bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Tameness, Strings, and the Distance Conjecture
Authors: Grimm Thomas W. , Lanza Stefano , Li Chongchuo
Published: September 2022

Abstract

The Distance Conjecture states that an infinite tower of modes becomes exponentially light when approaching an infinite distance point in field space. We argue that the inherent path-dependence of this statement can be addressed when combining the Distance Conjecture with the recent Tameness Conjecture. The latter asserts that effective theories are described by tame geometry and implements strong finiteness constraints on coupling functions and field spaces. By exploiting these tameness constraints we argue that the region near the infinite distance point admits a decomposition into finitely many sectors in which path-independent statements for the associated towers of states can be established. We then introduce a more constrained class of tame functions with at most polynomial asymptotic growth and argue that they suffice to describe the known string theory effective actions. Remarkably, the multi-field dependence of such functions can be reconstructed by one-dimensional linear test paths in each sector near the boundary. In four-dimensional effective theories, these test paths are traced out as a discrete set of cosmic string solutions. This indicates that such cosmic string solutions can serve as powerful tool to study the near-boundary field space region of any four-dimensional effective field theory. To illustrate these general observations we discuss the central role of tameness and cosmic string solutions in Calabi-Yau compactifications of Type IIB string theory.
Multi-channel Luttinger Liquids at the Edge of Quantum Hall Systems
Authors: Mastropietro Vieri , Porta Marcello
Published: September 2022

We consider the edge transport properties of a generic class of interacting quantum Hall systems on a cylinder, in the infinite volume and zero temperature limit. We prove that the large-scale behavior of the edge correlation functions is effectively described by the multi-channel Luttinger model. In particular, we prove that the edge conductance is universal, and equal to the sum of the chiralities of the non-interacting edge modes. The proof is based on rigorous renormalization group methods, that allow to fully take into account the effect of backscattering at the edge. Universality arises as a consequence of the integrability of the emergent multi-channel Luttinger liquid combined with lattice Ward identities for the microscopic 2d theory.
What is Known About Critical Congenital Heart Disease Diagnosis and Management Experiences from the Perspectives of Family and Healthcare Providers? A Systematic Integrative Literature Review
Authors: Watkins S. , Isichei O. , Gentles T. L. , Brown R. , Percival T. , Sadler L. , Gorinski R. , Crengle S. , Cloete E. , de Laat M. W. M. , Bloomfield F. H. , Ward K.
Published: September 2022

The experience of diagnosis, decision-making and management in critical congenital heart disease is layered with complexity for both families and clinicians. We synthesise the current evidence regarding the family and healthcare provider experience of critical congenital heart disease diagnosis and management. A systematic integrative literature review was conducted by keyword search of online databases, MEDLINE (Ovid), PsycINFO, Cochrane, cumulative index to nursing and allied health literature (CINAHL Plus) and two journals, the Journal of Indigenous Research and Midwifery Journal from 1990. Inclusion and exclusion criteria were applied to search results with citation mining of final included papers to ensure completeness. Two researchers assessed study quality combining three tools. A third researcher reviewed papers where no consensus was reached. Data was coded and analysed in four phases resulting in final refined themes to summarise the findings. Of 1817 unique papers, 22 met the inclusion criteria. The overall quality of the included studies was generally good, apart from three of fair quality. There is little information on the experience of the healthcare provider. Thematic analysis identified three themes relating to the family experience: (1) The diagnosis and treatment of a critical congenital heart disease child significantly impacts parental health and wellbeing. (2) The way that healthcare and information is provided influences parental response and adaptation, and (3) parental responses and adaptation can be influenced by how and when support occurs. The experience of diagnosis and management of a critical congenital heart disease child is stressful and life-changing for families. Further research is needed into the experience of minority and socially deprived families, and of the healthcare provider, to inform potential interventions at the healthcare provider and institutional levels to improve family experience and support.
Ophidiomyces ophidiicola detection and infection: a global review on a potential threat to the world’s snake populations
Authors: Di Nicola Matteo R. , Coppari Luca , Notomista Tommaso , Marini Daniele
Published: September 2022

Ophidiomyces ophidiicola (Oo) is one of the most relevant fungal pathogens for snakes. It is the etiological agent of ophidiomycosis, an emerging disease causing dysecdysis, skin abnormalities, crusting cutaneous lesions, and ulcerations. Despite this major tegumentary “tropism”, Oo infection can be systemic and it is capable of inducing visceral lesions. Moreover, ophidiomycosis may lead to abnormalities of reproductive physiology, hunting behavior, and thermoregulation, thus increasing the risks of sublethal effects and predation on affected snakes. Oo seems horizontally transmitted and can induce postnatal mortality. This article reviews published data on Oo detection and infection in all snake species in countries around the world and categorizes these data using new classification parameters. The presence of this fungus has been recorded in 11 states (considering the USA as a whole); however, in four states, the mycosis has only been reported in snakes held in captivity. Detection and/or infection of Oo has been ascertained in 62 snake species, divided into nine families. The taxa have been categorized with diagnostic criteria in order to report, for each species, the highest rank of categorization resulting from all cases. Therefore, 20 species have been included within the class “Ophidiomycosis and Oo shedder”, 11 within “Ophidiomycosis”, 16 in “Apparent ophidiomycosis”, and 15 within “Ophidiomyces ophidiicola present”. We also discuss the significance and limits of case classifications and Oo’s impact on wild populations, and we suggest methods for preliminary surveillance. Standardized methods, interdisciplinary studies, and cooperation between various research institutions may facilitate further Oo screening studies, elucidate the unclear aspects of the disease, and protect ophidiofauna from this emerging threat at the global level.
Psychometric Properties of the Sexual Compulsivity Scale in Men Who Have Sex with Men in Spanish Population
Authors: Ibáñez-Tomás Eduardo , Ballester-Arnal Rafael , Elipe-Miravet Marcel , Gasch-Gallén Àngel
Published: September 2022

