bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Interpretation of optical absorption loss measurements in synthetic sapphire using positron annihilation lifetime spectroscopy
Authors: Ma Jessica , Hu Xunxiang , Li Congyi , Wirth Brian , Thomas Michael , Spicer James
Published: May 2021

Sapphire should be highly transparent for photon energies less than the band gap, but residual, weak absorption and scattering losses in the near infrared occur as a result of extrinsic and intrinsic defects. Lattice disorder, impurities, and point defects have all been implicated as being the origin of loss phenomena but very little experimental evidence exists to quantitatively establish the relationships that might exist between these defects and optical loss. In this study, three synthetic, c-axis sapphire samples manufactured under similar conditions were characterized using UV-VIS spectroscopy, photothermal common-path interferometry, and positron annihilation lifetime spectroscopy. Model-based interpretation of optical measurements indicated that vacancy-type defects were partially responsible for absorption loss from the ultraviolet to the near-infrared and that the population densities differed among the samples. Positron annihilation lifetime spectroscopy measurements also indicated a higher concentration of cationic vacancy defects near the sample surface which correlates with a higher surface optical loss. This work establishes the use of positron annihilation techniques as a characterization tool for optical materials that could be useful for investigating the origin of weak surface absorption in the transparent region of sapphire.
Regulation of the plastochron by three many-noded dwarf genes in barley
Authors: Hibara Ken-ichiro , Miya Masayuki , Benvenuto Sean Akira , Hibara-Matsuo Naoko , Mimura Manaki , Yoshikawa Takanori , Suzuki Masaharu , Kusaba Makoto , Taketa Shin , Itoh Jun-ichi
Published: May 2021

The plastochron, the time interval between the formation of two successive leaves, is an important determinant of plant architecture. We genetically and phenotypically investigated many-noded dwarf (mnd) mutants in barley. The mnd mutants exhibited a shortened plastochron and a decreased leaf blade length, and resembled previously reported plastochron1 (pla1), pla2, and pla3 mutants in rice. In addition, the maturation of mnd leaves was accelerated, similar to pla mutants in rice. Several barley mnd alleles were derived from three genes—MND1, MND4, and MND8. Although MND4 coincided with a cytochrome P450 family gene that is a homolog of rice PLA1, we clarified that MND1 and MND8 encode an N-acetyltransferase-like protein and a MATE transporter-family protein, which are respectively orthologs of rice GW6a and maize BIGE1 and unrelated to PLA2 or PLA3. Expression analyses of the three MND genes revealed that MND1 and MND4 were expressed in limited regions of the shoot apical meristem and leaf primordia, but MND8 did not exhibit a specific expression pattern around the shoot apex. In addition, the expression levels of the three genes were interdependent among the various mutant backgrounds. Genetic analyses using the double mutants mnd4mnd8 and mnd1mnd8 indicated that MND1 and MND4 regulate the plastochron independently of MND8, suggesting that the plastochron in barley is controlled by multiple genetic pathways involving MND1, MND4, and MND8. Correlation analysis between leaf number and leaf blade length indicated that both traits exhibited a strong negative association among different genetic backgrounds but not in the same genetic background. We propose that MND genes function in the regulation of the plastochron and leaf growth and revealed conserved and diverse aspects of plastochron regulation via comparative analysis of barley and rice.
Environmentally triggered shifts in steelhead migration behavior and consequences for survival in the mid-Columbia River
Authors: Siegel Jared E. , Crozier Lisa G. , Wiesebron Lauren E. , Widener Daniel L.
Published: May 2021

The majority of Columbia River summer-run steelhead encounter high river temperatures (near or > 20°C) during their spawning migration. While some steelhead pass through the mid-Columbia River in a matter of days, others use tributary habitats as temperature refuges for periods that can last months. Using PIT tag detection data from adult return years 2004–2016, we fit 3-component mixture models to differentiate between “fast”, “slow”, and “overwintering” migration behaviors in five aggregated population groups. Fast fish migrated straight through the reach on average in ~7–9 days while slow fish delayed their migration for weeks to months, and overwintering fish generally took ~150–250 days. We then fit covariate models to examine what factors contributed to the probability of migration delay during summer months (slow or overwintering behaviors), and to explore how migration delay related to mortality. Finally, to account for the impact of extended residence times in the reach for fish that delayed, we compared patterns in estimated average daily rates of mortality between migration behaviors and across population groups. Results suggest that migration delay was primarily triggered by high river temperatures but temperature thresholds for delay were lowest just before the seasonal peak in river temperatures. While all populations groups demonstrated these general patterns, we documented substantial variability in temperature thresholds and length of average delays across population groups. Although migration delay was related to higher reach mortality, it was also related to lower average daily mortality rates due to the proportional increase in reach passage duration being larger than the associated increase in mortality. Lower daily mortality rates suggest that migration delay could help mitigate the impacts of harsh migration conditions, presumably through the use of thermal refuges, despite prolonged exposure to local fisheries. Future studies tracking individual populations from their migration through reproduction could help illuminate the full extent of the tradeoffs between different migration behaviors.
MR-compatible optical microscope for in-situ dual-mode MR-optical microscopy
Authors: Wapler Matthias C. , Testud Frederik , Hucker Patrick , Leupold Jochen , von Elverfeldt Dominik , Zaitsev Maxim , Wallrabe Ulrike
Published: May 2021

