bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Nature-inspired discontinuous calcium coatings on polyglycolic acid for orthopaedic applications
Authors: Lui F. H. Y. , Wang Y. , Mobbs R. J. , Sorrell C. C.
Published: November 2022

Non-union in spinal fusion surgeries (SF) is a key cause of failure. Demineralized bone matrix is used in SFs to facilitate bone growth throughout the segment, and polyglycolic acid (PGA) meshes are used for their containment. A discontinuous calcium mineral coating could transform the function of PGA meshes from passive to active, where dissolved calcium ions could act as a chemoattractant for bone cells or it could form a barrier to prevent hydrolytic degradation of the mesh to better align its degradation profile with the fusion process. Challenges to depositing a mineral coating on PGA include its low glass transition temperature (~ 35 °C) and hydrolytic degradation.

Inspired by calcite rafts in limestone cave pools, calcite grains were deposited on PGA meshes at the air–solution interface of supersaturated Ca(HCO3)2 (33 °C 6 h). X-ray diffraction (XRD) and 3D confocal microscopy were performed to assess phase composition and coating morphology. Durability was qualitatively assessed by mechanical tests. In vitro incubation was performed to elucidate the dynamic interactions between coating dissolution and PGA degradation; pH and calcium concentration of the solution were measured.

XRD confirmed that coated PGA meshes were comprised of PGA and crystalline calcite. 3D confocal microscopy showed that the coatings were discontinuous and comprised of rhombohedral microcrystals. Retention of the particles following ultrasonic treatment and flexure/tensile testing indicates durability. Notably, the grains were compliant as the mesh was contorted. The interaction effect between the incubation time and pH for the uncoated and coated samples was statistically significant (p < 0.05).

Graphical Abstract
Exploring the Relationship Between Compassion and Attachment in Individuals with Mental Health Difficulties: A Systematic Review
Authors: Amari Nicola , Martin Tasim , Mahoney Adam , Peacock Shona , Stewart Janet , Alford Erin Alexandra
Published: November 2022

The objective of the review was to explore the relevance of the relationship of compassion and attachment to mental health. APAPsycInfo, APAPsycArticles, CINAHL, MEDLINE, Social Science Database, Sociology Database, PTSDpubs, Pubmed, and Web of Science were searched from their inception until November 9, 2021. Peer-reviewed empirical studies exploring the compassion–attachment relationship in individuals with mental health difficulties through outcome measures were included. Studies were excluded if non-empirical, with non-clinical/subclinical samples, in a language other than English and if they did not consider the compassion–attachment relationship. Risk of bias was assessed through The Newcastle–Ottawa Scale and the Downs and Black Checklist. Seven eligible studies comprising 4839 participants were identified, with low to moderate risk of overall bias. Findings indicated a more straightforward relationship between self-compassion and secure attachment and confirmed the relevance of compassion and attachment to psychological functioning. Limitations concerned study design, the use of self-report measures, and low generalisability. While suggesting mechanisms underpinning compassion and attachment, the review corroborates the role of secure attachment and self-compassion as therapeutic targets against mental health difficulties. This study is registered on PROSPERO number CRD42021296279.
A case study of process performances during a small-group activity: comparison between a round-shaped and a crescent-shaped seating arrangements in studio-style learning spaces
Authors: Hayashi Kazumasa , Mochizuki Toshio , Yamauchi Yuhei
Published: November 2022

This research explored the best shapes and layouts of seating arrangements for fostering process performances of students in studio-style learning spaces, which have emerged in the development of collaborative learning environments in higher education. We conducted a design case study to explore both team and individual process performances during a small-group activity in a round-shaped and a crescent-shaped seating arrangement. Evaluators observed and measured the individual process performance of each group member together with the team process performances of each group. All factor scores of the individual process performance were higher in the crescent-shaped seating arrangement than in the round-shaped seating arrangement, with substantive effect sizes. In the group process performance, the factor scores of ‘planning and process’ and ‘independence and leadership’ in the crescent-shaped seating arrangement were substantially higher than those of the round-shaped arrangement, indicating that the crescent-shaped seating arrangement fostered students’ ability to collaborate responsibly in their project work. Video analysis revealed that groups in the crescent-shaped layout tended to have more eye-contact and to spend less time planning, which indicates that such sociopetal effects have the potential to promote efficiency in the discussion between people seated in a crescent-shaped arrangement. We discuss the necessity to take students’ seating arrangements into consideration regarding the sociopetal, as well as a proximal focal point and less-disparate distance between the leader and other participants to allow them to engage in their own work better.
The role of Nod-like receptor protein 3 inflammasome activated by ion channels in multiple diseases
Authors: Xu Xiaolin , Wu Xianli , Yue Gengyu , An Qimin , Lou Jun , Yang Xiaoxu , Jin Zhe , Ding Jianhong , Hu Yanxia , Du Qian , Xu Jingyu , Xie Rui
Published: November 2022

