bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Fashioning Political Economy: The Gendered Politics of Fashion in the Panic of 1819
Authors: Arendt Emily J.
Published: May 2024

abstract: The Panic of 1819 prompted dialogue about the development of American industry and the continued reliance on foreign imports. Economic conditions altered rhetoric about luxury and republicanism, making the production and consumption of cloth and clothing a site of contention. Moralists and politicians alike blamed women, as both the victims and perpetrators of fashionable excess, for the conditions that led to the Panic. Because women's consumption and production was central to the economy, however, women also helped reshape the meaning of "homespun," crafting an active role for themselves in national debates about American political economy and offering solutions to bolster the economy. Not only did women champion older forms of republican restraint; some also formed associations to advocate for interventionist economic policy. By positioning women as key players responsible for ending the economic crisis of the 1810s and early 1820s, the homespun movement reflected shifting values in a rapidly changing economy and mapped onto the growing partisan divides shaping national politics. Abstract: The Panic of 1819 prompted dialogue about the development of American industry and the continued reliance on foreign imports. Economic conditions altered rhetoric about luxury and republicanism, making the production and consumption of cloth and clothing a site of contention. Moralists and politicians alike blamed women, as both the victims and perpetrators of fashionable excess, for the conditions leading to the Panic. Yet, because women's consumption and production was central to the economy, women also helped reshape the meaning of "homespun," crafting an active role for themselves in national debates about American political economy and offering solutions to bolster the economy. Not only did women champion older forms of republican restraint, but some formed associations to advocate for interventionist economic policy. By positioning women as key players responsible for ending the economic crisis of the 1810s and early 1820s, the homespun movement reflected shifting values in a rapidly changing economy and mapped onto the growing partisan divides shaping national politics.
The "Cyclops" Episode and Fractured Irish Identity
Authors: Gillespie Michael Patrick
Published: May 2024

ABSTRACT: This essay takes up Joyce's subversion of the concept of a unified Irish identity. It focuses on the "Cyclops" episode of Ulysses to develop the idea that in Joyce's novel Irishness has become an empty concept. Instead, isolation and hostility emerge as the dominant cultural features. Examples concentrate on the episode's unnamed narrator, but they also touch on the behavior of all of the others in Barney Kiernan's pub to show the pervasiveness of cultural alienation.
Knowledge Organization Initiative for Digital Resources of Ancient Chinese Stele Inscriptions
Authors: Liu Jia , Bian Junyi , Song Fangyi , Shen Shengnan , Lai Xiaoting
Published: May 2024

Abstract: In view of the decisive role played by knowledge ontologies and their linked data in knowledge organization, an effective initiative involving both is necessary for research on stele inscriptions. The absence of this will not only hinder the acquisition of stele inscription knowledge but also affect the further exploration of its value. In response to the research demand of scholars in the field of stele inscriptions, a knowledge organization initiative designed for the digital resources of ancient Chinese stele inscriptions is developed in this paper. The adoption of a bottom-up method makes it possible to abstract the knowledge ontology model from the existing mature metadata of stele inscriptions, improving the quality of the ontology itself as well as guaranteeing its compatibility with the existing digital resources of stele inscriptions. On this basis, this paper deals with the process and key steps involved in the knowledge organization of stele inscriptions and the construction of linked data. The knowledge organization initiative discussed in this paper will serve as dedicated support for digital academic research in the field of stele inscriptions and will provide a valuable reference for the design of a knowledge organization initiative in the field of cultural heritage in China and beyond.
Envy, Jealousy, and Emulation: Affective Rivalry in The Shepheardes Calender
Authors: Irish Bradley J.
Published: May 2024

Abstract: Reflecting recent scholarly interest in the history of emotion, this article argues that envy, jealousy, and emulation— the so-called “rivalrous emotions”—are a central poetic feature of Spenser’s The Shepheardes Calender (1579). Spenser’s exploration of these emotions helps mediate the collection’s complex engagement with forms of hard and soft pastoral, and the affective atmosphere they collectively create forms an unacknowledged thematic unity among the volume’s disparate eclogues.
Conscience in Hamlet and Claudius
Authors: Held Joshua R.
Published: May 2024

Abstract: Shakespeare’s Hamlet showcases the conscience of its titular prince in many soliloquies and other private moments. Yet King Claudius also shows great awareness of conscience, which serves as important context and developed contrast for Hamlet’s conscience. Claudius’s and Hamlet’s surveillance of one another continues through several major outbreaks of conscience in the play. Their mutual interest in conscience draws them into unique, ongoing conflict with one another, and produces outcomes much broader and stakes much higher than could be grasped by a study of just one of these consciences.
“Infect in Similitude” and Shakespeare’s Hamlet
Authors: Weindling Lauren
Published: May 2024

Abstract: This article examines the vocabulary of likeness and replication in Shakespeare’s disease-ridden Denmark, which aligns with early modern theories of contagion from Paracelsus and Girolamo Fracastoro. Here the play’s preoccupation with incest assumes a new cast; incest—an excess of natural affinity for one’s like—is the disease of both the body and the body politic. Shakespeare reveals that likeness is not only the method of contagion but also its source: a perpetual desire for similarity and the status quo. Consequently, Hamlet’s values of individual difference and distinction contrast with the play’s closed, endogamous systems of power and privilege.
Funerary Epigraphy and the Form of George Herbert’s “The Water-course”
Authors: Kuhn John
Published: May 2024

