bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Protective Effects of NaHS/miR-133a-3p on Lipopolysaccharide-Induced Cardiomyocytes Injury
Authors: Jin Yi-Mei , Huang Ai-Rong , Yu Mei-qian , Ye Wan-Ding , Hu Xiao-guang , Wang Hua-min , Xu Zhi-wei , Liang Dong-shi
Published: December 2023

Objective. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of sodium hydrosulfide (NaHS) on Lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced cardiomyocyte injury in H9c2 cells. Methods. H9c2 cardiomyocytes cultivated with medium containing 10 μg/mL LPS were used to recapitulate the phenotypes of those in sepsis. Two sequential experiments were performed. The first contained a control group, a LPS group, and a LPS + NaHS group, with the aim to assure the protective effects of NaHS on LPS-treated cardiomyocytes. The second experiment added a fourth group, the LPS + NaHS + miR-133a-3p inhibition group, with the aim to preliminarily explore whether miR-133-3p exerts a protective function downstream of NaHS. The adenosine triphosphate (ATP) kit was used to detect ATP content; real-time quantitative polynucleotide chain reaction (qPCR) was used to measure the levels of mammalian targets of rapamycin (mTOR), AMP-dependent protein kinase (AMPK), and miR-133a-3p, and Western blot (WB) was used to detect protein levels of mTOR, AMPK, myosin-like Bcl2 interacting protein (Beclin-1), microtubule-associated protein 1 light chain 3 (LC3I/II), and P62 (sequestosome-1, sqstm-1/P62). Results. Compared with the control group, the expressions of miR-133a-3p (

P

 < 0.001), P62 (

P

 < 0.001), and the content of ATP (

P

 < 0.001) decreased, while the expressions of Beclin-1 (

P

 = 0.023) and LC3I/II (

P

 = 0.048) increased in the LPS group. Compared with the LPS group, the expressions of miR-133a-3p (

P

 < 0.001), P62 (

P

 < 0.001), and the content of ATP (

P

 < 0.001) in the NaHS + LPS group increased, while the expressions of Beclin-1 (

P

 = 0.023) and LC3I/II (

P

 = 0.022) decreased. Compared with the NaHS + LPS group, the expression levels of miR-133a-3p (

P

 < 0.001), P62 (

P

 = 0.001), and the content of ATP (

P

 < 0.001) in the LPS + NaHS + miR-133a-3p inhibition group were downregulated, and the expression levels of Beclin-1 (

P

 = 0.012) and LC3I/II (

P

 = 0.010) were upregulated. The difference was statistically significant. There was no significant difference in the expression of AMPK and mTOR between groups. Conclusion. Our research demonstrated that NaHS relieved LPS-induced myocardial injury in H9c2 by promoting the expression of miR-133a-3p, inhibiting autophagy in cardiomyocytes, and restoring cellular ATP levels.
The Impact of Hot Ambient Temperature and Prolonged Fasting Duration during Ramadan on Patients with Chronic Kidney Disease: A Literature Review
Authors: AlSahow Ali
Published: December 2023

The Islamic (lunar) calendar has 11 fewer days each year than the Gregorian (solar) calendar. Consequently, ambient temperatures during the month of Ramadan and the duration of the presunrise-to-sunset fast will change each year. At some point, individuals observing Ramadan will experience prolonged periods of fasting during the hot summer months. In this manuscript, findings published in the English-language medical literature that address the impact of prolonged fasting during the warmer summer months on patients with chronic kidney disease, including dialysis and transplantation patients, are reviewed. This is of particular concern given the accelerated pace of global warming. The limitations of the evidence that is currently available are also discussed, and an approach that might be used to standardize future evaluations of the impact of fasting on kidney health is suggested.
The Association between Working Hours with Vigilance and Executive Function of Intensive Care Unit Nurses
Authors: Jing Meng-Juan , Li Hao , Li Chun-Peng , Wei Xiao-Jing , Lin Wei-Quan , Zhu Shi-Chao , Xu Yu-Lin , Li Li-Ming
Published: December 2023

Background. Vigilance and executive functions are integral to nursing practice. Prolonged working hours are associated with heightened fatigue and increased nursing errors. However, the impact of work duration on the vigilance and executive function of ICU nurses remains unexplored. Objective. This study aims to elucidate the association between ICU nurses’ working hours, vigilance, and executive function. Design. A cross-sectional study. Setting. Intensive care medicine department of a tertiary hospital in Zhengzhou, China. Participants. A total of 51 registered nurses who participated in 12 h shifts in the ICU completed the survey. Methods. E-prime software was employed to develop four test tasks to measure the vigilance and executive functioning of ICU nurses. The test was performed before the start of the shift and after 4, 8, and 12 h. Results. The analysis revealed no statistically significant differences in the response time of vigilance for ICU nurses across shifts (

p
=
0.503

) or working hours (

p
=
0.078

). However, a significant difference existed in lapses across working hours (

p
=
0.005

), significantly increasing after 8 and 12 h. The analysis indicated a significant difference in Flanker effect size across different working hours (

p
=
0.035

). The analysis revealed no significant differences in the switch cost (

p
=
0.200

) or response accuracy (

p
=
0.479

) of the task switching across working hours. The response accuracy for the 2-back task differed significantly (

