bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Wychowanie na odległość. Doświadczenia i refleksje nauczycieli po „pierwszym szoku” zdalnego nauczania w pandemii COVID-19
Authors: Modzelewska Olga , Chludzińska Ewa
Published: December 2023

The article addresses the issues of distance education and relationship-building in the first period of remote teaching introduced in schools due to the COVID-19 coronavirus epidemic. The circumstances and the necessity to switch to distance teaching were challenges for teachers, students and parents. The subject of consideration is the implementation of an educational programme by teachers of one of the secondary schools in Łomża. The authors’ reflection results from the analysis of a survey conducted among teachers-educators who, in the face of various organisational, technical, educational, emotional and mental problems of their pupils, undertook this difficult method of communication to try to build relationships through an atmosphere of mutual trust and help with both students and their parents. They were not only carers and teachers, but also technical support, mediators, psychologists and motivators. The received answers confirm that didactic effects cannot be achieved without appropriate interpersonal relationships between the teacher and the student. The hybrid reality highlighted upbringing problems and showed how extremely difficult and demanding the educator profession is and how much responsibility lies with teachers.
Informal Cross-Border Trade in Africa: Operations, Policy, and Opportunities
Authors: Park Jimin , Lim Michael K. , Murali Karthik
Published: December 2023

Informal cross-border trade (ICBT) refers to the illegal activities of cross-border commerce conducted by unregistered small-scale traders. We seek to develop insights to understand the ICBT value chain and offer policy recommendations to successfully integrate it into the formal economy. Using a game-theoretic model, we analyze the operations and key market dynamics of ICBT. We analyze the policy implications of three representative UN directives: enhancing marginalized traders’ access to formal channels, reducing export tax rates for formal traders, and introducing an alternative simplified trade regime (STR) for informal traders. All three policies result in an increase in government proceeds when the inherent profitability of the formal or STR channels is sufficiently high. Furthermore, social welfare increases when the policies effectively balance wholesale price competition within the formal and informal channels. We apply our model to a case study based on Uganda’s agricultural exports over an 11-year horizon. The access enhancement policy is most effective in increasing government proceeds but least effective in improving the welfare of other participants. The tax reduction policy enhances traders’ profitability but sacrifices the welfare of farmers and government proceeds substantially. Finally, the STR acknowledgement policy results in the largest increase in profitability of marginalized traders and farmers but comes at the cost of government proceeds.

This paper was accepted by Jay Swaminathan, operations management.

Funding: This work was supported by the Institute of Management Research, College of Business Administration, Seoul National University.

Supplemental Material: The data and online appendix are available at https://doi.org/10.1287/mnsc.2022.02479 .
Food consumption markers and minimum dietary diversity in different complementary feeding methods: a randomized clinical trial
Authors: Ruffoni Moreira Paula , Meirelles Nunes Leandro , Oliveira de Vargas Bruna , Gomes Erissandra , Rombaldi Bernardi Juliana
Published: December 2023

Objective: To evaluate food consumption markers and minimum dietary diversity in 12-month-old infants exposed to different methods of food introduction. Methods: A randomized clinical trial with mother-infant pairs undergoing intervention on food introduction in three methods: Parent-Led Weaning (PLW), Baby-Led Introduction to SolidS (BLISS), and mixed (combination of the two techniques). Food consumption markers were evaluated by an online questionnaire at 12 months based on food consumed the previous day, using food consumption markers for children under 2 years of the Food and Nutrition Surveillance System. The study was approved by the ethics committee. Results: At 12 months, 136 children were evaluated: 45 allocated to PLW, 48 to BLISS, and 43 to mixed. The foods with the highest prevalence of consumption were breast milk 103 (75.7%), vegetables 122 (89.7%), meat 135 (99.3%), beans 115 (84.6%), rice, potatoes, or yam 135 (99.3%). Ultra-processed foods were present in the diet of infants, including hamburgers or sausages 3 (2.2%), sweetened beverages 2 (1.5%), instant noodles 4 (2.9%), and sandwich cookies 2 (1.5 %). No differences were found between the methods of introducing complementary feeding. The minimum dietary diversity was present in the diet of 22 infants (16.2%), being: 6 (13.3%) in the PLW, 8 (16.7%) in the BLISS, and 8 (18.6%) in the mixed (p=0.793). Conclusion: Breast milk, vegetables, meat, beans, and rice were present in the diet of most infants; however, the prevalence of minimal dietary diversity was low. The consumption of ultra-processed foods was also present in the diet of infants. Brazilian Registry of Clinical Trials (ReBEC) identification RBR-229scm.
Functional claim increases the acceptance of oat muesli by consumers
Authors: Miranda Katherine dos Santos , Rodrigues Joana , De Quadros Emanuelle Barbosa , Lemos Pedro , Maieves Helayne Aparecida , Batista Ângela Giovana
Published: December 2023

