bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Blood Monocyte Phenotype Is A Marker of Cardiovascular Risk in Type 2 Diabetes
Authors: Julla Jean-Baptiste , Girard Diane , Diedisheim Marc , Saulnier Pierre-Jean , Tran Vuong Bao , Blériot Camille , Carcarino Elena , De Keizer Joe , Orliaguet Lucie , Nemazanyy Ivan , Potier Charline , Khider Kennan , Tonui Dorothy Chepngenoh , Ejlalmanesh Tina , Ballaire Raphaelle , Mambu Mambueni Hendrick , Germain Stéphane , Gaborit Bénédicte , Vidal-Trécan Tiphaine , Riveline Jean-Pierre , Garchon Henri-Jean , Fenaille François , Lemoine Sophie , Carlier Aurélie , Castelli Florence , Potier Louis , Masson David , Roussel Ronan , Vandiedonck Claire , Hadjadj Samy , Alzaid Fawaz , Gautier Jean-François , Venteclef Nicolas
Published: December 2023

BACKGROUND:

Diabetes is a major risk factor for atherosclerotic cardiovascular diseases with a 2-fold higher risk of cardiovascular events in people with diabetes compared with those without. Circulating monocytes are inflammatory effector cells involved in both type 2 diabetes (T2D) and atherogenesis.

METHODS:

We investigated the relationship between circulating monocytes and cardiovascular risk progression in people with T2D, using phenotypic, transcriptomic, and metabolomic analyses. cardiovascular risk progression was estimated with coronary artery calcium score in a cohort of 672 people with T2D.

RESULTS:

Coronary artery calcium score was positively correlated with blood monocyte count and frequency of the classical monocyte subtype. Unsupervised k-means clustering based on monocyte subtype profiles revealed 3 main endotypes of people with T2D at varying risk of cardiovascular events. These observations were confirmed in a validation cohort of 279 T2D participants. The predictive association between monocyte count and major adverse cardiovascular events was validated through an independent prospective cohort of 757 patients with T2D. Integration of monocyte transcriptome analyses and plasma metabolomes showed a disruption of mitochondrial pathways (tricarboxylic acid cycle, oxidative phosphorylation pathway) that underlined a proatherogenic phenotype.

CONCLUSIONS:

In this study, we provide evidence that frequency and monocyte phenotypic profile are closely linked to cardiovascular risk in patients with T2D. The assessment of monocyte frequency and count is a valuable predictive marker for risk of cardiovascular events in patients with T2D.

REGISTRATION:

URL:
https://www.clinicaltrials.gov
; Unique identifier: NCT04353869
INO80-Dependent Remodeling of Transcriptional Regulatory Network Underlies the Progression of Heart Failure
Authors: Ren Zongna , Zhao Wanqing , Li Dandan , Yu Peng , Mao Lin , Zhao Quanyi , Yao Luyan , Zhang Xuelin , Liu Yandan , Zhou Bingying , Wang Li
Published: December 2023

BACKGROUND:

Progressive remodeling of cardiac gene expression underlies decline in cardiac function, eventually leading to heart failure. However, the major determinants of transcriptional network switching from normal to failed hearts remain to be determined.

METHODS:

In this study, we integrated human samples, genetic mouse models, and genomic approaches, including bulk RNA sequencing, single-cell RNA sequencing, chromatin immunoprecipitation followed by high-throughput sequencing, and assay for transposase-accessible chromatin with high-throughput sequencing, to identify the role of chromatin remodeling complex INO80 in heart homeostasis and dysfunction.

RESULTS:

The INO80 chromatin remodeling complex was abundantly expressed in mature cardiomyocytes, and its expression further increased in mouse and human heart failure. Cardiomyocyte-specific overexpression of
Ino80
, its core catalytic subunit, induced heart failure within 4 days. Combining RNA sequencing, chromatin immunoprecipitation followed by high-throughput sequencing, and assay for transposase-accessible chromatin with high-throughput sequencing, we revealed INO80 overexpression-dependent reshaping of the nucleosomal landscape that remodeled a core set of transcription factors, most notably the MEF2 (Myocyte Enhancer Factor 2) family, whose target genes were closely associated with cardiac function. Conditional cardiomyocyte-specific deletion of
Ino80
in an established mouse model of heart failure demonstrated remarkable preservation of cardiac function.

CONCLUSIONS:

In summary, our findings shed light on the INO80-dependent remodeling of the chromatin landscape and transcriptional networks as a major mechanism underlying cardiac dysfunction in heart failure, and suggest INO80 as a potential preventative or interventional target.
Metabolic Communication by SGLT2 Inhibition
Authors: Billing Anja M. , Kim Young Chul , Gullaksen Søren , Schrage Benedikt , Raabe Janice , Hutzfeldt Arvid , Demir Fatih , Kovalenko Elina , Lassé Moritz , Dugourd Aurelien , Fallegger Robin , Klampe Birgit , Jaegers Johannes , Li Qing , Kravtsova Olha , Crespo-Masip Maria , Palermo Amelia , Fenton Robert A. , Hoxha Elion , Blankenberg Stefan , Kirchhof Paulus , Huber Tobias B. , Laugesen Esben , Zeller Tanja , Chrysopoulou Maria , Saez-Rodriguez Julio , Magnussen Christina , Eschenhagen Thomas , Staruschenko Alexander , Siuzdak Gary , Poulsen Per L. , Schwab Clarissa , Cuello Friederike , Vallon Volker , Rinschen Markus M.
Published: December 2023

BACKGROUND:

SGLT2 (sodium-glucose cotransporter 2) inhibitors (SGLT2i) can protect the kidneys and heart, but the underlying mechanism remains poorly understood.

