bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Review of experimental and analytical techniques to determine H, C, N, and S solubility and metal–silicate partitioning during planetary differentiation
Authors: Dalou Celia , Suer Terry-Ann , Tissandier Laurent , Ofierska Weronika L. , Girani Alice , Sossi Paolo A.
Published: May 2024

During their formation, terrestrial planets underwent a magma ocean phase during which their metallic cores segregated from their silicate mantles and their early atmospheres formed. These planetary formation processes resulted in a redistribution of the abundances of highly volatile elements (HVEs, such as H, C, N, and S) between the planets’ metallic cores, silicate mantles, and atmospheres. This review presents the numerous experimental techniques used to simulate the conditions and identify the parameters that influenced the behavior of HVEs during planetary formation. We also review the analytical techniques used to characterize the different types of experimental samples and quantify the distribution of HVEs between metallic and silicate phases, as well as their solubilities in silicate glasses. This exhaustive review targets students and young researchers beginning their work on the subject, or, more generally, scientists seeking a better understanding of this field of research.
An improved expression and purification protocol enables the structural characterization of Mnt1, an antifungal target from Candida albicans
Authors: Silva Patrícia Alves , Souza Amanda Araújo , de Oliveira Gideane Mendes , Ramada Marcelo Henrique Soller , Hernández Nahúm Valente , Mora-Montes Héctor Manuel , Bueno Renata Vieira , Martins-de-Sa Diogo , de Freitas Sonia Maria , Felipe Maria Sueli Soares , Barbosa João Alexandre Ribeiro Gonçalves
Published: May 2024

Background

Candida albicans is one of the most prevalent fungi causing infections in the world. Mnt1 is a mannosyltransferase that participates in both the cell wall biogenesis and biofilm growth of C. albicans. While the cell wall performs crucial functions in pathogenesis, biofilm growth is correlated with sequestration of drugs by the extracellular matrix. Therefore, antifungals targeting CaMnt1 can compromise fungal development and potentially also render Candida susceptible to drug therapy. Despite its importance, CaMnt1 has not yet been purified to high standards and its biophysical properties are lacking.

Results

We describe a new protocol to obtain high yield of recombinant CaMnt1 in Komagataella phaffii using methanol induction. The purified protein’s identity was confirmed by MALDI-TOF/TOF mass spectroscopy. The Far-UV circular dichroism (CD) spectra demonstrate that the secondary structure of CaMnt1 is compatible with a protein formed by α-helices and β-sheets at pH 7.0. The fluorescence spectroscopy results show that the tertiary structure of CaMnt1 is pH-dependent, with a greater intensity of fluorescence emission at pH 7.0. Using our molecular modeling protocol, we depict for the first time the ternary complex of CaMnt1 bound to its two substrates, which has enabled the identification of residues involved in substrate specificity and catalytic reaction. Our results corroborate the hypothesis that Tyr209 stabilizes the formation of an oxocarbenium ion-like intermediate during nucleophilic attack of the acceptor sugar, opposing the double displacement mechanism proposed by other reports.

Conclusions

The methodology presented here can substantially improve the yield of recombinant CaMnt1 expressed in flask-grown yeasts. In addition, the structural characterization of the fungal mannosyltransferase presents novelties that can be exploited for new antifungal drug’s development.
From plate to profile: investigating the influence of dietary habits and inactive lifestyle on lipid profile in medical students at clerkship
Authors: Haider Nazish , Abbas Uzair , Arif Hibba Erum , Uqaili Arsalan Ahmed , Khowaja Mohiba Ali , Hussain Niaz , Khan Mahtab
Published: May 2024

Background

Dietary habits have a strong association with body lipid levels and hyperlipidemia increases the risk of cardiovascular and metabolic diseases. Dietary habits have been a major concern among medical students due to busy schedules and demanding tasks. This study was designed to know the dietary habits and lifestyle of medical students and its association with their lipid profile.

Methods

We recruited 120 medical students at clerkship of the age of 18 and above. Weekly dietary habits were evaluated by an 18-item questionnaire. Five ml blood was drawn from the students and lipid profiles were measured at Dow Diagnostic Research and Reference Laboratory (DDRRL). Data was analyzed by SPSS V.22.

Results

We found 70% of students were not involved in any physical activity throughout the week. Only 15.83% were following a regular diet plan. 65% of students were eating junk food for more than 3 days a week in their weekly diet. Moreover, 19.2%, 39.2%, 32.5%, and 25.84% of students were having their total cholesterol, triglycerides, HDL, and LDL levels above the optimum ranges respectively which were frequently found in students of final year (p < 0.05). There was high total cholesterol and LDL in males as compared to females (p value < 0.05). Total cholesterol and LDL were associated with skipped meal, use of junk food and carbonated drinks for more than 3 days a week (p < 0.05).

