bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Highly Conducting Sc and Y co-doped Zirconia Solid Electrolyte Thin Films Prepared via Pulsed Laser Deposition for Solid Oxide Electrochemical Cells Applications
Authors: Rabo Jennet , Tsuchiya Takashi , Terabe Kazuya , Cervera Rinlee Butch
Published: September 2023

Scandia and yttria-stabilized zirconia (ScYSZ) have been widely used as electrolyte materials for solid oxide electrochemical cells (SOEC) applications due to its high ionic conductivity and stable mechanical and thermal properties. In this study, ScYSZ thin films were fabricated via pulsed laser deposition (PLD) method at substrate deposition temperature (Ts
) of 800 °C with varying oxygen oxygen partial pressures (). The as-deposited ScYSZ thin films were characterized using X-ray diffraction (XRD), field-emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS). XRD analysis revealed that all fabricated films, even with varying , have a polycrystalline cubic-fluorite structure. Morphological FESEM images revealed a good-quality dense ScYSZ electrolyte thin film with no visible cracks. Notably, a high total conductivity thin film of about 2.8x10-1 S/cm at 700 °C and low activation energy (Ea
) of 0.78 eV, from 500°Cto 700 °C, were achieved. Interestingly, the PLD-prepared ScYSZ dense solid electrolyte showed a higher total conductivity than the reported conductivities of zirconia-based solid oxide electrolytes.
ECS Mourns the Passing of Beloved Member John B. Goodenough
Authors: Chaves Frances N.
Published: September 2023

ECS remembers beloved member and Nobel laureate John B. Goodenough
Empagliflozin improves circulating vascular regenerative cell content in people without diabetes with risk factors for adverse cardiac remodeling
Authors: Bakbak Ehab , Verma Subodh , Krishnaraj Aishwarya , Quan Adrian , Wang Chao-Hung , Pan Yi , Puar Pankaj , Mason Tamique , Verma Raj , Terenzi Daniella C. , Rotstein Ori D. , Yan Andrew T. , Connelly Kim A. , Teoh Hwee , Mazer C. David , Hess David A.
Published: September 2023

Using an aldehyde dehydrogenase (ALDH) activity-based flow cytometry assay, we found that empagliflozin treatment for 6 mo was associated with parallel increases in circulating vascular regenerative ALDHhi-CD34/CD133-coexpressing progenitors and decreased proinflammatory ALDHhi-CD14/CD86-coexpressing monocyte precursors in individuals without diabetes but with cardiovascular risk factors. The rejuvenation of the vascular regenerative cell reservoir may represent a mechanism via which sodium glucose-cotransporter 2 (SGLT2) inhibitors limit maladaptive repair and delay the development and progression of cardiovascular diseases.
Expressway Usage Pattern Analysis Based on Tollgate Data: A Case Study of the Shandong Province, China
Authors: Wang Chengcheng , Ding Xiaoe , Wang Chao , Lv Mengqi , Xu Run , Bi Yufeng , Huang Zhiren
Published: September 2023

Expressway transportation is an essential part of regional development. An efficient expressway system can enhance cities’ connectivity and coordinate long-distance trips between urban areas. Understanding how travel demand affects the flow of expressways is crucial to designing an efficient expressway management system. However, congested expressways are substantial obstacles to unimpeded expressway travel. Here, we explore the relationship between demand origin locations and congested expressways. We extract the time-varying OD demand matrix from empirical tollgate data collected in Shandong province, China. The incremental traffic assignment method is introduced to obtain the traffic flow of expressway road segments. It was found that congested expressways were generated due to only a few origin locations. In addition, expressway congestion during peak hours could be effectively alleviated by controlling the travel demand of these origin locations. Therefore, the proposed method can provide a novel perspective for expressway management.
Treatment of Dystrophic Epidermolysis Bullosa Pruriginosa: A Systematic Review of Clinical Outcomes after Initiation of Dupilumab Therapy
Authors: Issa Christopher J. , Hong Aubrey C. , Lio Peter A.
Published: September 2023

Dystrophic epidermolysis bullosa pruriginosa (DEB‐Pr), a highly pruritic subtype of dystrophic epidermolysis bullosa (DEB), can substantially impact patients’ quality of life due to symptom severity. This review features 10 patients diagnosed with DEB‐Pr and a history of insufficient symptom relief following anti‐inflammatory treatment. However, after initiation of dupilumab therapy, these patients exhibited marked clinical improvements in pruritic and cutaneous symptoms. Interestingly, one study showed an increase in type VII collagen following dupilumab therapy. These findings highlight the influence of T helper 2 (Th2)‐mediated immunity in the pathogenesis of itch in DEB‐Pr and dupilumab’s potential in the treatment of refractory pruritus.
Competing with Media Richness: Cognitive and Psychological Endowment Effects as the Fundamentally Pervasive Perspective of Learning Performance
Authors: Sumiyana Sumiyana , Saputra Muhammad Adlin
Published: September 2023