The Sexual Compulsivity Scale (SCS) has been translated, adapted and validated in general Spanish population, making its application difficult in certain groups, such as men who have sex with men (MSM). This paper evaluates the psychometric properties of the SCS in a sample of MSM in Spain. The SCS was administered to 881 participants. The factorial structure of the SCS was examined with an exploratory factor analysis (EFA) and confirmatory factor analysis (CFA). Both EFA and CFA confirmed a two-factor structure: (1) Interference of sexual behavior, and (2) Failure to control sexual impulses. Internal consistency was really good for the scale and also for both factors. The SCS also presented adequate psychometric properties. Thus, it is an appropriate measure for assessing sexual compulsivity in MSM, and a tool to be taken into account in future researches to reduce sexual risk behaviors in the MSM Spanish population.
The evolution of the code during review: an investigation on review changes
Authors: Fregnan Enrico , Petrulio Fernando , Bacchelli Alberto
Published: September 2022

Code review is a software engineering practice in which reviewers manually inspect the code written by a fellow developer and propose any change that is deemed necessary or useful. The main goal of code review is to improve the quality of the code under review. Despite the widespread use of code review, only a few studies focused on the investigation of its outcomes, for example, investigating the code changes that happen to the code under review. The goal of this paper is to expand our knowledge on the outcome of code review while re-evaluating results from previous work. To this aim, we analyze changes that happened during the review process, which we define as review changes. Considering three popular open-source software projects, we investigate the types of review changes (based on existing taxonomies) and what triggers them; also, we study which code factors in a code review are most related to the number of review changes. Our results show that the majority of changes relate to evolvability concerns, with a strong prevalence of documentation and structure changes at type-level. Furthermore, differently from past work, we found that the majority of review changes are not triggered by reviewers’ comments. Finally, we find that the number of review changes in a code review is related to the size of the initial patch as well as the new lines of code that it adds. However, other factors, such as lines deleted or the author of the review patchset, do not always show an empirically supported relationship with the number of changes.
Test smells 20 years later: detectability, validity, and reliability
Authors: Panichella Annibale , Panichella Sebastiano , Fraser Gordon , Sawant Anand Ashok , Hellendoorn Vincent J.
Published: September 2022

Test smells aim to capture design issues in test code that reduces its maintainability. These have been extensively studied and generally found quite prevalent in both human-written and automatically generated test-cases. However, most evidence of prevalence is based on specific static detection rules. Although those are based on the original, conceptual definitions of the various test smells, recent empirical studies indicate that developers perceive warnings raised by detection tools as overly strict and non-representative of the maintainability and quality of test suites. This leads us to re-assess test smell detection tools’ detection accuracy and investigate the prevalence and detectability of test smells more broadly. Specifically, we construct a hand-annotated dataset spanning hundreds of test suites both written by developers and generated by two test generation tools (EvoSuiteandJTExpert) and performed a multi-stage, cross-validated manual analysis to identify the presence of six types of test smells in these. We then use this manual labeling to benchmark the performance and external validity of two test smell detection tools—one widely used in prior work and one recently introduced with the express goal to match developer perceptions of test smells. Our results primarily show that the current vocabulary of test smells is highly mismatched to real concerns: multiple smells were ubiquitous on developer-written tests but virtually never correlated with semantic or maintainability flaws; machine-generated tests actually often scored better, but in reality, suffered from a host of problems not well-captured by current test smells. Current test smell detection strategies poorly characterized the issues in these automatically generated test suites; in particular, the older tool’s detection strategies misclassified over 70% of test smells, both missing real instances (false negatives) and marking many smell-free tests as smelly (false positives). We identify common patterns in these tests that can be used to improve the tools, refine and update the definition of certain test smells, and highlight as of yet uncharacterized issues. Our findings suggest the need for (i) more appropriate metrics to match development practice, (ii) more accurate detection strategies to be evaluated primarily in industrial contexts.
Sources and trends of trace elements and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in a shallow lake in the Mediterranean area from sediment archives of the Anthropocene
Authors: Gravina Paola , Sebastiani Bartolomeo , Bruschi Federica , Petroselli Chiara , Moroni Beatrice , Selvaggi Roberta , Goretti Enzo , Pallottini Matteo , Ludovisi Alessandro , Cappelletti David
Published: September 2022

