bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Current active fault distribution and slip rate along the middle section of the Jiali-Chayu fault from Sentinel-1 InSAR observations (2017–2022)
Authors: Yao Jiaming , Yao Xin , Wang Yanbing , Zhao Zheng , Liu Xinghong
Published: January 2024

The Jiali-Chayu fault, situated on the eastern side of the eastern Himalayan syntaxis, is the southeastern margin of the large strike-slip fault zone of the Jiali Fault. The study of the distribution and activity within this fault zone is imperative for a comprehensive understanding of the tectonic movement patterns in the southeastern Tibetan Plateau. Previous studies have established that the kinematic characteristic of the Jiali-Chayu fault diverges significantly from that of other segments within the Jiali fault. Nonetheless, the current tectonic characteristics, including the slip sense, slip rate, and geometric deformation of this fault, are still not well resolved, leading to divergent interpretations regarding its contemporary activity intensity. This paper introduced an optimized time-series InSAR method with phase compensation designed for regions characterized by low coherence and exhibiting slow deformation. Using Sentinel-1 SAR data from both ascending and descending orbits spanning the period between 2017 and 2022, we successfully derived deformation rates for the middle part of the Jiali-Chayu fault at a spatial resolution of 150 m. The slip and dip rates of active faults are determined by considering the fault movement rates from two different observation angles, in conjunction with strike angle and the assumed dip angle of the fault. The results show that the deformation rates of the three branches are very different, with F2-1 and F2-2 exhibiting notable activity, while other areas exhibit relatively weaker activity. The strike-slip rates for F2-1 and F2-2 faults range between 3.6 and 5.3 mm/a and 3.05 to 5.13 mm/a, respectively, while their respective dip-slip rates fall within the range of 1.1–2.7 mm/a and 2.99–5.02 mm/a. In accordance with the fault slip directions, we classify the F2-1 fault as a sinistral (left-lateral) strike-slip fault and the F2-2 fault as a dextral (right-lateral) strike-slip fault. This study addresses a gap in remote sensing methods for detecting active fault activity in this region, providing a systematic foundation for identifying weak activity characteristics within the fault zone.

Graphical Abstract
DNA methylation of ELOVL2 gene as an epigenetic marker of age among Egyptian population
Authors: El-Shishtawy Noha M. , El Marzouky Fatma M. , El-Hagrasy Hanan A.
Published: January 2024

Background

Cellular and molecular changes occur during aging, decreasing organ function. The aging process was measured by several biomarkers, including DNA methylation (DNAm), an epigenetic change regulating gene expression, which is highly accurate at predicting biological age. DNAm is heritable and therefore varies between different populations.

Aim

To assess blood DNA methylation changes as epigenetic clocks in the male and female Egyptian population. Pyrosequencing was used to measure the methylation of nine CpG sites in blood samples from 100 healthy Egyptians (18–69 years) using a cross-sectional study. Two age predicted models based on the ELOVL2 gene were compared in three age categories and correlated in all age groups despite decreasing accuracy with increasing age.

Results

The mean absolute deviation (MAD) using the 1st and 2nd age predicted models for 18–40 years was 1.06 and 2.7, respectively; for 41–60 years, it was 4.4 and 3.8, respectively; and for > 60 years, it was 7.7 and 7.0, respectively. No significant differences in DNA methylation were found between the sexes.

Conclusion

DNA methylation of the ELOVL2 gene can be used as an accurate biomarker for age estimation. Additionally, this method has the potential to be more accurate than traditional methods of age estimation.
Echocardiographic estimation of left ventricular filling pressures in heart transplant recipients
Authors: Rahbar Zohreh , Tavoosi Anahita , Bakhshandeh Alireza , Mehrpooya Maryam , Sardari Akram , Larti Farnoosh , Sattarzadeh Badkoubeh Roya
Published: January 2024

Background

Echocardiographic estimation of left ventricular filling pressure in heart transplant (HTx) recipients is challenging. The ability of echocardiography to detect elevated left ventricular end-diastolic pressure (LVEDP) in HTx patients was assessed in this study.

Results

This descriptive cross-sectional study included 39 HTx recipients who were candidates for endomyocardial biopsy as a part of their routine post-transplantation surveillance. Doppler transthoracic echocardiography was done before the procedure, and left heart catheterization was done during the endomyocardial biopsy. Thirty-nine patients (15 female, 24 male), with a mean age of 39.6 years (range 13–70), were enrolled. A strong relation was observed between lateral E/e′ and LVEDP (R = 0.64, P value < 0.001) and average E/e′ and LVEDP (R = 0.6, P value < 0.001). The best cutoff value for LVEDP prediction was the average E/e′ ≥ 6.8 with a sensitivity of 96.15% and specificity of 68.5% for the prediction of LVEDP more than or equal to 20 mmHg. Two predictive models comprising age, gender, and lateral E/e′ or average E/e′ were also proposed. A significant relationship was also found between LVEDP and left ventricular global longitudinal strain (R = − 0.31, P value < 0.01).

