bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Defensive enclousure of the small castle in Witków, Silesia
Authors: Legendziewicz Andrzej , Michalak Arkadiusz
Published: January 2023

The subject of the paper is to present the architectural transformations of the defensive enclosure of the small castle in Witków. This complex is one of the best-preserved examples of medieval seats of knights in Silesia. Unfortunately, in the literature to date, only the tower house with gothic polychromes has been discussed in greater detail. Basing on source references, descriptions from early modern urbariums, the results of architectural research and archaeological excavations, the authors discuss the emerging and transformations of the defensive enclosure. The implementation of the medieval complex including a curtain, along with a gatehouse and a gate, was set in the early 15th century. The Renaissance reconstruction, including the introduction of four regularly arranged towers, is related to the takeover of the castle by Fabian von Schonäich and works confirmed by the date 1557visible on one of the window stone frames. Another significant construction action is set in the second half of the 17th century, probably carried out in connection with the deteriorating condition of the buildings on the site.
multidisciplinary study of anti-vampire burials from early medieval Culmen, Poland: were the diseased and disabled regarded as vampires?
Authors: Matczak Magdalena , Kozłowski Tomasz , Chudziak Wojciech
Published: January 2023

The definitions and interpretations of anti-vampire burials have provoked impassioned discussion in archaeology over the last century. That the diseased and disabled were sometimes perceived as vampires is very intriguing and worth investigating because historical and ethnographic materials and archaeological studies indicate a connection between disease (e.g. tuberculosis and anaemia) and vampirism. Until the development of germ theory in the 19th century, some people explained the phenomenon of disease and death as its consequence by connecting it with beliefs in vampires. We investigate if the diseased and disabled were buried in anti-vampire graves based on materials from early medieval Culmen in Poland. We selected 574 skeletons from 566 graves for our analysis. The research allowed the identification of 13 antivampire graves, which include 14 skeletons. Of 574 skeletons, 299 indicate pathological lesions associated with diseases and 8 skeletons indicate lesions associated with disabilities. Among the individuals buried in anti-vampire graves (N=14), 11 had pathological lesions associated with diseases and one – lesions associated with disability. We analyse each disease and condition separately to see if it was a reason for burying individuals in anti-vampire graves. Our analyses have shown that the diseases and conditions that were identified on skeletons in anti-vampire graves were common in the past populations, including Culmen, and apparently not connected with the appearance of a vampire. Therefore, we conclude that diseases and disabilities were not the reason for perceiving someone as a vampire in Culmen.
Diagnostic and treatment methods of skeletal symptoms of haemophilia and education of patients regarding the disease – review study
Authors: Gorecka Adrianna , Osial Natalia
Published: January 2023

Introduction. Haemophilia is a genetic haemorrhagic disorder that characterises with extensive and prolonged bleeding. In severe stages of the disease, joint haemorrhages may occur and eventually result in joint degeneration and haemophilic arthropathy.
Aim of the study. Summary and evaluation of diagnostic and treatment methods of skeletal problems in patients with haemophilia. Review of patients’ knowledge about the disease.
Material and methods. Review of the newest medical journal literature published on PubMed database.
Results. Ultrasonography is a non-invasive imaging method used to diagnose acute hemarthrosis and early stages of joint damage. Magnetic resonance is a standard tool in evaluation and scoring of haemophilic arthropathy. X-rays and computed tomography can also be additionally used, but are ineffective in imaging soft tissue and cartilage. Substitution of clotting factors is a standard treatment in haemophilia which reduces the frequency of bleeding. Arthrocentesis, synovectomy for example radiosynovectomy are effective in case of joint disorders. Intra-joint injections of hyaluronic acid are also effective. In advanced stages of haemophilic arthropathy joint replacement is recommended. Majority of patients with haemophilia claim that they are sufficiently educated about their disease.
Conclusion. Haemophilic arthropathy is a severe joint destructing condition that causes limited mobility, chronic pain and a reduced quality of life. Its early diagnosis and proper treatment is necessary to avoid total destruction of the affected joint. Multidisciplinary care of the patient is an approach of great importance. Education of patients about their disease and up-to-date treatment methods is necessary.
Changing a contract in the case of a public procurement in light of the Public Procurement Law of September 11, 2019
Authors: Taraszkiewicz Magdalena
Published: January 2023

One of the basic principles of the Public Procurement Law, regulated in Article 17(2), provides that “The contract is awarded to the contractor selected in accordance with the provisions of the Act”. However, this does not mean that it cannot be changed after the signing of a public procurement contract. Frequently, the contractor, for reasons beyond his control, is not able to complete the subject of the public procurement on time. In addition, it may also be necessary to perform additional activities and even change the contractor. However, it should be remembered that in the case of making changes to the content of the public procurement contract, the content of Articles 454–455 of the Public Procurement Law should be considered. The purpose of this article is to analyse the provisions of law, doctrine and jurisprudence regarding the admissibility of making changes to the public procurement contract. The Author will try to answer the following questions: 1) “What changes to the public procurement contract can be considered significant?” and 2) “In which cases is it permissible to make changes to the public procurement contract?” The article was prepared using non-reactive research methods, dogmatic-legal and legal-comparative.
Profesor Józef Półturzycki (1934–2021) – polski andragog, dydaktyk, nauczyciel
Authors: Sapia-Drewniak Eleonora
Published: January 2023