We present the development of a dual-mode imaging platform that combines optical microscopy with magnetic resonance microscopy. Our microscope is designed to operate inside a 9.4T small animal scanner with the option to use a 72mm bore animal RF coil or different integrated linear micro coils. With a design that minimizes the magnetic distortions near the sample, we achieved a field inhomogeneity of 19 ppb RMS. We further integrated a waveguide in the optical layout for the electromagnetic shielding of the camera, which minimizes the noise increase in the MR and optical images below practical relevance. The optical layout uses an adaptive lens for focusing, 2 × 2 modular combinations of objectives with 0.6mm to 2.3mm field of view and 4 configurable RGBW illumination channels and achieves a plano-apochromatic optical aberration correction with 0.6μm to 2.3μm resolution. We present the design, implementation and characterization of the prototype including the general optical and MR-compatible design strategies, a knife-edge optical characterization and different concurrent imaging demonstrations.
A novel semi-supervised framework for UAV based crop/weed classification
Authors: Khan Shahbaz , Tufail Muhammad , Khan Muhammad Tahir , Khan Zubair Ahmad , Iqbal Javaid , Alam Mansoor
Published: May 2021

Excessive use of agrochemicals for weed controlling infestation has serious agronomic and environmental repercussions associated. An appropriate amount of pesticide/ chemicals is essential for achieving the desired smart farming and precision agriculture (PA). In this regard, targeted weed control will be a critical component significantly helping in achieving the goal. A prerequisite for such control is a robust classification system that could accurately identify weed crops in a field. In this regard, Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) can acquire high-resolution images providing detailed information for the distribution of weeds and offers a cost-efficient solution. Most of the established classification systems deploying UAV imagery are supervised, relying on image labels. However, this is a time-consuming and tedious task. In this study, the development of an optimized semi-supervised learning approach is proposed, offering a semi-supervised generative adversarial network for crops and weeds classification at early growth stage. The proposed algorithm consists of a generator that provides extra training data for the discriminator, which distinguishes weeds and crops using a small number of image labels. The proposed system was evaluated extensively on the Red Green Blue (RGB) images obtained by a quadcopter in two different croplands (pea and strawberry). The method achieved an average accuracy of 90% when 80% of training data was unlabeled. The proposed system was compared with several standards supervised learning classifiers and the results demonstrated that this technique could be applied for challenging tasks of crops and weeds classification, mainly when the labeled samples are small at less training time.
Association between Chlamydia and routine place for healthcare in the United States: NHANES 1999–2016
Authors: Jamison Cornelius D. , Greenwood-Ericksen Margaret , Richardson Caroline R. , Choi Hwajung , Chang Tammy
Published: May 2021

Background

The United States is experiencing a surge in Chlamydia trachomatis(CT) infections representing a critical need to improve sexually transmitted infection (STI) screening and treatment programs. To understand where patients with STIs seek healthcare, we evaluated the relationship between CT infections and the place where individuals report usually receiving healthcare.

Methods

Our study used a nationally representative sample from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) from 1999 to 2016. The study population is adult patients, aged 18 to 39 years in whom a urine CT screen was obtained. Logistic regression models were used to determine if location of usual healthcare was predictive of a positive urine CT screen result. Models were adjusted for known confounders including age, gender, race/ethnicity, education, and insurance status.

Results

In this nationally representative sample (n = 19,275; weighted n = 85.8 million), 1.9% of individuals had a positive urine CT result. Participants reported usually going to the doctor’s office (70.3%), “no place” (24.8%), Emergency Department (ED) (3.3%), or “other” place (1.7%) for healthcare. In adjusted models, the predicted probability of having a positive urine CT result is higher (4.9% vs 3.2%, p = 0.022; OR = 1.58) among those that reported the ED as their usual place for healthcare compared to those that reported going to a doctor’s office or clinic.

Conclusions

Individuals having a positive urine CT screen are associated with using the ED as a usual source for healthcare. Understanding this association has the potential to improve STI clinical and policy interventions as the ED may be a critical site in combatting the record high rates of STIs.
Long-term outcome of 177Lu-PSMA-617 radioligand therapy in heavily pre-treated metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer patients
Authors: Yadav Madhav Prasad , Ballal Sanjana , Sahoo Ranjit Kumar , Tripathi Madhavi , Damle Nishikant Avinash , Shamim Shamim Ahmed , Kumar Rakesh , Seth Amlesh , Bal Chandrasekhar
Published: May 2021

Objective

Investigators have extensively explored the short-term safety and efficacy data on 177Lu-PSMA-617 radioligand therapy (RLT) in mCRPC patients. However, scarce literature is reported on the long-term outcome of these patients. The current goal of this study is focused on the long-term outcome of mCRPC patients treated with 177Lu-PSMA-617 RLT.

Methods

Among 135 patients, 121 mCRPC patients fulfilled the eligibility criteria and were included in the final analysis. Patients received a median of 3 cycles of 177Lu-PSMA-617 RLT at 6 to 12-week intervals. Primary endpoint included overall survival (OS) and secondary endpoints involved progression-free survival (PFS), predictive factors of OS and PFS, PSA response rate, molecular response, clinical response, and toxicity assessment.