The inflammasome is a multimeric protein complex located in the cytoplasm that is activated by many factors and subsequently promotes the release of proinflammatory factors such as interleukin (IL)-1β and IL-18, resulting in a series of inflammatory responses that ultimately lead to the occurrence of various diseases. The Nod-like receptor protein 3 (NLRP3) inflammasome is the most characteristic type and the most widely studied among many inflammasomes. Activation of the NLRP3 inflammasome is closely related to the occurrence of many diseases, such as Alzheimer's disease. At present, a large number of studies have focused on the mechanisms underlying the activation of the NLRP3 inflammasome. Plenty of articles have reported the activation of the NLRP3 inflammasome by various ions, such as K+ and Na+ reflux and Ca2+ influx. However, few articles have reviewed the effects of various ion channels on the activation of the NLRP3 inflammasome and the relationship between the diseases caused by these proteins. This article mainly summarizes the relationship between intracellular and extracellular ion activities and ion channels and the activation of the NLRP3 inflammasome. We also provide a general summary of the diseases of each system caused by NLRP3 activation. We hope that more research will provide options for the treatment of diseases driven by the NLRP3 inflammasome.
Gut microbiota-derived metabolites and their importance in neurological disorders
Authors: Swer Nicole Mary , Venkidesh B S , Murali Thokur Sreepathy , Mumbrekar Kamalesh Dattaram
Published: November 2022

Microbial-derived metabolites are the intermediate or end products of bacterial digestion. They are one of the most important molecules for the gut to connect with the brain. Depending on the levels of specific metabolites produced in the host, it can exert beneficial or detrimental effects on the brain and have been linked to several neurodegenerative and neuropsychiatric disorders. However, the underlying mechanisms remain largely unexplored. Insight into these mechanisms could reveal new pathways or targets, resulting in novel treatment approaches targeting neurodegenerative diseases. We have reviewed selected metabolites, including short-chain fatty acids, aromatic amino acids, trimethylamine-N-oxide,  urolithin A, anthocyanins, equols, imidazole, and propionate to highlight their mechanism of action, underlying role in maintaining intestinal homeostasis and regulating neuro-immunoendocrine function. Further discussed on  how altered metabolite levels can influence the gut–brain axis could lead to new prevention strategies or novel treatment approaches to neural disorders.
House Prices and Flood Risk Exposure: An Integration of Hedonic Property Model and Spatial Econometric Analysis
Authors: Bui Nam , Wen Le , Sharp Basil
Published: November 2022

The impact of climate change is devastating in developing countries where flood protection and insurance schemes are limited. Certain parts of Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam are under the constant threat of inundation due to sea-level rise. We integrate the hedonic property model in a difference-in-differences framework and spatial econometric analysis into a single analytical framework to estimate the economic effect of pluvial flooding. We find prices for affected houses were discounted by 9% after a large flood event on 30 September 2017. This research contributes to the existing literature as follows. First, we study the economic impact of pluvial floods, which has received less attention in existing studies where large and irregular floods are their focus. Second, the inclusion of legal status as a control variable accounts for the unique character of the Vietnamese housing market. Third, we also identify the recovery of house prices after the flood event.
The practices of a raqi (Islamic exorcist) in Stockholm
Authors: Marlow Michael
Published: November 2022

This article investigates in depth the practices of a Stockholm-based raqi. In the first section, the principles and methods of his version of ruqya (Islamic exorcism) are described: which Qur’anic passages he perceives as being most suitable to read in the cases of different afflictions, how he complement his reading with the use of his right palm to detect the possession, and his use of the “satanic meridians,” i.e., pressure points to use to facilitate the eviction of stubborn djinns. Later, the cases of five patients are discussed in order to shed light upon those who seek out his services. One particularly interesting example concerns a patient who regularly takes ruqya against sorcery. Despite the fact that she does not believe in sorcery herself, she considers ruqya more beneficial for her well-being than Western treatments. Next, the raqi’s perspective on psychotherapy and on mental illness in general are then presented. Finally, the problems of non-contextualized interviews versus ethnographic observations carried out as part of fieldwork for the purposes of gathering information are illustrated.
Legal Aspects of Migraine in the Workplace
Authors: Riggins Nina , Paris Lorenzo
Published: November 2022

Purpose of Review

This study explores legal aspects of migraine in the workplace. While the high prevalence of migraine is well-documented, its effects on the livelihoods of those living with the disease are less understood. Because migraine symptoms are often invisible, discussions concerning migraine in the workplace can be challenging. What are the rights of persons with migraine in the workplace? Time off may provide a brief respite, but it is not a long-term solution. Claiming disability for migraine has challenges, including barriers to doing so and required paperwork. How can persons with migraine remain employed and productive? How can persons with migraine receive accommodation from their employer or take time off to treat their condition?

Recent Findings

Many employers offer comprehensive benefit packages that allow for sick days, time off, mental health days, and accommodations that may give persons with migraine temporary reprieve. However, it may not be sufficient, particularly for those with chronic migraine. Further, not all employers offer comprehensive benefits. Employees with migraine may need to seek protection under the law. Our research closely examines the primary legal avenues that persons with migraine may pursue while living and working with migraine. In exploring the legal aspects of migraine, we couple our exploration with relevant case law.

