bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Laboratory testing and on-site storage are successful at mitigating the risk of release of foot-and-mouth disease virus via production of bull semen in the USA
Authors: Meyer Anne , Weiker Jay , Meyer Rory
Published: November 2023

Thousands of frozen bovine semen doses are produced daily in the US for domestic use. An incursion of foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) in the country would pose strong challenges to the movements of animals and animal products between premises. Secure supply plans require an estimation of the risk associated with target commodities and the effectiveness of mitigation measures. This study presents the results of a quantitative assessment of the risk of release of FMD virus from five of the largest commercial bull studs in the US via contaminated frozen processed semen. The methodology from a previous study was adapted to better fit the US production system and includes more recent data. Two models were combined, a deterministic compartmental model of FMD transmission and a stochastic risk assessment model. The compartmental model simulated an FMD outbreak within a collection facility, following the introduction of a latent-infected bull. The risk of release was defined as the annual likelihood of releasing at least one frozen semen batch, defined as the total amount of semen collected from a single bull on a given collection day, containing viable FMD virus. A scenario tree was built using nine steps leading from the collection to the release of a contaminated batch from a given facility. The first step, the annual probability of an FMD outbreak in a given facility, was modeled using an empirical distribution fitted to incidence data predicted by five models published between 2012 and 2022. An extra step was added to the previously published risk pathway, to account for routine serological or virological surveillance within facilities. The results showed that the mitigation measures included in the assessment were effective at reducing the risk of release. The median annual risk of release from the five facilities was estimated at less than 2 in 10 billion (1.5 x 10−10) in the scenario including a 30-day storage, routine genome detection assays performed every two weeks and RT-PCR testing of the semen. In this scenario, there was a 95% chance that the risk of release would be lower than 0.00041. This work provides strong support to the industry for improving their response plans to an incursion of FMD virus in the US.
Revisiting sectarianism in Iraq: Changing attitudes of Sunnis and Shias towards voting, social trust and government
Authors: Aldulaimi Raed
Published: November 2023

After 2003, Iraq experienced political, social and violent sectarianism. Scholars who studied sectarianism in Iraq tried to explain it through events, narratives and official statements. However, it has not been possible to understand the impact of the sectarian identity of Sunnis and Shias on their political and social behaviour. This study aims to measure that impact by asking: how has sectarianism changed in Iraq over time from the perspective of public opinion – increase or decrease, and why? For a deeper understanding, some demographic factors, such as age, education and gender, are considered to measure how the sectarian identity has affected the behaviour of Iraqis in voting, interpersonal trust, and trusting the government and the army. By using the surveys conducted by the Arab Barometer from 2011 to 2022, it was possible to compare the responses of the public by sect and have interesting findings. In general, Sunnis and Shias have exchanged their roles after 2013. Until 2013, Shias had tended to vote and trust local and national governments more than Sunnis. However, since 2019, the surveys show that Sunnis have had greater rates of voting and trust those governments than the Shias. Also, since 2019, the interpersonal trust between Sunnis and Shias has improved more than before, which can support the social cohesion between people who belong to different sects.
Armed violence in Iraq: Militarizing the society and defying the principle of restricting the use of weapons to the state
Authors: Al-Assaf Sawsan Ismael
Published: November 2023

After giving an idea about the historical background of the previous limited forms of societal militarization in Iraq before the US invasion, this study concentrates on the serious and general attempts to militarize Iraqi society after 2003. The main argument revolves around first, how the United States, regional states and the sectarian policy insisted on weakening the official military establishment (army and police) and second how the different ruling religious-ethnic parties desire to have their own armed militias to defend their interests (political and economic). It also discusses arms proliferation, and how this policy is playing a big role in spreading arms out of state control. This phenomenon led to continued societal violence, an unstable state as well as social, economic and cultural regression.
The Arab League and the crisis of Westphalian sovereignty in the Arab world after 2011
Authors: Selim Gamal M.
Published: November 2023

The Arab League’s observance to the norm of Westphalian sovereignty has witnessed significant transformation since the 2011 Arab uprisings. Historically, the Arab League had acted as the primary institutional expression and guardian of the Arab sovereign state system as the core constitutive principle of the Arab regional order. However, in an unprecedented setback to the norm of Westphalian sovereignty in the Arab world, the Arab League has moved, in the aftermath of the Arab uprisings, in the direction of endorsing the principles of regime change and intervention in the domestic affairs of Arab countries as acceptable norms in Arab regional politics. This transformation in the politics of the Arab League, the article contends, has been triggered by concurrent changes in the global and regional balances of power, both of which have been instrumental in bringing the politics of the Arab League under the dictate of a strategic alliance of global and regional actors.
Once Upon a Time in Iraq: History of a Modern Tragedy, James Bluemel and Renad Mansour (2021)
Authors: Terry Janice J.
Published: November 2023

Review of: Once Upon a Time in Iraq: History of a Modern Tragedy, James Bluemel and Renad Mansour (2021)

London: BBC Books, 390 pp.,

ISBN 978-1-78594-457-4, p/bk, £12.99
The Sassoons: The Great Global Merchants and the Making of an Empire, Joseph Sassoon (2022)
Authors: Abdullah Thabit A. J.
Published: November 2023

Review of: The Sassoons: The Great Global Merchants and the Making of an Empire, Joseph Sassoon (2022)

