bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
An Investigation Into the Effect of Dust on Wheat Yield
Authors: Zarei Naisbeh , Ali Sharafat , Kakhki Mahmoud Daneshvar , Froshani Naser Shahnoushi , Moghaddam Parviz Rezvani , Sabouni Mahmood Sabouhi
Published: December 2022

Different regions of Iran are influenced by dust storms since they are located in the arid and semi-arid zone and due to their plain structure, the penetration of different synoptic systems, and adjacency with desert and important dust centers. This research investigates the effect of dust sedimentation on the yield of irrigated and rainfed wheat in four neighbouring provinces and on wheat production in Iran (Khuzestan, Ilam, Kermanshah, and Lorestan). Data are for the crop years from 2011–2012 to 2018–2019. For higher accuracy, the research studies irrigated and rainfed wheat systems separately with the panel model of the Just–Pope function. In the Just–Pope stochastic function, the effects of inputs on two indices of mean yield and yield variance are studied simultaneously. Based on the results, the risk function of irrigated wheat is significantly influenced by the variables of machinery, labour, and dust at the 1% level and by the variables of water and precipitation at the 10% level. The most influential variable in this function is dust (3.03%). In the risk function of rainfed wheat, all variables have a significant impact on production fluctuations at the 1% level. The most influential factor is the temperature (0.86%). Furthermore, the results reveal that the variable of the number of dusty days is significant in the production of irrigated and rainfed wheat at the 15% and 1% levels, respectively. The effect of this variable on rainfed wheat is negative and 0.101%. In this regard, it is necessary to develop dust-specific projects in the agricultural sector and estimate the cost imposed by this phenomenon.
The Mean-Variance Rule for Investors with Reverse S-Shaped Utility
Authors: Wong Wing-Keung , Yeung David , Lu Richard
Published: December 2022

Our paper contributes to the literature by developing the theory of the mean-variance (MV) rules for investors with reverse S-shaped utility. To do so, we first introduce the definition of the MV rule for investors with reverse S-shaped utility. We then set up the conjecture on the preference for different prospects by using the new MV rule that they could get a higher expected utility for the preferred asset under some conditions. Thereafter, we look for the conditions that the conjecture could hold and construct a theorem for this purpose by showing that when the negative (positive) parts of the assets follow one (another) type of location-scale family or the linear combination of location-scale families, then the preferences of the assets is the same as those by using an expected utility for the investors with reverse S-shaped utility. We then extend the theory by developing some properties of portfolio diversification by using the new MV rule. The theory developed in our paper enables academics and practitioners to apply the theory developed in this paper to analyze some important empirical issues and draw inferences on the preferences of investors with reverse S-shaped utility.
Tutorial: Toward Robust Deep Learning against Poisoning Attacks
Authors: Chen Huili , Koushanfar Farinaz
Published: December 2022

Deep Learning (DL) has been increasingly deployed in various real-world applications due to its unprecedented performance and automated capability of learning hidden representations. While DL can achieve high task performance, the training process of a DL model is both time- and resource-consuming. Therefore, current supply chains of the DL models assume the customers obtain pre-trained Deep Neural Networks (DNNs) from the third-party providers that have sufficient computing power. In the
centralized
setting, the model designer trains the DL model using the local dataset. However, the collected training data may contain erroneous or poisoned data points. The model designer might craft malicious training samples and inject a backdoor in the DL model distributed to the users. As a result, the user’s model will malfunction. In the
federated learning
setting, the cloud server aggregates local models trained on individual local datasets and updates the global model. In this scenario, the local client could poison the local training set and/or arbitrarily manipulate the local update. If the cloud server incorporates the malicious local gradients in model aggregation, the resulting global model will have degraded performance or backdoor behaviors. In this article, we present a comprehensive overview of contemporary data poisoning and model poisoning attacks against DL models in both centralized and federated learning scenarios. In addition, we review existing detection and defense techniques against various poisoning attacks.
Spatial transcriptomics add a new dimension to our understanding of the gut
Authors: Danan Charles H. , Katada Kay , Parham Louis R. , Hamilton Kathryn E.
Published: December 2022

The profound complexity of the intestinal mucosa demands a spatial approach to the study of gut transcriptomics. Although single-cell RNA sequencing has revolutionized our ability to survey the diverse cell types of the intestine, knowledge of cell type alone cannot fully describe the cells that make up the intestinal mucosa. During homeostasis and disease, dramatic gradients of oxygen, nutrients, extracellular matrix proteins, morphogens, and microbiota collectively dictate intestinal cell state, and only spatial techniques can articulate differences in cellular transcriptomes at this level. Spatial transcriptomic techniques assign transcriptomic data to precise regions in a tissue of interest. In recent years, these protocols have become increasingly accessible, and their application in the intestinal mucosa has exploded in popularity. In the gut, spatial transcriptomics typically involve the application of tissue sections to spatially barcoded RNA sequencing or laser capture microdissection followed by RNA sequencing. In combination with single-cell RNA sequencing, these spatial sequencing approaches allow for the construction of spatial transcriptional maps at pseudosingle-cell resolution. In this review, we describe the spatial transcriptomic technologies recently applied in the gut and the previously unattainable discoveries that they have produced.
Isolation, Purification, and Characterization of Homogenous Novel Bioactive Protein from Datura stramonium Stem Exhibited Larvicidal Activity against Anopheles stephensi
Authors: Kirar Manisha , Singh S. P. , Sehrawat Neelam
Published: December 2022