Background: Oats-based mueslis contain beta-glucans, a type of soluble fiber known for its hypocholesterolemic and hypoglycemic properties. The claim of these health benefits, oat muesli products may attract potential consumers. Objectives: This study aimed to assess the impact of a functional claim on consumers' acceptance and attitudes toward oat muesli. Additionally, the study evaluated the effects of muesli containing oats on satiety and mood perceptions. Methods: Two muesli products were formulated: one with oats and another with rice flakes (control) for sensory analysis. The oat muesli was presented with two codings (n=160): one with a functional food claim and another without the claim. Consumers were asked about their liking, interest in usage, and perceived benefits before and after tasting the mueslis using hedonic scales. Furthermore, a clinical trial was conducted with 9 healthy adult women subjects (average age 22 years) in a crossover design with a one-week washout period between interventions. The subjects completed a self-perceived mood and satiety questionnaire using visual analog scales (VAS) at Results: The oat muesli with the functional claim was perceived as the most beneficial product among the samples (p<0.05), receiving high scores for liking and interest in use. However, oat muesli consumption did not significantly influence participants' average mood and satiety during the trial (p>0.05), as no significant differences between interventions were found. Conclusion: The inclusion of a functional claim positively affected the acceptance of the health benefits associated with oat muesli.
Estado nutricional e consumo alimentar de vegetarianos estritos e não estritos
Authors: Feres Moreira Lima Daniel , De Sousa Cruz Raimunda Jamille , Nobrega Gomes de Matos Pedro Uri , Miranda Santos Karla Jaynara , Sousa Rodrigues Glaucia Helena , Vieira da Silva Martins Isabelle Christine , Dias Reis Andréa , Pereira Pinto Dias Luciana , Ferreira de Sousa Carvalho Laís
Published: December 2023

Introdução: O número de adeptos ao vegetarianismo tem crescido consideravelmente. Observa-se que, entre as vantagens de se adotar uma dieta vegetariana, está o menor risco de desenvolver sobrepeso e obesidade, o que pode estar relacionado com o alto consumo de vegetais e práticas importantes de estilo de vida. Objetivos: Avaliar o estado nutricional e a frequência do consumo alimentar de vegetarianos não estritos e estritos. Métodos: Estudo transversal descritivo, realizado com participantes do grupo “Vegans SLZ”, de ambos os sexos e com idade a partir de 18 anos. A coleta de dados ocorreu de janeiro a março de 2020. Foi realizada aplicação de questionários sobre dados de frequência do consumo alimentar, socioeconômico e de estilo de vida e a aferição de medidas de peso corporal, estatura e de percentuais de gordura corporal e massa muscular. Os dados foram tabulados no Excel 2010® e analisados no programa estatístico R Studio versão 3.6.1. Resultados: Dos 43 vegetarianos avaliados, a maioria seguia a dieta vegetariana estrita (55,81%) e era eutrófica (62,79%), 32,56% apresentaram alto percentual de gordura corporal e 53,49% percentual de massa magra corporal normal. Foi frequente o consumo de pães, cereais, tubérculos, leguminosas, oleaginosas, frutas e verduras, e 41% consumiam alimentos industrializados de 4 a 7 vezes por semana. Conclusões: A maioria da amostra tinha estado nutricional eutrófico e consumo regular de todos os grupos alimentares, porém com importante consumo de alimentos industrializados.
Uma análise das representações sociais da obesidade por profissionais de saúde na atenção primária à saúde
Authors: Magalhães Carolina Gusmão , Machado Virgínia Campos , Santos Lígia Amparo da Silva , Martins Poliana Cardoso , De Santana Mônica Leila Portela
Published: December 2023

Introdução: A compreensão do que seja obesidade vai influenciar a maneira como estruturamos as políticas públicas, o processo formativo dos profissionais de saúde e, principalmente, as práticas de cuidado. Objetivo: Analisar as representações sociais sobre obesidade para profissionais de saúde da Atenção Primária do estado da Bahia, Brasil. Método: Esta comunicação breve refere-se a uma pesquisa qualitativa, ancorada na Teoria das Representações Sociais, desenvolvida no contexto de um curso sobre a qualificação do cuidado às pessoas com sobrepeso e obesidade. Para a produção dos dados, utilizaram-se um questionário semiestruturado on-line e a Técnica de Associação Livre de Palavras, a partir do estímulo “Escreva as três primeiras palavras que vêm a sua mente quando você pensa em obesidade”. A análise prototípica foi realizada com a ajuda do software OpenEvoc. Resultados: Os resultados indicam que o núcleo central das representações sociais sobre obesidade foi formado pelos elementos doença, alimentação, sobrepeso e gordura, enquanto os vocábulos saúde mental, qualidade de vida, atividade física, estigma, saúde e multifatorialidade compõem o sistema periférico. Revelaram que há predominância da perspectiva patológica e individualizada, em que pesem a ampliação do conhecimento científico moderno e das orientações institucionais sobre a obesidade; a assunção dos fatores psicoemocionais no desenvolvimento da obesidade; assim como a incipiência da abordagem multifatorial, ecológica e/ou sindêmica da obesidade. Conclusão: Este estudo sugere que pesquisas aprofundem o estudo de tais representações sociais, suas motivações no campo formativo, laboral e social, bem como a análise do que consolida e provoca as novas narrativas anunciadas.
(In)segurança da rotulagem de alimentos infantis à base de cereais em relação à legislação brasileira vigente
Authors: Da Silva Thaís Santos , De Rosso Veridiana Vera , Speridião Patrícia da Graça Leite
Published: December 2023