In this study, the anthropogenic contamination in Trasimeno lake (Central Italy) was investigated using three sediment cores spanning over the last 150 years (Anthropocene) to identify the primary sources of pollution and quantify the level of contaminant enrichment in the basin. First, based on the relative cumulative frequency and linear regression methods, we obtained a geochemical baseline for the lake using the deeper parts of the sediment cores. The geochemical baseline allowed us to determine the values of trace elements enrichment factors. On this knowledge, as a second result, we were able to reconstruct the natural sources and the anthropogenic impact on the lake with a biennial resolution. This goal has been obtained by combining different inorganic and organic chemical proxies such as trace elements, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, and lead isotope ratios and exploiting both principal component and factor analysis to associate chemical proxies to human-driven contamination processes. Five different groups of elements have been identified, one of which is of natural origin and four of anthropogenic origin. In particular, it was possible to identify the times and impacts of the industrial activities during the Second World War, which dispersed heavy metals in sediments. Moreover, we found evidence of the recent human activities that have characterized the surroundings of the basin, such as Pb inputs related to the use of gasoline and the enrichment of certain elements generally used in agricultural activities (such as P, Cu, and Mn) due to the development of this sector in the last 40 years.
Determinants of livelihood diversification in rural rain-fed region of Pakistan: evidence from fractional multinomial logit (FMLOGIT) estimation
Authors: Habib Nusrat , Rankin Peter , Alauddin Mohammad , Cramb Rob
Published: September 2022

Sustainable livelihoods in less developed countries are threatened by human, natural, physical, social and financial factors. Pakistan is also facing severe negative impacts of these factors in the form of climate shocks, market imperfections and insufficient formal credit availability on rural livelihoods. This study explores rural Pakistani’s adaptation to these threats by diversifying income sources and explores the determining factors for adopting specific livelihood diversification strategies. The study is based on a quantitative survey of 295 households in three districts of rain-fed rural regions of Pakistan’s Punjab with differing annual rainfall. Results showed that households mitigated against threats to their livelihood by having a diversity of income sources (Simpson Diversity Index = 0.61). Moreover, fractional multinomial regression modelling revealed that greater education was associated with a more diversified livelihood strategy, where income was predominantly derived from off-farm and non-farm livelihood activities. On the other hand, households with older members, more livestock and larger farm size focused their livelihoods on their own farms, or primarily diversified into an off-farm strategy by working on other farms. These findings underscore the importance of improved access to education and infrastructure for livelihood diversification. A policy that focuses on reducing low literacy rates in rural Pakistan may also provide new avenues of livelihood diversifications with enhancement of rural literacy rate to mitigate the risks associated with livelihood strategies of smallholders.
Bentonite swelling into a void under suction or water flow
Authors: Villar María Victoria , Gutiérrez-Álvarez Carlos , Campos Gemma
Published: September 2022

In the context of the deep geological disposal of nuclear waste and to improve the understanding of the homogenisation process of bentonite barriers, in particular with regard to the filling of technological voids, tests were performed with compacted FEBEX bentonite samples hydrated under limited axial swelling conditions. The samples were saturated from the top surface using the vapour transfer technique (imposing suctions of 6 and 0.5 MPa), or with deionised water injected at a low flow rate either from the bottom surface or from the gap on top. The final water content of the samples saturated via vapour transfer was related to the suction imposed during the tests according to the water retention curve. Thus, the final water content of the samples tested under suction 6 MPa was lower and not enough to allow sufficient bentonite swelling to close the gap. In contrast, the samples saturated under suction 0.5 MPa reached higher water contents and were able to fill the gap before the equilibrium water content had been reached. In the tests performed with liquid water supplied through the gap, the samples were able to swell easily into the open void and the gap closed earlier than when hydration took place from the opposite end. In all the tests, the final water content of the bentonite was higher and the dry density lower towards the hydration surface. These gradients were more remarkable and persistent as the initial strain was larger. No completely homogeneous density or water content distribution was observed in any of the tests. These changes were also reflected in the pore size distribution. The pores of size larger than the upper limit of mercury intrusion porosimetry (~ 550 µm) were also quantified, which allowed a better representation of the pore size distribution of the more swollen samples. Although the void ratio corresponding to pores smaller than 200 nm (em) was initially higher, over time the volume of macropores (eM) increased more, giving place to an overall decrease in the em/eM ratio, which tended to be constant along the samples in the longest tests. In the first stages of hydration, the macropore void ratio and size considerably increased close to the gap in the tests with saturation from it.
In vitro cytotoxicity against breast cancer using biogenically synthesized gold and iron oxide nanoparticles derived from the hydroethanolic extract of Salvia officinalis L
Authors: El-Rafie Hanaa M. , El-Aziz Salem M. Abd , Zahran Magdy K.
Published: September 2022

