bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A revision of the Trioserica species from continental southeast Asia (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Sericinae: Sericini)1
Authors: Ahrens Dirk , Lukic Daniel , Wipfler Benedict , Pham Phu
Published: February 2024

The current paper gives an overview of the species so far assigned to the genus Trioserica Moser, 1922 which occur in continental southeast Asia. The types of the known species are revised and 42 new species are described: Trioserica achterbergi Ahrens, Lukic & Pham, sp. n., T. bachma Ahrens, Lukic & Pham, sp. n., T. bansongcha Ahrens, Lukic & Pham, sp. n., T. bresseeli Ahrens, Lukic & Pham, sp. n., T. chaudoc Ahrens, Lukic & Pham, sp. n., T. chaweewanae Ahrens, Lukic & Pham, sp. n., T. chumomray Ahrens, Lukic & Pham, sp. n., T. chuyangsin Ahrens, Lukic & Pham, sp. n., T. csorbai Ahrens, Lukic & Pham, sp. n., T. dalat Ahrens, Lukic & Pham, sp. n., T. dongnai Ahrens, Lukic & Pham, sp. n., T. geiseri Ahrens, Lukic & Pham, sp. n., T. guerlaechi Ahrens, Lukic & Pham, sp. n., T. hartmanni Ahrens, Lukic & Pham, sp. n., T. huaypok Ahrens, Lukic & Pham, sp. n., T. khaoyai Ahrens, Lukic & Pham, sp. n., T. konplongensis Ahrens, Lukic & Pham, sp. n., T. lamdongensis Ahrens, Lukic & Pham, sp. n., T. namphak Ahrens, Lukic & Pham, sp. n., T. nongfa Ahrens, Lukic & Pham, sp. n., T. pahinngam Ahrens, Lukic & Pham, sp. n., T. pakse Ahrens, Lukic & Pham, sp. n., T. paulseni Ahrens, Lukic & Pham, sp. n., T. phataem Ahrens, Lukic & Pham, sp. n., T. phetchabun Ahrens, Lukic & Pham, sp. n., T. phnomkulen Ahrens, Lukic & Pham, sp. n., T. phuphan Ahrens, Lukic & Pham, sp. n., T. pongpitaki Ahrens, Lukic & Pham, sp. n., T. preahkhan Ahrens, Lukic & Pham, sp. n., T. prome Ahrens, Lukic & Pham, sp. n., T. samoeng Ahrens, Lukic & Pham, sp. n., T. sanogae Ahrens, Lukic & Pham, sp. n., T. seideli Ahrens, Lukic & Pham, sp. n., T. sekongensis Ahrens, Lukic & Pham, sp. n., T. skalei Ahrens, Lukic & Pham, sp. n., T. tadfaek Ahrens, Lukic & Pham, sp. n., T. tenasserim Ahrens, Lukic & Pham, sp. n., T. theinzek Ahrens, Lukic & Pham, sp. n., T. tongbiguan Ahrens, Lukic & Pham, sp. n., T. vientiane Ahrens, Lukic & Pham, sp. n., T. vriesi Ahrens, Lukic & Pham, sp. n., T. vuquang Ahrens, Lukic & Pham, sp. n. The revision resulted also in three new combinations: Trioserica rugosa (Brenske, 1899) comb. n., T. maculata (Frey, 1972) comb. n. and T. minima (Frey, 1972) comb. n. A key to the species of continental SE Asia is given. The diagnostic characters of the newly revised taxa and their distribution are illustrated.
Becoming Europeanized Muslims
Authors: Musahadi Musahadi , Junaidi Akhmad Arif
Published: February 2024

This article aims to provide insight into the formation of religious identity among the millennial generation of the Indonesian Muslim diaspora in the Netherlands, identifying its main influencing factors. Our empirical study identified a dynamic and diverse process regarding the formation of the millennial group’s religious identity, expressed dynamically in various aspects of Islamic teachings at the level of religious beliefs, morals or ethics, and practices. The negotiation process between their Islamic and Western identities produced various identity statuses, namely diffusion, foreclosure, moratorium, and achievement. The process shifts between exploration and commitment. The study concludes that religious identities formed through exploration are more established and more adaptable to environmental changes than those based on commitment with no exploration. Second, the formation of the Indonesian Muslim millennial diaspora’s religious identity is influenced by three key factors, namely social environment, reference groups, and role models.
Phyllosticta taxa (Botryosphaeriales, Phyllostictaceae) from northern Thailand and southern European Russia: New host and geographical records
Authors: GOMDOLA DEECKSHA , JAYAWARDENA RUVISHIKA S. , MCKENZIE ERIC H.C. , BULGAKOV TIMUR S. , WANASINGHE DHANUSHKA N. , HUANRALUEK NARUEMON , HYDE KEVIN D.
Published: February 2024