Abstract: This article argues that George Herbert’s lyric “The Water-course” draws on the forms of Renaissance funerary epigraphy and specifically on the technique of conflated-line inscription known as “ versus concordantes ” found on intramural monuments in the period. Understanding Herbert’s poem in relation to this technique allows us, broadly, to see one point of connection between lyric poetry and epigraphy. This article argues for the reclassification of “The Water-course” as a pseudo-inscriptional epitaph, demonstrates its links to the poems around it at the close of “The Temple,” and shifts our understanding of its stanza form, uncovering its links to a group of meta-poetic sexain lyrics inside Herbert’s collection that reflect ambivalently on the moral status of poetry writing.
Leveling Up in Eliza Cook's Journal of Popular Progress
Authors: Breton Rob
Published: May 2024

Abstract: Eliza Cook's Journal is often considered an unambiguous example of a midcentury journal of popular progress—that is, the kind of journal that addressed both middle- and working-class audiences but singled out the latter for educational and cultural improvement, or "leveling up." This essay reconsiders Cook's prose contributions to her journal, noting how frequently she critiques middle-class culture as needing improvement. It argues that Cook sought to balance the rhetoric of leveling up that permeated other contributions to her paper by ridiculing the middle classes and celebrating the value of working-class culture as it was.
Declining the Combat: Querying Scientific Authority in the Pall Mall Gazette
Authors: Ferguson Barbara D.
Published: May 2024

Abstract: When the Pall Mall Gazette published an editorial about the fraud case brought against spiritualist medium D. D. Home in May 1868, the editor likely anticipated letters about the legitimacy of spiritualism—a topic of considerable media attention. Instead, he received multiple letters scrutinizing the discourse of scientific authority as asserted by its most renowned figures. This article analyzes that month-long sequence of letters and commentary to parse the criticism of authority on the unexpected grounds of language itself, illuminating how PMG correspondents resisted the reification of scientific objectivity by suggesting that even esteemed scientific investigators conveyed personal prejudice.
Cassegrain-based concentrator with a high uniformity and acceptance angle
Authors: Lin Po-An , Pan Jui-wen
Published: May 2024

In this study, we improved a Cassegrain concentrator [Appl. Opt.
59, 8603 [2020)APOPAI0003-693510.1364/AO.400756] by
redesigning the secondary optical element (SOE) with a freeform
design, including geometrically mapped and tilted steps, to replace
the design of the primary optical element (POE). This modification
increased the acceptance angle and formed a more uniform irradiance
distribution in the system without a homogenizer while maintaining the
same level of efficiency. The result is a 1236× geometric concentration ratio, 1035× concentration ratio, 83.73% optical
efficiency, ±0.40∘ acceptance angle, 8.96 uniformity,
and 0.254 aspect ratio.
Temporal contrast degradation from mid-spatial-frequency surface error on stretcher mirrors
Authors: Webb B. , Dorrer C. , Bahk S.-W. , Jeon C. , Roides R. G. , Bromage J.
Published: May 2024

Temporal contrast degradation due to mid-spatial-frequency error in
chirped-pulse amplification stretcher optics is studied. Third-order
cross-correlation measurements reveal a temporal peak that appears
when using two different mirrors processed by magnetorheological
finishing, despite an improvement in rms roughness compared to a third
unprocessed mirror. Simulations based on measured power spectral
density show how the actual impact on contrast is different from
measurements using a typical bandwidth-limited third-order cross
correlator. Strategies are proposed to avoid this type of contrast
degradation while exploiting computer numerically controlled polishing
techniques for enhancement of surface figure and roughness.
Tunable terahertz polarization conversion and absorption devices based on metamaterials
Authors: Chen Wenya , Li Chao , Wang Dong , Gao Song , Wu Guozheng , Guo Shijing , Xiong Jiaran
Published: May 2024

Metamaterials, as novel materials, have electromagnetic behaviors that can be realized by rationally designing the unit structure. It plays an important role in the research of terahertz functional devices. Switchable terahertz devices are constructed by flexibly combining the excellent properties of graphene and vanadium dioxide (VO2) with the application potential of terahertz technology. When the VO2 is in the metallic state and the graphene Fermi energy level is 0 eV, the device behaves as a broadband polarization switching device. It can realize cross-polarization conversion for the incident electromagnetic wave in the range of 2–4.2 THz. When the VO2 is in the insulating state and the graphene Fermi energy level is 0.9 eV, the device is an absorption device. The absorption rate can reach more than 99% at 4 THz. In addition, the polarization conversion ratio (PCR) as well as the absorption rate of the device can be tuned independently. This actively tunable switchable terahertz device provides ideas for dynamically controlling terahertz, bringing more possibilities for various applications such as terahertz imaging, stealth, and communication.
Investigating the neural effects of typicality and predictability for face and object stimuli
Authors: Ficco Linda , Li Chenglin , Kaufmann Jürgen M. , Schweinberger Stefan R. , Kovács Gyula Z.
Published: May 2024

