(e + 1)), the following problem has a weak nontrivial solution.
A Novel BCR::ABL1 Variant Detected with Multiple Testing Modalities
Authors: Jean J. , Sukhanova M. , Dittmann D. , Gao J. , Jennings L. J.
Published: August 2024

Chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) is associated with several breakpoint regions that result in different BCR::ABL1 fusion transcripts. These include the major breakpoint region (M‐BCR), minor breakpoint region (m‐BCR), and mu breakpoint region (u‐BCR) corresponding to p210, p190, and p230 fusion transcripts, respectively. This patient is a 38‐year‐old female with a new diagnosis of CML in chronic phase. A novel p210 fusion transcript splice variant was detected with qualitative reverse transcription PCR and capillary electrophoresis. Subsequent FISH study was performed, which revealed 86.5% positive for the BCR::ABL1 fusion. Quantitative real‐time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) showed a negative result for the p210 fusion transcript. The variant was further characterized by Sanger sequencing. This variant is in‐frame and predicted to be functional. This case illustrates the need for a combination of different testing techniques to fully characterize the rare BCR::ABL1 fusion transcripts.
Artificial Intelligence-Powered Spatial Analysis of Tumor-Infiltrating Lymphocytes as a Potential Biomarker for Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors in Patients with Biliary Tract Cancer
Authors: Bang Yeong Hak , Lee Choong-kun , Bang Kyunghye , Kim Hyung-Don , Kim Kyu-pyo , Jeong Jae Ho , Park Inkeun , Ryoo Baek-Yeol , Lee Dong Ki , Choi Hye Jin , Chung Taek , Jeon Seung Hyuck , Shin Eui-Cheol , Oum Chiyoon , Kim Seulki , Lim Yoojoo , Park Gahee , Ahn Chang Ho , Lee Taebum , Finn Richard S. , Ock Chan-Young , Shin Jinho , Yoo Changhoon
Published: August 2024

Purpose:

Recently, anti-programmed cell death-1/anti-programmed cell death ligand-1 (anti-PD1/L1) immunotherapy has been demonstrated for its efficacy when combined with cytotoxic chemotherapy in randomized phase 3 trials for advanced biliary tract cancer (BTC). However, no biomarker predictive of benefit has been established for anti-PD1/L1 in BTC. Here, we evaluated tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TIL) using artificial intelligence-powered immune phenotype (AI-IP) analysis in advanced BTC treated with anti-PD1.

Experimental Design:

Pretreatment hematoxylin and eosin (H&E)–stained whole-slide images from 339 patients with advanced BTC who received anti-PD1 as second-line treatment or beyond, were employed for AI-IP analysis and correlative analysis between AI-IP and efficacy outcomes with anti-PD1. Next, data and images of the BTC cohort from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) were additionally analyzed to evaluate the transcriptomic and mutational characteristics of various AI-IP in BTC.

Results:

Overall, AI-IP were classified as inflamed [high intratumoral TIL (iTIL)] in 40 patients (11.8%), immune-excluded (low iTIL and high stromal TIL) in 167 patients (49.3%), and immune-desert (low TIL overall) in 132 patients (38.9%). The inflamed IP group showed a substantially higher overall response rate compared with the noninflamed IP groups (27.5% vs. 7.7%, P < 0.001). Median overall survival and progression-free survival were significantly longer in the inflamed IP group than in the noninflamed IP group (OS, 12.6 vs. 5.1 months; P = 0.002; PFS, 4.5 vs. 1.9 months; P < 0.001). In the TCGA cohort analysis, the inflamed IP showed increased cytolytic activity scores and IFNγ signature compared with the noninflamed IP.

Conclusions:

AI-IP based on spatial TIL analysis was effective in predicting the efficacy outcomes in patients with BTC treated with anti-PD1 therapy. Further validation is necessary in the context of anti-PD1/L1 plus gemcitabine–cisplatin.
Table 2 from Development and Application of Genetic Ancestry Reconstruction Methods to Study Diversity of Patient-Derived Models in the NCI PDXNet Consortium
Authors: Lott Paul C. , Chiu Katherine , Quino Juanita Elizabeth , Vang April Pangia , Lloyd Michael W. , Srivastava Anuj , Chuang Jeffrey H. , Carvajal-Carmona Luis G.
Published: August 2024