W opracowaniu przedstawiono drogę rozwoju zawodowego wybitnego polskiego andragoga Profesora Józefa Półturzyckiego. Celem analiz było przybliżenie jego sylwetki i osiągnięć naukowych na podstawie materiałów archiwalnych, wspomnień i nielicznych opracowań. Podjęto próbę ukazania jego aktywności zawodowej oraz obszarów zainteresowań naukowych. Wskazano na problematykę poruszaną w wybranych publikacjach.
Zasada ustawiczności kształcenia w ujęciu Profesora Józefa Półturzyckiego i jej implikacje w dziedzinie bezpieczeństwa
Authors: Klimek Krzysztof
Published: January 2023

Kształcenie ustawiczne jest kluczowym warunkiem rozwoju społeczeństwa, środkiem do podnoszenia jakości życia, zarówno w wymiarze indywidualnym, jak i społecznym. Idea kształcenia ustawicznego w przekonaniu Józefa Półturzyckiego stanowi istotę współczesnych przemian oświatowych, dlatego też w niniejszym tekście podjęto próbę ukazania poglądów Profesora na kształcenie ustawiczne oraz wyeksponowania na tym tle zasady ustawiczności kształcenia. Ostatnia część rozważań jest poświęcona problemom wykorzystania (odniesienia) zasady ustawiczności kształcenia w ramach edukacji dla bezpieczeństwa – ukazaniu tej edukacji jako procesu trwającego całe życie i organizowanego przez różne instytucje, środowiska wychowawcze i grupy społeczne.
Consumer Happiness: Origin and Development of the Concept.
Authors: Cuesta-Valiño Pedro , Gutiérrez-Rodríguez Pablo , Contreras-Contreras Pablo
Published: January 2023

La búsqueda de la felicidad es la explicación más general del comportamiento humano. A lo largo de los años se ha intentado establecer enfoques de medición que faciliten su análisis. Un primer paso es la necesidad de entender el bienestar de las personas a través de la idea de “sentirse mejor” que ha llevado a la medición de la salud subjetiva y no sólo biológica. Este artículo pretende comprender mejor los orígenes del concepto de felicidad del consumidor, sus enfoques y las escalas de medición. Para ello, se ha aplicado una metodología basada en la revisión de la literatura más reciente, identificando los análisis más relevantes del concepto. Esta investigación muestra el creciente uso del concepto de felicidad del consumidor y la creación de diversas escalas de medición de la felicidad. A partir de estas ideas, se propone la utilización de un modelo que aproxima los tres enfoques constituyentes del concepto holístico de felicidad: una vida agradable, significativa y comprometida, que puede facilitar su aplicabilidad en entornos de gestión.
Estrategias de Marketing Social y Comunicación de la Slow Fashion como Herramienta de Happiness Management.
Authors: Elías-Zambrano Rodrigo , Jiménez-Marín Gloria , Galiano-Coronil Araceli
Published: January 2023

Desde la perspectiva del consumidor responsable se considera que parte del sistema de gestión y consumo de la moda denominada fast fashion tiene como impulso un cierto sentimiento de felicidad conseguido a través de la cultura del objeto. Sin embargo, empieza a evidenciarse que esta industria está enfrentándose a la tiranía de la fast fashion, pudiéndose considerar este sentimiento como irreal. La nueva tendencia de las marcas de moda pasa por impulsar un marketing volcado hacia un consumidor más ético y selectivo, que siente que un consumo responsable lo hace más feliz. El objetivo de este estudio es conocer la percepción de los consumidores españoles hacia la moda sostenible y ver si esto puede orientar la estrategia de marketing de la moda hacia un modelo de happiness management. Para ello se ha diseñado una metodología mixta donde se combinan métodos cuantitativos y cualitativos. Los resultados sugieren que algunas implicaciones y consejos sobre la estrategia de marketing social y responsable podrían ayudar a las empresas a desarrollar una moda sostenible para los consumidores españoles.
El nuevo orden jurídico internacional en materia tributaria
Authors: Mendoza López Doris Teresita
Published: January 2023

En razón del reproche de la sociedad mundial por el aumento en las tasas impositivas al consumo y al ahorro, en consecuencia de la disminución en los ingresos fiscales en la mayoría de los países del orbe como resultado de los recientes modelos de negocios y sus cadenas de valor de las empresas globales, a través de los cuales se genera la mayor parte de la riqueza, distintos miembros de la comunidad internacional reclaman a los gobiernos y organismos internacionales el diseño de normas que regulen la fiscalidad de las transacciones comerciales-financieras desarrolladas en el escenario económico global. De ahí que, mediante mandato de los países del G20[1], en la Organización para la Cooperación y el Desarrollo Económicos​ (en adelante OCDE) se diseñan y se aprueban las medidas del “Plan de acción contra la erosión de la base imponible y el traslado de beneficios” (en adelante Plan de Acción OCDE/G20 o proyecto beps), en las que se concibe una nueva era en la tributación internacional, caracterizada por impulsar el cumplimiento tributario, el límite de las estrategias artificiosas de planeación fiscal para disminuir el pago de impuestos a la renta societaria, y el establecimiento del lenguaje fiscal universal.