Conclusions

Lateral E/e′ was the best predictor of LVEDP. The cutoff of average E/e′ had the best validity for the estimation of LVEDP. Despite the strong observed association, echocardiographic parameters cannot be considered a surrogate for invasive LVEDP measurements when seeking information about left ventricle filling pressure on heart transplant recipients.
Machine learning in physical activity, sedentary, and sleep behavior research
Authors: Farrahi Vahid , Rostami Mehrdad
Published: January 2024

The nature of human movement and non-movement behaviors is complex and multifaceted, making their study complicated and challenging. Thanks to the availability of wearable activity monitors, we can now monitor the full spectrum of physical activity, sedentary, and sleep behaviors better than ever before—whether the subjects are elite athletes, children, adults, or individuals with pre-existing medical conditions. The increasing volume of generated data, combined with the inherent complexities of human movement and non-movement behaviors, necessitates the development of new data analysis methods for the research of physical activity, sedentary, and sleep behaviors. The characteristics of machine learning (ML) methods, including their ability to deal with complicated data, make them suitable for such analysis and thus can be an alternative tool to deal with data of this nature. ML can potentially be an excellent tool for solving many traditional problems related to the research of physical activity, sedentary, and sleep behaviors such as activity recognition, posture detection, profile analysis, and correlates research. However, despite this potential, ML has not yet been widely utilized for analyzing and studying these behaviors. In this review, we aim to introduce experts in physical activity, sedentary behavior, and sleep research—individuals who may possess limited familiarity with ML—to the potential applications of these techniques for analyzing their data. We begin by explaining the underlying principles of the ML modeling pipeline, highlighting the challenges and issues that need to be considered when applying ML. We then present the types of ML: supervised and unsupervised learning, and introduce a few ML algorithms frequently used in supervised and unsupervised learning. Finally, we highlight three research areas where ML methodologies have already been used in physical activity, sedentary behavior, and sleep behavior research, emphasizing their successes and challenges. This paper serves as a resource for ML in physical activity, sedentary, and sleep behavior research, offering guidance and resources to facilitate its utilization.
Ultracold atoms carrying orbital angular momentum: Engineering topological phases in lattices
Authors: Nicolau E. , Pelegrí G. , Polo J. , Marques A. M. , Daley A. J. , Mompart J. , Dias R. G. , Ahufinger V.
Published: January 2024

Ultracold atoms carrying Orbital Angular Momentum (OAM) loaded in lattices constitute a promising platform for engineering topological systems either at the single-particle limit or in the presence of interactions. In this review, we report recent progress on this topic with the focus on bosons with OAM l = 1 in lattices of coplanar ring potentials, which provide an ideal scenario to realise topological non-trivial phases of matter.
Incidence, Treatment, and Survival of Adrenocortical Carcinoma in Denmark 2003-2019
Authors: Pedersen Jens , Jarløv Anne Elisabeth , Rasmussen Åse Krogh , Stochholm Kirstine
Published: January 2024

Objectives

Adrenocortical carcinoma (ACC) is a malignant tumor originating from the adrenal cortex. The aim of the study was to report the incidence of ACC and survival of ACC in Denmark. The secondary objective was to describe the impact of treatment with mitotane on survival.

Design

Retrospective population study of patients diagnosed with ACC between 2003 and 2019 in Denmark.

Methods

Individuals at risk for ACC were identified in the national Danish Health registries, and diagnosis of ACC was confirmed by review of the health records. Data on demographics, presentation, treatment, recurrence, and death was evaluated.

Results

138 patients were included in the study with more females (59.4%) than males (40.6%). Incidence rate was 1.4 per million per year. The incidence rate ratio significantly increased only in females by 1.06 [95% confidence interval (CI): 1.02-1.12] per year. Overall median survival was 1.93 (95% CI: 1.24-3.00) years with no differences between males and females. The proportion of patients treated with mitotane (either as adjuvant treatment or as part of a chemotherapeutic regime) was 72.3%. Survival was significantly decreased in women not treated with mitotane compared to women treated with mitotane (either as adjuvant or as part of a chemotherapeutic regime) hazards ratio .30 (95% CI: .10-.89), adjusted for European Network for the Study of Adrenal Tumours score, age at diagnosis, and year of diagnosis, but survival was unaffected by mitotane treatment in men.

Conclusion

Incidence of ACC in Denmark was 1.4 per million per year and increased in women but not in males during the study period 2003-2019.
Social Connectedness and Information Markets
Authors: Kranton Rachel , McAdams David
Published: January 2024

This paper investigates information quality in a simple model of socially connected information markets. Suppliers’ payoffs derive from the fraction of consumers who see their stories. Consumers prefer to share and act only on high-quality information. Quality is endogenous and highest when social connectedness is neither too high nor too low. In highly connected markets, low-quality stories are widely seen, giving suppliers little incentive to invest in quality. Increasing the volume of misinformation and increasing consumers’ costs of tuning in to suppliers’ broadcasts can each increase equilibrium information quality. (JEL D11, D82, D83, L82, Z13)
Coordination in the Fight against Collusion
Authors: Iossa Elisabetta , Loertscher Simon , Marx Leslie M. , Rey Patrick
Published: January 2024

While antitrust authorities strive to detect, prosecute, and thereby deter collusive conduct, entities harmed by that conduct are also advised to pursue their own strategies to deter collusion. The implications of such delegation of deterrence have largely been ignored, however. In a procurement context, we find that buyers may prefer to accommodate rather than deter collusion among their suppliers. We also show that a multimarket buyer, such as a centralized procurement authority, may optimally deter collusion when multiple independent buyers would not, consistent with the view that “large” buyers are less susceptible to collusion. (JEL D21, D43, D44, L12, L14)
Anticompetitive Bundling When Buyers Compete
Authors: de Cornière Alexandre , Taylor Greg
Published: January 2024

