bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Morphological evolution of language-relevant brain areas
Authors: Gallardo Guillermo , Eichner Cornelius , Sherwood Chet C. , Hopkins William D. , Anwander Alfred , Friederici Angela D.
Published: September 2023

Human language is supported by a cortical network involving Broca’s area, which comprises Brodmann Areas 44 and 45 (BA44 and BA45). While cytoarchitectonic homolog areas have been identified in nonhuman primates, it remains unknown how these regions evolved to support human language. Here, we use histological data and advanced cortical registration methods to precisely compare the morphology of BA44 and BA45 in humans and chimpanzees. We found a general expansion of Broca’s areas in humans, with the left BA44 enlarging the most, growing anteriorly into a region known to process syntax. Together with recent functional and receptorarchitectural studies, our findings support the conclusion that BA44 evolved from an action-related region to a bipartite system, with a posterior portion supporting action and an anterior portion supporting syntactic processes. Our findings add novel insights to the longstanding debate on the relationship between language and action, and the evolution of Broca’s area.
Antimicrobial effect of oral care gel containing hinokitiol and 4-isopropyl-3-methylphenol against intraoral pathogenic microorganisms
Authors: Ohara Hiroshi , Odanaka Keita , Shiine Miku , Hayasaka Masataka
Published: September 2023

Objective

Deterioration of oral hygiene is closely related to an increase in severity and mortality of corona virus disease-19 (COVID-19), and also contributes to the development of various diseases such as aspiration pneumonia or Alzheimer’s. Oral care is attracting high interest in Japan, which has entered a super-aging society. In this study, we aimed to investigate whether commercially available Hinora® (HO), an oral care gel containing hinokitiol and 4-isopropyl-3-methylphenol (IPMP), has biofilm formation inhibitory and antimicrobial activities against various intraoral pathogen microorganisms.

Method

Candida species, Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans, Staphylococcus aureus, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa were selected during the study period, all of which were analyzed using antimicrobial disc, microorganism turbidity, and crystal violet assays. In addition, the germ tube test using Candida albicans (C. albicans) was performed with a modification of Mackenzie’s method. Images for morphological observation of the germ tubes were acquired using an inverted microscope. For comparison between products, we used Refrecare® (RC), which only contains hinokitiol (not containing IPMP).

Results

All the intraoral pathogenic microorganisms showed drug susceptibility against undiluted forms of HO and/or RC. In particular, HO was more effective at lower concentrations than RC. In the HO-added group, inhibition circles were observed in all bacteria except P. aeruginosa when added at a concentration of 0.5 g/mL or more. The optical density values at 590 nm (crystal violet) and/or 600 nm (microorganism turbidity) of all the fungi and bacteria were significantly lower when cultured in medium with HO. Inhibition of growth or biofilm formation was observed when HO was added at a concentration of 0.05 g/mL or higher. To investigate the action mechanism of HO, germ tube tests were performed in C. albicans. The results showed that culturing C. albicans in soybean-casein digest broth with HO (0.05 g/mL) significantly suppressed germ tube formation.

Conclusions

These data suggest that oral care gel-containing hinokitiol and IPMP has strong biofilm formation inhibitory activity, as well as antifungal and antimicrobial effects against Candida fungi and multiple intraoral pathogenic microorganisms. Therefore, it may be a promising treatment option for oral infections.
Association between Change in the peripheral biomarkers of inflammation, astrocyte activation, and neuroprotection at one week of critical illness and hospital mortality in patients with delirium: A prospective cohort study
Authors: Khan Sikandar H. , Perkins Anthony J. , Eltarras Ahmed M. , Chi Rosalyn , Athar Ammar A. , Wang Sophia , Campbell Noll L. , Gao Sujuan , Boustani Malaz A. , Khan Babar A.
Published: September 2023

Objective

In critically ill adults with delirium, biomarkers of systemic inflammation, astrocyte activation, neuroprotection, and systemic inflammation measured at one week of critical illness may be associated with mortality.

Design

Prospective observational study.

Setting

Intensive care unit (ICU).

Patients

178 ICU patients with delirium, alive and remaining in ICU at one week.

Interventions

None

Measurements and main results

Blood samples collected for a pair of previously published, negative, clinical trials were utilized. Samples were collected at study enrollment/ICU admission (Day 1 sample) and one week later (Day 8 sample), and analyzed for interleukins (IL)-6, 8, 10, Insulin-like Growth Factor (IGF), S100 Binding Protein (S100B), Tumor Necrosis Factor Alpha (TNF-A) and C-Reactive Protein (CRP). Delirium, delirium severity, and coma were assessed twice daily using Confusion Assessment Method for the Intensive Care Unit (CAM-ICU), CAM-ICU-7, and Richmond Agitation-Sedation Scale (RASS), respectively. Mortality was assessed until discharge using the electronic medical record. Logistic regression models adjusting for age, sex, severity of illness, comorbidities, sepsis, and randomization status, were used to assess the relationship among biomarkers and mortality. Higher IL-10 quartiles at day 8 were associated with increased odds of hospital mortality (IL-10: OR 2.00 95%CI: 1.1–3.65, p = 0.023). There was a significant interaction between day 1 and day 8 biomarker quartiles only for IL-6. Patients with IL-6 values in the first three quartiles on admission to the ICU that transitioned to higher IL-6 quartiles at day 8 had increased probability of hospital mortality.