This study investigates the students’ behaviour, especially regarding their cognitive and psychological endowments’ effect on their cognitive absorption, attachment comprehensivity, and learning achievement through various types of learning media. Specifically, it highlights that the resulting learning performance fundamentally starts from individual endowment positions, regardless of the available types of learning media. The authors find that the cognitive and psychological endowments’ functional superiority dominates the learning achievement compared to the MR role types. Furthermore, we demonstrate that individuals’ beliefs, attitudes, and behaviour are superior to their cognitive and psychological endowments because motivation, inner spirit, and faithfulness in appropriation defeat their material knowledge acquisition in their learning processes, such as absorption, achievement, and attachment. This research presents its novelty through learning attachment behaviour due to supremely personal psychological and cognitive endowment effects. Furthermore, the students with the highest negative experiences impact low absorption, comprehensive attachment, and learning achievement. Finally, the authors reveal that individually endowed mindsets and attitudes contribute to higher learning performance than the MR role types. Thus, it demonstrates that the MR role types produce a low incremental performance, which is nothing more than maximising valuable information.
Hyper-Dependence on NHEJ Enables Synergy between DNA-PK Inhibitors and Low-Dose Doxorubicin in Leiomyosarcoma
Authors: Marino-Enriquez Adrian , Novotny Jan Philipp , Gulhan Doga C. , Klooster Isabella , Tran Antuan V. , Kasbo Macy , Lundberg Meijun Z. , Ou Wen-Bin , Tao Derrick L. , Pilco-Janeta Daniel F. , Mao Victor Y. , Zenke Frank T. , Leeper Brittaney A. , Gokhale Prafulla C. , Cowley Glenn S. , Baker Laurence H. , Ballman Karla V. , Root David E. , Albers Joachim , Park Peter J. , George Suzanne , Fletcher Jonathan A.
Published: September 2023

Purpose:

Leiomyosarcoma (LMS) is an aggressive sarcoma for which standard chemotherapies achieve response rates under 30%. There are no effective targeted therapies against LMS. Most LMS are characterized by chromosomal instability (CIN), resulting in part from TP53 and RB1 co-inactivation and DNA damage repair defects. We sought to identify therapeutic targets that could exacerbate intrinsic CIN and DNA damage in LMS, inducing lethal genotoxicity.

Experimental Design:

We performed clinical targeted sequencing in 287 LMS and genome-wide loss-of-function screens in 3 patient-derived LMS cell lines, to identify LMS-specific dependencies. We validated candidate targets by biochemical and cell-response assays in vitro and in seven mouse models.

Results:

Clinical targeted sequencing revealed a high burden of somatic copy-number alterations (median fraction of the genome altered =0.62) and demonstrated homologous recombination deficiency signatures in 35% of LMS. Genome-wide short hairpin RNA screens demonstrated PRKDC (DNA-PKcs) and RPA2 essentiality, consistent with compensatory nonhomologous end joining (NHEJ) hyper-dependence. DNA-PK inhibitor combinations with unconventionally low-dose doxorubicin had synergistic activity in LMS in vitro models. Combination therapy with peposertib and low-dose doxorubicin (standard or liposomal formulations) inhibited growth of 5 of 7 LMS mouse models without toxicity.

Conclusions:

Combinations of DNA-PK inhibitors with unconventionally low, sensitizing, doxorubicin dosing showed synergistic effects in LMS in vitro and in vivo models, without discernable toxicity. These findings underscore the relevance of DNA damage repair alterations in LMS pathogenesis and identify dependence on NHEJ as a clinically actionable vulnerability in LMS.
Supplementary Table S2 from An Early Neoplasia Index (ENI10), Based on Molecular Identity of CD10 Cells and Associated Stemness Biomarkers, is a Predictor of Patient Outcome in Many Cancers
Authors: Guyot Boris , Clément Flora , Drouet Youenn , Schmidt Xenia , Lefort Sylvain , Delay Emmanuel , Treilleux Isabelle , Foy Jean-Philippe , Jeanpierre Sandrine , Thomas Emilie , Kielbassa Janice , Tonon Laurie , Zhu Helen He , Saintigny Pierre , Gao Wei-Qiang , de la Fouchardiere Arnaud , Tirode Franck , Viari Alain , Blay Jean-Yves , Maguer-Satta Véronique
Published: September 2023

Supplementary Table S2 shows the results of the CD10 IHC staining on a breast cancer tumor micro-array.
Supplementary Figure S2 from An Early Neoplasia Index (ENI10), Based on Molecular Identity of CD10 Cells and Associated Stemness Biomarkers, is a Predictor of Patient Outcome in Many Cancers
Authors: Guyot Boris , Clément Flora , Drouet Youenn , Schmidt Xenia , Lefort Sylvain , Delay Emmanuel , Treilleux Isabelle , Foy Jean-Philippe , Jeanpierre Sandrine , Thomas Emilie , Kielbassa Janice , Tonon Laurie , Zhu Helen He , Saintigny Pierre , Gao Wei-Qiang , de la Fouchardiere Arnaud , Tirode Franck , Viari Alain , Blay Jean-Yves , Maguer-Satta Véronique
Published: September 2023

Supplementary Figure S2 shows in A the percentage of indicated cells positive for CD10 staining by flow-cytometry and in B the mean fluorescence intensity of CD10-positive cells after infection with a vector expressing a control or anti-CD10 shRNA. In C the percentage of indicated cells positive for CD10 staining by flow-cytometry and in D the mean fluorescence intensity of CD10-positive cells after infection with a vector expressing the CD10 cDNA or an empty control vector are shown. In E the frequency of soft-agar colony forming cells is shown in the indicated cell lines after infection with a vector expressing the CD10 cDNA or an empty control vector. In F the frequency of soft-agar colony forming cells is shown in the indicated cell lines after infection with a vector expressing a control or anti-CD10 shRNA.
FIGURE 3 from An Early Neoplasia Index (ENI10), Based on Molecular Identity of CD10 Cells and Associated Stemness Biomarkers, is a Predictor of Patient Outcome in Many Cancers
Authors: Guyot Boris , Clément Flora , Drouet Youenn , Schmidt Xenia , Lefort Sylvain , Delay Emmanuel , Treilleux Isabelle , Foy Jean-Philippe , Jeanpierre Sandrine , Thomas Emilie , Kielbassa Janice , Tonon Laurie , Zhu Helen He , Saintigny Pierre , Gao Wei-Qiang , de la Fouchardiere Arnaud , Tirode Franck , Viari Alain , Blay Jean-Yves , Maguer-Satta Véronique
Published: September 2023

