bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Exploring the binding interactions of NOP receptor with designed natural phytochemical-neuropeptide conjugates: an in silico and SPR study
Authors: Murray Molly E. , Goncalves Beatriz G. , Biggs Mary A. , Frantzeskos Sophia A. , Lebedenko Charlotta G. , Banerjee Ipsita A.
Published: March 2024

The Nociceptin/orphanin FQ peptide (NOP) receptor is considered a member of the opioid receptor subfamily of G-protein coupled receptors (GPCRs) which has been shown to be present in many parts of the central nervous system (CNS). It plays biologically diverse roles in pain modulation, immune response and in neurodegenerative diseases. In this work, phytochemical conjugates of two known neuropeptides, melanocyte inhibition factor (MiF-1) and mammalian amidated neuropeptide NPFF with pain modulating ability were developed. The binding interactions of those conjugates with NOP receptor was examined as an approach to develop novel natural compounds that can modulate NOP receptor activity. The selected phytochemicals are well-known for their antioxidant abilities and are derived either from natural alkaloids (betanin), polyphenols (gallic acid and sinapic acid) or terpenes (pomolic acid). Each of the phytochemicals selected are antioxidants which may play a role in mitigating diseases. Three conjugates of betanin were designed with each peptide by conjugating each of the three carboxylic acid groups of betanin with the peptides, while all others were mono-conjugates. Our results indicated that the betanin conjugates with both peptides showed strong binding interactions while the pomolate-peptide conjugates showed moderate binding. In general, NPFF and its conjugates showed stronger binding with the receptor. Docking and molecular dynamics studies revealed that binding interactions occurred at the binding pocket encompassing the transmembrane helices TM1, TM3 and TM7 in most cases, with the ligands binding deep within the hydrophobic core. The binding interactions were further confirmed experimentally through SPR analysis, which also showed higher binding with the betanin conjugates. MMGBSA studies indicated that the binding energies of MiF-1 conjugates were higher compared to neat MiF-1. However, in the case of NPFF, while the betanin conjugates showed enhancement, in some cases the binding energies were found to be slightly reduced compared to neat NPFF. Overall our studies reveal that such natural phytochemical derivatives that can bind to the NOP receptor when conjugated to the mammalian amidated neuropeptide NPFF and the short sequence of melanocyte inhibiting factor MiF-1 may be potentially developed for further laboratory studies for potential pharmaceutical applications.
Interindividual differences in aronia juice tolerability linked to gut microbiome and metabolome changes—secondary analysis of a randomized placebo-controlled parallel intervention trial
Authors: Lackner Sonja , Mahnert Alexander , Moissl-Eichinger Christine , Madl Tobias , Habisch Hansjörg , Meier-Allard Nathalie , Kumpitsch Christina , Lahousen Theresa , Kohlhammer-Dohr Alexandra , Mörkl Sabrina , Strobl Herbert , Holasek Sandra
Published: March 2024

Background

Aronia melanocarpa is a berry rich in polyphenols known for health benefits. However, the bioavailability of polyphenols has been questioned, and the individual taste acceptance of the fruit with its specific flavor varies. We recently observed substantial differences in the tolerability of aronia juice among healthy females, with half of the individuals tolerating aronia juice without complaints. Given the importance of the gut microbiome in food digestion, we investigated in this secondary analysis of the randomized placebo-controlled parallel intervention study (ClinicalTrials.gov registration: NCT05432362) if aronia juice tolerability was associated with changes in intestinal microbiota and bacterial metabolites, seeking for potential mechanistic insights into the impact on aronia polyphenol tolerance and metabolic outcomes.

Results

Forty females were enrolled for this 6-week trial, receiving either 100 ml natural aronia juice (verum, V) twice daily or a polyphenol-free placebo (P) with a similar nutritional profile, followed by a 6-week washout. Within V, individuals were categorized into those who tolerated the juice well (Vt) or reported complaints (Vc). The gut microbiome diversity, as analyzed by 16S rRNA gene-based next-generation sequencing, remained unaltered in Vc but changed significantly in Vt. A MICOM-based flux balance analysis revealed pronounced differences in the 40 most predictive metabolites post-intervention. In Vc carbon-dioxide, ammonium and nine O-glycans were predicted due to a shift in microbial composition, while in Vt six bile acids were the most likely microbiota-derived metabolites. NMR metabolomics of plasma confirmed increased lipoprotein subclasses (LDL, VLDL) post-intervention, reverting after wash out. Stool samples maintained a stable metabolic profile.

Conclusion

In linking aronia polyphenol tolerance to gut microbiota-derived metabolites, our study explores adaptive processes affecting lipoprotein profiles during high polyphenol ingestion in Vt and examines effects on mucosal gut health in response to intolerance to high polyphenol intake in Vc. Our results underpin the importance of individualized hormetic dosing for beneficial polyphenol effects, demonstrate dynamic gut microbiome responses to aronia juice, and emphasize personalized responses in polyphenol interventions.

