bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Towards engineering a hybrid carboxysome
Authors: Nguyen Nghiem Dinh , Pulsford Sacha B. , Hee Wei Yi , Rae Benjamin D. , Rourke Loraine M. , Price G. Dean , Long Benedict M.
Published: March 2023

Carboxysomes are bacterial microcompartments, whose structural features enable the encapsulated Rubisco holoenzyme to operate in a high-CO2 environment. Consequently, Rubiscos housed within these compartments possess higher catalytic turnover rates relative to their plant counterparts. This particular enzymatic property has made the carboxysome, along with associated transporters, an attractive prospect to incorporate into plant chloroplasts to increase future crop yields. To date, two carboxysome types have been characterized, the α-type that has fewer shell components and the β-type that houses a faster Rubisco. While research is underway to construct a native carboxysome in planta, work investigating the internal arrangement of carboxysomes has identified conserved Rubisco amino acid residues between the two carboxysome types which could be engineered to produce a new, hybrid carboxysome. In theory, this hybrid carboxysome would benefit from the simpler α-carboxysome shell architecture while simultaneously exploiting the higher Rubisco turnover rates in β-carboxysomes. Here, we demonstrate in an Escherichia coli expression system, that the Thermosynechococcus elongatus Form IB Rubisco can be imperfectly incorporated into simplified Cyanobium α-carboxysome-like structures. While encapsulation of non-native cargo can be achieved, T. elongatus Form IB Rubisco does not interact with the Cyanobium carbonic anhydrase, a core requirement for proper carboxysome functionality. Together, these results suggest a way forward to hybrid carboxysome formation.
Implementation of the Diabetes Prevention Program in Georgia Cooperative Extension According to RE-AIM and the Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research
Authors: Wilson Hannah K. , Wieler Caroline , Bell Darci L. , Bhattarai Ajit P. , Castillo-Hernandez Isaura M. , Williams Ewan R. , Evans Ellen M. , Berg Alison C.
Published: March 2023

Increased dissemination of the CDC’s Diabetes Prevention Program (DPP) is imperative to reduce type 2 diabetes. Due to its nationwide reach and mission to improve health, Cooperative Extension (Extension) is poised to be a sustainable DPP delivery system. However, research evaluating DPP implementation in Extension remains scant. Extension professionals delivered the DPP in a single-arm hybrid type II effectiveness-implementation study. Semi-structured interviews with Extension professionals were conducted at three time points. The Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research (CFIR) guided interview coding and analysis. Constructs were rated for magnitude and valence and evaluated as facilitators or barriers of RE-AIM (Reach, Effectiveness, Adoption, Implementation, Maintenance) outcomes. The program reached 119 participants, was adopted by 92% (n = 12/13) of trained Extension professionals and was implemented according to CDC standards: all programs exceeded the minimum 22-session requirement (26 ± 2 sessions). The program was effective in achieving weight loss (5.0 ± 5.2%) and physical activity (179 ± 122 min/week) goals. At post-intervention, eight professionals (67%) had begun or planned to maintain the intervention within the next 6 months. Several facilitators were identified, including Extension leadership structure, organizational compatibility, and technical assistance calls. Limited time to recruit participants was the primary barrier. Positive RE-AIM outcomes, facilitated by contextual factors, indicate Extension is an effective and sustainable DPP delivery system. Extension and other DPP implementers should plan strategies that promote communication, the program’s evidence-base, recruitment time, and resource access. Researchers should explore DPP implementation in real-world settings to determine overall and setting-specific best practices, promote intervention uptake, and reduce diabetes.
The New HELLRIDE at the Vacuum Tower Telescope
Authors: Pruthvi Hemanth , Roth Markus
Published: March 2023

A better understanding of the processes involved in the energy transport across the solar atmosphere (e.g., jets, waves) demands more effort towards the observations. Hence, existing instruments may need to be upgraded to gain additional capabilities. To this effect, we conceive an upgrade for the HELioseismic Large Regions Interferometric DEvice (HELLRIDE) instrument at Vacuum Tower Telescope (VTT) to enable the recording of the magnetograms. We present the instrumentation aspects of this development consisting of integrating a liquid crystal-based dual-beam polarimeter with the existing instrument, compatible new hardware and software with the improved operating scheme, and the first observations to verify its functionality. The new HELLRIDE now observes a field of view of $90^{\prime \prime } \times 90^{\prime \prime }$

90

″

×

90

″

in four spectral lines, two chromospheric spectral lines in spectroscopy mode and two photospheric spectral lines in spectropolarimetry mode, with a cadence of 40 seconds. The increased complexity of the system, as well as the data, calls for the creation of a rigorous data processing pipeline, which is currently under development.
Plant-based production of an orally active cyclotide for the treatment of multiple sclerosis
Authors: Jackson Mark A. , Xie Jing , Nguyen Linh T. T. , Wang Xiaohan , Yap Kuok , Harvey Peta J. , Gilding Edward K. , Craik David J.
Published: March 2023