Conclusion

There was a notable number of students with poor dietary habits, inactive lifestyle and lipid levels above the optimum ranges defined by American Heart Association (AHA) that have an association with dietary habits. This is alarming and can impact the health of future healthcare workers. There is a need to investigate the factors and remedies to help medical students to follow a healthy diet and a healthy lifestyle.
Developing indicators for the social benefits of university-industry collaborations
Authors: Ervits Irina
Published: May 2024

This paper focuses on the social benefits of university-industry collaborations (UICs) based on the cases of winners of the Industry-Academia Collaboration Prize presented by the UK Royal Society of Chemistry (RSC) (2010–2023). The research question, which concerns the social and environmental benefits of UICs, has received little attention in the literature, as it focuses mainly on their economic effects. Taking the framework approach to thematic analysis, a list of thematic indicators, which serve as benchmark criteria for evaluating the social impact of UICs in medical, pharmaceutical and chemical industries, is developed. The use of a case study to identify indicators via this approach is appropriate for generating in-depth insights into the characteristics of UICs that have considerable societal impacts. Knowledge creation and contribution to training and improved skills levels constitute the main social benefits of UICs in the three industries cited above. Our findings have practical and theoretical implications, as they emphasize the importance of UICs in fulfilling a specific function in society, namely, facilitating research and developing skills that make the world a better place.
Methods for dreaming about and reimagining digital education
Authors: Otrel-Cass Kathrin , Costello Eamon , Lyngdorf Niels Erik Ruan , Mendel Iris
Published: May 2024

Utilising emancipatory approaches to educational technology in higher education allows welcoming creative and artistic modes of inquiry. This article presents two methods, a virtual makerspace and a guided fantasy story that were applied in a project concerned with rewilding higher education pedagogy. It is argued that the methods encouraged curiosity and care to address diversity and inclusion. They afforded mindfulness of individual needs and welcomed explorations of new directions that challenged potential biases (gender, race, disability or professionality). The article illustrates how these two methods may offer a safe space to dream and imagine educational spaces.
A highly efficient Agrobacterium-mediated infectious system for Sweet potato leaf curl virus and a deltasatellite-based VIGS vector
Authors: Zhang Yi , Yang Xuangang , Huang Lifei , Deng Shulin
Published: May 2024

Plant virus disease is one of the major threats to the yield and quality of sweetpotato (Ipomoea batatas [L.] Lam.), the seventh most important food crop in the world in terms of production. Sweepoviruses are a group of monopartite geminiviruses (genus Begomovirus, family Geminiviridae) that infect Ipomoea plants and cause significant damage. However, investigations on the mechanisms of sweepovirus infection are scarce due to the low efficiency of the current infectious system. In this work, we used the genomic sequence of Sweet potato leaf curl virus (SPLCV) to construct an effective infectious clone, SPLCV-1.01. We optimized the inoculation procedure in Nicotiana benthamiana by improving the Agrobacterium virulence using an induction medium. Finally, we established a highly efficient agroinoculation protocol for SPLCV on sweetpotato. Furthermore, a simple and reliable “Agro-soaking” method was developed for SPLCV on sweetpotato and Ipomoea aquatica. The “Agro-soaking” method also worked well with Tomato yellow leaf curl China virus (TYLCCNV) and Beet severe curly top virus (BSCTV) on tomato. Based on the “Agro-soaking” method and a deltasatellite, the SBG51 VIGS vector worked with the SPLCV-1.01 infectious clone and silenced two endogenous genes IbCHL (magnesium-chelatase subunit) and IbPDS (phytoene desaturase) in two weeks. Moreover, the VIGS system identified IbADK1 (adenosine kinase 1) as a positive regulator to dampen the SPLCV accumulation in sweetpotato. Our work provides a practical method for studying the interaction between sweetpotato and SPLCV and the functional studies of genes in sweetpotato.
Ischemic stroke and COVID-19 infection — a review of clinical case reports
Authors: Malempati M. , Patel M. , Patel J.
Published: May 2024

Background

Despite the availability of vaccines, COVID-19 remains of global concern with seasonal peak in cases across the globe and considering its link to brain pathologies such as stroke. Our aim was to characterize the presence of comorbidities and how the time of COVID-19 infection relative to stroke onset impacts outcomes.

Methods

We reviewed 68 cases of COVID-19 in hospitalized patients with acute stroke. We searched for published case reports using PubMed and Google Scholar limited to publications written in English from September 2019 to December 2022. We excluded systematic reviews from our search result and categorized individual cases into four groups: COVID-19-induced stroke (CIS, those who had COVID-19 shortly before stroke onset), stroke then COVID-19 (STC, those who had COVID-infection immediately following stroke onset), COVID-19 and stroke (CAS, those who presented with both stroke and COVID-19 infection). The following information was extracted and analyzed from included search reports: age, NIHSS score, type of stroke, mortality, functional outcomes, and comorbidities listed.

Conclusions

Most patients who were reported for admission stroke were of middle age, and only more aged individuals presented with concurrent stroke onset and COVID-19 infection. Hypertension was the most prevalent comorbidity across all four groups, especially among the STC group. The poorest functional outcomes and highest inhospital mortality were observed among the STC group when compared to other groups. The concurrent presentation of stroke and COVID-19 infection had the least impact on functional outcome, but COVID-19 infection during acute stroke hospitalization may worsen clinical outcomes especially among individuals with hypertension.
Rare bleeding disorders in Egyptian females presented with heavy menstrual bleeding: single-center study
Authors: El Demerdash Doaa , El Kholy Mohamed Talaat , Ayad Alia Abdel-Aziz , Tawfik Noha , Rakha Magda , Habib Sonia Adolf , EL Said Manal Hamdy , Sobhy George , Yacoub Maha
Published: May 2024

Background

Heavy menstrual bleeding is an important health problem in women of reproductive age and is also one of the most common symptoms in women with bleeding disorders. Data about the frequency of rare bleeding disorders are limited, and population-based studies are lacking, so we aimed to determine the frequency of rare bleeding disorders among women presented with heavy menstrual periods that cannot be attributed to obvious problems.