Conclusion

In this hypothesis-generating study, higher IL-6 and IL-10 quartiles at one week, and increase in IL-6 from day 1 to day 8 were associated with increased hospital mortality. Studies with larger sample sizes are needed to confirm the mechanisms for these observations.
First identification and characterization of ovine gammaherpesvirus type 2 in horses and artiodactyla from an outbreak of malignant catarrhal fever in Mexico
Authors: Madrigal-Valencia Tania Lucia , Saavedra-Montañez Manuel , Pérez-Torres Armando , Hernández Jesús , Segalés Joaquim , Hernández Yesmín Domínguez , Candanosa-Aranda Irma Eugenia , Pérez-Guiot Alfredo , Ramírez-Mendoza Humberto
Published: September 2023

Ovine gammaherpesvirus 2 (OvHV-2), a member of the genus Macavirus, causes sheep-associated malignant catarrhal fever (SA-MCF), a fatal lymphoproliferative disease affecting a wide variety of ungulates in addition to horses. This study described an outbreak of SA-MCF in Mexico and the identification of the OvHV-2 virus in primary rabbit testis cultures through the generation of intranuclear inclusion bodies, syncytia, immunofluorescence (IF), immunocytochemistry (ICC), immunohistochemistry (IHC), endpoint polymerase chain reaction (PCR), and partial sequencing of the ORF75 gene. The animals involved in this outbreak showed mucogingival ulcers in the vestibule of the mouth and tongue, hypersalivation, corneal opacity, reduced food consumption, and weight loss of variable severity. These clinical signs and the histopathological findings suggested the diagnosis of SA-MCF. Buffy coat fractions from the anticoagulated blood samples of ill animals were collected and analyzed by PCR. Positive buffy coats were used to inoculate the primary cell cultures of rabbit testis to identify the virus. Small clusters of refractile cytomegalic cells, characteristic of viral cytopathic effects, were observed between 48 and 72 h post-infection. Furthermore, intranuclear acidophilic inclusion bodies (IBs) were identified in the inoculated primary culture cells, and the cytoplasm showed immunoreactivity with hyperimmune rabbit serum against OvHV-2. Moreover, in the liver histological sections from sick deer, immunoreactive juxtanuclear IBs were identified with the same rabbit hyperimmune serum. The obtained sequences were aligned with the OvHV-2 sequences reported in GenBank and revealed a nucleotide identity higher than 98%. Based on the evidence provided in this study, we conclude that the outbreak of SA-MCF in the municipality of Tequisquiapan in the state of Queretaro, Mexico, was caused by OvHV-2. This is the second study reporting that horses are susceptible to OvHV-2 infection and can develop SA-MCF. We identified for the first time in Mexico, the presence of OvHV-2 in buffy coats from horses and Artiodactyla.
A causal inference and Bayesian optimisation framework for modelling multi-trait relationships—Proof-of-concept using Brassica napus seed yield under controlled conditions
Authors: Calderwood Alexander , Siles Laura , Eastmond Peter J. , Kurup Smita , Morris Richard J.
Published: September 2023

The improvement of crop yield is a major breeding target and there is a long history of research that has focussed on unravelling the mechanisms and processes that contribute to yield. Quantitative prediction of the interplay between morphological traits, and the effects of these trait-trait relationships on seed production remains, however, a challenge. Consequently, the extent to which crop varieties optimise their morphology for a given environment is largely unknown. This work presents a new combination of existing methodologies by framing crop breeding as an optimisation problem and evaluates the extent to which existing varieties exhibit optimal morphologies under the test conditions. In this proof-of-concept study using spring and winter oilseed rape plants grown under greenhouse conditions, we employ causal inference to model the hierarchically structured effects of 27 morphological yield traits on each other. We perform Bayesian optimisation of seed yield, to identify and quantify the morphologies of ideotype plants, which are expected to be higher yielding than the varieties in the studied panels. Under the tested growth conditions, we find that existing spring varieties occupy the optimal regions of trait-space, but that potentially high yielding strategies are unexplored in extant winter varieties. The same approach can be used to evaluate trait (morphology) space for any environment.
A novel algorithm for complete ranking of DMUs dealing with negative data using Data Envelopment Analysis and Principal Component Analysis: Pharmaceutical companies and another practical example
Authors: Yazdi Hoda Dalili , Movahedi Sobhani Farzad , Lotfi Farhad Hosseinzadeh , Kazemipoor Hamed
Published: September 2023

