bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Coupling remote sensing and eDNA to monitor environmental impact: A pilot to quantify the environmental benefits of sustainable agriculture in the Brazilian Amazon
Authors: Dyson Karen , Nicolau Andréa P. , Tenneson Karis , Francesconi Wendy , Daniels Amy , Andrich Giulia , Caldas Bernardo , Castaño Silvia , de Campos Nathanael , Dilger John , Guidotti Vinicius , Jaques Iara , McCullough Ian M. , McDevitt Allan D. , Molina Luis , Nekorchuk Dawn M. , Newberry Tom , Pereira Cristiano Lima , Perez Jorge , Richards-Dimitrie Teal , Rivera Ovidio , Rodriguez Beatriz , Sales Naiara , Tello Jhon , Wespestad Crystal , Zutta Brian , Saah David
Published: February 2024

Monitoring is essential to ensure that environmental goals are being achieved, including those of sustainable agriculture. Growing interest in environmental monitoring provides an opportunity to improve monitoring practices. Approaches that directly monitor land cover change and biodiversity annually by coupling the wall-to-wall coverage from remote sensing and the site-specific community composition from environmental DNA (eDNA) can provide timely, relevant results for parties interested in the success of sustainable agricultural practices. To ensure that the measured impacts are due to the environmental projects and not exogenous factors, sites where projects have been implemented should be benchmarked against counterfactuals (no project) and control (natural habitat) sites. Results can then be used to calculate diverse sets of indicators customized to monitor different projects. Here, we report on our experience developing and applying one such approach to assess the impact of shaded cocoa projects implemented by the Instituto de Manejo e Certificação Florestal e Agrícola (IMAFLORA) near São Félix do Xingu, in Pará, Brazil. We used the Continuous Degradation Detection (CODED) and LandTrendr algorithms to create a remote sensing-based assessment of forest disturbance and regeneration, estimate carbon sequestration, and changes in essential habitats. We coupled these remote sensing methods with eDNA analyses using arthropod-targeted primers by collecting soil samples from intervention and counterfactual pasture field sites and a control secondary forest. We used a custom set of indicators from the pilot application of a coupled monitoring framework called TerraBio. Our results suggest that, due to IMAFLORA’s shaded cocoa projects, over 400 acres were restored in the intervention area and the community composition of arthropods in shaded cocoa is closer to second-growth forests than that of pastures. In reviewing the coupled approach, we found multiple aspects worked well, and we conclude by presenting multiple lessons learned.
Global domain adaptation attention with data-dependent regulator for scene segmentation
Authors: Lei Qiuyuan , Lu Fei
Published: February 2024

Most semantic segmentation works have obtained accurate segmentation results through exploring the contextual dependencies. However, there are several major limitations that need further investigation. For example, most approaches rarely distinguish different types of contextual dependencies, which may pollute the scene understanding. Moreover, local convolutions are commonly used in deep learning models to learn attention and capture local patterns in the data. These convolutions operate on a small neighborhood of the input, focusing on nearby information and disregarding global structural patterns. To address these concerns, we propose a Global Domain Adaptation Attention with Data-Dependent Regulator (GDAAR) method to explore the contextual dependencies. Specifically, to effectively capture both the global distribution information and local appearance details, we suggest using a stacked relation approach. This involves incorporating the feature node itself and its pairwise affinities with all other feature nodes within the network, arranged in raster scan order. By doing so, we can learn a global domain adaptation attention mechanism. Meanwhile, to improve the features similarity belonging to the same segment region while keeping the discriminative power of features belonging to different segments, we design a data-dependent regulator to adjust the global domain adaptation attention on the feature map during inference. Extensive ablation studies demonstrate that our GDAAR better captures the global distribution information for the contextual dependencies and achieves the state-of-the-art performance on several popular benchmarks.
Determining the drivers of global innovation under COVID-19: An FSQCA approach
Authors: Gong Zhenxing , Wang Yue , Li Miaomiao
Published: February 2024

During the COVID-19 epidemic, national innovation faced the challenges of high-risk research and development and intensified trade competition. How to allocate resources reasonably to promote national innovation has become a problem that must be solved. Based on the global innovation index (GII) framework, this study analyzes the influence of national innovation input elements (such as human capital resources, infrastructure, business maturity, etc.) on innovation output from the perspective of configuration, combining with the necessary condition analysis (NCA) and fuzzy set/qualitative comparative analysis (FSQCA). The research results show that:(1) A single innovation input constitutes the necessary condition and serves as a bottleneck for high innovation output;(2) ITT, HCR, IFT, MS and BS are all “multiple concurrent” and form different configurations, namely, two high-innovation and four nonhigh innovation configurations, that drive national innovation governance is characterized by “different roads leading to the same goals.” (3) As innovation is limited by the income levels of various countries, there are obvious differences in innovation drive paths between high- and low-income countries. Moreover, the configuration of asymmetric relationships with low-innovation output that occurs in high-income countries has unique characteristics. In this study, the influence of the coupling of national innovation input elements on innovation output is explored.
Synthetic images aid the recognition of human-made art forgeries
Authors: Ostmeyer Johann , Schaerf Ludovica , Buividovich Pavel , Charles Tessa , Postma Eric , Popovici Carina
Published: February 2024