New York: Pantheon Books, 412 pp.,

ISBN 978-0-59331-659-7, h/bk, $35.00
Theatre About Science. Theory and Practice
Authors: Montenegro Mário , Oliveira Fernando Matos , Cruz M. Teresa Girão da , Amaral Sara Varela , Moreira Francisca
Published: November 2023

This volume reflects the great diversity and different perspectives related to the connections between theatre and the sciences, both regarding the performative practice and the academic thought upon that practice. It also gathers contributions from Literary Studies, Theatre and Performance Studies and Science Communication. It reveals a diverse group of practices, varied stages, different formats, different sized productions and diverse target audiences, that suggest a common quality or characteristic in these intersections that can be activated in varied contexts and with different levels of production. The diversity of voices and experiences present in this volume also carries with it a strong geographical perspective, with reports of practices in different regions of the globe, sketching a wider panorama of theatre and sciences intersections.
Peru: Deep Political Dissatisfaction Weakens Support for Democracy
Authors: Carrión Julio , Zárate Patricia
Published: November 2023

This paper analyzes support for democratic attitudes in Peru using data from the AmericasBarometer. It finds that democratic attitudes in Peru are consistently low, when compared to regional means. It also shows that the proportion of respondents holding consistent democratic values has decreased in the last decade or so. We attribute this decline to the growing dissatisfaction with the performance of the political system, as measured by the Satisfaction with Democracy item. We argue that this discontent expresses a dual failure of political representation: presidents do not follow the mandate they were given, and voters have no opportunity to castigate them and their parties at election time. In addition, the decision of the fujimorista party in Congress in 2016 to resort to extraordinary measures in confronting the executive branch opened a period of naked power political still affecting Peru. The failed presidency of Pedro Castillo, who disappointed even his own supporters, and this failed attempt to shut down Congress have deepened the crisis of representation.
A Case of Refractory Eosinophilic Gastrointestinal Disease Successfully Treated With Dupilumab
Authors: Arnold Casey , Johnson Jeptha , Harris Nieka , Sadowski Brett , Banks Taylor , Bush Allison
Published: November 2023

Eosinophilic infiltration of the gastrointestinal (GI) tract beyond the esophagus is a rare condition in adults with limited data on treatment. Current treatments with steroids and diet modifications have shown benefit, but when these treatments fall short, there is little research-driven guidance for further recommendations. We present a case of eosinophilic GI disease with extensive involvement of the GI tract successfully treated with dupilumab after failure of traditional treatment occurred.
Dual Biologic Therapy for Refractory Crohn's Disease With Perforation in a Patient Declining Surgical Intervention
Authors: Le Puo-Hsien , Chen Chien-Ming , Kuo Chia-Jung , Su Ming-Yao , Chiu Cheng-Tang , Tsou Yung-Kuan
Published: November 2023

Dual biologic therapy can improve clinical, biomarker, and endoscopic outcomes in selected patients with refractory Crohn's disease in whom multiple biologics had failed. We presented a patient with refractory Crohn's disease who was admitted for terminal ileal perforation, massive bloody stool, shock, and disseminated intravascular coagulation. He refused further surgical resection because of the fear of short bowel syndrome. He was successfully treated with dual biologic therapy, antimicrobial agents, and percutaneous needle decompressions. Dual biologic treatment could be a viable option for patients with refractory Crohn's disease with complications in selected critical conditions who refuse surgery.
Las capacidades estatales con las que los gobiernos locales afrontaron la pandemia de la COVID-19
Authors: Cao Horacio , Lobato Sabrina , Quijano Juan Antonio , Jotayan Yanina Inés , Kida María Lucila , Venturini Santiago , D’Eramo Daniel
Published: November 2023

En el marco del proyecto PISAC COVID 19 “Capacidades estatales en una agenda municipal postpandemia”, este trabajo se propone presentar un estado de situación de las capacidades estatales de los gobiernos locales argentinos previas a la pandemia. Específicamente se centra en las capacidades burocráticas, las capacidades de gestión y las que hemos llamado capacidades prestacionales de servicios públicos que abordan la disponibilidad de los servicios y los actores a cargo de la prestación. Asimismo, y a partir de la combinación de las diferentes capacidades estatales analizadas, se construyeron cuatro perfiles típicos que abarcan diferentes grupos de municipios. Ellos podrían ser punto de partida para pensar líneas de acción diferenciales y específicas para cada tipo de gobierno local.
Managing patients with positional vertigo: diagnostic pitfalls and treatment
Authors: Lavrik S. Yu. , Borisov A. S. , Shprakh V. V. , Mikhalevich I. M.
Published: November 2023

The spectrum of diseases manifested by positional vertigo includes benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV), vestibular migraine, brain tumors, demyelinating and some other diseases.

Objective: to study the common practice of managing patients with positional vertigo.

Material and methods. 64 patients with complaints of positional vertigo were examined. Clinical and neurological examination, otoneurological examination, including positional diagnostic tests, assessment of spontaneous nystagmus in Frenzel video glasses, tests of smooth tracking, saccades, head shaking, Fukuda test were carried out.