Methods

Complete blood count and bleeding profiles include activated partial thromboplastin time, prothrombin time, factor VIII activity assay, ristocetin cofactor activity, von Willebrand antigen assay, platelet aggregation tests and other factor assays in 100 out of 300 females presented with unexplained heavy menstrual period, pictorial bleeding assessment chart (PBAC) > 100 as a screening tool for heavy menstrual periods, and or International Society of Thrombosis and Hemostasis-Bleeding Assessment Tool (ISTH-BAT) > 6.

Results

A total of 300 women with heavy menstrual periods without an obvious explained cause were included in our study. Among them, we found 100 (30%) females with a mean PBAC of 234 ± 147 and mean ISTH-BAT of 9 ± 5 denoting HMB may be due to underlying bleeding disorders. Among them, the most common diagnosis was VWD in 30 (30%). Other disorders were as follows: 28 (28%) cases with clotting factor deficiencies, 24 (24%) cases were found to have platelet dysfunction, and in 18% of our studied cases, we did not find a clear cause of their bleeding disorders (unknown).

Conclusion

Rare bleeding disorders are not uncommon and require comprehensive hemostatic evaluation as well as simple tools like PBAC and ISTH-BAT questionnaires for the identification of females presented with unexplained HMB.
Comparing the World Psychiatric Association and European Psychiatric Association Codes of Ethics: Discrepancies and shared grounds
Authors: Sansone Noemi , Tyano Samuel , Melillo Antonio , Schouler-Ocak Meryam , Galderisi Silvana
Published: May 2024

Background

Codes of ethics provide guidance to address ethical challenges encountered in clinical practice. The harmonization of global, regional, and national codes of ethics is important to avoid gaps and discrepancies.

Methods

We compare the European Psychiatric Association (EPA) and the World Psychiatric Association (WPA) Codes of Ethics, addressing main key points, similarities, and divergences.

Results

The WPA and EPA codes are inspired by similar fundamental values but do show a few differences. The two codes have a different structure. The WPA code includes 4 sections and lists 5 overarching principles as the basis of psychiatrists’ clinical practice; the EPA code is articulated in 8 sections, lists 4 ethical principles, and several fundamental values. The EPA code does not include a section on psychiatrists’ education and does not contain specific references to domestic violence and death penalty. Differences can be found in how the two codes address the principle of equity: the EPA code explicitly refers to the principle of universal health care, while the WPA code mentions the principle of equity as reflected in the promotion of distributive justice.

Conclusions

We recommend that both WPA and EPA periodically update their ethical codes to minimize differences, eliminate gaps, and help member societies to develop or revise national codes in line with the principles of the associations they belong to.

Minimizing differences between national and international codes and fostering a continuous dialogue on ethical issues will provide guidance for psychiatrists and will raise awareness of the importance of ethics in our profession.
Hepatocellular carcinoma: Advances in systemic therapies
Authors: Wu Trevor Kwan-Hung , Hui Rex Wan-Hin , Mak Lung-Yi , Fung James , Seto Wai-Kay , Yuen Man-Fung
Published: May 2024

Advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is traditionally associated with limited treatment options and a poor prognosis. Sorafenib, a multiple tyrosine kinase inhibitor, was introduced in 2007 as a first-in-class systemic agent for advanced HCC. After sorafenib, a range of targeted therapies and immunotherapies have demonstrated survival benefits in the past 5 years, revolutionizing the treatment landscape of advanced HCC. More recently, evidence of novel combinations of systemic agents with distinct mechanisms has emerged. In particular, combination trials on atezolizumab plus bevacizumab and durvalumab plus tremelimumab have shown encouraging efficacy. Hence, international societies have revamped their guidelines to incorporate new recommendations for these novel systemic agents. Aside from treatment in advanced HCC, the indications for systemic therapy are expanding. For example, the combination of systemic therapeutics with locoregional therapy (trans-arterial chemoembolization or stereotactic body radiation therapy) has demonstrated promising early results in downstaging HCC. Recent trials have also explored the role of systemic therapy as neoadjuvant treatment for borderline-resectable HCC or as adjuvant treatment to reduce recurrence risk after curative resection. Despite encouraging results from clinical trials, the real-world efficacy of systemic agents in specific patient subgroups (such as patients with advanced cirrhosis, high bleeding risk, renal impairment, or cardiometabolic diseases) remains uncertain. The effect of liver disease etiology on systemic treatment efficacy warrants further research. With an increased understanding of the pathophysiological pathways and accumulation of clinical data, personalized treatment decisions will be possible, and the field of systemic treatment for HCC will continue to evolve.
BASiCS workflow: a step-by-step analysis of expression variability using single cell RNA sequencing data
Authors: O'Callaghan Alan , Eling Nils , Marioni John C. , Vallejos Catalina A.
Published: May 2024

