bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Recent secondary contact, genome-wide admixture, and asymmetric introgression of neo-sex chromosomes between two Pacific island bird species
Authors: Shogren Elsie H. , Sardell Jason M. , Muirhead Christina A. , Martí Emiliano , Cooper Elizabeth A. , Moyle Robert G. , Presgraves Daven C. , Uy J. Albert C.
Published: August 2024

Secondary contact between closely related taxa represents a “moment of truth” for speciation—an opportunity to test the efficacy of reproductive isolation that evolved in allopatry and to identify the genetic, behavioral, and/or ecological barriers that separate species in sympatry. Sex chromosomes are known to rapidly accumulate differences between species, an effect that may be exacerbated for neo-sex chromosomes that are transitioning from autosomal to sex-specific inheritance. Here we report that, in the Solomon Islands, two closely related bird species in the honeyeater family—Myzomela cardinalis and Myzomela tristrami—carry neo-sex chromosomes and have come into recent secondary contact after ~1.1 my of geographic isolation. Hybrids of the two species were first observed in sympatry ~100 years ago. To determine the genetic consequences of hybridization, we use population genomic analyses of individuals sampled in allopatry and in sympatry to characterize gene flow in the contact zone. Using genome-wide estimates of diversity, differentiation, and divergence, we find that the degree and direction of introgression varies dramatically across the genome. For sympatric birds, autosomal introgression is bidirectional, with phenotypic hybrids and phenotypic parentals of both species showing admixed ancestry. In other regions of the genome, however, the story is different. While introgression on the Z/neo-Z-linked sequence is limited, introgression of W/neo-W regions and mitochondrial sequence (mtDNA) is highly asymmetric, moving only from the invading M. cardinalis to the resident M. tristrami. The recent hybridization between these species has thus enabled gene flow in some genomic regions but the interaction of admixture, asymmetric mate choice, and/or natural selection has led to the variation in the amount and direction of gene flow at sex-linked regions of the genome.
Usage of social media and Covid 19 vaccine hesitancy among medical students in Kericho County
Authors: Anino Calvince Otieno , Sanga Philip
Published: August 2024

The recent Covid 19 pandemic revealed the global challenge posed by infectious diseases. Vaccines are a crucial tool in preventing pandemics, as evidenced by their success in controlling past outbreaks. The rise of information and communication technology has introduced social media platforms as potential game-changers in both preventing and managing future pandemics. However, these same platforms can also be a double-edged sword, hindering the uptake of essential vaccination services. This study investigated the association between social media use and vaccine hesitancy among medical students. The study was designed as an institution based cross sectional study of 423 medical students in Kenya Medical Training College and University of Kabianga in Kericho County. Stratified sampling was used to decide on the two institutions and systematic random sampling was used to select the study participants. Research administered questionnaires were used to collect data on the socio-demographic characteristics, use of social media platforms, social media campaigns, and uptake of Covid 19 vaccines. The collected data was analyzed using Statistical Package for Social Sciences version 25. Chi square was used to establish the association between the independent variables and uptake of Covid 19 vaccines. The variables that were significantly associated with hesitancy to Covid 19 vaccines were further analyzed using binary logistic regression. The confidence interval (CI) was set at 95% and statistical significance was considered at p < 0.05. The study found significant associations between vaccine hesitancy and several factors, including academic level, preferred social media platform, the influence of social media on attitudes towards vaccines, concerns about vaccine safety and efficacy, and confidence in vaccines. The findings present social media as a potential platform for promotion of vaccines utilization during pandemics when used well.
Intersectional inequity in knowledge, attitude, and testing related to HIV in Ethiopia: People with multiple disadvantages are left behind
Authors: Endalamaw Aklilu , Gilks Charles F. , Khatri Resham B. , Assefa Yibeltal
Published: August 2024

Intersectionality pinpoints intersecting factors that empower or oppress people with multiple (dis)advantageous conditions. This study examined intersectional inequity in knowledge, attitudes, and testing related to HIV among adults aged 15 to 49 years in Ethiopia. This study used nationally representative 2016 Ethiopian Demographic Health Survey data. The sample size was 27,261 for knowledge about HIV/AIDS and 25,542 for attitude towards people living with HIV and HIV testing. Triple (dis)advantage groups were based on wealth status, education status, and residence. The triple advantages variables specifically are urban residents, the educated, and those who belong to households of high wealth status, while the triple disadvantages are rural residents, the uneducated, and those who live in poor household wealth rank. A multilevel logistic regression analysis was employed. Adjusted odds ratios (aOR) and confidence intervals (CI) with a P-value ≤ 0.05 were considered statistically significant. Based on descriptive analysis, 27.9% (95% CI: 26.5%, 29.3%) of adults had comprehensive knowledge about HIV/AIDS, 39.8% (95% CI: 37.6, 41.9%) exhibited accepting attitude towards people living with HIV, and 20.4% (95% CI: 19.1%, 21.8%) undergo HIV testing. Comprehensive knowledge about HIV/AIDS, accepting attitude towards people living with HIV, and HIV testing was 47.0%, 75.7%, and 36.1% among those with triple advantages, and 13.9%, 16.0% and 8.7% among those with triple non-advantages, respectively. The odds of having comprehensive knowledge about HIV/AIDS, accepting attitude towards people living with HIV, and HIV testing were about three (aOR = 3.4; 95% CI: 2.76 to 4.21), seven (aOR = 7.3; 95% CI = 5.79 to 9.24) and five (aOR = 4.7; 95% CI:3.60 to 6.10) times higher for triple forms of advantage than triple disadvantages, respectively. The findings of this study imply that Ethiopia will not achieve the proposed targets for HIV/AIDS services unless it prioritises individuals who live under multiple disadvantaged conditions.
Identification of Schistosoma haematobium and Schistosoma mansoni linear B-cell epitopes with diagnostic potential using in silico immunoinformatic tools and peptide microarray technology
Authors: Vengesai Arthur , Manuwa Marble , Midzi Herald , Mandeya Masimba , Muleya Victor , Mujeni Keith , Chipako Isaac , Mduluza Takafira
Published: August 2024