Top 10 male age-adjusted mortality rates (per 100,000) and 5-year number of deaths (count) in NLWs, AAs, and Latinos. Priority cancer health disparity malignancies have disparity ratio, DR, >1). Incidence-based mortality data from SEER (18 Registries, November 2019 Sub, 2000–2017)
Table 1 from Development and Application of Genetic Ancestry Reconstruction Methods to Study Diversity of Patient-Derived Models in the NCI PDXNet Consortium
Authors: Lott Paul C. , Chiu Katherine , Quino Juanita Elizabeth , Vang April Pangia , Lloyd Michael W. , Srivastava Anuj , Chuang Jeffrey H. , Carvajal-Carmona Luis G.
Published: August 2024

Top 10 female age-adjusted mortality (per 100,000) and 5-year number of deaths (count) in NLW, AAs, and Latinos. Priority cancer health disparity malignancies have disparity ratio, DR, >1). Incidence-based mortality data from SEER (18 Registries, November 2019 Sub, 2000–2017)
Characterization of Digestive Manifestations in Patients with Impaired PTH/PTHrP Signaling Disorder/Pseudohypoparathyroidism
Authors: Goy Bérénice , Berkenou Jugurtha , Rothenbuhler Anya , Audrain Christelle , Linglart Agnès , Dubern Béatrice
Published: August 2024

Introduction: Pseudohypoparathyroidism, newly classified as inactivating PTH/PTHrP signaling disorder (iPPSD) type 2 or type 3, is a rare disease caused by defects in the GNAS imprinted gene that encodes Gsα. The most common phenotype comprises resistance to hormones binding to G protein-coupled receptors such as PTH, PTHrP, or TSH, subcutaneous ossifications, short stature, brachydactyly, and early onset obesity. Uncommon features have been described including sleep apnea, asthma, and resistance to calcitonin. At the national French reference center for rare calcium and phosphate metabolism diseases, a large cohort of patients with iPPSD type 2 and type 3 is followed. Interestingly, digestive manifestations and in particular intractable constipation were regularly reported by families of children with iPPSD type 2 or type 3. Objective: The aim of our study was therefore to specify the frequency and characteristics of digestive manifestations in children followed up for iPPSD2 or iPPSD3 in our reference center. Material and Methods: Thirty-six patients aged between 2 and 18 years (32 followed up for iPPSD2 and 4 for iPPSD3) were included. Parents completed a specific questionnaire to assess any digestive disorders in their child. The diagnosis of constipation was established using the Bristol visual scale in the event of a score of less than 2 according to stool appearance. Results: Parents reported constipation through the questionnaires in 22/36 (over 60%) of the children. It was the most frequently reported digestive disorder. Among these 22 children, 19 (87%) had a Bristol score for stool shape and texture between 1 and 2 on a scale of 7, confirming constipation. Dedicated treatment had been initiated for 10 (55%) of them, yet only 3 families (16%) considered this treatment effective. Neonatal vomiting and eating disorders, such as lack of satiety or food selectivity, were also noted in 18 (50%) of patients, as was gastroesophageal reflux present in the neonatal period in 14 (40%) of children. There were no significant differences according to the type of iPPSD or patient age. Conclusion: Our work shows for the first time that digestive manifestations, including constipation, occur frequently in children followed for iPPSD, suggesting a potential role of Gsα and G protein receptors in the digestive tract. It is well known that constipation and digestive symptoms alter quality of life. Early management is therefore essential to improve the quality of life of children followed for iPPSD. Our data need to be confirmed on a larger cohort.
Control of Asthma and Allergy by Regulatory T Cells
Authors: Jheng Min-Jhen , Kita Hirohito
Published: August 2024