Results

The median administered cumulative activity was 20 GBq (3.7–37 GBq). The median follow-up duration was 36 months (6–72 months). The estimated median PFS and OS were 12 months (mo) (95% CI: 10.3–13 mo) and 16 mo (95% CI: 13–17 mo), respectively. Any PSA decline and PSA decline >50% was achieved in 73% and 61% of the patients, respectively. Multivariate analysis revealed only failure to achieve >50% PSA decline as a significant factor associated with a poor PFS. Prognostic factors associated with reduced OS included, failure to experience >50% PSA decline, heavily pre-treated patient cohort who received >2 lines of prior treatment options, and patient sub-group treated with ≥2 lines of chemotherapy. Patients re-treated with additional treatment options after attaining 177Lu-PSMA refractory disease showed a remarkably prolonged OS. A significant clinical benefit was achieved post 177Lu-PSMA-617 RLT. The most common toxicities observed were fatigue (34.7%), followed by nausea (33%), and dry mouth (24.7%).

Conclusion

The current study supports the short-term safety and efficacy results of high response rates, prolonged PFS and OS, improved quality of life, and low treatment-related toxicities in patients treated with 177Lu-PSMA-617 radioligand therapy.
Assessment of losses to the local population due to restrictions on their ownership rights to land and property assets: The case of the Tunkinsky National Park, Russia
Authors: Maksanova Lyudmila , Bardakhanova Taisiya , Lubsanova Natalia , Budaeva Darima , Tulokhonov Arnold
Published: May 2021

The impact of protected areas on local communities is the subject of intense discussions as part of the implementation of the global ecosystem protection agenda. Conflicts between the interests of environmental protection and the needs of socio-economic development become particularly acute when large areas of land are taken out of economic circulation as a result of organizing protected areas. In this case, there is an urgent need for detailed and reliable information about the social impacts of such land withdrawal on the well-being of the local population. An analysis of the methodological approaches widely presented in the literature, used to assess the social impact of protected areas, testifies to the insufficiency of completed and practically applicable methodological guidelines for the areas with significant restrictions for people who form part of the protected landscape. In this study, we understand the cost estimate of the social impact of national parks on the local population as a quantitative calculation of the losses due to restrictions on their ownership rights to land and property assets. The methodological approach consists in considering the category of losses as a sum total of the actual damage and lost profits. The assessment algorithm includes three stages: systematization of social impacts on citizens, development of indicators and data collection, and calculation of actual damage to the population and lost profits. The assessment is performed using the example of the Tunkinsky National Park located in the Tunkinsky municipal district of the Republic of Buryatia, a region of the Russian Federation, where there are 14 rural settlements with a population of more than 20,000 people. The results of the calculations show that the losses of the rural population due to legal restrictions on the registration of land dealings amount to 170.4 million USD. Taking into account the potential amount of administrative fines and the value of property subject to demolition, the losses amount to 239.2 million USD. It is more than an order of magnitude greater than the amount of own revenues of the Tunkinsky municipal district in 2011–2019. The results obtained demonstrate the real picture of the impact of restrictions on the rights of local people to land within the boundaries of national parks and are useful for developing measures to account for their interests and include protected areas in the socio-economic development of regions. The methodological approach developed by the authors can be used in other national parks, where it is necessary to optimize the policy of improving land use for local residents.
Statistical privacy-preserving message broadcast for peer-to-peer networks
Authors: Mödinger David , Lorenz Jan-Hendrik , Hauck Franz J.
Published: May 2021

Privacy concerns are widely discussed in research and society in general. For the public infrastructure of financial blockchains, this discussion encompasses the privacy of the originator of a transaction broadcasted on the underlying peer-to-peer network. Adaptive diffusion is an approach to expose an alternative source of a message to attackers. However, this approach assumes an unsuitable attacker model and a non-realistic network model for current peer-to-peer networks on the Internet. We transform adaptive diffusion into a new statistical privacy-preserving broadcast protocol for realistic current networks. We model a class of unstructured peer-to-peer networks as organically growing graphs and provide models for other classes of such networks. We show that the distribution of shortest paths can be modelled using a normal distributionN(μ,σ2). We determine statistical estimators forμ,σvia multivariate models. The model behaves logarithmic over the number of nodesnand proportional to an inverse exponential over the number of added edges per nodek. These results facilitate the computation of optimal forwarding probabilities during the dissemination phase for maximum privacy, with participants having only limited information about network topology.
Effect of prolonged sitting immobility on shear wave velocity of the lower leg muscles in healthy adults: A proof-of-concept study
Authors: Okino Kumiko , Aoki Mitsuhiro , Yamane Masahiro , Kohmura Chikashi
Published: May 2021

Objective

The purpose of this study is to investigate the physical changes of the lower leg muscles in the compartment by observing the changes in the shear wave velocity of the gastrocnemius, soleus and tibialis anterior muscles with time in the sitting position for 2 hours and after elevation of the lower leg.

Materials and methods

The subjects were 24 healthy adult males (average age 26.6 years). Shear wave velocity was measured by Aplio 500 in immobilized leg immediately after the start of sitting, 60 minutes and 120 minutes after the start of sitting. After 120 minutes the subjects raised the lower leg for 3 minutes, then measured again.

