bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Transformative Vengeance: Unveiling the Intricacies of Revenge as a Catalyst for Change within Family Dynamics
Authors: Kefala Chrysavgi , Iliopoulou Triantafyllia , Pilafas Georgios , Louka Penelope
Published: October 2024

Background: The present study is looking at how young adults comprehend and execute revenge against their parents. Despite convincing evidence that the combination of profound emotional attachment and high degrees of interdependence with competitiveness and power struggles almost invariably leads in an enhanced ability to harm and be harmed, the question of revenge has received little attention among family academics.
Aim: The goal of this study was to contribute to the growing body of research about how different groups perceive, execute, and experience vengeance.
Method and material: For this study, the transcript of 4 semi-structured video interviews was analysed using Interpretive Phenomenological Analysis (IPA). The IPA identified three superordinate themes (1) Revenge as a catalyst for change (2) From comparative suffering to mutual understanding (3) Towards a more adaptive homeostasis.
Result: The findings challenge traditional views of revenge as solely punitive, highlighting its strategic role as a mechanism for change inside family dynamics. The study also emphasizes the interplay between emotion and cognition in revenge decisions. Several motivations were identified, assert autonomy, competence, and improve emotional connections within the family. The findings also suggest that revenge seeks to establish communication through comparative suffering.
Conclusion: In summary, this study finds revenge to be a multifaceted emotional response, capable of serving as a strategic tool for instigating positive change. The findings provide new insights into revenge, demonstrating its potential as a catalyst for transformation within family dynamics.
Promoting Health for a vulnerable Family with Relationship Challenges. Exploring the Community Nurse's Role
Authors: Nikolaou Alexis , Argyriadi Agathi , Argyriadis Alexandros
Published: October 2024

Background: In today's dynamic social landscape, families often encounter a myriad of challenges that can impact their overall health and well-being. Among these challenges, relationship difficulties within the family unit stand out as a significant concern, with potential repercussions for the physical, emotional, and psychological health of its members.
Aim: This case study article delves into the intricate dynamics of promoting health within a vulnerable family facing significant relationship challenges. The focus of this study is to explore the pivotal role of the community nurse in addressing the unique needs of such families.
Materials and Methods: A qualitative research approach was employed to comprehensively investigate the experiences of a vulnerable family navigating relationship challenges. Data collection involved in-depth interviews, direct observations, and document analysis. Thematic analysis was used to extract meaningful patterns and insights from the collected data.
Results: The findings underscored the crucial influence of the community nurse in fostering the health and well-being of the vulnerable family. Through tailored interventions, collaborative support, and sensitive communication, the community nurse played a pivotal role in addressing the family's relationship challenges and promoting their overall health.
Conclusions: This study sheds light on the significance of the community nurse's involvement in enhancing the health outcomes of families facing relationship challenges. The role of the community nurse emerges as an essential component in fostering resilience and facilitating positive changes within the family unit.
The Greek version of the Richards‐Campbell Sleep Questionnaire: Reliability and validity assessment
Authors: Sampani Christina-Athanasia , Charalampopoulos Marios , Triantafyllaki Panagiota , Triantafyllou Christos , Papageorgiou Dimitrios
Published: October 2024

Background: The lack of sleep is a significant concern for ICU patients, necessitating effective sleep-promoting interventions by nurses. A user friendly and reliable tool is essential for Greek nurses to evaluate the impact of these interventions on patients' sleep. This study aimed to translate the Richards Campbell Sleep Questionnaire (RCSQ) into Greek and ascertain the reliability and validity of this version in measuring sleep quality among ICU patients in a Greek hospital.
Method and Material: The study assessed the night-time sleep of 50 patients in the general ICU of a tertiary hospital in Athens, Greece, from January 2022 to March 2023. The translation of the RCSQ into Greek adhered to all guidelines for translating and adapting psychometric scales. The reliability of the RCSQ scale was tested using Cronbach's alpha (𝛼).
Results: The study included 32 male and 18 female patients. Cronbach's alpha (𝛼) was calculated to be 0.906, indicating excellent reliability for the RCSQ. The overall mean RCSQ score was 52.8 (SD=15.41), ranging from 12 to 78. About 60% of participants reported "good sleep", while 8% experienced "very poor sleep".
Conclusion: The assessment of patient sleep should utilize a valid and reliable instrument. The Greek version of the RCSQ shows great promise for use in Greek hospital settings. It is concise, user-friendly, and comprehensible, and it has demonstrated reliability and validity in capturing various sleep domains, thereby providing a comprehensive assessment of sleep akin to the original version.
Investigation of the ANNs' potential for reliable assessment of r/c frame's seismic damage using different performance evaluation metrics
Authors: Ntovas Aggelos , Kostinakis Konstantinos
Published: October 2024