Through this lens, we conclude that migraine is becoming less stigmatized and more legitimized in the eyes of the court. It is the belief of the authors that at least some of the change in the attitude towards migraine is the result of strong patient advocacy and significant advances in research over the past several years.
Direct and Indirect Effects of Filamin A on Tau Pathology in Neuronal Cells
Authors: Levert Stéphanie , Pilliod Julie , Aumont Étienne , Armanville Sandrine , Tremblay Cyntia , Calon Frédéric , Leclerc Nicole
Published: November 2022

In Alzheimer disease (AD), Tau, an axonal microtubule-associated protein, becomes hyperphosphorylated, detaches from microtubules, accumulates, and self-aggregates in the somatodendritic (SD) compartment. The accumulation of hyperphosphorylated and aggregated Tau is also seen in other neurodegenerative diseases such as frontotemporal lobar degeneration (FTLD-Tau). Previous studies reported a link between filamin A (FLNA), an actin-binding protein found in the SD compartment, and Tau pathology. In the present study, we further explored this link. We confirmed the interaction of Tau with FLNA in neuroblastoma 2a (N2a) cells. This interaction was mediated by a domain located between the 157 and 383 amino acids (a.a.) of Tau. Our results also revealed that the overexpression of FLNA resulted in an intracellular accumulation of wild-type Tau and Tau mutants (P301L, V337M, and R406W) in N2a cells. Tau phosphorylation and cleavage by caspase-3 but not its aggregation were increased upon FLNA overexpression in N2a cells. In the parietal cortex of AD brain, insoluble FLNA was increased compared to control brain, but it did not correlate with Tau pathology. Interestingly, Tau binding to microtubules and F-actin was preserved upon FLNA overexpression in N2a cells. Lastly, our results revealed that FLNA also induced the accumulation of annexin A2, a Tau interacting partner involved in its axonal localization. Collectively, our data indicated that in Tauopathies, FLNA could contribute to Tau pathology by acting on Tau and annexin A2.
Optimierte Designer-Enzyme für die pharmazeutische Industrie
Authors: Kunzendorf Andreas , Bornscheuer Uwe T.
Published: November 2022

Enzymes, the driving biocatalysts in living organisms, are typically not suited for large-scale industrial use. In the last decade, enzyme engineering has evolved into the key technology to design tailor-made enzymes for chemical and pharmaceutical applications. We highlight current trends in enzyme engineering and biocatalysis based on outstanding examples from the pharmaceutical industry.
Einzelzellmikroskopie im Hochdurchsatz auf Mikrostrukturen
Authors: Müller Judith A. , Schwake Gerlinde , Rädler Joachim O.
Published: November 2022

Cellular response to perturbations, if examined at the single cell level, exhibits cell-to-cell differences, distinct dynamic behavior and correlations meaningful for the study of regulatory networks and information processing. Live-cell imaging on single cell arrays (LISCA) facilitates automated acquisition of individual time courses with sharp temporal resolution. Here we discuss expression dynamics after transient GFP transfection and event-time correlations in nanoparticle induced apotosis.
The meiofauna of the Eratosthenes Seamount (eastern Mediterranean Sea)—first insights into taxa composition, distribution, and diversity
Authors: George Kai Horst
Published: November 2022

During the research cruise MSM 14/1 of RV M.S. MERIAN to the eastern Mediterranean Eratosthenes Seamount in 2009/2010, samples were taken with a multiple corer to get first insights into the composition, abundance, and diversity of the meiofauna. Along two transects, a north–south and a west–east ones, 14 sites were sampled on the seamount. Additionally, a distant deep-sea site provided meiobenthic material for comparison with that of the seamount. Altogether, 15 meiobenthic major taxa were found. Nematoda and Copepoda Harpacticoida strongly dominated all sites, followed by Annelida and Tardigrada at most sites. Although direct comparison pointed towards a northern seamount community, this could not be confirmed by a detailed community analysis regarding taxa composition, abundance expressed by density (ind./10 cm2), and taxa diversity. It revealed neither a homogeneous seamount community nor any faunistic relation with bathymetric or geographic gradients, with exception of the taxa diversity that apparently followed a latitudinal gradient. Generally, Eratosthenes Seamount presents a quite heterogeneous meiobenthic assemblage that may be linked to small-scale biotic and abiotic variables. Moreover, also the distant reference site did not differ significantly from the seamount sites. A brief comparison with other Atlantic and Mediterranean seamounts and islands indicates that Eratosthenes Seamount is not characterized by an impoverished meiobenthic fauna.
Children’s Sense of Belonging in the Context of Post-separation Parental Stalking: Finnish Children’s Experiences of their Family Relations
Authors: Nikupeteri Anna , Laitinen Merja , Kallinen Kati
Published: November 2022