Nanotechnology has a real-world impact on every aspect of life. Many researchers have been drawn to the biosynthesis of gold and iron oxide nanoparticles (Au-NPs and SPIONS) because they have a wide range of life applications. In this work, a single-step environmentally friendly biosynthesis of Au-NPs and SPIONS is reported by reducing solutions of gold aureate and ferric chloride is reported for the first time using the hydroethanolic extract (HEE) of Salvia officinalis (S. officinalis), an edible plant found in Egypt. The phytochemicals present in HEE were responsible for the reduction as well as stabilization of these nanoparticles. Before using the HEE, it was phytochemically screened for its constituents. Qualitatively, the HEE was found to have comparable levels of phenolics, flavonoids, tannins, proteins, carbohydrates, terpenoids, steroids, and polysaccharides. Quantitatively, total phenolics (236.91 ± 2.15 mg GAE/g extract), flavonoids (91.38 ± 0.97 mg QE/g extract), tannins (101.60 ± 1.33 mg/g extract), proteins (284.62 ± 2.65 mg/g extract), carbohydrates (127.73 ± 1.68 mg/g extract), soluble sugars (52.3 ± 0.67 mg/g extract), and polysaccharides (75.43 ± 1.01 mg/g extract) were estimated. In addition, HPLC analysis revealed the identification of seven phenolic compounds [ferulic (67.26%), chlorogenic (3.12%), caffeic (3.11%), p-coumaric (1.13%), protocatechuic (0.65%), catechin (0.69%), rosmarinic (0.53%)] and three flavonoids [apigenin (5.29%), quercetin-7-O-glucoside (3.39%), and luteolin-7-O-rutinose (2.01%)]. The characterization of the biosynthesized NPs was confirmed by Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy, UV–Vis absorption spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction (XRD), and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). In vitro cytotoxic studies showed that Au-NPs, SPIONS, and HEE have an inhibitory effect on the growth of human breast cancer (MCF-7) cells at an IC50 of 6.53, 6.97, and 26.12 µg mL−1, respectively, by comparison with the standard drug (Doxorubicin) effect (0.18 µg mL−1).
Cilostazol Alleviates NLRP3 Inflammasome–Induced Allodynia/Hyperalgesia in Murine Cerebral Cortex Following Transient Ischemia: Focus on TRPA1/Glutamate and Akt/Dopamine/BDNF/Nrf2 Trajectories
Authors: Zaki Omnia S. , Nassar Noha N. , Abdallah Dalaal M. , Safar Marwa M. , Mohammed Reham A.
Published: September 2022

Global cerebral ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) provokes inflammation that augments neuropathic pain. Cilostazol (CLZ) has pleiotropic effects including neuroprotection in several ravaging central disorders; nonetheless, its potential role in transient central ischemic-induced allodynia and hyperalgesia has not been asserted before. Rats were allocated into 4 groups; sham, sham + CLZ, and 45 min-bilateral carotid occlusion followed by a 48 h-reperfusion period either with or without CLZ (50 mg/kg; p.o) post-treatment. CLZ prolonged latency of hindlimb withdrawal following von Frey filaments, 4 °C cold, and noxious mechanical stimulations. Histopathological alterations and the immunoexpression of glial fibrillary acidic protein induced by I/R were reduced by CLZ in the anterior cingulate cortex (ACC) area, while, CLZ enhanced intact neuronal count. Meanwhile, CLZ modulated cerebral cortical glutamate, dopamine neurotransmission, and transient receptor potential ankyrin 1 (TRPA1). CLZ anti-inflammatory potential was mediated by the downregulated p65 NF-κB and sirtuin-1 enhancement to reduce nucleotide-binding domain-like receptor protein 3 (NLRP3), apoptosis-associated speck-like protein (ASC), active caspase-1, and interleukin-1β, indicative of inflammasome deactivation. It also revealed an antioxidant capacity via boosting nuclear factor E2-related factor (Nrf2) enhancing glutathione through forkhead box protein O3a (FOXO3a) reduction. Additionally, CLZ triggered neuronal survival by promoting the p-content of Akt, TrkB, and CREB as well as BDNF content. A novel approach of CLZ in hindering global cerebral I/R–mediated neuropathy is firstly documented herein to forward its adjunct action via deactivating the NLRP3 inflammasome, besides enhancing Nrf2 axis, neuronal survival, and dopamine neurotransmission as well as inhibiting TRPA1 and excitotoxicity.

Graphical abstract
Former Training Relieves the Later Development of Behavioral Inflexibility in an Animal Model Overexpressing the Dopamine Transporter
Authors: Edemann-Callesen Henriette , Glienke Maximilian , Akinola Esther Olubukola , Lieser Maike Kristin , Habelt Bettina , Hadar Ravit , Bernhardt Nadine , Winter Christine
Published: September 2022

A range of dopamine-dominating neuropsychiatric disorders present with cognitive deficits. In accordance, the dopamine transporter overexpressing rat model (DAT-tg rat) displays cognitive deficits by means of behavioral inflexibility and learning disabilities. It remains to be investigated when cognitive deficits emerge, due to the inherent DA irregularities, during the life course of the DAT-tg rat and what may relieve symptoms. The Morris water maze (MWM) was used to assess cognitive abilities in three cohorts of DAT-tg rats. In the first cohort, the development of cognitive deficits was assessed by repeatedly testing animals in the MWM at postnatal day (PND) 35, 60, and 90. In the second and third cohort, pharmacological interventions and transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) were tested in adult animals to understand what drives, and thus relieves, the deficits. Minor differences were observed between DAT-tg rats and control rats at PND 35 and 60, whereas cognitive deficits fully emerged at PND 90. A high dosage of methylphenidate diminished both behavioral inflexibility and improved learning abilities in adult rats. Interestingly, rats subjected early in life to the MWM also displayed improved behavioral flexibility as compared to rats naïve to the paradigm. Cognitive deficits gradually develop over time and fully emerge in adulthood. Pharmacological modulation of the ubiquitous DAT overexpression overall improves deficits in adult rats, whereas early training decreases later development of behavioral inflexibility. Thus, former training may constitute a preventive avenue that alters some aspects of cognitive deficits resulting from inherent DA abnormalities.
Incorporating barriers in scenarios for energy efficiency improvement and promoting renewable energy in the Bulgarian residential sector
Authors: Konidari Popi , Nikolaev Angel
Published: September 2022