The insecticidal resistance of mosquitoes necessitates the development of a natural, safe, and plant-based method for vector control. Unfortunately, there are no effective vaccines or particular medications available to combat malaria; therefore, mosquitoes must be targeted directly. Previous studies have shown the health benefits of Datura stramonium, but its bioactive peptides or proteins are less explored. This is the first study on D. stramonium stem protein used for mosquito larval protein. The present study aimed to identify the purified mosquito larval protein from the crude extract of D. stramonium stem. Crude protein was isolated, precipitated, dialyzed, and purified by using ion-exchange chromatography, native PAGE, and HPLC. The highest larval mortality was observed at 5.5 mg/ml of crude protein concentration. Native PAGE was used for the analysis and purification of active proteins. The single homogeneous purified larvicidal protein appeared as a single band of 30 kDa by SDS-PAGE. The novel bioactive peptide was characterized by LC-MS/ESI-MS. The homology of the peptide was searched by the Mascot search engine. The database search revealed has not shown peptide similarity with D. stramonium protein, but homology with another plant Arabidopsis thaliana protein is probable for protein phosphatases. The lethal concentration of purified protein against 3rd instar larvae of Anopheles stephensi had LC50 and LC90 values of 25 μg/ml and 40 μg/ml. It has shown new insight into larvicidal activity and can be used as a new drug against malaria and other mosquito-borne diseases.
Qu-Yu-Jie-Du Decoction Ameliorates Dextran Sulfate Sodium-Induced Colitis in Mice by Modulation of Neutrophils and Macrophage Infiltration
Authors: Zhao Hongwei , Sun Lingling , Xiao Xi , Lin Jietao , Shao Cui , Lin Lizhu
Published: December 2022

Background. Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is becoming a global disease. A percentage of IBD patients will not react to therapy or will lose their response. Qu-Yu-Jie-Du Decoction (QYJD) is a traditional Chinese medicine formula commonly used for intestinal diseases. It has been reported that QYJD has an anti-inflammatory effect, but the mechanism is not fully understood. In this study, we mainly evaluated the anti-inflammatory effect of QYJD and explored the possible mechanisms. Methods. Twenty-four BALB/c mice were randomly divided into 4 groups according to their body weight, namely, the control group, the dextran sulfate sodium (DSS) group, the DSS + QYJD group, and the QYJD group. Mice were given 3% DSS drinking water freely, and at the same time, mice were given normal saline or QYJD (4.44 mg/g/d), respectively. Mental state, faeces, and weight were recorded every day. On the 10th day, the mice were sacrificed and collected for investigation. The length of the mice colon was measured. Histological analysis was used to detect the morphological changes in the colon. Immunohistochemistry was used to measure the infiltration of macrophages (F4/80, CD163) and neutrophils (Ly6G). Colorimetry was used to detect the myeloperoxidase (MPO) activity of colon tissues. ELISA was utilized to detect associated inflammatory cytokines and chemokines in colon tissues. Results. QYJD alleviated the weight loss and colitis symptoms of mice caused by DSS. QYJD fought against the shortening of the intestine caused by DSS; that is, it improved the decline of intestinal compliance in mice and had a protective effect on colon tissues. The mechanisms were related to downregulating macrophages and neutrophils in colon tissues of infiltration. Besides, QYJD simultaneously reduced the activity of myeloperoxidase activity (MPO) and the contents of IL-1β, IL-6, TNF-α, TGF-β, CCL2, and CXCL2 in colon tissues. Conclusions. QYJD can ameliorate DSS-induced colitis in mice and the mechanism is connected with a reduction in neutrophil and macrophage infiltration.
Chlorine Dioxide Treatment Modulates Ripening-Related Genes and Antioxidant System to Improve the Storability of Tomato
Authors: Park Me-Hea , Malka Siva Kumar
Published: December 2022

Chlorine dioxide (ClO2) is used to maintain quality and safety of fresh produce. However, ClO2 action mechanism in fresh produce is unknown. In this study, firstly, we evaluated the efficacy of ClO2 treatment on the quality, chilling injury, and calyx molding of tomatoes stored at two different temperatures. Then, ClO2 effect on the expression of cell wall- and ripening-related genes and on the activity of antioxidant enzymes was investigated. Tomatoes were treated with gaseous ClO2 for 15 min before transferring them to 13°C for 12 days and/or 4°C for 14 days, followed by 5 days at 20°C (shelf-life conditions). ClO2 treatment marginally reduced the rate of respiration but did not affect ethylene production at 13°C and 4°C storage or at shelf-life conditions. When stored at 13°C, treatment with ClO2 reduced the loss of firmness, with concomitant repression of pectin esterase 1, a cell wall-related gene. Additionally, at 13°C storage conditions, ClO2 treatment maintained tomato quality in terms of soluble solid content, titratable acidity, and color and was associated with the downregulation of the ripening-relatedethylene response factors B3/C1/E1 and the induction of antioxidant genes encoding catalase and ascorbate peroxidase. At 4°C storage conditions, ClO2 at a concentration of 15 ppm not only maintained the firmness and quality of tomatoes but also inhibited pitting during shelf-life with a concomitant increase of catalase activity. Moreover, treatment with 15 ppm ClO2 significantly reduced the calyx molding that is generally observed in fruits stored at 13°C and under shelf-life conditions. Hence, our results indicate that ClO2 treatment effectively maintained tomato quality and inhibited calyx molding by partially regulating ripening-related genes and antioxidant systems, thereby improving the storability of postharvest tomatoes.
Integrated Brain Metabolomics and Network Pharmacology Analysis to Reveal the Improvement Effect of Bai Chan Ting on Parkinson’s Disease
Authors: Zhang Na , Fu Jiaqi , Gao Xin , Lu Fang , Lu Yi , Liu Shumin
Published: December 2022