When there is an extensive number of inputs and outputs compared to the number of DMUs, one of the drawbacks of Data Envelopment Analysis appears, which incorrectly classifies inefficient DMUs, as efficient ones. Accordingly, the DEA ranking power becomes further moderated. To improve the ranking power, this paper renders the details of an algorithm that presents a model combining the Principal Component Analysis and the Slacks-Based Measure (PCA-SBM) which reduces the number of the incorrectly determined efficient DMUs. Also to complete ranking of DMUs, the algorithm presents a Super-Efficiency model integrated with PCA (PCA-Super SBM) which can rank the efficient DMUs (extreme and non-extreme). Whereas the most important previous models for ranking efficient units cannot rank non-extreme ones. Additionally, in most previous studies, DEA models combined with PCA fail to handle negative data, while, the presented models can cover this data. Two case studies (pharmaceutical companies listed on the Iranian stock market and bank branches) are manipulated to demonstrate the applicability and performance of the algorithm. To show the superiority of the presented models, the SBM model without PCA and the Super SBM model without PCA have been implemented on the data of both cases. In comparing the two methods (PCA-SBM and SBM), the PCA-SBM model has higher ranking power (five efficient DMUs versus nineteen in the case of pharmaceutical companies and four efficient DMUs versus twenty-nine in the case of bank branches). Also in comparing the PCA-Super SBM and Super SBM, the PCA-Super SBM model works more powerfully in complete ranking. As the Super SBM model cannot rank non-extreme units unlike the PCA-Super SBM. Consequently, the presented algorithm works successfully in ranking the DMUs completely (inefficient, extreme, and non-extreme efficient) with low complexity.
The Qatari population’s genetic structure and gene flow as revealed by the Y chromosome
Authors: Almohammed Eida Khalaf , Hadi Abdullah , Al-Asmakh Maha , Lazim Hayder
Published: September 2023

The Y-chromosome has been widely used in forensic genetic applications and human population genetic studies due to its uniparental origins. A large database on the Qatari population was created for comparison with other databases from the Arabian Peninsula, the Middle East, and Africa. We provide a study of 23 Y-STR loci included in PowerPlex Y23 (Promega, USA) that were genotyped to produce haplotypes in 379 unrelated males from Qatar, a country at the crossroads of migration patterns. Overall, the most polymorphic locus provided by the Promega kit was DYS458, with a genetic diversity value of 0.85 and a haplotype diversity of 0.998924. Athey’s Haplogroup Predictor tool was used to predict haplogroups from Y-STR haplotypes in the Qatari population. In a median-joining network, the haplogroup J1 predominance (49%) in Qatar generated a star-like expansion cluster. The graph of population Q-matrix was developed using Y-STR data from 38 Middle Eastern and 97 African populations (11,305 individuals), and it demonstrated a stronger sub-grouping of countries within each ethnic group and showed the effect of Arabs on the indigenous Berbers of North Africa. The estimated migration rate between the Qatari and other Arabian populations was inferred using Bayesian coalescence theory in the Migrate-n program. According to the Gene Flow study, the main migration route was from Yemen to Kuwait through Qatar. Our research, using the PowerPlex Y23 database, shows the importance of gene diversity, as well as regional and social structuring, in determining the utility of demographic and forensic databases.
Sertoli cell-enriched proteins in mouse and human testicular interstitial fluid
Authors: O’Donnell Liza , Dagley Laura F. , Curley Michael , Darbey Annalucia , O’Shaughnessy Peter J. , Diemer Thorsten , Pilatz Adrian , Fietz Daniela , Stanton Peter G. , Smith Lee B. , Rebourcet Diane
Published: September 2023

Sertoli cells support the development of sperm and the function of various somatic cells in the interstitium between the tubules. Sertoli cells regulate the function of the testicular vasculature and the development and function of the Leydig cells that produce testosterone for fertility and virility. However, the Sertoli cell-derived factors that regulate these cells are largely unknown. To define potential mechanisms by which Sertoli cells could support testicular somatic cell function, we aimed to identify Sertoli cell-enriched proteins in the testicular interstitial fluid (TIF) between the tubules. We previously resolved the proteome of TIF in mice and humans and have shown it to be a rich source of seminiferous tubule-derived proteins. In the current study, we designed bioinformatic strategies to interrogate relevant proteomic and genomic datasets to identify Sertoli cell-enriched proteins in mouse and human TIF. We analysed proteins in mouse TIF that were significantly reduced after one week of acute Sertoli cell ablation in vivo and validated which of these are likely to arise primarily from Sertoli cells based on relevant mouse testis RNASeq datasets. We used a different, but complementary, approach to identify Sertoli cell-enriched proteins in human TIF, taking advantage of high-quality human testis genomic, proteomic and immunohistochemical datasets. We identified a total of 47 and 40 Sertoli cell-enriched proteins in mouse and human TIF, respectively, including 15 proteins that are conserved in both species. Proteins with potential roles in angiogenesis, the regulation of Leydig cells or steroidogenesis, and immune cell regulation were identified. The data suggests that some of these proteins are secreted, but that Sertoli cells also deposit specific proteins into TIF via the release of extracellular vesicles. In conclusion, we have identified novel Sertoli cell-enriched proteins in TIF that are candidates for regulating somatic cell-cell communication and testis function.
Estimation of body weight using anthropometric parameters in Sri Lankan hospitalized adult patients
Authors: Herath H. M. M. T. B. , Wijayawardhana K. W. S. M. , Wickramarachchi U. I. , Senanayake Sunethra , Senanayake Bimsara , Rodrigo Chaturaka
Published: September 2023