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a debilitating disease that requires prolonged treatment with often severe side effects. One experimental MS therapeutic currently under development is a single amino acid mutant of a plant peptide termed kalata B1, of the cyclotide family. Like all cyclotides, the therapeutic candidate [T20K]kB1 is highly stable as it contains a cyclic backbone that is cross-linked by three disulfide bonds in a knot-like structure. This stability is much sought after for peptide drugs, which despite exquisite selectivity for their targets, are prone to rapid degradation in human serum. In preliminary investigations, it was found that [T20K]kB1 retains oral activity in experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis, a model of MS in mice, thus opening up opportunities for oral dosing of the peptide. Although [T20K]kB1 can be synthetically produced, a recombinant production system provides advantages, specifically for reduced scale-up costs and reductions in chemical waste. In this study, we demonstrate the capacity of the Australian native Nicotiana benthamiana plant to produce a structurally identical [T20K]kB1 to that of the synthetic peptide. By optimizing the co-expressed cyclizing enzyme, precursor peptide arrangements, and transgene regulatory regions, we demonstrate a [T20K]kB1 yield in crude peptide extracts of ~ 0.3 mg/g dry mass) in whole plants and close to 1.0 mg/g dry mass in isolated infiltrated leaves. With large-scale plant production facilities coming on-line across the world, the sustainable and cost-effective production of cyclotide-based therapeutics is now within reach.
Solving the plastic dilemma: the fungal and bacterial biodegradability of polyurethanes
Authors: Bhavsar Parth , Bhave Mrinal , Webb Hayden K.
Published: March 2023

Polyurethane (PU) is a plastic polymer which, due to its various desirable characteristics, has been applied extensively in domestic, industrial and medical fields for the past 50 years. Subsequently, an increasing amount of PU waste is generated annually. PU, like many other plastics, is highly resistant to degradation and is a substantial threat to our environment. Currently PU wastes are handled through conventional disposal techniques such as landfill, incineration and recycling. Due to the many drawbacks of these techniques, a ‘greener’ alternative is necessary, and biodegradation appears to be the most promising option. Biodegradation has the potential to completely mineralise plastic waste or recover the input materials and better enable recycling. There are hurdles to overcome however, primarily the efficiency of the process and the presence of waste plastics with inherently different chemical structures. This review will focus on polyurethanes and their biodegradation, outlining the difficulty of degrading different versions of the same material and strategies for achieving more efficient biodegradation.
Female Presence in Maritime Settings–Trade and Warfare
Authors: Streiffert Eikeland Katarina
Published: March 2023

Traditionally, the maritime networks controlling long-distance trade in metals and other commodities during the European Bronze Age have been understood as expressions of male elite power and dominance. This orthodox model forms a biased and excluding stance of social practice, and makes redundant attempts to discuss critically alternative models of gender-based power-relations in long-distance trade and communication. This study intends to revaluate the notion of androcentric, unilateral patriarchal power relations in maritime trade and warfare, ultimately suggesting an alternative heterarchical model, emphasising the co-existence of heterogeneous power-relations that include women as active social agents and movers of change. The geographical area referred to in particular is Scandinavia but the Mediterranean area is also included. The analysis focuses essentially on graves of the so-called ship setting type. Both men and women are represented in their materials, signalling power and control in the maritime sphere. So far, the female presence has not been discussed in terms of power and control, only in terms of representation. Finding burials of women in these monumental graves in the maritime landscape supports the ground-breaking proposal that, during the Bronze Age, women were also participants in maritime activities.
Professionelles Feedback als entscheidender Erfolgsfaktor in New Work
Authors: Rödel Stefanie , Krach Susanne
Published: March 2023

Der Beitrag wirft einen kritischen Blick auf New-Work-Konzepte, die eine Feedback-Kultur als Säule der agilen Zusammenarbeit postulieren. Dies setzt ein hohes Maß an Kommunikations- und Konfliktfähigkeit voraus. Wir beobachten jedoch häufig das Fehlen von elementaren Skills und plädieren daher für eine enge strukturelle und inhaltliche Verzahnung der Organisations- und Personalentwicklung beim Kompetenzaufbau. Wir spannen arbeits- und organisationspsychologische Perspektiven auf den „Dauerbrenner Feedback“ auf, setzen diese mit individuellen (psychologisches Empowerment, psychologische Sicherheit) und organisationalen Anforderungen (strukturelles Empowerment) in Beziehung und leiten praktische Impulse ab.
Promoting students’ argument comprehension and evaluation skills: Implementation of two training interventions in higher education
Authors: Münchow Hannes , Tiffin-Richards Simon P. , Fleischmann Lorena , Pieschl Stephanie , Richter Tobias
Published: March 2023

The ability to comprehend and evaluate informal arguments is important for making sense of scientific texts and scientific reasoning. However, university students often lack the skills necessary to comprehend the functional structure and evaluate the structural plausibility of informal arguments. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of two training interventions to a) improve students’ argument comprehension (identification of argument structure), and to b) improve students’ argument evaluation (distinguishing good vs. bad arguments). The training interventions were implemented as a voluntary online add-on to a regular university course. The study used a crossover-experimental design with a pre-test and two training phases in which participants (N = 29) alternated between the two training interventions. Students generally improved on the measures of scientific literacy that were practiced in each training intervention. The results provide evidence that voluntary online training interventions for components of scientific literacy can be effectively integrated into higher education settings. However, results further showed an interference effect between the training interventions, indicating that students had problems integrating the different aspects of scientific literacy targeted in the two training interventions.
Metapolystoma ohlerianum n. sp. (Monogenea: Polystomatidae) from Aglyptodactylus madagascariensis (Anura: Mantellidae)
Authors: Landman Willem , Verneau Olivier , Vences Miguel , du Preez Louis
Published: March 2023

Purpose

Despite Madagascar’s high amphibian diversity of more than 400 species, only a few polystome species are known from the island. The dissection of frogs from museum collections, together with amphibian and parasite surveys conducted in Madagascar led to the discovery of an undescribed polystome infecting Aglyptodactylus madagascariensis. The purpose of this study is to formally describe this species.