The progress in achieving targets for energy efficiency (EE) and renewable energy sources (RES) is hindered by a set of barriers linked with the end-users (social, educational, cultural, economic, and institutional), but previously, the effect of these barriers was only rarely quantified and no comprehensive methodology to do so is available. This paper, through a step-by-step methodology, examines the development of scenarios for the Bulgarian residential sector until 2030, focusing on the combination of available – for this sector – EE and RES technologies, after incorporating these barriers with the use of the HERON Decision Support Tool (HERON-DST). Two more research tools are used, LEAP (modeling tool) and AMS (multi-criteria evaluation method). Six different scenarios, three of which address barriers, were developed for LEAP. All scenarios are evaluated with the AMS method against a set of criteria/sub-criteria regarding their overall performance under the particular national framework. This results in the identification of the most appropriate (EE/RES) scenario for the country, i.e., addresses behavioral barriers and performs better (one with the highest AMS score) than the others under the particular national framework. This scenario promotes building shell improvement, efficient heating, and cooling in the Bulgarian residential sector. Its policy mixture mainly through financial incentives and more demanding building codes handles social, institutional, and economic barriers linked with end-users behavior. Conclusions concern the methodology, its outcomes, and future use.
Beating Around the Bush – Swedish Schoolgirls’ Coping Strategies and Impact Processes of Sexual Harassment
Authors: Eek-Karlsson Liselotte , Berggren Jan , Torpsten Ann-Christin
Published: September 2022

The aim of this study is to contribute knowledge about Swedish school girls’ perspectives of sexual harassment and their relations to peers when exposed to violence in terms of sexual harassment, both online and offline. The empirical data was collected through pair interviews where 28 girls participated. The theoretical framework was based on coping strategies that people use when facing stressful situations. The transcribed empirical data was read and interpreted based on what appeared to be important and decisive related to the theoretical framework. The found strategies are divided into three main categories, namely, problem-focused behavioural strategies, emotion-focused cognitive strategies, and emotion-focused behavioural strategies. The results show that the girls use different strategies depending on if the harassment occurs online or offline and if the perpetrator is known or unknown. Problem-focused cognitive strategies are used due to the specific context. Emotion-focused cognitive strategies are foremost used if the perpetrator is a known friend.
Hydrodynamic Variability of an Intermittently Closed Estuary over Interannual, Seasonal, Fortnightly, and Tidal Timescales
Authors: Harvey Madeleine E. , Giddings Sarah N. , Pawlak Geno , Crooks Jeffrey A.
Published: September 2022

Small low-inflow intermittently closed estuaries are common in Mediterranean climates worldwide; however, despite their important contributions to ecosystem services and coastal resilience, their dynamics have been less well studied relative to classical (i.e., deeper, persistent freshwater inflow) estuaries. It is known that infragravity wave propagation into these estuaries can induce strong currents and that closures lead to stagnating flows and declining water quality; however, how the estuarine circulation (tidal and subtidal) dynamically drives and responds to these conditions remains largely unknown. Here we analyze over 4 years of hydrodynamic observations in Los Peñasquitos Lagoon, a low-inflow, intermittently closed estuary in Southern California, to examine wave propagation into the estuary, sill accretion, and the estuarine circulation response over tidal, fortnightly, seasonal, and interannual time scales, providing an unprecedented view as to how these systems respond to changing forcing. Wave observations near the estuary inlet show that wave energy inside the inlet, which contributes to sill accretion, is dependent on water level relative to the sill height and has a tidal variation due to wave-current interactions. Tidal phase averages of conditions during open, pre-closure, spring, neap, and closed conditions highlight the large dynamic range that these estuaries experience. During open, low sill conditions, circulation and stratification are consistent with stratification-induced periodic straining and subtidal exchange varies with the fortnightly cycle as observed in many classical estuaries. However, as the sill grows, tidal circulation weakens and becomes strongly sheared and the subtidal exchange no longer scales with a classical theoretical pressure-friction balance.
The Vestibulocerebellum and the Shattered Self: a Resting-State Functional Connectivity Study in Posttraumatic Stress Disorder and Its Dissociative Subtype
Authors: Rabellino Daniela , Thome Janine , Densmore Maria , Théberge Jean , McKinnon Margaret C. , Lanius Ruth A.
Published: September 2022