METHODS:

To gain insights on primary effects of SGLT2i that are not confounded by pathophysiologic processes or are secondary to improvement by SGLT2i, we performed an in-depth proteomics, phosphoproteomics, and metabolomics analysis by integrating signatures from multiple metabolic organs and body fluids after 1 week of SGLT2i treatment of nondiabetic as well as diabetic mice with early and uncomplicated hyperglycemia.

RESULTS:

Kidneys of nondiabetic mice reacted most strongly to SGLT2i in terms of proteomic reconfiguration, including evidence for less early proximal tubule glucotoxicity and a broad downregulation of the apical uptake transport machinery (including sodium, glucose, urate, purine bases, and amino acids), supported by mouse and human SGLT2 interactome studies. SGLT2i affected heart and liver signaling, but more reactive organs included the white adipose tissue, showing more lipolysis, and, particularly, the gut microbiome, with a lower relative abundance of bacteria taxa capable of fermenting phenylalanine and tryptophan to cardiovascular uremic toxins, resulting in lower plasma levels of these compounds (including p-cresol sulfate). SGLT2i was detectable in murine stool samples and its addition to human stool microbiota fermentation recapitulated some murine microbiome findings, suggesting direct inhibition of fermentation of aromatic amino acids and tryptophan. In mice lacking SGLT2 and in patients with decompensated heart failure or diabetes, the SGLT2i likewise reduced circulating p-cresol sulfate, and p-cresol impaired contractility and rhythm in human induced pluripotent stem cell–derived engineered heart tissue.

CONCLUSIONS:

SGLT2i reduced microbiome formation of uremic toxins such as p-cresol sulfate and thereby their body exposure and need for renal detoxification, which, combined with direct kidney effects of SGLT2i, including less proximal tubule glucotoxicity and a broad downregulation of apical transporters (including sodium, amino acid, and urate uptake), provides a metabolic foundation for kidney and cardiovascular protection.
Social Determinants of Health and Disparities in Hypertension and Cardiovascular Diseases
Authors: Chaturvedi Abhishek , Zhu Anqi , Gadela Naga Vaishnavi , Prabhakaran Dorairaj , Jafar Tazeen H.
Published: December 2023

High blood pressure causes over 10 million preventable deaths annually globally. Populations in low- and middle-income countries suffer the most, experiencing increased uncontrolled blood pressure and cardiovascular disease (CVD) deaths. Despite improvements in high-income countries, disparities persist, notably in the United States, where Black individuals face up to 4× higher CVD mortality than White individuals. Social determinants of health encompass complex, multidimensional factors linked to an individual’s birthplace, upbringing, activities, residence, workplaces, socioeconomic and environmental structures, and significantly affect health outcomes, including hypertension and CVD. This review explored how social determinants of health drive disparities in hypertension and related CVD morbidity from a socioecological and life course perspective. We present evidence-based strategies, emphasizing interventions tailored to specific community needs and cross-sector collaboration to address health inequalities rooted in social factors, which are key elements toward achieving the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goal 3.4 for reducing premature CVD mortality by 30% by 2030.
Fetal Sexual Dimorphism and Preeclampsia Among Twin Pregnancies
Authors: Brown Rebekah E. , Noah Akaninyene I. , Hill Ashley V. , Taylor Brandie D.
Published: December 2023

BACKGROUND:

In singleton pregnancies, fetal sexual dimorphism has been observed in hypertensive disorders of pregnancy, particularly preeclampsia, a morbid syndrome that increases the risk of adult-onset cardiovascular disease for mothers and their offspring. However, few studies have explored the effect of fetal sex on hypertensive disorders of pregnancy among twin pregnancies.

METHODS:

We conducted a retrospective cohort study of 1032 twin pregnancies between 2011 and 2022 using data from a perinatal database that recruits participants from 3 hospitals in Houston, TX. We categorized pregnancies based on fetal sex pairings into female/female, male/male, and female/male. Pregnancies with female/female pairs were used as our reference group. Our primary outcomes included gestational hypertension, preeclampsia, superimposed preeclampsia, and preeclampsia subtyped by gestational age of delivery. A modified Poisson regression model with robust error variance was used to calculate the relative risk and 95% CI for the association between fetal sex pairs and hypertensive disorders of pregnancy.

RESULTS:

Adjusted models of female/male pairs were associated with preterm preeclampsia (relative risk, 2.01 [95% CI, 1.15–3.53]) relative to those with female/female pairs. No associations with other hypertensive disorders of pregnancy were observed among pregnancies with male/male pairs compared with those with female/female fetal sex pairs.