Introduction

Immunoinformatic tools can be used to predict schistosome-specific B-cell epitopes with little sequence identity to human proteins and antigens other than the target. This study reports an approach for identifying schistosome peptides mimicking linear B-cell epitopes using in-silico tools and peptide microarray immunoassay validation.

Method

Firstly, a comprehensive literature search was conducted to obtain published schistosome-specific peptides and recombinant proteins with the best overall diagnostic performances. For novel peptides, linear B-cell epitopes were predicted from target recombinant proteins using ABCpred, Bcepred and BepiPred 2.0 in-silico tools. Together with the published peptides, predicted peptides with the highest probability of being B-cell epitopes and the lowest sequence identity with proteins from human and other pathogens were selected. Antibodies against the peptides were measured in sera, using peptide microarray immunoassays. Area under the ROC curve was calculated to assess the overall diagnostic performances of the peptides.

Results

Peptide AA81008-19-30 had excellent and acceptable diagnostic performances for discriminating S. mansoni and S. haematobium positives from healthy controls, with AUC values of 0.8043 and 0.7326 respectively for IgG. Peptides MS3_10186-123-131, MS3_10385-339-354, SmSPI-177-193, SmSPI-379-388, MS3-10186-40-49 and SmS-197-214 had acceptable diagnostic performances for discriminating S. mansoni positives from healthy controls with AUC values ranging from 0.7098 to 0.7763 for IgG. Peptides SmSPI-359-372, Smp126160-438-452 and MS3 10186-25-41 had acceptable diagnostic performances for discriminating S. mansoni positives from S. mansoni negatives with AUC values of 0.7124, 0.7156 and 0.7115 respectively for IgG. Peptide MS3-10186-40-49 had an acceptable diagnostic performance for discriminating S. mansoni positives from healthy controls, with an AUC value of 0.7413 for IgM.

Conclusion

One peptide with a good diagnostic performance and nine peptides with acceptable diagnostic performances were identified using the immunoinformatic approach and peptide microarray validation. There is need for evaluation of the peptides with true negatives and a good standard positive reference.
A molecular epidemiological analysis of Burkholderia pseudomallei in southern Thailand
Authors: Kaewrakmuk Jedsada , Chusri Sarunyou , Khrongsee Pacharapong , Kawila Soontara , Saechan Vannarat , Leesahud Nutjamee , Chiewchanyont Bongkoch , Thananchai Hathairat , Duangsonk Kwanjit , Tuanyok Apichai
Published: August 2024

Melioidosis, a severe bacterial illness caused by Burkholderia pseudomallei, is prevalent in most parts of Thailand, including its southern region situated within the Malay Peninsula. Despite a lower reported incidence rate of melioidosis in the South compared to the Northeast, the mortality rate remains persistently high. This study aimed to better understand the epidemiology and investigate the presence of B. pseudomallei in the natural environment of southern Thailand. Using multi-locus sequence typing (MLST), we characterized B. pseudomallei isolates derived from human cases and compared them with previously reported sequence types (STs) from the same region. A total of 263 clinical isolates retrieved from 156 melioidosis patients between 2014 and 2020 were analyzed, revealing 72 distinct STs, with 25 (35%) matching STs from Finkelstein’s environmental isolates collected in southern Thailand during 1964–1967. Notably, strains bearing STs 288, 84, 54, 289, and 46 were frequently found among patients. Additionally, we observed strain diversity with multiple STs in 13 of 59 patients, indicating exposure to various B. pseudomallei genotypes in the environmental sources of the infection. Environmental surveys were conducted in Songkhla Province to detect B. pseudomallei in soil and water samples where local patients lived. Of the 2737 soil samples from 208 locations and 244 water samples from diverse sources, 52 (25%) soil sampling locations and 63 (26%) water sources were cultured positive for B. pseudomallei. Positive soil samples were predominantly found in animal farming area and non-agricultural zones like mountains and grasslands, while water samples were frequently positive in waterfalls, streams, and surface runoffs, with only 9% of rice paddies testing positive. Collectively, a significant proportion of recent melioidosis cases in Songkhla Province can be attributed to known B. pseudomallei STs persisting in the environment for at least the past six decades. Further characterization of B. pseudomallei isolates from recent environment surveys is warranted. These findings illuminate the contemporary landscape of B. pseudomallei infections and their environmental prevalence in southern Thailand, contributing to the regional threat assessment in Thailand and Southeast Asia.
Heart rate and insula activity increase in response to music in individuals with high interoceptive sensitivity
Authors: Maekawa Toru , Sasaoka Takafumi , Inui Toshio , Fermin Alan S. R. , Yamawaki Shigeto
Published: August 2024