     En tanto, es justo que se vaticine el nacimiento del orden jurídico de tributación internacional construido mediante disposiciones gestadas en el seno de organismos supranacionales, conocidas en el ámbito académico como soft law, en virtud de ser adoptadas por un número importante de legislaciones nacionales.

 

[1]              El grupo denominado como G20 se integra por Alemania, Arabia Saudita, Argentina, Australia, Brasil, Canadá, China, Estados Unidos, Francia, India, Indonesia, Italia, Japón, México, Reino Unido, República de Corea, Rusia, Sudáfrica, Turquía, y los países de la Unión Europea.
The importance of the human–animal relationship for commercial farms
Authors: George Adam J , Bolt Sarah L
Published: January 2023

The human–animal relationship is a key aspect of managing livestock. Poor stockmanship may lead to negative implications for the health, welfare and productivity of farm animals and could lead to poor job satisfaction for the stockperson. It can also make it potentially difficult for veterinarians and farmers to treat livestock because an animal may associate humans with negative experiences. This review summarises research based on human–animal interactions, discusses its implications for the health and welfare of livestock, and provides suggestions for improving relationships between humans and farm animals.
Parental Perceptions of Electronic Media Use by Children with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder and Non-Referred Children in Greece
Authors: Stampoltzis Aglaia , Voulkidou Efstathia
Published: January 2023

Television watching and video/computer playing are favorite leisure activities among children and adolescents. Individuals with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) have several special characteristics in relation to attention and impulsivity compared with non-ADHD individuals. This study investigates parental perceptions of electronic media use among children and adolescents with ADHD and a control group. A total of 54 participants with ADHD and 51 controls aged 7-15 years old took part in the study. A questionnaire was constructed to collect quantitative data from parents. ADHD children tend to spend more time per day on electronic devices compared to non-referred children. Age but not gender seemed to affect the frequency of children’s media play. Inattention, anxiousness and disorganization are more common in the ADHD group in activities such as reading, doing homework, doing sports or playing with toys in comparison to media activities. Parents of both groups worry a lot about their child’s habits of videogame playing. Finally, parents of ADHD children recognize some of the benefits of videogames in the areas of memory, attention and motivation but not in the academic area. In conclusion, the present study highlights important aspects of the topic of media use by children with ADHD as well as risk factors to take into account.  
An Interplay of Shadows and Light
Authors: Churchill Ward
Published: January 2023

This essay traces the history of Red-Black unity within the context of U.S. settler colonialism and is presented in two parts. Here is the second part; the first half was published in Zanj Volume 3, Number 1.
Blurring the boundaries between fact and fiction: serial killers in the context of dark tourism
Authors: Smith Melanie Kay , Virág Tevely Titanilla
Published: January 2023

Serial killers fascinate people and books, films, TV series and other types of entertainment increasingly cater to this interest providing sensationalized media coverage. The theory suggests that the boundaries are blurred considerably between fact and fiction, even for the serial killers themselves. For many people, serial killers are both frightening and attractive enough to motivate them to go on tours and visit sites, museums and other attractions that are associated with them. This paper explores the motivation for consuming true and fictional crime including murders and serial killing with an emphasis on literature, films, TV series as well as tourism. A content analysis of the websites of walking tours, museums and other attractions connected to fictional and real serial killers was undertaken, as well as a questionnaire with a niche sample of respondents who commented on their experience and perceptions of serial killers within a dark tourism context. The results suggest that while tourists tend to prefer real serial killers to fictional ones, only a small number of tourists actually engage in this form of dark tourism. Their motivations tend to be more connected to education or entertainment rather than a morbid obsession with death or tragedy.
Introduction to the OFC 2022 Special Issue
Authors: Schares Laurent , Lord Andrew
Published: January 2023

This special issue includes extensions of invited and top-scored optical networking papers that were presented at the Optical Fiber Communication (OFC) Conference, held in San Diego, California, 6–10 March 2022. We present an overview of the major topics covered in the papers.
Numerical representation of tightly focused ultra-short laser pulses
Authors: Majorosi Szilárd , Lécz Zsolt , Papp Dániel , Kamperidis Christos , Hafz Nasr A. M.
Published: January 2023

A scheme for numerical representation for the fields of tightly focused laser pulses is presented going beyond the paraxial framework that gives accurate values up to near single-cycle pulses. The laser field is defined by a solution of the paraxial Helmholtz equation and a temporal pulse profile in light-cone coordinates, the fourth- and second-order corrections are provided for short pulses and vector beams, and the absolute error of these terms is presented. The method can give an accurate field description for any transverse electromagnetic mode, and it is suited for providing initial fields for existing solvers for Maxwell’s equations, such as in the particle-in-cell codes.
Calculation and analysis of quantum radar scattering characteristics of targets in atmospheric medium
Authors: Hu Jie , Li Huifang , Xia Chenyang
Published: January 2023