CONCLUSIONS:

We found some evidence of sexual dimorphism for preterm preeclampsia among female/male twin pairs. Additional research is needed to understand what biological mechanisms could explain these findings.
King Abdulaziz’s Sabīl (Drinking Fountain) at al-Muʿābada in Makkah al-Mukarramah
Authors: ibn ʿAlī al-Ḥārithī Nāṣir
Published: December 2023

The article is devoted to a consideration of the sabīls established by King Abdulaziz, with emphasis given to the sabīl he built in the district of al-Muʿābada in Makkah al-Mukarrama. Its location, description, and outward appearance are all discussed, as well as its inscriptions, decorative elements, the materials used in its construction, and it architectural style, accompanied by appropriate illustrative material
Passage of spores of the dung moss Tayloria callophylla (Splachnaceae) through an avian digestive tract—a novel mode of dispersal?
Authors: DEREGNIER RYAN J. , MUSSOI JULIANE GAVIRAGHI , GASKETT A.C.
Published: December 2023

The dispersal of reproductive material plays a key role in the ecology of plants. Dung mosses (Splachnaceae), have evolved to utilise insects to disperse spores to habitat sites consisting of dung or dead animals—a marked departure from the wind based spore dispersal seen in other mosses. However, adapting to insect dispersal likely precludes long distance airborne dispersal, and limits dispersal events to the movements of the spore bearing insect. However, there are several disjunct populations of these mosses, incompatible with insect dispersal, raising questions over the manner of their origin. Hypotheses put forward include the dispersal of the mosses to these sites by birds. Here, the possibility that insectivorous birds could internally transport spores is explored by feeding insects bearing spores to captive myna birds. We tested if the spores of the New Zealand dung moss, Tayloria callophylla, can survive gut passage. Ultimately 9 of 10 dung samples produced viable moss colonies after a period of 30 days, demonstrating the survival of the spores through an avian digestive tract. Our results provide evidence for a unique model of dispersal in dung mosses, where a spore bearing insect is eaten by a bird that eats insects transports the spores in its gut over a much greater distance than otherwise likely with the insect alone.
Analysis of Cases Presenting With Concern of Child Abuse or Neglect to a Child Protection Team
Authors: Thompson Kara , Svendsen Sasha
Published: December 2023

Limited data are available on cases presenting for triage by child abuse specialists, particularly data combining patient demographics with presenting concerns and outcomes. This study aims to provide a descriptive analysis of cases presenting to one child abuse medical subspecialty team. Data were collected for all referrals triaged by the Child Protection Program, a child abuse team located within an academic children’s medical center. The program triaged a total of 928 cases and completed 345 in-person visits with a medical provider. Nearly, half of all provider visits were for evaluation of children aged 3 years and younger (51%) and for a concern of physical abuse (49%). Of these visits, 26% were determined to be consistent with an accident or medical condition. This descriptive analysis highlights the burden of child abuse cases presenting to one small hospital-based child abuse program, as well as the structural and financial challenges faced by these programs.
Professional training for strengthening the bond between intervention agent and participant in a psychosocial poverty alleviation programme
Authors: Bunster Elizabeth , Daher Marianne , Rosati Antonia , Guarda Tamara
Published: December 2023

The objective of this article is to identify relevant aspects of the bond between intervention agents and participants for the training of social workers and other professionals who are involved in programmes with a psychosocial component. A qualitative study was done, with 21 interviews with participants, intervention agents and a team leader, which were analysed using Grounded Theory. Transversal and technical skills, sources of training, facilitators and hinderers, and recommendations for training were identified. We conclude on the relevance of training in transversal and technical skills for the agent–participant bond for improving both social work practice and social care policies.
Pathways to organizational commitment: Workplace empowerment and engagement among Spanish social workers
Authors: Borrego Yolanda , Orgambídez Alejandro
Published: December 2023

This study examined the relationship between structural empowerment and affective commitment, mediated by work engagement, in frontline social workers in Spain. Based on two samples (240 participants from public agencies and 226 participants from private agencies) and using linear regression models (bootstrapping method), our results showed two effects in the relationship between structural empowerment and organizational commitment: a direct effect fostering experiences of power and an indirect effect by increasing engagement at work. Empowering human resources management (HRM) practices (access to opportunities, information, resources, and support) is a useful tool for managers and administrators, with strong benefits for both social workers and agencies.
Groundwater Depletion: A Global Challenge for Intergenerational Equity
Authors: Butler James J. , Johnson Carey K.
Published: December 2023

The continuing depletion of the world’s aquifers has given rise to a profound intergenerational inequity, as prospects for future generations have been diminished through the actions of the current and earlier ones. We explore what can be done to confront this depletion-induced inequity, propose a theological framework that supports efforts to address it, and consider possible roles that the pastoral community could play in charting paths to a more sustainable future.
A Discourse Analytic Study of Vehicle Writings in the Iranian Context
Authors: Abdulhay Husain
Published: December 2023