Results

In the lateral and medial gastrocnemius, there was a significant increase in the velocity at 60 (1.58 ± 0.06, 1.70 ± 0.09 m/s) and 120 minutes (1.70 ± 0.10, 1.83 ± 0.11 m/s) after the start of the test (1.52 ± 0.06, 1.66 ± 0.10 m/s), respectively (p<0.01). In the soleus and the tibialis anterior, there was a significant increase in the velocity at 120 minutes (1.89 ± 0.17, 2.30 ± 0.24 m/s) compared to after the start (1.60 ± 0.15, 2.15 ± 0.26 m/s), respectively (p<0.01). In all muscles, there was a significant decrease in the velocity after the raising compared to that of 120 minutes (p<0.01).

Conclusions

It has been reported that the change of shear wave velocity with time is proportional to the intramuscular pressure in the leg compartment, and it is assumed that the increase of shear wave velocity in the 2-hour seated leg is due to fluid retention in extra-cellular space of the compartment.
Oxygen radical antioxidant capacity (ORAC) and antibacterial properties of Melicope glabra bark extracts and isolated compounds
Authors: Quek Alexandra , Mohd Zaini Hafizah , Kassim Nur Kartinee , Sulaiman Fadzil , Rukayadi Yaya , Ismail Amin , Zainal Abidin Zamirah , Awang Khalijah
Published: May 2021

Melicope glabra (Blume) T. G. Hartley from the Rutaceae family is one of the richest sources of plant secondary metabolites, including coumarins and flavanoids. This study investigates the free radical scavenging and antibacterial activities of M. glabra and its isolated compounds. M. glabra ethyl acetate and methanol extracts were prepared using the cold maceration technique. The isolation of compounds was performed with column chromatography. The free radical scavenging activity of the extracts and isolated compounds were evaluated based on their oxygen radical absorbance capacity (ORAC) activities. The extracts and compounds were also subjected to antibacterial evaluation using bio-autographic and minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) techniques against two oral pathogens, Enterococcus faecalis and Streptococcus mutans. Isolation of phytoconstituents from ethyl acetate extract successfully yielded quercetin 3, 5, 3’-trimethyl ether (1) and kumatakenin (2), while the isolation of the methanol extract resulted in scoparone (3), 6, 7, 8-trimethoxycoumarin (4), marmesin (5), glabranin (6), umbelliferone (7), scopoletin (8), and sesamin (9). The study is the first to isolate compound (1) from Rutaceae plants, and also the first to report the isolation of compounds (2–5) from M. glabra. The ORAC evaluation showed that the methanol extract is stronger than the ethyl acetate extract, while umbelliferone (7) exhibited the highest ORAC value of 24 965 μmolTE/g followed by glabranin (6), sesamin (9) and scopoletin (8). Ethyl acetate extract showed stronger antibacterial activity towards E. faecalis and S. mutans than the methanol extract with MIC values of 4166.7 ± 1443.4 μg/ml and 8303.3 ± 360.8 μg/ml respectively. Ethyl acetate extract inhibited E. faecalis growth, as shown by the lowest optical density value of 0.046 at a concentration of 5.0 mg/mL with a percentage inhibition of 95%. Among the isolated compounds tested, umbelliferone (7) and sesamin (9) exhibited promising antibacterial activity against S. mutans with both exhibiting MIC values of 208.3 ± 90.6 μg/ml. Findings from this study suggests M. glabra as a natural source of potent antioxidant and antibacterial agents.
Host factor Rab11a is critical for efficient assembly of influenza A virus genomic segments
Authors: Han Julianna , Ganti Ketaki , Sali Veeresh Kumar , Twigg Carly , Zhang Yifeng , Manivasagam Senthamizharasi , Liang Chieh-Yu , Vogel Olivia A. , Huang Iris , Emmanuel Shanan N. , Plung Jesse , Radoshevich Lillianna , Perez Jasmine T. , Lowen Anice C. , Manicassamy Balaji
Published: May 2021

It is well documented that influenza A viruses selectively package 8 distinct viral ribonucleoprotein complexes (vRNPs) into each virion; however, the role of host factors in genome assembly is not completely understood. To evaluate the significance of cellular factors in genome assembly, we generated a reporter virus carrying a tetracysteine tag in the NP gene (NP-Tc virus) and assessed the dynamics of vRNP localization with cellular components by fluorescence microscopy. At early time points, vRNP complexes were preferentially exported to the MTOC; subsequently, vRNPs associated on vesicles positive for cellular factor Rab11a and formed distinct vRNP bundles that trafficked to the plasma membrane on microtubule networks. In Rab11a deficient cells, however, vRNP bundles were smaller in the cytoplasm with less co-localization between different vRNP segments. Furthermore, Rab11a deficiency increased the production of non-infectious particles with higher RNA copy number to PFU ratios, indicative of defects in specific genome assembly. These results indicate that Rab11a+ vesicles serve as hubs for the congregation of vRNP complexes and enable specific genome assembly through vRNP:vRNP interactions, revealing the importance of Rab11a as a critical host factor for influenza A virus genome assembly.
Mitigation of endemic GI-tract pathogen-mediated inflammation through development of multimodal treatment regimen and its impact on SIV acquisition in rhesus macaques
Authors: Bochart Rachele M. , Busman-Sahay Kathleen , Bondoc Stephen , Morrow David W. , Ortiz Alexandra M. , Fennessey Christine M. , Fischer Miranda B. , Shiel Oriene , Swanson Tonya , Shriver-Munsch Christine M. , Crank Hugh B. , Armantrout Kimberly M. , Barber-Axthelm Aaron M. , Langner Charlotte , Moats Cassandra R. , Labriola Caralyn S. , MacAllister Rhonda , Axthelm Michael K. , Brenchley Jason M. , Keele Brandon F. , Estes Jacob D. , Hansen Scott G. , Smedley Jeremy V.
Published: May 2021