Body weight is an important clinical parameter for accurate dosing of drugs with a narrow therapeutic window, However, it is difficult to measure the body weight of a patient if they cannot stand on a scale. There are several anthropometrics-based equations to estimate the body weight, but most of these are derived from white Caucasian populations and are not validated for South Asians. This study aimed to validate existing anthropometrics-based weight estimation equations and develop a new equation for the same purpose for Sri Lankan adults. This prospective study was conducted at the National Hospital of Sri Lanka over a 6-month period, split into a development and a validation phase. During the development phase, estimated body weight of patients by doctors and nurses and patients themselves were noted and compared against their actual body weight. In addition, 13 anthropometric measurements were taken, which were used to validate 12 anthropometrics-based equations to estimate body weight described in literature previously. Two new gender specific regression models to estimate the body weight in the local population was also derived and validated. A total of 502 (males = 249) and 217 (males = 108) patients were recruited for the development and validation phases respectively. Both doctors and patients had comparable accuracy in predicting body weight (p>0.05). All anthropometric based equations were significantly correlated with actual body weight (correlation coefficients: 0.741–0.869), and the new equations derived from the local data performed similarly to the best performing equation identified from the literature during validation phase. However, even the best of these equations could not outperform patient/physician estimates. When the patient weight cannot be measured, an estimate by the patient or the doctor may be the best substitute.
‘I think it affects every aspect of my life, really’: Cancer survivors’ experience of living with chronic pain after curative cancer treatment in England, UK
Authors: Armoogum Julie , Foster Claire , Llewellyn Alison , Harcourt Diana , McCabe Candida
Published: September 2023

Aim

To explore cancer survivors’ experiences of living with chronic pain after curative cancer treatment in England, UK.

Methods

A qualitative study using telephone interviews with adult cancer survivors experiencing chronic pain after curative cancer treatment. Interview data was analysed using a reflexive thematic approach [1–3].

Findings

Nineteen participants: 14 female, 5 male, mean age 62.4 years, 1.5–48 years since cancer diagnosis, eight tumour groups represented. Six participants (31.6%) developed chronic pain more than ten years after completing cancer treatment (range 0–25 years). Five themes were generated which highlighted the experience of chronic pain after cancer treatment for cancer survivors: 1) ‘Hear me… believe me…. Please’. Survivors felt that they had not been listened to when they tried to talk about their chronic pain after cancer treatment, nor at times, believed. 2) ‘Expectation versus reality’. Survivors had anticipated returning to pre cancer quality of life yet living in chronic pain prevented them from doing so. 3) ‘They don’t understand…. We don’t understand’. Cancer survivors did not feel informed or prepared for the risk or reality of chronic pain after cancer treatment and this compounded the difficulties of coping with and managing their pain. They felt health care professionals lacked knowledge and understanding of chronic pain after cancer. 4) ‘Negotiating the maze’. Cancer survivors encountered unclear and limited pathways for support, often bouncing from one support team to another. Identifying and accessing services was a challenge, and the responsibility of this was often left to the survivor. 5) ‘Validate my pain, validate me’. Palpable relief and benefit was felt when health care professionals diagnosed and acknowledged their chronic pain after cancer treatment.

Conclusions

Cancer survivors can feel ill prepared for the risk of chronic pain after cancer treatment and can experience challenges accessing support from healthcare professionals and clinical services.
A new tunable bandstop filter square-ring resonator using varactor diodes
Authors: Duarte Júnior José Garibaldi , da Silva Neto Valdemir Praxedes , Gomes d’Assunção Adaildo
Published: September 2023

This work presents the development of a bandstop filter with a tunable response. Varactor diodes are used as control elements. Studies and investigations demonstrate the influence of the variable capacitance on the input admittance and on the S-parameters frequency responses of the proposed square-ring resonator geometry. The design of the square-ring resonator is based on mathematical modeling of ideal transmission lines, considering parameters of characteristic admittance and electrical length for odd and even excitation modes. Based on S-parameters in ports, an equivalent circuit model of the resonator geometry is presented. The corresponding results are compared with numerical simulations. Comparative analyses are presented in order to guide the process of optimizing the physical dimensions of the layout. A prototype with dimension 0.0272 λg2 was designed, fabricated, and tested. As a measured result, a filter with two rejection bands was obtained, the first at 0.6–1.15 GHz and the second at 1.71–2.28 GHz, with 63.0 and 29.0% tuning range, respectively. In comparison with bandstop filters from the literature, the proposed reconfigurable filter presents a larger tuning range for the first band, sufficient inband rejection levels for several applications, and reduced physical dimensions. The proposed configuration is an attractive reconfigurable filtering device for use in modern communication systems operating below 3.0 GHz.
Explaining public dental service utilization: A theoretical model
Authors: Galvão Maria Helena Rodrigues , Roncalli Angelo Giuseppe
Published: September 2023

Objectives

Constructing and validating a theoretical model of relationships between dental services use and socioeconomic characteristics, oral health status, primary care coverage, and public dental services.