Results. In the majority (70%) of cases, the referral diagnoses for vertigo were chronic cerebral ischemia, vertebral artery syndrome, and vegetative-vascular dystonia. However, none of these diagnoses was confirmed as the leading cause of vertigo. The most common mistake (62.5%) was making a diagnosis only on the basis of complaints, without an otoneurological examination and positional tests. The most common causes of vertigo were BPPV (64.6%), vestibular migraine (20.3%) and vestibular neuronitis (12.5%).

Conclusion. In the diagnosis of positional vertigo, the evaluation of clinical manifestations, otoneurological tests and characteristics of positional nystagmus plays a leading role.
Identifikasi Genus Chaetoceros di Perairan Laut Desa Padelegan Pamekasan
Authors: Indriyawati Novi , Dewi Kartika , Asmarani Agil Silva , Lestari Dewi Ayu , Safitri Seliya Fuji
Published: November 2023

Chaetoceros sp. merupakan fitoplankton yang banyak ditemukan di perairan laut. Chaetoceros termasuk dalam kelompok Diatom dengan kelas Bacillariophyceae. Di laut spesies ini merupakan makanan alami dari Copepoda, salah satu spesies zooplankton. Sedangkan pada budidaya perikanan digunakan sebagai pakan alami Rotifer dan larva udang. Selain itu, spesies chaetoceros termasuk dalam kelompok saprobe yang berperan sebagai indikator biologis perairan yang tercemar sehingga keberadaannya di laut cukup penting. Tujuan penelitian ini adalah untuk mengidentifikasi jenis fitoplankton dari genus chaetoceros yang mempunyai fungsi penting dalam budidaya perikanan. Penelitian dilakukan dengan mengambil sampel air laut dan fitoplankton pada permukaan badan air (0-50 cm) di perairan laut Desa Padelegan Pamekasan. Waktu pengambilan sampel dilakukan pada pagi, siang dan sore hari dengan dua kali pengulangan. Menggunakan jaring plankton dengan ukuran mesh 10 mikron. Identifikasi fitoplankton menggunakan mikroskop Olympz BX41 dengan perbesaran 10x. Berdasarkan hasil penelitian, telah ditemukan 12 spesies Chaetoceros dengan kelimpahan 700–9100 ind/L. Pada malam hari tidak ditemukan spesies chaetoceros karena faktor pembatas pertumbuhan mikroalga adalah sinar matahari. Semakin banyak sinar matahari yang masuk ke perairan, maka semakin banyak pula fitoplankton yang tersebar.  Chaetoceros sp is a phytoplankton commonly found in marine waters. Chaetoceros belongs to the Diatom group with the class of Bacillariophyceae. In the sea this species is a natural food of copepod, one of species of zooplankton. While in aquaculture, it is used as natural feed for Rotifers and shrimp larvae. In addition, chaetoceros species are included in the saprobes group, which acts as a biological indicator of polluted waters, so their presence in the sea is quite important. The purpose of this study was to identify phytoplankton species from the genus of chaetoceros which has an important function in aquaculture. The research was carried out by taking samples of seawater and phytoplankton on the surface of the water body (0-50 cm) in the sea waters of Padelegan Pamekasan Village. Sampling time was carried out in the morning, afternoon and evening with two repetitions.using a plankton net with a mesh size of 10 microns. Identification of phytoplankton using an Olympz BX41 microscope with 10x magnification. Based on result, 12 species of Chaetoceros have been found with an abundance of 700–9100 ind/L. At night, no chaetoceros species were found because the limiting factor for microalgae growth was sunlight. The more sunlight that enters the waters, the more phytoplankton are scattered.
Pola Distribusi Dan Kepadatan Populasi Bulu Babi (Tripneustes gratilla Linnaeus, 1758) di Ekosistem Intertidal Pantai Bilik Taman Nasional Baluran
Authors: Setiawan Rendy , Siddiq Arif Mohammad , Pratiwi Arif , Pratiwi Arif , Dwi Susanto Miftha Amilia
Published: November 2023

Spesies Tripneustes gratilla merupakan bulu babi yang termasuk anggota dari kelas Echinoidea. Hewan ini dapat ditemukan di ekosistem intertidal dan tergolong sebagai biota bentik yang sering ditemukan di ekosistem terumbu karang dan padang lamun. Spesies T. gratilla memiliki nilai ekologis yang penting dalam menjaga keseimbangan ekosistem laut, yaitu sebagai herbivor dan juga sebagai spesies kunci yang mampu mengendalikan pertumbuhan makroalga yang hidup di ekosistem terumbu karang. Tujuan dari penelitian ini adalah menentukan pola distribusi dan kepadatan populasi T. gratilla di ekosistem intertidal Pantai Bilik Taman Nasional (TN) Baluran. Metode menentukan pola distribusi dilakukan metode transek plot sistematis dengan cara meletakkan plot paralon berukuran 1x1 m di sepanjang transek garis. Pola distribusi T. gratilla di ekosistem intertidal Pantai Bilik TN Baluran tergolong mengelompok berdasarkan hasil analisis menggunakan Indeks Morisita dengan nilai Id sebesar 4.8. Kepadatan T. gratilla di ekosistem intertidal Pantai Bilik TN Baluran tergolong rendah dengan nilai kepadatan 0.2 Ind/m2 atau apabila dikonversikan maka hanya ada 2 individu dalam area plot seluas 10 m2. Tripneustes gratilla is a sea urchin that belongs to the class Echinoidea. These animals can be found in intertidal ecosystems and are classified as benthic biota which are often found in coral reef and seagrass ecosystems. The species T. gratilla has an important ecological value in maintaining the balance of marine ecosystems, namely as a herbivore and also as a key species capable of controlling the growth of macroalgae that live in coral reef ecosystems. The purpose of this study was to determine the pattern of distribution and population density of T. gratilla in the intertidal ecosystem of Bilik Beach, Baluran National Park. The method of determining the distribution pattern is carried out using the systematic plot transect method by placing 1x1 m paralon plots along the line transects. The distribution pattern of T. gratilla in the intertidal ecosystem of Bilik Beach, Baluran National Park, is classified as clustered based on the results of an analysis using the Morisita Index with an Id value of 4.8. The density of T. gratilla in the intertidal ecosystem of Bilik Beach, Baluran National Park, is low, with a density value of 0.2 Ind/m2 or when converted, there are only 2 individuals in a plot area of 10 m2.
Komposisi Jenis dan Kelimpahan Perifiton Pada Daun Lamun Oceana serrulata di Perairan Pulau Panjang dan Pantai Prawean Bandengan, Jepara
Authors: Islam Anastasya Devi Septanovia , Suryono Suryono , Riniatsih Ita
Published: November 2023