p
=
0.003

) across working hours. Conclusion. Limited evidence demonstrated that vigilance and specific aspects of executive functioning (inhibitory control and working memory) of ICU nurses were negatively correlated with the duration of their work in a real clinical setting. Furthermore, no vigilance and executive function differences were identified between day and night shifts. Implications for Nursing Management. Nursing administrators should reconsider scheduling 12 h shifts, shortening shifts, or implementing short rest periods to reduce fatigue and cognitive load. In addition, flexible scheduling and rationalizing the order of work may help reduce the possible risks associated with prolonged work.
Sex Differences in the Allele Distribution of PGLYRP2 Variant rs892145 in Parkinson’s Disease
Authors: Ran Caroline , Wirdefeldt Karin , Sydow Olof , Svenningsson Per , Diaz Heijtz Rochellys
Published: December 2023

Introduction. Parkinson’s disease (PD) is a complex multifactorial disease, involving genetic susceptibility, environmental risk factors, and gene-environmental interactions. The microbiota-gut-brain axis is hypothesized to play a role in the pathophysiology of PD, and peptidoglycan recognition proteins (PGLYRPs), which modulate the gut microbiota, are, therefore, relevant candidate genes for PD. Methods. Using quantitative real-time PCR, we genotyped three PGLYRP variants (rs892145, rs959117, and rs10888557) and performed an association analysis in 508 PD patients and 585 control individuals. We further conducted a meta-analysis of rs892145 and analyzed PGLYRP2 gene expression in lymphocytes from patients with PD and controls. Results. Although initial analysis of the three variants rs892145, rs959117, and rs10888557 and a meta-analysis of rs892145 did not reveal any association between the selected variants and PD, we found an interaction between sex and genotype for rs892145, with a marked difference in the allele distribution of rs892145 between male and female patients. As compared to controls, the T allele was less common in female patients (odds ratio = 0.76,

P

 = 0.04) and more common in male patients (odds ratio = 1.29,

P

 = 0.04). No difference was found in PGLYRP2 gene expression between PD patients and controls (

P

 = 0.38), nor between sexes (

P

 = 0.07). Discussion. Overall, this genetic screening in Swedish PD patients does not support previous results demonstrating associations of PGLYRP variants with the risk of PD. Meta-analysis of rs892145 revealed pronounced heterogeneity between previously published studies which is likely to have influenced the results. Taken together, the genetic and gene expression analyses suggest a possible link between genetic variants in PGLYRP2 and sex differences in PD. Because of the limited sample size in our study, these results need to be verified in independent cohorts before concluding.
Tailoring Multiferroic Characteristics in LaFeO3 Nanocrystals via Rare-Earth Pr3+ Doping
Authors: Raji Ramesh Kumar , Ramachandran Tholkappiyan , Hamed Fathalla , S Srinivasa
Published: December 2023

Multiferroic materials have sparked significant interest in the realm of materials science because of their potential impact on various device applications. This study focuses on the synthesis of nanocrystalline La1−xPrxFeO3 (LPFO) materials, where x can be either 0 or 0.5, using a solid-state technique. The aim is to gain insights into their structural, optical, dielectric, and magnetic properties. To confirm the chemical phase of the synthesized materials, X-ray diffractometer and Raman spectroscopy were employed. The outcome of the Rietveld analysis reveals that the LPFO crystallites exhibit orthorhombic symmetry with a Pbnm space group. The functional groups that were present in the LPFO samples were identified using FT-IR spectroscopic analysis. The morphological studies using scanning electron microscope and transmission electron microscope indicate that the synthesized samples exhibit excellent homogeneity with uniformly distributed grains. In order to investigate the dielectric constant (εʹ) and dielectric loss (tan δ) were examined as functions of temperature and frequency. Pr3+ dopants had a notable impact on the dielectric characteristics, particularly within the frequency span of 10 kHz–1 MHz and over the temperature variation of 40–160°C. The ambient temperature magnetic properties of the LPFO ferrite materials displayed antiferromagnetic behavior. Ultimately, this research reveals insightful information on the structural, optical, dielectric, and magnetic properties of the synthesized nanocrystalline LPFO materials, shedding light on their potential applications in the multifunctional devices.
A Class of Efficient Algorithms for the Bi-Level Demand Adjustment Problems in Congested Traffic Networks
Authors: Cheng Lan , Xie Jun , Huang Jun , Feng Liyang , Wang Qianni , Yang Hongtai
Published: December 2023

This paper studies a class of gradient-descent heuristic algorithms for the bi-level demand adjustment problem (DAP), which seeks to adjust origin-destination (OD) matrices based on observed link flows in congested transportation networks. We first present a general gradient-descent solution framework for the bi-level DAP and then examine and further develop its two building blocks, namely, the gradient approximation and stepsize calculation. This paper presents two gradient approximation and four stepsize calculation methods, of which two stepsize methods are newly developed. Similarities and differences between these algorithms, as well as the relevant implementation issues are discussed in great detail. The numerical results show that algorithms employing the new stepsize calculation strategies consistently outperform existing algorithms in terms of both computational precision and efficiency.
Study on Antipyretic Properties of Phenolics in Lonicerae Japonicae Flos Based on Ultrahigh Performance Liquid Chromatography-Tandem Mass Spectrometry Combined with Network Pharmacology
Authors: Xiong Lewen , Huang Wenjing , Liu Yan , Zhao Hongwei , Wang Yang , Jin Ying , Zhang Longfei , Zhang Yongqing
Published: December 2023