Introdução: Os cereais sãoamplamente utilizados na alimentação das crianças. Objetivo: avaliar a composição nutricional e a rotulagem de alimentos infantis à base de cereais, em relação à legislação vigente. Material e Métodos: Estudo transversal, analítico e descritivo que avaliou alimentos à base de cereais, bem como a conformidade da rotulagem em relação à legislação brasileira vigente. Resultados: Avaliaram-se 72 amostras de alimentos: cereal para alimentação infantil; mistura para o preparo de mingaus e farinha de cereais; 100% das amostras apresentaram alguma não conformidade em relação à legislação, incluindo a presença de falso conceito de vantagem e segurança, ilustrações não permitidas, ausência de advertências obrigatórias e ausência da idade mínima para consumo do produto. Nas análises bromatológicas e de rotulagem, o teor de carboidratos de todas as categorias ultrapassou 80% do valor energético total do produto. Os teores de proteínas, lipídios, carboidratos e energia da categoria cereal para alimentação infantil mostraram diferenças significativas, sendo, respectivamente, p=0,015, p<0,001, p=0,013 e p<0,001. A categoria “mistura para preparo de mingaus” também mostrou diferenças significativas para proteínas, lipídios, carboidratos e energia (p<0,001). Na categoria de farinhas de cereais, somente o teor de proteínas apresentou diferença (p=0,05). Conclusão: Considerando o universo amostral do estudo, é possível concluir que mesmo na vigência de legislações específicas, ainda encontramos não conformidades legais na rotulagem de alimentos à base de cereais destinados à alimentação infantil, sendo que esses alimentos apresentam composição nutricional diferente das informações apresentadas em seus rótulos, impactando negativamente a segurança alimentar de crianças.
Insegurança alimentar e situação de saúde de gestantes do semiárido nordestino
Authors: Sena Soares Glória Maria , Santos Farias Hemily Lais , Sena Soares Victoria Celeste , Teixeira de Araujo Lima Cynthia Lorena , Silva Catarine Santos da
Published: December 2023

Introdução: O Brasil enfrenta um cenário de enfraquecimento das políticas públicas em saúde, principalmente as voltadas ao acesso à alimentação, afetando a qualidade de vida da população. Objetivo: Buscou-se investigar a situação de saúde e de segurança alimentar e nutricional de gestantes usuárias da Atenção Primária à Saúde de um município do interior do Rio Grande do Norte. Métodos: Trata-se de um estudo transversal que analisou as condições de acesso aos alimentos por meio da Escala Brasileira de Insegurança Alimentar, além de realizar avaliação antropométrica e de percepção de saúde de gestantes, através de questionário estruturado adaptado para tal fim. Realizou-se o teste de Qui-quadrado de Pearson para verificar a associação entre as variáveis categóricas do estudo, considerando-se estatisticamente significante as associações com valores de p < 0,05. Resultados: Identificou-se alta prevalência de insegurança alimentar (IA) entre a s gestantes (70,6%) e associação entre insegurança alimentar (IA) e doenças crônicas não transmissíveis (p=0,036) e programas sociais assistenciais (p=0,028). Apesar dos avanços enquanto sociedade, ainda há determinantes sociais fortemente relacionados à insegurança alimentar e nutricional da população, principalmente quanto à menor renda e na população beneficiária de programas socioassistenciais. Conclusão: Este estudo ressalta a necessidade de implantação e ampliação de políticas públicas que garantam o Direito Humano à Alimentação Adequada e Saudável de gestantes – que se encontra gravemente violado –, haja vista sua importância para a saúde do binômio.
Impacto do uso de imunonutrientes no desfecho clínico de pacientes críticos: uma revisão sistemática de estudos clínicos
Authors: Souza Yasmym Dannielle  do Espírito Santo , Moreira Jorvana Stanislav Brasil , Lobato Talita Ariane Amaro , Costa Rafaela Lorena Viana , Teixeira Lilia Magno de Abreu
Published: December 2023

Objetivo: Descrever os resultados da influência de imunonutrientes na taxa de mortalidade, tempo de internação, tempo de permanência na Unidade de Terapia Intensiva (UTI) e incidência de infecções em pacientes críticos adultos e idosos. Método: Revisão integrativa da literatura realizada nas bases de dados PubMed, LILACS, SciELO, Medline e Google Scholar, usando os descritores: (“immunomodulation” OR “immunonutrients”) AND (“fattyAcids, Omega-3” OR “eicosapentaenoic Acid”) AND (“glutamine”) AND (“criticalillness” OR “criticalillnesses” OR “criticallyill”), sem restrição de idioma, com pesquisas realizadas no período de 2012 a 2022. Resultados: Nas buscas realizadas, foram encontradas 15 publicações, das quais 11 atenderam a todos os critérios estabelecidos ao início do estudo. Apesar de alguns estudos com indivíduos suplementados com fórmulas imunomoduladoras demonstrarem melhora no tempo de internação de UTI, redução de ocorrência de sepse e choque séptico, e redução de taxa de infecções, em sua maioria os estudos avaliados não mostraram diferença entre os grupos suplementados e os grupos controle, ou não apresentaram resultados estatisticamente significativos. Conclusão: O manejo do cuidado em pacientes críticos deve ser cuidadoso e individualizado, sendo imprescindível que a conduta clínica tenha como base evidências científicas. No presente estudo, a análise dos estudos clínicos que compuseram esta pesquisa verificou que os efeitos da imunomodulação na mortalidade, tempo de internação na UTI e hospitalização total e incidência de infecções, demonstrou ausência de resultados significativos para a prática de uso de imunonutrientes em pacientes críticos, sendo necessário realizar outros estudos para comprovar os reais benefícios da adoção dessa conduta.
Sharps injuries within the healthcare student population: a narrative review
Authors: Hambridge Kevin
Published: December 2023