Though much work has been done concerning quantum radar cross section (QRCS), the related question about quantum radar scattering characteristics of targets in the atmospheric medium has not been considered. Understanding this question is of primary significance in the military and civil fields of quantum radar. The main objective of the paper is to propose a new algorithm for the calculation of QRCS in homogeneous atmospheric medium (M-QRCS). Therefore, based on the chain of beam splitters proposed by M. Lanzagorta to describe homogeneous atmospheric medium, the photon attenuation model is established, the photon wave function is modified, and the M-QRCS equation is proposed. Furthermore, in order to obtain an accurate M-QRCS response, we carry out simulation experiments on a flat rectangular plate in the atmospheric medium composed of different atomic arrays. Based on this, we study the influence of the attenuation coefficient, temperature, and visibility on the intensity of the peak value of main lobe and side lobes of M-QRCS. In addition, it is worth noting that the numerical calculation method proposed in this paper is based on the interaction between photons and atoms on the target surface, so it is suitable for the calculation and simulation of M-QRCS for targets of any shape.
Freeform reflector light source used for space traceable spectral radiance calibration on the solar reflected band
Authors: Jiang Ye , Tian Jiewen , Fang Wei , Hu Denghui , Ye Xin
Published: January 2023

For purpose of improving the accuracy of in-orbit radiometric calibration of Chinese Space-based Radiometric Benchmark (CSRB) reference payload on the reflected solar band and reduce resource consumption, this paper proposed a freeform reflector radiometric calibration light source system based on the beam shaping characteristics of the freeform surface. The design method of initial structure discretization based on Chebyshev points was used to design and solve the freeform surface, and the feasibility of the design method was verified by optical simulation. The designed freeform surface is machined and tested, and the test results show that the surface roughness root mean square (RMS) of the freeform reflector is 0.61 μm, which indicates that the continuity of the machined surface is good. The optical characteristics of the calibration light source system are measured, the results show that the irradiance uniformity and radiance uniformity are better than 98% in the effective illumination area of 100 mm × 100 mm on the target plane. The constructed freeform reflector calibration light source system can meet the requirements of large area, high uniformity and light weight for onboard calibration of the payload of the radiometric benchmark, improving the measurement accuracy of spectral radiance on the reflected solar band.
Alexandrite lasers with blue-diode-pumping
Authors: Xiao Huaifeng , Jiang Xunuo , Damzen Michael J.
Published: January 2023

The availability of high-power and high-brightness blue diode lasers makes them attractive as low-cost pump sources for broadly tunable Alexandrite lasers. In this paper we investigate the performance of an Alexandrite laser pumped by a high-power fiber-delivered blue diode module. Output power 1.84 W is achieved, the highest power from blue diode pumped Alexandrite to date. Excellent pump absorption is demonstrated of scrambled pump polarization on both a-axis and b-axis of Alexandrite crystal. Wavelength tuning and dual wavelength operation is produced using the self-birefringent filtering of the Brewster-cut Alexandrite crystal. An analysis is made of laser efficiency and mode formation including the creation of higher-order Laguerre-Gaussian vortex modes (LG01 and LG02). Performance is compared to red diode pumping and prospects for further optimization and power-scaling are discussed.
FPP-SLAM: indoor simultaneous localization and mapping based on fringe projection profilometry
Authors: Zhao Yang , Yu Haotian , Zhang Kai , Zheng Yucheng , Zhang Yi , Zheng Dongliang , Han Jing
Published: January 2023

Simultaneous localization and mapping (SLAM) plays an important role in autonomous driving, indoor robotics and AR/VR. Outdoor SLAM has been widely used with the assistance of LiDAR and Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS). However, for indoor applications, the commonly used LiDAR sensor does not satisfy the accuracy requirement and the GNSS signals are blocked. Thus, an accurate and reliable 3D sensor and suited SLAM algorithms are required for indoor SLAM. One of the most promising 3D perceiving techniques, fringe projection profilometry (FPP), shows great potential but does not prevail in indoor SLAM. In this paper, we first introduce FPP to indoor SLAM, and accordingly propose suited SLAM algorithms, thus enabling a new FPP-SLAM. The proposed FPP-SLAM can achieve millimeter-level and real-time mapping and localization without any expensive equipment assistance. The performance is evaluated in both simulated controlled and real room-sized scenes. The experimental results demonstrate that our method outperforms other state-of-the-art methods in terms of efficiency and accuracy. We believe this method paves the way for FPP in indoor SLAM applications.
Higher order long-wave infrared Bessel beams generating tubular plasma waveguides in the atmosphere
Authors: Panagiotopoulos Paris , Heinz Jonathan , Kolesik Miroslav , Moloney Jerome V.
Published: January 2023

We numerically investigate the nonlinear propagation of long-wavelength, higher order Bessel pulses in the atmosphere. We show that 10 micron higher order Bessel beams can generate more homogeneous plasma channels than their 800 nm counterparts. We utilize 4th-order 10.23 μm Bessel wavepackets to create tunable transient plasma tubes in air, and show that they are well suited for the guiding of THz radiation with exceptionally low losses.
Diagnostic accuracy of the Panbio COVID-19 antigen rapid test device for SARS-CoV-2 detection in Kenya, 2021: A field evaluation
Authors: Irungu Jack Karuga , Munyua Peninah , Ochieng Caroline , Juma Bonventure , Amoth Patrick , Kuria Francis , Kiiru John , Makayotto Lyndah , Abade Ahmed , Bulterys Marc , Hunsperger Elizabeth , Emukule Gideon O. , Onyango Clayton , Samandari Taraz , Barr Beth A. Tippett , Akelo Victor , Weyenga Herman , Munywoki Patrick K. , Bigogo Godfrey , Otieno Nancy A. , Kisivuli Jackton Azenga , Ochieng Edwin , Nyaga Rufus , Hull Noah , Herman-Roloff Amy , Aman Rashid
Published: January 2023

Background

Accurate and timely diagnosis is essential in limiting the spread of SARS-CoV-2 infection. The reference standard, rRT-PCR, requires specialized laboratories, costly reagents, and a long turnaround time. Antigen RDTs provide a feasible alternative to rRT-PCR since they are quick, relatively inexpensive, and do not require a laboratory. The WHO requires that Ag RDTs have a sensitivity ≥80% and specificity ≥97%.