Objective. To identify and quantify the active phenolic components in Lonicerae japonicae flos (LJF) for fever treatment and their mechanism of action using network pharmacology and molecular docking. Methods. Based on qualitative analysis of LJF, 194 phenolics were obtained, including 81 phenolic acids and 113 flavonoids. Gene Ontology and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes pathway analyses were used to identify potential targets for these components to interact with fever. Molecular docking with microsomal PGE2 synthase-1, EP1, EP2, EP3, and EP4 targets was used to determine antipyretic components. The antipyretic efficacy of the main components was verified by in vivo experiments. Finally, high-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry was used to quantify the main antipyretic components of LJF. Results. Phenolics in LJF may prevent and treat fever by participating in calcium signaling, regulating TRP channels, and cAMP signaling. Luteolin-7-O-glucoside, apigenin-7-O-glucoside, 3,5-O-dicaffeoylquinic acid, luteolin, and other components have a good docking effect with PGE2 synthase-1 and its four subtypes. 3,5-O-dicaffeoylquinic acid, luteolin-7-O-glucoside, and apigenin-7-O-glucoside have good antipyretic effects in a yeast-induced pyrexia model. The content of these antipyretic components varies with the developmental period of LJF. Phenolic acids are the main components that distinguish the different developmental periods of LJF. Conclusion. The potential antipyretic components and molecular mechanisms of phenolics provide a basis for the traditional medicinal effects and future development and utilization of LJF.
Characterizing Granuloma Annulare in 73 Pediatric Patients
Authors: Stolarczyk Ania , Bawany Fatima , Hernandez Simon , Scott Glynis A. , Cordisco Maria R.
Published: December 2023

Background. Granuloma annulare (GA) is a common, benign, idiopathic inflammatory dermatosis. Aside from case reports and small studies, there are limited data about the characteristics of GA in children. Objective. This study aimed to better characterize the epidemiologic and clinical features, triggering factors, disease associations, and outcomes of GA in the pediatric population. Methods. We conducted a retrospective study of 73 pediatric patients diagnosed with GA at the University of Rochester Medical Center over a 7-year period. Results. The most common subtype was localized GA (71.2%, n = 52), followed by subcutaneous (also known as “deep GA”; 16.4%, n = 12) and generalized (12.3%, n = 9) subtypes. Over 90% of patients had idiopathic GA, with the remaining patients reporting viral infection or trauma as triggers. Half of the patients studied had comorbid conditions, most frequently atopic dermatitis (17.8%, n = 13), obesity (9.59%, n = 7), asthma (6.85%, n = 5), and allergic rhinitis (6.85%, n = 5). The median duration of the disease was 11.00 months (interquartile range (IQR) 15.75 months); generalized GA had the shortest duration (median 10.00 months, IQR 15.50 months), while subcutaneous GA had the longest duration (median 12.00 months and IQR 29.00 months). Although recurrence rates for subcutaneous and generalized GA were high at 45.5% and 33.3%, respectively, most patients achieved clearance or improvement with treatment. Conclusion. Most cases of GA in our study were idiopathic, with no clear differences between GA subtypes and associated comorbidities. Topical steroids were the most prescribed treatment with mixed efficacy.
Between Uncertainty and Integration: Exploring the Influence of Legal Precarity on Refugee Socio-Economic Integration in Sweden
Authors:   Institute for Research on Migration, Ethnicity and Society (REMESO), Department of Culture and Society (IKOS), Linköping University, Norrköping, Slavnić Zoran , Obućina Ognjen ,   Institut national d’études démographiques (INED), Aubervilliers
Published: December 2023

The importance of legal status for the integration of refugees and other migrants has long been recognised by researchers. Previous literature generally indicates that an unfavourable legal status often has adverse consequences on socio-economic integration outcomes. The aim of this article is to compare the socio-economic outcomes of two refugee groups from Bosnia-Herzegovina who came to Sweden during the 1990s. The two groups are arguably similar, with the principal difference being their legal status upon arrival. To elucidate, one group was able to regulate its legal status after an average of eight months after arrival in Sweden, while the other group waited for longer than four years. We analyse the short- and long-term outcomes of both adult and child refugees. Our results differ from those obtained in most previous studies conducted in other social contexts. We find that the difference in the length of the waiting period and the level of exposure to a precarious legal status did not result in a substantial difference in the degree of long-term socio-economic integration among refugees from these two groups. For most indicators, the differences are marginal and not significant, especially when looking at the outcomes of child refugees. Moreover, when differences in outcomes are observed, they tend to favour the precarious status group (except for the earnings in the year 2000).
“I Am No Foundling”: Al-Makzūn al-Sinǧārī Responds to Ibn al-Fāriḍ’s Poem of the Way
Authors: McAuley Denis E.
Published: December 2023