Drawing from previous research on domestic violence and stalking, this study addresses children’s experiences of their family relations in post-separation parental stalking contexts from the perspective of stalking as a form of violence against women and children. Despite the fact that violence perpetrated by a parent fundamentally changes family dynamics and children’s perceptions of family security, research on children’s family relations in the course of domestic violence or stalking has rarely addressed children’s sense of belonging. The aim of this paper is to augment our understanding of children’s experiences of family relations in connection with parental stalking. The research question is: How do children experience their belonging in family relations in the context of post-separation parental stalking? A total of 31 children and young people aged 2–21 participated in the study. The data were collected through interviews and therapeutic action group sessions with the children. The qualitative data analysis was content-oriented. Four dimensions of children’s sense of belonging were identified: (1) Varying belonging, (2) distancing belonging, (3) non-belonging and (4) holding belonging. The first three dimensions are constructed in relation to the child’s stalking father, while the fourth one includes the mother, siblings and other relationships that provide safety and comfort. The dimensions are parallel and not mutually exclusive. The study indicates that a finer-grained understanding of children’s sense of belonging in family relations is needed when social and health care and law enforcement professionals evaluate the child’s safety and best interest.
Microblog sentiment analysis based on deep memory network with structural attention
Authors: Zhou Lixin , Zhang Zhenyu , Zhao Laijun , Yang Pingle
Published: November 2022

Microblog sentiment analysis has important applications in many fields, such as social media analysis and online product reviews. However, the traditional methods may be challenging to compute the long dependencies between them and easy to lose some semantic information due to low standardization of text and emojis in microblogs. In this paper, we propose a novel deep memory network with structural self-attention, storing long-term contextual information and extracting richer text and emojis information from microblogs, which aims to improve the performance of sentiment analysis. Specifically, the model first utilizes a bidirectional long short-term memory network to extract the semantic information in the microblogs, and considers the extraction results as the memory component of the deep memory network, storing the long dependencies and free of syntactic parser, sentiment lexicon and feature engineering. Then, we consider multi-step structural self-attention operations as the generalization and output components. Furthermore, this study also employs a penalty mechanism to the loss function to promote the diversity across different hops of attention in the model. This study conducted extensive comprehensive experiments with eight baseline methods on real datasets. Results show that our model outperforms those state-of-the-art models, which validates the effectiveness of the proposed model.
A node selection algorithm with a genetic method based on PBFT in consortium blockchains
Authors: Zhang Jinyu , Yang Yumeng , Zhao Deyu , Wang Yue
Published: November 2022

Industry and research communities have widely studied Blockchain technology, and the consortium blockchain is currently the most used category with a wide range of applications. However, issues, such as the performance of consensus mechanisms, have become essential constraints on promoting and applying the consortium blockchain. To improve the performance of the consortium blockchain consensus, we use the practical Byzantine fault tolerance (PBFT) consensus widely used in consortium blockchains to reduce the number of consensus nodes to optimize performance. Using the PBFT consensus, we screen high-performance nodes and obtain a reliable and limited number of consensus nodes. We propose a genetic algorithm-based blockchain consensus algorithm improvement scheme, design the fitness function of blockchain nodes and the genetic algorithm to iterate out consensus node groups with excellent indicators continuously, and finally iterate the nodes participating in the consensus. This algorithm can increase the speed and efficiency of the consensus, block generation, and computation. The algorithm in this article is tested on the FISCO BCOS (i.e., a consortium blockchain platform built by the FISCO open-source working group), and controlled experiments and the experimental results illustrate the safety and practicability of the method.
A Systematic Research on System Recovery Based on Improved Genetic Algorithm and Quotient Resilience Model Under Attack and Damage
Authors: Zhen Li , Lu Tian , Xu Sun Chen , Mei Wu Yu , Sheng Wang Dong , Hong Miao
Published: November 2022

The vulnerability of the current network has become an urgent problem to be solved. The focus of network protection should be shifted from traditional network protection to the direction of effective recovery even after being attacked and damaged, and then, the concept of resilience came into being. This paper selects physical explosion attacks to establish damaged network. An improved system resilience recovery strategy is established which considers task importance and time efficiency. Aiming at the initial population is too random, easy to mature and with poor solution, this paper improves genetic algorithm by new greedy model in population initialization and head-to-head mutation operator. Simulation shows that the improved genetic algorithm is better and more stable, the improved quotient model is more effective in system resilience recovery measured by index-E proposed in this paper.
Fermi-level flat band in a kagome magnet
Authors: Yang T. Y. , Wan Q. , Song J. P. , Du Z. , Tang J. , Wang Z. W. , Plumb N. C. , Radovic M. , Wang G. W. , Wang G. Y. , Sun Z. , Yin Jia-Xin , Chen Z. H. , Huang Y. B. , Yu R. , Shi M. , Xiong Y. M. , Xu N.
Published: November 2022