The ENI10 molecular signature is enriched in genes involved in chromosome segregation during mitosis. A, GO analysis on the CD10 signature genes using the “Biological Process” terms. The most downstream terms in the hierarchy with an FDR less than 0.01 are shown. B, Ratio of the percentage of CD10+ over CD10-negative cells in each phase of the cell cycle determined by flow-cytometry analysis of MCF10A-Fucci-CA cells stained with an anti-CD10 antibody. C, GSEA using RNA-seq experiments comparing MCF10A cells expressing a scramble (shCTRL) or CD10 specific shRNA (shCD10), the gene sets used are the ENI10 genes (top), ENI10 genes belonging to all enriched GO terms shown in A (middle) and ENI10 genes belonging to the “mitotic spindle assembly checkpoint signaling” GO term (bottom). D, ssGSEA quantification of the indicated gene sets in normal healthy breast tissue (H) or in DCIS (D) from GSE21422 series. E, Quantification of E-CFC from CD10+ MC26 or M1B26 cells infected with lentiviruses carrying a scramble (sh ctl) or sh CD10 vector. F, Quantification of spheres forming cells from CD10+ MC26 or M1B26 cells infected with lentiviruses carrying a scramble (sh ctl) or sh CD10 vector. G, Quantification of soft-agar clones from M1B26 CD10+ cells infected with lentiviruses carrying a scramble (sh ctl) or sh CD10 vector.
FIGURE 1 from An Early Neoplasia Index (ENI10), Based on Molecular Identity of CD10 Cells and Associated Stemness Biomarkers, is a Predictor of Patient Outcome in Many Cancers
Authors: Guyot Boris , Clément Flora , Drouet Youenn , Schmidt Xenia , Lefort Sylvain , Delay Emmanuel , Treilleux Isabelle , Foy Jean-Philippe , Jeanpierre Sandrine , Thomas Emilie , Kielbassa Janice , Tonon Laurie , Zhu Helen He , Saintigny Pierre , Gao Wei-Qiang , de la Fouchardiere Arnaud , Tirode Franck , Viari Alain , Blay Jean-Yves , Maguer-Satta Véronique
Published: September 2023

BMP2 induces early transformation of a model of breast SCs and increases CD10 expression. A, Schematic representation of the experimental protocol used to obtain the MCF10-CT, MC26, and M1B26 cell lines from the MCF10A cells. B, Quantification of soft-agar colony formation [error bars represent the SD (n = 7), significance measured using the Mann–Whitney test is indicated on the graph by the P values. ns for P > 0.05]. C, Xenografts of the indicated number cells of MCF10A-derived models injected into nude mice presented as the number of successful grafts after 4 weeks/mouse (n = 10). D, GSEA of transcriptomic data comparing MC26 cells (top row) or M1B26 cells (bottom row) with MCF10A-CT cells. Data represent enrichment plots analyzed using public gene sets (41) of upregulated (left) or downregulated (right) genes in human primary ductal carcinoma compared with healthy tissues. E, GSEA of transcriptomic data comparing MC26 (first column) or M1B26 (second column) with CT cells and M1B26 with MC26 cells (third column). The “hallmarks” gene sets from the MSigDB were used and the NES (normalized enrichment score) with P values inferior to 0.05 are shown. F, E-CFC Progenitor content from MCF10A-CT cells (n = 5), MC26 cells (n = 8) or M1B26 cells (n = 6) quantified after 6 days by scoring colonies numbers and presented/10,000 cells. G, Number of spheres per 100 seeded cells after 1 week from MCF10A-CT cells (n = 4), MC26 cells (n = 6), and M1B26 cells (n = 6). H, TDLU, 3D structures from primary human breast cells (top) and MCF10A cell line (bottom). I, Images at day 21 of 3D structures in the TDLU assay from MCF10A-CT, MC26, or M1B26 cells. A representative TDLU section from MCF10A-CT, stained with H&E, is shown on the top right. J, Flow cytometry analysis of CD10 expression on MCF10A-CT (n = 4), MC26 (n = 7), and M1B26 (n = 6) presented as the percentage of positive cells (left) and mean fluorescence intensity (right).
Data from An Early Neoplasia Index (ENI10), Based on Molecular Identity of CD10 Cells and Associated Stemness Biomarkers, is a Predictor of Patient Outcome in Many Cancers
Authors: Guyot Boris , Clément Flora , Drouet Youenn , Schmidt Xenia , Lefort Sylvain , Delay Emmanuel , Treilleux Isabelle , Foy Jean-Philippe , Jeanpierre Sandrine , Thomas Emilie , Kielbassa Janice , Tonon Laurie , Zhu Helen He , Saintigny Pierre , Gao Wei-Qiang , de la Fouchardiere Arnaud , Tirode Franck , Viari Alain , Blay Jean-Yves , Maguer-Satta Véronique
Published: September 2023