Methods

Polystomes recovered from A. madagascariensis were stained (Acetocarmine) and mounted (Canada balsam) to facilitate morphometrics and taxonomic drawings. Some specimens were fixed in absolute alcohol, a Bayesian tree inferred from the analysis of concatenated 18S, 28S and COI gene sequences was constructed and pairwise distances were calculated. Parasites collected from archived hosts in museums were used for histology and scanning electron microscopy (SEM).

Results

Polystomes recovered from A. madagascariensis display characteristics of the genus Metapolystoma and morphologically differed from all other known metapolystomes. The Bayesian phylogeny shows that Metapolystoma n. sp. ex. A. madagascariensis and M. falcatum are sister species with high Bayesian posterior probability. Histological and SEM investigations contributed to morphological descriptions.

Conclusions

Morphological examination supported by phylogenetic analysis and genetic divergences revealed distinct differences from all known metapolystome species, supporting the description of a new species. Differences between the life cycles of Metapolystoma and Polystoma provided additional evidence for the validity of that genus as taxon. Whereas Polystoma may display ovoviviparity on rare occasions after incomplete egg expulsion towards the end of the breeding season, Metapolystoma displays true ovoviviparity. We emphasize the need for parasite surveys in Madagascar and recommended for museum material to be examined for polystomes to provide supplementary material and localities for further field investigation.

Graphical Abstract
The impact of pandemics on labour organization: insights from an Italian company archive during the Spanish Flu
Authors: Berbenni Enrico , Colombo Stefano
Published: March 2023

In this paper, we discuss the classical modelling approach of pandemics as a negative labour shock. We perform an archival analysis of one of the largest Italian banks (Credito Italiano) during the First World War – Spanish Flu period (1914–1920). In particular, we scrutinise the circulars that the central management of the bank sent out to the local branches, with the aim to assess whether the Spanish Flu has been perceived by contemporaries as an event seriously affecting personnel management. Though restricted to a single case-study, archival evidence does not support the existence of a remarkable negative labour supply shock affecting personnel management because of the Spanish Flu pandemic. Other war-related events probably increased the system’s resilience.
The Representation of Gender Stereotypes in Spanish Mathematics Textbooks for Elementary Education
Authors: Guichot-Reina Virginia , De la Torre-Sierra Ana María
Published: March 2023

The latest report of the Organization of Ibero-American States for Education, Science, and Culture (OEI) points out that only 13% of the Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) students in Spain are women. Numerous studies have claimed that gender stereotypes are the leading cause of women’s underrepresentation in STEM. Textbooks constitute a powerful instrument in the configuration of a socio-occupational culture that could be biased if they contain sexism. This investigation examines, through Critical Discourse Analysis (CDA), the unequal representation of women and men in elementary mathematics textbooks currently used in Spain. The results indicate that even though textbooks present an equal frequency of female and male characters, there is an absence of women as real role models in STEM. Characters also reinforce traditional gender stereotypes in the embodiment of social roles. Problem-solving contexts show women using math in a limited variety of daily-life activities, while overall they are represented as insecure and unable to resolve certain mathematical issues. Our study points out that this gender gap in mathematics textbooks can affect girls’ self-esteem and discourage their interest in pursuing scientific-technological careers. Consequently, our study urges teachers to adopt an egalitarian perspective in selecting and using didactic materials.
Differential Probability in Unmet Healthcare Needs Among Migrants in Four European Countries
Authors: Fares Hani , Domínguez Jaime Pinilla , Puig-Junoy Jaume
Published: March 2023

Migrants and refugees try to reach Europe to seek protection and a better life. The responsiveness and stewardship of the European countries health system have an impact on the ability to access healthcare. This study aims to investigate the differential probability of healthcare unmet needs among migrants living in four European countries. We used a 2019 cross-sectional data from the European Union Income and Living Conditions survey. We performed a two-stage probit model with sample selection, first to identify the respondents with need for care, then those who need it but have not received it. We analysed reasons for unmet needs through accessibility, availability and acceptability. We then performed country studies assessing the national health systems, financing mechanisms and migration policies. Bringing together data on financial hardship and unmet needs reveals that migrants living in Europe have a higher risk of facing unmet healthcare needs compared to native citizens, and affordability of care remains a substantial barrier. Our results showed the country heterogeneity in the differential migrants’ unmet needs according to the place where they live, and this disparity seems attributed to the health system and policies applied. Given the diversity of socioeconomic conditions throughout the European countries, the health of migrants depends to a large degree on the integration and health policies in place. We believe that EU policies should apply further efforts to respect core health and protection ethics and to acknowledge, among others, principles of ‘do-no-harm’, equity and the right to health.
A review of megafauna diversity and abundance in an exploration area for polymetallic nodules in the eastern part of the Clarion Clipperton Fracture Zone (North East Pacific), and implications for potential future deep-sea mining in this area
Authors: Uhlenkott Katja , Meyn Klaas , Vink Annemiek , Martínez Arbizu Pedro
Published: March 2023