Graphical Abstract
Prevention of suicidal behavior with lithium treatment in patients with recurrent mood disorders
Authors: Tondo Leonardo , Baldessarini Ross J.
Published: March 2024

Suicidal behavior is more prevalent in bipolar disorders than in other psychiatric illnesses. In the last thirty years evidence has emerged to indicate that long-term treatment of bipolar disorder patients with lithium may reduce risk of suicide and attempts, with possibly similar benefits in recurrent major depressive disorder. We review and update selected research literature on effects of lithium treatment in reducing suicidal behavior and consider proposals that higher levels of lithium in drinking water may be associated with lower suicide rates. We summarize results of a growing number of randomized, controlled studies of lithium treatment for suicide prevention including comparisons with placebos or alternative treatments, and comment on the severe challenges of such trials. The basis of a proposed protective effect of lithium against suicidal behaviors remains uncertain but may include protective effects against recurrences of depressive phases of mood disorders, especially with mixed features or agitation, and possibly through beneficial effects on impulsivity, agitation and dysphoric mood.
How is trauma-focused therapy experienced by adults with PTSD? A systematic review of qualitative studies
Authors: Gjerstad Solveig Flem , Nordin Linda , Poulsen Stig , Spadaro Erminio Francesco Antares , Palic Sabina
Published: March 2024

Background

Trauma-focused therapies (TFTs) are first-line treatments for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). However, TFTs are under-utilised, partly due to clinicians’ and patients' fear that TFT is too challenging or harmful. We review the qualitative studies on how adults with PTSD experience TFTs to enhance the understanding of user perspectives, therapeutic processes, and outcomes.

Methods

PubMed, PsychINFO and PTSDPubs were searched between October 1st and November 30th, 2021. Study quality assessments were undertaken, and studies were analysed using a descriptive-interpretative approach. Nine studies were included.

Results

The analysis resulted in the identification of four key domains, representing a temporal sequence of TFT stages: Overcoming ambivalence towards TFT, Experience of treatment elements, Motivation for dropout/retention, and Perceived changes post-treatment.

Conclusion

Although many participants reported high levels of distress and considered dropping out, only a minority did eventually drop out and most patients expressed that the hardships in therapy were necessary for PTSD improvement. Establishing a safe therapeutic environment and working with the ambivalence towards treatment was essential for retention. This review serves a dual purpose, to shed light on diverse TFT experiences found to be important for treatment satisfaction, and to elucidate common treatment patterns. The results can be used in preparing patients for therapy and in training TFT therapists. Studies had moderate to high quality, and more studies of experiences of TFT non-responders and dropouts in a non-veteran population are needed to further our understanding of the utility and limitations of TFTs.
ORTEGA v1.0: an open-source Python package for context-aware interaction analysis using movement data
Authors: Su Rongxiang , Liu Yifei , Dodge Somayeh
Published: March 2024

Background

Interaction analysis via movement in space and time contributes to understanding social relationships among individuals and their dynamics in ecological systems. While there is an exciting growth in research in computational methods for interaction analysis using movement data, there remain challenges regarding reproducibility and replicability of the existing approaches. The current movement interaction analysis tools are often less accessible or tested for broader use in ecological research.

Results

To address these challenges, this paper presents ORTEGA, an Object-oRiented TimE-Geographic Analytical tool, as an open-source Python package for analyzing potential interactions between pairs of moving entities based on the observation of their movement. ORTEGA is developed based on one of the newly emerged time-geographic approaches for quantifying space-time interaction patterns among animals. A case study is presented to demonstrate and evaluate the functionalities of ORTEGA in tracing dynamic interaction patterns in animal movement data. Besides making the analytical code and data freely available to the community, the developed package also offers an extension of the existing theoretical development of ORTEGA for incorporating a context-aware ability to inform interaction analysis.

Conclusions

ORTEGA contributes two significant capabilities: (1) the functions to identify potential interactions (e.g., encounters, concurrent interactions, delayed interactions) from movement data of two or more entities using a time-geographic-based approach; and (2) the capacity to compute attributes of potential interaction events including start time, end time, interaction duration, and difference in movement parameters such as speed and moving direction, and also contextualize the identified potential interaction events.
Synthesizing class labels for highly imbalanced credit card fraud detection data
Authors: Kennedy Robert K. L. , Villanustre Flavio , Khoshgoftaar Taghi M. , Salekshahrezaee Zahra
Published: March 2024

Acquiring labeled datasets often incurs substantial costs primarily due to the requirement of expert human intervention to produce accurate and reliable class labels. In the modern data landscape, an overwhelming proportion of newly generated data is unlabeled. This paradigm is especially evident in domains such as fraud detection and datasets for credit card fraud detection. These types of data have their own difficulties associated with being highly class imbalanced, which poses its own challenges to machine learning and classification. Our research addresses these challenges by extensively evaluating a novel methodology for synthesizing class labels for highly imbalanced credit card fraud data. The methodology uses an autoencoder as its underlying learner to effectively learn from dataset features to produce an error metric for use in creating new binary class labels. The methodology aims to automatically produce new labels with minimal expert input. These class labels are then used to train supervised classifiers for fraud detection. Our empirical results show that the synthesized labels are of high enough quality to produce classifiers that significantly outperform a baseline learner comparison when using area under the precision-recall curve (AUPRC). We also present results of varying levels of positive-labeled instances and their effect on classifier performance. Results show that AUPRC performance improves as more instances are labeled positive and belong to the minority class. Our methodology thereby effectively addresses the concerns of high class imbalance in machine learning by creating new and effective class labels.
Core hyphosphere microbiota of Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. niveum
Authors: Thomas Vanessa E. , Antony-Babu Sanjay
Published: March 2024

Background

Bacteria and fungi are dynamically interconnected, leading to beneficial or antagonistic relationships with plants. Within this interkingdom interaction, the microbial community directly associated with the pathogen make up the pathobiome. While the overall soil bacterial community associated with Fusarium wilt diseases has been widely examined, the specific bacterial populations that directly interact with the Fusarium wilt pathogens are yet to be discovered. In this study, we define the bacterial community associated with the hyphae of Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. niveum race 2 (FON2). Using the 16S rRNA gene metabarcoding, we describe the hyphosphere pathobiome of three isolates of FON2.