The development of a reliable method for the rapid assessment of the expected level of seismic damage of buildings constructed in countries with high seismicity areas is one of the crucial issues of current research, so that the authorities can take the necessary decisions for their rehabilitation or retrofit. A new approach to the problem is the application of methods that fall within the field of Artificial Neural Networks (ANNs). In this paper, an application of ANNs is attempted to predict the level of seismic damage in reinforced concrete frames. For this purpose, 27 frames with different structural characteristics were selected, designed and analyzed by nonlinear dynamic analysis. Then, ANNs were used to test their ability to reliably predict the level of seismic damage. The parameters that configure the networks were also investigated and their performance was evaluated using a number of metrics. The results showed that the optimal network can estimate the seismic damage level with significant reliability, provided that the training sample and the network modeling parameters are properly selected through a testing procedure.
Comparison of radiant intensity in aqueous media using experimental and numerical simulation techniques
Authors: Uppinakudru Adithya Pai , Casado Cintia , Reynolds Ken , Stanley Simon , Pablos Cristina , Marugán Javier
Published: October 2024

Accurately modelling the propagation of radiant intensity in aqueous environments poses significant challenges for both academia and industry, due to complex interactions like absorption, scattering, and reflection. This study aims to improve the accuracy of optical modeling in water-based systems by comparing experimental data with numerical simulation techniques, addressing the need for more reliable simulation methods in multiple applications like treatment of water and environmental monitoring.Implementation has been done by analyzing how the method compares with the discrete ordinate method, radiometry, and actinometry. The study further quantifies the effect of the photoreactor quartz tube on measured intensity for multiple wavelengths. Losses in light intensity are estimated to be 10 ± 0.5% for FX-1 265 source. In contrast, the simulation in a water medium showed an increase of up to 64% in the light intensity delivered to the central part of the tube due to internal reflections and scattering. Model predictions from ray tracing successfully compared with the Discrete Ordinate Method (DOM) and experimental data (within ± 6%), ensuring the accurate design of complex systems for water disinfection. The data from simulations is seen to tackle challenges faced in complex radiation modeling and demonstrates that the method can be utilized as a useful tool for optimization and prediction.
A queen’s tale: Assessing the hidden potential of beeswax specimens in Natural History Museum collections
Authors: Kasso Tuuli , Mackie Meaghan , Ramsøe Max , Vilhelmsen Lars , Gundlach Carsten , Baier-Stegmaier Sina , Taurozzi Alberto J. , Collins Matthew J.
Published: October 2024

Background Natural history museum specimens of historical honeybees have been successfully used to explore the species’ genomic past, indicating fast and rapid changes between historical and modern specimens, possibly as a response to current challenges. In our study we explore a potential new untapped archive from natural history collections - specimens of historical beeswax. We examine an intact and closed Apis mellifera mellifera queen cell specimen from the 19th century. Methods In our study, we examine the queen cell by X-ray Computed Tomography (CT). Subsequently, a micro-destructive approach was used to explore the possibility of protein extraction from the cell for a palaeoproteomic analysis. Results Our results to reveal a perfectly preserved queen bee inside her cell. We were successful in extracting proteins from the residual material inside the queen cell, and were able to identify the material as containing several bee-related proteins, including major royal jelly proteins (MJRPs). Conclusions Our study show that studies on specimens such as the queen cell provide valuable information about the past rearing of queens, their diet, and their development, which is relevant for understanding current honeybees and their challenges.
More to Lose: The Adverse Effect of High Performance Ranking on Employees’ Preimplementation Attitudes Toward the Integration of Powerful AI Aids
Authors: SimanTov-Nachlieli Ilanit
Published: October 2024

Despite the growing availability of algorithm-augmented work, algorithm aversion is prevalent among employees, hindering successful implementations of powerful artificial intelligence (AI) aids. Applying a social comparison perspective, this article examines the adverse effect of employees’ high performance ranking on their preimplementation attitudes toward the integration of powerful AI aids within their area of advantage. Five studies, using a weight estimation simulation (Studies 1–3), recall of actual job tasks (Study 4), and a workplace scenario (Study 5), provided consistent causal evidence for this effect by manipulating performance ranking (performance advantage compared with peers versus no advantage). Studies 3–4 revealed that this effect was driven in part by employees’ perceived potential loss of standing compared with peers, a novel social-based mechanism complementing the extant explanation operating via one’s confidence in own (versus AI) ability. Stronger causal evidence for this mechanism was provided in Study 5 using a “moderation-of-process” design. It showed that the adverse effect of high performance ranking on preimplementation AI attitudes was reversed when bolstering the stability of future performance rankings (presumably counteracting one’s concern with potential loss of standing). Finally, pointing to the power of symbolic threats, this adverse effect was evident both in the absence of financial incentives for high performance (Study 1) and in various incentive-based settings (Studies 2–3). Implications for understanding and managing high performers’ aversion toward the integration of powerful algorithmic aids are discussed.

Funding: This work was supported by the Coller Foundation.

Supplemental Material: The supplemental material is available at https://doi.org/10.1287/orsc.2023.17515 .
Effect of Sarcobesity Index and Body Adipose Tissue Variables on Cardiopulmonary Exercise Testing Performance in Colorectal Surgery Setting: A Retrospective Cohort Study
Authors: Kirby Emma , Tam Winnie , Gilham Iain , Babs-Osibodu Adetona Obaloluwa , Jones William , Hajibandeh Shahin , Hajibandeh Shahab , Rose George A , Bailey Damian M , Morris Christopher , Hargest Rachel , Clayton Amy , Davies Richard G
Published: October 2024

Aims/Background The prognostic significance of body composition variables has become a popular area of research over the recent years. This study aimed to determine whether adipose tissue variables and sarcobesity index measured by computed tomography (CT) could predict cardiopulmonary exercise testing (CPET) performance and long-term mortality in patients undergoing major colorectal surgery.