The Clarion Clipperton Fracture Zone (CCZ) is an abyssal region in the north-east Pacific that is currently being explored for metal-rich polymetallic nodules, but also harbors a highly diverse megabenthic community. This community is influenced by multiple environmental gradients including bathymetric structures as well as differences in habitat and food availability. This study focuses on the benthic megafauna investigated in an exploration area positioned in the very east of the CCZ, which exhibits the lowest water depths (mean: 4200 m) and the highest flux of particulate organic carbon (POC) of the CCZ. Case studies using seafloor images for the detection of megafauna have revealed differences between seamounts and abyssal hills compared to nodule fields, as well as differences in the community composition between areas with and without nodule coverage and rock outcrop. Extrapolations suggest a richness of more than 300 morphotypes in the study area, including multiple invertebrate groups such as corals, sponges, echinoderms, and crustaceans as well as fish. Focusing on sampled specimens, diversities of Ophiuroidea, Porifera, and Bryozoa are high and more species are likely to be discovered in the study area. This also applies for the taxon Ophiuroidea, which is among the taxa investigated in the greatest detail so far. In the context of deep-sea mining, megafauna has been in the focus of a variety of environmental studies including baseline analyses, disturbance experiments, and/or testing of mining components or systems. These studies identify and address key factors responsible for the observed natural and impacted distribution patterns and thereby help to constrain expected anthropogenic impacts to the deep-sea environment in the context of deep-sea mining. Specifically in the area of focus of this study, 10 years of megafauna analyses have shown that the biodiversity in the selected preservation reference zone (PRZ) is not as similar to that of the impact reference zone (IRZ) as originally hypothesized based mainly on geological parameters. We suggest that recent area-wide habitat classifications and faunal mapping exercises (e.g., Uhlenkott et al. 2020, 2022) are used to designate a new PRZ that is more similar to the IRZ to meet its purpose, but that the current PRZ is maintained for scientific and conservation purposes.
Systematic review of multilevel models involving contextual characteristics in African demographic research
Authors: Odimegwu Clifford , Muchemwa Marifa , Akinyemi Joshua O.
Published: March 2023

Multilevel modelling has become a popular analytical approach for many demographic and health outcomes. The objective of this paper is to systematically review studies which used multilevel modelling in demographic research in Africa in terms of the outcomes analysed, common findings, theoretical rationale, questions addressed, methodological approaches, study design and data sources. The review was conducted by searching electronic databases such as Ebsco hosts, Science Direct, ProQuest, Scopus, PubMed and Google scholar for articles published between 2010 and 2021. Search terms such as neighbourhood, social, ecological and environmental context were used. The systematic review consisted of 35 articles, with 34 being peer-reviewed journal articles and 1 technical report. Based on the systematic review community-level factors are important in explaining various demographic outcomes. The community-level factors such as distance to the health facility, geographical region, place of residence, high illiteracy rates and the availability of maternal antenatal care services influenced several child health outcomes. The interpretation of results in the reviewed studies mainly focused on fixed effects rather than random effects. It is observed that data on cultural practices, values and beliefs, are needed to enrich the robust evidence generated from multilevel models.
Red piranha optimization (RPO): a natural inspired meta-heuristic algorithm for solving complex optimization problems
Authors: Rabie Asmaa H. , Saleh Ahmed I. , Mansour Nehal A.
Published: March 2023

An optimization algorithm is a step-by-step procedure which aims to achieve an optimum value (maximum or minimum) of an objective function. Several natural inspired meta-heuristic algorithms have been inspired to solve complex optimization problems by utilizing the potential advantages of swarm intelligence. In this paper, a new nature-inspired optimization algorithm which mimics the social hunting behavior of Red Piranha is developed, which is called Red Piranha Optimization (RPO). Although the piranha fish is famous for its extreme ferocity and thirst for blood, it sets the best examples of cooperation and organized teamwork, especially in the case of hunting or saving their eggs. The proposed RPO is established through three sequential phases, namely; (i) searching for a prey, (ii) encircling the prey, and (iii) attacking the prey. A mathematical model is provided for each phase of the proposed algorithm. RPO has salient properties such as; (i) it is very simple and easy to implement, (ii) it has a perfect ability to bypass local optima, and (iii) it can be employed for solving complex optimization problems covering different disciplines. To ensure the efficiency of the proposed RPO, it has been applied in feature selection, which is one of the important steps in solving the classification problem. Hence, recent bio-inspired optimization algorithms as well as the proposed RPO have been employed for selecting the most important features for diagnosing Covid-19. Experimental results have proven the effectiveness of the proposed RPO as it outperforms the recent bio-inspired optimization techniques according to accuracy, execution time, micro average precision, micro average recall, macro average precision, macro average recall, and f-measure calculations.
How an Interest in Mindfulness Influences Linguistic Markers in Online Microblogging Discourse
Authors: Rivera Clara Eugenia , Kaunhoven Rebekah Jane , Griffith Gemma Maria
Published: March 2023

Objectives

This study aimed to investigate the linguistic markers of an interest in mindfulness. Specifically, it examined whether individuals who follow mindfulness experts on Twitter use different language in their tweets compared to a random sample of Twitter users. This is a first step which may complement commonly used self-report measures of mindfulness with quantifiable behavioural metrics.