Methods

This evaluation was conducted at 11 health facilities in Kenya between March and July 2021. We enrolled persons of any age with respiratory symptoms and asymptomatic contacts of confirmed COVID-19 cases. We collected demographic and clinical information and two nasopharyngeal specimens from each participant for Ag RDT testing and rRT-PCR. We calculated the diagnostic performance of the Panbio™ Ag RDT against the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) rRT-PCR test.

Results

We evaluated the Ag RDT in 2,245 individuals where 551 (24.5%, 95% CI: 22.8–26.3%) tested positive by rRT-PCR. Overall sensitivity of the Ag RDT was 46.6% (95% CI: 42.4–50.9%), specificity 98.5% (95% CI: 97.8–99.0%), PPV 90.8% (95% CI: 86.8–93.9%) and NPV 85.0% (95% CI: 83.4–86.6%). Among symptomatic individuals, sensitivity was 60.6% (95% CI: 54.3–66.7%) and specificity was 98.1% (95% CI: 96.7–99.0%). Among asymptomatic individuals, sensitivity was 34.7% (95% CI 29.3–40.4%) and specificity was 98.7% (95% CI: 97.8–99.3%). In persons with onset of symptoms <5 days (594/876, 67.8%), sensitivity was 67.1% (95% CI: 59.2–74.3%), and 53.3% (95% CI: 40.0–66.3%) among those with onset of symptoms >7 days (157/876, 17.9%). The highest sensitivity was 87.0% (95% CI: 80.9–91.8%) in symptomatic individuals with cycle threshold (Ct) values ≤30.

Conclusion

The overall sensitivity and NPV of the Panbio™ Ag RDT were much lower than expected. The specificity of the Ag RDT was high and satisfactory; therefore, a positive result may not require confirmation by rRT-PCR. The kit may be useful as a rapid screening tool only for symptomatic patients in high-risk settings with limited access to rRT-PCR. A negative result should be interpreted based on clinical and epidemiological information and may require retesting by rRT-PCR.
The pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of cefquinome against Streptococcus agalactiae in a murine mastitis model
Authors: Yang Qingwen , Zhang Chenghuan , Liu Xuesong , Zhang Longfei , Yong Kang , Lv Qian , Zhang Yi , Chen Liang , Zhong Peng , Liu Yun
Published: January 2023

Cefquinome is a new generation cephalosporin that is effective in the treatment of mastitis in animals. In this study, we evaluated the associations between the specific pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics (PK/PD) of cefquinome and its antibacterial activity against Streptococcus agalactiae in a mouse model of mastitis. After a single intramammary dose of cefquinome (30, 60, 120, and 240 μg/mammary gland), the concentration of cefquinome in plasma was analysed by liquid chromatography with tandem mass spectrometry (HPLC/MS–MS). The PK parameters were calculated using a one-compartment first-order absorption model. Antibacterial activity was defined as the maximum change in the S. agalactiae population after each dose. An inhibitory sigmoid Emax model was used to evaluate the relationships between the PK/PD index values and antibacterial effects. The duration for which the concentration of the antibiotic (%T) remained above the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) was defined as the optimal PK/PD index for assessing antibacterial activity. The values of %T > MIC to reach 0.5-log10CFU/MG, 1-log10 CFU/MG and 2-log10 CFU/MG reductions were 31, 47, and 81%, respectively. When the PK/PD index %T > MIC of cefquinome was >81% in vivo, the density of the Streptococcus agalactiae was reduced by 2-log10. These findings provide a valuable understanding to optimise the dose regimens of cefquinome in the treatment of S. agalactiae infections.
Air pollution in the places of Betula pendula growth and development changes the physicochemical properties and the main allergen content of its pollen
Authors: Stawoska Iwona , Myszkowska Dorota , Oliwa Jakub , Skoczowski Andrzej , Wesełucha-Birczyńska Aleksandra , Saja-Garbarz Diana , Ziemianin Monika
Published: January 2023