Cell-to-cell gene expression variability is an inherent feature of complex biological systems, such as immunity and development. Single-cell RNA sequencing is a powerful tool to quantify this heterogeneity, but it is prone to strong technical noise. In this article, we describe a step-by-step computational workflow that uses the BASiCS Bioconductor package to robustly quantify expression variability within and between known groups of cells (such as experimental conditions or cell types). BASiCS uses an integrated framework for data normalisation, technical noise quantification and downstream analyses, propagating statistical uncertainty across these steps. Within a single seemingly homogeneous cell population, BASiCS can identify highly variable genes that exhibit strong heterogeneity as well as lowly variable genes with stable expression. BASiCS also uses a probabilistic decision rule to identify changes in expression variability between cell populations, whilst avoiding confounding effects related to differences in technical noise or in overall abundance. Using a publicly available dataset, we guide users through a complete pipeline that includes preliminary steps for quality control, as well as data exploration using the scater and scran Bioconductor packages. The workflow is accompanied by a Docker image that ensures the reproducibility of our results.
Acción de tutela y test de resiliencia
Authors: Pulido Moreno Luz Ayda
Published: May 2024

El propósito de este capítulo es realizar un estudio del requisito de subsidiariedad, el cual había sido entendido por la Corte Constitucional como la ausencia de otro mecanismo para la protección del derecho, pero que, en la actualidad, está siendo estudiado en varios de los fallos de tutela, conforme al test de resiliencia, el cual pretende revisar, además de lo mencionado, la situación de vulnerabilidad del accionante y la capacidad de resistir la situación o la resiliencia. Para cumplir el anterior propósito, en primera medida, se realizará un análisis sobre la acción de tutela, en el cual se incluirán, en su gran mayoría, algunas referencias sobre el requisito de subsidiariedad; posteriormente, se estudiará el test de resiliencia, para, por último, poder llegar a algunas conclusiones respecto de la situación fáctica y teórica de este.
A Theory of Alternating Paths and Blossoms from the Perspective of Minimum Length
Authors: Vazirani Vijay V.
Published: May 2024

The Micali–Vazirani (MV) algorithm for finding a maximum cardinality matching in general graphs, which was published in 1980, remains to this day the most efficient known algorithm for the problem. The current paper gives the first complete and correct proof of this algorithm. The MV algorithm resorts to finding minimum-length augmenting paths. However, such paths fail to satisfy an elementary property, called breadth first search honesty in this paper. In the absence of this property, an exponential time algorithm appears to be called for—just for finding one such path. On the other hand, the MV algorithm accomplishes this and additional tasks in linear time. The saving grace is the various “footholds” offered by the underlying structure, which the algorithm uses in order to perform its key tasks efficiently. The theory expounded in this paper elucidates this rich structure and yields a proof of correctness of the algorithm. It may also be of independent interest as a set of well-knit graph-theoretic facts.

Funding: This work was supported in part by the National Science Foundation [Grant CCF-2230414].
Building oral skill
Authors: Bakopoulou Ioanna
Published: May 2024

Dr Ioanna Bakopoulou discusses the Supporting Spoken Language in the Classroom Programme, which aims to help practitioners develop strong language provision
Nurturing minds
Authors: Willis Richard
Published: May 2024

Richard Willis, visiting professor at the University of South Wales, reviews a book which explores how mindfullness can be integrated into settings. It combines theory, case studies and research to discuss how to improve the emotional wellbeing of our children
Changing nature
Authors: Barclay Meg
Published: May 2024

Meg Barclay, educational consultant and early years reviewer for the School Library Association, reviews books that support children to cope with change in various forms, and learn about the importance of the Okavango Delta as well as protecting our planet
Does AI signal a new age of cyberthreats?
Authors: McConachie Niall
Published: May 2024

As new AI technologies make online impersonation easy and facilitate the crafting of faultless and even personalised phishing emails, we need to radically improve our authentication methods. Too many people still rely on outdated methods such as id/password combinations or SMS-based two-factor authentication. The technology already exists to enable us to prove we are who we say we are online. So the time has come to get everyone using it.
Minimising the risks and maximising the opportunities of generative AI
Authors: Walker Ben
Published: May 2024

It's no secret that threat actors are enthusiastically adopting generative AI systems to help them launch more-effective cyber attacks. Fortunately, it's possible to fight AI with AI. There are new tools becoming available to help organisations protect their data and networks. But you need to know where to use them, when to use them and which are the most appropriate tools for each task.
Dopamine Agonists in the Treatment of Restless Legs Syndrome:
Too Much of a Good Thing?
Authors: Bugnicourt Jean-Marc
Published: May 2024

Restless legs syndrome is a prevalent sensorimotor sleep disorder that worsens the quality of life. Dopamine agonists are widely used to relieve the symptoms of restless legs syndrome, even though these patients are in a “hyperdopaminergic” state. This treatment paradox inevitably leads to augmentation syndrome. Here, we review the pathophysiological basis of this deterioration in patients treated with dopamine agonists. Other treatment options are required with a focus on the neuromodulation of dopaminergic or non-dopaminergic pathways.
Establishing the Law of Parsimony in a Case of Restless Legs Syndrome
Authors: Jha Shreyashi , Pendyala Santosh Kumar , Mahale Rohan Ramachandra
Published: May 2024