The brain calibrates itself based on the past stimulus diet, which makes frequently observed stimuli appear as typical (as opposed to uncommon stimuli, which appear as distinctive). Based on predictive processing theory, the brain should be more “prepared” for typical exemplars, because these contain information that has been encountered frequently, allowing it to economically represent items of that category. Thus, one could ask whether predictability and typicality of visual stimuli interact, or rather act in an additive manner. We adapted the design by Egner and colleagues (2010), who used cues to induce expectations about stimulus category (face vs. chair) occurrence during an orthogonal inversion detection task. We measured BOLD responses with fMRI in 35 participants. First, distinctive stimuli always elicited stronger responses than typical ones in all ROIs, and our whole-brain directional contrasts for the effects of typicality and distinctiveness converge with previous findings. Second and importantly, we could not replicate the interaction between category and predictability reported by Egner et al. (2010), which casts doubt on whether cueing designs are ideal to elicit reliable predictability effects. Third, likely as a consequence of the lack of predictability effects, we found no interaction between predictability and typicality in any of the four tested regions (bilateral fusiform face areas, lateral occipital complexes) when considering both categories, nor in the whole brain. We discuss the issue of replicability in neuroscience and sketch an agenda for how future studies might address the same question.
Are hotspots and frequencies of heat waves changing over time? Exploring causes of heat waves in a tropical country
Authors: Rahman Md. Mostafizar , Mannan Md. Abdul , Sarkar Md. Sujahangir Kabir , Mallik Muhammad Abul Kalam , Sultana Afruza , Islam Md. Kamrul , Akter Mst Yeasmin , Alam Edris , Islam Abu Reza Md. Towfiqul
Published: May 2024

Heat waves significantly impact people’s lives and livelihoods and are becoming very alarming and recognized as hot topics worldwide, including in Bangladesh. However, much less is understood regarding recent hotspots, the frequency of heat waves over time, and their underlying causes in Bangladesh. The objective of the study is to explore the current scenario and frequency of heat waves and their possible causes across Bangladesh. The Mann-Kendall and Sen’s slope techniques were used to determine seasonal and annual temperature trend patterns of heat wave frequencies. Daily maximum temperature datasets collected from the Bangladesh Meteorological Department (BMD) during 1991–2021 are applied. The frequency of days with Tmax≥ 36°C as the threshold was used to compute different types of heat waves based on the BMD’s operational definition. The results show that the mild heat wave (MHW) days followed the subsequent hotspot order: Rajshahi (103) > Chuadanga (79), Ishurdi (60), and Jessore (58), respectively. The frequency of days with Tmax≥36°C was persistence for many days in 2014, especially in the western part of Bangladesh compared to other parts. Similarly, the heat waves condition shown its deadliest event by increasing more days in 2021. The highest increasing trend was identified at the Patuakhali site, with a rate of 0.516 days/year, while the highest decreasing trend was noticed at the Chuadanga site, with a rate of -0.588 days/year. The frequency of days (Tmax≥36°C) is an increasing trend in the south-western part of Bangladesh. The synoptic condition in and around Bangladesh demonstrates that the entrance of heat waves in Bangladesh is due to the advection of higher temperatures from the south/southwest of the Bay of Bengal. The outcomes will guide the national appraisal of heatwave effects, shedding light on the primary causes of definite heatwave phenomena, which are crucial for developing practical adaptation tools.
A survey of Wolbachia infection in brachyceran flies from Iran
Authors: Khosravi Ghazal , Akbarzadeh Kamran , Karimian Fateh , Koosha Mona , Saeedi Shahin , Oshaghi Mohammad Ali
Published: May 2024

Wolbachia is a maternally inherited intracellular bacterium that is considered to be the most plentiful endosymbiont found in arthropods. It reproductively manipulates its host to increase the chances of being transmitted to the insect progeny; and it is currently used as a means of suppressing disease vector populations or controlling vector-borne diseases. Studies of the dissemination and prevalence of Wolbachia among its arthropod hosts are important for its possible use as a biological control agent. The molecular identification of Wolbachia relies on different primers sets due to Wolbachia strain variation. Here, we screened for the presence of Wolbachia in a broad range of Brachycera fly species (Diptera), collected from different regions of Iran, using nine genetic markers (wsp, ftsZ, fbpA, gatB, CoxA, gltA, GroEL dnaA, and 16s rRNA), for detecting, assessing the sensitivity of primers for detection, and phylogeny of this bacterium. The overall incidence of Wolbachia among 22 species from six families was 27.3%. The most commonly positive fly species were Pollenia sp. and Hydrotaea armipes. However, the bacterium was not found in the most medically important flies or in potential human disease vectors, including Musca domestica, Sarcophaga spp., Calliphora vicinia, Lucilia sericata, and Chrysomya albiceps. The primer sets of 16s rRNA with 53.0% and gatB with 52.0% were the most sensitive primers for detecting Wolbachia. Blast search, phylogenetic, and MLST analysis of the different locus sequences of Wolbachia show that all the six distantly related fly species likely belonging to supergroup A. Our study showed some primer sets generated false negatives in many of the samples, emphasizing the importance of using different loci in detecting Wolbachia. The study provides the groundwork for future studies of a Wolbachia-based program for control of flies.
Uncertainty reduction for precipitation prediction in North America
Authors: Lou Dan , Berghuijs Wouter R. , Ullah Waheed , Zhu Boyuan , Shi Dawei , Hu Yong , Li Chao , Ullah Safi , Zhou Hao , Chai Yuanfang , Yu Danyang
Published: May 2024