Methods The Strengthening the Reporting of Cohort Studies in Surgery (STROCSS) statement standards were followed to conduct a retrospective cohort study of consecutive patients who had CPET prior to major colorectal surgery between January 2011 and January 2017. Receiver Operating Characteristic curve analysis was conducted to assess the discriminative performances of adipose tissue variables. The association between CT-derived adipose tissue variables (sarcobesity index, visceral adipose tissue, subcutaneous adipose tissue, and total adipose tissue) and CPET performance and mortality were assessed using regression analyses.

Results 457 patients were included. Total adipose tissue evaluated via 2-dimensional (2D) and 3-dimensional (3D) approaches predicted oxygen uptake (V̇O2) Rest, V̇O2 anaerobic threshold (AT), ventilatory equivalents for carbon dioxide (V̇E/V̇CO2) AT, ventilatory equivalents for oxygen (V̇E/V̇O2) AT, V̇O2 peak, exercise time, maximum work, peak metabolic equivalents (METS), peak respiratory rate (RER), and peak oxygen pulse. Sarcobesity index (2D and 3D) predicted V̇O2 Rest, V̇O2 AT, V̇E/V̇CO2 AT, V̇O2 peak, maximum work, peak METS, maximum heart rate, and peak RER. Neither total adipose tissue nor sarcobesity index (2D and 3D) predicted 1-year, 3-year, or 5-year mortality. There was no difference in the discriminative performance of adipose tissue variables in predicting mortality.

Conclusion The CPET performance may be predicted by radiologically measured adipose tissue variables and sarcobesity index. However, the prognostic value of the variables may not be significant in this setting.
Concurrent validity of the Single Assessment Numerical Evaluation and hip-specific patient-reported outcome measures
Authors: Bergman Elizabeth M. , Mulligan Edward P. , Patel Rupal M. , Wells Joel
Published: October 2024

Aims

The Single Assessment Numerical Evalution (SANE) score is a pragmatic alternative to longer patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs). The purpose of this study was to investigate the concurrent validity of the SANE and hip-specific PROMs in a generalized population of patients with hip pain at a single timepoint upon initial visit with an orthopaedic surgeon who is a hip preservation specialist. We hypothesized that SANE would have a strong correlation with the 12-question International Hip Outcome Tool (iHOT)-12, the Hip Outcome Score (HOS), and the Hip disability and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score (HOOS), providing evidence for concurrent validity of the SANE and hip-specific outcome measures in patients with hip pain.

Methods

This study was a cross-sectional retrospective database analysis at a single timepoint. Data were collected from 2,782 patients at initial evaluation with a hip preservation specialist using the iHOT-12, HOS, HOOS, and SANE. Outcome scores were retrospectively analyzed using Pearson correlation coefficients.

Results

Mean raw scores were iHOT-12 67.01 (SD 29.52), HOS 58.42 (SD 26.26), HOOS 86.85 (SD 32.94), and SANE 49.60 (SD 27.92). SANE was moderately correlated with the iHOT-12 (r = -0.4; 95% CI -0.35 to -0.44; p < 0.001), HOS (r = 0.57; 95% CI 0.53 to 0.60; p < 0.001), and HOOS (r = -0.55; 95% CI -0.51 to -0.58; p < 0.001). The iHOT-12 and HOOS were recorded as a lower score, indicating better function, which accounts for the negative r values.

Conclusion

This study was the first to investigate the relationship between the SANE and the iHOT-12, HOS, and HOOS in a population of patients with hip pain at the initial evaluation with an orthopaedic surgeon, and found moderate correlation between SANE and the iHOT-12, HOS, and HOOS. The SANE may be a pragmatic alternative for clinical benchmarking in a general population of patients with hip pain. The construct validity of the SANE should be questioned compared to legacy measures whose content validity has been more rigorously investigated.

Cite this article: Bone Jt Open 2024;5(10):904–910.
Multifunctional GAN-based optimization for X-ray tomography under different conditions
Authors: Guan Yu , Zhang Shou , Wang Hongwei , Chen Xingbang , Wang Fuli , Liu Huiqiang
Published: October 2024

Based on the generative adversarial network (GAN), we present a multifunctional X-ray tomographic protocol for artifact correction, noise suppression, and super-resolution of reconstruction. The protocol mainly consists of a data preprocessing module and multifunctional GAN-based loss function simultaneously dealing with ring artifacts and super-resolution. The experimental protocol removes ring artifacts and improves the contrast-to-noise ratio (CNR) and spatial resolution (SR) of reconstructed images successfully, which shows the capability to adaptively rectify ring artifacts with varying intensities and types while achieving super-resolution. Compared with the main existing deep learning models or conventional tomographic correction methods, it also enables higher processing speed and minimal information loss, especially for images of smaller dimensions. This study provides a robust optimization tool for the equivalent realization of large fields of view and high-resolution X-ray tomography. The experimental datasets were collected from a series of X-ray cone-beam computed tomography scans of biological samples.
Loss tolerance quantum key distribution based on the signal extraction model and advantage distillation technology
Authors: Lu Yi-Fei , Jiang Mu-Sheng , Wang Yang , Zhou Yan-Yang , Li Jia-Ji , Zhou Yu , Jiang Xiao-Lei , Zhang Hai-Long , Wang Xiang , Guo Yuyao , Zhou Linjie , Zhou Chun , Li Hong-Wei , Bao Wan-Su
Published: October 2024