Results

Our results show a core microbiome that is shared among the three tested hyphospheres. The core hyphosphere community was made up of 15 OTUs (Operational Taxonomic Units) that were associated with all three FON2 isolates. This core consisted of bacterial members of the families, Oxalobacteraceae, Propionibacteriaceae, Burkholderiaceae, Micrococcaceae, Bacillaceae, Comamonadaceae, Pseudomonadaceae and unclassified bacteria. The hyphosphere of FON2 was dominated by order Burkholderiales. While all three isolate hyphospheres were dominated by these taxa, the specific OTU differed. We also note that while the dominant OTU of one hyphosphere might not be the largest OTU for other hyphospheres, they were still present across all the three isolate hyphospheres. Additionally, in the correlation and co-occurrence analysis the most abundant OTU was negatively correlated with most of the other OTU populations within the hyphosphere.

Conclusions

The study indicates a core microbiota associated with FON2. These results provide insights into the microbe-microbe dynamic of the pathogen's success and its ability to recruit a core pathobiome. Our research promotes the concept of pathogens not being lone invaders but recruits from the established host microbiome to form a pathobiome.
Athlete Mental Health and Wellbeing During the Transition into Elite Sport: Strategies to Prepare the System
Authors: Pilkington Vita , Rice Simon , Olive Lisa , Walton Courtney , Purcell Rosemary
Published: March 2024

The transition into elite-level sport can expose young athletes to risk factors for mental ill-health, including increased performance expectations, stressors associated with becoming increasingly public figures, and changes in lifestyle demands, such as diet, training loads and sleep. Successful integration into elite-level sport requires athletes to quickly adapt to these newfound challenges and the norms and culture of the new sport setting, while developing relationships with teammates, coaches, and support staff. Despite these demands, the mental health experiences of athletes transitioning into elite-level sport have been largely neglected in sport psychology literature. This is reflected in the dearth of programs for supporting mental health during this career phase, particularly relative to retirement transition programs. In this article, we offer a preliminary framework for supporting athletes’ mental health during the transition into elite-level sport. This framework is based on holistic, developmental, and ecological perspectives. Our framework outlines a range of recommendations for promoting mental health and preventing mental ill-health, including individual-level, relational, sport-level, and sociocultural-level strategies. Key recommendations include preparing athletes for the challenges they are likely to face throughout their athletic careers, highlighting athletes’ competence earlier in their careers, developing supportive relationships in the sport setting, and fostering psychologically safe sporting cultures. Supporting mental health from earlier in the athletic career is likely to promote athletes’ overall wellbeing, support enjoyment and retention in sport, and encourage help-seeking.
The role of internal CSR in guiding the digitalisation of work
Authors: Wolf Lea , Ehlen Ronny , Bardmann Mona-Maria , Ruiner Caroline , Lanzl Julia , Schoch Manfred , Gimpel Henner
Published: March 2024

In the context of the increased use of digital technologies at work and the various reported positive and negative outcomes for workers, this paper deals with the effects of internal corporate social responsibility (ICSR) and the digitalisation of work. The findings are based on a structured literature review identifying and synthesizing extant knowledge. A total of 57 papers are analysed regarding their contributions to the literature on digital transformation and ICSR. The results indicate that ICSR is partly implemented in a reactive way to mitigate negative effects of digitalisation at work, and partly in a proactive way to prevent them. The contributions relate (a) to the conceptualisation of digital work and its effects related to ICSR; (b) to the development of the concept of ICSR with a specific focus on digitalisation; and (c) to the derivation of a future research agenda. Finally, implications for research and practice are discussed to investigate further ICSR’s essential role in the interrelation between digitalisation and sustainability at work.
Bile duct matrix metalloproteinase-7 expression: a new modality for diagnosis of biliary atresia
Authors: Allam Alif Abdelhakim , Khedr Mohammed Ahmed , Elkholy Shimaa Saad , Yassin Takwa Abd El Rahman , Fouad Ola Ahmed
Published: March 2024

Background

Biliary atresia (BA) is an obliterative cholangiopathy of infancy that results in cholestasis and liver fibrosis. This fibrosis is due to an imbalance in extracellular matrix (ECM) breakdown and deposition. The mechanism by which the progressive injury occurs is not fully elucidated. Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) are involved in ECM turnover but also have non-ECM-related functions. Matrix metalloproteinase 7 (MMP7) has been suggested as a promising biomarker in diagnosing BA.

Objective

The aim of this study was to assess the hepatic expression of MMP-7 in infants with BA.

Patients and methods

The study was a retrospective-prospective case–control study that included 50 patients who were categorized into two groups, BA group (25 patients) and non-BA cholestatic patients as a control group (25 patients). Liver biochemistry, liver biopsy, histopathology, and immunohistochemical staining for primary antibody MMP-7 were performed for all studied patients.