We study the profitability of bundling by an upstream firm that licenses technologies to downstream competitors and that faces competition for one of its technologies. In an otherwise standard “ Chicago-style” model, the existence of downstream competition can make inefficient bundling profitable. Forcing downstream firms to use an inefficient technology reassures each one that it will face weak competition. This allows the upstream firm to extract more profit through its monopolized technology. A similar logic can make it profitable to degrade interoperability with rival technologies, even without foreclosing competition. Bundling is most profitable when downstream competition is intense and technologies complementary. (JEL D21, D24, D43, D45, G34, L24)
In silico μελέτες βιοδραστικών μορίων που δρουν σε κυτταρικό επίπεδο ή πρωτεϊνικούς υποδοχείς
Authors: Μόσχοβου Καλλιόπη
Published: January 2024

Στην παρούσα διδακτορική διατριβή πραγματοποιήσαμε μια εκτεταμένη έρευνα σχετικά με τις δυνατότητες των φυσικών προϊόντων και των αντιυπερτασικών μορίων ως αναστολέων που στοχεύουν στις βασικές πρωτεΐνες του ιού SARS-CoV-2, συγκεκριμένα την Κύρια Πρωτεάση (Mpro) και την Πρωτεΐνη Ακίδα (S). Χρησιμοποιώντας τη μέθοδο της Επαγόμενης Μοριακής Πρόσδεσης αξιολογήσαμε τη δεσμευτική ικανότητα τους με τη Mpro (σε μια περιοχή πρόσδεσης) και την πρωτεΐνη S ενωμένη με το Μετατρεπτικό Ένζυμο της Αγγειοτασίνης ΙΙ (ACE2) (τρεις διαφορετικές περιοχές πρόσδεσης). Για να αποκτήσουμε βαθύτερες γνώσεις σχετικά με τη σταθερότητα και τις μοριακές αλληλεπιδράσεις των συμπλεγμάτων «πρωτεΐνης-προσδέτη», τα οποία προέκυψαν από τις μελέτες Μοριακής Πρόσδεσης, πραγματοποιήσαμε προσομοιώσεις Μοριακής Δυναμικής. Αυτές οι προσομοιώσεις μπορεί να διαλευκάνουν στους μοριακούς μηχανισμούς που αποτελούν τη βάση των πιθανών υποψηφίων φαρμάκων για τη θεραπεία της COVID-19. Επιπλέον, πραγματοποιήσαμε υπολογισμούς MM-GBSA σε όλα τα συμπλέγματα «πρωτεΐνης-προσδέτη», τονίζοντας τις ισχυρές ικανότητες δέσμευσης του ροσμαρινικού οξέος, της κουρκουμίνης και της κερκετίνης κατά της Mpro και του σαλβιανολικού οξέος β, του ροσμαρινικού οξέος και της κερκετίνης έναντι της πρωτεΐνης S. Για να επεκτείνουμε περαιτέρω την αναζήτησή μας για ισχυρούς αναστολείς, πραγματοποιήσαμε αναζήτηση δομικής ομοιότητας με βάση τα μόρια που απέδωσαν τα πιο ευνοϊκά αποτελέσματα στις in silico μελέτες μας, χρησιμοποιώντας το Enalos Suite της εταιρείας NovaMechanics Ltd Enalos. Το Enalos Suite εντόπισε 115 ενώσεις, οι οποίες εμφάνιζαν δομικές ομοιότητες με το σαλβιανολικό οξύ, το ροσμαρινικό οξύ και την κερκετίνη. Αυτές οι ενώσεις στη συνέχεια υποβλήθηκαν σε υπολογισμούς Επαγόμενης Μοριακής Πρόσδεσης, που οδήγησαν στην ταυτοποίηση δύο αναλόγων σαλβιανολικού οξέος, τα οποία παρουσίασα ισχυρή πρόσδεση σε όλες τις εξεταζόμενες περιοχές πρόσδεσης και στις δύο πρωτεΐνες. Αυτή η ανακάλυψη υπογραμμίζει τις δυνατότητές τους ως αναστολείς πολλαπλών στόχων. Τα ευρήματα της παρούσας διδακτορικής διατριβής ανοίγουν υποσχόμενες δυνατότητες για την ανάπτυξη καινοτόμων θεραπευτικών παραγόντων που στοχεύουν στη διακοπή του κύκλου ζωής του ιού SARS-CoV-2 και στην αποτελεσματική παρεμπόδιση της εισόδου του στα ανθρώπινα κύτταρα.
A sceptical aesthetics of existence
Authors: Σίμος Εμμανουήλ
Published: January 2024