Compared with traditional networks, quantum key distribution (QKD) offers the ultimate resources, allowing two remote users to share secret symmetric keys regardless of the capabilities of eavesdroppers. However, the widespread application of commercial QKD is still challenging due to the low photon detection efficiency and the extremely high transmission loss. Here we demonstrate a fully commercial phase-encoding QKD system using a signal extraction model and advantage distillation technology to suppress detector noise and perform real-time pre-error correction. 1.89 × 10−10 in the asymptotic case and 7.43 × 10−12 in the nonasymptotic case secret key bits per pulse are achieved with a total loss of 70.05 dB. This method not only increases the transmission loss tolerance but also provides a more realistic deployment of quantum communication.
Goos–Hänchen shift for an Airyprime beam
Authors: Chen Ze , Peng Shi-Yu , Zhang Zhi-hai , Liu Jianli , Meng Yang
Published: October 2024

We propose a comprehensive theory to analyze the Goos–Hänchen (GH) shift for an arbitrarily polarized Airyprime beam reflected at the air–dielectric interface. We derive general expressions for the spatial and angular GH shifts and establish a close relationship between the GH shift of the Airyprime beam and the GH shift of the Airy beam. We also predict the novel optical effects of a significantly enhanced spatial GH shift and an almost disappeared angular GH shift when the horizontally polarized Airyprime beam is reflected near Brewster’s angle.
Versatile VCSEL source of thermal and super-thermal light
Authors: Chizhevsky V. N. , Bel’ko N. , Slepyan G. Ya. , Boag A. , Mogilevtsev D.
Published: October 2024

We have built highly controllable sources of thermal and super-thermal states on the basis of a single-mode (SM) and a multi-mode (MM) vertical cavity surface emitting laser (VCSEL) with noised driving current operating above the threshold. Varying the average driving current and the amplitude and bandwidth of noise, one can robustly obtain light with the temporal second-order intensity correlation function reaching 2.5 and correlation times from 1 µs to 10 ns. For the SM VCSEL, generated thermal lights retain its single-mode quality negating a need for a spectral filtering. For the MM VCSEL, one can still find a near-threshold regime when the generated thermal radiation is close to a single-mode one.
MBL-1/Muscleblind regulates neuronal differentiation and controls the splicing of a terminal selector in Caenorhabditis elegans
Authors: Lee Ho Ming Terence , Lim Hui Yuan , He Haoming , Lau Chun Yin , Zheng Chaogu
Published: October 2024

The muscleblind family of mRNA splicing regulators is conserved across species and regulates the development of muscles and the nervous system. However, how Muscleblind proteins regulate neuronal fate specification and neurite morphogenesis at the single-neuron level is not well understood. In this study, we found that the C. elegans Muscleblind/MBL-1 promotes axonal growth in the touch receptor neurons (TRNs) by regulating microtubule stability and polarity. Transcriptomic analysis identified dozens of MBL-1-controlled splicing events in genes related to neuronal differentiation or microtubule functions. Among the MBL-1 targets, the LIM-domain transcription factor mec-3 is the terminal selector for the TRN fate and induces the expression of many TRN terminal differentiation genes. MBL-1 promotes the splicing of the mec-3 long isoform, which is essential for TRN fate specification, and inhibits the short isoforms that have much weaker activities in activating downstream genes. MBL-1 promotes mec-3 splicing through three “YGCU(U/G)Y” motifs located in or downstream of the included exon, which is similar to the mechanisms used by mammalian Muscleblind and suggests a deeply conserved context-dependency of the splicing regulation. Interestingly, the expression of mbl-1 in the TRNs is dependent on the mec-3 long isoform, indicating a positive feedback loop between the splicing regulator and the terminal selector. Finally, through a forward genetic screen, we found that MBL-1 promotes neurite growth partly by inhibiting the DLK-1/p38 MAPK pathway. In summary, our study provides mechanistic understanding of the role of Muscleblind in regulating cell fate specification and neuronal morphogenesis.
Intraspecific venom variation in the medically important puff adder (Bitis arietans): Comparative venom gland transcriptomics, in vitro venom activity and immunological recognition by antivenom
Authors: Dawson Charlotte A. , Bartlett Keirah E. , Wilkinson Mark C. , Ainsworth Stuart , Albulescu Laura-Oana , Kazandijan Taline , Hall Steven R. , Westhorpe Adam , Clare Rachel , Wagstaff Simon , Modahl Cassandra M. , Harrison Robert A. , Casewell Nicholas R.
Published: October 2024

Background

Variation in snake venoms is well documented, both between and within species, with intraspecific venom variation often correlated with geographically distinct populations. The puff adder, Bitis arietans, is widely distributed across sub-Saharan Africa and into the Arabian Peninsula where it is considered a leading cause of the ~310,000 annual snakebites across the region, with its venom capable of causing substantial morbidity and mortality. Despite its medical importance and wide geographic distribution, there is little known about venom variation between different B. arietans populations and the potential implications of this variation on antivenom efficacy.