Pollen allergy becomes an increasing problem for humans, especially in the regions, where the air pollution level increases due to the traffic and urbanization. These factors may also affect the physiological activity of plants, causing changes in pollen allergenicity. The aim of the study was to estimate the influence of air pollutants on the chemical composition of birch pollen and the secondary structures of the Bet v1 protein. The research was conducted in seven locations in Malopolska region, South of Poland of a different pollution level. We have found slight fluctuations in the values of parameters describing the photosynthetic light reactions, similar spectra of leaf reflectance and the negligible differences in the discrimination values of the δ13C carbon isotope were found. The obtained results show a minor effect of a degree of pollution on the physiological conditionB.pendulaspecimen. On the other hand, mean Bet v1 concentration measured in pollen samples collected in Kraków was significantly higher than in less polluted places (p = .03886), while FT-Raman spectra showed the most distinct variations in the wavenumbers characteristic of proteins. Pollen collected at sites of the increased NOxand PM concentration, show the highest percentage values of potential aggregated forms and antiparallel β-sheets in the expense of α-helix, presenting a substantial impact on chemical compounds of pollen, Bet v1 concentration and on formation of the secondary structure of proteins, what can influence their functions.
Basal Primatomorpha colonized Ellesmere Island (Arctic Canada) during the hyperthermal conditions of the early Eocene climatic optimum
Authors: Miller Kristen , Tietjen Kristen , Beard K. Christopher
Published: January 2023

Anthropogenically induced warming is transforming Arctic ecosystems across a geologically short timescale, but earlier episodes of Earth history provide insights on the nature and limitations of biotic change in a rapidly warming Arctic. Late early Eocene strata (~52 Ma) of the Margaret Formation on Ellesmere Island, Nunavut, Canada sample a warm temperate ecosystem with a polar light regime situated at ~77°N paleolatitude. This extinct boreal ecosystem hosted a diversity of early Cenozoic vertebrates, including thermophilic taxa such as crocodilians and tapiroid perissodactyls. Here we describe two new species of the early primatomorphan Ignacius from Ellesmere, which are by far the northernmost known records for Paleogene Primatomorpha. Ellesmere species of Ignacius are sister taxa, indicating a single colonization of Ellesmere from farther south in North America coincident with the onset of the hyperthermal Early Eocene Climatic Optimum (EECO). The Ellesmere Ignacius clade differs from closely related taxa inhabiting mid-latitudes in being larger (thereby conforming to Bergmann’s rule) and having modified dentition and muscles of mastication for a dietary regime emphasizing hard objects, possibly reflecting an increased reliance on fallback foods during long polar winters. The late early Eocene mammalian fauna of Ellesmere indicates that its unique paleoenvironment rendered it uninhabitable to some clades, including euprimates, while selected taxa were able to adapt to its challenging conditions and diversify.
Potential risk of plant viruses entering disease cycle in surface water in protected vegetable growing areas of Eastern China
Authors: Zhang Xianping , Sun Xiaohui , Liu Yongguang , Qiao Ning , Wang Xueyu , Zhao Dan , Shang Kaijie , Zhu Xiaoping
Published: January 2023

With the expansion of protected vegetable growing areas (PVGAs), viral plant diseases have become more prevalent, causing severe economic losses to the vegetable production industry in China. At present, researches on plant viruses mainly focus on plants, but there is only a few reports on the species of viruses in surface water from PVGAs. The surface water samples in PVGAs are representative to a certain extent, which has an important reference value for studying the characteristics of plant viruses in surface water. The purpose of this study was to identify the diversity and the possibility of entering disease infection cycle of plant viruses in water samples collected from PVGAs in eastern China. A total of 144 water samples were collected, and eight plant viruses including tobacco mosaic virus (TMV, 8.33%), cucumber green mottle mosaic virus (CGMMV, 33.33%), pepper mild mottle virus (PMMoV, 6.94%), cucumber mosaic virus (CMV, 0.69%), tomato masaic virus (ToMV, 3.47%), tomato mottle mosaic virus (ToMMV, 0.69%), tomato chlorosis virus (ToCV, 4.17%), and tomato yellow leaf curl virus (TYLCV, 5.56%) were examined using RT-PCR and PCR. The species of viruses in surface water varied greatly by location. CGMMV, TMV, ToCV, ToMV, ToMMV, and TYLCV were identified in Shandong, a northern part of Eastern China, whereas only PMMoV was found in Shanghai, a southern part of Eastern China. After healthy tobacco plants were inoculated with the concentrated solutions of TMV, ToMV, CGMMV, and PMMoV, could cause disease in healthy tobacco, indicating that the plant viruses in the concentrated solution have the infectivity, and the plant viruses in surface water have the possibility of entering the infection cycle of disease. The results will improve the understanding of the potential risks of waterborne disease transmission.
Improved slime mould algorithm based on hybrid strategy optimization of Cauchy mutation and simulated annealing
Authors: Zhang Xiaoyi , Liu Qixuan , Bai Xinyao
Published: January 2023

In this article, an improved slime mould algorithm (SMA-CSA) is proposed for solving global optimization and the capacitated vehicle routing problem (CVRP). This improvement is based on the mixed-strategy optimization of Cauchy mutation and simulated annealing to alleviate the lack of global optimization capability of the SMA. By introducing the Cauchy mutation strategy, the optimal solution is perturbed to increase the probability of escaping from the local extreme value; in addition, the annealing strategy is introduced, and the Metropolis sampling criterion is used as the acceptance criterion to expand the global search space to enhance the exploration phase to achieve optimal solutions. The performance of the proposed SMA-CSA algorithm is evaluated using the CEC 2013 benchmark functions and the capacitated vehicle routing problem. In all experiments, SMA-CSA is compared with ten other state-of-the-art metaheuristics. The results are also analyzed by Friedman and the Wilcoxon rank-sum test. The experimental results and statistical tests demonstrate that the SMA-CSA algorithm is very competitive and often superior compared to the algorithms used in the experiments. The results of the proposed algorithm on the capacitated vehicle routing problem demonstrate its efficiency and discrete solving ability.
Maternal and neonatal outcomes of singleton versus twin pregnancies complicated by gestational diabetes mellitus: A systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Tu Fengming , Fei Aimei
Published: January 2023

Background

There is limited evidence exploring the maternal and neonatal complications of gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) following singleton or twin pregnancies. Further, there have been no reviews completed examining the possible risk factors associated with GDM in singleton compared to twin pregnancies. This study assesses the impact of GDM in singleton and twin pregnancies on maternal and neonatal outcomes.