Οι γενεαλογικές έρευνες του Michel Foucault συνιστούν μια μορφή ιστορικού λόγου που αμφισβητεί τη μεταφυσική υποστασιοποίηση των εννοιών και μεθοδολογικών προσεγγίσεων ως μοναδικών μέσων για την ανίχνευση μεταφυσικά αντικειμενικών αληθειών. Η έννοια της αισθητικής της ύπαρξης του Foucault, η επεξεργασία της αρχαίας εννοιολόγησης της ηθικής ως “τέχνης του βίου”, μαζί με μια σειρά αλληλένδετων εννοιών (όπως η μέριμνα του εαυτού) που ανέπτυξε στο μεταγενέστερο έργο του, έχουν τριπλή διάσταση. Πρώτον, οι έννοιες αυτές είναι συγκροτητικές των γενεαλογιών της υποκειμενικότητάς του ύστερου έργου του. Δεύτερον, καταδεικνύουν ότι ο Foucault κατανοεί την ηθική με διαφορετικό τρόπο, αντίθετο στην παραδοσιακή, καντιανή εννοιολόγηση της ηθικής: αντιλαμβάνεται την ηθική με όρους κατασκευής του εαυτού (self-fashioning), αισθητικής μεταμόρφωσης, μετατροπής της ζωής σε έργο τέχνης. Τρίτον, ο Foucault χρησιμοποιεί αυτές τις έννοιες με αυτοαναφορικό τρόπο: περιγράφουν το δικό του το γενεαλογικό έργο. Η παρούσα διατριβή επιχειρεί να δείξει δύο πράγματα. Πρώτον, υπερασπίζομαι την ιδέα ότι η έννοια της αισθητικής της ύπαρξης ήταν ήδη παρούσα με συγκροτητικό τρόπο από την αρχή του έργου του και, συγκεκριμένα, υποστηρίζω ότι μπορεί να εντοπιστεί σε παλαιότερες εκφάνσεις του έργου του. Δεύτερον, υπερασπίζομαι την ιδέα ότι αυτή η έννοια της αισθητικής της ύπαρξης γίνεται καλύτερα κατανοητή με όρους της σκεπτικής στάση του Σέξτου Εμπειρίκου. Η έννοια αυτή περιγράφει μια ηθική της κριτικής της μεταφυσικής, και μπορεί να κατανοηθεί ως μια νομιναλιστική (nominalist), πλαισιακή (contextualist) και επιμεροκρατική (nominalist) στάση. Στο πρώτο κεφάλαιο συζητείται η γενεαλογία του υποκειμένου στο ύστερο έργο του Foucault. Στο κεφάλαιο αυτό, διατυπώνεται το ερμηνευτικό πλαίσιο εντός του οποίου η εννοιολόγηση της αισθητικής της ύπαρξης από τον ίδιο τον Foucault μπορεί να κατανοηθεί ως μια σκεπτική στάση, και κατ’ επέκταση ως μία στάση νομιναλιστική, πλαισιοκρατική και επιμεροκρατική. Καθώς η πρακτική της αισθητικής της ύπαρξης δεν είναι αφηρημένη και ανιστορική, αλλά συγκροτείται μέσα από την εμπλοκή της με τις συγκεκριμένες ιστορικές συνθήκες εντός των οποίων πραγματώνεται, το δεύτερο κεφάλαιο ανασυνθέτει το διανοητικό πλαίσιο μέσα από το οποίο αναδύθηκε η σκέψη του Φουκώ (Heidegger, Blanchot, και Nietzsche). Το τρίτο κεφάλαιο εξετάζει αντιπροσωπευτικά παραδείγματα από διαφορετικές περιόδους της σκέψης του Foucault—όπως είναι η “Εισαγωγή” του Foucault στο “Traum und Existenz” του Binswanger (1954), η Histoire de la folie (1961) και η Histoire de la sexualité I. La volonté de savoir (1976)—και καταδεικνύει με ποιον τρόπο αποτελούν συγκεκριμένες πραγματώσεις μιας σκεπτικής αισθητικής της ύπαρξης. Η διατριβή ολοκληρώνεται με απαντήσεις σε μια σειρά ενστάσεων σχετικά με τη δυνατότητα της σκεπτικής αυτής στάσης.
Feasibility of increasing calcium content of drinking tap water following quality regulations to improve calcium intake at population level
Authors: Matamoros Natalia , Puchulu María Bernardita , Colman Lerner Jorge E , Maury-Sintjago Eduard , López Jorge L , Sosio Verónica , Belizán José M , Porta Andrés , Cormick Gabriela
Published: January 2024

Background Calcium intake is below recommendations in several parts of the world. Improving calcium intake has benefits not only for bone health but also helps to prevent pregnancy hypertension disorders. Calcium concentration of tap water is usually low The aim of the present study was to determine the maximum amount of calcium that can be added to tap water while complying with drinking water local regulations. Methods Tap water samples were collected from the Province of Buenos Aires (Argentina). Physicochemical properties and saturation index were measured. Different incremental concentrations of calcium chloride were added to the experimental aliquots. Results Baseline water had a mean calcium concentration of 22.00 ± 2.54 mg/L, water hardness of 89.9 ± 6.4 mg/L CaCO3, and a saturation index of -1.50 ± 0.11. After the addition of 0.4554 ± 0.0071 g of salt, water hard-ness reached 355.0 ± 7.1 mg/L CaCO3, a calcium concentration of 140.50 ± 2.12 mg/L, and a saturation index -0.53 ± 0.02. Conclusions This study shows that at laboratory level it is feasible to increase calcium concentration of drinking water by adding calcium chloride while complying with national standards. Calcium concentration of drinking tap water could be evaluated and minimum calcium concentration of tap water regulated so as to improve calcium intake in populations with low calcium intake.
The benefits of a closed ICU: a systematic review
Authors: Belkin Or , Fernandez-Nava Luis , Sheikh Muneeza , Pang Alan , Schmitz Bettina , Vogt Chris , Johnston Robert , Phillips Cooper
Published: January 2024

This study compared closed and open intensive care unit (ICU) models in terms of patient outcomes. Closed ICUs had reduced mortality rates, shorter lengths of stay, and lower healthcare-associated infection rates. Intensivists in closed ICUs contributed to better outcomes due to their expertise and competence. Enhanced interdisciplinary collaboration, improved communication, and coordination in closed ICUs led to higher patient and family satisfaction.  In addition, closed ICUs were more cost-effective, with better resource use and reduced healthcare costs. Overall, closed ICU models have advantages in patient outcomes, better resource use, cost-effectiveness, and patient satisfaction compared to open ICU models.
 