Background:

Studies have reported evidence on sharps injuries among nursing, medical and dental students but little is known about the amount, type and causes of sharps injuries affecting other healthcare students.

Aim:

The aim of the narrative review was to identify the extent, type and causes of sharps injuries sustained by healthcare students, especially those not in those fields.

Method:

Eight databases were searched using keywords to identify studies published between 1980 and March 2023.

Findings:

This narrative review highlights that some groups of healthcare students, including those studying pharmacy, physiotherapy and radiography, sustain sharps injuries from similar devices as reported in research on such injuries in nursing, medical and nursing students. Sharps injuries happen in a range of healthcare environments, and many were not reported by students. The main cause of a sharps injury identified was a lack of knowledge.

Conclusion:

More research is needed on the extent of sharps injuries in healthcare students in European countries and the UK as well as on their physical and psychological effects. Education and training in sharps use and disposal are essential.
Patient safety: why does the NHS always seem to get a bad press?
Authors: Tingle John
Published: December 2023

John Tingle, Lecturer in Law, Birmingham Law School, University of Birmingham, considers different viewpoints on patient safety issues
Super dads
Authors: Rawstrone Annette
Published: December 2023

A new report highlights fathers' unique role in children's outcomes and the importance of involving them. By Annette Rawstrone
Going potty
Authors: Vollans Caroline
Published: December 2023

Recent generations have softened their attitudes to toilet training, but with high numbers of children starting school in nappies, are we waiting too long? Caroline Vollans
market view: A TOUGH YEAR
Authors: Kanwar Arun
Published: December 2023

Arun Kanwar, managing partner at Cairneagle, on a challenging 2023 for the early years market
Analýza území pomocí prostorových datasetů
Authors: Kliment Daniel
Published: December 2023

Příspěvek zaměřen na zkoumání závislost geolokačních dat a cenových údajů na prostorových charakteristikách území v jednotlivých urbanistických strukturách. Datová sada prostorových charakteristik území byla získána z OpenStreetMap jako zdroje informací pro popis a rozbor území urbanistické struktury. Každá urbanistická struktura (typologie) ve městě má své vlastnosti dané charakterem veřejných prostranství, měřítkem staveb, vzájemnými vazbami a atmosférou. Pro potřeby srovnání sledovaných vybraných statistických dat jsem urbanistickou strukturu města Brna rozdělil do několika základních typů: kompaktní struktura, bloková struktura, smíšená struktura, novodobé obytné soubory, solitérní vily a rodinné domy. Pro vyhodnocení byla použita metoda Multiple-sample comparison, konkrétně analýza rozptylu (ANOVA). Analýza interakce mezi obyvateli a městským prostorem může pomoci ke správnému usměrnění tvorby životního prostředí a souvisejícího veřejného prostoru. Přínos spočívá v ukázce inovativního přístupu ke sběru a využití informací pomocí otevřených prostorových dat prostřednictvím datových platforem.
Excavating Polemic? Cicero in Appian’s Civil Wars
Authors: Welch Kathryn
Published: December 2023

ABSTRACT: Appian of Alexandria wrote in a time of peace long after the end of the Roman civil wars. How does he approach the polemical elements included in his sources in more fractious periods by many more partisan authors? By examining his treatment of M. Tullius Cicero (about whom everyone else had a strong opinion), this paper exposes Appian’s unwillingness to engage in polemic even while he consistently displays his preference for monarchic government and his belief that the ‘happy’ outcome for Rome was the result of divine guidance and intervention.
Polemic as history and Julian as Alexander in the Chronicle of John Malalas
Authors: Garstad Benjamin
Published: December 2023

ABSTRACT: John Malalas’ account of the career of Alexander of Macedon is marked by numerous deviations from the standard historical record. One such error, Alexander crossing over to Asia at the Bosporus rather than the Hellespont, however, seems to point to Dio Cassius’ story of a δαίμων in the guise of Alexander crossing from Byzantium to Chalcedon. The association of references to Alexander and the activity of demons, in turn, draws into the ambit of Malalas’ allusions an array of Christian rhetorical assaults on the Emperor Julian. Julian is revealed as the real subject, or target, of Malalas’ account of Alexander and its apparent errors are shown to be references to matters that recur in the Christian critique of Julian.
Crucifictions and pizza parlors: fragments of a polemic from Socrates of Constantinople’s Ecclesiastical History
Authors: Stephens Falcasantos Rebecca
Published: December 2023