Here, we assessed the efficacy of a short-course multimodal therapy (enrofloxacin, azithromycin, fenbendazole, and paromomycin) to eliminate common macaque endemic pathogens (EPs) and evaluated its impact on gastrointestinal (GI) microbiota, mucosal integrity, and local and systemic inflammation in sixteen clinically healthy macaques. Treatment combined with expanded practices resulted in successful maintenance of rhesus macaques (RM) free of common EPs, with no evidence of overt microbiota diversity loss or dysbiosis and instead resulted in a more defined luminal microbiota across study subjects. Creation of a GI pathogen free (GPF) status resulted in improved colonic mucosal barrier function (histologically, reduced colonic MPO+, and reduced pan-bacterial 16s rRNA in the MLN), reduced local and systemic innate and adaptive inflammation with reduction of colonic Mx1 and pSTAT1, decreased intermediate (CD14+CD16+) and non-classical monocytes (CD14-CD16+), reduced populations of peripheral dendritic cells, Ki-67+ and CD38+ CD4+ T cells, Ki-67+IgG+, and Ki-67+IgD+ B cells indicating lower levels of background inflammation in the distal descending colon, draining mesenteric lymph nodes, and systemically in peripheral blood, spleen, and axillary lymph nodes. A more controlled rate of viral acquisition resulted when untreated and treated macaques were challenged by low dose intrarectal SIVmac239x, with an ~100 fold increase in dose required to infect 50% (AID50) of the animals receiving treatment compared to untreated controls. Reduction in and increased consistency of number of transmitted founder variants resulting from challenge seen in the proof of concept study directly correlated with post-treatment GPF animal’s improved barrier function and reduction of key target cell populations (Ki-67+ CD4+T cells) at the site of viral acquisition in the follow up study. These data demonstrate that a therapeutic and operational strategy can successfully eliminate varying background levels of EPs and their associated aberrant immunomodulatory effects within a captive macaque cohort, leading to a more consistent, better defined and reproducible research model.
‘Monstrous’ craft activism: A city yarn installation that wrought controversy through textile togetherness and community engagement
Authors: Mandell Hinda
Published: May 2021

Yarn has the potential to be monstrous when placed in public places. It can cause controversy, even when carefully planned as a public art installation involving collaboration with business developers and city stakeholders. This article focuses on the fallout from City Hall on one such yarn installation at a public park in Rochester, New York, in summer 2018 and applies the theoretical lens of ‘monstrosity’ used by Nicola Moffat in the book Textiles, Community and Controversy: The Knitting Map. The article demonstrates that while the twelve original tapestries were well received by the Rochester community, they were deemed ‘not natural’ by City Hall and ordered to be removed, despite permission previously granted by a city official. Ultimately, despite the handcraft controversy, this yarn installation ignited a positive community-based response in favour of public art and ‘textile togetherness’, a term defined in this article. And later the tapestries found a second life in a different community revitalization project. The article offers suggestions for future organizers of yarn installations and calls for more public art to be placed in urban areas as the output of community engagement.
Browsing the virtual boutique with Baudrillard: The new realities of online, device-based, luxury fashion design and consumption
Authors: O’Connell Mark Joseph
Published: May 2021

Contemporary engagement with fashion is with slick simulacra, daydreams and digital fantasies – an impossible promise of a beautiful, de-corporealized perfection. The virtualizing of fashion consumption has in turn dematerialized garments completely. Although late to the party, the consumer engagement with online luxury fashion has grown exponentially. Extremely expensive items are now purchased before they are engaged with physically. Therefore, within the new realities of device-based fashion design and consumption, the ‘wow’ factor and virtual considerations are paramount. There should be no surprise though that these garments align so closely with our taste, our consumption habits and our life patterns; they have been designed to do just that. In this research, through observation of a garment that was virtual before it became physical, the ascendant contemporary structure of modern fashion retail is analysed. This research explores how physical aspects of clothing have been devalued by the technology of modern capitalism, even as the importance of the ‘look’ has ascended. Another important aspect of the research is the seductive aspects of the marketing of fashion goods. The methods of procurement, in addition to the physical characteristics of the object itself, undergo a close analysis – how we as consumers are shaped by our methods of consumption as much as by our goods now. This research uses an object-based method, a process wherein both intrinsic and extrinsic information can be gleaned from a close examination of a garment, as well as an interview with a fashion journalist who witnessed the reorganization of a leading fashion website into a retail portal. This data is then combined with relevant theoretical frameworks to form ‘grounded theory’. The dematerialization of the modern ‘boutique’ that has now migrated online, the incipient forms of marketing to engage consumers and, ultimately, the recontextualization of the body and understanding of the self, all catalysed by online consumption are considered. As garments are now as ephemeral and placeless as the mechanism for the acquisition, an examination of the manufacture and dissemination of fashion product is warranted, and this in turn provides a more nuanced understanding of the ontology of luxury garments as well as their consumption in the modern fashion retail agora.
The different determinants of purchasing luxury goods online: An international comparison
Authors: Delpal Franck
Published: May 2021