Method

A linguistic analysis examined the association between an interest in mindfulness and linguistic markers in 1.87 million Twitter entries across 19,732 users from two groups, (1) a mindfulness interest group (n = 10,347) comprising followers of five mindfulness experts and (2) a control group (n = 9385) of a random selection of Twitter users. Text analysis software (Linguistic Inquiry and Word Count) was used to analyse linguistic markers associated with the categories and subcategories of mindfulness, affective processes, social orientation, and “being” mode of mind.

Results

Analyses revealed an association between an interest in mindfulness and lexical choice. Specifically, tweets from the mindfulness interest group contained a significantly higher frequency of markers associated with mindfulness, positive emotion, happiness, and social orientation, and a significantly lower frequency of markers associated with negative emotion, past focus, present focus, future focus, family orientation, and friend orientation.

Conclusions

Results from this study suggest that an interest in mindfulness is associated with more frequent use of certain language markers on Twitter. The analysis opens possible pathways towards developing more naturalistic methods of understanding and assessing mindfulness which may complement self-reporting methods.
Subordination and memory dependent kinetics in diffusion and relaxation phenomena
Authors: Górska Katarzyna , Horzela Andrzej
Published: March 2023

The concept of subordination, originally introduced in the probability and stochastic processes theories, has also appeared in analysis of evolution equations. So it is not surprising that we meet it in physics of complex systems, in particular when study equations describing diffusion and dielectric relaxation phenomena. Grace to intuitively understood decomposition of complex processes into their simpler and better known components, called parent and leading processes, subordination formalism enables us to attribute physical interpretation to integral decompositions representing plethora of solutions to anomalous diffusion and relaxation problems. Moreover, it makes investigation of properties obeyed by these solutions far easier and more effective. Using the Laplace-Fourier transform method to solve memory-dependent evolution equations we show that subordination can be naturally implemented in their solutions. The key to achieve this goal is the use of operational calculus merged with the application of the Efros theorem [1]. Adopting exclusively methods of classical mathematical analysis we are able to derive the memory-stemmed origin of subordination and build a bridge connecting functional analysis/operator calculus based methods of solving the evolution equations with well established stochastic and probabilistic approaches. With such a developed general formalism in hands we apply it to several models of anomalous diffusion and relaxation phenomena.
Reduced expression of gangliosides with GM2-determinant in cervical carcinoma-derived cells after subcutaneous transplantation into nude mice
Authors: Tanaka Kyoko , Murakami Isao , Mikami Mikio , Aoki Daisuke , Iwamori Masao
Published: March 2023

Human cervical carcinoma-derived cell lines have been frequently found to contain gangliosides with GM2-determinant, i.e., GM2, GalNAc-GM1b and GalNAc-GD1a, but GM2 was only detected in 5 of 15 tissues, and GalNAc-GM1b and GalNAc-GD1a were not found in any tissues from patients with several histological types of cervical carcinomas. To further characterize the ganglioside expression in cervical carcinomas, cells were grown by subcutaneous transplantation into nude mice, and gangliosides were quantitated by TLC-immunostaining with the anti-GM2 (YHD-06) antibody and a newly developed anti-GM3 (5H6) antibody, which reacts with GM3 and GM1b, but not with GD1a. Gangliosides with GM2-determinant in cells disappeared in transplanted cells, and the amount of GM3, a precursor for GM2, in transplanted cells was greater than in cultured cells. Also, transplanted cells containing GalNAc-GM1b newly expressed GM1b, suggesting that the activity of GalNAc transferase for synthesis of GalNAc-GM1b is retarded on subcutaneous transplantation. The ganglioside composition, with GM3 as the major one, in the transplanted cells was similar to that in cervical carcinoma tissues, and thus, the expression of gangliosides with GM2-determinant seemed to be accelerated under cell-cultivation conditions.
Golovinomyces inulae U. Braun & H.D. Shin is the causative agent of powdery mildew on Telekia speciosa L. in Germany
Authors: Götz M. , Kruse J. , Bradshaw M. , Richter U. , Braun U.
Published: March 2023