Phyllosticta is a cosmopolitan group of fungi found on various host plants, occurring as pathogens, endophytes and saprobes. Diseases caused by Phyllosticta commonly include leaf and fruit spots that can affect economically important plants. The genus is characterized mainly by aseptate and hyaline conidia and ascospores. Its conidia are surrounded by a mucilaginous sheath, with a single mucoid apical appendage while ascospores exhibit a mucoid cap at both ends. Given that many Phyllosticta taxa are cryptic and share similar morphologies, it is arduous to depict taxonomically relevant characters solely on the basis of morphological or ecological features. Coupled with morphological description, multi-locus phylogenetic analyses of species comprising complexes are used to broadly describe this genus and understand species boundaries. Despite several published taxonomic revisions and enumerations of Phyllosticta species, there is still considerable confusion when identifying these taxa. Herein, we establish three new host records for P. capitalensis, and one new geographical record for P. musaechinensis in Thailand, and one new host and geographical record for P. citribrasiliensis in Russia. We provide an updated phylogenetic tree based on several gene markers: ITS, LSU, ACT, GAPDH, RPB2, and TEF-1α. This includes all Phyllosticta species for which sequence data is available. Six individual Phyllosticta species complexes are accepted. In addition, we synonymize P. ericarum with P. citribrasiliensis.
Stigmatodon medeirosii, a new hyperepilithic bromeliad (Tillandsioideae) from granitic inselbergs of Minas Gerais, Brazil
Authors: COUTO DAYVID RODRIGUES , GONELLA PAULO MINATEL
Published: February 2024

Stigmatodon medeirosii (Bromeliaceae, Tillandsioideae), a new hyperepilithic species, restricted to vertical rock walls of the inselbergs of eastern Minas Gerais, in the medium Rio Doce River basin, southeastern Brazil, is described and illustrated. Diagnostic characters and affinities of the new species are discussed, accompanied by notes on its ecology, geographic distribution, and conservation status. The new species is most similar to S. fontellanus and S. lemeanus from Espírito Santo state but distinguished by a set of vegetative and reproductive characters. Following the criteria of the IUCN Red List, S. medeirosii is to be assessed as Vulnerable (VU), reinforcing the need for attention to the conservation of inselbergs and associated vegetation in eastern Minas Gerais.
Semantic Derivation Strategies of Verbs of Smell Emission in the Polish and Ukrainian Languages
Authors: Demenchuk Oleh
Published: February 2024

Semantic Derivation Strategies of Verbs of Smell Emission in the Polish and Ukrainian Languages
The article focuses on the strategies of semantic derivation of verbs of smell emission – a semantic class of words that denote a situation of smell emission and its perception. The study reveals the features of verbs of smell emission and characterizes their semantic shifts in the Polish and Ukrainian languages. We posit that a linguistic item’s semantic paradigm development aligns with situation concept extensions, which are supposed to be determined by the changes participants undergo within source-to-target-situation shifts. The semantic shifts construed by Polish and Ukrainian verbs of smell emission suggest the regular direction of concept extensions – from an internal domain (a situation of smell emission and its perception) via an adjacent one (smell identification) towards an external (smell interpretation) domain.
 
Strategie derywacji semantycznej czasowników emisji zapachu w języku polskim i ukraińskim
W artykule skupiono się na strategiach derywacji semantycznej czasowników emisji zapachu – słów oznaczających sytuację wydzielania zapachu i jego percepcji. W pracy ukazano cechy czasowników emisji zapachu oraz scharakteryzowano ich zmiany semantyczne w języku polskim i ukraińskim. Rozszerzenia pojęcia sytuacji emisji zapachu są zdeterminowane przez zmiany charakterystyk uczestników sytuacji. Przesunięcia semantyczne sugerują regularny kierunek rozszerzeń – od domeny wewnętrznej (sytuacja emisji zapachu i jego percepcji) przez dziedzinę przyległą (identyfikacja zapachu) w kierunku domeny zewnętrznej (interpretacja zapachu).
Areal Clustering of the Slavic Phonetics
Authors: Sawicka Irena
Published: February 2024

Areal Clustering of Slavic Phonetics
The article succinctly discusses the most important phonetic features of Slavic languages and indicates their geographical distribution. It briefly presents an area-typological view of the contemporary phonetics of Slavic languages and suggests a different division than the one resulting from historical facts (into eastern, western, and southern groups).
 
Arealno-typologiczne rozczłonkowanie słowiańskiej fonetyki
Artykuł krótko omawia najistotniejsze cechy fonetyczne słowiańskiego obszaru językowego i ich dystrybucję arealną. Prezentuje arealno-typologiczne podejście do tematu, sugerując w konkluzji inne współczesne podziały niż te, jakie wynikają z faktów historycznych (tj. podział na grupę zachodnio-, wschodnio- i południowosłowiańską).
Asyndetic Complementation in the Light of Explicative Syntax (Exemplified with Bulgarian, Polish and Ukrainian)
Authors: Kiklewicz Aleksander
Published: February 2024

Asyndetic Complementation in the Light of Explicative Syntax (Exemplified with Bulgarian, Polish and Ukrainian)
The subject of the study is Bulgarian, Polish and Ukrainian syntactic constructions in which the position of the clausal complement is realized in an asyndetic manner. The analysis of language material is based on the theory of explicative syntax, the foundations of which were developed by S. Karolak. The author shows that the asyndetic complement is one of the forms of realization of the propositional argument that is conditioned by the valence of the matrix verb. A given syntactic form is a valence characteristic of a limited group of semantic classes of verb, namely mental, emotive, perceptive and deliberative verbs. The author also shows that there are other factors that favor or, conversely, do not favor the use of conjunctionless sentences, such as negation, ellipsis, coreference, and others. The author concludes that the frequency of asyndetic constructions in Slavic languages can vary.
 