Background. Baichanting (BCT),a traditional Chinese medicine prescription, is a combination of Acanthopanax senticosus, Paeonia lactiflora, and Uncaria three herbs, which has the effect of benefiting the kidney and calming the liver. The study was aimed at investigating the protective effect of BCT against Parkinson’s disease using an integrated strategy of network pharmacology and brain metabolomics. Materials and Methods. By integrating network pharmacology with metabolomic research, the protective effect of BCT against PD was investigated using a transgenic mouse model for α‐synuclein. The metabolite level and gene level components of BCT that might be anti‐PD were separated out. Indicators of behavior and pharmacodynamics were employed to gauge the effectiveness of BCT on PD in the preliminary stages. Network pharmacology, which may be the target of BCT, screened the active substances and target genes. The use of metabolomics to identify potential biomarkers of PD, and then through network pharmacology and metabolic pathways to determine their regulatory enzymes and regulatory genes, improve the pathway mechanism of the disease, has important guiding significance for the in‐depth study of the pathogenesis of PD. Results. 101 putative target genes were identified by the network pharmacology analysis in relation to the treatment of PD with BCT. According to the functional enrichment analysis, the proposed mechanism was primarily related to the transport of neurotransmitters, the metabolism of arachidonic acid, dopamine, and alpha‐amino acids, as well as the transport of dopamine and the negative regulation of amino acid transport. 25 distinct endogenous metabolites were shown to be potential biomarkers for the BCT for treating PD based on metabolomics. These metabolites were mostly implicated in the important methionine and cysteine, tyrosine, histidine, and arginine and proline metabolic pathways. These results somewhat agreed with those of the network pharmacology analysis. Conclusions. In conclusion, this study showed that BCT could delay the occurrence and development of PD by improving the brain metabolic disorder of α‐Syn mice, which revealed the mechanism of BCT through multitarget and multipathway treatment, and provided a new explanation for the mechanism of anti‐PD action. Our research, on the other hand, demonstrated that the network pharmacology‐integrated metabolomics approach was a potent tool for discovering the active ingredients and mechanisms underlying the pharmacological effects of traditional Chinese medicine.
Quantifying Nectar Secretion Potential of Hygrophila auriculata (Schum.), Heine (Acanthaceae), and Salvia leucantha Cav. (Lamiaceae) for Honey Production
Authors: Bareke Tura , Addi Admassu
Published: December 2022

The study was conducted to quantify the nectar secretion dynamics, and honey production capacity of Hygrophila auriculata and Salvia leucantha. One day before nectar collection, a group of flowers was enclosed with mesh bags to measure accumulated nectar volume. Moreover, nectar volume, concentration, temperature, and humidity were measured at intervals of 3 hours. The collected data was analysed using One-way ANOVA and linear regression. Nectar secretion dynamics of the two species were significantly varied (at

p
<
0.05

) at different times of the day. The nectar volume that became available between the two consecutive measurements (three-h intervals) varied from 1.5 to 2.5 μl/flower, and 4.1 to 5.5 μl/flower for H. auriculata and S. leucantha, respectively. The temperature was positively correlated with the nectar concentration for both species. However, the temperature was negatively correlated with the nectar volume of H. auriculata whereas almost at equilibrium for S. leucantha. Humidity was negatively correlated with nectar concentration for both species whereas it is positively correlated with nectar volume for H. auriculata. However, the relationships between humidity and nectar volume were almost found at equilibrium for S. leucantha. Based on the mean amount of nectar sugar secreted by the plants, the mean honey production potentials of the species were estimated to be 29.88 kg and 60.2 kg/ha depending on the size of the plants for H. auriculata and S. leucantha, respectively. Therefore, propagation and in-situ conservation of these species are also recommended for sustainable honey production.
The Efficacy, Safety, and Tolerability of Levofloxacin Quadruple Therapy for Helicobacter pylori Eradication: A Randomized, Double-Blind Clinical Trial
Authors: Mansour-Ghanaei Fariborz , Masihipour Behnam , Fathalipour Mohammad , Hassanipour Soheil , Sokhanvar Homayoon , Mansour-Ghanaei Alireza , Asgharnezhad Mehrnaz , Joukar Farahnaz
Published: December 2022