Key words: Intensive care unit, ICU, patient outcomes, resource utilization, quality of care.
Pulmonary rehabilitation in patients with prior COVID-19 infections
Authors: Mallik Avantika , Motes Arunee , Payne Drew , Nugent Kenneth
Published: January 2024

Abstract
Background: Patients with prior COVID-19 infections can develop persistent dyspnea and physical limitation.  This may reflect chronic lung disease, chronic heart disease, or neuromuscular disease.  Treatment approaches include pulmonary rehabilitation.  This study analyzed the benefits of conventional pulmonary rehabilitation in patients with chronic symptoms following COVID-19 infections.
Methods: Twenty-eight patients completed pulmonary rehabilitation at University Medical Center in Lubbock, Texas.  The primary outcome was the time spent on four different types of exercise equipment during aerobic exercise sessions.
Results: This study included 15 women and 13 men, with a mean age of 54.4 years.  The racial distribution included 12 White patients, 10 Hispanic patients, and 6 Black patients.  Ten patients had a smoking history, 19 patients used supplemental oxygen, 14 patients had hypertension, and 11 patients had diabetes.  The median COPD Assessment Test  (CAT) score was 21.5 (Q1, Q3: 17.5,29), the median Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) score was 8 (Q1, Q3: 4.5,15.5), and the median Medical Research Council (MRC) score was 2.  Twenty-six patients had the abnormal chest x-rays within 3 months of starting the rehabilitation program; these included 5 patients with focal interstitial infiltrates, 9 patients with diffuse interstitial infiltrates, 6 patients with focal opacities, and 6 patients with bilateral opacities.  These patients completed 22.9 (Q1, Q3: 6.8,36) exercise sessions.  There were statistically significant increases in all machine times on all 4 machines.
Conclusion: This study indicates pulmonary rehabilitation can significantly increase aerobic activity levels in patients with prior COVID-19 infections.  This improvement occurred in patients with important comorbidity, abnormal chest x-rays, and chronic oxygen supplementation requirements.  Patients with prior COVID-19 infections and persistent respiratory symptoms should be referred to pulmonary rehabilitation.
 
Key words: COVID-19, long COVID, rehabilitation
La transformación del paisaje. Una mirada multidisciplinar de la fotografía
Authors: Blanco Arroyo María Antonia
Published: January 2024

Este libro es el resultado de una extensa investigación en torno a la fotografía de paisaje. Desde una perspectiva multidisciplinar, se establece una red conceptual de propuestas artísticas a través de relatos fotográficos que muestran un mundo alterado por el ser humano. De esta manera, se crea un recorrido teórico que comienza en los orígenes del concepto paisaje mediante una multiplicidad de miradas presentes a lo largo del siglo XX y en la actualidad. La sensibilidad de las imágenes de Ansel Adams o la objetividad de Bernd y Hilla Becher, así como el reflejo de lo mundano y la huella de la actividad humana que exploran los fotógrafos de la corriente "New Topographics", constituye un trazado conceptual que se proyecta en la obra de artistas contemporáneos como Edward Burtynsky, Richard Misrach, David Taylor, Martina Shenal, Terry Evans, Dana Fritz, Peter Goin o Xavier Ribas.
DISTOPIA, CYBERATIVISMO E REVOLTA POPULAR: O CASO DE V DE VINGANÇA, DE ALAN MOORE E DAVID LLOYD, E O ANONYMOUS
Authors: Pereira Valéria Sabrina
Published: January 2024

No século XXI as distopias estão vivendo uma espécie de renascimento, onde romances clássicos da primeira metade do século XX estão sendo redescobertos, novas obras escritas e teorias críticas desenvolvidas. As razões parecem óbvias, uma vez que o futurismo de obras como Admirável mundo novo e 1984 se torna cada vez mais uma parte integrante de nossa contemporaneidade. Vivemos em uma época que não apenas escreve distopias para compreender os próprios dilemas, mas que também utiliza as obras passadas para entender onde estamos e como chegamos aqui. Se esse reconhecimento é praticamente sempre involuntário, uma vez que ninguém deseja viver em um mundo opressor, mas há casos onde a simulação de aspectos de obras de distopia é proposital. Neste artigo, é discutido o caso de V de vingança, de Alan Moore e David Lloyd, obra de origem da máscara de Guy Fawkes, que é utilizada como símbolo oficial do grupo de cyberativismo Anonymous. Apresentado como o herói fora-da-lei, uma espécie de Robin Hood digital, o personagem V é uma figura dúbia, que apresenta mais características autoritárias e narcisistas do que seria desejável. O artigo visa levantar a discussão sobre os limites do reconhecimento e encenação simbólica de obras do gênero na vida real.
DISTOPIA, MEMÓRIA E CATÁSTROFE EM A NOVA ORDEM, DE BERNARDO KUCINSKI
Authors: Cavelagna Rodrigo
Published: January 2024

O presente artigo propõe uma análise sobre a composição estética de A Nova Ordem, de Bernardo Kucinski (2019). O objetivo central é demonstrar como autor utiliza recursos e temas clássicos da ficção científica distópica, combinando-os com elementos da literatura de testemunho, de forma singular, para tecer uma forte crítica ao necrocapitalismo, centrado no caso brasileiro. Para isso, será necessário recorrer, principalmente, à estrutura interna do livro, que apresenta uma série de soluções. As referências baseiam-se em Walter Benjamin (2000; 2012), Jeanne Marie Gagnebin (2008; 2009) e Márcio Seligmann-Silva (2003; 2017; 2020).
Um animal tão humano: "Cadáver Exquisito", de Agustina Bazterrica, uma distopia animalista
Authors: Riera Raquel
Published: January 2024