Restless legs syndrome (RLS) is a common movement disorder characterized by uncomfortable sensations in the lower limbs relieved by limb movements. Clinical studies have established a possible association between RLS and vitamin B12 deficiency but not a causal one. RLS has rarely been reported as an isolated neurological manifestation of vitamin B12 deficiency. In this case report, we described a 24-year-old young man with RLS who responded poorly to symptomatic therapy. The etiological evaluation suggested vitamin B12 deficiency secondary to pernicious anemia. The patient responded rapidly to vitamin B12 supplementation and clinical manifestations of RLS resolved, suggesting a possible causal relationship.
Assessment of Effects of Carbon Dioxide Exposure on Sleep Stability in Insomnia Using the Envelope Analysis
Authors: Bae Hyoeun , Park Insung , Joo Eun Yeon
Published: May 2024

Objectives: Insomnia is a common sleep disorder, and various strategies have been explored for its treatment. One of the methods involves the administration of carbon dioxide (CO2) at bedtime, as the CO2 increment exerts a sedative effect on the central nervous system. We aimed to assess the effect of CO2 on sleep quality in patients with insomnia using the coefficient of variation of the envelope (CVE) analysis, a novel analytical method. Methods: In this randomized, double-blind, sham-controlled crossover trial, 24 adults with sleeping difficulties underwent level 1 polysomnography. Two interventions involved exposure to either 2% low-concentration CO2 gas or room air. CVE analysis was performed to assess the stability of the delta band. Morphological variations in delta waves can be quantitatively monitored using the envelope analysis, which assesses the effect of manipulations on sleep that may otherwise elude detection. Results: Exposure to CO2 improved the total sleep time (TST) (p=0.010) and total arousal index (TAI) (p=0.011). The CVE analysis showed a distinct distribution between the experimental and sham-controlled groups. Moreover, correlations between the TST and CVE (r=0.41) and those between the TAI and CVE (r=0.40) were observed. Conclusions: This study is the first to evaluate the effects of CO2 exposure on sleep stability in patients with insomnia. The CVE analysis implies the possibility of sleep stabilization by CO2 administration and suggests a link between enhanced sleep maintenance and sleep stability.
Changing Jewish Pilgrimage Sites in the Galilee Region during the Medieval Period
Authors: Ehrlich Michael
Published: May 2024

Abstract: Four reasons led to the change of the main Jewish pilgrimage sites in Galilee from ʿAraba and Dalata to Meron during the twelfth century. The Jewish population abandoned ʿAraba and the community of Dalata declined. During the eleventh century, pilgrims from the Diaspora preferred to participate in a central annual event on the Mount of Olives, organized by the Yeshiva of the Land of Israel, which simulated pilgrimage to the temple. During the twelfth century, the Jewish regional center in the Upper Galilee region had shifted from Jish to Safed. Consequently, the main regional pilgrimage shrine changed from Dalata to Meron. The pilgrimage to Meron was a result of the Frankish ban on Jewish presence in Jerusalem and the Frankish takeover of important shrines venerated by Jews outside the Galilee region. Abstract: Four reasons led to the change of the main Jewish pilgrimage sites in Galilee from ʿAraba and Dalata to Meron during the twelfth century. The Jewish population abandoned ʿAraba and the community of Dalata declined. During the eleventh century, pilgrims from the Diaspora preferred to participate in a central annual event on the Mount of Olives, organized by the Yeshiva of the Land of Israel, which simulated pilgrimage to the Temple. During the twelfth century, the Jewish regional center in the Upper Galilee region had shifted from Jish to Safed. Consequently, the main regional pilgrimage shrine changed from Dalata to Meron. The pilgrimage to Meron was a result of the Frankish ban on Jewish presence in Jerusalem and the Frankish takeover of important shrines venerated by Jews outside the Galilee region.
It's All in the Name: The Narrator's Anonymity in the Babylonian Talmud's Legal Discussions
Authors: Rosenfeld Eliyahu
Published: May 2024

Abstract: The "anonymous voice" in the Babylonian Talmud has troubled scholars and rabbis throughout the ages. However, while anonymity has been discussed from a historical perspective, the question has barely been addressed from a literary point of view. This article examines the narrator's anonymity from a narratological perspective while attempting to understand the effect that anonymity has on the textual dynamics of talmudic halakhic discussions. Through a close examination of the use of names within these discussions, I show that names enable citation, contradiction, and reference to other sayings, ultimately resulting in a "halakhic biography" of the scholar that becomes part of the tradition. In contrast, anonymous sayings cannot be classified, attributed, or cited, thus yielding a narrator who has no biography, and who cannot be confronted with previous sayings, thus providing the discussion with the narrative foundation that enables each discussion to be self-contained.
Fragmentology and Graph Technology: A Case Study of Frankfurt Fragm. Lat. II 11
Authors: Kraus Sven
Published: May 2024

Abstract: The present case study explores a fragment of the medieval poem Pamphilus , found in Frankfurt. This fragment is one of the oldest witnesses of this poem and thus of high interest to better understand the text’s early transmission. The nature of a fragment lends itself to exploratory data analysis using the graph database neo4j. The case study will explore how network metrics can be applied to the study of fragments and show the special care that has to be taken when working with fragmentary material.
Kafka in the Classroom: What We Learn from Roth's Teaching Notes
Authors: Jaffe Miriam
Published: May 2024