Results

Bile duct MMP7 expression was significantly higher in infants with BA than in non-BA cholestasis (P = 0.003), While the hepatic MMP-7 intensity did not differ significantly between both groups (P > 0.05). Bile duct expression of MMP-7 had a significant positive correlation with the BA Score (P = 0.017), while hepatic MMP-7 intensity had a significant positive correlation with alanine transaminase levels (P = 0.007) and a significant negative correlation with γ glutamyl transferase in the BA group (P = 0. 038). There was no statistically significant difference among different stages of fibrosis as regards the median of the hepatic MMP-7 intensity score and MMP-7 bile duct expression in infants with BA. There was no statistically significant difference between infants with successful and failed Kasai as regard the hepatic MMP-7 intensity and its bile duct expression.

Conclusion

Bile duct expression of MMP-7 measured by immunohistochemistry is useful for the diagnosis of BA, but it is limited in predicting the stage of liver fibrosis and the outcome of Kasai portoenterostomy (KPE).
Robust congregation influences of AB-PINACA and MDMB-4en-PINACA inhalation on neurobehavioral and cardiac disorders in mice
Authors: Ahmad Manar A. , Ghaleb Sherien Salah , Hassan Dalia Abd Elwahab , Sharkawi Souty M. Z. , Abdelghany Asmaa K. , Mostafa Asmaa Mahmoud , Hassan Randa M. , Abdalla Ahmed G. Sobhi
Published: March 2024

Background

A novel category of unusual cannabinoid substances was created to serve as marijuana alternatives due to its widespread availability, low price, pleasurable effects, and difficulty to be detected in regular urine testing for drugs, although more potential for abuse, toxicity, and behavioral alterations can result. It is more hazardous to multiple organ systems and has higher CB1 and CB2 receptor affinities than natural cannabinoids. So, the abuse potential, toxicity, and cardiac and nervous systems health hazards of two popular street herbs (AB-PINACA and MDMB-4en-PINACA) have been evaluated in mice.

Methods

Thirty male mice were separated into three equally sized groups indiscriminately: the control group: received no treatments, the AB-PINACA-treated group, and the MDMB-4en-PINACA-treated group. Treated groups were exposed to the two herbs for two consecutive days via inhalation to simulate natural human exposure. Cannabinoid tetrad tests and anxiety-like behavior were performed. Serum samples were obtained for cardiac enzymes measurement. Heart and brain tissue samples were harvested for the determination of oxidative stress markers, brain neurotransmitters, and histopathological findings.

Results

Nociception and hypothermia were significantly influenced by both treatments. The locomotor activity decreased significantly with AB-PINACA inhalation, while the cataleptic effect increased significantly with MDMB-4en-PINACA inhalation. In addition, both treatments induced anxiety-like behavior. Both treatments induced alterations in brain neurotransmitter levels (glutamate, dopamine, and serotonin) and cardiac enzyme levels (CK-MB, troponin I). Histological changes showed neurodegenerative, necrotic, and infracted heart myocytes and degenerated muscle fibers, particularly with MDMB-4en-PINACA inhalation.

Conclusions

Acute inhalation of street herbs containing AB-PINACA and MDMB-4en-PINACA induced neurobehavioral and cardiac disturbances, which were evident by changes in behavior, brain neurotransmitters, and heart enzymes, in addition to the degenerative histopathological changes in the brain and heart.
Current insights into feline osteoarthritis
Authors: Cannon Martha
Published: March 2024

Osteoarthritis is a painful condition which affects the majority of older cats but is often not recognised because of differences in the ways that affected cats exhibit the signs of chronic joint pain compared to dogs. There are also inherent challenges to the physical examination of cats which add to the difficulty of reaching a diagnosis, including the small size of their appendicular joints and a reluctance to allow manipulation and palpation of painful joints. Furthermore, even when osteoarthritis is identified, it is frequently not treated or is not treated effectively, in part as a result of concerns regarding adverse effects and costs of treatment as well as the practical difficulties of daily dosing with medication. Understanding the gait and behaviour changes that are characteristic of osteoarthritis is a key part of the diagnostic process and is more sensitive than radiography in identifying the presence of the disease. Once the condition has been diagnosed, a wide range of well-tolerated treatment options exist, allowing a multi-modal treatment approach to be adopted and tailored to the needs of the cat and the owner, which will deliver effective pain management in an affordable way and will not become a daily stressor to either party.
ÇERKES TOPLUMUNDA “HAYNAPE” KAVRAMI: TOKAT/ BATMANTAŞ KÖYÜ ÖRNEĞİ
Authors: DELEN Mahmut
Published: March 2024