Interoception plays an important role in emotion processing. However, the neurobiological substrates of the relationship between visceral responses and emotional experiences remain unclear. In the present study, we measured interoceptive sensitivity using the heartbeat discrimination task and investigated the effects of individual differences in interoceptive sensitivity on changes in pulse rate and insula activity in response to subjective emotional intensity. We found a positive correlation between heart rate and valence level when listening to music only in the high interoceptive sensitivity group. The valence level was also positively correlated with music-elicited anterior insula activity. Furthermore, a region of interest analysis of insula subregions revealed significant activity in the left dorsal dysgranular insula for individuals with high interoceptive sensitivity relative to individuals with low interoceptive sensitivity while listening to the high-valence music pieces. Our results suggest that individuals with high interoceptive sensitivity use their physiological responses to assess their emotional level when listening to music. In addition, insula activity may reflect the use of interoceptive signals to estimate emotions.
Neural network analysis of pharyngeal sounds can detect obstructive upper respiratory disease in brachycephalic dogs
Authors: McDonald Andrew , Agarwal Anurag , Williams Ben , Liu Nai-Chieh , Ladlow Jane
Published: August 2024

Brachycephalic obstructive airway syndrome (BOAS) is a highly prevalent respiratory disease affecting popular short-faced dog breeds such as Pugs and French bulldogs. BOAS causes significant morbidity, leading to poor exercise tolerance, sleep disorders and a shortened lifespan. Despite its severity, the disease is commonly missed by owners or disregarded by veterinary practitioners. A key clinical sign of BOAS is stertor, a low-frequency snoring sound. In recent years, a functional grading scheme has been introduced to semi-objectively grade BOAS based on the presence of stertor and other abnormal signs. However, correctly grading stertor requires significant experience and adding an objective component would aid accuracy and repeatability. This study proposes a recurrent neural network model to automatically detect and grade stertor in laryngeal electronic stethoscope recordings. The model is developed using a novel dataset of 665 labelled recordings taken from 341 dogs with diverse BOAS clinical signs. Evaluated via nested cross validation, the neural network predicts the presence of clinically significant BOAS with an area under the receiving operating characteristic of 0.85, an operating sensitivity of 71% and a specificity of 86%. The algorithm could enable widespread screening for BOAS to be conducted by both owners and veterinarians, improving treatment and breeding decisions.
Feasibility of the inhibitor development for cancer: A systematic approach for drug design
Authors: Jiang Yu , Liu Ling , Geng Yichao , Li Qingsong , Luo Daxian , Liang Li , Liu Wei , Ouyang Weiwei , Hu Jianping
Published: August 2024

The traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) bupleurum-ginger-licorice formula presents significant anti-cancer effects, but its active ingredients and inhibitory mechanism remain unclear. In this work, the core effective ingredient quercetin and its signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (Stat3) receptor both were identified by network pharmacology. Quercetin is a low-toxicity, non-carcinogenic flavonoid with antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and anticancer activities, which is widely distributed in edible plants. Stat3 can bind to specific DNA response elements and serves as a transcription factor to promote the translation of some invasion/migration-related target genes, considered as a potential anticancer target. Here, molecular docking and molecular dynamics (MD) simulation both were used to explore molecular recognition of quercetin with Stat3. The results show that quercetin impairs DNA transcription efficiency by hindering Stat3 dimerization, partially destroying DNA conformation. Specifically, when the ligand occupies the SH2 cavity of the enzyme, spatial rejection is not conductive to phosphokinase binding. It indirectly prevents the phosphorylation of Y705 and the formation of Stat3 dimer. When the inhibitor binds to the DT1005 position, it obviously shortens the distance between DNA and DBD, enhances their binding capacity, and thereby reduces the degree of freedom required for transcription. This work not only provides the binding modes between Stat3 and quercetin, but also contributes to the optimization and design of such anti-cancer inhibitors.
Opportunities and challenges of using a health information system in adolescent health management: A qualitative study of healthcare providers’ perspectives in the West Bank, occupied Palestinian territory
Authors: Shalash Aisha , Abu-Rmeileh Niveen , Kelly Dervla , Elmusharaf Khalifa
Published: August 2024

Background

Adolescents are a critical demographic facing unique health challenges who are further impacted in humanitarian settings. This article focuses on the urgent need for a structured health information system (HIS) to address the gaps in data availability and evidence-based interventions for adolescent health. The study aims to identify opportunities and challenges in utilizing the HIS to enhance adolescent health in the West Bank by gathering insights from healthcare providers.

Methods

Semi-structured key informant interviews were conducted with participants involved in the HIS regarding adolescent health in the West Bank. They were selected by purposive sampling. Nineteen interviews were conducted between July and October 2022, and thematic analysis was carried out using MAXQDA software.