Padang lamun merupakan ekosistem pesisir berfungsi sebagai tempat mencari makanan, berlindung, serta berkembang biak. Perifiton ditemukan melekat pada permukaan daun lamun, dapat menjadi faktor pendukung produktivitas primer tetapi dapat juga mengurangi cahaya yang masuk untuk fotosintesis, sehingga dapat mengurangi komposisi padang lamun. Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk mengetahui komposisi jenis perifiton dan kelimpahan perifiton pada lamun Oceana serrulata  di Pulau Panjang dan Pantai Prawean Bandengan, Jepara. Metode penelitian dilakukan dengan menggunakan metode survei. Penentuan lokasi sampling dilakukan dengan metode purposive sampling. Pendataan data kerapatan lamun dilakukan menggunakan  metode line transek kuadran. Preparasi sampel daun lamun dilakukan guna mengetahui komposisi perifiton menggunakan metode pengerikan menggunakan kuas dan diamati menggunakan mikroskop. Jenis perifiton yang ditemukan pada daun lamun Oceana serrulata terdiri dari 2 genus (Cyanophyceae) dan 11 genus (Bacillariophyceae). Nilai kelimpahan perifiton pada daun lamun Oceana serrulata di Pulau Panjang dan Pantai Prawean Bandengan adalah 5349,98 ind/cm2 dan 8357,37 ind/cm2. Keberadaan perifiton di Pulau Panjang lebih sedikit dibandingkan dengan Pantai Prawean Bandengan.  The seagras ecosystem are coastal ecosystems that function as places to find food, shelter, and breed. Periphyton was found attached to the surface of seagrass leaves, which can be supporting factor for primary productivity but can also reduce incoming light for photosynthesis, thereby reducing the composition of seagrass beds. This study aims to determine the composition of periphyton species and the abundance of periphyton in seagrass Oceana serrulata on Panjang Island and Prawean Bandengan Beach, Jepara. The research method was carried out using a survey method. Determination of sampling locations was determined using a purposive sampling method. Data collection on seagrass density was carried out using the quadrant transect method. Seagrass leaf sample preparation was carried out to determine the composition of periphyton using the scraping method using a brush and observed using a microscope. The types of periphyton found on the leaves of seagrass Oceana serrulata consist of 2 genera (Cyanophyceae) and 11 genera (Bacillariophyceae). Periphyton abundance values in leaves of seagrass Oceana serrulata on Panjang Island and Bandengan Prawean Beach were 5349.98 ind/cm2 and 8357.37 ind/cm2. The presence of periphyton on Panjang Island is less than on Prawean Bandengan Beach.
Perubahan Lahan Mangrove di Pesisir Utara Teluk Banten
Authors: Saleha Amalia Narya , Cahyadi Ferry Dwi , Sasongko Agung Setyo
Published: November 2023