The incidence of microbial resistance is growing, and new rescue regimens are needed to treat Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infection. This study aimed to evaluate levofloxacin-based quadruple therapies’ efficacy, safety, and tolerability in eradicating H. pylori. In a randomized, double-blind clinical trial, 220 patients with dyspepsia and H. pylori infection were randomly assigned to receive either bismuth subcitrate 240 mg, pantoprazole 20 mg, amoxicillin 1000 mg twice a day, and levofloxacin 500 mg daily for seven days (BPAL-7) or ten days (BPAL-10). The eradication of H. pylori was evaluated two months after the end of treatment, and adverse drug reactions (ADRs) were assessed during the intervention. According to intention-to-treat and per-protocol, the eradication rate was significantly lower in the BPAL-7 regimen at 49.1% (95% CI: 39.3–57.8) and 47.6% (95% CI: 39.7–58.4), respectively, compared to the BPAL-10 regimen at 62.7% (95% CI: 53.6–72.8) and 62.4% (95% CI: 55.1–72.8), respectively. The ADR incidence was not statistically significant between the groups of BPAL-7 (33.6%) and BPAL-10 (36.7%). Although the ADRs were negligible in both groups, these regimens could not be an ideal alternative therapy for H. pylori because of their low eradication rates compared to standard regimens. Trial Registration. The study was reviewed and approved by the Iranian Registry of Clinical Trials (IRCT201406141155N19).
Device-Sizing and Associated Complications With Left Atrial Appendage Occlusion: Findings From the NCDR LAAO Registry
Authors: Sandhu Amneet , Varosy Paul D. , Du Chengan , Aleong Ryan G. , Tumolo Alexis Z. , West J. Jason , Tzou Wendy S. , Curtis Jeptha P. , Freeman James V. , Friedman Daniel J. , Hess Paul L.
Published: December 2022

Background:

Left atrial appendage occlusion is an important alternative to anticoagulation in select patients with nonvalvular atrial fibrillation. Trends in real-world device sizing and associated short-term complications have not been characterized.

Methods:

Using the National Cardiovascular Data Left Atrial Appendage Occlusion (NCDR LAAO) Registry, patients who underwent left atrial appendage occlusion with a Watchman 2.5 device from January 1, 2016, to June 30, 2020, were identified. Patients were stratified by device size based on left atrial appendage orifice size, and categorized as receiving a device that was undersized, oversized, or per manufacturer recommendation. Relationships between device sizing and short-term outcomes, including pericardial effusion, device embolism, and significant leak, were assessed.

Results:

Of the 68 456 patients, 6539 (10.5%) of patients received undersized devices, 17 791 (26.0%) according to manufacturer recommendations, and 44 126 (64.4%) received an oversized device. The 27-mm device was most commonly deployed [21 736 (31.8%)], whereas the smallest and largest devices (21 and 33 mm) were least commonly deployed [7695 (11.2%) and 9077 (13.3%), respectively]. Compared with manufacturer recommended sizing, there was no difference in the odds of pericardial effusion for either undersized (1.048 [95% CI‚ 0.801–1.372];
P=
0.733) or oversized (1.101 [95% CI‚ 0.933–1.298];
P=
0.254) devices. Similarly, relative to manufacturer recommended sizing, the odds of a composite adverse outcome of device migration or embolization and significant peridevice leak at 45 days were similar among undersized devices (1.030 [95% CI‚ 0.735–1.444];
P=
0.863) and favorable for oversized devices (0.701 [95% CI‚ 0.561–0.876];
P=
0.002) devices, primarily driven by lower odds of leak. Selection of oversized devices increased significantly over the study period (from 60.3% in 2016 to 66.0% in 2020;
P
<0.001).

Conclusions:

Among patients undergoing left atrial appendage occlusion with the first-generation Watchman device, receipt of oversized devices was common and increased over time. The high prevalence of oversizing was associated with lower odds of significant leak or device embolization without increased odds of other adverse events.
Population-Based Epidemiology of Heart Failure in a Low-Income Country: The Haiti Cardiovascular Disease Cohort
Authors: Kingery Justin R. , Roberts Nicholas L. , Lookens Pierre Jean , Sufra Rodney , Dade Eliezer , Rouzier Vanessa , Malebranche Rodolphe , Theard Michel , Goyal Parag , Pirmohamed Altaf , Yan Lily D. , Hee Lee Myung , Nash Denis , Metz Miranda , Peck Robert N. , Safford Monika M. , Fitzgerald Daniel , Deschamps Marie M. , Pape Jean W. , McNairy Margaret
Published: December 2022

Background:

Cardiovascular disease disproportionately affects persons living in low- and middle-income countries and heart failure (HF) is thought to be a leading cause. Population-based studies characterizing the epidemiology of HF in these settings are lacking. We describe the age-standardized prevalence, survival, subtypes, risk factors, and 1-year mortality of HF in the population-based Haiti Cardiovascular Disease Cohort.

Methods:

Participants were recruited using multistage cluster-area random sampling in Port-au-Prince, Haiti. A total of 2981 completed standardized history and exam, laboratory measures, and cardiac imaging. Clinical HF was defined by Framingham criteria. Kaplan-Meier and Cox proportional hazard regression assessed mortality among participants with and without HF; logistic regression identified associated factors.