ABSTRACT: The fifth-century ce Ecclesiastical History of Socrates of Constantinople has long been one of the foundational texts for reconstructing ecclesiastical affairs following the Council of Nicaea. Interwoven throughout its accounts of intra-Christian conflict are polemical episodes recounting Jewish violence. One vignette in particular, that of the crucifixion of a Christian boy, has been frequently cited in modern historiography on blood libel narratives. This article examines the role of this episode within Socrates’ polemic and its modern reception, focusing specifically on how anti-Jewish propaganda extracts the episode from its source and leverages it to support blood libel accusations.
Polemic in Herodotus and Thucydides
Authors: Stevenson Tom
Published: December 2023

ABSTRACT: Although neither Herodotus nor Thucydides is known for ad hominem attacks, it should not be concluded that they avoid polemic or aim for uncontroversial expression or somehow precede an age of polemic. They certainly reflect polemical debates on a variety of issues and hold sharp views of their own on numerous matters, including the particular topic of how to write history (Thucydides often seems to tilt at Herodotus). Polemic, then, is a fundamental and complex feature of their work, with a range of literary, political, and historiographical factors underpinning its operation.
Polemic in Livy
Authors: Stevenson Tom
Published: December 2023

ABSTRACT: Livy is not generally described as a polemicist, and the annalistic tradition tends to be described in terms of continuity rather than innovation. This paper aims to show, however, that there is significant polemic in Livy, including ad hominem polemic. Even if the latter falls short of Hellenistic levels, it is worth making the point that Livy wrote a highly competitive narrative, so that the degree to which he deliberately took on and surpassed rival authorities has probably been underestimated. Despite his obvious respect for some basic traditions and interpretations, he was indeed trying to surge past his rivals in innovative ways that would leave him as the pre-eminent authority. Polemic was one of the competitive strategies employed for this purpose.
Pietas schmietas : the danger of overinterpreting
Authors: Farron Steven
Published: December 2023

ABSTRACT: This article critiques scholarly explanations of pius Aeneas, heros , and pietas in the Aeneid ; ἁμαρτία in Aristotle's Poetics 1453a; and ἡ ἀληθεστάτη πρόφασις in Thucydides 1.23.6 and 6.6.1. It argues that the scholarly process-reading and writing articles and books, lecturing, and helping students translate-leads us to exaggerate the care that ancient Greek and Roman authors applied to the exact meanings of the terms they used. In the case of pius Aeneas, heros, pietas , and ἁμαρτία we seek greater precision and clarity than Vergil and Aristotle intended. In the case of ἡ ἀληθεστάτη πρόφασις the same process leads us to ignore the possibility that a brilliant historian could have carelessly misused a crucial phrase.
Una epistula acéfala restituida a su lugar: el verdadero prefacio (cristiano) de los Teraupetica
Authors: Ferraces-Rodríguez Arsenio
Published: December 2023

ABSTRACT: In his doctoral thesis, Wiedemann gave the editio princeps of a short medical writing entitled Epistula quod per omnes curas adhibenda sunt dei medicamenta . The article draws attention to the acephalous condition of this Epistula and relates it to the incomplete preface of a late antique medical recipe book called Teraupetica . This preface, in its incomplete form, and the so-called Epistula quod per omnes curas are two membra disiecta of the same text that would have been separated by accident. The unified text constituted the original preface of the Teraupetica , which is now presented for the first time in a complete critical edition, along with its translation into Spanish.
Cyprus and the defensive policy of Ptolemaic Egypt from Ptolemy IV Philopator to Ptolemy IX Lathyros (221-81 bc )
Authors: Mavrogiannis Theodoros
Published: December 2023

ABSTRACT: The turning point in the history of the Ptolemies is the abandonment of the naval and commercial hegemony in the Aegean Sea and the Eastern Mediterranean at the time of Ptolemy IV Philopator. This fact constituted the preamble for the conscious defensive policy of Ptolemy V Epiphanes and Ptolemy VI Philometor. Egypt and Cyprus were not simply considered as united entities but as an untouchable interdependent axis. The more the Ptolemies pursued a policy of 'association' towards the natives in Egypt, the more the position of Cyprus (as the last stronghold on the outside of the Empire) became enhanced as the 'red line' and an effective 'rescue' refuge'. The military regime of Ptolemy VIII Physkon had the possession of Cyprus as a condition. By the time of Ptolemy IX Lathyrus, economic recovery was reached.
Pindar's Pythian 2: the riddle of the epilogue
Authors: Akhunova Olga
Published: December 2023