Language, nowadays, as a means of communication, is scrupulously overhauled and dealt with in all disciplines, from social sciences to politics, especially through the lens of critical discourse analysis (CDA), for deciphering encrypted power and prestige encoded by pragmatic features. This study aimed to examine vehicle writings and inscriptions as a discourse form by adopting a discourse-pragmatic analytical approach to extract the key features of language practices of Iranian drivers through the medium of writing. The inscriptions on cars and automobiles were examined for the pragmatic features built on the Gricean model to excavate the existing conversational implicatures and for the critical interpretation through the insight of CDA to unearth the subtle nexus of power, prestige, privilege, control, authority, resistance, dominance, hegemony, inequality and discrimination. The findings uncloaked the evolving turns of Iranian vehicle writings in terms of form and meaning au courant with the quotidian modus operandi. Tradition is seen to be enlaced with a la mode scripts. The traces of power practice in the discourse of the powerless were found as a means of projection on the roads. The blatant instances of flouting maxims were evidenced in all four types of the principles drawn on the criteria.
Considering How India’s Middle East Policy Has Changed and Remained Consistent Since 2019 Under Modi Government
Authors: Rather Abbas Ahmad
Published: December 2023

The review of India’s Middle East strategy under Prime Minister Narendra Modi has garnered attention. Modi’s outreach to Israel, including a historic 2017 visit, departs from India’s traditional pro-Arab and pro-Palestine stance. His subsequent visits to the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Iran, Qatar, and Oman engage major regional players. Does this foreshadow a foreign policy shift? Can Modi’s preferences explain this shift? This paper aims to extract insights on Modi’s influence on this policy evolution. Drawing from foreign policy studies, it questions prevailing interpretations, suggesting a noteworthy change in India’s stance in the Middle East.
Press and Politics: Contributions of Sol Plaatje to South African Journalism
Authors: Salawu Abiodun
Published: December 2023

The article looks into the journalism of Solomon Thekisho Plaatje (popularly known as Sol Plaatje) and his contributions to the early South African black press and politics. Sol Plaatje remains one of South Africa’s most important political and literary figures. He was a pioneer of black press in South Africa. He was a spokesman of his people and an opinion leader among them. He was the first Secretary of the South African Native National Congress (SANNC) which later became the African National Congress (ANC), the current ruling political party in South Africa. His services to war correspondents as secretary, typist or interpreter and ‘liaison officer’ (to war correspondent Vere Stent) laid the foundation for his careers in journalism and writing. Plaatje edited/published a number of Setswana/English newspapers such as Koranta ea Becoana ( Bechuana Gazette), Tsala ea Becoana ( Bechuana Friend) which later became Tsala ea Batho ( Friend of the People) and Our Heritage. He also wrote regularly for English language newspapers such as Star, Pretoria News, Cape Times, Cape Argus and Diamond Fields Advertiser. The study seeks to find out the interplay between Sol Plaatje’s journalism and politics and his contributions to South African journalism as a pioneer of the black press. The study adopts the historical research method. Data gathered for the study were qualitatively analysed. Sol Plaatje’s kind of journalism was developmental as it was geared towards defending his people and re-orientating them to better ideals while at the same time trying to build cohesion with the white populace. The study is a contribution to the reconstruction of media history in the post-apartheid South Africa.
Wind Band, Folk Songs, and Cultural Appropriation: A Time for Response
Authors: Brewer Wesley
Published: December 2023

Wind band has a deep and long-lasting connection to folk-song sources. Societal expectations around music choices and sources are changing, including calls to diversify repertoire and eliminate traditional songs that include offensive language and stereotypes. Concerns about music usage in relation to cultural appropriation are also being amplified. How will teachers, composers, and publishers of band music respond to these calls for change?
The Voter Next Door: Stigma Effects on Advance Voting for Radical Right Parties
Authors: Lindskog Hilma , Dahlberg Stefan , Öhrvall Richard , Oscarsson Henrik
Published: December 2023

Despite the influence of stigmatization on vote choices, little attention has been given to the impact of social stigma on voters’ selection of voting procedures. To bridge this gap, our study focuses on Sweden, where the open-display ballot system at polling stations potentially compromises vote secrecy. Using survey data from the Swedish National Election Studies in 2014 and 2018, we examine the relationship between citizens’ voting procedure choices and their support for a highly stigmatized radical right party, the Sweden Democrats. Our findings reveal that voters of the Sweden Democrats are more inclined to vote in advance, particularly in districts with low general party support, indicating a high level of stigma. We argue that advance voting can be seen as a strategy to safeguard vote secrecy when voting for stigmatized parties within an institutional context featuring public displays of ballots. In addition, our research sheds light on the importance of electoral integrity in maintaining the confidentiality of voters’ choices.
Achieving Senior Tourists’ Active Aging Through Value Co–creation: A Customer-Dominant Logic Perspective
Authors: Fan Daisy X. F. , Buhalis Dimitrios , Fragkaki Evangelia , Tsai Yun-Ru
Published: December 2023