Kawasan pesisir utara Teluk Banten Secara geografis mencakup 6 kecamatan yang mengalami peningkatan kegiatan industri sehingga mengancam ekosistem mangrove serta biota yang berasosiasi di dalam kawasan pesisir tersebut. Tujuan dari penelitian ini adalah untuk mengetahui luas lahan yang berubah dan genus mangrove yang beradaptasi di kawasan pesisir utara Teluk Banten. Metode penelitian yang dilakukan dalam kajian ini adalah kuantitatif deksriptif menggunakan analisis NDVI yang meliputi pengolahan data citra tahun 2017 dan 2022 menggunakan perangkat lunak ArcGIS kemudian dilakukan observasi lapangan untuk mengetahui genus mangrove yang beradaptasi di kawasan tersebut. Hasil yang diperoleh dari penelitian ini bahwa dari 6 kecamatan hanya ditemukan 3 kecamatan yang masih memiliki kawasan ekostem mangrove yaitu Kecamatan Kasemen, Pontang dan Tirtayasa. Sedangkan Kecamatan Pulo Ampel, Bojonegara dan Kramatwatu hampir didominasi oleh kawasan industri. Dalam waktu 5 tahun telah terjadi pengurangan luas lahan mangrove sebesar 1,027 ha dari total awal pada tahun 2017 seluas 39,794 ha. Kemudian, ditemukan 3 genus di ketiga kecamatan tersebut yang mana genus Rhizopora mendominasi di Kecamatan Kasemen, Pontang dan Tirtayasa. Setiap wilayah mempunyai potensi dan manfaat tertentu bagi biota dan manusianya demikian hal tersebut akan terus meningkatkan kesejahteraan apabila adanya semangat berkolaborasi antar sesama elemen masyrakat untuk terus menjaga ekosistem. The coastal region of Banten Bay's northern area encompasses six sub-districts that are currently experiencing an increase in industrial activity. Unfortunately, this uptick poses a severe threat to the mangrove ecosystem and associated biota in the area. The aim of this research was to assess the extent of the land that has undergone changes and the mangrove genera that have adapted to the region. To achieve this, a descriptive quantitative method and NDVI analysis were utilized. Image data from 2017 and 2022 was processed using ArcGIS software, followed by field observations to identify the mangrove genus that is adapted to the area. The research findings indicate that only three of the six sub-districts (Kasemen, Pontang, and Tirtayasa) still have mangrove ecosystem areas, while the others (Pulo Ampel, Bojonegara, and Kramatwatu) are almost entirely dominated by industrial areas. The research also revealed that the area of mangrove land decreased by 1,027 ha over the past five years from the initial total of 39,794 ha in 2017. Furthermore, the study identified three genera in the three sub-districts, with the Rhizopora genus being the most dominant in Kasemen, Pontang, and Tirtayasa. Each region has unique potential and benefits for its biota and humans, making it crucial to continue collaborating and protecting the ecosystem to ensure the area's continued prosperity.
Photocatalytic degradation of methylene blue dye using synthesized CoxNi1-xFe2O4 nanoparticles under direct visible light
Authors: Hussnain Seemab , Ali Syed Salman , Alam Muhammad Qadeer , Safder Muhammad Hamad , Roman Atia , Fatima Tehreem , Asif Muhammad
Published: November 2023

A cobalt doped nickel ferrites were prepared in this study. Photo catalysts made of cobalt-doped nickel ferromagnetic materials nanoparticles were utilized to degrade dyes. These nanoparticles were synthesized by the co-precipitation technique. A UV-Vis spectrophotometer was used to determine the band gap. These ferrites had band gap between 2.32eV to 2.20eV. The spinel structure of ferrites was characterized X-ray diffraction (XRD) technique. The shape and average size of synthesized nanoparticles was determined by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Fourier transform infrared FTIR shows metal-oxygen bond in the range of 400-1000cm-1. The photocatalytic degradation of dye under UV radiation and direct sunlight was studied. Almost 72 to 92 percent methylene blue dye was degraded in first 100 mints owing to the active octahedral to tetrahedral lattice sites and prevent the recombination of electron/hole pair. The photo-degradation of methylene blue (MB) and a few textile dyes was practised to examine the photocatalytic performance of Co-NiFe2O4. It was observed as the most effective photocatalyst for treating sewage.
On weak Fano manifolds with small contractions obtained by blow-ups of a product of projective spaces
Authors: Tsukioka Toru
Published: November 2023

We consider weak Fano manifolds with small contractions obtained by blowing up successively curves and subvarieties of codimension 2 in the product of a projective space and a projective line. We give a classification result for a special case. We determine the nef cones and describe the extremal contractions for related smooth projective varieties.
A geographical study ofM‾2P2,4main
$\overline{\mathcal{M}}_2\left(\mathbb{P}^2, 4\right)^{\text {main }}$
Authors: Battistella Luca , Carocci Francesca
Published: November 2023

We discuss criteria for a stable map of genus two and degree 4 to the projective plane to be smoothable, as an application of our modular desingularisation of via logarithmic geometry and Gorenstein singularities.
Transformative Assessment Practices in Mathematics Classes: Lesson from Schools in Jimma, Ethiopia
Authors: Abate Melaku Takele , Wedajo Abbi Lemma , Hunde Adula Bekele
Published: November 2023

Transformative assessment is a classroom assessment aimed at changing both how teachers teach and students learn a lesson. Nowadays, this kind of assessment needs to be practiced to encourage teachers to be creative and flexible when designing their assessments and for students to be reflective and take responsibility for their learning. Hence, this qualitative study aimed to examine mathematics teachers’ practices of transformative assessment and the associated challenges. Data collected from eight teachers using semi-structured interviews and lesson observations were analysed thematically. It was found that teachers did, in fact, not provide evidence of practicing transformative assessment in their teaching. There was an attempt to align assessment to learning outcomes even though the assessment practice utilized remained traditional. Teachers’ assessment practices focused on fast-learners while leaving behind the majority, lacking balance and equity. Teacher, student, and school-related factors were the main challenges facing the teachers during assessment practices. The study presents possible strategies by which transformative assessment practices in mathematics teaching can be developed, implemented, and sustained to improve students’ learning.
The crystal structure of 8-methoxy-2,2-diphenyl-tosyl-1,2-dihydro-2λ
4,3λ
4-[1,3,2]diazaborolo[4,5,1-ig]quinoline, C29H25BN2O3S
Authors: Ding Siyi
Published: November 2023