In central Europe, including Germany, Telekia speciosa (heart-leaved oxeye) is a synanthropic, non-native plant species commonly grown as an ornamental plant. A powdery mildew has recently been introduced on this host in Germany. This powdery mildew has previously been assigned to Golovinomyces cichoracearum (≡ Erysiphe cichoracearum) sensu lato. Two German specimens of powdery mildew on Telekia have been sequenced and phylogenetically analysed. The analyses revealed that the German sequences obtained from the Telekia powdery mildew are identical with a sequence retrieved from Golovinomyces inulae on Pentanema salicinum (≡ Inula salicina) collected in Switzerland. Furthermore, holotype material of G. inulae, described from Korea, has been sequenced, which confirmed G. inulae as causative agent of the Telekia powdery mildew. The current distribution of G. inulae in Germany is briefly discussed including a first report of this pathogen from Austria.
Design and Analysis of Energy Absorbent Bioinspired Lattice Structures
Authors: Greco Lucrezia , Buccino Federica , Xu Zhuo , Vergani Laura , Berto Filippo , Guagliano Mario , Razavi Nima , Bagherifard Sara
Published: March 2023

The increasing demand for energy absorbent structures, paired with the need for more efficient use of materials in a wide range of engineering fields, has led to an extensive range of designs in the porous forms of sandwiches, honeycomb, and foams. To achieve an even better performance, an ingenious solution is to learn how biological structures adjust their configurations to absorb energy without catastrophic failure. In this study, we have attempted to blend the shape freedom, offered by additive manufacturing techniques, with the biomimetic approach, to propose new lattice structures for energy absorbent applications. To this aim we have combined multiple bio-inspirational sources for the design of optimized configurations under compressive loads. Periodic lattice structures are fabricated based on the designed unit cell geometries and studied using experimental and computational strategies. The individual effect of each bio-inspired feature has been evaluated on the energy absorbance performance of the designed structure. Based on the design parameters of the lattices, a tuning between the strength and energy absorption could be obtained, paving the way for transition within a wide range of real-life applicative scenarios.
On a Choquet Integral DEA Cross-Efficiency Evaluation Method Involving the Satisfaction of Decision-Making Units and Weight Balance of Indicators
Authors: Zhao Yizhao , Gong Zaiwu
Published: March 2023

The secondary goal approach is an effective way to address the problem of the non-uniqueness of the optimal weights The secondary goal approach is an effective way to address the problem of the non-uniqueness of the optimal weights for decision-making units (DMUs) in the cross-efficiency evaluation process of data envelopment analysis (DEA). However, on the one hand, existing secondary-goal models seldom consider the willingness of DMUs to accept and be satisfied with the cross-efficiency evaluation results of DEA. On the other hand, the problem of zero weights and excessive differences of indicators has not been given enough attention. Furthermore, the traditional DEA approach ignores interactions between indicators. To overcome these problems, in the context of considering the interaction of input (or output) indicators, this study introduces the idea of the minimum dissimilarity of weights and constructs an improved method for evaluating the cross-efficiency of the secondary goal based on the DMUs’ satisfaction. In this method, the 2-additive Choquet integral is used as a more feasible attempt to reflect the pairwise interaction between input (or output) indicators to improve the differentiation of DEA evaluation results. Additionally, the satisfaction targets of DMUs are adjusted according to the three ethical principles of fairness (fraternity), utilitarianism and equity in social choice theory to obtain a choice of optimal weights that is consistent with the values of individual DMUs. This paper validates the performance of the improved DEA method through comparative analysis of arithmetic cases. Then the method is applied to the study of the input–output efficiency assessment of the water–energy–food nexus in China.
A stochastic configuration networks-based nonsingular fast terminal sliding mode control approach for indirect matrix converter-driven permanent magnet linear synchronous motors
Authors: Yang Weilin , Fan Yongqiang , Xu Dezhi , Pan Tinglong , Dong Yue
Published: March 2023

To further improve the fast and stability of the control system of an indirect matrix converter (IMC) driven permanent magnet linear synchronous motor (PMLSM), a nonsingular fast terminal sliding mode control (NFTSMC) algorithm based on the disturbance observer of stochastic configuration networks (SCNs) is proposed. The NFTSMC algorithm is used to design the outer loop controller, which can reduce the influence of the IMC by the power supply voltage and high-frequency harmonics generated by switching. To further reduce the disturbance of IMC-PMLSM during operation, in this paper, a nonlinear disturbance observer based on SCNs is constructed, which solves the drawback that the traditional disturbance observer needs to adjust the parameters frequently under different working conditions. Finally, a simulation model is established on the MATLAB/Simulink platform to verify the effectiveness and advantages of the proposed control method.
This Will Not Be Generative
Authors: Ramírez-D'Oleo Dixa
Published: March 2023

This Will Not Be Generative attends to the semiotics of ecological writings via Caribbean literary studies and black critical theory. Closely reading texts by Donna Haraway, Monique Allewaert, and Lisa Wells, it exposes how the language of tentacles and tendrils, an assumptive 'we,' and redemptive sympathy or 'care' disguises extraction from black people and blackness. This often speculative rhetoric, abetted by fantasies of white communion with indigenous groups, contrasts with the horror semiotics of the films Get Out (2017) and Midsommar (2019), which unmask the antagonistic relationship between white survival 'at the end of the world' and blackness as compost.
Reading Goethe
Authors: Swales Martin , Swales Erika
Published: March 2023

At last an engaging and highly readable guide to the works and significance of Goethe.
The Mechanization of the Heart
Authors: Fuchs Thomas
Published: March 2023