Results:

Among all participants, the median age was 40 years (interquartile range, 27–55), and 58.2% were female. Median follow-up was 15.4 months (interquartile range, 9–22). The age-standardized HF prevalence was 3.2% (93/2981 [95% CI, 2.6–3.9]). The average age of participants with HF was 57 years (interquartile range, 45–65), and 67.7% were female. The first significant increase in HF prevalence occurred between 30 to 39 and 40 to 49 years (1.1% versus 3.7%,
P
=0.003). HF with preserved ejection fraction was the most common HF subtype (71.0%). Age (adjusted odds ratio, 1.36 [1.12–1.66] per 10-year increase), hypertension (2.14 [1.26–3.66]), obesity (3.35 [95% CI, 1.99–5.62]), poverty (2.10 [1.18–3.72]), and renal dysfunction (5.42 [2.94–9.98]) were associated with HF. One-year HF mortality was 6.6% versus 0.8% (hazard ratio, 7.7 [95% CI, 2.9–20.6];
P
<0.0001).

Conclusions:

The age-standardized prevalence of HF in this low-income setting was alarmingly high at 3.2%—5-fold higher than modeling estimates for low- and middle-income countries. Adults with HF were two decades younger and 7.7× more likely to die at 1 year compared with those in the community without HF. Further research characterizing the population burden of HF in low- and middle-income countries can guide resource allocation and development of pragmatic HF prevention and treatment interventions, ultimately reducing global cardiovascular disease health disparities.

Registration:

URL:
https://www.clinicaltrials.gov
; Unique identifier: NCT03892265.
Head Elevation, Cerebral Venous System, and Intracranial Pressure: Review and Hypothesis
Authors: Sattur Mithun G. , Patel Sunil J. , Helke Kristi L. , Donohoe Max , Spiotta Alejandro M.
Published: December 2022

Background

Facilitation of venous outflow from the brain is largely believed to be responsible for the beneficial effect of head elevation on intracranial pressure (ICP). However, the impact on cerebral perfusion pressure can be deleterious. Although the adverse effect of obstructing venous outflow in the setting of intracranial hypertension is well documented, the converse (improvement with augmented drainage) has not been demonstrated. Our hypothesis is that the effect of active augmentation of cerebral venous outflow on ICP, although unknown, could be potentially beneficial under conditions of intracranial hypertension.

Methods

Published literature was perused to ascertain known relationships between head elevation, ICP, cerebral perfusion pressure, and the cerebral venous system.

Results

Head elevation benefits ICP control in intracranial hypertension from improved venous outflow via various networks and craniospinal cerebrospinal fluid displacement; but patients on the severe spectrum have a high likelihood of experiencing cerebral perfusion pressure decline especially beyond 30°. In addition, the interaction between autoregulation, compliance, head elevation, ICP pulse amplitude, cerebral perfusion pressure, and ICP becomes increasingly dyssynchronous in the severely affected brain. Although the detrimental effects of
obstructing
venous drainage are well documented, the possibility of
augmenting
venous outflow by withdrawal of sagittal sinus blood has not been described previously.

Conclusion

There could exist a potential role for targeted sagittal sinus venous aspiration in favorably influencing control of increased ICP conditions, without significant risk to cerebral perfusion.
Role of Rostral Superior Colliculus in Gaze Stabilization during Visual Fixation
Authors: Marino Robert A. , Munoz Douglas P. , Levy Ron
Published: December 2022

Visual fixation (i.e., holding gaze on a specific visual object or location of interest) has been shown to be influenced by activity in the rostral pole of the intermediate layers of the superior colliculus (SCi)—a sensory–motor integration nucleus in the midbrain involved in visual fixation and saccadic eye movement generation. Neurons in the rostral SCi discharge tonically during visual fixation and pause during saccades to locations beyond their foveal visual-sensory or saccadic-motor response fields. Injection of muscimol to deactivate rostral SCi neurons also leads to an increase in fixation instability. However, the precise role of rostral SCi activity for controlling visual fixation has not been established and is actively debated. Here, we address whether this activity reflects signals related to task demands (i.e., maintaining visual fixation) or foveal visual stimulus properties. Two non-human primates performed an oculomotor task that required fixation of a central fixation point (FP) of varying luminance at the start of each trial. During this fixation period, we measured fixational saccades (≤ 2° of the FP, including microsaccades) and fixation-error saccades (> 2° from the FP) in combination with activity from the rostral SCi. Fixation of the lowest FP luminance increased the latency (onset time relative to initial FP foveation) for both fixational and fixation-error saccades. Fifty percent of the rostral SCi neurons exhibited activity that opposed the change in FP luminance and correlated with delayed fixational saccades and increased fixation-error saccades. Twenty-two percent of rostral SCi neurons exhibited activity that followed the change in FP luminance and correlated with earlier fixational saccades and decreased fixation-error saccades. This suggests the rostral SCi contains both sensory-driven and task-related motor signals related to foveal sensory stimuli and visual fixation. This evidence supports a role for the rostral SCi in gaze stabilization and can help inform artificial computational models of vision.
Unraveling the Entangled Brain: How Do We Go About It?
Authors: Druckmann Shaul , Rust Nicole C.
Published: December 2022

An impactful understanding of the brain will require entirely new approaches and unprecedented collaborative efforts. The next steps will require brain researchers to develop theoretical frameworks that allow them to tease apart dependencies and causality in complex dynamical systems, as well as the ability to maintain awe while not getting lost in the effort. The outstanding question is: How do we go about it?
Young People in the Greek, Jewish and Palestinian Diasporas: Emotional Attachments to Multiple Homelands
Authors: Mavroudi Elizabeth , Huxter Cíntia Silva
Published: December 2022