Komplementacja asyndetyczna w świetle składni eksplikacyjnej (na przykładzie języka bułgarskiego, polskiego i ukraińskiego)
Przedmiotem badania są bułgarskie, polskie i ukraińskie konstrukcje składniowe, w których pozycja dopełnienia klauzulowego jest realizowana w sposób asyndetyczny. Analiza materiału językowego opiera się na teorii składni eksplikatywnej, której podstawy opracował S. Karolak. Autor pokazuje, że dopełnienie asyndetyczne jest jedną z form realizacji argumentu propozycjonalnego, uwarunkowaną walencją czasownika matrycowego. Dana forma składniowa stanowi charakterystykę walencyjną ograniczonej grupy semantycznej czasowników, a mianowicie czasowników mentalnych, emotywnych, percepcyjnych i deliberatywnych. Autor pokazuje również, że istnieją inne czynniki, które sprzyjają lub odwrotnie nie sprzyjają używaniu zdań bezspójnikowych, takie jak: negacja, elipsa, koreferencja. Autor dochodzi do wniosku, że częstość występowania konstrukcji asyndetycznych w językach słowiańskich jest większa lub mniejsza.
Does the Presuppositional Imperfective Exist in Russian (and Slavic)?
Authors: Dickey Stephen
Published: February 2024

Does the Presuppositional Imperfective Exist in Russian (and Slavic)?
This paper discusses data which are problematic for the hypothesis that the presupposition that an action has taken place directly motivates the use of the imperfective aspect in statements of fact in Russian, and by extension in other Slavic languages. It argues that while imperfective statements of fact occur in presuppositional contexts, such usage is instead motivated by particular semantic elements/discourse effects, such as the construal of a situation as an aterminative process or as repeatable, construals which also motivate non-presuppositional imperfective statements of fact. Similarly, it discusses cases of presuppositional perfective usage, which are likewise triggered by semantic elements that have been independently motivated for non-presuppositional perfective usage. It is further suggested that presuppositional imperfectives can be explained as cases in which the speaker ignores the original causal chain of an action and mentions the event with some orthogonal purposes in mind. In contrast, the perfective tracks the event in its originally intended causal chain. Lastly, it presents data indicating that presuppositional imperfectives in Czech and Croatian reflect the construal of an action as a process.
 
Czy w języku rosyjskim (i słowiańszczyźnie) istnieje imperfektyw presupozycyjny?
W artykule omówiono dane, które są problematyczne z punktu widzenia hipotezy, że presupozycja, iż działanie miało miejsce, bezpośrednio motywuje użycie aspektu niedokonanego w stwierdzeniach faktu w języku rosyjskim, a tym samym w innych językach słowiańskich. Autor argumentuje, że imperfektywne stwierdzenia faktu występują w kontekstach presupozycyjnych, a takie użycie jest motywowane przez określone elementy semantyczne / efekty dyskursu, takie jak interpretacja sytuacji jako procesu aterminatywnego lub powtarzalnego, co również motywuje niepresupozycyjne imperfektywne stwierdzenia faktu. Omówione zostały ponadto przypadki presupozycyjnego użycia perfektywnego, które także są wywoływane przez elementy semantyczne, które zostały niezależnie umotywowane dla użycia niepresupozycyjnego perfektywnego. Zasugerowano, że presupozycyjne imperfektywa można wyjaśnić jako przypadki, w których nadawca komunikatu ignoruje pierwotny łańcuch przyczynowy czynności i wspomina o zdarzeniu, mając na uwadze pewne niezależne cele. W przeciwieństwie do tego, perfektyw sytuuje akcję w jej pierwotnie zamierzonym łańcuchu przyczynowym. W zakończeniu przedstawiono dane wskazujące na fakt, iż imperfektywa presupozycyjne w języku czeskim i chorwackim odzwierciedlają rozumienie akcji jako procesu.
Characterization of the Carrier Lensing Effect in a Second Harmonic Generator
Authors: Shen Yong , Zheng Haobin , Zhang Xiang , Wang Weiquan , Tang Xiaokang , Zhou Yongzhuang , Liu Qu , Zou Hongxin
Published: February 2024

This paper presents studies on the carrier lensing effect of a tapered amplifier in a compact cavity-enhanced second harmonic generator. When different injecting currents are applied, carriers in the tapered amplifier are depleted to different levels depending on the local optical field
intensity, resulting in a spatial variation of the refractive index and creating an effective convex lens for the amplified laser beam. This can significantly reduce the mode matching between the pump beam and the cavity, leading to a degradation of the second harmonic generator efficiency.
To characterize this effect and provide guidance for mode matching, the evolution of optical fields and carriers in the tapered amplifier is simulated numerically with Maxwell-Bloch equations. The effective focal length of the tapered amplifier is calculated theoretically and verified with
experimental calibration. Based on these results, the coupling optics of the cavity can be properly designed so as to achieve a high coupling efficiency. Finally, a single-frequency continuous-wave laser at 461 nm is achieved, with an output power exceeding 500 mW and a conversion efficiency
of 33%.
Preparation and Properties of Novel Antimicrobial Polyurethane Materials
Authors: Teng Deyi , Yang Yuying , Jiang Guichang , Yin1 Fen
Published: February 2024

Using the pre-polymer method, we created new materials called antimicrobial polyurethane (PU). To analyze the chemical structures of the PU materials, we used various techniques, including Fourier transform infrared (FTIR), 1H-NMR, gel permeation chromatography (GPC), and Differential
Scanning Calorimetry (DSC). In addition, we investigated the surface properties of the PU material by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). According to the mechanical assessment, the antimicrobial polyurethane films display good mechanical qualities. We have also tested the barrier and antimicrobial
properties of the films, and the results show that these films have good barrier properties and that the antimicrobial polyurethane films have better antimicrobial properties compared to pure polyurethane films. These properties are enhanced as the antimicrobial agent content in the antimicrobial
polyurethane films increases.
Preparation and Application of Silane-Modified Polycarboxylate Superplasticizer in Concrete Viscosity Reduction
Authors: Yang Mao-Qian , Zhang Jie , Cai Gui-Sheng , Meng Fan-Jun , Liu Yong-Sheng , Lu Tong-Wei , Wang Li-Ya
Published: February 2024