We propose elements of explanations on the determinants of the act of online purchase by luxury customers from three countries: the United States, the United Kingdom and France. Our research questions are: (1) What weight do cultural factors occupy in the act of buying online, compared to sociodemographic factors? In other words, to what extent would a French luxury customer with the same gender, age and income level as an American customer be less inclined to buy online than in physical stores? (2) How can we characterize these cultural differences? Is this the expression of a different relationship to luxury, different expectations or shopping habits more anchored in a historical context? We explore the reasons why French luxury clients are less likely to shop online than in store, compared to British and American customers. This research can give insights to researchers and practitioners on the behaviour and expectations of different sets of luxury clients in their customer journey. Relying on an exclusive set of customer data, we carry statistical analyses on a global sample of 2036 luxury customers from three countries. Using descriptive statistics and logistic regressions models, we highlight some determinants of online shopping. The influence of the nationality of respondents is statistically established as the second most important factor after consumer’s age. Different purchasing attitudes among countries, with an emphasis put by French clients on emotional dimensions, can explain why an online journey might be less engaging for them. We highlight the necessity to interact in a differentiated way according to the different sociodemographic groups. While social networks are the most common tools used to address the age gap among luxury clients, other functionalities can help to adapt to the expectations of shoppers from different countries. Our research is at the crossroad between cross-cultural studies on luxury shoppers, which did not provide yet an analysis on online customers, and studies dedicated to the specificities of luxury e-commerce which never employed an important international dataset.
Brand and influencer strategies in social media marketing of luxury brands in African cities
Authors: Iqani Mehita
Published: May 2021

This article explores the role of social media promotions in the marketing of luxury, from the perspectives of both representatives of global brands and the local influencers contracted to promote them online. It provides insights into role of social media in marketing luxury in ‘new’ markets (African cities) and the complexities attendant to the relationship between brand representatives and influencers. It reports on in-depth interviews with brand representatives and social media influencers working in the luxury sector in large anglophone African cities. Empirical findings show the role of social media in how luxury is promoted by those working in the industry. Three key complexities to do with value, trust and authenticity were evident in how global brand representatives and local influencers discussed social media. In terms of value, influencers emphasize strategies for monetizing visibility, while brand managers emphasize the need to get their money’s worth. Regarding trust, influencers express caution about brands trying to exploit them, while brands express scepticism about the extent of influencer’s abilities. On the topic of authenticity, influencers emphasize how the integrity of their personal brands is paramount, while brand representatives are mostly concerned with how genuine the social media posts seem. The article provides original empirical details about the relationships between brand managers and social media influencers, as well as to the nuances of social media luxury marketing in African cities. It contributes to critical theories of branding practice in media economies of the global south.
ARGUMENTAÇÃO, IMAGEM E DIREITO: UM ESTUDO DE CASO A PARTIR DA ANÁLISE DE PROVA EM VÍDEO ANEXADA A UM PROCESSO CRIMINAL MILITAR
Authors: Augusto André Lázaro Ferreira , Riccio Vicente , Vieira Amitza Torres
Published: May 2021

Este artigo analisa a argumentação de profissionais que atuaram em um processo criminal militar sobre uma prova audiovisual. A hipótese era a de que a argumentação não seria satisfatória, dadas as peculiaridades dessa prova e a ausência de um tratamento específico no Brasil. A partir da interface com a linguística textual, desenvolveu-se pesquisa de cunho empírico, qualitativo e descritivo, baseada no método do estudo de caso para a análise das marcas linguísticas e do direcionamento da força dos argumentos apresentados. Tal análise permitiu inferir a preferência na argumentação voltada ao vídeo, a discrepância entre a natureza demonstrativa na legitimação e substantiva na valoração dessa prova, a ausência de argumentação sobre os elementos multimodais e a incidência da teoria da testemunha silenciosa. A hipótese restou confirmada, concluindo-se pela necessidade de maior alfabetização digital dos profissionais do direito para lidar com a complexidade dessa espécie de prova.
Successful Closure of the Tip of the “J” Fistula of the Ileal Pouch With Double Over-the-Scope Clips
Authors: Lescaille Yaniuska , Rosh Joel R. , Kiran Ravi P. , Shen Bo
Published: May 2021

Ileal pouch-anal anastomosis is the surgical procedure of choice for patients who require colectomy for complicated ulcerative colitis with or without associated dysplasia and familial adenomatous polyposis. Leaks from the suture lines or anastomosis can lead to pouch failure. Treatment options have been radiographic drainage and surgical intervention. Endoscopic therapy has emerged a viable nonsurgical treatment option for some of the complications associated with J-pouch surgery. Here, we present a case of endoscopic management of a leak from the tip of the J-pouch with sequential application of 2 over-the-scope clips.
Differentiation of cystic biliary atresia and choledochal cysts using prenatal ultrasonography
Authors: Chen Lizhu , He Fujiao , Zeng Kaihui , Wang Bing , Li Jingyu , Zhao Dan , Yang Zeyu , Ren Weidong
Published: May 2021