ABSTRACT: The final triad of Pindar's Pythian 2 has been the object of particularly close attention by scholars. In this triad, Pindar suddenly switches both the imagery and the intention of the poetic statement itself: he is no longer praising the addressee but instructing him, rebuking certain slanderers, flatterers and envious men—but it is not straightforward accusation. Pindar deploys fable imagery as a vehicle for the censure (a monkey, foxes, a fawning dog, and a wolf). The role of castigator is not unfamiliar to Pindar, but Pythian 2 is unique: only in this ode does Pindar devote an entire triad to denouncing his opponents. The striking contrast between the final triad and the rest of the ode appears to show that the ode has no unity of structure, so scholars and commentators consider the final triad as a pendant of sorts. My hypothesis is that the ode's final triad is not a pendant at all: Pindar is playing with a striking compositional structure, used as a technique by Archilochus in his iambics, so the final triad is a necessary part of the unified poetic structure.
Prehistoric Stone Ornaments from Phromtin Tai, Central Thailand: New Perspectives on Workshop Traditions through the Study of Drilling Methods
Authors: LERTCHARNRIT Thanik , RIENJANG Wannaporn , CARTER Alison , KENOYER Jonathan Mark , LAW Randall W.
Published: December 2023

The multi-component site of Phromtin Tai, Thailand is notable for its long occupation from the
Late Bronze Age (ca. 700 - 500 B.C.E.) through early historic periods (ca. C.E. 500 - 900). Multiple
field seasons of excavation in burial and habitation areas at the site have recovered a large number of
glass and stone beads. Here we present the study of 57 stone beads from the site using qualitative
and quantitative methods that demonstrate the presence of multiple stone ornament workshop
traditions. Examination of perforations from beads and pendants made from regionally available raw
materials of marble, nephrite, serpentine, and other undetermined stone have identified the use of
metal drills with abrasives and diamond drills. These drilling techniques along with the distinctive
shapes of some finely made beads, as well as the reworking of older broken beads suggests the
presence of different scales and organization of local production in Southeast Asia. The different
shapes and production processes of carnelian and banded agate beads also may represent various
workshop traditions. Some of these latter beads may have originated in South Asia, while others may
have been made in different regions of Southeast Asia. This study demonstrates that careful
examination of ornament production techniques, and especially bead perforation technology, can be
used to identify the presence of different workshop traditions allowing for more fine-grained
consideration of inter- and intra-regional bead exchange networks in Southeast Asia. The presence
of many semi-precious stone beads of different materials and having morphologically and
technologically distinct features at Phromtin Tai demonstrate the active consumption of the beads
by social elites at the site. These diversified and exotic status markers represent an intensification and
acceleration of the economy and social complexity at Phromtin Tai. KEYWORDS: stone beads, bead
drilling, bead production, Central Thailand, Iron Age.
Nicholas Afanasiev’s Concept of Eucharistic Ecclesiology and Its Theological Impact
Authors: Kisliakov Daniel
Published: December 2023

precis: A productive area of scholarship of the Russian Religious Renaissance is the reconsideration of the “two schools” dichotomy that has been broadly thought of as an explanation of its development. A better way to approach its study, however, is in a comprehensive way capturing critical details that escape the attention of crude categorizations. An aspect in which this is relevant is the development of the notion of eucharistic ecclesiology. Coined by Nicholas Afanasiev, it was an effort to reveal the eucharistic nature of unity in the church and, as such, its Christ-centeredness. In so doing, he effected a change in how the unity of the church is conceived. Afanasiev had a profound impact on the role of the Orthodox Church in the ecumenical movement. Highlighting this revives knowledge of the development of eucharistic ecclesiology in the modern Orthodox Church. Among Afanasiev’s contemporaries, Paul Evdokimov was influenced by this, adapting it to real-life situations in which knowledge of the centrality of the eucharist was relevant. In an ecumenical setting, the study of Afanasiev and Evdokimov offers the prospect of theological development in the present and the promise of the revival of productive engagement that has been beset by problems in recent decades.
Discerning Religion’s Holistic Character and Ecumenical Capability in a Pluralistic Society: The Potential Contribution of the Integral Theory
Authors: Kato Julius-Kei
Published: December 2023

precis: What is the role that religion (or its inner discourse known as “theology”) can play in modern secular societies that are characterized by pluralism and diversity? Does it still have a legitimate presence that could be a force for good, especially to further peace and harmony in our globalized world? This essay endeavors to respond to these urgent questions by proposing a concrete discernment tool, something that would act like a conceptual map of what is proposed as the ideal, most holistic kind of religion-spirituality that could make a valuable contribution even to pluralistic societies, one that is envisioned to be more comprehensive, inclusive, and complete; one that can be described as truly “ecumenical” and “without walls”; one that is able to include and embrace the whole world with all its diversity. The discernment tool/conceptual map recommended here is the “Integral Theory.” This essay suggests that the Integral Theory as a whole and its key components carry a promising potential to discern forms of religion, theology, and spirituality as to their holistic and integral character. It also provides key insights on how a particular religious tradition or spirituality could move toward a greater wholeness and ecumenical capability and thus be a true force for good in today’s pluralistic and diverse world.
Speaking In-Between: Vernacular Spirituality of a Woman in Late Chosǒn Korea
Authors: Kim So Jung
Published: December 2023