The flocculus is a region of the vestibulocerebellum dedicated to the coordination of neck, head, and eye movements for optimal posture, balance, and orienting responses. Despite growing evidence of vestibular and oculomotor impairments in the aftermath of traumatic stress, little is known about the effects of chronic psychological trauma on vestibulocerebellar functioning. Here, we investigated alterations in functional connectivity of the flocculus at rest among individuals with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and its dissociative subtype (PTSD + DS) as compared to healthy controls. Forty-four healthy controls, 57 PTSD, and 32 PTSD + DS underwent 6-min resting-state MRI scans. Seed-based functional connectivity analyses using the right and left flocculi as seeds were performed. These analyses revealed that, as compared to controls, PTSD and PTSD + DS showed decreased resting-state functional connectivity of the left flocculus with cortical regions involved in bodily self-consciousness, including the temporo-parietal junction, the supramarginal and angular gyri, and the superior parietal lobule. Moreover, as compared to controls, the PTSD + DS group showed decreased functional connectivity of the left flocculus with the medial prefrontal cortex, the precuneus, and the mid/posterior cingulum, key regions of the default mode network. Critically, when comparing PTSD + DS to PTSD, we observed increased functional connectivity of the right flocculus with the right anterior hippocampus, a region affected frequently by early life trauma. Taken together, our findings point toward the crucial role of the flocculus in the neurocircuitry underlying a coherent and embodied self, which can be compromised in PTSD and PTSD + DS.
Participatory monitoring in community-based fisheries management through a gender lens
Authors: House Jenny , Kleiber Danika , Steenbergen Dirk J. , Stacey Natasha
Published: September 2022

In small-scale fisheries management, the significance of participation is widely recognised but we are still learning how this can be better operationalised to include different groups, such as women or Indigenous peoples. Participatory monitoring is one tool which has been used to increase participation in fisheries management. The aim of this review is to use critical interpretive synthesis to examine the literature on participatory monitoring within community-based fisheries management from a gender perspective. The synthesis identified and discussed several key areas: reasons presented in the literature for engaging with the themes of gender or participatory monitoring, gendered aspects of participatory monitoring, knowledge valuation and prioritisation in management, replicability and transparency of programme or research methods, and marginalisation narratives. Our findings show the complexities of conducting gender-aware participatory monitoring. Participatory monitoring has the potential to be a transformative and empowering process if the power dynamics involved are considered and addressed.
A unified way to solve IVPs and IBVPs for the time-fractional diffusion-wave equation
Authors: Rodrigo Marianito
Published: September 2022

The time-fractional diffusion-wave equation is revisited, where the time derivative is of order $$2 \nu $$

2
ν

and $$0 < \nu \le 1$$

0
<
ν
≤
1

. The behaviour of the equation is ‘diffusion-like’ (respectively, ‘wave-like’) when $$0 < \nu \le \frac{1}{2}$$

0
<
ν
≤

1
2

(respectively, $$\frac{1}{2} < \nu \le 1$$

1
2

<
ν
≤
1

). Two types of time-fractional derivatives are considered, namely the Caputo and Riemann-Liouville derivatives. Initial value problems and initial-boundary value problems are studied and handled in a unified way using an embedding method. A two-parameter auxiliary function is introduced and its properties are investigated. The time-fractional diffusion equation is used to generate a new family of probability distributions, and that includes the normal distribution as a particular case.
Date Palm as Source of Nutraceuticals for Health Promotion: a Review
Authors: Al-Okbi Sahar Y.
Published: September 2022

Purpose of Review

Chronic diseases are problematic to health professional specially when using drugs throughout the course of life with un-tolerated side effects. Returning to nature through using nutraceuticals might have both protective and therapeutic effects. Date palm was claimed to be a good source of such nutraceuticals or functional food ingredients. The purpose of the present review was to spot light on the different phytochemicals, phytonutrients, and remedial effects of date palm (Phoenix dactyliferaL.) in a goal to be utilized in form of nutraceuticals. The possible mechanisms of action of the remedial effects were among the aim of the study.

Recent Findings

A protein hydrolyzate prepared from date seed could prevent DNA mutation and susceptibility to cancer. In addition to cancer prevention, date palm fruit improved the treatment outcome of cancer pediatric patients and possesses anti-angiogenic activity as one of the important anticancer mechanisms of action. On the other hand, date seed extracts was recently reported to protect from ulcerative colitis. It seems that all the aforementioned remedial effect might be ascribed to immunoregulatory effect of date palm. These findings proposed that date palm is beneficial for health.

Summary

Date palm fruit is a rich source of vitamins, minerals, dietary fibers, energy, and easily digestible and absorbable sugars that instantaneously replenish and revitalize the body specially after fasting condition. Mineral contents in date fruits include potassium, phosphorus, magnesium, and calcium. Diverse health claims were reported to belong to various parts of the tree including the edible part of fruits, the seeds, the leaves, spathe (an envelope-like structure that encloses male and female date palm flowers), and pollen grains due to the presence of different bioactive constituents. The main phytochemicals and phytonutrients reported in date palms are phenolic compounds, carotenoids, sterols, anthocyanins, and others. In folk medicine, date palm fruits are used for enhancing immunity and treating gastrointestinal tract disorders, edema, bronchitis, wound, cancer, as well as infectious diseases.However, the exact health benefits and remedial effects of date palm were not fully and deeply investigated. The present review focused on the bioactive constituents and the reported health benefits of date palm and proposed mechanism of action.
Analysis of Heading Stability due to Interactions between Pectoral and Caudal Fins in Robotic Boxfish Locomotion
Authors: Qiu Hongcheng , Chen Lingkun , Ma Xinshuo , Bi Shusheng , Wang Bo , Li Tiefeng
Published: September 2022