Methodology

We applied a range of analyses, including venom gland transcriptomics, in vitro enzymatic assays and reverse phase chromatography to comparatively analyse B. arietans venoms originating from Nigeria, Tanzania, and South Africa. Immunological assays and in vitro enzymatic neutralisation assays were then applied to investigate the impact of venom variation on the potential efficacy of three antivenom products; SAIMR Polyvalent, EchiTAb-Plus and Fav-Afrique.

Findings

Through the first comparison of venom gland transcriptomes of B. arietans from three geographically distinct regions (Nigeria, Tanzania, and South Africa), we identified substantial variation in toxin expression. Findings of venom variation were further supported by chromatographic venom profiling, and the application of enzymatic assays to quantify the activity of three pathologically relevant toxin families. However, the use of western blotting, ELISA, and in vitro enzymatic inhibition assays revealed that variation within B. arietans venom does not appear to substantially impact upon the efficacy of three African polyvalent antivenoms.

Conclusions

The large distribution and medical importance of B. arietans makes this species ideal for understanding venom variation and the impact this has on therapeutic efficacy. The findings in this study highlight the likelihood for considerable venom toxin variation across the range of B. arietans, but that this may not dramatically impact upon the utility of treatment available in the region.
Working horse welfare in Senegal is linked to owner’s socioeconomic status, their attitudes and belief in horse sentience
Authors: Seck Mactar , Carder Gemma , Wathan Jennifer , Randau Marcela , Fletcher Kate , Proops Leanne
Published: October 2024

The role that working equids play in both rural and urban communities in low and middle-income countries is invaluable. They contribute to daily tasks such as carrying food, water and people, support income generation, and are of social and cultural importance. Despite their importance, global standards of working equid welfare are low. Many variables can impact the welfare status of animals under human care, but often specific factors are explored in isolation. Factors can include, but are not limited to an owner’s socioeconomic status and their attitudes and beliefs towards animals. In this study we assessed the relationships between 1.) Attitudes and belief in horse sentience, 2.) Owner’s socioeconomic status (including household income, coverage of needs and education) and 3.) Horse welfare status. The study, consisting of an owner questionnaire and a welfare assessment of their horses, was conducted in three regions in Senegal; participants included 299 owners and their horses. Overall, our findings show that a more positive attitude towards horses, stronger belief in horse sentience, a higher standard of living and a greater ability to cover the needs of the household was associated with more positive horse welfare. A stronger belief in horse sentience was a significant predictor of horse’s body condition, larger households and those with a higher income were more likely to own a horse in good general health. Our findings demonstrate a complex relationship between working horse welfare, their owner’s attitudes, and their socioeconomic status. It is the first study we are aware of that has explored the relationships between these different variables. The findings from this study provide valuable insights into the interconnected factors which impact upon working equid welfare in Senegal and potentially more widely.
Securing oil port logistics: A blockchain framework for efficient and trustworthy trade documents
Authors: Liaqat Misbah , Almazroi Abdulwahab Ali , Shuja Junaid , Mustafa Ehzaz
Published: October 2024

The oil port logistics involves multiple parties including oil tanker owners, port authorities, customs, oil suppliers, and shipping companies. These parties need to exchange a significant amount of data and documentation related to cargo, such as bills of lading, customs declarations, and cargo manifests. This huge amount of data and documentation provides ample opportunities for data manipulation and corruption. Moreover, physical documentation is slow and prone to errors and manipulation. This data can be securely stored and shared between different parties in a tamper-proof and transparent manner using blockchain. Blockchain is a decentralized technology that employs secure hashing and consensus algorithms that can detect any data modification. Hence, this work proposes a blockchain-enabled immutable, and efficient framework for trade documentation in oil port logistics. The proposed framework provides timely processing of oil trade documents and ensures immutability while increasing trust among the trade entities. In addition, this work implements a private blockchain for the execution of smart contracts, which can ensure that all parties involved in the logistics process comply with pre-agreed rules and regulations. Simulation results validate the effectiveness of the proposed framework in terms of transparency, immutability, network latency, throughput, and resource utilization.
Service-policy gaps in the settlement journey of Arabic-speaking immigrant newcomer and refugee older adults in Edmonton, Canada
Authors: Nisa Saba , Murad Sadaf , Salma Jordana , Au Alesia
Published: October 2024