This article is a translation and analysis of a poem by the Nuṣayrī (ʿAlawī) poet al-Makzūn al-Sinǧārī (d. 638/1240) responding to a masterpiece of Arabic Sufi poetry, the Poem of the Way by his contemporary ʿUmar b. al-Fāriḍ (d. 632/1235). Al-Makzūn uses Ibn al-Fāriḍ’s own words to paint him as a false claimant outside the genealogy of true lovers. As against Ibn al-Fāriḍ’s mysticism of identification with an immanent beloved and his focus on the holy sites, al-Makzūn posits a transcendent beloved that reflects a human image without taking human form, and a Mecca built purely on semantic associations. The poem shows that Ibn al-Fāriḍ’s alleged belief in incarnation (ḥulūl) was being debated from an early stage, and that Nuṣayrīs in this period engaged more closely with Sunni Sufi literature than often assumed. Al-Makzūn emerges as a subtle thinker and accomplished poet whose work has long been neglected.
Suffix Diversity and Arabic Language Phonological Typology
Authors: Owens Jonathan , Embarki Mohamed
Published: December 2023

The complexities of Arabic phonology have been documented in detail in particular in the dialectological and theoretical phonological traditions. In this paper we argue for the incorporation of a third perspective into Arabic linguistics, an Arabic-internal typological perspective. Eleven geographically representative dialects are compared along a common parameter, the structure of simple CaCaC nouns and verbs, followed by the addition of first one, then two suffixes. The suffixes are either identical across the noun/verb categories or are closely parallel. These basic structures are treated descriptively, and in addition two quantified indices, a paradigm diversity index and a consistency index are developed to facilitate a comparative overview. The phonological parameters are fundamental to Arabic: the treatment of short stressed/unstressed vowels in open syllables, constraints on CCC sequences or trisyllabic syncope for instance. What emerges is a cline of increasing phonological complexity as one, then two suffixes are added. Most striking, however, is the role played by morphophonology in informing the ever increasing degree of variation among the eleven dialects. Arabic syllabic phonology and morphophonology emerges as paradoxically at one and the same time, parsimonious and complex. A very few phonological rules produce a very high degree of contrastive forms among the eleven dialects.
The Polish Rulers and the Catholic Missionaries from the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth in the Black Sea Region (1625–1721)
Authors: Królikowska-Jedlińska Natalia
Published: December 2023

The paper examines the key elements characterizing the Polish rulers’ policy towards the Polish-Lithuanian Catholic missionaries in the Orient through three vital events of its history: the establishment and development of the Dominican mission in the Crimea (1625–1659), the plans of John II Casimir Vasa and Louise Marie Gonzaga to found the network of Jesuit stations in three Oriental capitals in the 1650s, and the invigoration of the Polish Jesuits’ activity in Persia connected with John III Sobieski’s attempts to win the support of the Safavids for an anti-Ottoman alliance in the last quarter of the 17th century. These episodes show that the Polish-Lithuanian missionaries from the Dominican order in the Crimea received limited diplomatic and financial assistance from Poland-Lithuania. The two remaining reveal how Polish rulers were able to support the missionaries, who alongside their missionary work were supposed to perform some diplomatic tasks. Between 1653 and 1654, the royal couple invested considerable funds to send particular members of the Societatis Iesu to the Oriental capitals. The following few years proved, however, that Poland-Lithuania could not provide sufficient diplomatic support to ensure the longevity of this project, especially after the outbreak of the mid-seventeenth-century wars on its territory. The increased activity of the Polish Jesuits in Persia was also observed during the war of the Holy League with the Ottoman empire, strictly connected with John III Sobieski’s hopes to win the shah for the anti-Ottoman coalition. The death of the royal patron, followed by the outbreak of the Great Northern War, combined with hostility from the Gregorian Armenians and the increasingly influential Shiʾi clergy, proved to have tragic consequences for the Polish Jesuits’ missionary project in Persia.
‘Love of the Nation’ and the Church in China: An Issue of Belonging and Moral Identity
Authors: Buchholz Meiken
Published: December 2023

This article contributes to a deeper understanding of Christian patriotism in China by reflecting on the phenomenon from a pastoral-theological perspective and by considering the sociocultural meaning of patriotism in the Chinese context. Through three examples, the author analyzes different discourses of Christian patriotic identity, which represent a large specter of contemporary Protestant Christianity in China. She demonstrates that the phenomenon of Chinese Christian patriotism primarily concerns moral identity and is only secondarily a political issue.
Racialized Experiences with Host Nationals: The Experiences of U.S. Religious Cross-cultural Workers of Color
Authors: Huang Lindsey
Published: December 2023

Religious cross-cultural workers of color (RCCWC s) from the United States serve in international contexts with their own racialized dynamics. In order to explore how race shapes RCCWC s’ experiences with host nationals, sixteen qualitative interviews with RCCWC s were conducted. Three major findings emerged from the data: (1) sharing a similar racial or ethnic identity with host nationals results in perceived advantages and disadvantages, (2) racialized encounters prompted reflection on racial and ethnic identity, and (3) strategies developed to deal with racialized fatigue contributed to resilience. The findings of this study contribute to the academic literature on race in intercultural contexts and have practical implications for U.S. sending organizations and RCCWC s.
Apparent nutrient digestibility, metabolizable energy and apparent ileal amino acid digestibility of commercial partially defatted Hermetia illucens meal for laying hens
Authors: Kwakernaak C. , Spankeren M.V. , Dalim M. , Loureiro B.A. , Star L. , Paul A.
Published: December 2023