Çerkesler, geleneklerine bağlı bir toplum olarak tanınmaktadır. Yaşadıkları coğrafyalardaki çeşitli zorluklara karşı kültürlerini bir sığınak olarak gören Çerkesler, kültürel verimleri ile insanlığın mirasına önemli katkılarda bulunan bir halk olarak varlıklarını sürdürmektedirler. Varlıklarını sürdürürken hem birlikteliğin telkini hem de ayrışmanın engellenmesi için çeşitli kaidelere sıkı sıkıya bağlanan Çerkesler, haynape denilen kavrama özel bir önem atfetmişlerdir. Araştırma kapsamında söz konusu kavrama yüklenen anlamlar incelenmiştir. Kültürel coğrafya ve halkbilimi alanlarının analiz desenlerinden faydalanılan çalışma kapsamında Tokat ilinin merkez ilçesine bağlı olan Batmantaş Köyü’nde 20 kişi ile rastgele örneklem belirlenerek görüşmeler gerçekleştirilmiştir. Bu görüşmelerde yapılandırılmış görüşme formu aracılığı ile gönüllü katılımcılara sorulan dört soru vasıtasıyla haynape kavramına atfedilen anlamlar ortaya konulmaya çalışılmıştır. Buna göre haynape kavramının Çerkes toplumunda Adige xabze denilen örf bütününün yasaklarını teşkil ettiği tespit edilmiştir. Katılımcıların haynapeyi Türkçe ayıp, saygı, gelenek, yasak; Çerkesçe xabze, yemug, thamade kelimeleri ile andığı görülmüştür. Bu kelimeler ile birlikte anılması, haynapenin Çerkes kültürünü ayakta tutan önemli bir eğitim aracı olarak anlamlandırıldığını da düşündürmüştür. Bu bağlamda Haynapenin toplumu bir arada tutan işlevsel yönü kadar söz konusu öğretici tarafı ile önemsendiği de tespit edilmiştir. Yasak ve kınamaların; çocukların yetiştirilmesi, gençlerin aile kurumunu ayakta tutması, ihtiyarların ise sıhhatle yaşlılığını geçirerek saygı görmesi için bir araç sayıldığı görülmüştür. Bundan hareketle haynapenin yalnızca yasaklama ve kurallar koyma aracı olmadığı; bu yönü ile tabu sayılamayacağı, toplumun birlikteliği için çok önemli bir gereç sayıldığı değerlendirilmiştir. Ayrıca ekseriyetle uyarı, men ve yasakları içeren bir kavram olarak algılanmasına karşın haynapenin tüm kaynak kişilerce övülerek anlamlandırılması, Çerkeslerin kültürel varlıklarının anlamı ve işlevselliği bakımından ittifak ettiği şeklinde değerlendirilmiştir.
ARAP, İBRANİ, YUNAN VE TÜRK TOPLUMLARININ İNANIŞ VE MİTLERİNDE KADIN ALGISI
Authors: BAHADIR Sedat
Published: March 2024

Serbest çağrışım yöntemiyle hareket eden mitler, doğa güçleri ve doğaüstü varlıklarla ilgili yaşanıldığına inanılan olayları anlattığından toplumların dünya görüşü, kültür politikaları ve milli şuurlarını oluşturmada ehemmiyet taşırlar. Dünyanın oluşumunu sürekli tekrarlanan bir başlangıç olarak gören Grek toplumunda ilk kadın, Toprak ana Gaia’dır. Bir kadının doğum yapması ile topraktan çıkan bitkilerin sürekliliği dikkatlerini çekmiş ve ikisi arasında bir bağ kurarak Gaia’yı tanrısallaştırmışlardır. Grekler, Bronz çağı kabileleri tarafından işgal edildiğinde Gaia’ya dua ederek kurtulacaklarını düşünmüşlerdir. Yunan inanışında Zeus’un emriyle elinde kötülük saçan bir kâseyle yeryüzüne gönderilen ilk ölümlü kadın, Pandora’dır. Bu nedenle Grek inanışında kötülük ve Pandora beraber anılmaktadır.

Semitik toplumlar içerisinde varlığını devam ettiren Arap ve İbranilerin kutsal kitaplarında yaratılışla ilgili olarak birçok ortak mekanizmaların olduğunu görmekteyiz. Âdem ile Havva’nın yaratılışı hikâyesinde önce Âdem’in çamurdan yaratılması, kaburga kemiğinden de Havva’nın yaratılması motifi, yasak meyve, şeytanın kandırması sonucu cennetten kovuluşu ve dünyanın altı günde yaratılması hikâyesi ortaktır. Bu ortak motifler içerisinde Kur’an, Tevrat, Zebur ve İncil arasında farklılıkların olduğunu söyleyebiliriz. Bu farklılıklardan biri, Kur’an’da Âdem’den sonra yaratılan Havva’yla ilgili olarak, “Âdem’in kaburga kemiklerinden yaratılan eşi” denilmektedir. Diğer üç kitapta ise Havva ismi, sıkça geçmektedir. İkincisi, Kur’an’da bahsi geçen yasak meyvenin yaratılan ölümlüler arasında önce kimin yediği hakkında bilgiye rastlanılmamasıdır. Diğer üç kutsal kitapta ise önce Havva’nın yediği, sonrasında Âdem’e yedirdiği ve bu nedenle de dolayı cennetten kovuldukları anlatılmaktadır.