Methods

The first stage of the study consisted of developing a theoretical-conceptual model to demonstrate the expected relationships between variables based on the literature. In the second stage, we tested the proposed theoretical model using the Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modeling (PLS-SEM) technique, using data from the Brazilian National Health Survey conducted in 2019 with a sample of 41,664 individuals aged 15 or older.

Results

This study successfully defined a theoretical model that explains the systematic relationships involving public dental services utilization. Socioeconomic status was negatively associated with oral health status (β = -0.376), enrollment in primary care facilities (β = -0.254), and the use of public dental consultations (β = -0.251). Being black, indigenous, or living in a rural area was directly associated with lower socioeconomic status and greater use of public dental services.

Conclusions

The identified relationships, establishing a theoretical basis for further investigations, also provide evidence of a public access policy’s effect on oral health services on equity, supporting the construction of more effective and equitable public policies.
Prevalence, trend and associated factors of obesity-related cancers among U.S. adults with metabolic syndrome: Evidence from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2001–2018
Authors: Mazumder Harun , Husain Maidul , Hossain Md. Faruk , Mahmud Sultan
Published: September 2023

Introduction

This study evaluated the prevalence, associated factors and trends in the prevalence of obesity-related cancer (ORC) among U.S. adults with metabolic syndrome (MetS) and age ≥20 years.

Methods

This study used cross-sectional data from the 2001–2018 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. The total period analyses included prevalence estimation, chi-square tests for comparing ORC vs non-ORC within subgroups, and a multivariable-logistic regression model to evaluate associated factors of ORC. For trend analysis, the total period was divided into three time periods: 2001–2006, 2007–2012 and 2013–2018. Age-standardized prevalence of ORC in each time period was calculated.

Results

The ORC prevalence was 35.8% representing 4463614 adults with MetS. A higher odds of ORC was observed among females (OR = 7.1, 95% CI = 4.9–10.3) vs males, Hispanic (OR = 2.9, 95% CI = 1.7–4.8) and non-Hispanic Black (OR = 2.7, 95% CI = 1.8–4) vs non-Hispanic White, age ≥60 (OR = 5.4, 95% CI = 1.9–15.4) vs age 20–39 years. Individual ORCs were thyroid (10.95%), breast (10%), uterine (9.18%), colorectal (7.86%), ovarian (5.74%), and stomach (0.80%). The age-standardized prevalence of ORC was observed stable in three time periods (30.6%, 30.3% and 30.7%). However, an increasing trend was seen for thyroid, uterine, colorectal and ovarian cancers while decreasing trend for breast cancer. Hispanic people showed a significant increasing trend of ORC (p = 0.004).

Conclusions

ORC was found significantly higher among female, Hispanic, non-Hispanic black and older people with MetS. The stable temporal trend of overall ORC, with an increasing trend in certain ORCs, makes the disease spectrum a public health priority. The findings imply the importance of intensifying efforts to reduce the burden of MetS comorbidities among U.S. adults.
Government audit, employee efficiency and labor cost stickiness
Authors: Li Jia , Sun Zhoutianyang
Published: September 2023

Does government audit affect employee allocation of enterprises? Using the quasi natural experiment and differences-in-differences(DID) model, this paper empirically tests the impact of government audit on employees efficiency and labor cost stickiness of state-owned enterprises (SOEs) in China. The results show that after the implementation of government audit, excess employees and labor cost stickiness of the audited enterprise is significantly reduced, which confirms the supervision and governance function of government audit on employee efficiency of SOEs. However, labor costs of the audited enterprise are not significantly reduced. These indicate from the side that the compensation system of SOEs conforms to market mechanisms, and there is no problem of employee over payment in China. This study enriches the relevant literature on the impact of government audit on employee policy of SOEs, and also provides empirical support for the full coverage of government audit.
LGP2 directly interacts with flavivirus NS5 RNA-dependent RNA polymerase and downregulates its pre-elongation activities
Authors: Tan Zhongyuan , Wu Jiqin , Huang Li , Wang Ting , Zheng Zhenhua , Zhang Jianhui , Ke Xianliang , Zhang Yuan , Liu Yan , Wang Hanzhong , Tao Jianping , Gong Peng
Published: September 2023

LGP2 is a RIG-I-like receptor (RLR) known to bind and recognize the intermediate double-stranded RNA (dsRNA) during virus infection and to induce type-I interferon (IFN)-related antiviral innate immune responses. Here, we find that LGP2 inhibits Zika virus (ZIKV) and tick-borne encephalitis virus (TBEV) replication independent of IFN induction. Co-immunoprecipitation (Co-IP) and confocal immunofluorescence data suggest that LGP2 likely colocalizes with the replication complex (RC) of ZIKV by interacting with viral RNA-dependent RNA polymerase (RdRP) NS5. We further verify that the regulatory domain (RD) of LGP2 directly interacts with RdRP of NS5 by biolayer interferometry assay. Data from in vitro RdRP assays indicate that LGP2 may inhibit polymerase activities of NS5 at pre-elongation but not elongation stages, while an RNA-binding-defective LGP2 mutant can still inhibit RdRP activities and virus replication. Taken together, our work suggests that LGP2 can inhibit flavivirus replication through direct interaction with NS5 protein and downregulates its polymerase pre-elongation activities, demonstrating a distinct role of LGP2 beyond its function in innate immune responses.
Bodies in action: Performance art in China
Authors: Berghuis Thomas J.
Published: September 2023