Immigrant newcomers and refugees (INRs) are two migrant categories that experience consistent systemic barriers to settlement and integration in Canada as older adults. This paper explores the challenges experienced by Arabic-speaking INR older adults in Edmonton, Canada, during settlement and discusses policy and service implications. A qualitative description study using community-based participatory research principles was implemented to evaluate and support digital literacy in Arabic-speaking INR older adults. We included men and women aged 55 and older who identified as immigrants or refugees and spoke Arabic. Experiences of settlement challenges were consistently identified during data collection and engagement of INR older adult participants. A thematic sub-analysis of interviews with (10 individuals and one couple) of participants’ narratives was completed in 2022 and was used to identify themes related to settlement barriers for this population. Two main themes were identified: (1) Limited English skills and digital literacy gaps create service barriers for INR older adults, and (2) Gaps in services and policies as basic needs remain unmet. We describe key challenges experienced by INR older adults, such as language barriers, precarious finances, poor access to health care services and lack of transportation and employment opportunities, which hinder successful integration into the new society. This study showcases the ongoing challenges with early settlement and integration that continue despite Canada’s well-developed immigration settlement landscape. INR older adults often remain invisible in policy, and understanding their experiences is a first step to addressing their needs for resources that support healthy aging in the post-migration context.
Distinct mechanisms of type 3 secretion system recognition control LTB4 synthesis in neutrophils and macrophages
Authors: Brady Amanda , Mora Martinez Leonardo C. , Hammond Benjamin , Whitefoot-Keliin Kaitlyn M. , Haribabu Bodduluri , Uriarte Silvia M. , Lawrenz Matthew B.
Published: October 2024

Leukotriene B4 (LTB4) is an inflammatory lipid produced in response to pathogens that is critical for initiating the inflammatory cascade needed to control infection. However, during plague, Yersinia pestis inhibits the timely synthesis of LTB4 and subsequent inflammation. Using bacterial mutants, we previously determined that Y. pestis inhibits LTB4 synthesis via the action of the Yop effector proteins that are directly secreted into host cells through a type 3 secretion system (T3SS). Here, we show that the T3SS is the primary pathogen associated molecular pattern (PAMP) required for production of LTB4 in response to both Yersinia and Salmonella. However, we also unexpectantly discovered that T3SS-mediated LTB4 synthesis by neutrophils and macrophages require the activation of two distinctly different host signaling pathways. We identified that phagocytosis and the NLRP3/CASP1 inflammasome significantly impact LTB4 synthesis by macrophages but not neutrophils. Instead, the SKAP2/PLC signaling pathway is required for T3SS-mediated LTB4 production by neutrophils. Finally, while recognition of the T3SS is required for LTB4 production, we also discovered that a second unrelated PAMP-mediated signal activates the MAP kinase pathway needed for synthesis. Together, these data demonstrate significant differences in the host factors and signaling pathways required by macrophages and neutrophils to quickly produce LTB4 in response to bacteria. Moreover, while macrophages and neutrophils might rely on different signaling pathways for T3SS-dependent LTB4 synthesis, Y. pestis has evolved virulence mechanisms to counteract this response by either leukocyte to inhibit LTB4 synthesis and colonize the host.
AGI, apocalyptic narrative and state of exception
Authors: Cohen Alexander
Published: October 2024

The artificial general intelligence (AGI) narrative, which posits that artificial intelligence (AI) has the potential to benefit all of humanity while threatening to destroy all of humanity, is an apocalyptic narrative that has become increasingly dominant in debates around AI ethics. This article (1) constructs an analogy between the transhumanist AGI narrative and Christian apocalypticism through which we can (2) constitute the transhumanist AGI narrative as a rhetorical strategy that invokes a state of exception to (3) endow AI with auctoritas, an intangible form of power that grants the legitimacy to decide on exceptional situations. The article concludes with reflections on the implications of this rhetorical transfer of power’s coupling with transhumanist eugenic goals on human rights and AI ethics.
‘This space inside’: An art-based autoethnographic exploration of the hysterectomy experience
Authors: Flahavan Claire
Published: October 2024

This article presents an art-based autoethnographic account of the hysterectomy experience, from the perspective of a perinatal therapist based in a large maternity hospital. The key questions explored include the ways in which a sense of bodily and psychic integrity can be reclaimed post-operatively, alongside the integration of losses associated with a hysterectomy. The article is structured as an autoethnographic exploration, derived from a visual diary incorporating image-making, hand-stitching and writing. Four key themes are discussed with reference to specific images: ‘Navigating disruption’, ‘Adjusting to a changed body’, ‘Accommodating losses: Emerging into Otherhood’ and ‘Renewal: Recovering an inner space’. This personal account is considered against wider cultural and sociopolitical discourses which inform our constructions of femininity. The article offers a counterpoint to medical narratives which may assume recovery from a hysterectomy to be synonymous only with physical recuperation.
A. P. Giannini: Bank to the Future, Valentina Signorelli and Cecilia Zoppelletto (2022), Italy and UK: Daitona and Preston Witman Productions
Authors: Annunziato Sarah
Published: October 2024

Review of: A. P. Giannini: Bank to the Future, Valentina Signorelli and Cecilia Zoppelletto (2022), Italy and UK: Daitona and Preston Witman Productions
Antropoceno(s): Crise climática, ontologia e o social
Authors: Carvalho António
Published: October 2024