Türk mitolojisinde kadın algısı, Arap, İbrani ve Yunan anlatımlarının aksine dünyanın yaratılışına ilham veren Ak Ene ve yaratıldıktan sonra koruyucu iye olarak önemli rol üstlenen Umay Ana, olumlu özellikleriyle ön plana çıkmıştır. Çalışmamızda en eski toplumlardan olan Arap, İbrani ve Yunanlıların evren ve insanın yaratılış mitlerinden günümüze kadar gelen kadın algısı incelenmiş, Türk mitolojisi ve kültürüyle karşılaştırılarak aralarındaki farklılıklar, örneklerle ortaya konmuştur.
AN AHP-BASED APPROACH TO SELECTING A PRIORITY PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION MODE FOR INVESTMENT
Authors: Akhrouf Mohamed , Medjamia Hadjer , Bessou Meriem
Published: March 2024

This article presents a new approach to prioritize and select transportation projects using multi-criteria decision-making techniques. It is aimed at organizations responsible for managing and developing transportation modes, and addresses the need for a systematic methodology for selecting which transportation modes to invest in. The proposed methodology is based on the Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP) and implemented using the ExpertChoice software. This approach involves decision-makers in the process of identifying transportation modes that are potentially profitable and beneficial for the community.
Metamaterial with dual stealth functions in infrared and terahertz bands
Authors: Bai Jinjun , Liu Chunxi , Tang Chunxiao , Shi Ying , Wang Shasha , Xu Wei , Ding Chaoliang , Chang Shengjiang
Published: March 2024

In this study, an electromagnetic metamaterial with infrared (IR) passive stealth and terahertz (THz) active stealth functions is proposed. The device comprises an infrared stealth layer (IRSL) made of ZnS and SiO2, and a terahertz absorbing layer (TAL) utilizing a "graphene-SiO2-gold" sandwich-like structure. The properties of the metamaterials are investigated using the full-vector finite element method. The results indicate that the emissivity of the device is close to zero in the infrared atmospheric window (8 ~ 14 μm), with an absorption of up to 88% and a bandwidth of 2.54 THz at the center frequency of 3.98 THz. Furthermore, the device exhibited polarization insensitivity and tolerance to wide-angle incidence. These advantages make it suitable for applications in the THz radar and stealth fields.
Optimizing Radar Functionality: Development of a Steerable Patch Antenna Array with Enhanced Bandwidth
Authors: Alanazi Mubarak , Assisi Aladdin
Published: March 2024

In this paper, we introduce an advanced design of a horizontally steerable planar antenna array, specifically engineered for sophisticated radar applications. The design features a comprehensive 60° steering sector alongside a notable 12% bandwidth, achieved through an innovative configuration of eight identical elements. Each element consists of a 3-element series-fed vertical array, utilizing aperture feeds with meticulously dimensioned patches to optimize performance. This paper explores the detailed process of designing and refining this array, focusing on its exceptional horizontal steering capabilities and bandwidth efficiency. By employing series-fed vertical arrays with variable patch dimensions, we have successfully developed an antenna array that meets the stringent bandwidth requirements essential for radar technology, thereby enhancing the operational versatility of radar systems.
Revisiting the Three Basic Dimensions model: A critical empirical investigation of the indirect effects of student-perceived teaching quality on student outcomes
Authors: Alp Christ Ayşenur , Capon-Sieber Vanda , Köhler Carmen , Klieme Eckhard , Praetorius Anna-Katharina
Published: March 2024

The Three Basic Dimensions model, theorizes three mediators for the effect of teaching quality dimensions on student outcomes. However, the proposed mediating paths and their effects have largely not been empirically tested. This study investigated the mediating role of depth-of-processing, time-on-task, and need satisfaction between student-perceived teaching quality and student mathematics achievement and interest, expanding the TBD model to include mediation paths suggested by theories of motivation, cognition, and effort. Data from the TALIS Video Study for Germany, comprising 958 secondary school students in 41 classrooms, were used to run multilevel longitudinal and correlational mediation analyses. The results only found mediation effects at the student level; there were no mediating effects at the classroom level. Not all of the hypothesized relationships thought to exist between the mediators and achievement and interest outcomes were confirmed. The conceptual sequence of the variables, the choice of correlational vs. longitudinal evidence, and the level of analysis were all shown to have an impact on the results. The study thus confirms some of the assumptions of the TBD model, identifies new paths between teaching quality and student outcomes, and provides suggestions for how to proceed with further investigation of a model which should be expanded and more thoroughly empirically tested.
A minimization problem with free boundary for p-Laplacian weakly coupled system
Authors: Fotouhi Morteza , Shahgholian Henrik
Published: March 2024

In this article, we consider a weakly coupled

p

p

-Laplacian system of a Bernoulli-type free boundary problem, through minimization of a corresponding functional. We prove various properties of any local minimizer and the corresponding free boundary.
Gerontological educational interventions for student nurses: a systematic review of qualitative findings
Authors: Dahlke Sherry , Rayner Jo-Anne , Fetherstonhaugh Deirdre , Butler Jeffrey I. , Kennedy Megan
Published: March 2024

Objectives

This systematic review of qualitative studies explored interventions to improve student nurses’ knowledge, attitudes or willingness to work with older people. Student nurses are likely to encounter older people in all health and aged care settings, however, research demonstrates that few have career aspirations in gerontological nursing.

Methods

Qualitative systematic review method based on the Cochrane Handbook for Systematic Reviews of Interventions.

Results

Search of Medline, Embase, PsycINFO, EBSCOhost and Scopus yielded 1841 articles which were screened to include primary research about educational interventions to improve student nurses’ knowledge, attitudes and/or willingness to work with older people. Data extraction was performed on the 14 included studies, and data were analysed using directed content analysis. The Mixed Methods Appraisal Tool (MMAT) was used the assess the quality of the studies.