The band structure in a kagome lattice can naturally exhibit flat band, Dirac cones, and van Hove singularity, enabling rich interplays between correlation and topology. However, the flat band is rarely detected just at the Fermi level in kagome materials, which would be crucial to realize emergent flat band physics. Here, combining angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy, transport measurements and first-principles calculation, we observe a striking Fermi-level flat band in paramagnetic YCr6Ge6 as a typical signature of electronic kagome lattice. We explicitly unveil that orbital character plays an essential role to realize electronic kagome lattice in crystals with transition-metal kagome layers. We further engineer this material with magnetic rare earth elements to break the time-reversal symmetry of the Fermi-level kagome flat band. Our work establishes a Fermi-level flat band in a kagome magnet as an exciting quantum platform.
Democratization and the State
Authors: Pierskalla Jan Henryk
Published: November 2022

Does democratization lead to more meritocracy in the civil service? The Element argues that electoral accountability increases the value of competence over personal loyalty in the civil service. While this resembles an application of merit principles, it does not automatically reduce patronage politics or improve public goods provision. Competent civil servants are often used to facilitate the distribution of clientelistic goods at mass scale to win competitive elections. The selection of competent but less loyal civil servants requires the increased use of control mechanisms, like the timing of promotions, to ensure their compliance. The Element tests these claims using novel micro-level data on promotions in Indonesia's civil service before and after democratization in 1999. The Element shows that national- and local-level elections led to increased promotion premiums for educated civil servants, and simultaneously generated electoral cycles in the timing of promotions, but did little to improve public goods provision.
Feminism Cannot be Single Because Women are Diverse: Contributions to a Decolonial Black Feminism Stemming from the Experience of Black Women of the Colombian Pacific
Authors: Lozano Betty Ruth , Paredes Grijalva Daniela
Published: November 2022

This article asserts that European and North American feminisms are colonial discursive elaborations that defined what it was to be a woman and a feminist. The categories of gender and patriarchy established both what the subordination of women was as well as the possibilities for their emancipation. They're colonial discourses in the sense that they have construed women of the third world, or of the global South, as “other.” The specific case examined in this article questions the Euro-US-centric feminist construction of women and Afro-descendant feminists. In resignifying the categories of analysis proposed by feminism, such as gender and patriarchy, Afro-descendant feminists assert themselves as diverse Black women who build proposals subverting the social order that oppresses them, without needing to resort to feminism's central categories. Women belonging to ethnic communities elaborate a new type of feminism constructed in relation to the community's collective actions in vindicating their rights. Finally, Black or Afro-Colombian women, based on the legacy of their maroon or runaway slave ancestors, construct feminism otherwise, challenging universalist claims by Eurocentric and Andean-centric feminism, transforming and enriching it.
For a Genealogy of Decolonial Feminism: Living Archives of a Movement
Authors: Lao-Montes Agustin
Published: November 2022

The three volumes I am considering in this review essay constitute a living archive of the political and epistemic movement called decolonial feminism. Together, Tejiendo de Otro Modo: Feminismo, Epistemología, y Apuestas Descoloniales en el Abya Yala, Feminismo Descolonial: Nuevos aportes metodológicos a mas de una década, and Decolonial Feminism in Abya Yala, collect the principal contributions to the profoundly important production of critical theory and radical politics. The editors and contributors include a diversity of key figures in decolonial feminism, reuniting intellectual-activists mostly from Latin America and US Latinxs, a geohistorical landscape denominated Abya Yala, an Indigenous Kuna category that stands for “the territory of all of us.” The publication of this review essay as part of a special issue of Hypatia is a meaningful move because it was in this journal that María Lugones published her foundational articles on what she termed “the modern/colonial gender system,” as well as an invitation to cultivate decolonial feminism.
Joining the fight: the Italian foreign fighters contingent of the Kurdish People's Protection Units
Authors: Corradi Edoardo
Published: November 2022

Since the emergence of the Islamic State (ISIS) as one of the leading insurgent forces in Syria and Iraq in the 2010s, the academic literature has increasingly focused on the phenomenon of foreign fighters. Most studies have analyzed transnational insurgents joining the ISIS; however, research on non-jihadi foreign fighters remains underdeveloped. The article sheds much-needed light on the factors motivating non-jihadi fighters to join conflicts abroad. Specifically, it presents the findings of an in-depth analysis of the factors leading Italian nationals to join the Kurdish People's Protection Units (YPG/YPJ)1 after 2011, their military contribution on the battlefield, and their reasons for returning to Italy. The contributions of the paper are twofold. First, it enriches our general understanding of the motivations of non-jihadi foreign fighters through detailed qualitative analysis, including first-hand accounts and an analysis of fighters' biographies. Second, it offers a more complete picture of the specific factors informing the Italian experience of transnational non-jihadi fighters in recent years. The qualitative data highlight the role of non-material factors in triggering the armed mobilization of foreign fighters. The findings indicate that the Italian foreign fighters contingent within the YPG/YPJ and the SDF has been highly committed, made up mostly of young males with no military experience, and had little to no impact on the battlefield.
Occult Ecumenism: Maḥmūd Dihdār Shīrāzī's Unveiling Secrets as Exemplar of Timurid-Safavid Sunni-Shiʿi Science
Authors: Melvin-Koushki Matthew
Published: November 2022