O que significa habitar um planeta em crise climática e ambiental? Este livro desenvolve uma abordagem ontológica para estudar o Antropoceno, uma época geológica proposta para ilustrar a indissociabilidade entre atividades humanas e fenómenos planetários como o aquecimento global. O livro resulta de um projeto de investigação que decorreu no Centro de Estudos Sociais da Universidade de Coimbra com o título “TROPO – Ontologias do Antropoceno em Portugal”.
A abordagem ontológica analisa o(s) Antropoceno(s) a partir de diferentes respostas à crise climática e ambiental, incluindo o ativismo, políticas hegemónicas para a transição energética, a extração de lítio, tecnologias de manipulação climática ou até reconfigurações subjetivas e metodológicas para gerar articulações mais robustas entre agência humana e mais-do-que-humana.
Frequency Analysis of Pulse-Width Modulation on All-Digital Transmitters
Authors:   Universidade Federal Fluminense, Figueira Vinícius , Costalonga Tiago ,   Universidade Federal Fluminense, Fernandes Victor ,   Universidade Federal Fluminense, de Almeida Jorge ,   Polytechnique Montréal, Nagashima Ferreira Tadeu ,   Universidade Federal Fluminense, Magri Vanessa ,   Universidade Federal Fluminense
Published: October 2024

This work investigates the frequency spectrum in the modulator and up-conversion outputs of a generic all-digital transmitter architecture. Considering the modulator is implemented as a pulse-width modulation (PWM), it is verified that this up-conversion process introduces a series of impulses resembling the spectrum of a unipolar return-to-zero (RZ) waveform in addition to the PWM impulses. Simulations show the minimum bit resolution of PWM signals where the impulses introduced are almost unnoticed, thus their influence is not distinguished from random background noise. An all-digital transmitter is designed on a field-programmable gate array to verify it experimentally. Experimental results show that reducing power from PWM harmonics leads to a power increase in the RZ harmonics, and vice-versa. These harmonic’s power present an energy trade-off relation, a novelty demonstrated in this paper. Finally, but not least, it is observed that filtering the carrier wave out causes a considerable amount of power to be lost.
Mapping the Distance: An Analysis of Visitor Travel Distance to German National Parks and Biosphere Reserves
Authors: Majewski Lisa , Frieser Anna , Lang-Novikov Katrin , Woltering Manuel
Published: October 2024

The ecologically valuable and unique natural and cultural landscapes of protected areas are popular nature tourism destinations. From a spatial perspective, travellers visit protected areas by moving from their place of origin to the destination for a temporary stay. This paper analyses the travel distances of day visitors and overnight guests to German national parks and biosphere reserves. National parks position themselves as both regional and national destinations. In contrast, biosphere reserve tourism is more regionally concentrated due to the proximity of biosphere reserves to urban centres, which are the primary places of origin for visitors. On average, visitors travel 278.6 km by car to visit a national park, taking 172.1 minutes (02:52 hours). Opting for public transport increases the average travel distance to 312.5 km, with a travel time of 284.5 minutes (04:43 hours). Visitors to German biosphere reserves travel 208.7 km by car, requiring 134.7 minutes (02:15 hours). When using public transport to visit biosphere reserves, the average distance increases to 234.0 km, with a travel time of 239.1 minutes (03:59 hours). The automated, GIS-supported distance analyses offer an innovative approach for assessing nature tourism catchment areas and the accessibility of protected areas, serving as a basis for effective spatial planning, development, and regional marketing.
Jak se rodil Velký sociologický slovník
Authors: Vodáková Alena
Published: October 2024

The Large Dictionary of Sociology (Velký sociologický slovník in Czech), published as a book in 1996, represents the monumental work of Czech sociology that originated in the late 1980s and early 1990s at the Sociological Institute of the Czechoslovak/Czech Academy of Sciences. The dictionary has 2,350 text and 1,860 referential entries, as well as 2,700 biographical appendices. 260 authors, who were not only sociologists, played a role in its creation. To this day, the dictionary has not only historical significance, proving how advanced the contemporary community of academic social sciences in Czechoslovakia was, and yet which also pointed out its weaknesses, but it also has a factual significance, since no comparable or even similarly extensive Czech encyclopedia of social sciences has been elaborated since, and most likely shall not be elaborated in the near future. This article, written by one of the main editors of the dictionary (other editors included Jiří Linhart, Hana Maříková, and Miloslav Petrusek), is a recollection of the complex creation of the work at the turn of the eras of late “normalization” and the early transformation, as well as of each of the authors and other collaborators who helped the book originate. It is a significant contribution to understanding the history of Czech sociology in the 20th century.
Bořivoj Kňourek – Lenka J. Budilová: Dům ve Vojvodovu. Stavebně-historický vývoj, kulturní a sociální rozměr
Authors: Brabačová Marcela
Published: October 2024

A review of the book by Bořivoj Kňourek and Lenka Jakoubková Budilová.
Microregional Hybridity
Authors: Lehečka Michal
Published: October 2024

In 2016, I was involved in applied research that was focused on the regional conceptualizations and perceptions of the media contents about current migration issues in Europe. During analysis, I realized that the data speak about the specific situations of the villagers and their local strategies and struggle against their feelings of increasing peripherality, marginality, and inferiority. To be precise, instead of migration issues, I became really interested in the socio-economical and infrastructure topics connected to the Loužná Microregion.
„Bez Ducha svatého nemůže být ani křesťanství, jen víra v tradici.“
Authors: Soukupová Monika
Published: October 2024