Senior tourists have their own travel behaviors and preferences and require specific resources from the tourism industry and the broader society. This study adopts customer-dominant logic to understand how participating in tourism activities can support seniors in co-creating values toward active aging. Interviews were conducted with 31 senior tourists and 16 tourism and hospitality service providers. Six value themes were identified from the interviews, namely, enjoyment, connectedness, mental vitality, independence, sense of belonging, and self-esteem. The six values were categorized into functional, social, and spiritual dimensions. A value co-creation nexus was developed with continuum- and development-oriented active aging as the two extremes. This nexus highlighted the differentiated efforts exerted by co-creators to create value and identified the value co-creation routines of stakeholders, their corresponding values, and their facilitators. Value co-creation activities were introduced into active aging with tourism as the context. The findings of this study can support the management of tourism services, promote inclusiveness in society, and aid in government policy making.
Update on long-term mental health outcomes in eight face transplant recipients from a single center
Authors: Huelsboemer Lioba , Stögner Viola A. , Hosseini Helia , Hauc Sacha , Boroumand Sam , Parikh Neil , Blood Alexa , Mookerjee Vikram , Kauke-Navarro Martin , Nizzi Marie-Christine , Pomahac Bohdan
Published: December 2023

Objective

Face transplantation is a groundbreaking and complex surgical intervention offering profound physical and psychological benefits to patients with severe facial disfigurements. This report provides an update on the long-term psychosocial outcome of eight face transplant recipients.

Method

All transplant recipients were initially transplanted at Brigham and Women´s Hospital (Boston, USA) between 2011 and 2020 and seen as outpatient patients at Yale New Haven Hospital (New Haven, USA). A mixed-methods approach was used to assess the psychological and social well-being of these patients. The Short-Form 12, Brief-COPE, EQ-VAS and CES-D were administered between October 2022 and October 2023.

Results

Older age of face transplant recipients was significantly and positively associated with better mental health and increased use of both emotional and instrumental support (Brief-COPE). The initial enhancement in patients’ self-reported quality of life, as assessed by the EQVAS, declined on the EQ-VAS score at the last follow-up. Similarly, an increase in depression score was observed (CES-D score) up through the last follow-up assessment. Both of the latter results, however, did not reach statistical significance.

Conclusions

These results underscore the importance of ongoing psychological support throughout the long-term journey of recovery for face transplant recipients. These findings emphasize the need for a comprehensive, patient-centered approach that also addresses the complex psychological dimensions and contributes to our understanding of the mental health dynamics involved in face transplantation, stressing the need for guidelines and continued research in this evolving field.
What do parents really think? Knowledge, beliefs, and self-awareness of parentese in relation to its use in daylong recordings
Authors: Ferjan Ramírez Naja
Published: December 2023

This study focuses on parental use of parentese: the acoustically exaggerated, clear, and higher-pitched speech produced by adults across cultures when they address infants. While previous research shows that parentese enhances language learning and processing, it is still unclear what drives the variability in the amount of parental parentese use. We report on the development of a survey related to parental beliefs, knowledge, and self-awareness of parentese, and the cross-validation of this survey with daylong recordings in which parental parentese was measured through observation. Forty mother–father (18 monolingual English and 22 bilingual Spanish/English) U.S. families with infants between 3 and 24 months of age participated. Scores on the parentese questionnaire showed wide variability, suggesting that many parents were unsure about the effects of parentese on infant language development, and had limited self-awareness of their own parentese use. Almost half of the parents claimed that they talked to their child ‘like an adult’, and a similar number disagreed with the claim that parentese can support language learning. Our observational assessment of parentese demonstrated that all mothers and all fathers used parentese when talking to their infants; mothers in an average of 81% and fathers in an average of 69% of child-directed segments. Importantly, maternal parentese knowledge/beliefs scores, as well as their self-reported parentese use, were significantly positively correlated with observed parentese use; these relations were not significant for fathers. These results demonstrate that maternal and paternal links between beliefs, self-awareness, and behavior may be distinct, emphasizing the importance of studying all caregivers and using observational methodologies. More broadly, a thorough understanding of the factors that shape infants’ language environments contributes to theories of language acquisition and can aid in intervention design.
“Once You Become a Parent, You are a Parent Forever”: An Examination of Memorable Messages About Having Children and Becoming a Parent
Authors: Doohan Eve-Anne M.
Published: December 2023

This study examined memorable messages about the decision to have children and become a parent. A total of 440 memorable messages were coded, and three main themes were found. Advice and considerations included warnings, messages about delaying having children, predictions about changing one’s mind, messages about financial and relational stability, and messages emphasizing personal choice. The theme of positive emphasis included children bring meaning/purpose to life, general positivity, messages about how children complete a family, and messages about how the parent–child relationship is unique and special. Family expectations and influence included messages about a family expectation to have children, family lineage, how the child becomes the caregiver, the parents’ desire to become grandparents, and marriage being a necessity. The memorable messages overall offered both positive and negative portrayals of having children. The continued theorizing about memorable messages is also discussed.
When Was the War in Spain? Liberal State, Illiberal Justice in the Twentieth Century
Authors: Graham Helen
Published: December 2023