To address the issue of high viscosity in the construction of high-performance concrete, researchers have developed silane-modified micro-cross-linked polycarboxylate superplasticizers (SPCEs) through free radical-initiated copolymerization. These SPCEs have been studied for their molecular
structure, adsorption behavior in cement paste, and influence of silane content on rheological performance of cement paste and concrete. The experimental findings indicate that while SPCEs exhibit a slightly diminished water reduction rate, the viscosity of cement paste with SPCEs is lower
compared to conventional polycarboxylate superplasticizer with equivalent fluidity. This is attributed to their enhanced adsorption capacity, reduced intrinsic viscosity, and smaller hydrodynamic radius. Compared to the control group, the concrete made with SPCE showed a decrease of 23.53%
and 11.00% in the outflow times of T500 and V-funnel, respectively, along with a reduction of 19.43% in plastic viscosity. The condensation of silanol can enhance the hydration of cement during the intermediate and final phases, leading to an improvement in the strength of concrete in later
stages. There was an 8.79% increase in intensity at 28 days compared to the control group. Consequently, micro-cross-linked SPCEs possess significant prospects for advancement and can be employed in high-performing concrete.
Preparation of Barium Titanate-Based Ferroelectric Ceramics by Solid-Phase Sintering and Its Energy Storage Performance
Authors: Wang Meng
Published: February 2024

Barium titanate has been a widely used dielectric material due to its favorable properties, including high dielectric constant, low dielectric loss, stable dielectric behavior and a cost-effective price. In this study a novel barium titanate-based relaxor ferroelectric ceramics, Nax/2Lax/2Ba1−x
TiO3, was prepared using multi-element chemical doping substitution and solid-phase sintering method. Investigations into the optimal processing conditions and compositional ratios for ceramics have led to significant insights into their microstructural and macroscopic attributes.
Specifically, the ceramic composed of Na0.075La0.075Ba0.85, with a composition parameter x equal to 0.15, has demonstrated prominent characteristics of a relaxor ferroelectric. This ceramic composition achieved an impressive energy storage efficiency,
reaching up to 93.9%. In the context of energy storage under specific conditions, notable efficiencies were observed. The highest density of energy storage achieved was 0.342 J/cm3, while the energy that could be effectively recovered registered at 0.304 J/cm3. These
measurements were recorded under the influence of an electric field with an intensity of 60 kilovolts per centimeter. These findings suggest that ceramics based on barium titanate possess considerable potential for application in energy storage systems, marking them as promising materials
in this field.
Enhancement of Thermoelectric Properties in Nanocomposites Through the Synergistic Integration of Zinc and Iron Oxides with Polyaniline
Authors: Vignesh C. , Vinoth K. , Emima Jeronsia J. , Chinnappa L. , Ahmed Faheem , Khan Zishan Husain , Abd El-Salam Nasser M. , Fouad Hassan
Published: February 2024

In this study, we systematically varied the weight ratios of zinc and iron oxides (2 wt%, 4 wt%, and 6 wt%) to fabricate nanocomposites consisting of polyaniline (PANI), zinc oxide (ZnO), and iron oxide (Fe3O4) through the sol–gel method. Comprehensive analyses using FTIR, XRD, and SEM were conducted to elucidate the functional groups, particle size, crystal structure, and surface morphologies of PANI/ZnO/Fe3O4nanocomposites. Furthermore, thermoelectric characteristics were thoroughly investigated. A mechanistic insight into the PANI/ZnO/Fe3O4nanocomposite formation was proposed based on the FTIR findings. SEM investigations revealed the presence of spherical particles in all nanocomposites. Among the three PANI/ZnO/Fe3O4nanocomposites characterized, the formulation with 6 wt% exhibited superior thermoelectric performance. The electrical conductivity of the nanocomposites exhibited a notable increase from 23.1 to 42.7 mS/cm when the temperature elevated from 30–90 °C. Concurrently, the thermal conductivity exhibited a decline from 1.229 to 0.704 Wm−1K−1, resulting in an augmented figure of merit of 0.024. This enhancement underscores the positive influence of increasing the weight percentage of ZnO and Fe3O4with PANI on the TE performances of the nanocomposites.
The Upwelling Source Depth Distribution and Its Response to Wind Stress and Stratification
Authors: Weeks Elle , Losch Martin , Tziperman Eli
Published: February 2024