Results

The opportunities identified were the small-scale victories the participants described in building the HIS for adolescent health. These included institutional and individual capacity building, digitalizing parts of the HIS, connection fragmentation of adolescent health activities, multi-sectoral collaboration, reorienting services based on health information, working with limited resources, enhancing community engagement to encourage ownership and active participation, and taking strategic actions for adolescents for information. The challenges were the high workload of staff, lack of health information specialists, limited resources, lack of a unified system in data collection, lack of data on essential indicators, data quality, data sharing, and data sources and use.

Conclusion

This study showed the potential of the HIS with capacity building, digitization, and collaborative initiatives; it also suffers from issues like staff shortages, non-standardized data collection, and insufficient data for essential indicators. To maximize the impact of the HIS, urgent attention to staff shortages through comprehensive training programs, standardization of data collection systems, and development of a unified core indicator list for adolescent health is recommended. Embracing these measures will allow the HIS to provide evidence-based adolescent health programs, even in resource-constrained and complex humanitarian settings.
Global transcriptome analysis identifies critical functional modules associated with multiple abiotic stress responses in microalgae Chromochloris zofingiensis
Authors: Panahi Bahman
Published: August 2024

In the current study, systems biology approach was applied to get a deep insight regarding the regulatory mechanisms of Chromochloris zofingiensis under overall stress conditions. Meta-analysis was performed using p-values combination of differentially expressed genes. To identify the informative models related to stress conditions, two distinct weighted gene co-expression networks were constructed and preservation analyses were performed using medianRankand Zsummary algorithms. Moreover, functional enrichment analysis of non-preserved modules was performed to shed light on the biological performance of underlying genes in the non-preserved modules. In the next step, the gene regulatory networks between top hub genes of non-preserved modules and transcription factors were inferred using ensemble of trees algorithm. Results showed that the power of beta = 7 was the best soft-thresholding value to ensure a scale-free network, leading to the determination of 12 co-expression modules with an average size of 128 genes. Preservation analysis showed that the connectivity pattern of the six modules including the blue, black, yellow, pink, greenyellow, and turquoise changed during stress condition which defined as non-preserved modules. Examples of enriched pathways in non-preserved modules were Oxidative phosphorylation”, “Vitamin B6 metabolism”, and “Arachidonic acid metabolism”. Constructed regulatory network between identified TFs and top hub genes of non-preserved module such as Cz06g10250, Cz03g12130 showed that some specific TFs such as C3H and SQUAMOSA promoter binding protein (SBP) specifically regulates the specific hubs. The current findings add substantially to our understanding of the stress responsive underlying mechanism of C. zofingiensis for future studies and metabolite production programs.
Whole genome-based reclassification of several species of the genus Microbispora
Authors: Bouras Noureddine , Machado Ricardo A. R.
Published: August 2024

The classification of Microbispora, a bacterial genus of significant ecological, agricultural, biotechnological, and clinical importance, has traditionally been carried out based on 16S rRNA gene sequences or phenotypic characteristics, which may lead to equivocal conclusions and it is not in line with the current standards. Moreover, some of the recent species descriptions have not been made using whole genome sequences (WGS), or when used, not all the species were included in the analyses. Consequently, some of the taxonomic conclusions drawn are equivocal, and therefore some currently accepted species should be synonymized. In this study, we revised the taxonomy of the genus Microbispora using digital DNA-DNA hybridization (dDDH) and average nucleotide identity (ANI) values, and by reconstructing phylogenetic relationships using whole genome sequences. Based on the clear phylogenomic separations and on the sequence divergence values, we propose to elevate Microbispora rosea subsp. rosea and Microbispora rosea subsp. aerata to the species level, and therefore to create Microbispora aerata sp. nov. with JCM 3076T (= DSM 43176T = ATCC 15448T = IFO 14624T = NBRC 14624T = VKM Ac-1507T) as the type strain. Hence, with this proposition, the correct name for Microbispora rosea subsp. rosea is M. rosea. Furthermore, we propose to reclassify M. camponoti as a subspecies within M. bryophytorum. Consequently, we propose the creation of the following two subspecies: Microbispora bryophytorum subsp. bryophytorum subsp. nov. with DSM 46710T (= CGMCC 4.7138T = NEAU TX2-2T) as the type strain, and Microbispora bryophytorum subsp. camponoti subsp. nov., comb. nov. with DSM 2C-HV3T (= DSM 100527T = CGMCC 4.7281T) as the type strain. In addition, we propose to reinstate M. amethystogenes as an independent species and not as a M. rosea synonym, and reclassify “M. cellulosiformans” as a subspecies within M. amethystogenes. Hence, we propose the creation of the following two subspecies: Microbispora amethystogenes subsp. amethystogenes subsp. nov. with NBRC 101907T (= DSM 43164T = JCM 3021T = NRRL B-2637T) as the type strain, and Microbispora amethystogenes subsp. cellulosiformans subsp. nov., comb. nov. with Gxj-6T (= DSM 109712T = CGMCC 4.7605T) as the type strain. Lastly, we propose M. fusca NEAU-HEGS1-5T and “M. tritici” MT50T as later homotypic synonyms of M. triticiradicis NEAU-HRDPA2-9T.
Effect of light on ascorbic acid biosynthesis and bioinformatics analysis of related genes in Chinese chives
Authors: Qian Yuxuan , Tong Jing , Liu Ning , Wang Baoju , Ji Yanhai , Wu Zhanhui
Published: August 2024