In Mechanization of the Heart: Harvey and Descartes Thomas Fuchs discusses the similarities and differences of the views of the two seventeenth-century scholars William Harvey and Rene Descartes on the beat and circulation of the blood; Fuchs traces the reception of the two views in the medical literature of the time and the influence both views had.
Venereal Disease, Hospitals and the Urban Poor
Authors: Siena Kevin P.
Published: March 2023

A re-examination of the role of charity and treating venereal disease in public hospitals in early modern London.
Bach and the Pedal Clavichord
Authors: Speerstra Joel
Published: March 2023

An examination of the role of the pedal clavichord in understanding the work of J. S. Bach, as well as its relevance to contemporary organ performances.
The Polish Singers Alliance of America 1888-1998
Authors: Blejwas Stanislaus A.
Published: March 2023

A history of an American ethnic cultural organization and its close ties to the cause of Polish sovereignty.
Wagner and Wagnerism in Nineteenth-Century Sweden, Finland, and the Baltic Provinces
Authors: Salmi Hannu
Published: March 2023

An exploration of how Wagner's operas were performed and received in the theaters of Stockholm and other cities of the region.
Music's Modern Muse
Authors: Kahan Sylvia
Published: March 2023

A biography of Winnaretta Singer-Polignac, heiress to the Singer Sewing Machine fortune, who befriended and subsidized some of the most important musical and literary artists of the twentieth Century, including Stravinsky, Proust, Ravel, Cocteau, and Colette.
Matter and Spirit
Authors: Lawler James
Published: March 2023

This narrative shows how the contours of moral and political philosophy in the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries were shaped by Kant's two distinct philosophical responses to the results of modern science.
Rain of Years
Authors: Schilling Bernard
Published: March 2023

This work argues that Great Expectations best exemplifies Charles Dickens's worldview, and brings together the various themes he addresses in all his works.
Christ in Celtic Christianity
Authors: Herren Michael W. , Brown Shirley Ann
Published: March 2023

A new interpretation of Celtic Christianity, supported by images of Christ taken from manuscripts, metalwork and sculpture, and showing how it departed from continental practice largely due to a differing perception and application of Pelagianism.
Feminizing Chaucer
Authors: Mann Jill
Published: March 2023

An investigation of Chaucer's thinking about women, assessed in the light of developments in feminist criticism.
Medical Education at St Bartholomew's Hospital, 1123-1995
Authors: Waddington Keir
Published: March 2023

Traces the evolution of medical education at Barts from its foundation in 1123 to the college's merger with The London Hospital and Queen Mary and Westfield College in 1995.
The Amiens Truce
Authors: Grainger John D.
Published: March 2023

A study of the hardening of British public opinion against Bonaparte and an examination of the events that caused it.
Domesday People
Authors: Keats-Rohan K. S. B.
Published: March 2023

A major genealogical advance: the first authoritative and complete biographical register of persons occurring in Domesday Book.
Evolution of Sleep Complaints in Myotonic Dystrophy Type 1: A 9-Year Longitudinal Study
Authors: Laberge Luc , Maltais Alexandre , Auclair Julie , Mathieu Jean , Gagnon Cynthia
Published: March 2023

The objective was to characterize the progression of sleep complaints in 115 dystrophy type 1 (DM1) patients who filled out a sleep questionnaire twice at a 9-year interval. Daytime napping (22.1% vs. 34.5%, p < 0.05), early awakenings (11.4% vs 21.1%, p < 0.05), nonrestorative sleep (39.5% vs 51.8%, p < 0.05), stimulant use (7.0% vs 19.3%, p < 0.01), breathing cessation (10.7% vs 23.2%, p < 0.01), and nighttime urination (42.5% vs 54.9%, p < 0.05) increased between Time 1 and Time 2. Sleep-related complaints are prominent and augment rapidly in DM1 patients. Physicians need to better identify and treat them to help alleviate the burden they impose on patients and their caregivers.
Fighting the Violence Against Women in Morocco
Authors: Ben Sedrine Leila
Published: March 2023

Violence against women in all its forms is the most shameful violation of human rights. It is a violation that continues to increase over the years despite the existence of international and national laws. Morocco is one of the countries in the world that suffers from this discrimination against women. To deal with this phenomenon, national texts intervene to establish a legal framework that respects the principle of equality between women and men such as the Constitution of 2011, The Family Code (“Moudawana”) of 2004, and the adoption in 2016 of Law No. 27-14 on the fight against human trafficking, etc. In 2018, Law No. 103-13 related to the fight against violence towards women was promulgated. It is a law which constitutes a real legislative innovation in Morocco since it will reduce or even stop a certain number of abuses experienced by women. This is what leads us to ask ourselves, is Law No. 103-13 really going to allow us to abolish the segregation between men and women? And would this law allow us to fight against all kinds of violations against women?
Toxin-linked mobile genetic elements in major enteric bacterial pathogens
Authors: Panwar Shruti , Kumari Shashi , Verma Jyoti , Bakshi Susmita , Narendrakumar Lekshmi , Paul Deepjyoti , Das Bhabatosh
Published: March 2023