Previous research has shown that Artificial Intelligence is capable of distinguishing between authentic paintings by a given artist and human-made forgeries with remarkable accuracy, provided sufficient training. However, with the limited amount of existing known forgeries, augmentation methods for forgery detection are highly desirable. In this work, we examine the potential of incorporating synthetic artworks into training datasets to enhance the performance of forgery detection. Our investigation focuses on paintings by Vincent van Gogh, for which we release the first dataset specialized for forgery detection. To reinforce our results, we conduct the same analyses on the artists Amedeo Modigliani and Raphael. We train a classifier to distinguish original artworks from forgeries. For this, we use human-made forgeries and imitations in the style of well-known artists and augment our training sets with images in a similar style generated by Stable Diffusion and StyleGAN. We find that the additional synthetic forgeries consistently improve the detection of human-made forgeries. In addition, we find that, in line with previous research, the inclusion of synthetic forgeries in the training also enables the detection of AI-generated forgeries, especially if created using a similar generator.
A study of the impact of an interprofessional education module in Vietnam on students’ readiness and competencies
Authors: Nguyen Huyen Thi Thanh , Wens Johan , Tsakitzidis Giannoula , Valcke Martin , Nguyen Hoa Thi , Duong Tuan Quang , Nguyen Cuc Thi , Hoang Dao Anh , Hoang Yen Thi Bach , Duong Lan Thi Ngoc , Nguyen Hung Van , Truong Thanh Viet , Nguyen Huy Vu Quoc , Nguyen Tam Minh
Published: February 2024

Introduction

The literature puts forward a range of challenges of interprofessional education (IPE) related to its planning, initiation, implementation, and especially to IPE assessment. The present study aims to map changes in students’ readiness and interprofessional collaboration competence (IPCC) in implementing an innovative IPE module. Potential differences in impact related to the health education programs and IPCC scores resulting from self-, peer-, and tutor assessments will also be analysed.

Methods

A pre-post design was adopted. The student’s readiness for interprofessional learning was assessed using the Readiness for Interprofessional Learning Scale, and the student’s IPCC score was calculated based on self-, peer-, and tutor assessments with the interprofessional collaborator assessment rubric.

Results

Students’ mean post-test readiness scores and mean post-test IPCC scores were significantly higher than the total and subscales/domain pre-test scores (p<0.01). No significant within-subject differences were observed in students’ readiness total or subscale scores when comparing health educational programs. However, significant differences were observed in students’ mean total IPCC scores between programs (p<0.01). Significant differences in students’ average IPCC scores were found when comparing self-, peer- and tutor assessment scores in six domains (p<0.01). Also, significant correlations between peer and tutor assessment scores were observed (p<0.01).

Conclusion

The IPE module, designed and implemented to focus on patient-centred practice within a primary care context, positively impacted students’ readiness and IPCC development. These results offer insights to expand the implementation of the IPE module to all health educational programs.
Association of dietary carbohydrate and fiber ratio with postmenopausal bone mineral density and prevalence of osteoporosis: A cross-sectional study
Authors: Zhang Lushuang , Zhao Liubiqi , Xiao Xinyu , Zhang Xiaobin , He Li , Zhang Qiang
Published: February 2024

Background

This study aimed to investigate the associations of carbohydrate to dietary fiber ratio with bone mineral density (BMD) and the prevalence of osteoporosis in postmenopausal women.

Methods

This cross-sectional study retrieved the data of 2829 postmenopausal women from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) database. Weighted univariable logistic regression models were used to investigate the correlations of carbohydrate, dietary fiber, or carbohydrate to fiber ratio with osteoporosis.

Results

Higher dietary fiber intake was correlated with decreased odds ratio of osteoporosis [odds ratio(OR) = 0.96, 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.93 to 0.99]. The odds ratio of osteoporosis in postmenopausal women was elevated as the increase of carbohydrate to fiber ratio (OR = 1.80, 95%CI: 1.10 to 2.96). Carbohydrate to fiber ratio >17.09 was related to increased odds ratio of osteoporosis (OR = 1.63, 95%CI: 1.04 to 2.56). Compared to the carbohydrate to fiber ratio ≤11.59 group, carbohydrate to fiber ratio >17.09 was associated with decreased total femur BMD (β = -0.015, 95%CI: -0.028 to -0.001) and femur neck BMD (β = -0.020, 95%CI: -0.033 to -0.006) in postmenopausal women. The femur neck BMD in postmenopausal women was decreased with the increase of carbohydrate to fiber ratio (β = -0.015, 95%CI: -0.028 to -0.001).