Background: Epithelial barriers, such as the lungs and skin, face the challenge of providing the tissues’ physiological function and maintaining tolerance to the commensal microbiome and innocuous environmental factors while defending the host against infectious microbes. Asthma and allergic diseases can result from maladaptive immune responses, resulting in exaggerated and persistent type 2 immunity and tissue inflammation. Summary: Among the diverse populations of tissue immune cells, CD4+ regulatory T cells (Treg cells) are central to controlling immune responses and inflammation and restoring tissue homeostasis. Humans and mice that are deficient in Treg cells experience extensive inflammation in their mucosal organs and skin. During past decades, major progress has been made toward understanding the immunobiology of Treg cells and the molecular and cellular mechanisms that control their differentiation and function. It is now clear that Treg cells are not a single cell type and that they demonstrate diversity and plasticity depending on their differentiation stages and tissue environment. They could also take on a proinflammatory phenotype in certain conditions. Key Messages: Treg cells perform distinct functions, including the induction of immune tolerance, suppression of inflammation, and promotion of tissue repair. Subsets of Treg cells in mucosal tissues are regulated by their differentiation stage and tissue inflammatory milieu. Treg cell dysfunction likely plays roles in persistent immune responses and tissue inflammation in asthma and allergic diseases.
Central Hemodynamics in African American Women: Examining the Role of Superwoman Schema Endorsement
Authors: Martin Zachary T. , Fields Nicole D. , Erving Christy L. , Udaipuria Shivika , Moore Reneé H. , Blevins Kennedy M. , Murden Raphiel J. , Booker Bianca , Culler LaKeia , Swanson Seegar , Goodson Jaylah , Barinas‐Mitchell Emma , Quyyumi Arshed A. , Vaccarino Viola , Lewis Tené T.
Published: August 2024

Background

African American women bear a disproportionate burden of cardiovascular diseases, potentially due to altered central hemodynamics. Racism and sexism often lead to African American women taking on numerous caretaking roles and overall increases their use of the Strong Black Woman (ie, Superwoman) mindset, which may have negative health consequences. We hypothesized that endorsing the Superwoman role and its Obligation to Help Others dimension would be associated with a deleterious central hemodynamics profile in African American women.

Methods and Results

Using cross‐sectional data, we examined central systolic blood pressure (mm Hg; n=408), augmentation index (percentage, adjusted for height and heart rate; n=408), and pulse wave velocity (m/s; n=368) in African American women aged 30 to 46 years. The Giscombe Superwoman Schema (SWS) questionnaire assessed endorsement of Overall SWS (range, 0–105) and SWS–Obligation to Help Others (range, 0–3). Multiple linear regression modeled associations between Overall SWS (10‐unit increments) and SWS–Obligation to Help Others (1‐unit increments) and central hemodynamics while adjusting for pertinent sociodemographic, clinical, and psychosocial factors. In fully adjusted models, central systolic blood pressure was significantly associated with Overall SWS (β=0.83 [95% CI, 0.19–1.47]) and SWS–Obligation to Help Others (β=2.03 [95% CI, 0.39–3.67]). Augmentation index was associated with Overall SWS (β=0.66 [95% CI, 0.02–1.30]) and SWS–Obligation to Help Others (β=2.21 [95% CI, 0.58–3.84]). Significant associations were not observed between pulse wave velocity and SWS.

Conclusions

Greater endorsement of the Superwoman role and prioritizing caregiving over self‐care were associated with higher central systolic blood pressure and augmentation index, which may contribute to adverse cardiovascular health among African American women.
Reproductive traits of Gnathophylloides mineri Schmitt, 1933, a minute ectosymbiotic shrimp associated with the sea urchin Tripneustes ventricosus
Authors: Wehrtmann Ingo S. , Vásquez-Fallas Fiorella
Published: August 2024

Numerous studies on the reproduction of decapods have revealed that the female energy investment in embryo production is generally around 10% of the female weight. In decapods living together with other organisms, however, the reproductive output (RO) may be substantially higher. Here we tested the hypothesis that decapods living in association with other organisms allocate more energy in embryo production than free-living ones. We studied the shrimp Gnathophylloides mineri, which lives among the spines of the sea urchin Tripneustes ventricosus. Shrimps were collected between October 2011 and April 2013 along the southern Caribbean coast of Costa Rica. A total of 45 ovigerous females were analyzed; female size ranged from 1.44 to 2.14 mm carapace length. Females carried on average 37 ± 16 SD embryos. The embryo volume increased during the incubation period by 200% (from 0.04 ± 0.01 to 0.08 ± 0.01 mm3, mean ± SD). The RO was not related to female size, and comprised on average 27.5 ± 16.0 SD % of the dry weight of the females. In summary, G. mineri produces few and small embryos, but these embryos are relatively large when compared to similar-sized caridean species. Moreover, RO of this ectosymbiotic species was higher than in free-living species, but lower than in endosymbiotic decapods. These results support the hypothesis that energy investment in embryo production of decapods increases with the level of protection associated with the symbiosis.
The genus Geosesarma De Man, 1892 (Decapoda, Brachyura, Sesarmidae) from Sulawesi, Indonesia
Authors: Shahdadi Adnan , Ng Peter K. L.
Published: August 2024