Ascorbic acid (AsA) is an essential nutritional component and powerful antioxidant in vegetables, and in plants, AsA levels are regulated by light. AsA levels in the leaves of Chinese chive (Allium tuberosum Rottler ex Spr), a popular vegetable, are poorly understood. Thus, this study was performed to assess the influence of light on AsA biosynthesis in chive and select related genes (AtuGGP1 and AtuGME1); in addition, bioinformatic analyses and gene expression level assays were performed. The biological information obtained for AtuGGP1 and AtuGME1 was analysed with several tools, including NCBI, DNAMAN, and MEGA11. After different light treatments were performed, the Chive AsA content and AtuGGP1 and AtuGME1 expression levels were determined. These results suggest that 1) compared with natural light, continuous darkness inhibited AsA synthesis in chives. 2) The amino acid sequences of AtuGGP1 and AtuGME1 are very similar to those of other plants. 3) The trends observed for the expression levels of AtuGGP1 and AtuGME1 were consistent with the AsA content observed in chives. Hence, we speculated that light controls AsA biosynthesis in chives by regulating AtuGGP1 and AtuGME1 expression. This study provided impactful and informative evidence regarding the functions of GGP and GME in chives.
From symptoms to surgery—A pathway through uncertainty and hope: An interview study of women facing ovarian surgery
Authors: Holmlund Sophia , Collins Elin , Lalos Ann , Idahl Annika
Published: August 2024

Background

Diagnosis of an adnexal mass might be a sign of ovarian cancer, with an overall poor prognosis. This study aimed to explore women’s experiences and perceptions of facing ovarian surgery due to an adnexal mass, and expectations on life after surgery.

Methods

Individual in-depth interviews with 15 women facing ovarian surgery due to an adnexal mass. Interviews were analysed using qualitative content analysis.

Results

An overarching theme, From symptoms to surgery–a pathway through uncertainty and hope, was identified. The theme was made up of three categories; I. The road to diagnosis, II. Striving for information and guidance, and III. Balancing emotions of hope and fear. The period between discovering the adnexal mass and surgery was often described as chaotic and difficult to manage. However, the diagnostic procedures were mostly described as timely and efficient, and participants felt safe and cared for. Person-centred care was considered crucial when being in this vulnerable situation, and the nurse navigator was described as a key person to approach for any queries. While participants expressed overall satisfaction with the information provided by health professionals, some reported a lack of information regarding the surgery’s potential impact on hormonal production and sexuality. Restrictions during the COVID-19 pandemic forced participants to attend healthcare visits alone, and some wished that health professionals had taken more responsibility for informing their relatives. Many participants focused on the positive aspects of the information gained about the adnexal mass, and that the entire situation gave perspective of what was important in life.

Conclusions

Waiting for surgery on a possibly malignant adnexal mass can be very stressful, however person-centred care and the guidance of a nurse navigator can make the process more manageable. To improve women’s experience, health professionals may involve relatives more often and make sure to inform of potential hormonal loss and sexuality after ovarian surgery.
Infection of human organoids supports an intestinal niche for Chlamydia trachomatis
Authors: Hovhannisyan Pargev , Stelzner Kathrin , Keicher Markus , Paprotka Kerstin , Neyazi Mastura , Pauzuolis Mindaugas , Ali Waled Mohammed , Rajeeve Karthika , Bartfeld Sina , Rudel Thomas
Published: August 2024

Several reports suggest that intestinal tissue may be a natural niche for Chlamydia trachomatis infection and a reservoir for persistent infections in the human body. Due to the human specificity of the pathogen and the lack of suitable host models, there is limited knowledge on this topic. In our study, we modelled the course of the chlamydial infection in human primary gastrointestinal (GI) epithelial cells originating from patient-derived organoids. We show that GI cells are resistant to apical infection and C. trachomatis needs access to the basolateral membrane to establish an infection. Transmission electron microscopy analysis reveals the presence of both normal as well as aberrant chlamydial developmental forms in the infected cells, suggesting a possible cell-type specific nature of the infection. Furthermore, we show that the plasmid-encoded Pgp3 is an important virulence factor for the infection of human GI cells. This is the first report of C. trachomatis infection in human primary intestinal epithelial cells supporting a possible niche for chlamydial infection in the human intestinal tissue.
Images of the tourist city: Visions from Spain
Authors: Sánchez Julián Díaz
Published: August 2024

The resurgence in 1970s Spanish painting of the Mediterranean aesthetic (at least as a topic of a debate) entailed a utopian vision of the tourist city. The promise of tourism development permeated the realist (or ‘committed’, as it was called at the time) paintings when the artists used the opportunity to trade the sordid imagery of the previous decades for an imaginary evoking pleasure and warmth and suggesting a new urban utopia. This article overviews various versions of this utopia: from the images of the Mediterranean by Guillermo Pérez Villalta and Equipo Crónica to the impacts of art museums on urban development, from Cuenca to Bilbao.
The Ten-Bel project: Tourism on a grand scale
Authors: Kistler Ralph
Published: August 2024