The article analyzes increasingly militarized state power and public order in twentieth-century Spain, discussing these in the context of other European states’ disciplinary regimes, with their ubiquitous social-Darwinist dimension in an era of accelerating urbanization, industrial change and emergent mass societies. The article offers a dissection of the often problematically opaque term ‘liberal’, arguing that wherever Spain or other twentieth-century European states were positioned on the dictatorial-through-parliamentary-constitutional spectrum, they all came to be ‘gardening states’ (Bauman). Each state's goal was to sculpt its population as part of a nationalist project – nationalism being the norm, whether named as such or not. Francoism is analysed in this framework, as a hybrid war-born political order blending old-style, top-down military control with new forms of populist mass mobilization from below, the latter enabled and accelerated by the war of 1936–1939. The article defines the Franco dictatorship as fascist in the 1940s and totalitarian for far longer, until macro-economic changes – which its cupola believed for a long time need not affect the deep form of Spanish society – hollowed out Francoism's own ideological categories (and its ‘disciplinary’ efficacy), but not its obsession with social control, which it called ‘social peace’.
Cilia loss on distinct neuron populations differentially alters cocaine-induced locomotion and reward
Authors: Everett Thomas , Ten Eyck Tyler W , Wu Chang-Hung , Shelowitz Amanda L , Stansbury Sofia M , Firek Alexandra , Setlow Barry , McIntyre Jeremy C
Published: December 2023

Background:

Neuronal primary cilia are being recognized for their role in mediating signaling associated with a variety of neurobehaviors, including responses to drugs of abuse. They function as signaling hubs, enriched with a diverse array of G-protein coupled receptors (GPCRs), including several associated with motivation and drug-related behaviors. However, our understanding of how cilia regulate neuronal function and behavior is still limited.

Aims:

The objective of the current study was to investigate the contributions of primary cilia on specific neuronal populations to behavioral responses to cocaine.

Methods:

To test the consequences of cilia loss on cocaine-induced locomotion and reward-related behavior, we selectively ablated cilia from dopaminergic or GAD2-GABAergic neurons in mice.

Results:

Cilia ablation on either population of neurons failed to significantly alter acute locomotor responses to cocaine at a range of doses. With repeated administration, mice lacking cilia on GAD2-GABAergic neurons showed no difference in locomotor sensitization to cocaine compared to wild-type (WT) littermates, whereas mice lacking cilia on dopaminergic neurons exhibited reduced locomotor sensitization to cocaine at 10 and 30 mg/kg. Mice lacking cilia on GAD2-GABAergic neurons showed no difference in cocaine conditioned place preference (CPP), whereas mice lacking cilia on dopaminergic neurons exhibited reduced CPP compared to WT littermates.

Conclusions:

Combined with previous findings using amphetamine, our results show that behavioral effects of cilia ablation are cell- and drug type-specific, and that neuronal cilia contribute to modulation of both the locomotor-inducing and rewarding properties of cocaine.
The de-perimeterisation of information security: The Jericho Forum, zero trust, and narrativity
Authors: Spencer Matt , Pizio Daniele
Published: December 2023

This article analyses the transformation of information security induced by the Jericho Forum, a group of security professionals who argued for a new ‘de-perimeterised’ security model. Having focused on defensive perimeters around networks, early 2000s information security faced a growing set of pressures: the maintainability of firewalls given increasing traffic volume and variety, the vulnerability of interior network domains, and the need to cope with and enable new working arrangements and ways of doing business. De-perimeterisation was a radical rethinking of the nature of security and created the conditions for the rise of ‘Zero Trust’ architectures. This shift has radical implications for the architectures of digital infrastructures that undergird many aspects of contemporary life, the risks to which people and societies are exposed, and the nature of work and business in a digital economy. We develop a semiotic analysis of the Jericho Forum’s interventions. Using insights from material semiotics, security theory and the theory of narrativity, we argue that de-perimeterisation can be understood as a shift in security logic, or, a shift in how security can (be made to) make sense. We examine a cluster of images used by the Jericho Forum, and analyse how they challenged the coherence of perimeter-based thinking and provided the materials for constructing a new model. We argue that a focus on the narrative dimension of security provides a window into fundamental semantic transformations, reciprocal historical relations between semantics and technical change, the agencement of security technologies, and determinations of value (what is worth securing).
Vertical compression performance of fiber-reinforced polymer (FRP) foam sandwich composites in hygrothermal environment
Authors: Zhang Xiangyu , Hu Fangqi , Shi Mingfang , Xu Lidan , Chen Ming , Wang Chenqing
Published: December 2023

The safety of utilizing composites has garnered significant attention due to their widespread application in civil engineering, aerospace, and other fields. In the present investigation, fiber-reinforced foam sandwich composites were fabricated using the vacuum-assisted resin injection (VARI) process. The constant temperature and humidity test chamber is used to carry out damp-heat aging experiments on the specimen, and the mechanical properties after damp-heat aging are studied. The present study aims to examine the vertical compression characteristics of fiber-reinforced foam sandwich composites under the influence of hygrothermal aging. This paper also elucidates the mechanism by which the hygrothermal environment affects these composites. The results indicate that the mechanical properties of the specimens decrease after damp-heat aging. The unidirectional stacked fibers exhibit better resistance to the damp-heat environment compared to the orthogonal stacked fibers. Additionally, the inclusion of drainage holes in the setup can enhance the resistance of the specimens to the damp-heat environment.
Teaching Rational Number Concepts to Fifth-Grade Students Who Struggle With Mathematics
Authors: Flores Margaret M. , Hinton Vanessa M. , Schweck Kelly B.
Published: December 2023