An accurate estimate of patient survival at diagnosis is critical to plan efficient therapeutic options. A simple and multiapplication tool is needed to move forward the precision medicine era. Taking advantage of the broad and high CD10 expression in stem and cancers cells, we evaluated the molecular identity of aggressive cancer cells. We used epithelial primary cells and developed a breast cancer stem cell–based progressive model. The superiority of the early-transformed isolated molecular index was evaluated by large-scale analysis in solid cancers. BMP2-driven cell transformation increases CD10 expression which preserves stemness properties. Our model identified a unique set of 159 genes enriched in G2–M cell-cycle phases and spindle assembly complex. Using samples predisposed to transformation, we confirmed the value of an early neoplasia index associated to CD10 (ENI10) to discriminate premalignant status of a human tissue. Using a stratified Cox model, a large-scale analysis (>10,000 samples, The Cancer Genome Atlas Pan-Cancer) validated a strong risk gradient (HRs reaching HR = 5.15; 95% confidence interval: 4.00–6.64) for high ENI10 levels. Through different databases, Cox regression model analyses highlighted an association between ENI10 and poor progression-free intervals for more than 50% of cancer subtypes tested, and the potential of ENI10 to predict drug efficacy. The ENI10 index constitutes a robust tool to detect pretransformed tissues and identify high-risk patients at diagnosis. Owing to its biological link with refractory cancer stem cells, the ENI10 index constitutes a unique way of identifying effective treatments to improve clinical care.
Significance:
We identified a molecular signature called ENI10 which, owing to its biological link with stem cell properties, predicts patient outcome and drugs efficiency in breast and several other cancers. ENI10 should allow early and optimized clinical management of a broad number of cancers, regardless of the stage of tumor progression.
Metalli- ja masinatööstuse ettevõtete motiveerimise võimalused rohepöörde elluviimise kontekstis. Uuringu aruanne
Authors:   Tallinn University of Technology, Gerstlberger Wolfgang , Küttim Merle , Niine Tarvo , Hurt Ulrika , Hartšenko Jelena , Tuisk Tarmo , Kotov Arseni , Kristjuhan-Ling Kadri , Otto Tauno
Published: September 2023

The report bases on the study that was aimed to find out how to motivate Estonian companies in the metal and engineering sector to seize the opportunities and mitigate the risks offered by the green economy, and to provide tools and ready-made solutions. It provides also input for sustainable development action plans and measures. For the purpose of this synthesis, both policy makers and the general public as the main audience were under the focus. The report as a whole is certainly of interest and practical use for businesses.
An Anterior Second Heart Field Enhancer Regulates the Gene Regulatory Network of the Cardiac Outflow Tract
Authors: Yamaguchi Naoko , Chang Ernest W. , Lin Ziyan , Shekhar Akshay , Bu Lei , Khodadadi-Jamayran Alireza , Tsirigos Aristotelis , Cen Yiyun , Phoon Colin K.L. , Moskowitz Ivan P. , Park David S.
Published: September 2023

BACKGROUND:

Conotruncal defects due to developmental abnormalities of the outflow tract (OFT) are an important cause of cyanotic congenital heart disease. Dysregulation of transcriptional programs tuned by NKX2-5 (NK2 homeobox 5), GATA6 (GATA binding protein 6), and TBX1 (T-box transcription factor 1) have been implicated in abnormal OFT morphogenesis. However, there remains no consensus on how these transcriptional programs function in a unified gene regulatory network within the OFT.

METHODS:

We generated mice harboring a 226-nucleotide deletion of a highly conserved cardiac enhancer containing 2 GATA-binding sites located ≈9.4 kb upstream of the transcription start site of
Nkx2-5
(

Nkx2-5
∆enh

) using CRISPR-Cas9 gene editing and assessed phenotypes. Cardiac defects in

Nkx2-5
∆enh/∆enh

mice were structurally characterized using histology and scanning electron microscopy, and physiologically assessed using electrocardiography, echocardiography, and optical mapping. Transcriptome analyses were performed using RNA sequencing and single-cell RNA sequencing data sets. Endogenous GATA6 interaction with and activity on the
NKX2-5
enhancer was studied using chromatin immunoprecipitation sequencing and transposase-accessible chromatin sequencing in human induced pluripotent stem cell–derived cardiomyocytes.

RESULTS:

Nkx2-5
∆enh/∆enh

mice recapitulated cyanotic conotruncal defects seen in patients with
NKX2-5, GATA6
, and
TBX1
mutations.

Nkx2-5
∆enh/∆enh

mice also exhibited defects in right Purkinje fiber network formation, resulting in right bundle-branch block. Enhancer deletion reduced embryonic
Nkx2-5
expression selectively in the right ventricle and OFT of mutant hearts, indicating that enhancer activity is localized to the anterior second heart field. Transcriptional profiling of the mutant OFT revealed downregulation of important genes involved in OFT rotation and septation, such as
Tbx1, Pitx2
, and
Sema3c
. Endogenous GATA6 interacted with the highly conserved enhancer in human induced pluripotent stem cell–derived cardiomyocytes and in wild-type mouse hearts. We found critical dose dependency of cardiac enhancer accessibility on
GATA6
gene dosage in human induced pluripotent stem cell–derived cardiomyocytes.