This editorial considers the role of action in the development of performance art, from the late 1970s until today. It is based on the original call for articles for this Special Issue on ‘Performance Art in China: Bodies in Action’ that called for papers on a diverse range of topics. Topics that relate to Chinese terms and conditions for performance art and topics that cover a broad range of histories and conditions related to the art historical development of performance art in China, from the late 1970s until the present day. The editorial raises the important role performance art has played in the history of contemporary art in China. It extends this position to an argument for understanding the important role of performance art in the development of contemporary art worldwide, including in Asia. It does this by considering the art historical study of practices of performance art – and their relation to art, action, space and time – pointing at how each of these performances is considered a prepared action (happening or performance) by the artist, involves the preparation of materials, and invokes temporal and durational experiences, including in performance remediations. The editorial sees the social context of performance art as apparent. Yet, it also raises the important conditioning of performance art as a medium, a medium that can be trained as well. And, as a medium, linked to other mediums and media. The editorial raises concern with past and present urgings that consider performance art a restricted field and instead raise broad conditions of performativity and performative art, positioning the study of performance art as study of art conditioned by action and by the (urgent) condition to perform. In China, as well as elsewhere in Asia, the condition to perform is often urgent and unavoidable, including in the way performance art (art to perform) concerns artists working through conditions of art in relation to social reality. The articles in this Special Double Issue feature a range of examples of such conditions, which are introduced in this editorial, to strengthen the knowledge that performance art is an important field in the study of Chinese contemporary art and countering some of the ongoing criticism and censoring of performance art in China.
It does not run in the family: Chinese performance art and the queering of the Confucian family
Authors: Goh Wei Hao
Published: September 2023

Since the beginning of the post-reform era (1978–present), China has witnessed dramatic changes to its society such as falling birth rates, rising divorce rates and changing attitudes towards patrilineal values – trends that suggest a move away from the Confucian family. Yet, it remains the normative family model in China today. In this article, I examine a range of performance artworks that depict queer subjects and familial relationships to uncover the ways that these performances subvert current understandings of the Confucian family and (re)imagine families where queerness can emerge. First, I turn to Fan Popo and David Zheng’s documentaryNew Beijing, New Marriage(2009) to examine how it expands the definition of Confucian marriages to include same-sex couples. Second, I examine how He Chengyao’sMama and Me(2001) and99 Needles(2001) provide representation and reparations for the relationships and individuals that are rendered marginal in Confucian teachings – namely, the relationship between mother and daughter and individuals who suffer from mental health issues. Lastly, I study the Beijing East Village (Dongcun) as a form of chosen family to see how the relationships and collaborations between the different members expand the definition of Confucian family model to include non-biogenetic kinships such as family-like friendships.
Visual arts, dance, theatre: Multimedia performance and contemporary Hong Kong art
Authors: Trail Genevieve
Published: September 2023

This article takes as its focus multimedia performance in Hong Kong in the 1980s, a period which saw high levels of collaboration across the visual arts, dance and theatre. The significance of these cross-media fertilizations to the development of contemporary Hong Kong art is drawn out in discussion of two artists, Josh Hon (b. 1954) and Choi Yan Chi (b. 1949), whose respective encounters with experimental dance and theatre subsequent to their return from higher education in Europe and North America made them newly sensitive to elements of time, space and movement. The subsequent appropriation of these materials of contingency into experiments with performance, installation and painting produced aesthetic strategies by which the artwork could be made porous to its local context. The significance of these exchanges is that they point to an alternative point of origin for processes of localization integral to the emergence of contemporary art in Hong Kong which typically has been bound to major political inflection points and a concomitant local cultural introspection. Attending to the substantive and diverse transnational connections of artists, these developments are instead indexed against international art historical and intellectual shifts beginning in the 1960s away from universalism and interiority and towards relativity, contingency, fragmentation and embodiment, thereby restaking Hong Kong’s claim to the global contemporary.
Performing eco-public art: Tseng Chi-ming and his embodied environmental artivism
Authors: Wang Meiqin
Published: September 2023