This study’s purpose was to examine the effects of the concrete-representational-abstract integrated (CRA-I) sequence on the performance of students who struggled with rational number concepts. Three students in southeastern U.S. fifth grade class participated in the study. The CRA-I intervention was grounded in the principles of explicit instruction and showed rational number concepts related to fractions and decimals using fraction blocks, number lines, base 10 blocks, and coins. Students learned about unit fractions, fraction magnitude, fraction equivalence, addition of fractions with unlike denominators, equivalent decimals, and notation of fractions as decimals. The researchers used a multiple probe across behaviors design and demonstrated a functional relation between CRA-I and three behaviors: decreased fraction estimation error, accuracy in adding fractions with unlike denominators, and accuracy writing fractions as decimals.
Pre-Service Teachers’ Perceptions of Websites That Feature Research-Based Practices
Authors: Beahm Lydia A. , Mandracchia Nina R. , Cook Bryan G. , Johnson Austin H.
Published: December 2023

Research-based practices generally improve student outcomes but are not regularly implemented with fidelity in classrooms. Websites that feature research-based practices may be used to improve pre-service teachers’ understanding of the practices; however, little is known about pre-service teachers’ experiences with or perceptions of these websites. The purpose of this study was to evaluate and explore pre-service teachers’ perceptions of content related to one effective strategy, self-monitoring, after reviewing three websites that feature research-based practices (i.e., IRIS, Ci3T, and Intervention Central) to which they were randomly assigned. Results indicate that the 168 participating U.S. pre-service teachers increased their perceived understanding of self-monitoring after visiting the websites. In addition, participants identified features of the websites (i.e., videos, real-world examples, implementation guides, assessments, quizzes, resources, and organization) they perceived as helping them understand self-monitoring.
Toxicity assessment of perovskite nanocomposites: In vivo study
Authors: Makableh Yahia , Jarrar Bashir , Al-Shdaifat Areej
Published: December 2023

Perovskite solar cells display potential as a renewable energy source because of their high-power conversion efficiency. However, there is limited understanding regarding the potential impact of perovskite on human health and the ecosystem. In this study, two sets of male Wistar albino rats received 35 injections of perovskite composite at a dosage of 0.372 mg/kg body weight. The animals underwent thorough examinations, encompassing morphometric, hematological, biochemical, histological, and behavioral analyses. Liver, kidney, and testis biopsies were processed and examined histologically. Additionally, two groups of mice (perovskite-treated and control mice, each with n = 10) underwent three behavioral tests: the Elevated Zero Maze test, Marble Burying test, and Light-Dark Box test. Perovskite-treated rats displayed a significant increase in levels of aspartate aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase, alkaline phosphatase, triglycerides, cholesterol, creatinine, blood urea nitrogen, white blood cells, and platelets. However, total bilirubin levels decreased, with no significant alteration in albumin values. Furthermore, exposure to perovskite composite resulted in a slight decrease in lactate dehydrogenase and red blood cell count. Histopathological examination revealed hepatic hydropic degeneration, Kupffer cells hypertrophy and hyperplasia, and renal hydropic degeneration, while testicular tissues remained unaffected. Moreover, behavioral changes were observed in perovskite-treated mice, including depression, anxiety, and compulsive burying activity. These findings suggest that exposure to perovskite can lead to significant hematological and biochemical changes, as well as hepatorenal histopathological alterations and behavioral changes. Additionally, chronic exposure to perovskite materials may induce structural and functional alterations in vital organs.
Sustainable Breastfeeding: A State-of-the Art Review
Authors: Bai Yeon Kyung , Alsaidi Manar
Published: December 2023

Background:

Disparities in breastfeeding rates and exclusivity exist across regions and countries despite multifaceted breastfeeding promotion efforts in recent decades. Markets for artificial milk formula continue to grow as its substitution for breastfeeding is common. A new approach is needed for breastfeeding promotion strategies.

Research Aim:

This state-of-the-art review aimed to describe the implications of not-breastfeeding on the environment within the context of food system sustainability.

Method:

A total of 19 peer-reviewed articles within a 20-year timeframe were included in this review. Authors searched five databases for articles including Science Direct, GreenFILE, Springer Link, ProQuest, and PubMed.

Results:

The demand for artificial milk formula production as a replacement for breastfeeding results in increased greenhouse gas emissions, water pollution, and waste, thereby aggravating problems with freshwater scarcity. A short duration of breastfeeding and limited exclusivity have been associated with close birth spacing and contributing to global population growth. Breastfeeding is a healthy, sustainable diet, and a culturally acceptable first food. It advances health equity and food security. Exclusive breastfeeding for the first 6 months of life can be promoted with emphasis on total carbon footprint reduction, prevention of waterway degradation, and natural birth spacing, thereby sustaining food systems at large.