Na distopia argentina Cadáver Exquisito (2018a), de Agustina Bazterrica, o canibalismo é institucionalizado após uma pandemia de um vírus desconhecido eliminar todos os animais do planeta, exceto os humanos. A partir da análise dessa obra, o presente trabalho busca compreender em que sentidos o conceito tradicional de humano é deslocado no processo de sua transformação em carne. Buscou-se identificar os procedimentos mobilizados pelo sistema da narrativa para possibilitar o consumo literal de humanos, assim como os sentidos em que o gênero distópico abre espaço para reflexões anticapitalistas e animalistas. O intuito, com isso, é evidenciar a relevância do estudo de distopias na contemporaneidade, as quais atuam como “avisos de incêndio” para futuros sombrios da humanidade.
Inventio e invenção na sátira atribuída a Gregório de Matos: o caso retórico e o caso Augusto de Campos
Authors: Costa Resende Pinto Bastos dos Santos Gabriel
Published: January 2024

A partir da consideração da importância da obra cômico-satírica atribuída a Gregório de Matos para a poesia de Augusto de Campos, mormente enquanto constituinte extrínseco de seu projeto verbivocovisual, nosso artigo estabelece uma comparação crítica de dois modos de leitura, duas figurações possíveis da persona de Gregório de Matos. A primeira, aquela que contempla a entidade “barroca” por uma ótica adequada às contingências e condições de seu tempo, sob o regime da aemulatio ibérica e contrarreformista; a segunda, a que se detém sobre a permanência canônica da sátira gregoriana na obra de um autor contemporâneo de relevo. Trata-se de diálogo diacrônico despoletado pelo concretista e em última instância consubstanciado em performance poética.
Comparing adult social care systems in the UK
Authors: Needham Catherine , Hall Patrick
Published: January 2024

This chapter sets out the rationale for comparative social care research in the four nations of the UK, along with key theoretical approaches and research methods. It highlights the extent to which social care in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland is facing a crisis, further deepened by the COVID-19 pandemic. It defines adult social care and gives an overview of the devolution settlements in the four nations. It sets out the method for the interviews and document analysis that are drawn on in the rest of the book, and summarises the chapters that follow.
What is in crisis? The context of care policy in the four nations
Authors: Needham Catherine , Hall Patrick
Published: January 2024

This chapter uses the frame of crisis to explore issues of supply and demand for care in the four nations. It looks at the extent to which demographic changes are increasing the demand for care and support. Using the care diamond framework, it looks at the contributions of the family, state, market and community, and what it means to say that each of these are ‘in crisis’. It considers the extent to which there is a differentiated crisis between the four nations, with important background conditions – such as the extent of self-funding or of market provision – varying between them. The crisis in England is often portrayed as a crisis of public service cuts, exacerbated by COVID-19 and Brexit. The crisis in Scotland and Wales relates more to rising demand. In Northern Ireland, the crisis has partly been one of policy inactivity and political stasis. Responses to these ‘crisis claims’ involve different responses from policy makers in each of the four nations. In Scotland, for example, there is more optimism about the role of the state as in crisis reversal, whereas in England the government expects the market to drive the move from crisis to sustainability.
The mechanisms of social care reform
Authors: Needham Catherine , Hall Patrick
Published: January 2024

This chapter looks at care reforms in the four nations of the UK since devolution. These can be categorised as the following six mechanisms: redistribute the costs of care; personalise support; support unpaid carers; invest in prevention; integrate with health; and professionalise the workforce. These broad goals of reform across the four nations are very similar. All six of the policy reforms have been attempted, although the tactics through which this has been done are different. Scotland is the nation that has made most progress on care policy reform. These approaches can be summarised as, in the case of Scotland ‘active’, in Wales ‘emergent’, in England ‘symbolic’ and in Northern Ireland ‘stalled’.
The limits of social care reform
Authors: Needham Catherine , Hall Patrick
Published: January 2024

This chapter looks at the challenges of social care reform and why the four nations have not been able to achieve more change over the period despite the clear commitment across a series of policy documents to do so. It considers an incremental versus transformative approach to care reform, and highlights how both of these approaches must still resolve the challenges of implementation. It explores the ‘policy mix’, highlighting tensions between different policies that make it hard to achieve all of them at once, even if implementation challenges could be avoided. The chapter sets out two paradigms of care policy – the standardised, centralised and formal versus the differentiated, local and informal – and suggests that policy makers must engage with the tensions between these rather than offering ‘the best of both worlds’. The failure to acknowledge these rival paradigms is part of the reason why care reforms to date have faltered, and will continue to be an issue as new sets of care reforms are tabled for the future.
‘Following the science’: expertise and risk
Authors: Alaszewski Andy
Published: January 2024

One of the key role of governments in modern democratic societies is to protect their citizens by identifying and mitigating the risks they are exposed to. To provide such protection, the government needs to draw on experts’ knowledge. In normal times, this process tends to take place behind closed doors and attracts relatively little attention. During the COVID-19 pandemic, however, experts took on a more prominent and public role. In making decisions that impacted on the lives of all citizens, politicians claimed to be ‘following the science’, and called on experts to legitimate these decisions by endorsing them in public, at televised briefings, for example. The relationship between science, policy and risk management in the pandemic was complex. The acceptance of scientific knowledge by policy makers and in the wider community was shaped by the social standing of the scientists and the extent to which their ‘knowledge’ fitted within pre-existing knowledge and perceptions. ‘Following the science’ implies that scientific knowledge provides an objective representation of the physical world and that rational action can be based on such action. Scientific knowledge can and is contested, and policy makers made political decisions about which scientists and institutions they will listen to.
Hindsight: inquiries and the blame game
Authors: Alaszewski Andy
Published: January 2024