Conclusion

In postmenopausal women, a high carbohydrate/fiber ratio >17.09 is associated with an increased risk of osteoporosis and lower hip BMD and high fiber intake is associated with less osteoporosis and higher hip BMD.
Development of combined hypersonic test facility for aerothermodynamic testing
Authors: Yang Sungmo , Choi Ilsung , Park Gisu
Published: February 2024

In this study, a combined test facility was developed using a combination of an arc-jet tunnel and a shock tunnel for aerothermodynamic testing. The performance validation of individual parts was performed, and results were obtained from the combined test. A small-scale Huels-type arc-jet tunnel was used to preheat the test model by aerodynamic heating before conducting the experiments in the shock tunnel to duplicate the hot surfaces of flight objects encountered during hypersonic flight. The high-enthalpy flow in the arc-jet tunnel provided a heat flux of 1.99±0.03 MW/m2 for a flat-faced model of 10 mm diameters, and the flow condition of the shock tunnel used in this study simulated a Mach 5 flight at a pressure altitude of about 24 km. The two combined experiments employing different shape and material models were carried out to examine the effect of aerothermodynamic phenomena. In the first experiment, the effect of ablation-induced shape change on the fluid-structure was investigated using a cone model manufactured of AL6061 material. The effect of surface roughness on the fluid-structure was examined in the second experiment, which used a hemisphere model constructed of STS303 material. Although substantial findings could not be validated due to the limits of qualitative evaluations utilizing visualization methods, however preheating-related changes in surface roughness were found. As a follow-up study, a force measuring experiment based on the test procedures is being carried out at this facility utilizing a preheated model with an accelerometer. The performance and experimental results obtained using this integrated setup are discussed in detail, highlighting the potential of this combined hypersonic test facility.
SP3-induced Timeless transcription contributes to cell growth of lung adenocarcinoma cells
Authors: Tian Ping , Du Dajun , Yang Li , Zhou Nan , Tao Ling
Published: February 2024

Background

Timeless is well-known for its key role in replication checkpoints. Recent studies reveal the involvement of Timeless and specificity protein (SP) 1 in human malignancies. However, no evidence proved the interaction between SP3 and Timeless in lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD).

Methods

The expression and clinical significance of Timeless were analyzed using the LUAD dataset downloaded from the Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA). Lentivirus-mediated Timeless knockdown in A549 cells was used to examine the role of Timeless in cell proliferation and pemetrexed (PEM) resistance. Transcription factors (TFs) bound to the Timeless promoter were identified by DNA pull-down technology with HPLC-MS/MS analysis and analyzed by the Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway. Dual-luciferase reporter assay was used to determine the activity of SP3 in Timeless transcription.

Results

Timeless was overexpressed in LUAD samples, and it could serve as a potential diagnostic or prognostic biomarker for LUAD patients. shTimeless-mediated knockdown of Timeless reduced cell viability and proliferation and sensitized PEM-resistant A549 cells to PEM. Four fragments (F1: 1–373 bp), (F2: 374–962 bp), (F4: 1274–1645 bp), and (F5: 1646-2000bp) were confirmed as the TF binding profiles of the Timeless promoter. KEGG analysis showed that the TFs bound to the Timeless promoter had relevance to spliceosome, RNA transport, and mRNA surveillance pathways. SP3 promoted the transcription of Timeless via the F2 fragment (374–962 bp) binding motif.

Conclusion

Upregulation of Timeless mediated by SP3 promotes LUAD cell proliferation, providing evidence to support that targeting the SP3/Timeless axis may be a potential therapeutic strategy against LUAD.
Questioning morality in the modern age: Janet Frame’s fabular realism
Authors: Lorphelin Elsa
Published: February 2024

‘Fables and Fantasies’ is the subtitle of one of Janet Frame’s collections of short stories, entitled Snowman, Snowman (1962). Directly hinting at the question of generic hybridity, this subtitle does not apply only to this collection of short stories, as Janet Frame’s interest in the genre of the fable is to be found in other short stories from different collections. Nevertheless, Snowman, Snowman presents us with Frame’s more systematic adaptation of this classical, ancient genre of the fable to western modernity, and tries to come to terms with a seemingly insoluble paradox: how to write moral tales or fables, in a seemingly amoral time? Indeed, being deeply anchored in modernity’s materiality, individualism and consumerism, Frame’s fables make the fabulist’s voice extremely precarious and likely to fail in their attempt to re-create a sense of ‘moral community’. In this article, I demonstrate that Janet Frame’s use of the fable has a double aim. First, it seems to be in keeping with Walter Benjamin’s later lament about the death of the figure of the narrator in his 1977 essay entitled ‘The narrator’. Indeed, most of her fables stage the many ways in which the modern age dehumanizes and alienates the individual, thereby jeopardizing the fabulist’s transmission of wisdom and morals, in a time when interpersonal communication has been replaced by the artificiality of screens and monitors. Then, Janet Frame, while appearing to state the irrelevance, in this context, of such a genre as the classical fable, manages to redefine the very genre of the fable and to imply that the modern replacement of a ‘we’ by a multiplicity of ‘I’s still allows for a (new) form of universalism, and for the creation of an ‘a-moral community’ in which the fabulist still has a role to play.
Like a Prisoner: Stories of Endurance (Trans. J. Hodgson), Fatos Lubonja (2022)
Authors: Lambert Zoe
Published: February 2024