CONCLUSIONS:

Our results using human and mouse models reveal an essential gene regulatory network of the OFT that requires an anterior second heart field enhancer to link GATA6 with NKX2-5–dependent rotation and septation gene programs.
Lexical Processing Strongly Affects Reading Times But Not Skipping During Natural Reading
Authors: Heilbron Micha , van Haren Jorie , Hagoort Peter , de Lange Floris P.
Published: September 2023

In a typical text, readers look much longer at some words than at others, even skipping many altogether. Historically, researchers explained this variation via low-level visual or oculomotor factors, but today it is primarily explained via factors determining a word’s lexical processing ease, such as how well word identity can be predicted from context or discerned from parafoveal preview. While the existence of these effects is well established in controlled experiments, the relative importance of prediction, preview and low-level factors in natural reading remains unclear. Here, we address this question in three large naturalistic reading corpora (n = 104, 1.5 million words), using deep neural networks and Bayesian ideal observers to model linguistic prediction and parafoveal preview from moment to moment in natural reading. Strikingly, neither prediction nor preview was important for explaining word skipping—the vast majority of explained variation was explained by a simple oculomotor model, using just fixation position and word length. For reading times, by contrast, we found strong but independent contributions of prediction and preview, with effect sizes matching those from controlled experiments. Together, these results challenge dominant models of eye movements in reading, and instead support alternative models that describe skipping (but not reading times) as largely autonomous from word identification, and mostly determined by low-level oculomotor information.
The Synchrony-Prosociality Link Cannot Be Explained Away as Expectancy Effect: Response to Atwood et al. ()
Authors: Tunçgenç Bahar , Bamford Joshua S. , Fawcett Christine , Cohen Emma
Published: September 2023

Moving in time to others, as is often observed in dance, music, sports and much of children’s play cross-culturally, is thought to make people feel and act more prosocially towards each other. In a recent paper, Atwood et al. (2022) argued that the inferential validity of this link found between synchronous behaviour and prosociality might be mainly due to “expectancy effects generated by a combination of (1) experimenter expectancy, leading to experimenter bias; and (2) participant expectancy (i.e., placebo effects)”. Here, we counter these arguments with (1) examples of studies devoid of experimenter expectancy effects that nevertheless demonstrate a positive link between synchrony and prosociality, and (2) insights from the developmental literature that address participant expectancy by showing how expectations formed through lived experiences of synchronous interactions do not necessarily threaten inferential validity. In conclusion, there is already sufficient good-quality evidence showing the positive effects of synchronous behaviours on prosociality beyond what can be explained by experimenter or participant expectation effects.
Patterns of Religious Content and Narrative Arrangement in Arrian’s Anabasis of Alexander
Authors: Liotsakis Vasileios
Published: September 2023

This study examines three patterns of religious content in Arrian’s Anabasis of Alexander: (a) ritual reports, (b) religious material culture, and (c) omens. Although ritual reports and omens mainly mark turning points of the expedition and certain qualities of Alexander’s character, the passages pertaining to religious material culture also transfer our focal point of interest to the author’s religious beliefs and his literary and cultural tastes. Most importantly, Arrian uses ritual reports and omens in compliance with (a) the dynamic portrait he wished to delineate for Alexander and (b) his opinion about Alexander’s relationship with religion on three different levels (alleged divine origins, stories about the divine favor Alexander enjoyed, and his rivalry with Dionysus and Heracles). A comparative reading of these three religious patterns reveals how Arrian, as a narrator, achieved a creative compromise between his own assessment of Alexander and the historical material he drew from his sources.
Comparative success of two sampling techniques for high-altitude Alpine grassland reptiles under different temporal designs
Authors: Chiacchio Michele , Pellitteri-Rosa Daniele , Barbi Andrea , Corlatti Luca , Rödder Dennis , Henle Klaus , Grimm-Seyfarth Annegret
Published: September 2023

Monitoring of wildlife populations is essential for their conservation and requires a carefully chosen methodology. We compared survey effectiveness of reptiles using coverboards and visual encounter surveys in two study sites in the Italian Alps with similar habitats and reptile communities. The two sites shared similar methodologies, cover boards and visual encounter surveys (VES), except for the temporal approach, with one employing a long-lasting monitoring scheme and the other operating on a much shorter time-frame. Coverboards were placed two years before the beginning of the monitoring in the first site, while they were installed only for ten days and then removed each year in the second site. Similarly, VES were spread across the whole reptile activity season (May-September) in the first site, while conducted over nine consecutive days in the second site. Although the observation rate of any species was mainly associated with its relative abundance, reptiles preferred long-established coverboards and all three species present (Zootoca vivipara, Anguis veronensis and Vipera berus) were found underneath them. Only Zootoca vivipara used recently installed ones. On the other hand, short-term daily visual encounter surveys led to a much higher observation rate of Z. vivipara than those spread over the entire season. Our results suggest that coverboards may provide a valuable monitoring tool for reptiles when projects are conducted over long periods. Conversely, when only short-term assessments are possible, no real difference exists between the two methods and observation rate is more influenced by the species abundance than by the chosen method.
Meows of captive feral domestic cats (Felis silvestris catus) in the mating season: acoustic correlates of caller identity and sex
Authors: Sedova Liliya M. , Volodin Ilya A. , Erofeeva Mariya N. , Alekseeva Galina S. , Naidenko Sergey V. , Volodina Elena V.
Published: September 2023