This essay examines how children and young people aged 11–25 in the Jewish, Greek and Palestinian diasporas in England feel towards homelands, by exploring the range of emotions that homelands elicit. Using qualitative research with young people and their parents, the essay discusses and complicates assumptions around the relationships between diasporic youth and their homelands from the perspective of mainly second- and later-generation young people. In particular, the essay contributes to the growing realisation of the importance of emotions in diaspora, as it focuses on the complexities of belonging, attachment and identity. It adds to work which stresses the need for flexible notions of diaspora, in which people are positioned differently: in this case, young people who very much feel part of a diaspora and have differing and sometimes complicated relationships with the idea(l) and reality of a defined homeland.
China under Western Aggression: Discourse Transformations, Identity Shifts, and National Reconstruction
Authors: Ma Rong
Published: December 2022

Following the Opium Wars, traditional notions of China as encompassing “all under heaven” (tianxia 天下) and the “Sino-barbarian dichotomy” (huayi 華夷) could no longer be sustained. Under the pressure and intimidation of the Great Powers’ advanced warships and fire power, the Qing government signed the unequal treaties and China was forced to adopt Western conceptual reasoning, discursive language, and rules of conduct. Western knowledge and lexicon was successively translated into Chinese, affecting transformations in local discourse and society. As part of this process, Japanese texts, which contained a great volume of Chinese characters, became an important medium for the transmission of Western epistemology. During the first Opium War between China and England, the cultural and political hegemony of the Great Powers were demonstrated through debates over interpretations of the Chinese character yi 夷. During the Late Qing, Chinese intellectuals drew on their foundations in traditional Chinese lexicon to understand and adopt the foreign-derived words zhongzu 種族 (race) and minzu 民族 (nation). This process reflects both shifts in how Chinese people regarded collective identity and the various presumptions underlying state-building visions.
Tianxia: The Threefold Connotation, Vehicle of Language, and Journey to Reestablishment
Authors: Ren Jiantao
Published: December 2022

Tianxia 天下 has recently become a buzzword in Chinese academia. The word’s threefold connotation in relation to geographical, political, and international systems needs to be analyzed to illustrate its different meanings. These three meanings were centered around China in the self-sufficient traditional Chinese civilization; however, they all need reinterpretation in the current age of globalization. Reinterpreting tianxia requires an appropriate vehicle of language: weak and regressive language, early modern language that has undergone transformation, and pretentious usage cannot effectively reinterpret tianxia. A non-literati, nonpolitical approach to linguistic expression is necessary to avoid the corruption of language and reinterpret the word from a universal perspective. The principal matter to be addressed in reinterpreting tianxia is its notion in relationship to nationalism and cosmopolitanism. Merely reinterpreting the best intentions of tianxia is insufficiently convincing for the concept in the age of globalization. How tianxia is elucidated through the lens of the individual, state, and international world determines the reliability and credibility of the interpretation.
Masters of the Manuscript, Makers of Knowledge: Colonial New England Students and their Shorthand Notes
Authors: Delwiche Theodore R.
Published: December 2022

By failing to keep up with the praxeological turn of early modern Europeanists in the 1980s, scholarship on colonial America has consistently discounted the historical student. Uninterested in examining the intellectual habits of colonial students, early American historians have had little to say about seventeenth- and eighteenth-century schools beyond rehearsing worn, and often demonstrably false platitudes. This article seeks to take colonial students seriously by examining one of their most common, yet little studied intellectual practices: shorthand. When we apply the focus on intellectual praxis to modest subjects, when we look across boundaries of space and time, placing colonial America back into the fold of early modern history, a different image of the historical student snaps into focus. Rather than negligible rote memorizers, colonial students become active and engaged learners who sought to propagate the latest scribal technologies of their times.
Information literacy and the body in the Kente-weaving landscape
Authors: Gyamfi Agyemang Franklin , Wessels Nicoline
Published: December 2022

This article reports on the relationship between becoming information literate and the body in the Kente-weaving landscape. A mixed approach of incorporative ethnographic participant observation and semi-structured interviews with 24 participants through their roles as either master weaver, junior weaver or novice weaver at the Bonwire Kente Centre. Thematic analysis through an embodied-practice approach to information literacy (IL) frames the analysis of this study. The findings show that the body facilitates IL or knowing by understanding and making meaning of the cues afforded it from interaction and participation in the Kente-weaving practices. The body facilitates or enables IL through identifying and understanding cues in an information landscape.
The guardstone spiders of the genus Phonotimpus Gertsch & Davis (Araneae: Phrurolithidae) from northeastern Mexico
Authors: PLATNICK NORMAN I. , CHAMÉ-VÁZQUEZ DAVID , IBARRA-NÚÑEZ GUILLERMO
Published: December 2022