Coastal upwelling, driven by alongshore winds and characterized by cold sea surface temperatures and high upper-ocean nutrient content, is an important physical process sustaining some of the oceans’ most productive ecosystems. To fully understand the ocean properties in eastern boundary upwelling systems, it is important to consider the depth of the source waters being upwelled, as it affects both the SST and the transport of nutrients toward the surface. Here, we construct an upwelling source depth distribution for parcels at the surface in the upwelling zone. We do so using passive tracers forced at the domain boundary for every model depth level to quantify their contributions to the upwelled waters. We test the dependence of this distribution on the strength of the wind stress and stratification using high-resolution regional ocean simulations of an idealized coastal upwelling system. We also present an efficient method for estimating the mean upwelling source depth. Furthermore, we show that the standard deviation of the upwelling source depth distribution increases with increasing wind stress and decreases with increasing stratification. These results can be applied to better understand and predict how coastal upwelling sites and their surface properties have and will change in past and future climates.
Joint Effects of Winds and Tides on Near-Inertial Internal Waves in the Northern South China Sea: A Three-Dimensional Numerical Study
Authors: Gong Yankun , Chen Zhiwu , Zhao Ruixiang , Xu Jiexin , Li Juan , Xie Jiesuo , He Yinghui , Zhu Xiao-Hua , Sun Yuhan , Cai Shuqun
Published: February 2024

Joint effects of winds and tides on near-inertial internal waves (NIWs) are numerically investigated via a series of three-dimensional quasi-realistic simulations in the northern South China Sea (NSCS). Model results demonstrate that in the presence of wind-induced NIWs, more tidal energy is transferred to NIWs, while in the presence of tide-induced NIWs, the extreme wind (cyclone) would inject less near-inertial kinetic energy (NIKE). The interaction between wind-induced and tide-induced NIWs produces total NIKE more (or less) than a linear superposition of that generated by wind and tide forcing alone at different sites in the NSCS. Specifically, near the Luzon Strait, both tides and winds make positive contributions to the local near-inertial energy input, resulting in more than 30% enhancement of total NIKE (>0.5 kJ m−2). However, in some deep-water regions along the cyclone paths, energy is transferred from cyclones to NIWs and also from NIWs to internal tides. Due to this “energy pipeline” effect, tide- and wind-induced NIWs contribute to weakening of total NIKE (∼0.3 kJ m−2 or 30%). Additionally, sensitivity experiments with varying initial tidal phases indicate that the interaction between wind-induced NIKE and tide-induced NIKE is robust in most of the model domain (over 80%) under different phase alignments between wind- and tide-induced NIWs. From the perspective of cyclones, tide-induced NIKE is comparable to wind-induced NIKE in the Luzon Strait before the arrival of cyclones, while tide-induced NIKE is two orders of magnitude smaller than wind-induced NIKE in most of the NSCS after the arrival of cyclones. Overall, our results highlight the joint effects of wind and tide forcing on the local NIW dynamics in the NSCS.

Significance Statement

Near-inertial internal waves (NIWs) are ubiquitous phenomena in stratified water, which can significantly influence the ocean mixing, especially across the thermocline. NIWs are generated mainly by wind forcing near the sea surface, but also by internal tide breaking in the ocean interior. Hence, a question that arises is whether winds or tides play dominant roles in generating NIWs. In fact, due to the interaction between wind- and tide-induced NIWs, the total near-inertial kinetic energy (NIKE) is not merely a linear superposition of that generated by winds and tides forcing alone. By carrying out numerical experiments, we find that extreme winds can help to transfer more energy from tides to NIWs, while tides would suppress energy transferring from winds to NIWs. As a result, this fact is crucial in accurately reproducing NIW dynamics in a targeted region, thereby determining redistribution of local ocean mixing intensity.
Taking It to the States: The Origins of Critical Information Needs
Authors: Friedland Lewis A.
Published: February 2024

This article provides a firsthand account of research conducted for the Federal Communications Commission in connection with its inquiry into communities’ critical information needs and how well they were being met by local news and information sources. I detail the industry and political pressures brought to bear in opposition to that inquiry and the extent to which opposition to this kind of research undermines the development of prosocial local information ecologies. Finally, I discuss what can be done to develop research in this vein and shore up local information needs.
An Overview of State and Local Legislation to Support Local News: Policy Mechanisms and Challenges to Impact
Authors: Mahone Jessica
Published: February 2024

Since 2017, in response to catastrophic declines in the commercial model that has traditionally undergirded U.S. journalism, lawmakers in 10 states have introduced legislation specifically designed to provide support to local news media. This analysis identifies four mechanisms in the legislation: tax incentives, establishment of a task force or commission, appropriation of general funding, and mandated advertising expenditures. Through late 2022, five of 24 bills introduced have been enacted in four states, a rate about the same as for state legislation enactment overall. I discuss several challenges attendant to the enactment of legislation aimed at supporting local news: (1) partisan divides, (2) budgetary restrictions, (3) narrow definitions of local news media, and (4) exacerbation of the deterioration of the economic conditions faced by news media by legislation that guts public notice laws. I also discuss the mandating of advertising expenditures enacted in New York and Chicago.
A Media Insider’s Wish List for Saving Local Journalism
Authors: Sullivan Margaret
Published: February 2024

This article underscores the importance of local investigative journalism and routine coverage for American democracy while acknowledging its current unsustainable financial model. Working from my experience as a newspaper editor and media columnist/public editor, I offer suggestions to improve the quality and content of local news. My suggestions include national legislation to support the sustainability of journalism, media literacy education for adults and youth, and subsidies to newsrooms via state universities.
The Problem with “Most People”: Racism and Ableism in U.S. COVID-19 Public Health Communication
Authors: Gibson Amelia N.
Published: February 2024