Large differences in projected future annual precipitation increases in North America exists across 27 CMIP6 models under four emission scenarios. These differences partly arise from weak representations of land-atmosphere interactions. Here we demonstrate an emergent constraint relationship between annual growth rates of future precipitation and growth rates of historical temperature. The original CMIP6 projections show 0.49% (SSP126), 0.98% (SSP245), 1.45% (SSP370) and 1.92% (SSP585) increases in precipitation per decade. Combining observed warming trends, the constrained results show that the best estimates of future precipitation increases are more likely to reach 0.40–0.48%, 0.83–0.93%, 1.29–1.45% and 1.70–1.87% respectively, implying an overestimated future precipitation increases across North America. The constrained results also are narrow the corresponding uncertainties (standard deviations) by 13.8–31.1%. The overestimated precipitation growth rates also reveal an overvalued annual growth rates in temperature (6.0–13.2% or 0.12–0.37°C) and in total evaporation (4.8–14.5%) by the original models’ predictions. These findings highlight the important role of temperature for accurate climate predictions, which is important as temperature from current climate models’ simulations often still have systematic errors.
Supplementary feeding of birds during the winter influences measures of avian community structure in yards in a subtropical city
Authors: Lamberson Amanda M. , Smith Jennifer A.
Published: May 2024

Supplementary feeding, the intentional provision of food to wild birds is a common activity in developed nations during the winter. The energy inputs represented by supplementary feeding are vast, and thus it is likely an important mechanism shaping bird communities in urban areas. However, research in this regard has mainly occurred in temperate and non-urban settings. Moreover, few studies have been informed by supplementary feeding habits of local community members limiting their inference. We evaluated the effects of two commonly provided wild bird foods on the abundance and species diversity of birds in yards over two winters in San Antonio, Texas, United States, a city located in a subtropical region. We used a reversed Before-After-Control-Impact experimental design in which yards were randomly allocated either mixed seed, Nyjer, or no food (control) between November 2019 and March 2020 (Year One). Between November 2020 and March 2021 (Year Two) supplementary food was not provided in any yards. Point counts conducted during both years of the study revealed that overall bird abundance was consistent between years in control yards and yards provided with Nyjer. In contrast, overall bird abundance was statistically significantly higher when supplementary food was present in mixed seed yards, driven by an increase in granivorous and omnivorous species. In contrast, supplementary feeding had no statistically significant effect on the abundance of insectivorous species or on species diversity, although species diversity tended to be higher in the presence of mixed seed. Our study demonstrates that wild bird food commonly provided by community members influences measures of avian community structure during the winter in urban yards in a subtropical city. However, these results depend on the type of bird food provided. Our results provide insight into the processes underlying the effects of urbanization on bird communities, and thus have implications for the management of urban birds more broadly.
Sleep duration and its association with constipation in patients with diabetes: The fukuoka diabetes registry
Authors: Ohkuma Toshiaki , Iwase Masanori , Kitazono Takanari
Published: May 2024

Aims

Shorter and longer sleep durations are associated with adverse health consequences. However, available evidence on the association of sleep duration with constipation is limited, especially in patients with diabetes, who are at a high risk of both conditions. This study aimed to examine the association between sleep duration and constipation in patients with type 2 diabetes.

Methods

A total of 4,826 patients with type 2 diabetes were classified into six groups according to sleep duration: <4.5, 4.5–5.4, 5.5–6.4, 6.5–7.4, 7.5–8.4, and ≥8.5 hours/day. The odds ratios for the presence of constipation, defined as a defecation frequency <3 times/week and/or laxative use, were calculated using a logistic regression model.

Results

Shorter and longer sleep durations were associated with a higher likelihood of constipation than an intermediate duration (6.5–7.4 hours/day). This U-shaped association persisted after adjusting for confounding factors, including lifestyle behavior, measures of obesity and glycemic control, and comorbidities. Broadly identical findings were observed when decreased defecation frequency and laxative use were individually assessed.

Conclusions

This study shows a U-shaped association between sleep duration and constipation in patients with type 2 diabetes, and highlights the importance of assessing sleep duration in daily clinical practice.
Genome-wide discovery of InDels and validation of PCR-Based InDel markers for earliness in a RIL population and genotypes of lentil (Lens culinaris Medik.)
Authors: Shivaprasad K. M. , Aski Muraleedhar , Mishra Gyan Prakash , Sinha Subodh Kumar , Gupta Soma , Mishra Dwijesh C. , Singh Amit Kumar , Singh Akanksha , Tripathi Kuldeep , Kumar Ranjeet Ranjan , Kumar Atul , Kumar Shiv , Dikshit Harsh K.
Published: May 2024