That Safavid Iran was scene to a boom in the occult sciences (ʿulum-i gharība) is now beginning to be acknowledged by specialists; what has yet to be appreciated is the extent to which that boom represented a smooth and conscious continuation of Mamluk, Aqquyunlu, Ottoman and especially Timurid Sunni precedent. In particular, lettrism (ʿilm-i ḥurūf), developed by the Pythagoreanizing, imamophile New Brethren of Purity as universal imperial science, was embraced by leading Safavid thinkers and doers as a primary Sunni means of Shiʿizing Iran. This occult continuity is epitomized by the oeuvre of Maḥmūd Dihdār Shīrāzī “ʿIyānī” (fl. 1576), the most prolific Persian author on lettrism of the sixteenth century and teacher to Shaykh Bahāʾī (d. 1621) himself. His Unveiling Secrets (Kashf al-asrār)—a passionate prosimetric paean to Imam ʿAlī as cosmic principle in strictly Akbarian-Būnian terms, like Rajab al-Bursī’s (d. after 1410) work before it—is contextualized and translated here as a case in point.
A Global Health Law Trilogy: Transformational Reforms to Strengthen Pandemic Prevention, Preparedness, and Response
Authors: Meier Benjamin Mason , Habibi Roojin , Gostin Lawrence O.
Published: November 2022

This is a pivotal moment in the global governance response to pandemic threats, with crucial global health law reforms being undertaken simultaneously in the coming years: the revision of the International Health Regulations, the implementation of the GHSA Legal Preparedness Action Package, and the negotiation of a new Pandemic Treaty. Rather than looking at these reforms in isolation, it will be necessary to examine how they fit together, considering: how these reforms can complement each other to support pandemic prevention, preparedness, and response; what financing mechanisms are necessary to ensure sustainable health governance; and why vital norms of equity, social justice, and human rights must underpin this new global health system.
Utilization and Costs of Gender-Affirming Care in a Commercially Insured Transgender Population
Authors: Baker Kellan , Restar Arjee
Published: November 2022

Many transgender people need specific medical services to affirm their gender. Gender-affirming health care services may include mental health support, hormone therapy, and reconstructive surgeries. Scant information is available about the utilization or costs of these services among transgender people, which hinders the ability of insurance regulators, health plans, and other health care organizations to plan and budget for the health care needs of this population and to ensure that transgender people can access medically necessary gender-affirming care. This study used almost three decades of commercial insurance claims from a proprietary database containing data on more than 200 million people to identify temporal trends in the provision of gender-affirming hormone therapy and surgeries and to quantify the costs of these services.
The Woman Who Cried Pain: Do Sex-Based Disparities Still Exist in the Experience and Treatment of Pain?
Authors: Hoffmann Diane E. , Fillingim Roger B. , Veasley Christin
Published: November 2022

Over twenty years have passed since JLME published “The Girl Who Cried Pain: A Bias Against Women in the Treatment of Pain.” This article revisits the conclusions drawn in that piece and explores what we have learned in the last two decades regarding the experience of men and women who have chronic pain and whether women continue to be treated less aggressively for their pain than men.
Food Marketing to — and Research on — Children: New Directions for Regulation in the United States
Authors: Pomeranz Jennifer L. , Mozaffarian Dariush
Published: November 2022

As countries around the world work to restrict unhealthy food and beverage marketing to children, the U.S. remains reliant on industry-self regulation. The First Amendment’s protection for commercial speech and previous gutting of the Federal Trade Commission’s authority pose barriers to restricting food marketing to children. However, false, unfair, and deceptive acts and practices remain subject to regulation and provide an avenue to address marketing to young children, modern practices that have evaded regulation, and gaps in the food and beverage industry’s self-regulatory approach.
Expanding the Role of Bioethics in Translational Science
Authors: Rothstein Mark A.
Published: November 2022

Translational science attempts to accelerate and increase the significance of research progressing from bench to bedside. Support from the NIH through its institutional grant program has increased the prominence and importance of translational science. The inclusion of a broadly based bioethics component to translational science presents an opportunity for bioethics scholars to address fundamental social issues, including the effects of translational science on public health, health equity, and human flourishing. Large-scale bioethical inquiries could examine research priorities, unintended consequences of research, and access to and uptake of research discoveries.
A Double Standard? Gender Bias in Voters' Perceptions of Political Arguments
Authors: Hargrave Lotte
Published: November 2022

Do the styles politicians use influence how voters evaluate them, and does this matter more for women than for men? Politicians regularly use anecdotal arguments, emotional appeals and aggressive attacks when communicating with voters. However, that women politicians have been branded as ‘nasty’, ‘inhuman’ and ‘unfeminine’ suggests that these strategies may come at a price for some. I report on a novel survey experiment assessing whether voters are biased in their perceptions and evaluations of politicians' communication styles. By manipulating politician gender and argument style, I assess, first, whether politicians incur backlash when violating gender-based stereotypes and, secondly, whether differential perceptions of the styles themselves explain this backlash. I find that style usage has important consequences for how voters evaluate politicians but that this is not gendered. These results have important implications, as they suggest that women politicians may not need to conform to stereotype-expected behaviours in order to receive positive voter evaluations.
Characterization of the lesser known Korean seerfishScomberomorus koreanus(Kishinouye, 1915) (Scombriformes: Scombridae) in Indian waters
Authors: Roul Subal Kumar , Jeena N. S. , Rohit Prathibha
Published: November 2022