Public health communication related to COVID-19 does not typically address the needs of “high-risk” Americans. Rather, pandemic-era policy has prioritized those who have the lowest risks for complications and mortality—white, nondisabled, employed, housed, middle- to high-income American citizens with private health insurance. This article addresses whether commonly held definitions of misinformation and “health literacy” are useful when public health communication does not meaningfully address the needs of chronically ill and disabled individuals. It considers strategies used by marginalized people to assess and understand medical advice, workplace provisions, and education policies that typically assume low risk and ignore comorbidities. It argues that the U.S. should build a more equitable public health communication infrastructure that collects and reports on race- and disability-specific data, accounts for complexity in crisis communication, and targets the needs of communities that are most heavily impacted by public health threats.
Media Policy for an Informed Citizenry: Revisiting the Information Needs of Communities for Democracy in Crisis
Authors: Usher Nikki , Darr Joshua P. , Napoli Philip M. , Miller Michael L.
Published: February 2024

This volume of The ANNALS revisits and updates a call made by scholars in the early 2010s for public policy to respond to the market failure of local news. Organized into four parts—policy, supply, demand, and adaptation—this volume is committed to the proposition that people need information about their communities in order to navigate everyday life, and that those information needs are inextricably intertwined with other basic necessities like sustenance, transportation, housing, health, and safety. However, local and regional newspapers face an existential threat to their continued economic survival that undermines their ability to do even basic, routine coverage of civic institutions and communities. This volume demonstrates that professional journalism is one of many ways to support communities’ information needs. We consider how new sources of news and information might fill contemporary information needs and how media policy, broadly understood, could help create a more equitable, tolerant, and just multiracial democracy.
College Students’ Perceptions of Rape: An Exploratory Study Through the Use of Visual Vignettes
Authors: Gavin Samantha M.
Published: February 2024

While research has examined the level of blame placed on victims and perpetrators for rape and sexual assault in simulations, there is very little research examining whether college students can accurately identify rape. In addition, the simulations presented to students in this area of research have overwhelmingly focused on female victims and male perpetrators and tend to use audio or read vignettes. This exploratory study examines if college students can accurately identify rape, using four visual vignettes demonstrating four simulations: (1) a clear violation of law, (2) an ambiguous violation of law, (3) a clear non-violation of law, and (4) an ambiguous non-violation of law, with a male victim and two female perpetrators. Findings from this study suggest that gender may significantly influence an individual’s likelihood of accurately identifying rape. Additionally, students overall are able to accurately identify rape, except for the ambiguous non-violation of law simulation, which is critically examined.
“Context Is to Data What Water Is to a Dolphin”*: Social-Historical Conditions, Criminal Histories, and Recidivism Across Five Prisoner Cohorts
Authors: Piquero Alex R. , Durose Matthew R.
Published: February 2024

Understanding offending patterns over the life-course has been a key feature of criminological thought and scholarship since the discipline’s inception. Recent research has brought forth new thinking into how social-historical conditions may influence correlates of crime as well as offending patterns across different eras. Missing from this line of research has been the extent to which rates of recidivism are also affected by social-historical conditions. This paper examines the characteristics and recidivism patterns of five national-level prisoner release cohorts between 1983 and 2012. Results show that criminal histories and recidivism prevalence is very similar across these cohorts spanning over a quarter of a century.
3D knitted fabric as an element of footwear for people with diabetic foot syndrome
Authors: Mikolajczyk Zbigniew , Nowak Iwona , Mikołajczyk-Solińska Melania , Kuchits Ivan
Published: February 2024

This article examines the anthropotechnical design of orthopedic footwear for patients with diabetic foot syndrome. A 3D spacer knitted fabric was used as a barrier between the researcher's foot and the ground. For the purpose of the research, 7–11 mm thick knitted fabrics with longitudinal elasticity from 45–90 kPa were designed and produced on a double-bar warp knitting machine. The FreeMed Professional mat was used to measure the pressures exerted by the foot on a “bare” walking surface and on the surface equipped with the spacer knitted fabric and compared, proving that in the latter case the unit pressure on the patient's foot decreased by 30%. The obtained measurements provide a good starting point for further research on the optimization of loads on human feet.
Research progress of thermoregulating textiles based on spinning of organic phase change fiber of energy storage
Authors: Xiao Xin , Feng Ze , Jia Hongwei , Wang Yunfeng , Chen Qing , Lv Fengyong
Published: February 2024

Thermal energy storage can contribute to the reduction of carbon emissions, motivating the applications in aerospace, construction, textiles and so on. Phase change materials have been investigated extensively in the field of high-performance intelligent thermoregulating fabrics for energy storage. Advances toward fibers or fabrics for thermo regulation are developed, but leakage of phase change medium is a concern when directly coated or filled with fibers or fabrics. Thus, different spinning methods have appeared to integrate phase change materials into copolymer fiber to prepare phase change fiber. The present review has been divided into three parts and first deals with spinning technologies such as wet spinning, melt spinning, electrostatic spinning, and centrifugal spinning with the thermal properties and mechanical properties of phase change fiber. Among them, the phase change medium loading in the phase change fiber with wet spinning is up to 70 wt.%, while the fiber strength is below 2.12 cN/dtex. In contrast, phase change fiber prepared by melt spinning achieves a breaking strength of up to 37.31 cN/dtex, but with an enthalpy of only 8.48 kJ/kg. Considering electrostatic spinning, not only enthalpies are satisfactory but the fiber diameters are mostly below 1000 nm, matching with the softness requirement for fabric. Moreover, centrifugal spinning enables efficient production of phase change fiber of large enthalpy by controlling spinning parameters such as rotational speed and spinning fluid concentration. The second part reports that the thermal management effects of different intelligent thermo regulating fabrics are evaluated by designed experiments or simulations to investigate further the more comfortable conditions of thermal comfort of humans. Simulation and experimental results show that the energy storage of smart fabrics extends the time duration of thermal comfort by more than 300 s. In the last part, multifunctional intelligent thermoregulating fabrics are systematically discussed, such as light and heat response, ultraviolet resistance, air permeability, and water resistance. Practical applications of phase change fibers and intelligent thermoregulating fabrics should be further studied and broadened in the future.
A Meta-analysis: The Association Between Increased Use of Communicative Technology and Parental Involvement and the Relationship with Academic Achievement
Authors: Jeynes William H.
Published: February 2024