precis: This essay presents a transcultural and transhistorical case that exhibits the impact of everyday language use in the practice of Christian spirituality, which stems from the biblical sermo humilis of late antiquity Christians, across and throughout the history of Christian mission and evangelism. In the specific case of Yi Suni, a Korean female martyr, I argue, this manner of sermo humilis kindles such Spirit-led influence in a mission field without a Western missionary’s intervention, as the Christian message spreads through the raw language of ordinary people. Even though there has been some research on Yi Suni’s in-between identity as an ordinary Confucian woman and a Catholic individual subject, there has not been enough attention to how her manner of speech in her letters reflects her struggles in the liminal space of her transcultural context. Her letters written in the real voice of Korean vernacular ǒnmun exhibit the rawness of the impact of the appropriated Catholicism in the everyday life of a Korean Confucian woman and her family. This rawness of her language, along with the core biblical message, I suggest, is the hallmark of Christian spirituality that Yi Suni revealed without direct influence from any Western missionary.
Jesus Christ: The Heart of Paul’s Gospel
Authors: Einertson Christian J.
Published: December 2023

precis: Pauline theology has recently experienced a significant surge in interest within both Protestant and Roman Catholic theology, with scholars proposing different theological concepts that they find to be the heart of Paul’s gospel. Yet, none of these proposals regarding the heart of Paul’s gospel have proved as ecumenically useful as one might hope. This essay proposes a more ecumenically fruitful perspective on Paul’s gospel that sees not a “what” but a “who” at the center, namely, the person of Jesus. This proposal is not new, as one can see in the writings of major theologians of three great Christian traditions— Cyril of Alexandria, Martin Chemnitz, and Benedict XVI—which this essay presents before considering the ecumenical utility of such a christocentric approach.
MENTAL STATE, VOLITION AND ARGUMENT
REALIZATION
Authors: Xiong Jiajuan , Huang Chu-Ren
Published: December 2023

We explore argument realization in the resultative V-de construction under
the framework of the Theta System. We find that the theta grids of the
resultative V- de construction are of two types, i.e., ([+c-m], [-c]) and ([+cm], [-m]), depending on the (a-)thematic relation between the verb and
second/internal argument. Crucially, the external argument always has a /-
m feature (the minus value of the mental state), regardless of its animacy,
leading to a non-volitional Agent reading (animate) and a Cause reading
(inanimate). It is due to this [+c-m] feature cluster that the construction
yields an unintended result reading, which captures its preference for the
occurrence of dou ‘unexpectedly’ in the construction. In this sense, the
resultative V- de construction can be considered as a non-volitional
counterpart to its de -less counterpart. This contrast signals the
grammatical/morphological coding of volition, with the assistance of de ,
in Mandarin Chinese. As for the internal argument, it can be either [-c] or
[-m], and their syntactic and semantic differences lend credence to the
distinction between “outer objects” and “outermost objects”. The syntactic
distribution of [-c] is sensitive to animacy, with animate [-c] being allowed
to in both [NP1 V- de NP2 XP] and [NP1 ba-NP2 V-de XP], and inanimate
[-c] in [NP1 ba -NP2 V- de XP] only, due to the interactions between
animacy and case. As for [-m], it occurs in [NP1 V- de NP2 XP], in which
NP2 is not thematically related to V and ba -introduction is barred. This
study enriches the Theta System with Chinese data, in special regard to
how animacy, mental state, and volition may affect argument realization.
Chaucer's Proleptic Palinode
Authors: Ripplinger Michelle
Published: December 2023

Abstract: Chaucer intervenes in late medieval debates about the dangers of fictive mimesis by reimagining the unanticipated woman reader's role in the repentant narrative of the vita Ovidiana . To defend the Ars amatoria from accusations of immorality, Ovid had claimed that it had been misinterpreted by women readers he had not anticipated. The medieval Ovid tradition absorbed this feminized figure into the biography it retroactively constructed for him; the Heroides became a palinode, an apology for or corrective to the youthful poetic indiscretions that supposedly misled these women readers. Chaucer turns this tradition knowingly on its head. In Troilus and Criseyde , he not only sets the stage for his own Heroides by giving himself something to apologize for, but also revalues the unanticipated woman reader and her interpretive faults. His sustained engagement with the vita Ovidiana in turn elucidates the literary-theoretical stakes of The Legend of Good Women , which defends the ethical value of narrative fiction, without moralizing commentary, even as it asks the reader to remain alert to its risks.
Situational assessment of empathy and compassion: Predicting prosociality using a video-based task
Authors: Górska Gabriela , Berkovich-Ohana Aviva , Klimecki Olga , Trautwein Fynn-Mathis
Published: December 2023

Classical psychometric approaches in social science measure individuals’ tendency to experience empathy and compassion. Using abstract questionnaire items, they place high demand on subjects’ capacity to introspect, memorize, and generalize the corresponding emotions. We employed a Socio-affective Video Task (SoVT)—an alternative approach that measures situationally elicited emotions—and assessed its predictive power over prosocial behavior against classical questionnaires in a sample of Israeli university students. We characterized the conceptual embedding of the SoVT concerning other measures of prosocial affect and cognition, and tested group identification as an alternative precursor to prosocial behavior. Eighty participants rated their reactions to videos that presented the suffering of others or everyday scenes on scales of negative affect (providing a proxy for elicited empathy) and compassion. We then administered classical questionnaires that target empathy (the Interpersonal Reactivity Index) and compassion (the Compassionate Love Scale), as well as measures of hypothetical and real-life helping and prosocial attitudes—including conflict attitudes and intergroup bias. While compassion ratings in the SoVT failed to predict prosociality more accurately than classical questionnaires, the SoVT empathy index succeeded and correlated strongly with other precursors of prosociality. These results support video-based situational assessment as an implicit and robust alternative in the measurement of empathy-related processes.
An enhanced gain non-isolated quadratic boost DC-DC converter with continuous source current
Authors: Subhani Nafis , May Zazilah , Alam Md Khorshed , Mamun Sabrina
Published: December 2023