Analysing risk is generally seen as a way of predicting and managing the future, but it can also be used to explain what went wrong in the past. When there is a major disaster with a large loss of life and/or an existential threat to society, then there is pressure to investigate. Inquiries provide a mechanism for investigating the causes of disasters, identifying why risk was poorly managed and attributing blame for failures. Inquiries are a way of neutralising criticism of failures to respond effectively to risk. By appointing independent authoritative experts to investigate their actions, agencies can acknowledge their failures and shortcomings, make amends to those harmed, and demonstrate a willingness to learn lessons and avoid making the same mistakes again. They can also redress reputational damage. While COVID-19 was still spreading round the globe, the actions and inactions of governments were already coming under scrutiny and becoming subject to inquiries, especially by legislatures in democratic countries that have a duty to oversee the executive. Political leaders were aware of such scrutiny, and responded by seeking to present their actions in the best possible light or by trying to deflect blame.
"Peculiar Finalities": Blurring the Borders between Abduction and Adoption?
Authors: Diver Alice
Published: January 2024

ABSTRACT: The Hague Convention on the Civil Aspects of International Child Abduction is not usually associated with the issue of child adoption: its case law is often complex and focused upon such concepts as "habitual residence" and parental consent, neither of which fit comfortably into the various discourses arising out of adoption law jurisprudence. And yet, aspects of Hague's body of case law arguably hold relevance for adoptees and their estranged birth relatives, in the sense that they touch upon difficult features of family life: kin contact, access to accurate information, abusive relationships, and the notion of relinquished parenthood. Judicial interpretations of such principles as best interests, the voice of the child, the extent of parental responsibility, and the need for child identity, can offer convoluted rights analyses which in turn touch upon the consequences of suffering certain losses, not least original kinships and natal or sociocultural identities. These discourses highlight the implications of maintaining or severing genetic connections: mention is often made of the need for speedy family reunification, the importance of preserving the child's ties to their country of origins, and the benefits of having some form of contact with family members. Significant too is the child's ability—or otherwise—to integrate into new cross-border familial or sociocultural settings. The human rights implications of losing or gaining access to one's "roots" via geographic dislocation (or indeed through a court-ordered return to a place of origin) are therefore key.
A Conversation with Eric Walker
Authors: Walker Eric , Hipchen Emily
Published: January 2024

ABSTRACT: This conversation with Emily Hipchen and Eric Walker previews his forthcoming book, Haphazard Families: Romanticism, Nation, and the Pre-history of Modern Adoption , topics ranging among adoption history, archives, Austen's family and fiction, standpoint theory and embodiment, the London Foundling Hospital, childhood exceptionalism and Romantic subjectivity, Mary Shelley's long quarrel with Rousseau, family abolitionism, Ireland and adoption history, and a royal scandal with an adopted child.
The Language Barrier: Can the ICC Prosecute Chemical Warfare?
Authors: Ahmad Nadia
Published: January 2024

ABSTRACT: International law has come a long way in outlawing chemical weapon usage during warfare. From the 1907 Hague Convention to the 1997 Chemical Weapons Convention, there exists a comprehensive and mostly successful prohibition and verification regime for chemical weapons. However, the advent of modern warfare in recent conflicts in Syria and in Ukraine demonstrates compliance control is severely lacking for this form of weaponry. Consequently, there is no comprehensive accountability framework for international humanitarian law violations in the form of chemical weapon usage. Without explicit language criminalizing it, this heinous form of war crime ends up slipping under the radar. This article explores these jurisdictional gaps in both international and non-international armed conflicts and recommends ways the international community should cement its commitment to penalizing chemical weapon utilization.
Optimized design of a gravitational wave telescope system based on pupil aberration
Authors: Song Jie , Fan Wentong , Fang Sijun , Hai Hongwen , Zhao Kai , Luo Jian , Zhang Rui , Li Bohong , Sun Qicheng , Fan Lei , Li Zizheng , Yan Yong
Published: January 2024

The telescope is vital for accurate gravitational wave detection in the TianQin project. It must meet criteria like a geometric tilt-to-length (TTL) coupling noise coefficient≤0.02√2nm/µrad and wavefront RMS≤λ/30. Analyzing the pupil aberration’s impact on geometric TTL noise, we devised an optimization method using the chief ray spot diagram’s standard deviation. Implementing this in Zemax with a ZPL macro, we designed an optical system meeting TianQin’s requirements. The system has a maximum geometric TTL noise coefficient of 0.0250 nm/µrad over the science FOV and a wavefront RMS of 0.0111λ, confirming the method’s feasibility.
Analysis of multispectral polarization imaging image information based on micro-polarizer array
Authors: Fu Qiang , Ma Ninglan , Liu Xuanwei , Zhang Yue , Zhan Juntong , Zhang Su , Duan Jin , Li Yingchao
Published: January 2024