C29H25BN2O3S, monoclinic, P21/c (no. 14), a = 14.4345(6) Å, b = 9.7073(5) Å, c = 18.3873(8) Å, β = 107.766°, V = 2453.56(19) Å3, Z = 4, R
gt(F) = 0.0587, wR
ref(F
2) = 0.1592, T = 193 K.
Watching atoms at work during reactions
Authors: Kosmala Tomasz , Agnoli Stefano , Granozzi Gaetano
Published: November 2023

The development of new technologies for the current energy and environmental challenges requires the acquisition of a very fundamental knowledge about the structure and activity of catalytic materials at the nanometric scale. As a consequence, in situ and operando methodologies are blossoming, but only a fraction of them really aims at a local vision that would allow watching atoms at work during reactions. In this short report, we want to outline the merits of a new technique based on scanning tunnelling microscopy (Current-roughness electrochemical scanning tunneling microscopy, cr-EC-STM) which can visualize electrocatalytic reactions down at the single atom level. Results of two case studies in the field of hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) are briefly summarized, witnessing the capability of cr-EC-STM to provide critical information about the structure and catalytic performance of the active sites with atomic resolution.
Disparities in Female Labour Force Participation in South Asia and Latin America: A Review
Authors: Mukhopadhyay Ujjaini
Published: November 2023

This article examines the pattern of female labour force participation since the 2000s in South Asia (SA) and the Latin America and Caribbean (LAC) countries. The objectives of the paper are twofold: first, to identify the factors that have led to changes in the patterns of female labour force participation in the two fastest-growing regions of SA and LAC and compare the underlying reasons behind the disparate trends; and second, to explore the policies appropriate for the two regions that can raise female labour force participation. From descriptive statistics and a review of existing research on gender inequality in employment in the two regions, the paper finds that a plethora of factors shape the extent of gender inequality in labour force participation. However, each of the factors has different roles and importance in the two regions, debunking any particular relationship pattern between economic growth and the gender gap in labour force participation. Hence, it is imperative to formulate multipronged, country- and region-specific policies.
Activist masks in the Latin American social protest
Authors: Delupi Baal
Published: November 2023

Masks, balaclavas, eye masks, and various accessories have been consistently used to hide the face, from Greek times through the grotesque of the Middle Ages to the Latin American theatre festivals of the 1980s. In the twenty-first century, technological advances such as facial recognition, which are being used for the biopolitical control of the face, caused activists to start developing different mechanisms to cover their faces in public spaces. In other words, the mask is not used solely as a device that builds unique aesthetic-political senses but is also used to avoid being captured by surveillance cameras. The aim of this paper is to identify some of the masks used by activists in Latin American public protests, generating new signs that circulate widely in the semiosphere such as physiognomy, representation, and evocation. For this, we will return to Juri Lotman’s proposal on the semiosphere and the notion of facesphere developed by José Finol, concepts that operate as epistemological and heuristic frameworks that allow understanding the concrete meaning production processes as a global dimension and not only a particular one. What faces are hidden and what physiognomies are shown in the social protest? What borders are established? What political and aesthetic meanings do they build? These are the questions that this paper attempts to answer from a perspective of cultural semiotics.
The normative order of sensing: enacting the tasting sheet in tasting training sessions
Authors: Mondada Lorenza
Published: November 2023

Tasting sessions are a social activity in which the senses and the sensorial features of the tasted objects are the main focus of the participants, who do not only experience taste but also aim at precisely describing it. For doing that, they use pre-formatted tasting sheets and pre-existing standardized repertoires of descriptors. This paper investigates the relations between bodies and sensations, linguistic expressions and the normativity of lexical repertoires. While the literature has insisted on the sensorial lexicon of diverse languages and its specialization within expert domains, the very way in which the sensing body, language, and the normativity of standardized categories are precisely articulated in tasting practices remains understudied. Using an ethnomethodological and conversation analytic approach, this paper demonstrates how participants in training tasting sessions achieve practically, bodily and materially the association between the sample tasted, the sensing body and the use of lexical repertoires. Artefacts and tools like tasting sheets and lexical lists are situatedly mobilized in a way that enhances the senses but also socializes and standardizes them. On the basis of cheese tasting sessions video-recorded during training workshops of professional tasters in Italy and Italian-speaking Switzerland, the paper demonstrates how the normative order of sensing is achieved through the imbrication of the use of tasting sheets within the sensory examination of samples – thus showing how body, materiality, language, and artefacts are normatively constrained, practically managed and bodily aligned in the tasting session.
Four Coptic Letters from Thebes
Authors: Khalil Ahmed T. A.
Published: November 2023

The Coptic correspondences of Thebes are not only characterized by the variety of topics but also by some formulae that have become a distinctive feature of this region. The aim of the present paper is to publish four Coptic letters on ostraka; they are now kept in the Abou El-Goud storage magazine in Luxor. Although there is no information on their provenance, they are certainly written in the Theban area.
Neue Alabasterfragmente aus dem Sarkophagdeckel Sethos‘ I. im Kairener Museum
Authors: Ghany Khaled Abdel
Published: November 2023