Abstract: Roth's personal copy of Kafka's short-story collection, The Penal Colony: Stories and Short Pieces (1948), contains significant marginalia compiled over multiple readings that appear to be his teaching notes. By examining these notes, visitors to the Philip Roth Personal Library have the opportunity to imagine Roth-the-writer with his reading and teaching practices. While many scholars recognize Kafka's influence on Roth's earlier works, this essay connects Roth's teaching notes on Kafka's short story "In the Penal Colony" (1914) to The Human Stain (2000) and Indignation (2008), two novels that take place in college settings and focus on institutional sadism and Arendt's concept of the banality of evil. In Kafka, Roth found a model for articulating distrust in institutions of higher learning, and he uses this model to suggest that these institutions are a spectacle of normalized identity abuse. If the penal colony is an allegory for an institutional orgy of sadism closer to home than Prague, or any number of the Communist countries Roth mentions in The Human Stain and Indignation , that institution might be the twenty-first-century university.
Identifying the twist factor of twisted partially coherent optical beams
Authors: Li Jia-Jie , Chen Jun , Qi Guo-Zhen , Li Jin-Zhen
Published: May 2024

Twisted partially coherent light, characterized by its unique twist factor, offers novel control over the statistical properties of random light. However, the recognition of the twist factor remains a challenge due to the low coherence and the stochastic nature of the optical beam. This paper introduces a method for the recognition of twisted partially coherent beams by utilizing a circular aperture at the source plane. This aperture produces a characteristic hollow intensity structure due to the twist phase. A deep learning model is then trained to identify the twist factor of these beams based on this signature. The model, while simple in structure, effectively eliminates the need for complex optimization layers, streamlining the recognition process. This approach offers a promising solution for enhancing the detection of twisted light and paves the way for future research in this field.
Glucose and trehalose metabolism through the cyclic pentose phosphate pathway shapes pathogen resistance and host protection in Drosophila
Authors: Kazek Michalina , Chodáková Lenka , Lehr Katharina , Strych Lukáš , Nedbalová Pavla , McMullen Ellen , Bajgar Adam , Opekar Stanislav , Šimek Petr , Moos Martin , Doležal Tomáš
Published: May 2024

Activation of immune cells requires the remodeling of cell metabolism in order to support immune function. We study these metabolic changes through the infection of Drosophila larvae by parasitoid wasp. The parasitoid egg is neutralized by differentiating lamellocytes, which encapsulate the egg. A melanization cascade is initiated, producing toxic molecules to destroy the egg while the capsule also protects the host from the toxic reaction. We combined transcriptomics and metabolomics, including 13C-labeled glucose and trehalose tracing, as well as genetic manipulation of sugar metabolism to study changes in metabolism, specifically in Drosophila hemocytes. We found that hemocytes increase the expression of several carbohydrate transporters and accordingly uptake more sugar during infection. These carbohydrates are metabolized by increased glycolysis, associated with lactate production, and cyclic pentose phosphate pathway (PPP), in which glucose-6-phosphate is re-oxidized to maximize NADPH yield. Oxidative PPP is required for lamellocyte differentiation and resistance, as is systemic trehalose metabolism. In addition, fully differentiated lamellocytes use a cytoplasmic form of trehalase to cleave trehalose to glucose and fuel cyclic PPP. Intracellular trehalose metabolism is not required for lamellocyte differentiation, but its down-regulation elevates levels of reactive oxygen species, associated with increased resistance and reduced fitness. Our results suggest that sugar metabolism, and specifically cyclic PPP, within immune cells is important not only to fight infection but also to protect the host from its own immune response and for ensuring fitness of the survivor.
Challenges faced by human resources for health in Morocco: A scoping review
Authors: Al Hassani Wafaa , Achhab Youness El , Nejjari Chakib
Published: May 2024

Background

Human resources for health (HRH) play a pivotal role in effective health system operation, yet various impediments challenge sustainable development. This scoping review aimed to explore these challenges and potential solutions in aligning the health workforce to meet the evolving healthcare needs of the Moroccan population.

Methods

We conducted a scoping review searching PubMed, Science Direct, Cairn and Google Scholar for relevant articles published between 2014 and 2023. Additionally, non-peer-reviewed literature sourced from Ministry of Health consultations and allied websites was included.

Results

Among the nineteen studies meeting our inclusion criteria, the majority were cross-sectional and predominantly focused on challenges faced by nurses. While some papers delineated multiple HRH challenges (5/19), the rest addressed specific challenges. The identified challenges span organizational and personal levels. Organizationally, the focus was on training, lifelong learning, continuing education, health coverage and shortages, and job satisfaction. At a personal level, HRH in the public health sector encountered challenges such as burnout, stress, and broader occupational health concerns.