One of the fascinating outcomes of human microbiome studies adopting multi-omics technology is its ability to decipher millions of microbial encoded functions in the most complex and crowded microbial ecosystem, including the human gastrointestinal (GI) tract without cultivating the microbes. It is well established that several functions that modulate the human metabolism, nutrient assimilation, immunity, infections, disease severity and therapeutic efficacy of drugs are mostly of microbial origins. In addition, these microbial functions are dynamic and can disseminate between microbial taxa residing in the same ecosystem or other microbial ecosystems through horizontal gene transfer. For clinicians and researchers alike, understanding the toxins, virulence factors and drug resistance traits encoded by the microbes associated with the human body is of utmost importance. Nevertheless, when such traits are genetically linked with mobile genetic elements (MGEs) that make them transmissible, it creates an additional burden to public health. This review mainly focuses on the functions of gut commensals and the dynamics and crosstalk between commensal and pathogenic bacteria in the gut. Also, the review summarises the plethora of MGEs linked with virulence genes present in the genomes of various enteric bacterial pathogens, which are transmissible among other pathogens and commensals.
Orange juice intake and lipid profile: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials
Authors: Amini Mohammad Reza , Sheikhhossein Fatemeh , Bazshahi Elham , Rahimi Hamed , Ghalandari Hamid , Ghaedi Ehsan , Askarpour Moein
Published: March 2023

Dyslipidaemia is a metabolic anomaly which has been related to numerous morbidities. Orange juice (OJ) is a popular flavonoid-rich drink consumed worldwide. Due to the existing controversies regarding its impact on blood lipids, we decided to investigate the impact of OJ supplementation on lipid profile parameters. Major scientific databases (Cochrane library, Scopus, PubMed and Embase) were searched. Pooled effects sizes were reported as weighted mean difference (WMD) and 95 % confidence intervals (CIs). Out of 6334 articles retrieved by the initial search, 9 articles met our inclusion criteria. Overall, supplementation with OJ did not exert any significant effects on blood levels of TG (WMD −1·53 mg/dl, 95 % CI −6·39, 3·32, P = 0·536), TC (WMD −5·91 mg/dl, 95 % CI −13·26, 1·43, P = 0·114) or HDL-C (WMD 0·61 mg/ dl, 95 % CI −0·61, 1·82, P = 0·333). OJ consumption did reduce LDL-C levels significantly (WMD −8·35 mg/dl, 95 % CI −15·43, −1·26, P = 0·021). Overall, we showed that the consumption of OJ may not be beneficial in improving serum levels of TG, TC or HDL-C. Contrarily, we showed that daily intake of OJ, especially more than 500 ml/d, might be effective in reducing LDL-C levels. In the light of the existing inconsistencies, we propose that further high-quality interventions be conducted in order to make a solid conclusion.
TORKSEY AFTER THE VIKINGS: URBAN ORIGINS IN ENGLAND
Authors: Hadley Dawn M , Richards Julian D , Craig-Atkins Elizabeth , Perry Gareth
Published: March 2023

In ad 872–3 a large Viking Army overwintered at Torksey, on the River Trent in Lincolnshire. We have previously published the archaeological evidence for its camp, but in this paper we explore what happened after the Army moved on. We integrate the findings of previous excavations with the outcomes of our fieldwork, including magnetometer and metal-detector surveys, fieldwalking and targeted excavation of a kiln and cemetery enclosure ditch. We provide new evidence for the growth of the important Anglo-Saxon town at Torksey and the development of its pottery industry, and report on the discovery of the first glazed Torksey ware, in an area which has a higher density of Late Saxon kilns than anywhere else in England. Our study of the pottery industry indicates its continental antecedents, while stable isotope analysis of human remains from the associated cemetery indicates that it included non-locals, and we demonstrate artefactual links between the nascent town and the Vikings in the winter camp. We conclude that the Viking Great Army was a catalyst for urban and industrial development in Torksey and suggest the need to reconsider our models for Late Saxon urbanism.
LYRIC IN THE SECOND DEGREE: ARCHAIC AND EARLY CLASSICAL POETRY IN HIMERIUS OF ATHENS
Authors: Modini Francesca
Published: March 2023

This article reconsiders the methodological issues posed by the reception of archaic and classical poetry in imperial rhetorical texts. It argues that references to ancient poems and poets in the works of imperial sophists are always already the product of appropriation and rewriting, and that the study of sophists’ engagement with poetry should go beyondQuellenforschungto explore how and why poetic models were transformed in light of their new rhetorical and imperial contexts. To illustrate this approach and its contribution to our understanding of both ancient-reception phenomena and imperial rhetorical culture, the article focusses on Himerius of Athens, a fourth-centuryc.e.sophist and teacher of rhetoric whose fondness for lyric poetry has caused hisOrationsto be used as a quarry for lyric fragments and testimonia. Himerius’ treatment of carefully chosen lyric models is here discussed with attention to his self-presentation and rhetorical agenda to show how the sophist appropriated the voices of diverse lyric icons to promote his school and negotiate his position in relation to the imperial administration. This analysis restores Himerius’ intellectual significance within late imperial culture and society, but it also demonstrates how a more in-depth study of the reception of ancient poetry in imperial sophistic literature has the potential to illuminate the strategies of cultural politics used by imperial authors to (re)construct Greek tradition.