This study investigates the frequency, temporal and power parameters in 11 (5 males, 6 females) captive feral domestic cats Felis silvestris catus, vocalising in their individual outdoor enclosures during the mating season. Discriminant function analysis (DFA) classified the meows to correct callers with 79.2% accuracy, which exceeded the chance level of 22.9 ± 2.8%, calculated with permutation test. Male meows were lower-frequency, with the maximum fundamental frequency of 0.37 ± 0.05 kHz vs 0.61 ± 0.16 kHz in females. Sex differences in the maximum, beginning and end fundamental frequencies varied from 32 to 39%, depending on acoustic parameter. The DFA classified the meows to correct sex with accuracy of 88.0%, which exceeded the chance level of 58.2 ± 3.1%. We discuss that the meows encode information about individual identity and sex and that acoustic differences in frequency parameters of the meows exceed sexual dimorphism of body size in domestic cat.
Is Name Popularity a Good Test of Historicity?
Authors: Gregor Kamil , Blais Brian
Published: September 2023

In Jesus and the Eyewitnesses, Richard Bauckham argues that the popularity of personal names in Gospels-Acts corresponds remarkably well to name popularity among late ancient Palestinian Jews and that this can only be the case if Gospels-Acts characters are in most cases historical as opposed to invented in the process of ‘anonymous community transmission’. We re-examine Bauckham’s conclusions, asserted with a remarkably high level of confidence but almost entirely without an actual statistical evaluation of his onomastic data, and perform the appropriate statistical analysis on the most recent onomastic dataset. We show that Bauckham’s thesis offers no advantage in explaining the observed correspondence between name popularity in Gospels-Acts and in the contemporary Palestinian Jewish population over an alternative model of ‘anonymous community transmission’. Moreover, our statistical analysis identifies some, albeit weak, evidence against Bauckham’s thesis.
An Analysis of the Leg and Foot Morphology of Chairs from the Ming and Qing Dynasties
Authors: Zhang Weiwei , Yuan Jindong
Published: September 2023

This study analyzed the morphology of the legs and feet of chairs from the Ming and Qing Dynasties using statistics, and the characteristics were presented in a data-based mode. With furniture samples collected from museums as the research object, the performances of chair legs and feet from different periods were analyzed using cross-analysis and chi-square tests in SPSS 22.0 to find out if statistically significant differences existed. The results show no statistical difference in the morphology of legs and feet of side chairs and armchairs with curved rest from different periods, while significant statistical differences exist in the morphology of the legs and feet of armchairs from the Ming and Qing Dynasties. The results can help people to have a deeper understanding of the legs and feet of chairs from the Ming and Qing Dynasties on a rational cognition level and provide new ideas for the inheritance and innovation of such furniture in modern times.
Review of 43 spider species from Hainan Island, China (Arachnida, Araneae)
Authors: LIN YEJIE , WU LINGBING , CAI DUCHENG , LI SHUQIANG , BARRION ALBERTO TOMAS , HEONG KONG-LUEN
Published: September 2023

Photographs of the type specimens of nine spider species described by Barrion et al. (2013) from Hainan Island, China, considered as valid taxa in this study, are provided. Among them, three new combinations are proposed: Clubiona pandalira (Barrion-Dupo, Barrion & Heong, 2013) comb. nov. (ex Nusatidia Deeleman-Reinhold, 2001); Dictis edwardsi (Barrion, Barrion-Dupo & Heong, 2013) comb. nov. (ex Scytodes Latreille, 1804); and Nesioneta mingshengzhui (Barrion, Barrion-Dupo & Heong, 2013) comb. nov. (ex Meioneta Hull, 1920). Thirty-one new synonyms are proposed and three species are considered as nomina dubia.
Raman Analysis of Orientation and Crystallinity in High Tg, Low Crystallinity Electrospun Fibers
Authors: Laramée Arnaud W. , Pellerin Christian
Published: September 2023

Electrospun fibers of amorphous or low-crystallinity polymers typically exhibit a low molecular orientation that can hamper their properties and application. A key stage of the electrospinning process that could be harnessed to mitigate the loss of orientation is jet rigidification, which relates closely to the solvent evaporation rate. Here, we establish quantitative Raman methods to assess the molecular orientation and crystallinity of weakly crystalline poly(2,6-dimethyl-1,4-phenylene oxide) fibers with varying diameters. Our findings demonstrate that solvent volatility can be leveraged to modulate the orientation and crystallinity through its impact on the effective glass transition temperature ( Tg,eff) of the polymer jet during the electrospinning process. Specifically, a highly volatile solvent yields a higher and more sustained orientation (median ⟨ P2⟩ of 0.53 for diameters < 1.0 µm) because its fast evaporation rapidly increases Tg,eff above room temperature. This vitrification early along the jet path promotes the formation of an oriented amorphous phase and a moderate fraction of strain-induced crystals. Our data reveals that a high Tg is a crucial parameter for reaching high orientation in amorphous or low-crystallinity polymer systems.
Symbolic stories of family in the language of peace
Authors: Goetze Catherine
Published: September 2023

What feelings foster peace? This question is rarely asked in International Relations. This article, therefore, sets out to analyse the way people involved in peace processes speak about feeling by using one particular set of metaphors and allegories, namely, such tropes that refer to family in any way. The article presumes that family metaphors are particularly well suited to speak about difficult feelings since they are inherently ambiguous: on one hand, families are a universal experience, which means that their use speaks to a wide and general public; on the other hand, families are a personal and subjective experience, so that metaphors and allegories can be left unspecified, for each listener to be filled with their own ideas. By looking at speeches by Nobel Peace Prize laureates, the article explores how this ambiguity is used when talking about peace. It finds that family metaphors can build bridges and imagined connectivity; but they can also be used to deny a shared relation between two parties. The article concludes that family metaphors and allegories are capable of not only breaking up conflict lines but also of cementing them in an elusive and subtle way.
Social Priming: Exploring the Effects of Speaker Race and Ethnicity on Perception of Second Language Accents
Authors: McLaughlin Drew J. , Van Engen Kristin J.
Published: September 2023