Purpose: This study explored the performance of prenatal ultrasonography in the differential diagnosis of cystic biliary atresia (CBA) and choledochal cyst (CC).Methods: Fetuses diagnosed with hepatic hilar cyst in the second trimester were included in this study. A series of prenatal ultrasound examinations were performed in the second and third trimesters. The diameter of the gallbladder (GB) and hepatic cyst were measured, as well as the wall thickness of the GB. The GB-cyst connection, visibility of the right hepatic artery (RHA), and other concomitant abnormalities were carefully evaluated. A neonatal transabdominal ultrasound examination was performed within 1 week after birth, and clinical data were followed up to 6 months after birth.Results: Between January 1, 2016 and January 31, 2020, 53 fetuses diagnosed with hepatic hilar cyst were recruited. Eight were excluded because they were lost to follow-up. Among the 45 cases included in this study, 10 were diagnosed with CBA and 35 with CC after birth. Statistically significant differences were found in GB width, wall thickness, change in GB width, change in cyst length, GB-cyst connection, and RHA visibility between the CBA and CC groups. GB width showed the best diagnostic performance with an area under the curve (AUC) of 0.899. The combination of GB width, GB wall thickness, and GB-cyst connection yielded a comparable AUC of 0.971.Conclusion: The GB should be carefully evaluated in fetuses with hepatic hilar cyst. Prenatal ultrasound findings could provide suggestive parameters for the differential diagnosis of CBA from CC.
Early response evaluation of doxorubicin-nanoparticle-microbubble therapy in orthotopic hepatocellular carcinoma rat model using contrast-enhanced ultrasound and intravoxel incoherent motion-diffusion MRI
Authors: Yang Hyun Kyung , Kim Jung Hoon , Lee Hak Jong , Moon Hyungwon , Ryu Hwaseong , Han Joon Koo
Published: May 2021

Purpose: This study aimed to apply doxorubicin-loaded nanoparticle microbubble (Dox-NP-MB) therapy in an orthotopic rat model of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and investigate the utility of contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) and intravoxel incoherent motion diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance imaging (IVIM-DWI) for response evaluation.Methods: Twenty-eight N1S1 HCC model rats were treated with either Dox-NP-MB (group [G] 1, n=8), doxorubicin (Dox) alone (G2, n=7), nanoparticle microbubbles alone (G3, n=7), or saline (G4, control, n=6) on days 0 and 7, and were sacrificed on day 11. IVIM-DWI and CEUS were performed before each treatment and before euthanasia. Efficacy was estimated by the percentage of tumor volume growth inhibition compared with control. Toxicity was assessed by body weight changes and blood tests. Post-treatment changes in IVIM-DWI and CEUS parameters were analyzed.Results: Tumor volume growth was inhibited by 48.4% and 90.2% in G1 and G2 compared to G4, respectively. Compared to G2, G1 had a significantly lower degree of body weight change (median, 91.0% [interquartile range, 88.5%-97.0%] vs. 88.0% [82.5%-88.8%], P<0.05) and leukopenia (1.75×103 cells/μL [1.53-2.77] vs. 1.20×103 cells/μL [0.89-1.51], P<0.05). After the first treatment, an increase in peak enhancement, wash-in rate, and wash-in perfusion index on CEUS was observed in G3 and G4 but suppressed in G1 and G2; the apparent diffusion coefficients, true diffusion coefficients, and perfusion fractions significantly increased in G1 and G2 compared to baseline (P<0.05).Conclusion: Dox-NP-MB showed reduced Dox toxicity. Early changes in some CEUS and IVIM-DWI parameters correlated with the therapeutic response.
¿Agenda cultural o espacio de intervención política?
Authors: Lizalde Ornela
Published: May 2021

Este artículo es una aproximación al estudio de la revista Cursos y conferencias (Buenos Aires, 1931‒1960), editada por el Colegio Libre de Estudios Superiores. Se centra en el análisis de la sección «Información general» durante el período en que la revista estuvo bajo la dirección de Arturo Frondizi (1941‒1952). En esos años, Frondizi puso en juego una serie de cambios que apuntaron a transformar la publicación en una empresa cultural autónoma; entre ellos, la formación de una sección de interés general que a partir de 1946 creció hasta ocupar un lugar central en la revista. El análisis de estas publicaciones permite afirmar que el alcance de esta sección excedió los límites de la mera «agenda cultural» funcionando como «punto de fuga», una zona menos vigilada a la cual se desplazó el lenguaje político, y un espacio de sociabilidad desde el que se establecieron redes de relaciones personales e institucionales.
La extranjería como desajuste creativo. Sobre las narrativas de Pablo Montoya
Authors: Marinone Mónica
Published: May 2021

En este ensayo exploro el concepto de extranjería como conciencia de desajuste (Canclini, 2014) a partir de narrativas del colombiano Pablo Montoya. Dicho concepto parece apropiado cuando se piensa en ineludibles reposicionamientos de intelectuales latinoamericanos respecto de nociones como local o global, propio o ajeno, así como en la necesidad de atender al estímulo de poéticas conscientemente excéntricas, que proponen el desacomodo desde lecturas oblicuas de nuestros contextos, la superación de distancias culturales, la recuperación de tradiciones cosmopolitas o la revisión de modos de pertenencia en constante construcción. Focalizo especialmente el Tríptico de la infamia, la novela de Montoya más premiada desde 2015, aunque sin desconsiderar aspectos de su último volumen de prosa poética, Hombre en ruinas. Ello en beneficio de indagar, a su vez, qué lectores construye Montoya cuando en general los efectos pretendidos de sus relatos —cuyo motor en realidad es la poesía— son la incertidumbre y la extrañeza, dos palabras que acentúan nuestra condición de «extranjeros definitivos», algo que los grandes escritores nos han enseñado y que los anacrónicos relatos examinados en este caso permiten recuperar en cruce con reflexiones sobre una tradición escrituraria deseada.
Presentación: Procesos creativos en las artes escénicas.
Authors: Arpes Marcela
Published: May 2021