The systematic identification of insertion/deletion (InDel) length polymorphisms from the entire lentil genome can be used to map the quantitative trait loci (QTL) and also for the marker-assisted selection (MAS) for various linked traits. The InDels were identified by comparing the whole-genome resequencing (WGRS) data of two extreme bulks (early- and late-flowering bulk) and a parental genotype (Globe Mutant) of lentil. The bulks were made by pooling 20 extreme recombinant inbred lines (RILs) each, derived by crossing Globe Mutant (late flowering parent) with L4775 (early flowering parent). Finally, 734,716 novel InDels were identified, which is nearly one InDel per 5,096 bp of lentil genome. Furthermore, 74.94% of InDels were within the intergenic region and 99.45% displayed modifier effects. Of these, 15,732 had insertions or deletions of 20 bp or more, making them amenable to the development of PCR-based markers. An InDel marker I-SP-356.6 (chr. 3; position 356,687,623; positioned 174.5 Kb from theLcFRIgene) was identified as having a phenotypic variance explained (PVE) value of 47.7% for earliness when validated in a RIL population. Thus, I-SP-356.6 marker can be deployed in MAS to facilitate the transfer of the earliness trait to other elite late-maturing cultivars. Two InDel markers viz., I-SP-356.6 and I-SP-383.9 (chr. 3; linked toLcELF3agene) when tested in 9 lentil genotypes differing for maturity duration, clearly distinguished three early (L4775, ILL7663, Precoz) and four late genotypes (Globe Mutant, MFX, L4602, L830). However, these InDels could not be validated in two genotypes (L4717, L4727), suggesting either absence of polymorphism and/or presence of other loci causing earliness. The identified InDel markers can act as valuable tools for MAS for the development of early maturing lentil varieties.
Destructive effects of UVC radiation on Drosophila melanogaster: Mortality, fertility, mutations, and molecular mechanisms
Authors: Lotfy Mohamed , Khattab Aalaa , Shata Mohammed , Alhasbani Ahmad , Almesmari Abdulla , Alsaeedi Saeed , Alyassi Saeed , Kundu Biduth
Published: May 2024

The detrimental effects of ultraviolet C (UVC) radiation on living organisms, with a specific focus on the fruit fly Drosophila melanogaster, were examined. This study investigated the impact of heightened UVC radiation exposure on D. melanogaster by assessing mortality and fertility rates, studying phenotypic mutations, and investigating the associated molecular mechanisms. The findings of this study revealed that UVC radiation increases mortality rates and decreases fertility rates in D. melanogaster. Additionally, phenotypic wing mutations were observed in the exposed flies. Furthermore, the study demonstrated that UVC radiation downregulates the expression of antioxidant genes, including superoxide dismutase (SOD), manganese-dependent superoxide dismutase (Mn-SOD), zinc-dependent superoxide dismutase (Cu-Zn-SOD), and the G protein-coupled receptor methuselah (MTH) gene. These results suggest that UVC radiation exerts a destructive effect on D. melanogaster by inducing oxidative stress, which is marked by the overexpression of harmful oxidative processes and a simultaneous reduction in antioxidant gene expression. In conclusion, this study underscores the critical importance of comprehending the deleterious effects of UVC radiation, not only to safeguard human health on Earth, but also to address the potential risks associated with space missions, such as the ongoing Emirate astronaut program.
Analysis of logistics capacity, influencing factors and spatial spillover effect in Yangtze River Economic Belt
Authors: Fanghu Li , Yinnan He , Biao Wang
Published: May 2024

The logistics industry plays a crucial role in facilitating regional economic development. Serving as a vital link connecting producers, consumers, and various components of the supply chain, it has a direct and profound impact on the prosperity and advancement of regional economies. Based on the panel data of 11 provinces in the Yangtze River Economic Belt from 2016 to 2020, this paper constructs the logistics capability evaluation index system from four aspects: regional economic base, logistics infrastructure, logistics development scale, information technology and talent support, and uses the entropy weight TOPSIS method to measure the logistics capability of each province. The adjacency space weight matrix, geographical distance weight matrix and economic distance weight matrix are selected to build a spatial econometric model to analyze the influencing factors and spatial spillover effects of regional logistics capability. The following conclusions can be drawn from the analysis. From 2016 to 2020, the regional logistics capacity of the Yangtze River Economic Belt shows a trend of increasing year by year, but the logistics capacity of different provinces within the region has a large room for improvement. From the perspective of spatial dimension, the logistics capacity of the Yangtze River Economic Belt is "high in the east and low in the west". The results of spatial econometric analysis based on the spatial Durbin model show that there are significant spatial spillover effects on the logistics capacity of provinces in the Yangtze River Economic Belt. Factors such as road network density, port throughput, water freight turnover, transportation, warehousing and postal employment will not only affect the logistics capacity of the region, but also have a spillover effect on the material capacity of neighboring provinces in the Yangtze River Economic Belt. This study improves the level of regional logistics capacity and promotes the regional economic development of the Yangtze River Economic Belt. It can be used as a reference for other regions or countries in terms of enhancing regional logistics capacity and promoting regional economic development.
Bumble Bee Watch community science program increases scientific understanding of an important pollinator group across Canada and the USA
Authors: MacPhail Victoria J. , Hatfield Richard , Colla Sheila R.
Published: May 2024