This article shares the results of a meta-analysis on the association between parent-teacher interaction using technology-based communication and parental-involvement, and its association with the academic and behavioral outcomes of urban students. This meta-analysis includes 31 quantitative studies and well over 20,000 students. The results indicated that statistically significant effects did not emerge, except to some degree at the elementary school level. The significance of these results is discussed.
Shaping Firms’ Financial Reporting: Evidence From the Spillover Effect of the FED’s Stress Test
Authors: Zhang Lanyi Yan , Yang Ziyun , Bai Yu , Wang Lin
Published: February 2024

This research investigates how bank regulation, specifically the stress test conducted by the Federal Reserve (FED), influences the financial reporting decisions of borrowers. Previous studies indicate that the FED’s stress test can lead to a reduction in credit supply and stricter lending standards for banks. Expanding on this body of literature, our study shows that the impact of the stress test reaches beyond lenders, prompting borrowers to embrace increased conditional conservatism in their financial reporting. This spillover effect is particularly pronounced for riskier borrowers. Our findings suggest a far-reaching impact of FED regulation on firms’ financial reporting choices. Further analysis indicates that borrowers transitioning from tested banks to untested banks experience higher interest rates following the stress test, highlighting an extended spillover effect on borrowers.
Toxicologic Neuropathology of Novel Biotherapeutics
Authors: Bangari Dinesh S. , Lanigan Lisa G. , Cramer Sarah D. , Grieves Jessica L. , Meisner René , Rogers Arlin B. , Galbreath Elizabeth J. , Bolon Brad
Published: February 2024

Biotherapeutic modalities such as cell therapies, gene therapies, nucleic acids, and proteins are increasingly investigated as disease-modifying treatments for severe and life-threatening neurodegenerative disorders. Such diverse bio-derived test articles are fraught with unique and often unpredictable biological consequences, while guidance regarding nonclinical experimental design, neuropathology evaluation, and interpretation is often limited. This paper summarizes key messages offered during a half-day continuing education course on toxicologic neuropathology of neuro-targeted biotherapeutics. Topics included fundamental neurobiology concepts, pharmacology, frequent toxicological findings, and their interpretation including adversity decisions. Covered biotherapeutic classes included cell therapies, gene editing and gene therapy vectors, nucleic acids, and proteins. If agents are administered directly into the central nervous system, initial screening using hematoxylin and eosin (H&E)-stained sections of currently recommended neural organs (brain [7 levels], spinal cord [3 levels], and sciatic nerve) may need to expand to include other components (e.g., more brain levels, ganglia, and/or additional nerves) and/or special neurohistological procedures to characterize possible neural effects (e.g., cell type-specific markers for reactive glial cells). Scientists who evaluate the safety of novel biologics will find this paper to be a practical reference for preclinical safety testing and risk assessment.
Sestrin 2 protects human lens epithelial cells from oxidative stress and apoptosis induced by hydrogen peroxide by regulating the mTOR/Nrf2 pathway
Authors: Tian Xiao , Wei Jie
Published: February 2024

Objective

We aimed to explore the effect and potential mechanism of Sestrin 2 (SESN2) in human lens epithelial cells (HLECs).

Methods

To mimic the oxidative stress environment, SAR01/04 cells were treated with 200 μM hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) for 24 h. Cell viability and apoptosis were checked by cell counting kit-8 and flow cytometry. Western blot was taken to check the protein changes of SESN2, B-cell lymphoma-2 (Bcl-2), Bcl-2-associated X (Bax), mechanistic target of rapamycin (mTOR), phosphorylated (p)-mTOR, ribosomal protein S6 kinase B1 (p70S6K), p-p70S6K, and nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2). Superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), malondialdehyde (MDA), and reactive oxygen species (ROS) were detected via the corresponding reagent kit. The levels of interleukin (IL)-1β, IL-18, and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α were measured using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.

Results

SESN2 was down-regulated in cataract lens tissue and up-regulated in SAR01/04 cells treated with H2O2. Under treatment of H2O2, up-regulation of SESN2 improved cell viability, enhanced the activity of SOD and CAT, inhibited cell apoptosis, and reduced the levels of MDA, ROS, IL-1β, IL-18, and TNF-α, while down-regulation of SESN2 caused the contrary effects. Further bioinformatics analysis suggested that SESN2 regulated the mTOR signaling pathway. Treatment of H2O2 inhibited p-mTOR and p-p70S6K protein expression, while overexpression of SESN2 increased p-mTOR and p-p70S6K protein expression in the H2O2 group and down-regulation of SESN2 further decreased p-mTOR and p-p70S6K protein expression in the H2O2 group. Additionally, H2O2 increased Nrf2 protein expression, and overexpression of SESN2 further increased Nrf2 protein expression in the H2O2 group. Importantly, rapamycin (an inhibitor of mTOR signaling pathway) and knockdown of Nrf2 reversed the promotive effects of SESN2 on cell viability and the inhibitive effects of SESN2 on cell apoptosis, oxidative stress, and inflammatory reaction.