In this paper, a non-isolated quadratic boost DC-DC converter has been proposed. The proposed converter provides high output voltage gain with a lower component count on the structure. In addition, the input side inductor provides continuous source current and the output voltage is positive. Since the proposed topology possesses the continuous source current, it simplifies the filter design at the input side further making the converter suitable for photovoltaic applications. Another important feature of this converter includes the utilization of the same switch ground that omits the additional control power supply in the system design. The detailed mathematical modeling of the proposed topology including the steady state analysis for different modes of operations, voltage stress calculations of the components, and power loss calculations have been precisely demonstrated in this work. The simulation has been carried out in Matlab/Simulink software. Finally, a 250 W experimental prototype has been developed and tested in the laboratory environment and the peak efficiency of the proposed topology has been found 92% at 50% duty cycle, which validates the correctness of the theoretical and simulation outcomes of the proposed work.
Acknowledging the impact of seasonal blood pressure variation in hypertensive CKD and non-CKD patients living in a Mediterranean climate
Authors: Charbel Tatiana , El Koubayati Georgio , Kharsa Chloe , Aoun Mabel
Published: December 2023

Background

This study aims to assess seasonal blood pressure (BP) variation in chronic kidney disease (CKD) and non-CKD patients living in a Mediterranean climate, and to find out if this variation entails significant adjustment of treatment and if it impacts renal outcomes and mortality.

Methods

This retrospective study included all hypertensive patients seen between February 2006 and April 2020 in two Lebanese clinics. Regression analyses were used to assess the association of seasonal BP variability and treatment adjustment with eGFR change from baseline, dialysis initiation and death.

Results

A total of 398 patients of 64.2 ±13.9 years were followed for 51.1 ±44.3 months, 67% had eGFR< 60 mL/min. Mean systolic and diastolic BP was 137.7 ±14.7 and 76.5 ±9.5 mmHg respectively. Systolic and diastolic BP were significantly lower in the warm season in CKD and non-CKD patients (P<0.001). The majority (91.4%) needed seasonal treatment modifications. After adjustment to age, sex, baseline eGFR, BP and number of antihypertensive drugs, we found a significant loss of eGFR with treatment modifications in both seasons, double risk of dialysis with the increase of antihypertensive treatment in both seasons and a 2.5 more risk of death with reduced treatment in the warm season.

Conclusion

This study confirmed the seasonal BP variability in CKD and non-CKD patients from a Mediterranean climate. All types of treatment adjustment were associated with eGFR loss. Low BP in the warm season was highly associated with death.
Physical activity on executive function in sedentary individuals: Systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials
Authors: Tian Shudong , Liang Zhide , Qiu Fanghui , Wang Xianliang
Published: December 2023

Physical activity has been demonstrated to promote cognitive performance. However, the relationship between physical activity and executive function (EF) in sedentary individuals is not fully understood. This meta-analysis examined the impact of physical activity on EF in sedentary individuals and evaluated potential moderators of the relationship between physical activity and EF. In accordance with the PRISMA guidelines, the electronic databases MEDLINE, Embase, PsycINFO and Web of Science were searched. Included studies had to report sedentary individuals randomized to either a physical activity group or a control group. Subgroup analyses of EF sub-domains, exercise prescription and age were conducted alongside the overall meta-analysis. Thirteen RCT studies were included, with a total of 752 participants. Results showed a small to moderate beneficial effect of physical activity on EF (SMD = 0.24, 95% CI 0.08 to 0.40). In subgroup analysis by EF sub-domains, physical activity enhanced inhibitory control (SMD = 0.38, 95% CI 0.12 to 0.63) and working memory (SMD = 0.22, 95% CI -0.05 to 0.49), but not cognitive flexibility (SMD = 0.11, 95% CI -0.18 to 0.41). Interventions with an intervention length > 12 weeks improved overall EF (SMD = 0.26, 95% CI 0.06 to 0.46), but intervention length ≤ 12 weeks did not (SMD = 0.20, 95% CI -0.08 to 0.47). Interventions with session time ≥ 45 minutes improved overall EF (SMD = 0.47, 95% CI 0.22 to 0.77), but session time < 45 minutes did not (0.17, 95% CI -0.11 to 0.44). Physical activity improves EF for older adults (age ≥ 60 years) (SMD = 0.25, 95% CI 0.08 to 0.42), but not for younger individuals (age < 60 years) (SMD = 0.17, 95% CI -0.25 to 0.59). Overall, physical activity has a beneficial effect on EF in sedentary individuals, although the influence may be domain specific and influenced by exercise prescription and age. These findings have practical implications for those seeking to improve EF in sedentary individuals through physical activity.