Three species of Geosesarma: G. celebense, G. leprosum and G. clavicrure have been previously described from the Indonesian island of Sulawesi. To evaluate their identities, we examined type material of the three species, and they are re-described and illustrated. A short segment of 229 bp of COX1 gene from the Sulawesian Geosesarma was obtained (when available) and used for genetic comparisons. Our record of G. celebense from Selatan, South Sulawesi, and the genetic affinity between the type from North Sulawesi and the southern material indicates that G. celebense is well distributed throughout Sulawesi. The present study also describes a new species of Geosesarma from central Sulawesi. Geosesarma schubarti new species differs significantly from other Sulawesian Geosesarma in the morphology of the carapace, which is distinctly squarish in shape with a clear second anterolateral tooth. Genetic distances, using the segment of COX1 marker, showed all Sulawesian Geosesarma species, including the new one, are distant from each other. Our morphological comparisons also show that G. clavicrure is actually a junior subjective synonym of Bresedium brevipes; and the sequences of G. clavicrure grouped stably with B. brevipes in the 16S phylogenetic tree, and G. clavicrure therefore needs to be removed from the genus Geosesarma. As a consequence, with the new species, there remain three known species for Sulawesi (G. celebense, G. leprosum, G. schubarti), but based on currently available evidence it is considered likely that there exist additional species from this genus on the island.
New records of two deep-sea Periclimenes species (Decapoda, Caridea, Palaemonidae) from the North-East Atlantic
Authors: Fransen Charles H. J. M.
Published: August 2024

During the “Tydeman” CANCAP VII expedition to the Cape Verde Islands in 1986 and the “Tyro” MAURITANIA II Expedition to the Banque d’Arguin off the coast of Mauritania in 1988, several specimens belonging to two species within the genus Periclimenes were trawled from deep water constituting range extensions for both species. The specimens are here compared with previous descriptions, illustrated, and their distribution is discussed.
Reproductive biology of two species of semiterrestrial crabs of the genus Armases (Brachyura, Sesarmidae) living in sympatry in a southern Caribbean coastal stream
Authors: Moreno María T. , Montoya José V. , Quintero-Torres Enrique , Carmona-Suárez Carlos , López-Sánchez Beatriz
Published: August 2024

The reproductive biology of two sesarmid species, Armases americanum and A. roberti, was investigated for 12 months between 2012-2013 in the San Miguel stream, a coastal stream in the southern Caribbean. Sampling encompassed wet and dry season months. The two species are in general allopatrically distributed on islands and the mainland in the Caribbean Sea but were found living in sympatry in the sampled locality. For these two species living in sympatry, here we addressed the question whether there will be differences in their reproductive traits that would allow us to understand their coexistence. Reproductive parameters included sex ratio, maturity size, frequency of mature individuals, fecundity, embryo size, and reproductive output. We collected 1417 individuals (1188 A. americanum, 229 A. roberti). Populations were male-biased, but ratios were only significantly different from parity for A. americanum. Both species reached sexual maturity at similar sizes, but A. americanum females matured at smaller sizes than males (♀ 12.68 ± 0.50 mm, ♂ 13.26 ± 0.90 mm), producing numerous small embryos (23 003 ± 13 451 embryos; 0.0208 ± 0.0048 mm3), while A. roberti females matured at larger sizes than males (♀ 14.38 ± 1.74 mm, ♂ 13.19 ± 0.73 mm), and producing fewer and larger embryos (17 948 ± 11 738 embryos; 0.0363 ± 0.0104 mm3). Fecundity did not correlate with female size. Reproductive output was slightly higher for A. roberti when compared to A. americanum (9.1 vs. 7.5%). Fecundity, embryo size, and reproductive output ranged within reported values for other American sesarmids. Our results revealed that both species presented distinct reproductive strategies, underscoring the significance of species-specific differences in comprehending their coexistence. Future studies involving allopatric populations of both species will help to determine whether differences in their reproductive strategies are less pronounced when compared to the sympatric populations examined here.
Liomera schubarti, a new species of xanthid crab (Brachyura, Xanthidae) from the Persian Gulf, northwestern Indian Ocean
Authors: Fahimi Neda , Naderloo Reza
Published: August 2024