A digestibility study with laying hens was carried out to determine the nutritional value of a commercial and representative (batch to batch variance adjusted) insect meal based on Hermetia illucens (HI) larvae, (from black soldier fly) which was the objective in this study. A basal diet (BD; CP 15%), formulated and fed as such and an experimental diet (HD; CP 21%) consisting of BD with inclusion of 18% of the HI meal were used in the study. The BD and HD were fed to eight and six replicate metabolic cages, respectively, with eight Dekalb White laying hens each from 25 to 27 weeks of age. Diets (pelleted with TiO2 as marker) and water were available for ad libitum intake. Excreta was collected during the last three days to determine AMEn and apparent total tract faecal nutrient digestibility coefficients (ATTDC). Distal ileal content was collected at the last day of the experiment to determine apparent ileal amino acids digestibility of diets and HI meal. Using table values for endogenous losses standardised ileal amino acids digestibility coefficient (SIDC) of HI meal were also calculated. Analysed nutrients (g/kg) in HI meal were: 47 moisture, 529 crude protein, 71 ash, 135 fat and thus 218 was calculated as carbohydrates. Determined AME AMEn for HI meal was 3,846 kcal/kg dry matter (DM) and AMEn was 3,498 3,671 kcal/kg DM and ATTDC AFD for crude protein, crude fat and carbohydrates was 0.830, 0.940 and 0.680, respectively. Average SID coefficient for the 18 amino acids was 0.861 86.1%. Among indispensable amino acids SIDC ranged from 0.790% for threonine to 0.950% for phenylalanine and was 0.840% for lysine. These findings highlight that HI meal is an interesting alternative protein source for soybean meal (SBM). Besides market prices and availability, demands for more sustainable poultry production will determine the use of HI meals as alternative for SBM in poultry diets in the near future, especially in regions where SBM is imported from overseas.
The Changing Role of the Police in the People’s Republic of China, 1949–1966
Authors: Wang Juan
Published: December 2023

In mid-1966, the police in China reportedly assisted mass killings of “class enemies” or showed indifference to such events when they were enacted by others. Why did the police, as a coercive apparatus of the communist regime, not execute these class enemies, as they had done between 1949 and 1957 in the movements to suppress and eliminate counterrevolutionaries? And why did the police, as a state organ for maintaining public order, not take action to prevent or halt these killings? Drawing primarily on original archival documents, this article studies the evolving role of the police and its shifting priorities between 1949 and 1966. It shows that, after an initial expansion followed by a partial contraction, official police responsibilities transitioned from enforcing selective punishment and maintaining public order to assisting or overlooking revolutionary violence.
The Organic Crisis of a Colonised State: Bulgaria in the Eye of the Pandemic, 2020–2022
Authors: McKay Ian
Published: December 2023

Bulgaria’s particularly tragic experience with covid-19, with one of the largest death tolls per 100,000 in Europe, can be analysed in terms of purely natural factors (more lethal variants), the foibles and missteps of leaders, and unpredictable vaccine supplies. From a Gramscian critical materialist perspective, the pattern is better understood in terms of four interlocking structures: Bulgaria’s subaltern status as a downtrodden colony of Europe, its mode of insertion into globalised capitalism, the Orthodox Church’s strenuous effort to maintain its hegemonic position within Bulgarian nationalism, and the crisis of hegemony that engulfed a government already reliant on corruption more than persuasion, with an inchoate and ideologically variegated ‘Great National Revolt’ against it coinciding with the pandemic. The upshot of these structures was a rate of vaccination that was unusually low by European standards, leaving many Bulgarians, especially the elderly, lethally exposed to the disease and harmed by a widely distrusted corrupt neoliberal state.
Dancing to Show Love, Practicing to Show Authority: The Practice of Dhamāl in the Qalandārī Sufi Order (Sehwan Sharīf, Pakistan)
Authors: Ortis Delphine
Published: December 2023

In this article, I argue that by creating the dhamāl seven centuries ago, Lāl Shahbāz Qalandar (13th century), a saint of the Qalandarī Sufi order, demonstrated auctoritas. In this way, he shaped the singularity of his saintly figure and gave himself a perennial existence. By reiterating his aesthetic gesture, the practitioners of the dhamāl recognize his authority, making it endure in Sehwan (and beyond). This article shows how this town works daily to perpetuate the dhamāl as a “rite of institution” that lawfully transgress the limits imposed by the social order and orthopraxis Islam. Through the description and analysis of dhamāls, I will show that its practitioners work to legitimize their authority and that the recognition of this by Sehwani society is linked to how they dance, respecting or not of the implicit rules of the Qalandarī.
From Promised Land to Perilous Plight: Unpacking Tensions, Contestations and Marginalisation in Resettlement Schemes of Zimbabwe
Authors: FleMandipaza Brian
Published: December 2023