In a time of increasing threats to bumble bees (Hymenoptera: Apidae: Bombus), it is important to understand their ecology and distribution. As experts are limited in resources to conduct field surveys, there is potential for community scientists to help. The Bumble Bee Watch (BBW) community science program involves volunteers taking photos of bumble bees in Canada and the USA and submitting them, along with geographic and optional plant information, to a website or through an app. Taxon experts then verify the bee species identification. The Bumble Bees of North America database (BBNA) stores data (no photographs) collected and identified by more traditional scientific methods over the same range. Here we compared BBW data to BBNA data over all years and just 2010–2020 to understand the scientific contribution of community scientists to the state of the knowledge about native bumble bees. We found that BBW had similar geographic and species coverage as BBNA. It had records from all 63 provinces, states, and territories where bumble bees occur (including four more than BBNA in 2010–2020), and represented 41 of the 48 species in BBNA (with ten more species than BBNA in 2010–2020). While BBW contributed only 8.50% of records overall, it contributed 25.06% of all records over 2010–2020. BBW confirmed the persistence of species and identified new locations of species, both inside and outside of the previously known extent of occurrences. BBW also contributed a wealth of ecological information, such as unique plant genera and species data for almost all the bee species. Thus, while BBW had fewer bee records than the BBNA database overall, it helped to fill in data gaps and provided novel information, complementing the traditional methods. This community science program is valuable in helping to inform conservation management for bumble bee species.
Associations between co‑exposure to heavy metals and vertebral compression fracture, as well as femoral neck bone mineral density: A cross-sectional study from NHANES data
Authors: Yang Xurong , Li Li , Nie Lixiong
Published: May 2024

Objective

Accumulating evidence showed that exposure to heavy metals was harmful to human health. Little is known regarding the mixing effects of multiple metal exposures on vertebral compression fracture (VCF) and femoral neck bone mineral density (BMD). This study aimed to explore the individual and joint effects of four heavy metals [manganese (Mn), lead (Pb), cadmium (Cd) and mercury (Hg)] on VCF risk and femoral neck BMD.

Methods

This cross-sectional study included 1,007 eligible individuals with vertebral fractures from National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2013–2014. The outcome was the risk of VCF and femoral neck BMD. Weighted multivariate logistic regression was used to explore the individual effect of four heavy metals on the VCF risk, separately. Weighted multivariate linear regression was used to explore the individual effect of four heavy metals on the femoral neck BMD, separately. Adopted bayesian kernel machine regression (BKMR) model and quantile-based g computation (qgcomp) to examine the joint effects of four heavy metals on the VCF risk and femoral neck BMD.

Results

Among the population, 57 individuals developed VCF. After adjusting covariates, we found no statistical differences regarding the individual effects of four heavy metals on the risk of VCF. BKMR model and qgcomp indicated that there were no statistical differences regarding the joint effects between four heavy metals on the VCF risk. In addition, we found that Cd was associated with femoral neck BMD, and an increase in the mixture of heavy metal exposures was associated with a decreased risk of femoral neck BMD.

Conclusion

No significant correlation was observed between co-exposure to Mn, Pb, Cd and Hg and VCF risk. But co-exposure to Mn, Pb, Cd and Hg may be associated with femoral neck BMD.
Clinical study on the safety and feasibility of AiWalker-K for lower limbs exercise rehabilitation in children with cerebral palsy
Authors: Zhang Yi , Hui Zhichong , Qi Weihang , Zhang Jiamei , Wang Mingmei , Zhu Dengna
Published: May 2024

Background

Robotic-assisted gait training (RAGT) devices are effective for children with cerebral palsy (CP). Many RAGT devices have been created and put into clinical rehabilitation treatment. Therefore, we aimed to investigate the safety and feasibility of a new RAGT for children with CP.

Methods

This study is a cross-over design with 23 subjects randomly divided into two groups. The occurrence of adverse events and changes in heart rate and blood pressure were recorded during each AiWalker-K training. Additionally, Gross Motor Function Measure-88 (GMFM-88), Pediatric Balance Scale (PBS), 6 Minutes Walking Test (6MWT), Physiological Cost Index, and Edinburgh Visual Gait Score (EVGS) were used to assess treatment, period, carry-over, and follow-up effects in this study.

Results

Adverse events included joint pain, skin pain, and injury. Heart rate and blood pressure were higher with the AiWalker-K compared to the rest (P < 0.05), but remained within safe ranges. After combined treatment with AiWalker-K and routine rehabilitation treatment, significant improvements in 6MWT, GMFM-88 D and E, PBS, and EVGS were observed compared to routine rehabilitation treatment alone (P < 0.05).