This article investigates the interrelations of public art, performance art and environmental activism in contemporary Taiwan through a case study of Tseng Chi-ming and his ecologically conscious public art. With a professional background in fine arts and theatre, Tseng adopted performance art as his primary medium of expression in 2011, very much prompted by his concern of Taiwan’s continuous ecosystem deterioration despite waves of environmental movement. Since then, he has become a key member of the island’s grassroots environmental artivism with his consistent performance works in the public space to advocate the cause of ecology and sustainability. Taking issues with environmental problems and related social injustices, Tseng uses his very own body as the ground, the material and the vehicle to carry out his artivism. Often performed on the street, in the public square or next to endangered ecological sites, his art becomes eco-public art. Methodologically, Tseng tends to incorporate natural materials such as earth, water, stones and plants or direct elements of nature such as rivers, beaches, wind and sunlight as his props. This is very much inspired by his Hakka ethnic background, particularly the deeply rooted Hakka agrarian tradition of ‘worship of nature’ and ‘reverence to heaven and earth’. Aiming to inform, engage and activate the public for environmental protection and ecological literacy, Tseng’s work is an example of the eco-public art in the island that is part and parcel of the ongoing environmental artivism that strives to advance the discourse of ecosystem diversity and foster non-exploitative human–nature relationship.
Joker to the thief: Trickster guitarists in 1970s stadium rock
Authors: Bannister Matthew
Published: September 2023

How and why did the lead guitarist as trickster become a trope of 1970s stadium rock? Rock and roll and its interpretation were influenced by blackface minstrelsy, African American Signifying, and European traditions of foolery, all featuring quasi-demonic, protean figures who amuse, challenge, subvert, shock, but from the margins – eternally shifty, ambiguous antagonists who ‘play’ on paradoxes of rock mythology: (non-)conformity, (in)articulacy and power(lessness). In the increasingly theatrical, spectacular arena of 1970s stadium/hard rock/metal, the trickster guitarist signified as part of a homosocial rock group, as a version of the Signifying Monkey or blues trickster and as an echo of minstrelsy. The essay seeks to understand onstage performances as dramatic spectacles marked by ‘trinary’, competitive, Signifying/mocking, homosocial relationships between trickster lead guitarists, singers and their audiences. These conflicts can also be read as exemplifying the postmodern ambiguity that Lawrence Grossberg identifies in the 1970s rock formation, via consideration of the singer as Logos (heroic voice) and trickster guitarist as mockery of the same. Examples are Angus Young (AC/DC) and Rick Nielsen (Cheap Trick). In conclusion, I argue that punk rock rendered tricksters temporarily redundant by making their trickery ubiquitous, although, thanks to generic/audience fragmentation and the ubiquity of classic rock, they continue to this day.
Lorna Shore’s ‘To the Hellfire’: A study in heaviness
Authors: Herbst Jan-Peter , Mynett Mark
Published: September 2023

Since its inception, metal music has been on a quest for greater heaviness. However, despite its fundamental relevance to the genre, what actually makes metal music perceptually ‘heavy’ is still poorly understood. This article examines the musical, performative and production features that contribute to the heaviness of Lorna Shore’s ‘To the Hellfire’, Loudwire magazine’s metal song of the year 2021. The musicological analysis is supported by rich data from the provider Nail the Mix (NTM): the song’s original multi-track recordings; a Q&A and live mix session with the EP’s producer, Josh Schroeder, and community discussion in NTM’s Facebook group. The findings suggest that the song’s heaviness is mainly provided as a result of sonic weight, harmonic distortion, hyperreal performances, disruption and unpredictability, contrast and dynamic development towards a climax. Musically, blending metal subgenres to increase heaviness is deemed beneficial, and concerning production, automated and dynamic processing responsive to musical structures and performances is highlighted.
Colombia – Panamá: trazabilidad de un acuerdo de intercambio de información tributaria
Authors: Hernández-Belaides Hernán José
Published: September 2023

Introduction: In the fight against cross-border tax evasion, States use tools to achieve this goal. One of the main tools are treaties and conventions that seek to ensure that taxpayers are not taxed in two jurisdictions for the same transaction and to establish which of the signatory States collects the taxes without this collection occurring twice, which is essential for the determination of the taxes associated with the transactions of the nationals involved. Objective: From this perspective, the purpose of this paper is to trace the origin of the partial exchange of tax information between Colombia and Panama and to determine its importance in tax matters. Methodology: The methodology is qualitative, normative and bibliographic, descriptive and explanatory, based on tax regulations and previous studies conducted by various researchers. Results: As a result, there is evidence of the beginning of an exchange of information for 2019, which led to an increase in tax collection. Conclusions: It is concluded that the outline of the negotiations is positive, reflected in the sending of information for taxable year 2019 of Colombian nationals with assets or economic activities in Panamanian territory.
A geração de valor com a prática de consumo de redes sociais
Authors: Januário Alves Laianna Maiara , Lopes de Oliveira Diogo
Published: September 2023

O objetivo do artigo é refletir sobre a geração de valor de troca a partir do consumo de sites de redes sociais. A partir do conceito de indústria cultural, proposto por Adorno e Horkheimer (1985), é possível inferir que a teoria da escola de Frankfurt dialoga com a monetização de produtos culturais e a produção e consumo destes de maneira alienada. Por meio do método do materialismo históri-co dialético de Karl Marx –o qual permite a compreensão de uma síntese de ideia apenas após o confronto de uma tese concreta com a sua negação abstrata– o trabalho conclui que é necessária uma regulamentação na obtenção, uso e venda de dados dos usuários nessa sociedade em contexto de plataformas digitais
A representação das mulheres na publicidade exterior e nas intervenções urbanas: um estudo comparativo, interseccional e multimodal entre as cidades de Natal, Recife (Brasil) e Barcelona (Espanha)
Authors: Souza Nunes Patrícia de , Azevedo Mello Gomes Isaltina Maria de , Lorite García Nicolás
Published: September 2023