Conclusions

Educational interventions included theory or practice courses, or a combination of theory and practice. While most interventions changed nursing students’ negative attitudes towards older people, few increased their willingness to work with them. Practice courses had the most significant impact on willingness to work with older people. Quality assessment revealed methodical limitations. More research is needed to better understand the elements of practice interventions that enhance student nurses’ knowledge, attitudes, and willingness to work with older people, so that they can be replicated.
The impact of text-audio synchronized enhancement on collocation learning from reading-while-listening: an extended replication of Jung and Lee (2023)
Authors: Jung Jookyoung , Zhang Wenrui
Published: March 2024

This study attempted to extend Jung and Lee’s (2023. Incidental collocational learning from reading-while-listening and the impact of synchronized textual enhancement. International Review of Applied Linguistics in Language Teaching.) study to gain further insight into the pedagogical potential of text-audio synchronized enhancement on L2 collocation learning from reading-while-listening. Eighty-seven Cantonese ESL speakers read two English stories under one of four conditions, i.e., reading-only, reading-while-listening, reading-while-listening with colouring, and reading-while-listening with synchronized colouring. The stories contained 12 target adjective-pseudonoun collocations, and participants’ learning was assessed with immediate and one-week delayed posttests that consisted of recall and recognition tests. Lastly, two participants from each group produced stimulated recall comments. The results revealed that both colouring techniques significantly promoted receptive knowledge about the target collocations in the immediate posttest. Synchronized colouring, in particular, was also effective in improving immediate pseudonoun meaning recall scores and reducing reaction times to collocation recognition tests. Stimulated recalls indicated that synchronized colouring allowed for more uninterrupted processing of the stories in close alignment with the audio.
A multimodal analysis of Bob Marley’s “Natty Dread” album
Authors: Amenorvi Cosmas Rai
Published: March 2024

This study employs social semiotics as a multimodal analytical framework to explore various communication modes employed in Bob Marley’s 1974 “Natty Dread” album to describe the Rastaman. The album’s cover design, including images, font style, and colours, carry significant meanings that contribute to the representation of the Rasta identity. Marley’s lexical choices, such as nouns, verbs, adjectives and noun phrases also play a crucial role in presenting the Rasta identity. Additionally, Marley utilises various literary devices such as repetition, metaphor, allusion, and imagery to vividly describe the Rastaman. The song titles and their arrangement on the album form a cohesive narrative depicting the Rastaman’s life. In essence, the “Natty Dread” album portrays the Rastaman as a humble individual connected to the streets. The Rastaman’s physical appearance is distinguished by his distinctive dreadlocks. His lifestyle embraces simplicity, a deep connection with nature, the pursuit of freedom and happiness, love, peace, unity, and rebellion against the oppressive establishment. Material possessions hold little importance for the Rastaman as he considers his spiritual devotion to Jah (God) and his commitment to his community paramount. Furthermore, an inseparable part of the Rastaman’s culture is his use of marijuana and music, particularly reggae, which serves as a powerful tool with which he combats social injustices and inequalities in the world.
Utilizing the phenomenon of diffraction for noise protection of roadside objects
Authors: Louda Petr , Sharko Oleksandr , Stepanchikov Dmitro , Sharko Artem , Buczkowska Katarzyna
Published: March 2024

Presented here is a constructive solution to the challenge of utilizing the diffraction phenomenon for mitigating noise around roadside objects caused by the movement of vehicles on transportation routes. In contrast to existing prototypes, the innovation of the proposed solution lies in the creation of an active system that concentrates and directs oscillations originating from transportation sources. This active system, centered around sound absorption and reflection, establishes protective barriers and focuses on sound vibrations. The incorporation of diffraction effects within the Fraunhofer zones, along with the utilization of Fresnel lenses, directs attention towards these vibrations. The technical objective of harnessing the diffraction phenomenon for noise reduction around roadside objects involves demonstrating the feasibility of using a Fresnel zone plate (FZP) tailored for a specific oscillation frequency. This plate should demonstrate the ability to effectively manipulate sounds of varying frequencies while retaining its diffractive focusing capabilities. The intrinsic frequency characteristics of diffractive elements cannot be eliminated due to the inherent nature of sound diffraction. Consequently, it is imperative to thoroughly investigate and account for these properties. A groundbreaking discovery has been made, confirming the phenomenon of noise concentration originating from transportation sources. This revelation suggests that when a FZP is employed at frequencies other than its designed frequency, the concentration of oscillations remains. However, only the focal point of concentration shifts. Through experimentation, it has been established that the same FZP can be employed for varying wavelengths within a range of approximately ±20% while adhering to diffraction conditions. The feasibility of employing the thin lens formula to focus oscillations following the passage through a FZP has been substantiated. This solution also delves into the principal focusing, frequency, and shaping characteristics of the diffractive elements within FZPs. Furthermore, a computed estimation of the acoustic field scattered by a diffraction grating is compared against experimental data. This validates the approach and its efficacy in practical scenarios. The potential of harnessing the diffraction phenomenon to concentrate and regulate noise from transportation sources, thereby safeguarding roadside objects, is presented as a promising avenue for exploration.
Temperature-dependent calibration and temperature compensation of elastic shape-memory alloy strain sensors for fiber-reinforced composite applications
Authors: Mäder Thomas , Senf Björn , Zoch Martin , Drossel Welf-Guntram
Published: March 2024