Conclusions

Under the guidance of experienced medical personnel, AiWalker-K can be used for rehabilitation in children with CP.
Orienteering combines vigorous-intensity exercise with navigation to improve human cognition and increase brain-derived neurotrophic factor
Authors: Waddington Emma E. , Allison David J. , Calabrese Emilie M. , Pekos Cara , Lee Adrienne , Walsh Jeremy J. , Heisz Jennifer J.
Published: May 2024

Exercise enhances aspects of human cognition, but its intensity may matter. Recent animal research suggests that vigorous exercise, which releases greater amounts of lactate, activates more brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) in the hippocampus and, thus, may be optimal for supporting cognitive function. The cognitive benefits of exercise may be further augmented when combined with cognitive training. The sport of orienteering simultaneously combines exercise with spatial navigation and, therefore, may result in greater cognitive benefits than exercising only, especially at vigorous intensities. The present study aimed to examine the effects of an acute bout of orienteering at different intensities on cognition and BDNF compared to exercising only. We hypothesized that vigorous-intensity orienteering would increase lactate and BDNF and improve cognition more than moderate-intensity orienteering or vigorous exercise alone. Sixty-three recreationally active, healthy young adults (Mage = 21.10±2.75 years) with no orienteering experience completed a 1.3 km intervention course by navigating and exercising at a vigorous (80–85% of heart rate reserve) or moderate (40–50% of heart rate reserve) intensity or exercising vigorously without navigation. Exercise intensity was monitored using peak lactate, heart rate and rating of perceived exertion. Serum BDNF was extracted immediately before and after the intervention. Memory was assessed using the Mnemonic Similarity Task (high-interference memory) and the Groton Maze Learning Test (spatial memory). Both exercising and orienteering at a vigorous intensity elicited greater peak lactate and increases in BDNF than moderate-intensity orienteering, and individuals with higher peak lactate also had greater increases in BDNF. High-interference memory improved after both vigorous-intensity interventions but did not improve after the moderate-intensity intervention. Spatial memory only increased after vigorous-intensity orienteering, suggesting that orienteering at a vigorous intensity may particularly benefit spatial cognition. Overall, the results demonstrate the benefits of vigorous exercise on human cognition and BDNF.
Analytical methods for stable isotope labeling to elucidate rapid auxin kinetics in Arabidopsis thaliana
Authors: Tang Qian , Tillmann Molly , Cohen Jerry D.
Published: May 2024

The phytohormone auxin plays a critical role in plant growth and development. Despite significant progress in elucidating metabolic pathways of the primary bioactive auxin, indole-3-acetic acid (IAA), over the past few decades, key components such as intermediates and enzymes have not been fully characterized, and the dynamic regulation of IAA metabolism in response to environmental signals has not been completely revealed. In this study, we established a protocol employing a highly sensitive liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS) instrumentation and a rapid stable isotope labeling approach. We treated Arabidopsis seedlings with two stable isotope labeled precursors ([13C6]anthranilate and [13C8, 15N1]indole) and monitored the label incorporation into proposed indolic compounds involved in IAA biosynthetic pathways. This Stable Isotope Labeled Kinetics (SILK) method allowed us to trace the turnover rates of IAA pathway precursors and product concurrently with a time scale of seconds to minutes. By measuring the entire pathways over time and using different isotopic tracer techniques, we demonstrated that these methods offer more detailed information about this complex interacting network of IAA biosynthesis, and should prove to be useful for studying auxin metabolic network in vivo in a variety of plant tissues and under different environmental conditions.
Incidence of lost to follow up among HIV-positive children on antiretroviral therapy in Ethiopia: Systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Girma Desalegn , Abita Zinie , Lemu Lidya Gutema , Asmelash Daniel , Bambo Getachew Mesfin , Alie Melesew Setegn , Abebe Gossa Fetene
Published: May 2024

Background

At the end of 2022, globally, only 46% of children (aged 0–14 years) on ART had suppressed viral loads. Viral load suppression is crucial to reduce HIV-related deaths. To suppress the viral load at the expected level, children must be retained in ART treatment. Nevertheless, lost to follow-up from ART treatment continues to be a global challenge, particularly, in developing countries. Previously, primary studies were conducted in Ethiopia to assess the incidence of lost to follow-up among HIV-positive children on ART treatment. However, variations have been seen among the studies. Therefore, this systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to estimate the pooled incidence of lost to follow-up among HIV-positive children on ART and identify its associated factors in Ethiopia.

Methods

We searched PubMed, HINARI, Science Direct, Google Scholar, and African Journals Online to obtain articles published up to November 20, 2023. Critical appraisal was done using the Joanna Briggs Institute checklist. Heterogeneity was identified using I-square statistics. Funnel plot and Egger’s tests were used to identify publication bias. Data was presented using forest plots and tables. Random and fixed-effect models were used to compute the pooled estimate.

Results

Twenty-four studies were included in the final analysis. The pooled incidence of lost to follow-up among HIV-positive children on ART was 2.79 (95% CI: 1.99, 3.91) per 100-child-year observations. Advanced HIV disease (HR: 2.20, 95% CI: 1.71, 2.73), having opportunistic infection (HR: 2.59, 95% CI: 1.39; 4.78), fair or poor ART treatment adherence (HR: 2.92, 95% CI: 1.31; 6.54) and children aged between 1–5 years (HR: 2.1,95% CI: 1.44; 2.95) were factors associated with lost to follow up among HIV positive children on ART.

Conclusions

The overall pooled incidence of lost to follow-up among HIV-positive children on ART is low in Ethiopia. Therefore, counseling on ART drug adherence should be strengthened. Moreover, emphasis has to be given to children with advanced HIV stage and opportunistic infection to reduce the rate of lost to follow up among HIV-positive children on ART.