Neste artigo objetivamos estudar as imagens de mulheres na publicidade exterior e nas intervenções urbanas, perceber os dis-cursos recorrentes, fenótipos e identificar as ausências e presenças de marcadores sociais da diferença. Observamos as cidades brasi-leiras de Natal (Rio Grande do Norte) e Recife (Pernambuco), em comparação com a cidade espanhola de Barcelona (Catalunha). Utilizamos a etnografia para o mapeamento e coleta dos dados, cujo período corresponde a abril de 2021 a novembro de 2022. Adotamos parte da metodologia multimodal (análise da emissão) e recorremos à perspectiva interseccional para refletir criticamente so-bre as imagens. Concluímos que as intervenções urbanas apresentam temas emergentes do universo das mulheres, como o feminicídio e o racismo, e direcionam à educação feminista, ou seja, elas surgem como contraponto discursivo às imagens de submissão de mulheres propagadas pela publicidade.
Percepciones de paz y conflicto armado en actores escolares
Authors: Romero Rodríguez María Cecilia , Parada Trujillo Abad Ernesto , Aguilar Barreto Andrea Johana
Published: September 2023

El objetivo del artículo es describir las percepciones de estudiantes y padres de familia relacionadas con el conflicto armado y la paz. Corresponde a un estudio cualitativo de nivel descriptivo enmarcado en el paradigma interpretativo-hermenéutico. Se emplearon los métodos análisis de discurso y teoría fundamentada, y se contó con la participación de 35 actores escolares de una institución educativa en Colombia, a quienes se les aplicó una entrevista en profundidad. Los datos fueron codificados y categorizados, y sistematizados a través del software Atlas Ti. Los resultados muestran siete categorías selectivas, 18 códigos axiales y 231 códigos abiertos, los cuales develan las distintas formas de percepción en torno a la paz y al conflicto armado de los actores escolares. Se sugieren gramáticas heterogéneas en torno a la paz y el conflicto armado con marcos interpretativos amplios y estrategias de escucha flexibles.
¿Qué investigamos cuando estudiamos la violencia en redes sociales en Colombia? Una revisión sistemática de la literatura
Authors: Morales Esteban
Published: September 2023

Con el incremento en el acceso y uso de las redes sociales en Colombia, es de esperar que prácticas y discursos violentos se trasladen a estos espacios digitales. Sin duda, hoy en día las redes sociales son parte de los ecosistemas de información y comunicación de los colombianos, donde las culturas de violencia y paz se expanden y transforman. En este contexto, es esencial explorar las formas en las investigamos la violencia en redes sociales, ya que entender este fenómeno permite responder mejor a las necesidades y experiencias de las comunidades del país. El presente articulo busca explorar cómo se ha estudiado la violencia en las redes sociales en Colombia mediante una revisión sistemática de la literatura. Resultados muestran un complejo trayecto de investigación en el país que comprende variados objetivos, como entender las diferentes formas en las que la violencia es ejercida a través de redes sociales o sobre cómo nos permite conocer más contextos de violencia. Igualmente, los resultados muestran que las investigaciones están principalmente enfocadas en dos plataformas: Facebook y Twitter. Finalmente, se encontró que los artículos están principalmente orientados a investigar tres tipos de violencias: violencia de género, violencia relacionada con conflicto armado, y violencia escolar. Los hallazgos de esta revisión sistemática de la literatura permiten, por un lado, valorar previos estudios que han demostrado el complejo panorama de la violencia mediática en el país y, por otro lado, descubrir posibles vacíos en la literatura que podrían ser respondidos por investigadoras e investigadores en el futuro.
Tourism Village Assistance in Purwakarta Regency (Case Study of Indonesian Wanayasa Village)
Authors:   Tour and Travel, Bandung College of Tourism Economics, Indonesia, Safari Apay , Afriza Lia ,   Tourism Management, Bandung College of Tourism Economics, Indonesia, Riyanti Anti ,   Hospitality, Bandung College of Tourism Economics, Indonesia
Published: September 2023

Tourism development requires the support and involvement of stakeholders in the tourism sector. The community is one element of the stakeholders to work together with the Government and the business/private sector to synergize to implement and support tourism development. Tourism development in Tourism Villages is cross-sector for the purpose of achieving the development of tourist villages through the principles of sustainable tourism. The purpose of this research is to identify the Potential of Natural, Cultural and Craft Resources in Wanayasa Village, to know the role of assistants in Tourism Villages as well as the Implementation of Empowerment in Tourism Villages. The method used in this study uses a qualitative descriptive with field surveys on mentoring activities which are believed to be able to encourage optimal empowerment of the community, so that there is no gap of understanding between the parties providing assistance and the target beneficiaries. Empowerment is one of the strong indicators that exist in tourist villages because the concept of developing a tourist village is based on community empowerment (Community Base Tourism) where the community has an important role in developing a tourist village with a tagline from the community, by the community and for the community.