Phase 1 of the Land Reform Programme soon after independence redistributed land previously owned by white farmers to the majority of black Zimbabweans. In understanding this phase, previous studies have emphasised on how it was structured, the tenure systems, the beneficiaries and land use patterns. However, the existing socio-political landscape, livelihoods and well-being of resettled farmers have been understudied. This article examines tensions between resettled farmers and illegal settlers using empirical qualitative data from a case study in the Nyajezi resettlement scheme, Nyanga District. The article presents new forms of conflicts, contestations and marginalisation in resettlement schemes.
Measuring Text-Focused Reading Instruction
Authors: Cohen Julie , Miller Luke C. , Chung Rosalie , Wiseman Emily , Ruzek Erik
Published: December 2023

Helping students engage with complex texts has been a longstanding challenge, though teachers have received little guidance about practices that help students in engaging with texts. This paper provides a range of empirical evidence about a tool designed to provide formative insight into text-focused teaching, which we used to reliably score more than 500 reading lessons in a large district. We describe the structure of the tool, its relationship to other measures of teaching, teacher and school attributes, and student outcomes. We then provide guidance to practitioners and researchers seeking to employ such a tool for teacher development.
Family Perspectives on Promoting Paid Employment for Individuals With Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities
Authors: Schwartzman Benjamin C. , Lanchak Emily R. , Carter Erik W. , Guest Laura E. , McMillan Elise D. , Taylor Julie L.
Published: December 2023

Although families can be critical partners in the pursuit of paid employment of individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDDs), their insights and experiences in this area are rarely explored. We interviewed 60 parents and other caregivers about the factors that could facilitate integrated employment for their family members with IDD. Participants described dozens of distinct practices and postures that contributed to finding and maintaining paid work in the community. Their recommendations spanned eight major categories: employment mindsets, skill development, family supports, hands-on work experiences, employer connections, job fit, transportation, and workplace supports. We offer recommendations for research and practice aimed at increasing access to the array of benefits that come through meaningful work in one’s community.
Novel functional and fail-safe knitted heating structures via the dedicated serial-parallel circuits for heating design approach
Authors: Warncke Mareen N , Mersch Johannes , Nocke Andreas , Häntzsche Eric , Grácová Andrea , Wieczorek Florian , Cherif Chokri
Published: December 2023

This paper presents the simulation-based development of a novel knitted design of textile heating structures based on dedicated serial-parallel circuits for heating (DSPCh) using silver-plated yarns processed via knitting technology. The DSPCh approach features dedicated and spatially bounded sub-circuits, ensuring even heat distribution and resilience against circuit failures in smart textiles with heating functionality. The study finds that the conductor arrangement and knitting pattern significantly affect the heating performance. DSPCh structures achieve even more heat distribution than serial and parallel circuit designs. Due to its binding, the developed basic pattern based on the right–left knit is less electrically conductive than that based on the right–right knit.

Results show that DSPCh structures exhibit a favorable heat level and uniform heat distribution suitable for wearable textiles close to the body. The comparison with other circuit designs demonstrates higher temperatures of maximum 132°C and temperature differences up to 100 K, making DSPCh structures suitable for functional underwear. In addition, the experiments reveal that the heating performance is minimally degraded after standard machine-washing and care protocols. The investigations demonstrate that the DSPCh structures are suitable for actively heatable functional underwear, and simulation tools can aid in predicting temperatures and heat distribution for various textile designs.
The effect of mechanical action on the release of microplastic fibers during washing
Authors: Liu Guangmin , Wang Ke , Wang Laili , Wu Meiliang , Liu Hong
Published: December 2023

The release of microplastic fibers (MPFs) during washing is the main source of microplastic pollution in water environment. Mechanical action is the principle factor affecting the release of MPFs during washing. In order to better understand the effect of washing mechanical action on the release of MPFs, a washing simulation device was designed to study the effects of abrasion action, hydrodynamic flow action and beating action on the release of MPFs. The results show that there is a certain amount of floating MPF in the fabric due to the production process. The floating MPFs can be released in large quantities even though the mechanical action is weak, accounting for about 28% of the total MPF release. In addition, the release of secondary MPFs increases with the mechanical action. The increase of the abrasion times between fabric and fabric has the most significant effect on the release of MPFs. Compared with 60 abrasion times, the number of MPFs increased by about 16% and the average length decreased by 40% when abrasion was 5000 times. This study enhances the understanding of how mechanical action during washing affects the release of MPFs. This emphasizes the impact of floating MPFs, as well as the need to optimize the washing process to reduce the emission of MPFs.
Shape memory surface adhesion control based on PU-CNC/PS electrospun composite films
Authors: Yu Xiang , Fan Weiqiang , Wang Yongzhen , Liu Rulin , Zou Jing , Liu Yaming , Zhi Chao , Meng Jiaguang
Published: December 2023