This article presents the publication of three royal calcite fragments from the basement of the Egyptian museum Cairo, illustrated with different funerary depictions on both sides. On the front side they are decorated with varied sections from the sixth, seventh and eighth hour of the Book of the Gate – showing also at one of them the personal name with a cartouche of Seti I, and on the reverse side there are some small texts from the spells 72, 180, 181 of the Book of the Dead inscribed. Due to their depicted scenes and textual representations, these fragments refer to the same decorative program of the fragments of the sarcophagus lid of Seti I, and also their characteristic traits show consistency with the similar iconographic and the paleographic features of the lid’s fragments. Thus, these fragments can be identified as part of the sarcophagus lid of Seti I and belonging to his decoration units, which are providing an innovative perspective for illustrated funerary literature and a significant combination between an underworld book and other diverse religious texts at the beginning of 19th Dynasty.
Gender Disparity in Teaching Evaluations of Pediatric Faculty by Residents
Authors: Shaw Rebekah S. , Foo Katrina L. , Blumer Alexandra , Jacobson Emily L. , Sturza Julie , Hartley Sarah , Lukela Jennifer R. , Sheffield Virginia , Rappaport Leah
Published: November 2023

OBJECTIVES

Despite their overrepresentation, female physicians continue to have lower rates of promotion compared with male physicians. Teaching evaluations play a role in physician advancement. Few studies have investigated gender disparity in resident evaluations of pediatric faculty. We hypothesized that gender disparities in resident evaluations of faculty exist and vary across subspecialties and primary work environments.

METHODS

Pediatric faculty institution-specific evaluations completed by residents from January 1, 2015, to March 9, 2020, were obtained from a single academic center. Mean ratings of faculty performance were compared by gender using a Wilcoxon 2-sample test.

RESULTS

Fifteen-thousand one-hundred and forty-two evaluations (5091 of male faculty and 10 051 of female faculty) were included. Female faculty were rated higher in overall teaching ability (female = 4.67 versus male = 4.65; P = .004). There was no statistical difference in the mean ratings of male and female faculty in the inpatient setting, whereas outpatient female faculty were rated higher in overall teaching ability (female = 4.79 versus male = 4.73; P = .005). For general pediatric faculty, females received higher ratings for overall teaching ability (female = 4.75 versus male = 4.70; P < .001). By contrast, there was no difference in ratings of subspecialty pediatric faculty.

CONCLUSIONS

Pediatric female faculty were statistically rated higher than male faculty in overall teaching ability, although these findings may not be educationally significant. The difference was driven by evaluations in the outpatient setting and for general pediatricians. This study is one of the first in pediatrics adding to the continued investigation of gender disparities in academic medicine.
Stent composition and immune response after long-term coronary angioplasty
Authors: Sant’Anna Viviane A. R. , Barbosa Adriano H. P. , Souza Rodrigo A. , Sousa José M. A. , Monfardini Frederico , Gidlund Magnus , Fonseca Henrique A. R.
Published: November 2023

Background

There are limited data about the influence of stent composition on immune responses after percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI).

Objective

The aim was to compare the effects of PCI with conventional cobalt-chromium bare metal stent (BMS) and drug-eluting stent (DES) implantation on the modulation of humoral and cellular immune responses.

Methods

A randomised, single-centre, open pilot study involving patients with stable coronary artery disease eligible for PCI was performed. Blood samples were collected from the peripheral artery (PA) and the coronary sinus (CS) at baseline and 40 weeks following PCI. IgM and IgG autoantibodies (Abs), anti-oxLDL and anti-ApoB-D, as well as cytokine levels were evaluated by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.

Results

A total of 30 patients of 60 years mean age were included, 68% of whom were men. At the nine-month follow-up, a modulation in the levels of cytokines and autoantibodies was observed in both stent type groups. However, no difference was observed in the modulation of these markers between stents.

Conclusion

The stent type promotes modulations in cellular and humoral immune responses in the long-term, with differences in the magnitude of effects in specific immune responses.
Social below ground: Life-history and gut microbiome of Damaraland mole-rats
Authors:   ,   Linnaeus University, Faculty of Health and Life Sciences, Department of Biology and Environmental Science., Bensch Hanna M.
Published: November 2023

Studying the consequences of variation in individual life-histories is vital for our understanding of the evolution of animal societies. In this thesis, I study the ecology and consequences of group living on growth, survival, reproduction, and the gut microbiome of the Damaraland mole-rat (Fukomys damarensis), a subterranean cooperatively breeding mammal. For this, I used data and faecal samples collected from a long-term study population in the Kalahari Desert, South Africa. I explored the effects of group size and group composition on individuals’ growth and survival. While large group size had no clear advantages for either growth or survival, individuals within groups biased to their own sex grew more slowly. The number of recruits increased modestly with group size, but experimentally created pairs showed the same reproductive success as established groups. Further, single individuals exhibited high survival rates and good body condition. Combined, these results suggest that mole-rats delay dispersal to maximise their own fitness, and that group living has costs and benefits for all group members. I also investigated the effects of individual life-histories and group affiliation on the gut microbiome. This work shows that individuals bring the gut microbiome from their birth group when they disperse, and that group members have more similar gut microbiomes. When dispersed individuals start to reproduce in their new groups, they subsequently transfer this microbiome to their offspring, resulting in higher similarity between offspring with common descent of breeders. This pattern could arise from shared early life environment of breeders or through genetic relatedness of breeders. To separate the effects of these factors, I used a cross-foster experiment of captive animals, which showed that group members have more similar gut microbiomes, regardless of host relatedness. My thesis gives deepened insights into the ecology of the Damaraland mole-rat. It shows how variation in the social environment of group living species affects their life-histories, their fitness, and beyond that extended phenotypic traits such as the gut microbiome composition.
Prayers of the Byzantine Liturgy of the Word as an Introduction to Meditation on the Holy Scriptures
Authors: Rudeyko Vasyl
Published: November 2023