Ten-Bel was built in the Canary Islands in the 1960s and 1970s. At the time, it was one of the largest holiday resorts in Spain and a pioneering site of touristic development in the south of Tenerife. More than five thousand tourist beds were integrated into a modern architecture with large green areas, where the guests were offered a wide range of leisure activities and international shows. In the 1980s, however, the lack of investment led to a loss of prestige, and it became increasingly difficult for Ten-Bel to compete with the growing number of new offers in the nearby tourist areas. At the beginning of the new millennium, after several unsuccessful attempts to renovate the complex and make it more profitable, the resort was split up and sold off in parts. This confusing division occurred without first finding a solution for the municipal utilities, which were centralized for each tourist complex and did not offer an individual option for the new owners. In addition, there was no agreement on the maintenance of the common areas and parks. These were left in a state of dilapidation. Ten-Bel is an exceptional case, not only because of its outstanding architecture, commercial success or innovative management, but also because it illustrates the problems that arise when a tourist complex is converted to residential use. It is a paradigmatic example to examine the beginnings of touristification in Spain and the contradictions of this new utopia.
The holy city of holidays: Seven theses on the touristification of Spain
Authors: Méndez Germán Labrador
Published: August 2024

This paper analyses the notion of the ‘city of holidays’ in Spain by means of seven theses. Analysed as a transhistorical construction, valid to narrate the cultural history of modern tourism, the ‘city of vacations’ represents the symbiosis of a constructive model, a nationalist and religious imaginary, and an urban device of patrimonial origin. This construction defines the Spanish tourist paradigm, seen in the long-term, as it constitutes a recurrent- and mutant- fantasy that accompanies the economic and social Modernity associated with tourist development. Although the triumph of the Francoist Spanish vacation model is celebrated in the sixties, it has a much earlier genealogy, which takes us back to the foundational imaginaries of national-Catholicism and its ceremonial places. Born from the romantic discourses of the Restoration, linked to the neo-Catholic sanctuaries, the ‘city of vacations’ reemerges after the Civil War as a central part of the patrimonial discourse of the new Regime. There, the accumulation of capital at the base of the so-called ‘tourist miracle’ comes directly from the violence of Franco’s repression, including slave labour. At the same time, this model responds to the new economic logics of the Cold War framework, where the ecological and environmental cost of this urban model of development, based on itinerancy and mass-circulation, is dissolved. The celebration of the contemporary identity of today’s Spain as a global tourist power is carried out at the expense of this violent genealogy, even though such an identity is probably unsustainable in the eco-energetic and social horizon to which we are collectively heading.
valor de los elementos preexistentes en la ciudad
Authors: Gutiérrez González María José
Published: August 2024

El principio del texto aborda algunas problemáticas en la ciudad relacionadas con la especulación del espacio, la contaminación, junto con un estilo de vida y consumo poco sostenible. Plantea una alternativa para alejarse de este contexto, a través del respeto y convivencia con los elementos del pasado. A pesar del inevitable crecimiento de las urbes, plantea un modelo de expansión controlado y en equilibrio con los elementos preexistentes. Además de la integración de los componentes rurales que proliferan en las zonas limítrofes de las ciudades, que suelen ser ignorados en muchas ocasiones en las planificaciones urbanísticas. Por otro lado, todos estos componentes históricos se ponen en valor por su carga de singularidad, valor social y cultural para cualquier lugar. El reconocimiento de estos elementos históricos, además, podrían orientarnos en el cuidado de las características medioambientales. La degradación de los recursos naturales en el territorio es cada vez más marcada. Por último, se muestra una práctica artística resuelta en una aplicación interactiva para facilitar su participación y consulta. En concreto, es una cartografía que muestra el deterioro de la arquitectura vinculada con la cultura de irrigación histórica de la ciudad de Valencia y sus zonas metropolitanas. Siempre fueron zonas de tierras ricas de cultivo y actualmente, están amenazadas con la extinción.
Arte de contacto interespecies
Authors: Gutiérrez-Jordano Carmen , Andreu-Lara Carmen
Published: August 2024

La presencia de los animales a lo largo de la historia del arte está marcada por un humanismo excepcionalista que ha recurrido al animal como espejo de la identidad humana. La desmaterialización del arte en los años 90 favoreció el desarrollo de prácticas artísticas presenciales, performativas y relacionales.  Sin embargo, en el arte contemporáneo persiste una visión utilitarista en relación con los animales no humanos que los cataloga como ‘instrumentos’. Con este artículo se pretende contrastar los planteamientos conceptuales y estrategias que difieren entre la creación artística en un marco antropocéntrico, y la que se plantea desde una alternativa interespecies de cuidado y empatía. Nos proponemos subrayar una conciencia ecológica en expansión que replantea los modos de creación interespecies, destacando el trabajo reciente de artistas como Jenny Kendler y Maja Smrekar, que cuestionan nuestra forma de relacionarnos a la vez que proponen alternativas simbólicas que potencian nuestra empatía.
A Human Saliva Quality and Holistic Practices A Review on the Effects of Meditation, Dance and Exercise
Authors: Yadav Manisha , Giri Arup
Published: August 2024