Conclusion:

It is important to reform food, nutrition, and environmental policies to protect exclusive breastfeeding while decarbonizing artificial milk formula production. More research is needed to provide directions for new breastfeeding promotion strategies connecting breastfeeding with environmental stewardship.
Experimental investigation of the effect of infill parameters on dynamic compressive performance of 3D-Printed carbon fiber reinforced polyethylene terephthalate glycol composites
Authors: Chihi Manel , Tarfaoui Mostapha , Qureshi Yumna , Daly Mohamed , Bouraoui Chokri
Published: December 2023

The current investigation evaluates the compressive response of 3D-printed carbon fiber-reinforced PETG thermoplastics to optimize different infill parameters when loaded at high impact pressures (strain rates). The selected parameters for the 3D printing of different samples are the filling pattern (rectilinear and honeycomb) and the filling density (25%, 50%, and 75%). Compression-split Hopkinson pressure bars (SHPBs) combined with a high-speed camera were used to monitor the evolution of the mechanical behavior and damage kinetics of 3D-printed samples in real-time with the variation in strain rate. The results revealed a significant improvement in compressive strength and compressive modulus when the filling density was increased from 20% to 75% for both patterns. However, the combination of a honeycomb pattern with 75% filling presented the best compressive strength, stiffness and damage resistance, irrespective of impact pressure. In particular, the highest compressive strengths, ranging from 35.5 to 56.16 MPa for impact pressures of 1.4 to 2.4 bar, respectively, were obtained with this configuration (75% honeycomb pattern). This represents a substantial difference of 25 to 38% compared with the 75% rectilinear pattern, which showed values below 35 MPa. Another significant result was observed for the compressive modulus, which reached 2787.8 MPa for the honeycomb-filled samples, whereas this value remained below 2000 MPa for the rectilinear pattern.
We are What We Consume: Predicting Independent Voters’ Voting Preference From Their Media Diet Color
Authors: Chang Chingching , Hung Yu-Chuan , Hsieh Morris
Published: December 2023

Party identification is an important predictor of voting preference, but because a growing percentage of voters do not express any party identification, alternative ways to anticipate voting preferences are required. Partisan slants in voters’ media consumption might offer a relevant proxy. With method triangulation, the current study explores whether media consumption prior to elections can predict voting preferences among independents. Depending on the media outlets adopted by voters and their partisan skew, as detected by Bert machine learning models, the authors calculate an overall partisan slant for each voter’s political information consumption. Data from a nationwide panel survey conducted in Taiwan affirm that their media diet “color” in 2019 can predict independent voters' choices in 2020.
Adaptive passive admittance control of a compliant collaborative robot
Authors: Xu Shoulin , He Bin
Published: December 2023

Compliance of the collaborative robots plays an important role in human-robot interaction. Due to the complex nonlinearities caused by the compliance, and parameter uncertainties, good performance control method for the compliant collaborative robot is always a challenging task. Therefore, to overcome the challenge of the compliance, and uncertain dynamics, this paper develops an adaptive passive admittance control (APAC) approach for a novel compliant collaborative robot, whose compliant mechanism is constituted of the inerters, springs, and dampers. First, through force-current analogy between mechanical network and electrical network, the compliance of the proposed collaborative robot with the inerters, springs, and dampers, is represented by a novel and simplified admittance matrix to facilitate dynamics model of the proposed collaborative robot. Then, for the proposed compliant collaborative robot, an APAC strategy is presented to dispose of the uncertain parameters of the dynamics. The inertial matrix, Coriolis matrix, admittance matrix, and gravity vector of the compliant collaborative robot are expressed as linear representation of orthogonal basis functions by using function approximation technique (FAT). The boundedness of the robot dynamics is proved by detailed stability analysis which uses Lyapunov function. Finally, simulation results indicate that the proposed APAC of the compliant collaborative robot is effective.
Vision based control strategy to suppress residual vibration of flexible beams for robotic assembly using wrist motion
Authors: Jalendra Chetan , Rout Bijay Kumar
Published: December 2023

Automated assembly tasks require industrial robots to improve the efficiency of the manufacturing process. Most rigid or flexible objects handled by robots vibrate due to motion and transient disturbance. This work proposes an active vision-based vibration suppression strategy for flexible beams by providing motion to the wrist of a robot during robotic assembly process, which reduces the time to suppress vibration. The proposed method uses a cheap monocular camera to identify objects through a virtual marker and measure their dimensions. Subsequently, finite element method based mathematical model of a flexible beam predicts the maximum error. The proposed second stage controller determines the controller input in terms of wrist motion based on the predicted maximum error. The performance of the controller is assessed through simulations and experiments on metallic beams with different material characteristics and dimensions. The controller suppresses vibration amplitude within a safe limit so that object is inserted into the slot. It was observed from experiments that the controller can reduce vibration amplitude by ~96% in less than 2 s and decrease suppression time up to ~97%. These improvements were achieved without disturbing the internal robot controller.