Conclusions

The reviewed publications underscored a spectrum of challenges necessitating robust policy interventions. Despite promising developments in the Moroccan healthcare system, addressing the unequal urban-rural HRH distribution, augmenting funding, and enhancing HRH quality of life stand as pivotal imperatives.
Coordination between scientific and technological innovation and the high-quality development of Baijiu industry: The coupling and decoupling perspective
Authors: Wu Zhixia , Zheng Xiazhong , Chen Yijun , Huang Shan , Duan Chenfei , Hu Wenli
Published: May 2024

The Baijiu industry is a significant contributor to both the food industry and the light industry. Its high tax characteristics effectively promote the sustainable development of the regional economy. First, the evaluation index system of scientific and technological innovation (STI) and high-quality development of Baijiu industry (HQDBI) were constructed. The entropy-improved CRITIC method was used to measure the weights. Second, the coordination relationship and evolution trend of STI and HQDBI were explored using the coupling coordination model and the Tapio decoupling model. Then, the transfer law and key influencing factors were further investigated using the Markov chain and grey correlation, respectively. The main contribution is the dynamic evolution of the coupling and decoupling relationships from the perspective of multiple Baijiu provinces, and deeply depicts the coordination relationship and evolutionary trends of STI and HQDBI. The results show that: the spatial distribution of the coupling coordination degree shows high values in the east-west and low values in the north-south characteristics. In 2021, a pattern of coordinated development in Baijiu provinces has emerged along the Yangtze River basin. The decoupling state is mainly strong decoupling, but it remains poor in Shanxi. The coordination process is unstable and difficult to achieve leapfrog development. Coordination, sustainability and innovation environment have a greater impact on the coordination of subsystems.
Downregulation of RCN1 inhibits esophageal squamous cell carcinoma progression and M2 macrophage polarization
Authors: Guo Haiyang , Shu Jinghao , Hu Guangbing , Liu Bingyang , Li Jie , Sun Jinhong , Wang Xiaobo , Liu Han , Xiong Shiyu , Tang Yong , Yin Yaolin , Wang Xianfei
Published: May 2024

Reticulocalbin 1 (RCN1) is a calcium-binding protein involved in the regulation of calcium homeostasis in the endoplasmic reticulum. The aim of this study was to explore the clinical value and biological role of RCN1 in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC). In addition, we investigated the effect of RCN1 on the polarization of tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs). The GSE53625 dataset from the Gene Expression Omnibus database was used to analyze the expression of RCN1 mRNA and its relationship with clinical value and immune cell infiltration. Immunohistochemistry was used to validate the expression of RCN1 and its correlation with clinicopathological characteristics. Subsequently, transwell and cell scratch assays were conducted to evaluate the migration and invasion abilities of ESCC cells. The expression levels of epithelial–mesenchymal transition (EMT)-related proteins were evaluated by western blot, while apoptosis was detected by flow cytometry and western blot. Additionally, qRT‒PCR was utilized to evaluate the role of RCN1 in macrophage polarization. RCN1 was significantly upregulated in ESCC tissues and was closely associated with lymphatic metastasis and a poor prognosis, and was an independent prognostic factor for ESCC in patients. Knockdown of RCN1 significantly inhibited the migration, invasion, and EMT of ESCC cells, and promoted cell apoptosis. In addition, RCN1 downregulation inhibited M2 polarization. RCN1 is upregulated in ESCC patients and is negatively correlated with patient prognosis. Knocking down RCN1 inhibits ESCC progression and M2 polarization. RCN1 can serve as a potential diagnostic and prognostic indicator for ESCC, and targeting RCN1 is a very promising therapeutic strategy.
An improved diagnostic method for taurodontism and a comparative study on its effectiveness evaluation
Authors: Da Yunmeng , Zhang Le , Chai Zhihong , Du Hongfang , Hao Lele , Zhang Li , Zhang Zhiyin , Shen Yongfan
Published: May 2024

Objective

The two commonly used diagnostic methods for taurodontism are susceptible to aging changes, mastication wear and other factors. Therefore, this study proposed an improved diagnostic method for taurodontism, and compared it with the previous two methods as a supplement for taurodontism diagnosis.

Methods

The included patients were aged 10–89 years and admitted to the Department of Stomatology of Hebei Eye Hospital from June 1, 2022 to May 31, 2023. Eighty cone-beam computed tomography images were divided equally into 4 groups: 10–29, 30–49, 50–69, and 70–89 years old. The right mandibular first molars were selected as measurement objects. Firstly, |BD| and taurodontism index (TI)-related parameters were measured using Shifman and Chanannel’s method and crown-body(CB) and root (R) lengths was measured by Seow and Lai’s method. The improved method used the length from the cementoenamel junction(CEJ) to the root bifurcation point(body, B)and the root length(root, R)as the measurement objects. Finally, TI, CB/R ratios, and B/R ratios were calculated according to the formulas given below. One-way ANOVA analysis was mainly used to compare the differences in the values, indices and ratios of taurodontism among different age groups (p<0.05).

Results

With the increase of age, |BD| and TI values decreased significantly (p<0.01). The CB/R ratios of 70–89 years group were significantly lower than those of the other three groups (p<0.01). Ratios derived from the improved method were significantly lower in the 70–89 years than in 10–29 years group (p<0.05).