This review article provides an overview of the effects of meditation, dance, and exercise on human saliva quality. Physical and mental fitness is essential for overall well-being, and engaging in these activities has been shown to promote physical and mental health. However, with the decline in physical activity due to technological advancements, stress has become a prevalent issue in modern society. Meditation, dance, and exercise have emerged as effective strategies for stress management. Stress levels can be measured through biomarkers, including those found in blood and saliva. Saliva may serve as a potential indicator of stress levels. Saliva contains various components that can serve as biomarkers for detecting systemic diseases and assessing overall health. Exploring the changes in saliva composition and understanding the physiological significance in response to meditation, dance, and exercise can provide valuable insights into the mechanisms underlying their positive effects on health. Saliva biomarkers have been associated with stress, inflammation, immune function, and even neurodegenerative disorders. Therefore, investigating the impact of these practices on saliva quality can uncover novel connections between mind-body interventions and overall well-being. This review highlights the importance of considering saliva as a valuable biofluid and encourages further research on salivary biomarkers in the context of meditation, dance, and exercise to expand our understanding of their therapeutic potential and optimise health outcomes.
A Rare Case of Primary Vulval Amelanotic Melanoma Involving the Urethra
Authors: Montatore Manuela , Eusebi Laura , Masino Federica , Costa Alessia Mariagrazia , Giannubilo Willy , Elena Ferioli , Diamanti Lucilla , Guglielmi Giuseppe
Published: August 2024

A 60-year-old woman came to the Emergency Department complaining of a vaginal formation. The urologist suspected a urethral caruncle: the patient was discharged with vaginal oestrogen cream to relieve symptoms and a follow-up was suggested. After two months the patient returned to the Emergency Department since the mass was increasing in volume and complaining of dysuria and haematuria. Ultrasound, contrast-enhanced computed tomography, and contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance revealed a mass arising from the mucosa and involving the vulva and the urethra, suspicious of malignancy. We present a challenging diagnosis of an infiltrative and rapidly progressive primary vulval amelanotic melanoma with a complete imaging evaluation and a confirmed histological diagnosis.
On Awangarda: Tradition and Modernity in Postwar Polish Music by Lisa Cooper Vest
Authors: Beszterda van Vliet Marta
Published: August 2024

Awangarda: Tradition and Modernity in Postwar Polish Music (University of California Press, 2020) by Lisa Cooper Vest traces discourses of tradition, modernity, and progress in Polish new music composition between 1930 and 1965. Drawing on an extensive body of archival materials, Cooper Vest demonstrates ideas, interests, and stakes that were at play for different actors invested in the shifting musical milieu in mid-century Poland. This essay offers an overview of the book’s main arguments–including its new approach to the history of the Polish School–while highlighting the ways in which Cooper Vest’s work is compelling to Polish audiences. Rather than retreading the worn narrative of Polish post-war music culture as an extension of the broader East-West ideological conflict, Cooper Vest emphasizes the local Polish context. Mid-century musical discourse relied on a consensus that Poland had fallen behind on a fixed path of development. This idea of backwardness takes the form of two discursive gestures: lag and lack. Tracing the return of the nineteenth-century Romantic ideas about compositional genius, attributed first to Witold Lutosławski and later to a new group of young composers, Cooper Vest demonstrates that the Polish School phenomenon was a negotiated consensus, rather than a group that emerged organically. At the same time, the author documents the rise and fall of Bogusław Schaeffer and his individual vision for avant-garde composition. This unique contribution to the field of musicology also poses broader questions about mobilizing history and memory to consolidate a sense of national identity through music composition.
Transparent Sonic Sculptures in Site-Specific Intermedia Music
Authors: Fujak Július
Published: August 2024

The paper deals in the first part with the centripetal juxtaposition of Marcel Duchamp’s Sculpture Musicale and John Cage’s 4’33”. Both pieces became the starting points of the author´s creation of acousmatic comprovised music saving/transforming unique soundscapes (mostly) in Slovakia. The sounds of specific environments (with semantic social meanings) as a kind of unique musical-sonic sculptures were involved in his musical artistic projects: e. g. Animation of Silence (in Music) of Puppets (2000), or Nitrian Atlantises (2013) dedicated to the part of the pre-ancient history of Nitra as well as to semantic parallels of this period in the contemporary life of the city. Melancholy (2017), co-created with the fine artist Slavomír Zombek and the poet Peter Milčák, has changed the site of a desolate cowhouse near Levoča to the site-specific gallery/concert hall of sounding events. Sonic Sculpture of Bin (2018) inspired by Duchamp’s idea mentioned above was realized in a deserted refinery in Rimavská Sobota as site-specific sonic-musical piece, as well as other transparent sonic sculptures Cockroach Lure (2019) with intermedia artist Petr Nikl, and two pieces, La Mer (2021/2022) and ÚÚÚ-FFF-ÓÓÓ (2021), dedicated to two great Slovak conceptual intermedia artists, Milan Adamčiak and Július Koller. In the final comment, the author writes about the phenomena of sonic photography – related to the ideas of Roland Barthes’ La Chambre Claire – which can be appropriated as an organic part of transparent sonic-musical sculpture.
Marsz Niepodległości, czyli o złożoności i wielowymiarowości tego wydarzenia z perspektywy koncepcji heterotopii Michela Foucaulta
Authors: Wolniewicz-Slomka Klaudia , Czech-Włodarczyk Celina
Published: August 2024