The article analyzes the prayers of the Liturgy of the Word in the Byzantine tradition with regard to meditation on the Holy Scriptures. In particular, the author draws attention to the fact of the need to prepare for participation in the divine service through a deeper knowledge of the prayer and patristic tradition of reading the Bible. On the example of individual prayers, the context of reading and commenting on the Gospel in the Eucharistic assembly is indicated. Among other things, the author encourages rethinking the modern rite of the Liturgy of the Word in the Byzantine tradition, which underwent significant changes during its formation and partially lost its authentic structural simplicity.
Influence functional state on special preparedness in rock climbing
Authors:   Sankt-St. Petersburg State Budgetary Institution teenage and Youth Center ", Shuvalov A. V. ,   Kalininsky",   , St. Petersburg, Russia, Ivanov O. S. ,   Federal State Budgetary Scientific Institution «Research Institute of Industrial and Marine Medicine of the Federal Medical and Biological Agency», St. Petersburg, Russia
Published: November 2023

The article deals with the problem of disproportionality in a higher heart rate value when climbing relative to running loads at a lower level of oxygen consumption. The aim of the study is to determine influence of functional state on the special climbing preparedness. Study involved children aged 8-12 years in recreation stage of preparation, both sexes in the number of 24 people. To assess the voltage of regulatory systems was used a method for assessing heart rate variability. The study used a method for calculating special preparedness, which allows taking into account the number of the most difficult bouldering routes passed by an athlete during training and their number. The final score depends more on the complexity of the route. It was found that there are no pronounced stresses of the regulatory systems of the body on simple trails (below 6A according to the international classification). With the growth of specific physical loads in rock climbing (the level of trails 6A-6B), athletes face physical efforts requiring the development of coordination and physical capabilities incomparable with the previous level (trails 5A-5S). Also, this level implies more psychological stress. In further complication of specific loads in rock climbing (6C level of trails) is observed the adaptation to the psychophysical efforts. It is concluded that with the growth of functional reserve the heart rhythm increases the adaptation of hands muscles to greater oxygen absorption. Increases tissue capillarization, number of mitochondria and myoglobin in muscle fibers performing specific work in climbing.
Predictors of heart failure in patients with cardiomyopathies of various origins
Authors: Kuznetsova O. O. , Nikulina S. Yu. , Matyushin G. V. , Chernova A. A. , Sakovich V. A. , Maksimov V. N.
Published: November 2023

Aim. To identify predictors of heart failure in patients with dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) and ischemic myocardial dilatation (IMD).

Material and methods. In total, we examined 221 patients with cardiomyopathies: DCM and IMD. The mean age of the patients was 55,30±9,69 years (minimum — 20 years, maximum — 77 years). From the total number of patients, a group of patients with DCM (idiopathic origin) (group 1) was identified in the amount of 111 people, of which 99 were men (89,2%) and 12 women (10,8%). The mean age of patients with DCM was 51,73±9,74 years, for men — 51,00±8,96 years, for women — 57,75±3,71 years. The median age in DCM patients was 53,00 [48,00; 58,00], for men — 53,00 [46,00; 57,00], in women — 59,50 [49,00; 68,75]. Patients with IMD (ischemic origin) consisted of 110 people (group 2), of which 100 were men (91,5%) and 10 women (8,5%). The mean age of patients with IMD was 58,68±8,38 years, for men — 58,29±8,46 years, for women — 62,90±6,29 years. The median age in patients with IMD was 58,00 [53,50; 63,50], in men — 58,00 [52,00; 63,00], in women — 61,50 [59,25; 66,00]. Biological material (venous blood) was taken from all patients for molecular genetic analysis. To isolate the DNA structure, the phenol-chloroform extraction was used. Using the polymerase chain reaction, genotyping of gene  polymorphisms was carried out, followed by analysis of restriction fragment length polymorphisms.

Results. To assess the left ventricular systolic function, the ejection fraction was assessed. Heart failure and its severity are most often associated with a decrease in left ventricular (LV) systolic function. In our study, in the group of patients with DCM, the mean LV ejection fraction (EF) was 25,105±6,76, while in IMD group — 20,255±4,49 (p=0,0001). This confirms that these two groups have severe heart failure associated with impaired LV systolic function — a decrease in EF <30%. In patients with NYHA class III heart failure with IMD, there was a significant predominance of the heterozygous genotype (6a/5a) of the MMP3 gene polymorphism compared to the control group (66,7% vs 12,5%, p=0,023).

Conclusion. The heterozygous genotype of the MMP3 gene polymorphism can be considered as a predictor of the development of HF in patients with IMD for the purpose of early diagnosis and prevention of heart failure. In the group of patients with DCM, no differences were found during a comparative analysis with gene polymorphism.