This taxonomic study describes Liomera schubarti n. sp., a newly discovered xanthid crab inhabiting live coral in the Persian Gulf. The new species shares a general resemblance with four other species of this genus, L. bella, L. margaritata, L. rugata and L. yaldwyni, particularly in carapace morphology, but it can be distinguished by the fusion of carapace areolets, specific pattern of granules on the outer surface of the chela and the unique structure of the male first gonopod. This contribution enriches our understanding of the xanthid crab diversity in the Persian Gulf.
Publications by, taxa named by, and taxa named in honour of Christoph D. Schubart
Authors: Cuesta Jose A. , Wehrtmann Ingo S. , Thiel Martin
Published: August 2024

In this contribution we have compiled the papers published by Christoph D. Schubart, the species named by him and his coauthors, and the species named in his honour. At the date of compiling these lists, Christoph has published 205 papers, many with his students as first authors. More than 50 taxa, all decapod crustaceans, have been named by Christoph, and his colleagues have named more than 15 taxa in his honour. His career has been characterized by collaborations, and we expect these lists to grow during the coming years, when his colleagues continue to conclude the studies Christoph had initiated before his tragic death.
The Crucified People: the Divinized African State and the De-divinized African People
Authors: Olokunboro Fidelis A.
Published: August 2024

How are we to talk about a God who is revealed as love in a situation characterized by poverty and oppression, especially when such poverty is debilitating and vulgarizing? In addressing this question, this article will emphasize the essentiality of economic and anthropological categories in African political theology. It will proceed to explore the reality of the divinization of the African state as the trigger of African poverty. It will discuss the reality of African poverty as the de-subjectivation of African people, and the crucifixion theology of instrumentalized poverty in Africa. Finally, it will propose a theo-anthropological framework as the theo-political public thinking in Africa that will de-divinize the African state, divinize and subjectify the African person.
On Critiquing Christian Nationalism: Two Recent Books on the Perils of Christian Nationalism
Authors: Bird Michael F.
Published: August 2024

This article engages in a concerted review and interaction with two recent books about Christian nationalism by David Gushee and Nilay Saiya. It offers affirmation and critique with respect to their warnings about the dangers of such for Christian political witness. Each book is evaluated pro and con for the validity and accuracy of its critique of Christian nationalism: alternative options are also canvassed. The essay closes with six theses, inspired by Gushee and Saiya, for a Christian political theology today.
Derogations in Exchange of Increased Responsibility: How Can This Fix the Broken Promise for More Solidarity in the EU?
Authors: Apatzidou Vasiliki
Published: August 2024

The 2020 EU Pact on Migration and Asylum introduced a series of legal texts aimed at reforming the existing EU asylum policy. Following years of challenging negotiations, an agreement on the Pact was reached in December 2023 with all the texts published in the Official Journal of the EU in May 2024. This article critically discusses some provisions of three key texts within the Pact: the Asylum Procedures Regulation (APR), the Crisis Regulation, and the Asylum and Migration Management Regulation (AMMR). The aim is to uncover the strategic employment of derogations and exceptions to compensate external border states for their heightened responsibilities, particularly in situations of migratory pressure. The article also explores the impact of newly introduced concepts and measures, such as the ‘non-entry’ fiction and the concept of ‘adequate capacity’ in border procedures, as well as derogatory provisions in ‘crisis’ and ‘instrumentalisation’ situations. It highlights how the agreed instruments, under the guise of presenting derogations as a form of ‘solidarity’, compromise the rights of asylum seekers and fail to effectively address the increased responsibility of states at the external borders. It further argues that these measures deviate from the goal of harmonisation within the Common European Asylum System (CEAS). The paper concludes by emphasising that the promise of achieving a fair and balanced asylum system in the EU remains unfulfilled, with an overreliance on derogations overshadowing genuine progress.
Effects of physical exercise on Akkermansia muciniphila: a systematic review of human and animal studies
Authors: Aguiar S.S. , Ribeiro F.M. , Sousa Neto I.V. , Franco O.L. , Petriz B.
Published: August 2024