This article focuses on the Pentecostal and Charismatic movements as part of Evangelical Christianity in contemporary Czech Republic. The text is a resumé of ethnographic research conducted in two Czech Pentecostal Churches – the Apostolic Church in Prague and the Christian Fellowship Church. In these communities, certain aspects of Pentecostal church life were observed using the participant observation method, as well as interviews with informants. The aim of the research was to focus on how these believers understand Pentecostal religiosity, and where we can see some crucial aspects of this kind of religiosity within church activities. I try to explain why the home groups and community prayer are more important for my informants than large-scale impersonal activities. Further attention was focused on the preferred forms of evangelization. I want to demonstrate the shift from mass evangelization in the 1990s to the current personal form of evangelization, based on deep personal relationships with unbelievers.
Spontánně motivované nápisy a kresby
Authors: Bartůňková Lucie
Published: October 2024

This paper is focused on the study of historical spontaneously motivated writings and drawings, including modern history. The text presented here is based on the experience with the restoration of historical landmarks. At numerous sites, valuable historical surfaces, including those with writings, are being removed. In many cases, therefore, valuable resources that could help create a picture of one or more significant chapters of cultural history have disappeared forever. The aim of this contribution, among other things, is to highlight the value of spontaneously motivated writings as a historical resource. The text attempts to explain how we understand the concept of graffiti, and what significance historical writings and drawings have for our research. From the findings discovered at two structures of the House of Pernštejn, at Litomyšl Château and at Prostějov Château, we have attempted to describe and interpret preserved writings and drawings. The graffiti that we have found at both of these sites represents an exemplary set of the most often displayed symbols. However, there are also less common symbols or cartoons, the origin of which we are attempting to shed light on. Graffiti is reflected in many scientific fields, from art history to cultural history, sociology, archaeology, folklore studies, psychology, linguistics, epigraphy, landmark preservation, restoration, and heraldry. The expression “graffiti” is problematic due to its numerous connotations. It is a dynamic and constantly developing term. For the purposes of this text, we will understand it as consisting of writings and drawings originating from spontaneous thoughts, without lengthy consideration, using the most readily available means. The study of historical spontaneously motivated writings and drawings remains rather on the fringe of professional interest. Nonetheless, historical spontaneously motivated writings and drawings are a remarkable phenomenon that is not easy to grasp. Only some historical sources enable such close and intimate insight into the authors. Based on our observations, spontaneously motivated unofficial writings and drawings are created from random thought. To interpret them for their use in research in the humanities, it is necessary to get to know their environment and related historical events well, since only then can such messages be properly comprehended.
Josef Ludvík Fischer – Udržování intelektuálních pozic v proměňujících se situacích
Authors: Havelka Miloš
Published: October 2024

This intellectual biography of Josef Ludvík Fischer, one of the profilin gfigures of Czech sociology in the second third of last century, is based on the reconstruction of his specific habitus as a member of the “constructive generation” of the so-called First Czechoslovak Republic. It shows the productivity of Fischer’s combination of sociological, philosophical, and literary theory approaches, and especially places emphasis on Fischer’s transition to the systemic-structural concept of sociological (Saint Simon and Auguste Comte, 1927) and noetic rationalism (Základy poznání/The Fundamentals of Knowledge, 1931), which preceded some of the methodological principles of the Prague Linguistic Circle. In these contexts, the biography also mentions Fischer’s early thoughts on the unified culture of Europe, as well as the related criticism of German National Socialism in the first third of the 1930s. The two-volume publication, Krize demokracie (The Crisis of Democracy), is highlighted as the second peak of Fischer’s work, which influenced the Czech leftist liberalism of the so-called “Barrandov Group”, and, with some of his concepts (qualitative democracy, economic parliament, cultural and political amalgamation, etc.), a young Václav Havel, as well.
Paul Shepheard: Pěstěná divočina neboli Co je krajina?
Authors: Tourek Jiří
Published: October 2024

A review of the book by Paul Shepheard.
Glaubensfragen v Hamburku
Authors: Štofaník Jakub , Jemelka Martin
Published: October 2024

Pod záštitou hamburské univerzity se koncem září 2016 konal padesátý první ročník setkání německých historiků. Tématem jednání konferenčních panelů a diskuzních fór byly otázky víry (Glaubensfragen) – takto široce definovaný zájem zdařile skloubil náměty tradičních církevních dějin, dějin institucí i výrazných aktérů spolu s otázkami chápání a interpretace náboženských prožitků, teoretických přístupů či pomezí víry a vědění. Vytvořil se tak prostor, na kterém se v prezentacích a diskuzích setkali představitelé různých proudů a badatelských orientací. Bohatý program zahrnoval sekce starověkých, středověkých, raně novověkých, moderních i současných dějin. Stranou nezůstali ani specialisté věnující se didaktice dějepisu, kulturním, urbánním, sociálním, technickým, mimoevropským nebo digitálním dějinám.