Scomberomorus koreanuswas originally described from a single specimen from the west coast of Korea. In 1964 the species was synonymized withS. guttatusduring the systematic review of the scombroid fishes of India. Subsequently,S. koreanuswas discovered in Palk Bay in 1976, confirming its first record from India and the Indian Ocean. Since then, no such detailed taxonomic studies have been undertaken for the species along the Indian coast. Although the species is distributed in the Indo-West Pacific region and forms a commercially important fishery in part of its range,S. koreanusis poorly known and very limited taxonomic studies have been carried out in detail which usually results in misidentifications at field level. The present morpho-genetic investigation and previous molecular study by the authors confirmed the occurrence of the species in the coastal waters of both the Bay of Bengal and the Arabian Sea. The exact characteristics ofS. koreanusare detailed here, and their comparison was made here with the related speciesS. guttatusfound in the northern part of the east coast of India, based on a thorough morphological study, including the radiographs of 13 fresh specimens (334–588 mm FL), colour photographs ofS. koreanuscollected in 2019–2021 and DNA barcoding.
Why imaginary worlds? The role of self-exploration within online gaming worlds
Authors: Szolin Kim , Griffiths Mark D.
Published: November 2022

Dubourg and Baumard posited that preferences for exploration are the key to the popularity in imaginary worlds. This commentary argues that other forms of exploration may also account for the success and appeal of specific types of imaginary worlds, namely self-exploration within interactive imaginary worlds such as videogames.
Am I present in imaginary worlds? Intentions, actions, and flow in mediated experiences and fiction
Authors: Pianzola Federico , Riva Giuseppe , Kukkonen Karin , Mantovani Fabrizia
Published: November 2022

We support the idea of applying cultural evolution theory to the study of storytelling, and fiction in particular. However, we suggest that a more plausible link between real and imaginary worlds is the feeling of “presence” we can experience in both of them: we feel present when we are able to correctly and intuitively enact our embodied predictions.
How granular should our explanations of fantastic fiction be?
Authors: Sobchuk Oleg
Published: November 2022

Explaining the reasons behind the success of various kinds of fiction is important, but how granular should our explanations be? I suggest that using a less granular, more general hypothesis would allow avoiding some pitfalls, such as using the concept of “imaginary world,” which eludes precise definitions.
Imaginary worlds pervade forager oral tradition
Authors: Sugiyama Michelle Scalise
Published: November 2022

Imaginary worlds recur across hunter-gatherer narrative, suggesting that they are an ancient part of human life: to understand their popularity, we must examine their origins. Hunter-gatherer fictional narratives use various devices to encode factual information. Thus, participation in these invented worlds, born of our evolved ability to engage in pretense, may provide adaptations with information inputs that scaffold their development.
Has COVID-19 suppressed dengue transmission in Nepal?
Authors: Pandey Basu Dev , Ngwe Tun Mya Myat , Pandey Kishor , Dumre Shyam Prakash , Bhandari Pramananda , Pyakurel Uttam Raj , Pokhrel Nayanum , Dhimal Meghanath , Gyanwali Pardip , Culleton Richard , Takamatsu Yuki , Costello Anthony , Morita Kouichi
Published: November 2022

Following the report of the first COVID-19 case in Nepal on 23 January 2020, three major waves were documented between 2020 and 2021. By the end of July 2022, 986 596 cases of confirmed COVID-19 and 11 967 deaths had been reported and 70.5% of the population had received at least two doses of a COVID-19 vaccine. Prior to the pandemic, a large dengue virus (DENV) epidemic affected 68 out of 77 districts, with 17 932 cases and six deaths recorded in 2019. In contrast, the country's Epidemiology and Disease Control Division reported 530 and 540 dengue cases in the pandemic period (2020 and 2021), respectively. Furthermore, Kathmandu reported just 63 dengue cases during 2020 and 2021, significantly lower than the 1463 cases reported in 2019. Serological assay showed 3.2% positivity rates for anti-dengue immunoglobulin M antibodies during the pandemic period, contrasting with 26.9–40% prior to it. Real-time polymerase chain reaction for DENV showed a 0.5% positive rate during the COVID-19 pandemic which is far lower than the 57.0% recorded in 2019. Continuing analyses of dengue incidence and further strengthening of surveillance and collaboration at the regional and international levels are required to fully understand whether the reduction in dengue incidence/transmission were caused by movement restrictions during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Teachers’ perceived corpus literacy and their intention to integrate corpora into classroom teaching: A survey study
Authors: Ma Qing , Chiu Ming Ming , Lin Shanru , Mendoza Norman B.
Published: November 2022