As a new detection technology, polarization imaging is of great significance in the field of target detection. At present, polarization imaging technology usually adopts visible light polarization imaging. The technique is difficult to image the target in complex background due to its narrow working spectrum and short detection distance. Therefore, based on the principle of full Stokes micro-polarizer array, this paper proposes a multi-spectral polarization imaging scheme and designs a multi-spectral polarization imaging detection system penetrating haze. Conducting indoor and outdoor polarized imaging experiments. Finally, image quality was assessed using metrics such as information entropy (EN), average gradient (AG), and standard deviation (STD). The results show that compared with traditional strength detection, the imaging system has significantly improved detection distance and imaging quality in smoky environments. The imaging system can effectively enhance the contours and details of the target object and improve detection and recognition capabilities.
Prevalence and determinants of multimorbidity in the Canadian population
Authors: Xiao Xiang , Beach Jeremy , Senthilselvan Ambikaipakan
Published: January 2024

Multimorbidity, which is defined as having at least two or more chronic diseases concurrently, has been a rising public health issue in recent years in Canada and worldwide. The increasing prevalence of multimorbidity has posed a burden on the current health care system and quality of life for the Canadian population. There is a lack of up-to-date research on determinants of multimorbidity in the Canadian population, which is necessary to better understand and prevent multimorbidity. This study aims to determine the prevalence and risk factors of multimorbidity in the middle-aged and older Canadian adult population. Multivariable logistic regression analyses incorporating survey weights and biologically plausible interactions were conducted to examine the determinants of multimorbidity using data from the 2017/2018 Canadian Community Health Survey (CCHS). Of the 113,290 CCHS participants, 82,508 subjects who were aged 35 years and above were included in the study. The prevalence of multimorbidity was 22.20% (95% CI: 21.74%, 22.67%) and was greater for females. Multimorbidity was more likely in subjects who were obese, abstaining from alcohol, inactive, had a lower education level, widowed, divorced, or separated and was less likely among subjects living in Quebec. The protective effect of household income on multimorbidity decreased with age. Current smokers who reported extreme stress were more likely to have multimorbidity. Multimorbidity is associated with various determinants that need to be considered in chronic disease control and prevention. These results suggest that future research should focus not only on these determinants but also on the relationships between them. A future longitudinal study is required to provide causal evidence for the study findings.
Video games, historical representation and soft power
Authors: Donald Iain , Webber Nick , Wright Esther
Published: January 2024

This article explores how historical video games have become tools for UK and Chinese ‘soft power’ or ‘public diplomacy’ and the role of historical representation in portraying cultural identity in the global marketplace. In the United Kingdom, state support has been introduced for games representing British culture, which are assumed to conduct cultural diplomacy (a subcategory of public diplomacy). In China, public diplomacy – ‘telling China’s stories well’ – has been central to national promotion strategies under Xi Jinping. Although the success of these approaches is visible in game companies like Tencent and NetEase, regulators remain attentive to games that reflect upon China’s history and cultural heritage. What does this mean for historical representation in and around video games? Do nationalistic regulatory environments threaten the capacity of games to offer thoughtful or challenging engagements with the past? And how effectively is historical representation mobilized to project soft power through video games?
Copyright ownership of user-generated content in games
Authors: Xu Qinqing
Published: January 2024

An increasing number of games provide players with freedom to participate within the game world. Using , a world-famous game developed by Nintendo, as a case study, this article discusses the copyright ownership issues of player-created works in China. Although gaming companies hold intellectual property of gaming software, the copyright ownership of user-generated content still needs clarification. The article reviews the framework of copyright protection in China, followed by an analysis of courts’ interpretation of originality that is required for copyright protection. The user agreement between players and Tencent, the company representing Nintendo’s business in mainland China, is analysed to answer the question of the ownership of user-created works. This article finds that although players own the copyright of user-generated content, they are in a weak position to control the exploitation of rights due to the strict Tencent-represented Nintendo Switch Account User Agreement.
How to integrate mechanical licences for video games in the United States, the United Kingdom and China
Authors: Gonçalves Lukas Ruthes , Paim Bruna Werlang
Published: January 2024

Mechanical licences are used in the music industry to permit publishers and songwriters to be paid for their work, and to allow musical works to be better shared. In recent years, video games have gained great economic and cultural importance, but they are at an increasing risk of becoming unplayable due to being often locked to specific hardware. Authorizing fans and content producers to use mechanical licences to remake their favourite video games would aid preservation efforts and serve as a reliable income source for original publishers. Conceptually, musical works and video games are similar enough to enable the mechanical licence scheme to be applied to games without many alterations to the legislation of the United States, United Kingdom and China. If adopted, this would ensure games do not get locked behind aggressive intellectual property strategies or get lost due to only being able to run on certain platforms.
Lifestyle Factors and Cardiovascular Health: The Gut-Heart Axis
Authors: Sutherland Liz
Published: January 2024

An emerging direction of research focuses on the gut microbiome as a complex, metabolically active system whose metabolites can impact the development of cardiometabolic diseases by directly influencing the phenotype of the host.
Cinema and Revolution: Fifty years after the Carnation Revolution
Authors: Robert-Gonçalves Mickaël , Brenez Nicole , Khoshnoudi Bani
Published: January 2024

This special section of Aniki is designed to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Portuguese revolution of 1974-1975. The five articles included in it reflect the need to bring together international research, particularly on a theme with such a wide geographical scope as this one, highlighting the importance of adopting cross perspectives. The analyses proposed in these essays take a variety of approaches – critical film studies, the history of cinema’s modes of production, the ontology of the documentary, comparative analysis – and move through different filmic forms and revolutionary territories, namely: France, the Philippines, Spain, Romania and Brazil. Together, these essays allow us to update the links between cinema and revolution and extend them to other historical contexts and case studies, thus contributing to the global history of a cinema that has for a long time been confronting revolution and society in creative and inspiring ways.