Conclusion

SESN2 protected HLECs damage induced by H2O2, which was related to the activation of mTOR/Nrf2 pathway.
The Virtual Geriatric Assessment Interdisciplinary Team Project: Interprofessional Geriatric Training Against the Backdrop of COVID-19
Authors: Park Min Kyoung , Taylor Joy , Biernot Julia , Martin Diane J.
Published: February 2024

Interprofessional geriatric education programs enhance trainees’ knowledge of older adults, and the valuable contributions health and social care practitioners make to their well-being when specialists work collaboratively. In response to the 2020 COVID-19 pandemic restrictions, in-person geriatric interprofessional education (IPE) programs were redesigned for virtual delivery. Nineteen virtual programs were held between September 2020 and December 2022. Of the 369 health and social care trainees who participated, 67.2% completed both pre- and post-program surveys. Survey instruments included the Interprofessional Collaborative Competency Attainment Survey (ICASS), which measures perceptions associated with patient-centered, team-based, collaborative care. Significant differences were obtained across ICASS domains, including communication, conflict management/resolution, and team functioning, suggesting that virtual programs may enhance attitudes and perceived abilities for interprofessional collaborative practice. Furthermore, participants’ perceived understanding of older adult needs improved, as did their interest in geriatrics. Results illustrate that virtual geriatric interprofessional (IP) programs may be viable alternatives to in-person opportunities.
Validity and Reliability of the Turkish Version of Mild Behavioral Impairment Checklist in Patients With Cognitive Impairment
Authors: Pektas İmge Coskun , Budak Cansu , Pektas Kadir , Sahin Cam Cansun , Tasdelen Rumeysa , Ilgin Can , Ergun Serhat
Published: February 2024

Background and Objective

The Mild Behavioral Impairment-Checklist (MBI-C) was developed to detect and standardize neuropsychiatric symptoms. The objective of this study was to evaluate the Turkish adaptation, validity, and reliability of the MBI-C.

Methods

The sample of our study consisted of 80 patients with cognitive impairment and a control group with 113 participants whose cognitive impairment was not detected in standard tests. Participants were evaluated with the Standardized Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE), Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA), Geriatric Depression Scale-15 (GDS-15), MBI-C and Neuropsychiatric Inventory (NPI).

Results and Conclusion

In the reliability analysis, the Cronbach-alpha value for MBI-C was found to be .810. In the ROC analysis performed with the total MBI-C score, the area under the curve (AUC) was calculated as .821 and the cut-off score was determined as 8.5; sensitivity was calculated as .77 and specificity as .83. A strong positive correlation was found between test-retest MBI-C scores (r = .886, P < .0019). A strong positive correlation was found between MBI-C and NPI scores (r = .964, P < .001). MBI-C scores were significantly negatively correlated with MMSE and MoCA scores and positively correlated with GDS-15 scores. The results of our study showed that the Turkish version of the MBI-C is a valid and reliable measurement.
Developing an “entrepreneurial engineer mindset” to expand future career opportunities for engineering graduates in Jordanian universities
Authors: Alkhawaldeh Khleef Ahmed , Dabaghie Yana M
Published: February 2024

This research investigated how entrepreneurial skills influence the mindset of an entrepreneurial engineer. The total number of engineering graduates participating in this research was 65 students who graduated between 2016 and 2022. The results indicated that the entrepreneurial skills of engineering graduates ranged from average to good. The results also indicated that there is a positive, statistically significant relationship between the entrepreneurial skills of engineering graduates and their entrepreneurial mindset. This research concluded that it is essential for engineering students to acquire entrepreneurial skills that support their engineering major and lead them to think broadly about their future career opportunities. Hence, entrepreneurial skills enhance their competitiveness in innovative and emerging engineering disciplines. This research supports the integration of entrepreneurship skills with practical applications in all engineering curricula and courses in universities. This research contributes to the literature as it is one of the few studies that addressed expanding the entrepreneurial horizons of engineering graduates and directing them towards entrepreneurial projects. It also addressed the need to review university engineering curricula to include entrepreneurial skills and capabilities.
Detection and characterisation of defects in composite materials using microwave non-destructive testing methods
Authors: Balakrishnan Sakthi Abirami , Ramalingam Vimal Samsingh , Sundarsingh Esther Florence , Anbalagan Abirami , Ramachandran Achyuth , Ahmed Waleed , Raman Shyam , R Praveen
Published: February 2024

This paper proposes a technique for detecting impact-induced surface and subsurface fractures in Glass Fibre Reinforced Composites (GFRPs) and hybrid composite materials. Various categories of composite samples, namely Unidirectional GFRP, Bidirectional GFRP, Woven mat GFRP and Carbon-flax hybrid composites are fabricated by the hand-layup process, and cracks are induced in the samples by three-point flexural bending test using a Universal Testing Machine. Near-field microwave Non-Destructive Testing (NDT) is employed in detecting the above cracks by recording the S11 parameter from the microwave transceiver probe throughout the sample. For image rendering the resulting outputs are passed as a 2-dimensional array to the image-rendering algorithms, namely Iterative Curve-Based Interpolation (ICBI), Improved New Edge-Directed Interpolation (INEDI) and the Lanczos algorithm. The most suitable algorithm to identify the clear picture and size of crack is identified, and the effectiveness of Microwave NDT for these composites is analysed.