The American genus Phonotimpus Gertsch & Davis, 1940 (Araneae, Phrurolithidae) was described on the basis of two species from northern Mexico. Recently, four species were described from Central and South Mexico and one species was transferred to this genus. Here we describe the males of Phonotimpus separatus Gertsch & Davis (the type species) and P. eutypus Gertsch & Davis, both previously known only from female specimens. Moreover, we describe 25 new species from Northeast Mexico (Nuevo León, Tamaulipas, and San Luis Potosí): P. ahuacatlan sp. nov., P. arcitos sp. nov., P. boneti sp. nov., P. calenturas sp. nov., P. chipinque sp. nov., P. cielo sp. nov., P. cima sp. nov., P. cuauhtemoc sp. nov., P. cumbres sp. nov., P. elviejo sp. nov., P. escondida sp. nov., P. farias sp. nov., P. frio sp. nov., P. gertschi sp. nov., P. llera sp. nov., P. perra sp. nov., P. pozas sp. nov., P. puente sp. nov., P. revilla sp. nov., P. sanpedro sp. nov., P. vacas sp. nov., P. valles sp. nov., P. taman sp. nov., P. tetrico sp. nov. and P. xilitla sp. nov. Furthermore, we propose five species groups that include almost all of the new species and all the species described to date.
Genetic variation among populations of, and evidence of deep divergence within, the Rio Grande Chirping Frog, Eleutherodactylus campi (Anura: Eleutherodactylidae)
Authors: BESHERA KEBEDE A. , WILLIAMS AVERY A. , HAMLIN JOHN A. , BERGEAUX PETER J. , MORGAN CHRISTIAN C. , ARMSTRONG AUBREY N.
Published: December 2022

Herein we report the first molecular assessment of intra-species genetic variation and interrelationships within the Rio Grande Chirping frog, Eleutherodactylus campi. We analyzed 548 base pairs of 16S rRNA gene for 71 ingroup individuals belonging to the genus Eleutherodactylus (including 42 E. campi sampled from 15 localities in the United States and Mexico) and four outgroup samples. By unveiling two highly divergent and geographically structured clades within E. campi this study provides a novel phylogenetic placement of E. campi populations north and south of the Rio Grande Valley as sister groups to each other. The observed level of genetic divergence between these two clades (5.8%) is, on average, comparable to or greater than the levels of divergence found between several currently valid amphibian species pairs. Estimates of Time to Most Common Ancestor (TMRCA) indicate that the phylogeographic split between the two E. campi clades may have occurred 7.6 MYA (i.e., late Miocene), consistent with the geologic history of southwestern North America. The study also confirms that south Texas served as the source population for populations of E. campi in its introduced range (i.e., Alabama, Louisiana, and Texas). Overall, this molecular study indicates that E. campi consists of two deeply divergent lineages corresponding to its populations north and south of Rio Grande Valley. These results suggest that the recovered lineages may represent independent species and thereby highlight the need for further research to clarify their status.
The Influence of Regional Meteorology on Carbon Emissions from California Wildfires
Authors: Murphy Patrick , Mass Clifford
Published: December 2022

This paper examines the relationship between daily carbon emissions for California’s savanna and forest wildfires and regional meteorology over the past 18 years. For each fuel type, the associated weather [daily maximum wind, daily vapor pressure deficit (VPD), and 30-day-prior VPD] is determined for all fire days, the first day of each fire, and the day of maximum emissions of each fire at each fire location. Carbon emissions, used as a marker of wildfire existence and growth, for both savanna and forest wildfires are found to vary greatly with regional meteorology, with the relationship between emissions and meteorology varying with the amount of emissions, fire location, and fuel type. Weak emissions are associated with climatologically typical dryness and wind. For moderate emissions, increasing emissions are associated with higher VPD from increased warming and only display a weak relationship with wind speed. High emissions, which encompass ∼85% of the total emissions but only ∼4% of the fire days, are associated with strong winds and large VPDs. Using spatial meteorological composites for California subregions, we find that weak-to-moderate emissions are associated with modestly warmer-than-normal temperatures and light winds across the domain. In contrast, high emissions are associated with strong winds and substantial temperature anomalies, with colder-than-normal temperatures east of the Sierra Nevada and warmer-than-normal conditions over the coastal zone and the interior of California.

Significance Statement

The purpose of this work is to better understand the influence of spatially and temporally variable meteorology and spatially variable surface fuels on California’s fires. This is important because much research has focused on large climatic scales that may dilute the true influence of weather (here, high winds and dryness) on fire growth. We use a satellite-recorded fire emissions dataset to quantify daily wildfire existence and growth and to determine the relationship between regional meteorology and wildfires across varying emissions in varying fuels. The result is a novel view of the relationship between California wildfires and rapidly variable, regional meteorology.
The Psychological, Social, and Economic Impacts of COVID-19 on Nepali Migrant Workers
Authors: Ghimire Jiwnath , Nepal Ratna Mani , Crowley Julia , Ghimire Dipesh , Guragain Shyam
Published: December 2022