Wettability is a fundamental property of solid surfaces. The adhesion of liquids to solid surfaces, especially the intelligent control of surface adhesion, plays an important role in the wettability field, showing broad prospects in self-cleaning, anti-icing, oil–water separation and chemical reactions, etc. In this work, a new shape memory composite film was prepared by electrospinning, consisting of water-responsive shape memory substrate of polyurethane-cellulose nanocrystalline composite fibers and a superhydrophobic polystyrene spindle-fiber surface. Benefiting from the water-responsive shape memory performance of polyurethane-cellulose nanocrystalline substrate, the polystyrene surface spindle-fiber microstructures show sparse-dense switching during the stretching-recovery shape memory cycle, giving rise to smart control of surface adhesive behavior in superhydrophobic high-low adhesion. Given the flexibility and versatility, we demonstrate applications of the shape memory composite film in lossless droplet transfer, selective manipulation of multiple droplets, and smart detection. The composite film would provide potential applications in intelligent platforms, microliquid systems, and wearable fields, etc.
Leaps in the womb of Asia: Transformative intercultural discipleship in a sacred space
Authors: Yang Xiaoli
Published: December 2023

The 21st century is marked by the explosive growth of Christianity in the Global South. While discipleship is identified as the key to success in the missional movement in the western church, it has been inherently embodied in the indigenous church movement in Asia in the endeavor of evangelism and mission. In addition to the traditional gospel proclamation through church planting strategies, spiritual companionship, a ministry of accompanying someone in a sacred space through deep listening and discernment, has been gradually recognized as an effective one-on-one discipleship in recent years among groups who are receptive to the untamed movement of the Spirit. Using the metaphor of a pregnant mother carrying a baby and experiencing leaps in the womb (Lk 1:41), this article traces the engagement of intercultural discipleship through listening to the sacred stories of several mission leaders in Asia. Following the transformative narratives of their divine encounters, it discerns three key movements of the Spirit, metaphorically speaking, the “leaps” in the womb: listening with trust; turning with symbols; and kicking with expectation. Drawing from the works of anthropologists, theologians, and missiologists, it interacts the contemporary Asian experience with ancient Confucian texts and the Christian Scriptures, nuancing the traditional understanding of intercultural discipleship and evangelism. It aims to show that prophetic spiritual companionship is an integral part of discipleship and evangelism, therefore indispensable to the indigenous church mission movement. It is hoped that it also provides an impetus and resources for teaching and practice of the global church in its endeavor to revitalize faith in a post-Christendom and post-secular world.
Thoracic Spine Mobility and Posture: Correlation and Predictive Values in Physically Independent Older Adults
Authors: de Sousa Almeida Ana Paula , Matsui Edine Kavano Kitahara , da Silva Fabio Nascimento , de Oliveira Vasconcelos Fernanda Borges , de Oliveira Márcio Rogério
Published: December 2023

The posture undergoes changes during aging and may serve as a marker for the evaluation of the thoracic spine. This study aimed to correlate the variables for the evaluation of thoracic spine mobility and propose predictive equation models from the measurements of the thoracic Schober test and the digital inclinometer in older adults. The mobility of thoracic flexion and extension by levels (T1, T8 and T12) of 41 older adult subjects (66 ± 7 years) was quantified with a digital inclinometer (degrees) and Schober’s test (cm). There was a moderate positive correlation between the digital inclinometer and the Schober test at T1 (r = .69), T12 (r = .60), and total flexion levels T1 to T12 (r = .74). Simple linear regression equations showed that thoracic Schober predicts thoracic mobility measures for these same levels. Moderate to strong correlations were observed between the inclinometer and the Schober Test measurements. The development of predictive equation models based on the thoracic Schober test could potentially enhance the ability to predict spinal mobility in physically independent older adults.
Colonial lessons to learn from Habsburg: Bosnia-Herzegovina, 1878–1918
Authors: Ruthner Clemens
Published: December 2023

In 1878, as a consequence of an international Balkan summit in Berlin, Austria–Hungary was given permission to occupy the troubled Ottoman provinces Bosnia and Hercegovina. A gory invasion campaign ensued, followed by four decades of civil administration. Finally, the territories were annexated by the Habsburg Monarchy in 1908 as an appendix of sorts, which almost caused the premature outbreak of a great war in Europe. This article will sketch the background for this last – and lethal – expansion of the empire and pursue the research questions of (a) whether this constitutes a case of colonialism within Europe and (b) what its repercussions were, critically challenging the alleged ‘civilising mission’ that would legitimise the whole undertaking.
Number of Siblings and Mental Health Among Adolescents: Evidence From the U.S. and China
Authors: Downey Douglas B. , Cao Rui
Published: December 2023

A growing number of children are being raised with few or no siblings yet the consequences of this seismic demographic shift in family forms are not well understood. We investigate this question in the U.S. and China because previous studies highlight how contextual features can play an important role shaping how siblings matter. Our Chinese analyses draw on more than 9,400 eighth graders from the China Education Panel Study (CEPS). In the U.S., we analyze over 9,100 American eighth graders from the Early Childhood Longitudinal Study—Kindergarten Cohort of 1998 (ECLS-K:98), where our data allow us to consider multiple features of the sibship structure (e.g., size, sex composition, and density). We find that number of siblings is negatively associated with mental health in both China and the U.S., although the details of this pattern (non-linear association, sisters versus brothers, and closely versus widely spaced siblings) vary.
Development and Content Validation of a Measure to Assess the Parent-Child Social-emotional Reciprocity of Children with ASD
Authors: Nayak Asmita , Khuntia Rooplekha
Published: December 2023

Background:

As no scales are currently available to assess the social-emotional reciprocity (SER) between children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and their parents, we aimed to develop a questionnaire for this.