Investigating the interaction between fins can guide the design and enhance the performance of robotic fish. In this paper, we take boxfish as the bionic object and discuss the effect of coupling motion gaits among the two primary propulsors, pectoral and caudal fins, on the heading stability of the body. First, we propose the structure and control system of the bionic boxfish prototype. Second, using a one/two-way fluid–structure interaction numerical method, we analyse the key parameters of the prototype and discuss the influence of pectoral and caudal motion gaits on the hydrodynamic performance. Finally, effect of the pectoral and caudal interactions on heading stability of the prototype is systematically analyzed and verified in experiments. Results show that the course-deviating degree, oscillation amplitudes of yawing, rolling, and pitching exhibited by the prototype are smaller than that caused by single propulsor when the motion gaits of both pectoral and caudal fins are coordinated in a specific range. This paper reveals for the first time the effect of interactions between pectoral and caudal fins, on the stability of body's course by means of Computational Fluid Dynamics and prototype experiments, which provides an essential guidance for the design of robotic fish propelled by multi-fins.
Contexts Rather Than Close Readings of Latin American Literature
Authors: Pollard Scott
Published: September 2022

This essay reviews the following works:

Borges and the Literary Marketplace: How Editorial Practices Shaped Cosmopolitan Readings. By Nora C. Benedict. New Haven, CT: Yale University Press, 2021. Pp. ix+ 365. $35.00 hardcover. ISBN: 9780300251418.

Oriente no es una pieza de museo: Jorge Luis Borges, la clave orientalista y el manuscrito de “Qué es el budismo.” By Sonia Betancort. Salamanca: Ediciones Universidad de Salamanca, 2018. Pp. 316. Paperback. ISBN: 9788490129678.

Artesana de sí misma: Gabriela Mistral, una intelectual en cuerpo y palabra. By Claudia Cabello Hutt. West Lafayette, IN: Purdue University Press, 2018. Pp. vii + 240. $45.00 paperback. ISBN: 9781557538079.

Jorge Luis Borges in Context. Edited by Robin Fiddian. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2020. Pp. viii + 285. $116.00 hardcover. ISBN: 9781108470445.

A History of Chilean Literature. Edited by Ignacio López-Calvo. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2021. Pp. xii + 654. $115.00 hardcover. ISBN: 9781108487375.

Ascent to Glory: How “One Hundred Years of Solitude” Was Written and Became a Global Classic. By Alvaro Santana-Acuña. New York: Columbia University Press, 2020. Pp. 384. $28.00 paperback. ISBN: 9780231184335.
Refinement of AlphaFold2 models against experimental and hybrid cryo-EM density maps
Authors: Alshammari Maytha , Wriggers Willy , Sun Jiangwen , He Jing
Published: September 2022

Recent breakthroughs in deep learning-based protein structure prediction show that it is possible to obtain highly accurate models for a wide range of difficult protein targets for which only the amino acid sequence is known. The availability of accurately predicted models from sequences can potentially revolutionise many modelling approaches in structural biology, including the interpretation of cryo-EM density maps. Although atomic structures can be readily solved from cryo-EM maps of better than 4 Å resolution, it is still challenging to determine accurate models from lower-resolution density maps. Here, we report on the benefits of models predicted by AlphaFold2 (the best-performing structure prediction method at CASP14) on cryo-EM refinement using the Phenix refinement suite for AlphaFold2 models. To study the robustness of model refinement at a lower resolution of interest, we introduced hybrid maps (i.e. experimental cryo-EM maps) filtered to lower resolutions by real-space convolution. The AlphaFold2 models were refined to attain good accuracies above 0.8 TM scores for 9 of the 13 cryo-EM maps. TM scores improved for AlphaFold2 models refined against all 13 cryo-EM maps of better than 4.5 Å resolution, 8 hybrid maps of 6 Å resolution, and 3 hybrid maps of 8 Å resolution. The results show that it is possible (at least with the Phenix protocol) to extend the refinement success below 4.5 Å resolution. We even found isolated cases in which resolution lowering was slightly beneficial for refinement, suggesting that high-resolution cryo-EM maps might sometimes trap AlphaFold2 models in local optima.
Social threat, fronto-cingulate-limbic morphometry, and symptom course in depressed adolescents: a longitudinal investigation
Authors: Ojha Amar , Teresi Giana I. , Slavich George M. , Gotlib Ian H. , Ho Tiffany C.
Published: September 2022

Background

Psychosocial stressors characterized by social threat, such as interpersonal loss and social rejection, are associated with depression in adolescents. Few studies, however, have examined whether social threat affects fronto-cingulate-limbic systems implicated in adolescent depression.