The global pandemic impacted Asian migrant workers disproportionately. During the first COVID-19 nationwide lockdown, Nepali migrant workers faced many challenges due to widespread misconceptions of them being vectors of COVID-19. This research examines COVID-19 impacts on international and internal Nepali migrant workers. A national survey on the social, economic, and psychological challenges of returning Nepali migrant workers was administered online from 10 May to 20 July 2020. A total of 672 responses were received. Using a binary logistic regression model, the research finds that the domestic migrant workers were less likely to get economic support, expect to borrow money during COVID-19, experience negative changes in their personal lives, and expect the COVID-19 contraction. In contrast, international migrant workers were less likely to return to their pre-pandemic employment. The research exposed long-standing vulnerabilities of migrant workers and identified immediate actions from Nepalese Central, Provincial, and Local governments to address their needs.
The Development of a Measure Assessing U.S. Adults’ Motives for Marriage
Authors: Thompson Ashley E. , Jarvis Megan S. , Henne Elle A. , Pannell Hannah , Muzzy Brieanna
Published: December 2022

Despite the existing literature assessing various aspects of marriage, there is a lack of understanding of adults’ motives for pursuing marriage. Thus, this research advanced the literature by assessing adults’ motives for marriage via four novel studies in which the Motives for Marriage Scale (MMS) was developed, refined, and validated. In study one, semi-structured focus groups were conducted to capture the range of motives for marriage. In study two, the factor structure of the MMS was assessed. The factor structure was then validated and the psychometric properties were established in study three. Finally, the temporal consistency of the scale was established in study four. The results confirmed that adults’ marital motives are complex and that they are best conceptualized using Social Determination Theory (i.e., intrinsic, extrinsic, and instrumental motives). Investigation of the psychometric properties demonstrated the MMS to be reliable and valid. Implications for investigators and practitioners are discussed.
Influence of high temperature GPC/SEC detection modes on the accurate molar mass estimation of slurry phase multimodal HDPE reactor materials
Authors: Subbaiah Yogesha , Hau Qua Eng , Al Otaibi Ghazai Miqad
Published: December 2022

In the present study, trimodal high-density polyethylene (tri-HDPE) slurry phase samples from the polymerization reactors were subjected to high temperature gel permeation chromatography/size exclusion chromatography (HT-GPC/SEC) analysis. The molecular weight (Mw) and its distributions were evaluated using commercially available HT-GPC instruments equipped with different detection modes (DRI, IR5 MCT, and light scattering). The SEC studies reveal the fact that there is a considerable challenge in generating a repeatable and reproducible data for the reactor grade HDPE samples which could be attributed to different detection modes employed and instability of HDPE reactor grades which are susceptible to undergo thermo-oxidative degradation during HT-GPC analysis. Among various instrumentation and detection modes investigated, the HT-GPC with IR5 MCT detection showed reliable results (%Error <15) when compared with absolute Mw data obtained from MALS detection. Based on the findings, proposed suitable SEC mode to characterize the HDPE reactor grade polymer samples.
Representative Bureaucracy and Perceptions of Social Exclusion in Europe: Evidence From 27 Countries
Authors: Cingolani Luciana
Published: December 2022

Representative bureaucracy theory predicts that mirroring social groups in the composition of the bureaucracy will lead to inclusive policies and less overall exclusion of diverse individuals. While supporting evidence on policy outcomes is abundant, findings on subjective perceptions are mixed. This study tests three hypotheses linking representative bureaucracy to perceived same-group discrimination in the general population. It introduces a novel multidimensional index of bureaucratic underrepresentation, and uses mixed effects hierarchical models to approximate answers. Exploratory findings suggest an “ awareness” mechanism may explain the counterintuitive relationship between underrepresentation and feelings of exclusion, in which more diverse public sectors develop alongside higher awareness of discrimination.
Doing User Involvement: Shifting Interstices and Coalescing Tensions in Care Technology
Authors: Fischer Björn , Peine Alexander , Östlund Britt
Published: December 2022

This paper explores user involvement in company practice as a method that is both contingent and transformative. Drawing on ethnographic research in a small- to medium-sized care technology company, we trace how user involvement is enacted in diverse forms to resolve, deal with, and circumvent the frictions and tensions surrounding it. While encompassing similar types of configuration work, these varying enactments differ as they selectively enroll different actants, objectives, and procedures. We refer to these peculiar enactments as occurring in shifting interstices of coalescing tensions. In so doing, we are in conversation with literature in science and technology studies studying the socio-material constitution of users and the social role of methods. We build on and extend previous arguments revolving around the effects of methods and implicit ways of designers configuring users to draw attention to the situational character of doing user involvement. In particular, we argue that investigating shifting interstices offers novel ways of analyzing and thinking about the spatialities, temporalities, frictions, and objects involved in method practices, raising awareness of what it takes to momentarily “do” method this way, and not otherwise. We conclude by discussing conceptual and practical implications for understanding and remaking methods.
The social information needs of people with albinism (PWA): A case study of Khomas region, Namibia
Authors: Ngula Anna
Published: December 2022

This paper focuses on the social information needs of people with albinism (PWA) in Khomas region, Namibia, and the sources of information used PWA to meet their information needs. The study applies Moore's model of social information needs and Wilson's model of information behaviour to investigate and understand the information needs and sources used by PWA to find information. The study was carried out using a qualitative case design within interpretivism paradigm and semi-structured face-to-face interviews were used to collect data from participants. Sixteen participants took part in the study, eight were males, and eight were female participants. Among these participants, two were children with albinism. The following information was identified as being crucial to PWA namely: skin- and eye-related information, information on what is albinism and its causes, disability grants, educational information, and emotional and psychological support. Additionally, the study established that PWA use formal, informal, and human sources of information to find information.