This systematic review aimed to compile various research designs, including experimental, longitudinal, cross-sectional, and case studies in humans and experimental studies in rodents, to examine changes in Akkermansia muciniphila abundance in response to exercise. This comprehensive approach can improve our understanding of A. muciniphila response to physical exercise and highlight gaps in the literature, providing valuable insights for future microbiome research. Four databases (Web of Science, PubMed, Scopus, and Sports Discuss) were searched in the literature. Quality assessment was conducted independently and in duplicate using two risk-of-bias tools (Downs and Black for human studies and SYRCLE’s risk of bias for animal studies). 3,901 studies were identified, with thirteen human studies and nine animal studies included after screening. Of the thirteen human studies analysed, five (38.5%) were cross-sectional, seven (53.8%) were longitudinal/experimental, and one (7.7%) was a case study. These studies included 522 participants, among whom 157 were athletes, such as rugby players, marathon runners, triathletes, and skiers. Six studies reported an increase in A. muciniphila, five showed a decrease, and two found no significant differences. Regarding interventions, two studies used a combination of moderate-intensity strength and aerobic training, while seven used low to moderate-intensity aerobic exercises. In the nine rodent studies, eight (88.9%) were conducted on mice and one (11.1%) on rats, with all being experimental. These studies involved 310 animals. Eight studies reported a substantial increase in A. muciniphila, while one found no differences. Among these, eight employed moderate-intensity aerobic exercises as the intervention, and one utilised low-to-moderate-intensity strength training. The studies summarised in this review indicate that the impact of various physical exercise protocols on A. muciniphila abundance in humans remains controversial. However, rodent studies provide strong evidence that aerobic exercise increases A. muciniphila abundance in faecal pellets of both healthy and diseased models.
Restrictive Approach to Data Protection in the gcc: Is the EU gdpr a Potential Inspiration?
Authors: Haidar Sarah
Published: August 2024

The implementation of data protection laws in Gulf Cooperation Countries (gcc) has been a phased and incremental development. Qatar took the lead by enacting such legislation in 2016, paving the way for subsequent adoption in Bahrain in 2018 and Kuwait in 2021. The economic growth and increased use of digital technology in major gcc states like Saudi Arabia and Qatar have played a role in necessitating the development of data protection laws. The awareness of cyberattack risks has further emphasized the importance of having a legal framework to protect data, especially as multinational companies and startups operate in these regions. The fact that the adoption of data protection laws is relatively recent in gcc countries highlights the evolving nature of data privacy regulations in the region. It’s noteworthy that the European Union’s General Data Protection Regulation (gdpr) is seen as a reference point and could potentially influence the development of data protection laws in the gcc. Understanding the gdpr is crucial for gcc countries, not only to align with global data protection standards but also to potentially contribute to the creation of a unified regional data protection framework.
Captivated by the Normate and Summoned by the Holy Many: A Conversion Story
Authors: Spurrier Rebecca F.
Published: August 2024

While many scholars insist that liturgical theology emerges from the vital plurality of a diversity of people who worship God together, much writing about Christian worship is animated by the “normate,” an elusive universal human that does not actually exist but for whom Christian liturgical ideals are conjured. In this article, I describe temptation by this figure that I experience in my own teaching and writing, a seduction that occurs even within a profound conversion to the vital importance of human difference in worship. I then suggest reflexive ethnographic fieldwork as a way of summoning “the holy many,” disclosing and turning from the normate, and practicing anti-ableism in both worship and liturgical writing. I offer ethnographic teaching and writing as a resource for shaping a pluralistic and liberatory imagination in liturgical studies and argue that recursive practices of seeking out the presence of the many in fieldwork, in writing, and in teaching ethnographic methods are necessary for disclosing the normate and for continuous conversion to the many.
Whipping-Tops in Ancient Mesopotamia
Authors: Gilibert Alessandra , Zaccagnini Carlo
Published: August 2024

This contribution discusses the Mesopotamian (ešemen2 =) keppû-game, often connected to the violent behaviour of the goddess Inanna / Ištar, and other (male) characters of Mesopotamian mythology, such as Enmerkar and Gilgamesh. Through a close review of all relevant attestations, we show that the (still) prevailing translation “skipping rope” as well as a recently proposed alternative “toy rope” are untenable and that the only acceptable meaning of the word is “whipping-top”. This equivalence has been tentatively advanced in the past but the lack of a systematic lexical assessment has so far hindered general acceptance.