Methods

We assessed lifetime stressor severity across several domains using the Stress and Adversity Inventory (STRAIN) in 57 depressed adolescents (16.15 ± 1.32 years, 34 females), and examined whether the severity of social threat and non-social threat stressors was associated with gray matter volumes (GMVs) in the anterior cingulate cortex (ACC), amygdala, hippocampus, and nucleus accumbens (NAcc). We also examined how lifetime social threat severity and GMVs in these regions related to depressive symptoms at baseline and over 9 months.

Results

General stressor severity was related to greater depression severity at baseline and over 9 months. Moreover, greater severity of social threat (but not non-social threat) stressors was associated with smaller bilateral amygdala and NAcc GMVs, and smaller bilateral surface areas of caudal and rostral ACC (allpFDR⩽ 0.048). However, neither social threat nor non-social threat stressor severity was related to hippocampal GMVs (allpFDR⩾ 0.318). All fronto-cingulate-limbic structures that were associated with the severity of social threat were negatively associated with greater depression severity over 9 months (allpFDR⩽ 0.014). Post-hoc analyses suggested that gray matter morphometry of bilateral amygdala, NAcc, and rostral and caudal ACC mediated the association between social threat and depression severity in adolescents over 9 months (allpFDR< 0.048).

Conclusions

Social threat specifically affects fronto-cingulate-limbic pathways that contribute to the maintenance of depression in adolescents.
Aortic valve atresia and type C interrupted aortic arch with circle of Willis dependent circulation: a case of successful biventricular repair in the neonatal period
Authors: Yang Emily L. , Bohun C. Monique , Muralidaran Ashok
Published: September 2022

We report a rare case of aortic valve atresia and type C interrupted aortic arch with retrograde filling of the ascending aorta via the right common carotid artery through intracranial collateralisation and a presumed intact circle of Willis, who successfully underwent a complete biventricular repair in the neonatal period.
Crafting the Language of Robotic Agents: A vision for electroacoustic music in human–robot interaction
Authors: Robinson Frederic Anthony , Velonaki Mari , Bown Oliver
Published: September 2022

This article discusses the role of electroacoustic music practice in the context of human–robot interaction (HRI), illustrated by the first author’s work creating the sonic language of interactive robotic artwork Diamandini. It starts with a discussion of the role of sound in social robotics and surveys various notable conceptual approaches to robot sound. The central thesis of the article is that electroacoustic music can provide a valuable source of aesthetic considerations and creative practice for the creation of richer and more refined sonic HRIs by giving practitioners new ways to create believable sounding objects, to convey fiction, agency and animacy, and to communicate causality in auditory feedback. To demonstrate this, the authors describe the rationale for treating robot sound design as a compositional process and discuss the implications of the endeavour’s non-linear and site-specific nature. These considerations are illustrated using sound examples and design decisions made throughout the creation process of the robotic artwork. The authors conclude with observations on how the compositional process is affected by this particular application context.
Familiarwhen-relatives and peculiarwhen-relatives in English
Authors: LI WENSHAN , LIU JIANG
Published: September 2022

Typical headed relatives in English include a relative pronoun which takes the head as its antecedent. However, some modifyingwhen-clauses in this language are peculiar relatives in that their heads are not the antecedent ofwhenand they do not even have temporal referents. In view of the peculiarity of this type of relative clause, a novel account of the syntactic generation and interpretation of temporalwhen-clauses is pro- posed. Under this account four lexical entries ofwhen, which have different semantic and syntactic properties, are recognized. The semantics of variouswhens are analyzed based on existing work, while the syntactic properties of differentwhens in non-interrogative sentences are characterized in the form of lexical information, which is implemented in the framework of Dynamic Syntax. The work in this article enriches the description of the diversity of relatives and suggests that the analysis of relatives can be unified semantically but not syntactically.
An Efficient Method of Observing Diatom Frustules via Digital Holographic Microscopy
Authors: Saito Makoto , Kitamura Masaki , Ide Yuki , Nguyen Minh Hieu , Le Binh Duong , Mai Anh Tuan , Miyashiro Daisuke , Mayama Shigeki , Umemura Kazuo
Published: September 2022

Herein, we propose a convenient method to enable pretreatment of target objects using digital holographic microscopy (DHM). As a test sample, we used diatom frustules (Nitzschia sp.) as the target objects. In the generally used sample preparation method, the frustule suspension is added dropwise onto a glass substrate or into a glass chamber. While our work confirms good observation of purified frustules using the typical sample preparation method, we also demonstrate a new procedure to observe unseparated structures of frustules prepared by baking them on a mica surface. The baked frustules on the mica surface were transferred to a glass chamber with 1% sodium dodecyl sulfate solution. In this manner, the unseparated structures of the diatom frustules were clearly observed. Furthermore, metal-coated frustules prepared by sputtering onto them on a mica surface were also clearly observed using the same procedure. Our method can be applied for the observation of any target object that is pretreated on a solid surface. We expect our proposed method to be a basis for establishing DHM techniques for microscopic observations of biomaterials.
IS SAME-SEX MARRIAGE UNJUST?
Authors: Bozzo Alexander P.
Published: September 2022

A response to James S. Spiegel's article in THINK 43 in which he argues that same-sex marriage is unjust.