The annual, nationwide “Independence March” taking place on the anniversary of Poland regaining independence has become a phenomenon and the only event of its kind at that time. It brings together – in the physical sense – thousands of Poles. However, it is even more engaging in symbolic terms. The research aimed to analyze the Independence March as a heterotopic space according to Michel Foucault and, more precisely, to refer to four of the six principles of heterotopia proposed by the French philosopher. The first two principles apply to society in general and, therefore, were not analyzed in relation to the event of the Independence March. The remaining four were successfully used to reflect on it more deeply. Research has shown that the “Independence March” is an example of heterotopia, and what distinguishes it from other previously studied spaces with heterotopic features is the simultaneous variability and spatial stability, the range of influence, the multitude of ways of entering its space and the significant function it performs because of its complexity.
Bending properties and numerical analysis of nonorthogonal woven composites
Authors: Zheng Yong , Qi Yexiong , Qi Xiaoling , Sun Ning , Shao Runze , Li Miao , Shiwang Gao
Published: August 2024

The helmet shell material featuring a gradient in bending is urgently required for the next-generation integrated helmet system. However, achieving a bending gradient design for orthogonal woven composites on a 3D shell surface is a significant challenge. Here, nonorthogonal woven composites at 30°, 45°, and 60° were fabricated, and their bending properties are discussed. Furthermore, their bending properties are compared to those of plain off-axis woven composites, which indicates that the bending linearity trend of nonorthogonal woven composites is evident. Notably, the bending strength of the 30° and 60° nonorthogonal woven composites is 66.9 and 67.4% higher, respectively, than that of the plain off-axis woven composites, and the bending modulus is 169.8 and 196.9% higher, respectively. Finally, a finite element analysis of the bending properties of nonorthogonal woven composites was conducted, and a stress analysis of the inner layers was also conducted. This work paves the way for designing gradient materials for helmet shells.
Modeling & experimental studies on enhancement of H2S conversion using catalytic membrane reactor for hydrogen production
Authors: Chandra Nailwal Bipin , Goswami Nitesh , Kar Soumitra , Adak Asis Kumar
Published: August 2024

Acidic gases such as H2S and CO2 are generated in the refineries during coal gasification. These pollutant gases need to be treated before releasing to the atmosphere. Conventionally, H2S gas is treated by Claus process in which H2S is converted to elemental S and H2O, in presence of O2 at ∼1,200 K. In the present energy scenarios, hydrogen has got importance as a source of clean fuel for industrial application. The H2S generated in the refineries can be a potential precursor of hydrogen. If this hydrogen can be obtained by thermal decomposition of H2S, that can increase the overall economic value of the H2S containing streams and the produced hydrogen can be used for hydrocracking and hydro-treating in refineries, as well as to synthesize value-added products for chemical industries. However, H2S thermal decomposition is an endothermic and equilibrium limited reaction (equilibrium conversion is only ∼15 % at 1,000 K), requiring a very high temperature (∼1,500 K) to achieve even a conversion of greater than 40 %. Packed Bed Catalytic Membrane Reactor (PBCMR) for thermal decomposition of H2S can be a potential technology augmentation and process intensification to increase this equilibrium conversion. In this work, modeling and experimental studies of H2S thermal decomposition using in-house designed & developed PBCMR have been carried out. The modeling studies were validated with experimental data. Clay-alumina ceramic tubular membrane (L: 250 mm; OD: 12 mm; thickness: 2 mm) was fabricated using extrusion process having an average membrane pore size of ∼1 μm and with a porosity of ∼20 %. Pt (2 %) coated alumina extrudes were used as catalyst to accelerate the reaction kinetics. Experimental studies showed that H2S to hydrogen conversion of ∼90 % is achieved using PBCMR at ∼1,523 K, compared to only ∼40 % conversion in a conventional packed bed tubular reactor (without membrane). Modelling studies were carried out to study the influence of operating parameters such as, reactor wall temperature, feed temperature, pressure and feed velocity. Studies showed that reactor wall temperature is having the most dominant effect on H2S conversion, which is confirmed by experimental findings. The studies offer useful insights into the application of PBCMR technology for management of waste gas stream containing H2S and recovery of hydrogen.
Numerical investigation of corrosive gases absorption process by water injection in hydrogenation reaction effluent system
Authors: Jin Haozhe , Qin Shiting , Chen Qi , Zhu Haiyan , Liu Xiaofei , Wang Chao , Zhang Lite
Published: August 2024

Water injection for absorbing corrosive gases NH3, HCl and H2S is a widely employed method to mitigate the risk of ammonium salt corrosion in the hydrogenation units. To ensure the efficient prevention of ammonium salt corrosion, a numerical model integrating the hydrodynamics of gas–liquid and the reaction of interphase mass transfer was built based on Euler–Lagrange method in this work. The flow and mass transfer characteristics of complex multi-component system in water injection pipeline were investigated, and the correlation between process operating conditions and gas removal performance was analyzed. The results reveal that the removal efficiencies of corrosive gases in pipeline are influenced by the characteristics of gas–liquid flow and mass transfer, with HCl showing higher removal efficiency compared to NH3 and H2S. Furthermore, the increasing flow rate of water injection, the reducing corrosive medium content and the decreasing droplet diameter have a positive impact on the removal efficiencies of corrosive gases, while the impact of gas-flow velocity on the removal efficiencies of corrosive gases primarily depends on the residence time of droplets. These results have important theoretical value and engineering guiding significance for intensifying the process of water injection in hydrogenation units.