Conclusions

The |BD| and TI parameters proposed by Shifman and channel are significantly influenced by age. The measurements of Seow and Lai (CB/R ratios) were less affected by age compared with those of the former. The improved method(B/R ratios) was least affected by age, which would reduce error and bias in the measurement of taurodontism and obtain more objective results in older patients.
Who’s in and who’s out of (queer) fashion (studies)?
Authors: Filippello Roberto , Zhang Erique
Published: May 2024

Despite vast scholarship on LGBTQ+ fashion, within fashion studies there is still a relative lack of engagement with transgender identities and epistemologies. ‘Transgender Embodiment in Fashion and Beauty’ interrogates how trans people and their experiences have been minimized within fashion studies and argues for an expansive and interdisciplinary understanding of what trans fashion studies might be. To do so, this Special Issue brings together scholars from a variety of fields, including trans studies, Black studies, design history, performance studies and postcolonial studies, to reflect on the trans/fashion nexus. It ultimately aims to pave the way for researchers to excavate unknown or obliterated fashion histories and to centre trans identity as the field of fashion studies continues to evolve.
Selfie Aesthetics: Seeing Trans Feminist Futures in Self-Representational Art, Nicole Erin Morse (2022)
Authors: Gonzales Drew
Published: May 2024

Review of: Selfie Aesthetics: Seeing Trans Feminist Futures in Self-Representational Art, Nicole Erin Morse (2022)

Durham, NC: Duke University Press, 179 pp.,

ISBN 978-1-47801-814-8, p/bk, $26
Clandestine fashion amidst war and migration: Murat, trans Afghan women and politics of (un)belonging
Authors: Munhazim Ahmad Qais
Published: May 2024

Discourses around Afghan women’s fashion and beauty during the so-called War on Terror have been used to justify interventions and war. From the Beauty Academy of Kabul to Vogue’s Burqa series, Afghan women have lurked within the possibilities and impossibilities of the traditionally oppressed and modernly liberated. Trans Afghan women have remained invisible. Building on the feminist critique of the discourse of beauty in Afghanistan, this article brings into conversation the everyday performances of fashion and beauty in the lives of murat, trans Afghan women. Through a de/colonial ethnography of three murat/trans Afghan women in Kabul, Afghanistan, and Dublin, Ireland, I argue that clandestine fashion for some murat/trans Afghan women becomes means of belonging and sites of negotiations with home and exile. Some use fashion to escape the everyday violence of war and refugeeism, while others use it to disrupt the heterosexist gaze on the streets of metropolitan cities such as Kabul and Dublin and give visibility to trans women and their embodiment of fashion as political acts of resistance. ‘Clandestine fashion’ and beauty embodiment and performances of these trans Afghan women shed light on everyday security, friendship/kinship, joy and the complexities of trans refugee life during times of war and exile.
Activist Affordances: How Disabled People Improvise More Habitable Worlds, Arseli Dokumaci (2023)
Authors: Boyd Rachel
Published: May 2024

Review of: Activist Affordances: How Disabled People Improvise More Habitable Worlds, Arseli Dokumaci (2023)

Durham, NC: Duke University Press, 336 pp.,

ISBN 978-1-4780-1924-4, p/bk, $28.95
Frans de Waal, filósofo do direito
Authors: Portela Lopes De Almeida Fábio
Published: May 2024

A alegação de que apenas os humanos são capazes de raciocinar e agir normativamente é profundamente inconsistente com a teoria evolutiva, embora estejam na raiz de muitas premissas assumidas como incontestáveis na teoria jurídica. Recentemente, nos últimos trinta ou quarenta anos, a etologia e a primatologia vêm apresentando evidências de que outros animais também são agentes capazes de cooperar com base em normas sociais. Nesse âmbito, as pesquisas de Frans de Waal ofereceram um pilar fundamental à investigação do comportamento de primatas e outros mamíferos, como elefantes e golfinhos. O presente artigo pretende apresentar como a obra do etólogo pode fornecer subsídios à revisitação de temas clássicos na teoria do direito. No texto, discute-se como Frans de Waal possibilita incorporar na filosofia jurídica a adequada compreensão da cognição moral como lastro à teorização sobre a noção de sujeito de direito e os direitos dos animais, bem como arquitetar um contra-argumento à falácia naturalista como obstáculo a uma visão naturalizada do direito.
Os exames estandardizados estaduais e a constituição de políticas educacionais para a avaliação: Uma análise comparada do Paebes (Brasil) e do Exeims-BC (México)
Authors: Dutra Kézia Alves Moreira , Negreiros Heitor Lopes , Santos Wagner dos
Published: May 2024

Este artigo analisa, de maneira comparada, as políticas de avaliação que estabelecem a criação, organização, implementação e continuidade dos exames estandardizados estaduais Paebes/Espírito Santo (Brasil) e Exeims-BC/Baja Califórnia (México). Compreendendo, a partir   desses contextos e da organização federativa dos países, como essas avaliações e seus resultados influenciam a criação de novas políticas avaliativas e materializam os impactos de tais políticas par a os sujeitos envolvidos nesse processo. Caracteriza-se como uma pesquisa qualitativa de natureza exploratória, que assume o método comparativo como abordagem teórico-metodológica. Como fontes, utilizamos documentos oficiais dos governos, das provas e também informações obtidas em websites dos órgãos competentes. Os resultados apontam que os exames são similares quanto ao contexto estadual, nacional e internacional, todavia a ascensão do setor privado no Espírito Santo se mostra mais evidente por meio do Paebes. Percebemos que existe uma tendência de centralização das políticas do tipo high stakes com a intensificação do accountability, tanto no Espírito Santo, quanto na Baja Califórnia. Fica evidenciado que esse tipo de avaliação tangencia não só o contexto de criação das políticas educacionais, mas também de dotação orçamentária e a criação de novos contextos de disputas e busca por desempenho escolar.