Methods:

Both quantitative and qualitative techniques were used for content validation. All stages of this study used purposive sampling to choose various groups of experts, mental health professionals, and parents of children with ASD to participate in the development, judgment-quantifying, and pretest stages. Data from 30 parents of children with ASD were gathered for the field test.

Results:

Thirty items were retained after content validation. The proportion of consensus regarding the comprehensiveness of the entire questionnaire was 1.00. The scale-level content validity index (CVI) by averaging calculation method and universal agreement calculation method were 0.95 and 0.50, respectively. Following the pretest, a total of 23 questions, on a five-point scale, were retained.

Conclusion:

Given the significance of SER between children with ASD and their parents, mental health practitioners should use this questionnaire to understand it to maximize the efficacy of any intervention.
Impaired face symmetry detection under alcohol, but no ‘beer goggles’ effect
Authors: Harvey Alistair J , White Ciara , Madelin Kathleen , Morrison Ed
Published: December 2023

Background:

The ‘beer goggles’ phenomenon describes sexual attraction to individuals when alcohol intoxicated whom we would not desire when sober. One possible explanation of the effect is that alcohol impairs the detection of facial asymmetry, thus lowering the drinker’s threshold for physical attraction.

Aims:

We therefore tested the hypotheses that higher breath alcohol drinkers would award more generous ratings of attractiveness to asymmetrical faces, and be poorer at discriminating bilateral facial asymmetry than less intoxicated counterparts.

Methods:

Ninety-nine male and female bar patrons rated 18 individual faces for attractiveness and symmetry. Each type of rating was given twice, once per face with an enhanced asymmetry and once again for each face in its natural form. Participants then judged which of two same-face versions (one normal, the other perfectly symmetrised) was more attractive and, in the final task, more symmetrical.

Results:

Alcohol had no influence on attractiveness judgements but higher blood alcohol concentrations were associated with higher symmetry ratings. Furthermore, as predicted, heavily intoxicated individuals were less able to distinguish natural from perfectly symmetrised face versions than more sober drinkers.

Conclusions:

Findings therefore suggest alcohol impairs face asymmetry detection, but it seems that this perceptual distortion does not contribute to the ‘beer goggles’ phenomenon.
Unraveling the brain's response to hypoglycemia: Neurovascular coupling
Authors: Duarte João MN , Schwaninger Markus
Published: December 2023

Functional magnetic resonance imaging has suggested the possibility that hypoglycemia could interfere with neurovascular coupling. Here we discuss the implications of a study by Nippert and colleagues showing that hypoglycemia does not impair neurovascular coupling.
Evaluation of the Midpalatal Suture and its Correlation with the Cervical Vertebral Maturation Stages and Second Molar Mineralization Stages: A CBCT Study
Authors: Munusamy Naveen , Tandon Pradeep , Singh Gyan , Singh Gulshan , Nagar Amit , Patil Ranjit
Published: December 2023

Objectives

To evaluate and correlate the maturation stage of the midpalatal suture, CVM stages, mandibular left second molar mineralization stages of the subjects by CBCT.

Materials and Methods

One hundred subjects (55 males and 45 females) with a mean age of 13.56 ± 4.46 years, were divided into five midpalatal suture maturational stage groups (A to E). Cervical vertebral maturational stages on lateral cephalograms and second molar mineralization stages on orthopantograms from the CBCT images obtained from Carestream CS 9300C 3D system were analyzed and correlation among them were calculated by Spearman’s coefficient of correlation and midpalatal suture maturation stage prediction accuracy estimated with sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, and likelihood ratio.

Results

Spearman’s correlation analysis showed a highly significant ( p value < .001) and positive correlation between MPS stage and CVM Stage ( r = 0.930), MPS stage and mandibular left second molar mineralization stage ( r = 0.757), and CVM stage and mandibular left second molar mineralization stage ( r = 0.760).

Conclusion

Cervical vertebral maturation stages 1,2, and 3 can be used clinically to predict the midpalatal suture maturation stages A, B, and C, respectively, as their likelihood ratios were more than 10. Second molar mineralization stages had less predictive value for MPS stages.
Chinatowns: Indirect Casualties of the Pandemic
Authors: Hu Yunshu , Zhang Tianyi , Zhuang Yuerong
Published: December 2023

The COVID-19 pandemic greatly reduced business activities, yet the negative effect was not homogeneous. We study how sentiment towards China in US major cities impact their Chinatown visits, utilizing mobility data at the census tract level and sentiment analysis from ProQuest news articles. Difference-in-difference analysis indicates that the Chinatowns in cities where the COVID-related new articles generally expressing negative sentiment towards China experienced a greater reduction in the number of visits. The result is corroborated by a placebo test that examines the number of visits to Little Italy, another type of ethnic neighborhood whose visits do not seem to be influenced by the sentiment towards China. The disparity in Chinatown visits persists across various sentiment measurement methods and varies by demographic group.

JEL Codes: I1, R1