Listeners use more than just acoustic information when processing speech. Social information, such as a speaker’s perceived race or ethnicity, can also affect the processing of the speech signal, in some cases facilitating perception (“social priming”). We aimed to replicate and extend this line of inquiry, examining effects of multiple social primes (i.e., a Middle Eastern, White, or East Asian face, or a control silhouette image) on the perception of Mandarin Chinese-accented English and Arabic-accented English. By including uncommon priming combinations (e.g., a Middle Eastern prime for a Mandarin accent), we aimed to test the specificity of social primes: For example, can a Middle Eastern face facilitate perception of both Arabic-accented English and Mandarin-accented English? Contrary to our predictions, our results indicated no facilitative social priming effects for either of the second language (L2) accents. Results for our examination of specificity were mixed. Trends in the data indicated that the combination of an East Asian prime with Arabic accent resulted in lower accuracy as compared with a White prime, but the combination of a Middle Eastern prime with a Mandarin accent did not (and may have actually benefited listeners to some degree). We conclude that the specificity of priming effects may depend on listeners’ level of familiarity with a given accent and/or racial/ethnic group and that the mixed outcomes in the current work motivate further inquiries to determine whether social priming effects for L2-accented speech may be smaller than previously hypothesized and/or highly dependent on listener experience.
Lived Experiences of ICU Nurses During COVID-19
Authors: Littlemouse Gloria , Finch-Guthrie Patricia , Kroposki Margaret
Published: September 2023

This qualitative, phenomenological study described ICU nurses’ lived experiences caring for patients with COVID-19 while trying to engage in self-care and care for their families. Eleven ICU nurses shared their individual experiences working in a hospital ICU. Watson's theory of Caring Science guided the study to ensure a holistic interpretation of the data. Six themes and fifteen subthemes emerged, which revealed that ICU nurses faced barriers to self-care. The conclusion of the data analysis was that hospital leaders need to make Caring Science evident to ICU nurses during crises by trained Caritas coaches to build resilient frontline nurses through compassion.
INTRODUCTION TO THE SPECIAL ISSUE
Authors: Baris Omer F. , Pelizzo Riccardo
Published: September 2023

This World Affairs 2023 special issue contains six contributions, including this one, exploring some of the key political consequences of traditional beliefs such as magic and superstition in the developing societies of the Global South as well as in certain industrially advanced societies of the Global North. To show why traditional beliefs matter, we provide an explanation in this introduction for why traditional beliefs exist in developing countries, why they survive in developed countries, and why they may become more popular over time. By utilizing a simple game theoretic approach, we explain why rational people can sometimes increase their payoffs by subscribing to a superstition while superstitious people never gain by switching to rationality. In fact, the superstition—which has no causal connection with the natural course of events—may even yield better results, not only for the individual but also for the group. This is the reason why, in the framework of evolutionary stable equilibrium, superstitious people can demographically dominate an entire population over time. In addition to explaining the existence and the persistence (or the popularity) of traditional beliefs, we highlight the key findings presented in the articles included in this special issue. All of them underline a cardinal point: traditional beliefs matter. They shape electoral behavior, they shape attitudes toward democratic governance, and they influence voters’ assessment of political figures and historical events. Precisely because traditional beliefs have such extensive implications for a country's political life, we believe that in the future scholars will have to pay greater attention to such beliefs to have a better understanding of political phenomena and trends.
Assessment of pre-arithmetic relations in children and adolescents with visual impairment
Authors: da Costa Ailton B , Elias Nassim C , Muniz Monalisa , de A Gil Maria Stella C
Published: September 2023

Mathematics training is a challenge for students with visual impairments (VI). However, there are few protocols to assess math skills for them, especially the content related to counting and measurement. The objective of this article was to develop and test the applicability of a protocol to assess math skills in counting and measuring for children and adolescents with VI. The work was organized into two studies. The first dealt with the development of a protocol for assessing pre-arithmetic skills and knowledge and the second study assessed its applicability. In the first study, the protocol was developed from the few papers found on a literature review. In the second study, the protocol was applied to 12 participants with VI aged 5 and 16 years. The results showed that 8 of the 12 participants had performance ranging from 83% to 100% of correct responses in the protocol application, both for counting and measuring skills. The protocol applicability and difference in participants’ performance are discussed. The study concludes that the protocol can be used as a tool to assess math knowledge for children at the end of Early Childhood Education or at the beginning of Elementary School, with or without VI.
Understanding responsibility under uncertainty: A critical and scoping review of autonomous driving systems
Authors: Rowe Frantz , Jeanneret Medina Maximiliano , Benoit Journé  , Coëtard Emmanuel , Myers Michael
Published: September 2023