Methods

From 1954 to December 2021, a thorough literature search was conducted in the EMBASE, Cochrane, MEDLINE, ScienceDirect, and Google Scholar databases and search engines. The risk of bias was calculated using the Newcastle Ottawa (NO) scale. A random-effects model was applied and interpreted as pooled odds ratio (OR) with 95% confidence intervals (CI).

Results

Eight studies satisfied the inclusion criteria, with the quality of most studies being good to satisfactory. The risk of caesarean section (pooled OR = 0.32; 95%CI: 0.22 to 0.46), small-for-gestational age (SGA) neonates (pooled OR = 0.40; 95%CI: 0.19 to 0.84), preterm delivery (pooled OR = 0.07; 95%CI: 0.06 to 0.09), respiratory morbidity (pooled OR = 0.26; 95%CI: 0.19 to 0.37), neonatal hyperbilirubinemia (pooled OR = 0.19; 95%CI: 0.10 to 0.40), and NICU admission (pooled OR = 0.18; 95%CI: 0.14 to 0.25) was significantly lower in singleton pregnancies with GDM than in twin pregnancies with GDM.

Conclusion

Maternal outcomes like caesarean section and neonatal outcomes like SGA neonates, preterm delivery, respiratory morbidity, hyperbilirubinemia, and NICU admission were significantly greater in twin pregnancies with GDM. It is important for clinicians and policymakers to focus intervention strategies on twin pregnancies with GDM.
Carbonated tiger-high above-ground biomass carbon stock in protected areas and corridors and its observed negative relationship with tiger population density and occupancy in the Terai Arc Landscape, Nepal
Authors: Thapa Kanchan , Thapa Gokarna Jung , Manandhar Ugan , Dhakal Maheshwar , Jnawali Shant Raj , Maraseni Tek Narayan
Published: January 2023

Healthy natural forests maintain and/or enhances carbon stock while also providing potential habitat and an array of services to wildlife including large carnivores such as the tiger. This study is the first of its kind in assessing relationships between above-ground biomass carbon stock, tiger density and occupancy probability and its status in protected areas, corridors, and forest connectivity blocks. The dataset used to assess the relationship were: (1) Converged posterior tiger density estimates from camera trap data derived from Bayesian- Spatially Explicit Capture-Recapture model from Chitwan National Park; (2) Site wise probability of tiger occupancy estimated across the Terai Arc Landscape and (3) Habitat wise above-ground biomass carbon stock estimated across the Terai Arc Landscape. Carbon stock maps were derived based on eight habitat classes and conservation units linking satellite (Landsat 7 ETM+) images and field collected sampling data. A significant negative relationship (r = -0.20, p<0.01) was observed between above-ground biomass carbon stock and tiger density in Chitwan National Park and with tiger occupancy (r = -0.24, p = 0.023) in the landscape. Within protected areas, we found highest mean above-ground biomass carbon stock in high density mixed forest (~223 tC/ha) and low in degraded scrubland (~73.2 tC/ha). Similarly, we found: (1) highest tiger density ~ 0.06 individuals per 0.33 km2 in the riverine forest and lowest estimates (~0.00) in degraded scrubland; and (2) predictive tiger density of 0.0135 individuals per 0.33 km2 is equivalent to mean total of 43.7 tC/ha in Chitwan National Park. Comparatively, we found similar above-ground biomass carbon stock among corridors, large forest connectivity blocks (~117 tC/ha), and within in tiger bearing protected areas (~119 tC/ha). Carbon conservation through forest restoration particularly in riverine habitats (forest and grassland) and low transitional state forests (degraded scrubland) provides immense opportunities to generate win-win solutions, sequester more carbon and maintain habitat integrity for tigers and other large predators.
Sentiment analysis of medical record notes for lung cancer patients at the Department of Veterans Affairs
Authors: Elbers Danne C. , La Jennifer , Minot Joshua R. , Gramling Robert , Brophy Mary T. , Do Nhan V. , Fillmore Nathanael R. , Dodds Peter S. , Danforth Christopher M.
Published: January 2023

Natural language processing of medical records offers tremendous potential to improve the patient experience. Sentiment analysis of clinical notes has been performed with mixed results, often highlighting the issue that dictionary ratings are not domain specific. Here, for the first time, we re-calibrate the labMT sentiment dictionary on 3.5M clinical notes describing 10,000 patients diagnosed with lung cancer at the Department of Veterans Affairs. The sentiment score of notes was calculated for two years after date of diagnosis and evaluated against a lab test (platelet count) and a combination of data points (treatments). We found that the oncology specific labMT dictionary, after re-calibration for the clinical oncology domain, produces a promising signal in notes that can be detected based on a comparative analysis to the aforementioned parameters.
On locating interculturalism and somatics: Looseness, holding on and swimming
Authors: Bambara Celia Weiss
Published: January 2023