La propuesta temática del dossier pretende ser un aporte para reflexionar teórica y críticamente acerca de los procesos creativos implicados en las artes escénicas, especialmente en el teatro, la danza y la performance. La indagación por parte de los investigadores, de los propios creadores y de los curadores en artes escénicas se orienta a hallar respuestas a preguntas claves sobre los procesos creativos más que sobre la obra ya concluida. ¿Cómo surge una idea?; ¿de qué manera desarrollarla?; ¿cuáles son las mejores estrategias para comunicar?; ¿quién es creativo o cómo uno se vuelve creativo? son interrogantes que inquieren acerca del vínculo necesario entre teoría y práctica desde una doble perspectiva: una de carácter singular al recurrir al sentido individual del quehacer artístico, es decir, la/el artista de cara a los dilemas de la creación; y otra de carácter social donde se juegan los modos y las urgencias de comunicación propias del tiempo presente de la creación. Inspiración, invención y trabajo; emoción, psiquismo y racionalidad; experimentación y consolidación poética y estética a partir de un plan creativo; medios, recursos e innovación técnica se constituyen en universos temáticos fundantes alrededor de todo proceso creativo en el arte.
Implicaciones teatrales en la performance del rap feminista de Gata Cattana
Authors: Alba Susana Pinilla
Published: May 2021

En este trabajo se cuestiona la función de la performance para construir y delimitar la poética del rap feminista. En un primer momento, se expondrán los significados de performance tanto en los vínculos entre la autora y su alter ego en el rap, como en los que mantiene para con su recepción. Nos servirán para este análisis un corpus de cuatro canciones de la artista que se revisarán bajo los preceptos de la retórica y la sociolingüística desde un enfoque feminista basado en la teoría de la interseccionalidad a fin de delimitar cómo la performance influye en la recepción de la artista. Los resultados apuntan al uso utilitarista del rap para impactar en sus coetáneos, para lo que la artista emplea la politropía. Por una parte, apela a un público joven andaluz con vistas a salvaguardar lo autóctono y la memoria mediante la identificación catártica; por otra parte, articula un discurso para su recepción internacional recurriendo al potencial transformador de sus realidades particulares.
Events: entre la práctica artística y la práctica curatorial
Authors: Cacciatore Mauro
Published: May 2021

Las colaboraciones de Merce Cunningham con artistas innovadores de todas las disciplinas han redefinido la manera de experimentar las artes visuales y del espectáculo, al proponer una gran cantidad de desvíos respecto de otras prácticas escénicas e incluso desarrollando novedosos dispositivos de presentación de su propio material. Me propongo abordar el formato denominado Event (Evento) cuyo surgimiento se encuentra ligado a una peculiar forma de presentar su trabajo fuera del espacio escénico tradicional. Abordaré los planteos sobre género y estilo realizados por Oscar Steimberg para reflexionar sobre el estatuto de este formato poniendo en paralelo la serie Beacon Events y el Park Avenue Armory Event. La primera propuesta fue realizada por Cunningham y la segunda estuvo a cargo de Robert Swinston, factor que nos permitiría abordar dos posibilidades con relación al mismo formato: sus particularidades como práctica artística y las implicancias de analizarlo como práctica curatorial. A partir de la confrontación de estos casos, desarrollaré los posibles cruces entre los aspectos curatoriales de una práctica artística (en el caso de las creaciones de Cunningham) y los aspectos artísticos de una práctica curatorial (con relación al uso de esta modalidad por parte del Merce Cunningham Trust).
Rumbos de la tecnoescena pandémica
Authors: Hernández Moira Gisela , Catrihuala Carlos Omar
Published: May 2021

El COVID 19 y la consecuente política de aislamiento adoptada por los países del mundo tuvieron distintas repercusiones en la vida social.

En el campo del teatro y las artes escénicas, existen dos modos de mirar el mismo evento: una mirada tecnofóbica que proclama la naturaleza del teatro como una coexistencia efectiva entre actor y público, reivindicando ese vínculo casi como estado aurático; y por otro lado, la mirada de quienes ven en esta situación una posibilidad de explorar textualidades virtuales, es decir, una evolución teatral ligada a la tecnología. Los primeros sostienen que esta desmaterialización del teatro provoca una pérdida de sentido que socava su carácter social y los segundos, una alternativa poco explorada por la escena teatral, pero no para la performance o la poética liminal.

La obra que analizamos, La maldición de la corona del grupo catalán La Fura Dels Baus, considera a la tecnología inseparable de la evolución social y por lo tanto teatral. De los pensamientos teatrales más puristas anclados en la convivencia pasamos a la noción de tecnoescena y la consecuente vida virtual de las obras artísticas.