Autonomous driving systems (ADS) operate in an environment that is inherently complex. As these systems may execute a task without the permission of a human agent, they raise major safety and responsibility issues. To identify the relevant issues for information systems, we conducted a critical and scoping review of the literature from many disciplines. The innovative methodology we used combines bibliometrics techniques, grounded theory and a critical conceptual framework to analyse the structure and research themes of the field. Our findings show that there are certain ironies in the way in which responsibility for apparently safe autonomous systems is apportioned. These ironies are interconnected and reveal that there remains significant uncertainty and ambiguity regarding the distribution of responsibility between stakeholders. The ironies draw attention to the challenges of safety and responsibility with ADS and possibly other cyber-physical systems in our increasingly digital world. We make seven recommendations related to (1) value sensitive design and system theory approaches; (2) stakeholders’ interests and interactions; (3) task allocation; (4) deskilling; (5) controllability; (6) responsibility (moral and legal); (7) trust. We suggest five areas for future IS research on ADS. These areas are related to socio-technical systems, critical research, safety, responsibility and trust.
Psoriasis paradox—infliximab-induced psoriasis in a patient with Crohn’s disease: a case report and mini-review
Authors: Mohammed Reem Hamdy A , Essam Mahmoud , Anwar Ismail , Shehab Hany , komy Mohamed El
Published: September 2023

Biologic drugs are therapeutic modalities designed to inhibit specific cytokine signaling pathways. The introduction of these drugs in the management of autoimmune diseases has dramatically changed the treatment paradigm of chronic systemic immune-mediated inflammatory disorders. However, despite their overall acceptable safety profiles, paradoxical reactions have been reported in some real-life cases including case studies and clinical trials. In this study, we report a patient with Crohn’s disease who developed infliximab-induced psoriasis vulgaris after starting infliximab treatment. In this case, infliximab was discontinued, and low-dose steroids and subcutaneous methotrexate were introduced to control both his psoriasis and bowel condition with satisfying responses.
An Inquiry into Effective Salesperson Social Media Use in Multinational Versus Local Firms
Authors: Schmitt Laurianne , Epler Rhett , Casenave Eric , Pallud Jessie
Published: September 2023

Salespeople are increasingly required to navigate an international environment—having international customers or international peers. However, much remains to be learned about how salespeople are utilizing social media in an international context. This multimethod, multistudy design contributes to international sales research by showing how business-to-business (B2B) salespeople use social media whether they are in a multinational or local firm. With a social capital lens, the authors explore the importance of social media with regard to strengthening salespeople's internal and external connections in an international context. In Study 1, 131 B2B salespeople use social media to develop customer relations (i.e., external connections) to engage in positive publicity and social media advocacy, ultimately leading to better sales performance. Specifically, social media advocacy enhances sales performance only for salespeople in multinationals. In Study 2, with 23 qualitative interviews, the authors contextualize the findings of Study 1 by comparing social media use among salespeople in multinational and local firms. The basis of the exploration involves internal and external connections with the three dimensions of social capital: structural, relational, and cognitive. The authors demonstrate that internal connections with peers on social media allows for increased knowledge transfer and other benefits.
Live Streaming Use and International Seller Sales Performance: An Information Economics Perspective
Authors: Yu Ye , Jin Jason Lu , Dong Meitong , Zhou Kevin Zheng
Published: September 2023

Although rapid technological development has resulted in the proliferation of digital platforms, there is limited understanding of these platforms’ roles in international markets. Drawing on the information economics perspective, the authors investigate whether live streaming, as an emerging platform-based function, enables foreign sellers to enhance their sales performance in host markets. Using a unique longitudinal data set from a business-to-customer digital platform in China, the authors find that live streaming use is positively associated with international seller sales performance. This positive effect is stronger when cultural distance is higher. Moreover, the influence becomes stronger when product price is higher, while the effect is weaker for name-brand products than for non-name-brand products. These findings provide rich insights on the role of digitalization to the international marketing literature.
Modified Stabilization Test to Diagnose Chronic Syndesmotic Injuries Based on Posture Control
Authors: Mei Nan , Jiang Zhende , Zhong Zhuan , Fu Lijuan , Hao Jianyuan , Li Zhaoyan , Wang Qingyu , Wang Yinan , Zhang Hanyang , Chang Fei
Published: September 2023

Background:

To propose and validate a modified noninvasive method for the diagnosis of chronic syndesmotic injuries.

Methods:

This study included 16 patients with chronic ankle instability. Herein, we propose the Modified Stabilization Test, a new measurement for use in the diagnosis of chronic syndesmotic injury, as determined by wearing a 60-kPa pneumatic brace. The test combines the center of pressure and sensory organization test to measure postural control. For comparison, we also measured the tibiofibular clear space, tibiofibular overlap, and medial clear space using anteroposterior radiograph; a line marked horizontally above the tibial plaque using computed tomography (CT) to measure the syndesmotic gap and fibular rotation angle; and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans to determine the presence of the λ sign. The distance of syndesmosis was confirmed in 16 individuals through arthroscopy, and the results of the examination were used to determine the diagnostic efficacy of each index.

Results:

Receiver operating characteristic curve analysis revealed that the optimal cut-off value, sensitivity, and specificity of the Modified Stabilization Test for the diagnosis of chronic syndesmotic injuries were 0.80, 100%, and 87.5%, respectively. The area under the curve (AUC) of the Modified Stabilization Test was 0.906 (95% CI 0.656, 0.993; P < .001), which was superior to imaging indices such as radiography, CT, and MRI (AUC = 0.516-0.891).

Conclusion:

We developed the Modified Stabilization Test—a noninvasive diagnostic tool for the screening of chronic syndesmotic injuries. The test showed high sensitivity and specificity for the identification of chronic syndesmotic injuries and is helpful in the identification of chronic syndesmotic injuries.

Level of Evidence:

Level II, diagnostic—investigating a diagnostic test.