This article addresses how improvisation and somatics are methods of movement research that permit the overlap of Jewish and African diasporic practices and coalitions outside of the bounds of language. Improvisation and somatics are queried as ways of making dance and as shifting spaces of coalition, of standing with others, and standing also for myself as a Jewish woman. I articulate a viewpoint on overlapping diasporas between Jewish and African diasporic populations which is asserted in tandem with analyses of the ways in which diasporas, and interculturalisms, make present for me implicit power dynamics through improvisation, technique and somatic practices. This analysis of my own practices permits a deeper rendering of the plurality of diasporic Jewish female identity as it relates to my body, interculturalism, spirituality, anti-racism and decolonization implicit in somatics, technique and improvisation.
Tracing the felt image to thought: A somatic turn towards the nature of the creative process in country dance choreography
Authors: Barry Olivia
Published: January 2023

Creative processes used to choreograph country dance are distinguishable from those utilized in other dance movement systems. Described here is my experience of a novel approach within somatic education – one reflecting on the nature of the creative process in country dance choreography. My primary aim was to trace a distinctive moment when feeling translates into a later communicable thought. In country dance choreography, this is known as the hook. Over the course of two months, I developed my own experiential somatic practice under the guidance of leading dance, science and somatics practitioner-researcher, Dr Glenna Batson. I engaged in this form of embodied practice in order to explore somatics as a method for conducting research as well as aiding in my own creative process as a country dance choreographer. Through the process of anarchiving, harvesting and tracing moments from my somatic experience, I found key correlations and contrasts between somatics and country dance.
Touching across: Performing new dance ecologies through dialogical choreographies
Authors: Lannen Maud
Published: January 2023

Postmodern dance and somatics have foregrounded the sense of touch via the skin as a subject of inquiry and a catalyst for change, nowhere more so than in Paxton’s Contact Improvisation (CI). Touch continues to be explored choreographically, beyond CI, in contemporary dance to increasingly stage more daring, excessive sensuality and erotics between performers and performers/audience for mainstream theatre. Such tactile strategies and displays, I suggest, raise timely questions about the politics of touch and what touch constitutes. This article is the second instalment of a wider research project that attempts to unsettle Global North and the dance discipline’s presuppositions about physical contact. Here, I build upon one of Paxton’s lesser-known theoretical influences that spurred the development of CI, namely his research into mother–child touch communication and ask: how might a feminist reassessment of maternal relationality – its haptics – generate new knowledge about touch and neo-liberal economy? How might such reconception move us towards different bodily practices and ethics grounded in the twenty-first century in dance and beyond?
Choreography Invisible: The Disappearing Work of Dance, Anna Pakes (2020)
Authors: Rogerson Mandy
Published: January 2023

Review of: Choreography Invisible: The Disappearing Work of Dance, Anna Pakes (2020)

Oxford: Oxford University Press, 376 pp.,

ISBN 978-0-19998-821-1, h/bk, £81
Spatial violence and everyday borders in contested cities: Literary representations of walking in Anna Burns’s Milkman
Authors: Mathuria Sunjay
Published: January 2023

This article examines the representation of walking and the narrativization of borders in Troubles-era Belfast in Anna Burns’s 2018 novel Milkman. I argue that the protagonist, Middle Sister, develops her own narrative form and walking method as ‘tactics’ to challenge the city’s imposed sectarian geographies and as a response to navigating a city of intense surveillance. In her narrativization, Middle Sister replaces place references with her own complex naming system and lexicon and negotiates urban space by ‘reading-while-walking’. As a result, Middle Sister attempts to dislocate the political nature of the conflict by mediating Belfast on her own terms and asserting her own spatial practices. However, as I demonstrate in the final section in conversation with trauma theory, there are limitations to Middle Sister’s walking practice, which is disrupted by the urban hauntings of her troubled city, triggering particular psychosomatic responses and traumatic memories.
Qiddiya’s Journey: A case study in urban imagineering and image laundering
Authors: Ramírez Andrés F.
Published: January 2023

Some of the world’s most ambitious urban development projects today are first expressed as hyper-realistic, computer-generated images (CGIs). These fictional worlds increasingly shape megalomaniac visions and collective imaginaries about the future of cities. Digital media about speculative urban environments are often produced remotely by design professionals and subsequently employed to secure investment and finance. Disguising marketing media as planning documents deeply challenges the traditional role and responsibilities of the urban planning practice. In a spectacular and experiential proposition, Qiddiya’s master plan animation celebrates consumption and techno-utopianism, concealing forms of post(colonial) invisible labour and oppressive digital infrastructures. A careful analysis of ‘Qiddiya’s Journey’ illustrates how CGI-generated media doubles as a development strategy and propaganda, ignoring critical implications of building a theme park city in the middle of a desert. Beyond the neo-liberal agenda of tourism and entertainment, Qiddiya’s vision reveals ethical lapses in the use of CGIs for urban planning purposes. Moreover, it exemplifies how seductive aesthetics can enable an authoritarian regime to advance contentious development programmes that discretely launder its image clean of social and environmental controversies.