Given the importance of corpus linguistics in language learning, there have been calls for the integration of corpus training into teacher education programmes. However, the question of what knowledge and skills the training should target remains unclear. Hence, we advance our understanding of measures and outcomes of teacher corpus training by proposing and testing a five-component theoretical framework for measuring teachers’ perceived corpus literacy (CL) and its subskills: understanding, search, analysis, and the advantages and limitations of corpora. Also, we hypothesised that teacher CL is linked to their intention to use corpora in classroom teaching. Specifically, 183 teachers and student teachers received corpus training to develop their CL and then completed a survey to measure their CL and intention to use corpora in teaching in Likert-scale items together with open-ended questions. Confirmatory factor analysis indicated that a hierarchical factor structure for CL using the aforementioned five subfactors best fitted the data. Moreover, structural equation modelling indicated that CL is positively linked to the participants’ intention to integrate corpora into classroom teaching. While all five subskills are important for teachers, greater effort should be made to develop their corpus search and analysis skills, which can be viewed as the “bread and butter” of corpus training.
Brain-State Transitions, Responsibility, and Personal Identity
Authors: Rainey Stephen , Dague Karmele Olaciregui , Crisp Roger
Published: November 2022

This article examines the emerging possibility of “brain-state transitioning,” in which one brain state is prompted through manipulating the dynamics of the active brain. The technique, still in its infancy, is intended to provide the basis for novel treatments for brain-based disorders. Although a detailed literature exists covering topics around brain-machine interfaces, where targets of brain-based activity include artificial limbs, hardware, and software, there is less concentration on the brain itself as a target for instrumental intervention. This article examines some of the science behind brain-state transitioning, before extending beyond current possibilities in order to explore philosophical and ethical questions about how transitions could be seen to impact on assessment of responsibility and personal identity. It concludes with some thoughts on how best to pursue this nascent approach while accounting for the philosophical and ethical issues.
Animal Models in Neuropsychiatry: Do the Benefits Outweigh the Moral Costs?
Authors: Figdor Carrie
Published: November 2022

Animal models have long been used to investigate human mental disorders, including depression, anxiety, and schizophrenia. This practice is usually justified in terms of the benefits (to humans) outweighing the costs (to the animals). The author argues on utility maximization grounds that we should phase out animal models in neuropsychiatric research. The leading theories of how human minds and behavior evolved invoke sociocultural factors whose relation to nonhuman minds, societies, and behavior has not been homologized. Thus, it is not at all clear that we are gaining the epistemic or clinical benefits we want from this animal-based research.
Toward Informed User Decisions About Pharmacological Cognitive Enhancement
Authors: Koi Polaris
Published: November 2022

Pharmacological cognitive enhancement (PCE) refers to the use of pharmaceuticals to improve cognitive function when that use is not intended to prevent or treat disease. Those who favour a liberal approach to PCE trust users to make informed decisions about whether enhancing is in their best interest. The author argues that making informed decisions about PCE requires a nuanced risk-benefit analysis that is not accessible to many users. Presently, the PCE use of prescription medications such as methylphenidate and modafinil is widespread but most commonly happens without medical supervision. Direct and indirect barriers generate a situation where the risks and benefits of PCE are inequitably distributed; as a result, PCE is sometimes not in the user’s best interest. This is likely to also be the case for future pharmaceuticals. As a result, even if PCE pharmaceuticals were equitably distributed, its associated risks and benefits would not be. The article concludes with a discussion of the prospects of the clinical consultation on one hand, and e-health solutions on the other, in ameliorating the situation, arguing for cautious optimism.
Is [nuz] really the new [njuz]? Yod dropping in Toronto English
Authors: PABST KATHARINA
Published: November 2022

This article investigates yod dropping, i.e. the loss of the onglide after the coronals /t, d, n/, in Toronto English. Previous research has shown that this change is almost complete in Canadian English. However, most work has drawn on self-reported data rather than actual speech, and few studies have taken word frequency into consideration, although it has been shown to play a major role during earlier stages of the change. Combining auditory and acoustic analysis of production data from 20 speakers from the Greater Toronto Area, this study confirms that the change towards the yod-less pronunciation is largely complete. As in other varieties, there is considerable acoustic overlap between test words that historically had yod (new) and those that did not (too). This highlights the need to move away from predetermined cut-off points for determining yod presence, which are common in previous work, and find diagnostics that will allow us to distinguish between yod retention and /u/-fronting, another change that is currently underway in Canadian English (see also Roederet al.2018). Possible solutions are discussed.
Synthetic Attributes and the Schematized Categories
Authors: Edwards Maximilian
Published: November 2022

Within Kant scholarship, there is an entrenched tendency to distinguish, on Kant’s behalf, between pure and ‘schematized’ categories. There is also a widespread tendency to view the schematized categories as conceptually richer than the pure categories. I argue that this reading of the distinction, which I call the standard view, should be rejected. In its place, I draw on a neglected part of Kant’s theory of marks – namely, his account of ‘synthetic attributes’ – to propose an account of the distinction that preserves a strict identity between pure and schematized categories at the level of analysable content.