Strain sensors for fiber-reinforced plastics require higher elasticity and fatigue resistance than conventional strain gauges. Elastic strain sensors made of shape-memory alloys (SMA) meet this requirement. Due to greater elasticity, other procedures are required for their calibration than those recommended in standards. This paper presents a calibration method for shape-memory strain sensors as a function of ambient temperature and methods for temperature compensation are investigated. SMA strain sensors are manufactured as sensor patches from wire and layers of glass fiber fleece infiltrated with epoxy resin. The patches are bonded to bending specimens made of glass-fiber plastic composites. The calibration of the SMA sensors is implemented by means of a 4-point bending test using a self-built test stand. This is designed for operation in a climate chamber. The results show successful proof of feasibility of temperature compensation. The variation of the sensor signal in the unloaded state in the temperature response is less than 0.4 mV/V. The gauge factor depends on the temperature and is compensated by means of a regression with temperature sensor data. In combination with a temperature sensor, an almost complete compensation of the temperature-dependent behaviour is possible. A procedure is realised for calibrating SMA sensors at larger strains.
Thresholds of In/Visibility and the Scopic Power of Literature
Authors: Král Françoise
Published: March 2024

In recent years the trope of invisibility has emerged as a critical concept in the humanities; initially associated with the issue of racial invisibility, it has been applied to all forms of marginalisation, be they racial, social, or political. Today, the context of hypervisibility, which results from intensive media coverage of certain events, has made discussing invisibility paradoxical. This article seeks to reassess invisibility as a key concept in the humanities and discusses the scopic power of literature to make the unseen visible. This will be approached via discussion of contemporary narratives dealing with disappearance and loss, with a particular focus on the literature of the middle passage.
The Poetics of (Un)Mournability: Emma Donoghue’s Hood (1995) as an Elegy in Invisible Ink
Authors: Lecomte Héloïse
Published: March 2024

Emma Donoghue’s Hood is an Irish tale of closeted lesbian love in which the narrator cannot mourn the death of her partner publicly because of the compulsory social invisibility of their relationship. While in her monograph Frames of War: When is Life Grievable? Judith Butler correlates the (un)grievability of certain lives (their ability to be grieved over) with ethical frames of perception, this paper focuses on the invisibilisation of public mourning. Since the term “mourning” is often used to evoke public displays and rituals of grief, I propose to confront Butler’s concept of “(un)grievability” with what I call “(un)mournability,” in order to investigate the three metaphors of (in)visibility that shape the aesthetics of Donoghue’s contemporary narrative elegy. The images of the closet, the hood, and the invisible ink, which are instrumental to Donoghue’s narrative strategies of linguistic invisibility, map out the evolving representation of lesbian invisibility in the novel.
Becoming (In)Visible: Self-Assertion and Disappearance of the Self in Contemporary Surveillance Narratives
Authors: Wasihun Betiel
Published: March 2024

Visible surveillance technologies are vanishing in the wake of dataveillance. The practice of surveillance is certainly not disappearing, but it has become inconspicuous. In a regime of invisible surveillance, the watchers and the watched alike are hard to identify, for the latter have also become socially invisible as human beings. I argue that the idea ofbecoming invisiblein both digital and pre-digital surveillance societies is multifaceted. On the one hand, it suggests total deprivation of personal autonomy as a result of overexposure resulting in the disappearance of the subject and, on the other hand, it implies a possibility of resistance and self-assertion. Self-exposure is taken to extremes in Dave Eggers’s dystopian novelThe Circle(2013) where the protagonist becomes the centre of attention in a “viewer society” (Mathiesen 1997) and “goes transparent” (Eggers 2013, 351). In contrast, Wolfgang Hilbig’s Stasi novel“Ich”(1993) works with different notions of invisibility. Recruited to spy for the Stasi, Hilbig’s protagonist – an unsuccessful poet – is at the same time targeted by East Germany’s secret police and wants to become invisible, hiding from the omnipresent Stasi surveillance in Berlin’s maze-like cellar corridors in an attempt of self-assertion. The comparison of these novels will elucidate how different discourses on (in)visibility and transparency contribute to an account of subjectivity that attempts to resist surveillance.
‘Perced to the Roote’: Refugee Tales and the Poetics of In/Visibility
Authors: Baumbach Sibylle
Published: March 2024

In their aim to give a voice to those that are unheard and unseen in society, to refugees and detainees, Refugee Tales aim at countering practices of invisibilisation, especially in connection with UK immigration politics. While this might suggest a focus on narrative as a tool for communicating the untold, Refugee Tales I–IV (2016–2021) exceed this important, yet unsurprising role of narrative by unfolding the ‘making’ of invisibility. This is suggested, for instance, by the politics of adaptation and the in/visible intertext The Canterbury Tales, or by the (productive) paradox that most tales are in fact ‘translations’ penned by renowned writers, such as David Herd, Patience Agbabi, or Ali Smith. This article explores the poetics of invisibility in Refugee Tales by examining their specific (attentional) design. As I argue, these tales draw on tensions of in/visibility to unveil key instances of inattentional blindness in literature, culture, and society, challenging the relation between the seen and the unseen, between what is considered visible or invisible.