Trial registration

Registered in PROSPERO with ID: CRD42024501071.
Stéphane Mandelbaum: Mixed-up kid
Authors: Prosser Bill
Published: May 2024

This essay gives a brief account of an artist who embodies several aspects of Transitus, or ‘moving across’. First of all, his work has been embraced not only by curators of national galleries but eager collectors of Art Brut, and marks a transept where Outsider and High Art intersect. Second, his outpourings transmit uncomfortable reminders of fascism and wider immorality crossed with references from culture’s broader canon. These images are generally based on photographs, which his drawings transliterate and transmogrify by turn. These processes produce works fusing extraordinary pictorial grace with vivacity, so much so that they often transcend their sources’ negative, sociopolitical drag. Finally, in life he attempted to transpose his drawings’ transgressive imaginings into reality; a transference that resulted in tragedy, the ending of a life all to transient.
‘Mere’ illustration
Authors: Lord John Vernon
Published: May 2024

John Vernon Lord is an author, illustrator and teacher. He began his career in freelance illustration in the early 1960s and has carried out commissions for books, magazines and advertising. His books include a number of editions for the Folio Society. As a university professor, Lord has lectured for over sixty years in the United Kingdom and abroad. Here he presents a personal view of the historic and contemporary roles of the illustrator, particularly the book illustrator, examines the distinctions between fine art and illustration, and gives a passionate defence of illustration in the face of often dismissive attitudes, epitomized by the use of the term ‘mere illustration’.
Las Mujeres en la biblioteca personal de Miguel de Unamuno
Authors: Lopez Lycia
Published: May 2024

En el siguiente artículo se estudiarán las diferentes obras escritas por mujeres que Miguel de Unamuno conservaba en su biblioteca persona para poner en valor dicha biblioteca y el pensamiento y obra de dichas mujeres. Se prestará una especial atención a la obra y figura de Marie Lenéru, pues es la más comentada por don Miguel. Con la siguiente investigación se intentará conocer más a Unamuno a través de sus lecturas escritas por mujeres, pero también se pretende dar a conocer a dichas escritoras que no pudieron gozar del reconocimiento en su momento y también poner en valor a aquellas que entonces sí pudieron disfrutar del placer de ser mujeres y escritoras, pero que aún no están lo suficientemente estudiadas.
Trabajo forzoso, servidumbre, esclavitud: ¿aggiornamento de la respuesta penal a la explotación laboral grave?
Authors: Terradillos Basoco Juan María
Published: May 2024

Casi un siglo después de la firma de la Convención sobre la Esclavitud (1926), el ordenamiento penal español desconoce la criminalización, exigida explícitamente por el Derecho internacional, de la imposición de trabajos forzados, servidumbre o esclavitud, o de prácticas similares. En noviembre de 2022 se aprobó, por Consejo de Ministros, un Anteproyecto de Ley Orgánica Integral contra la trata y la explotación de seres humanos, que viene a cumplir el compromiso de nuestro ordenamiento de criminalización autónoma de estos hechos. Para ello, diseña una profunda reforma del Código Penal: mejoras técnicas del art. 177 bis (trata de seres humanos), introducción ex novo, por el art. 177 ter, de los delitos de sometimiento a trabajo forzoso, a servidumbre y a esclavitud; tipificación, en el art. 177 quater de la utilización de los servicios, prestaciones o actividades de las víctimas. La reforma pretende ser, como proclama la Exposición de Motivos, “un punto de inflexión” en la forma de abordar estas conductas, pero los innovadores tipos, más restrictivos que los exigidos por el Derecho internacional y europeo, y la no inclusión de la explotación laboral genérica entre las finalidades de la trata de seres humanos apuntan a una tutela puramente simbólica, y por tanto ineficiente, de los importantes bienes jurídicos y derechos humanos vinculados al trabajo decente.
Smart Lab: A Non-invasive IoT-centric Approach for Indoor Environment Automation
Authors:   National Institute of Telecommunications (Instituto Nacional de Telecomunicações - Inatel), Brazil, Carvalho João , Conceição Arielli , Ambrósio Laura , Ramborger Fernando , Teixeira Eduardo , Aquino Guilherme , Vilas Boas Evandro
Published: May 2024

This work presents a non-invasive Internet of Things (IoT)-centric framework solution for automation in indoor environments (e.g., laboratories, offices, and houses). The platform allows for Internet-connecting electronic and non-electronic devices for low-cost and fast automation control rather than replacing them as market solutions propose. Moreover, the IoT solution comprises adaptive hardware modules, a mobile application, a database, and a Message Queuing Telemetry Transport (MQTT)-based broker server deployed in a real scenario for proof of concept. The mobile application functions manage the hardware modules to remote control lamps, air conditioners, TVs, and curtains. The commands are set through predefined touchscreen buttons or voice commands interpreted by a virtual assistant based on natural language processing (NLP) and natural language understanding (NLU) machine learning algorithms embedded in a framework called Wit.ai. The database handles user subscribing by affording administration functions. Finally, a real-time broker server manages the entities' communication based on the MQTT message exchange protocol, including a security layer based on the Transport Layer Security (TLS) protocol.