Review of: Like a Prisoner: Stories of Endurance (Trans. J. Hodgson), Fatos Lubonja (2022)

London: Istros Books, 180 pp.,

ISBN 978-1-91254-585-8, p/bk, £9.99
The Writer’s Torch: Reading Stories from The Bell, Phyllis Boumans, Elke D’hoker and Declan Meade (eds) (2023)
Authors: Rutter John D.
Published: February 2024

Review of: The Writer’s Torch: Reading Stories from The Bell, Phyllis Boumans, Elke D’hoker and Declan Meade (eds) (2023)

Dublin: The Stinging Fly Press, 329 pp.,

ISBN 978-1-90653-991-7, p/bk, £17.99
El tablero cerámico de Castro Curbín (Arzúa, A Coruña). Reflexiones sobre religiosidad y ¿juegos de mesa? en la Edad del Hierro del noroeste peninsular
Authors: Nión-Álvarez Samuel
Published: February 2024

El presente trabajo realiza una aproximación arqueológica a una pieza singular de la Edad del Hierro del Noroeste: el tablero cerámico de Castro Curbín (Arzúa). Este insólito objeto se define por una base plana realizada en cerámica, con numerosas oquedades y vinculada a varias fichas de forma circular, que encajan en los huecos. La pieza, muy fragmentada, fue recuperada en un depósito estructurada en el entorno del sistema defensivo del asentamiento. Dada la extraña factura del objeto, se propone una aproximación integral al yacimiento que permita establecer una base sólida para el análisis. Así, se definen, en primer lugar, las características más relevantes del poblado, las condiciones del paisaje habitado y su secuencia ocupacional, contextualizando el asentamiento con relación a las dinámicas sociales, territoriales y arqueológicas del interior de la Edad del Hierro del Noroeste. A continuación, el trabajo se focaliza en las características del depósito en el que se integra el tablero, una acumulación de materiales estructurada y de probable orientación votiva. Se analizarán las características generales de este tipo de expresiones en otros asentamientos fortificados del Noroeste, señalando su reiteración en otros poblados del interior y su habitual vínculo con el entorno de las murallas. Finalmente, se sugiere un análisis funcional e interpretativo del tablero, considerando su orientación lúdica como la más acorde a sus características. Estas consideraciones se relacionarán con otras expresiones lúdicas documentadas en distintos ámbitos, procurando establecer un marco comparativo de análisis que permita realizar una primera aproximación a este posible juego de mesa en el Hierro del Noroeste.
Skandináv óriások vállán állva?
Authors: Aspaas Per Pippin
Published: February 2024

The Hungarian Jesuit Joannes (János) Sajnovics’ “Demonstratio” (Demonstratio that Language of the Hungarians and the Lapps is the same) is a classic of Finno-Ugrian linguistics. An astronomer without previous experience in the comparative study of languages, Sajnovics embarked upon his study, seemingly unprepared, while participating at an astronomical expedition to Finnmark in far-northern Norway in 1768–69. When spending the winter 1769–70 in Copenhagen, he interacted with members of the Royal Danish Society of Sciences and presented his theory at their sessions. His landmark “Demonstratio” was published in two editions, in 1770 (Copenhagen) and 1771 (Trnava). Close reading of the first edition strongly suggests that the novel methodology of Sajnovics was informed nearly exclusively by Scandinavian scholarship; references to central-European scholars and their theories characterize the revised, second edition of the “Demonstratio”, which was made after Sajnovics and his mentor Maximilian Hell had returned to the Habsburg kingdom.
Az idegenség és az azonosság sémái valamint Sajnovics János Demonstratiójának kritikai fogadtatása
Authors: Mészáros Csaba
Published: February 2024

The critical interpretation of János Sajnovics’s Demonstratio in the 19th century (and beyond) has been thoroughly explored by historical linguists. However, much less attention has been given to the anthropological interpretation of the debate focusing on the origin of Hungarians and the Hungarian language. By enumerating several pseudo-ethnographies published in prominent Hungarian journals in the early 19th century on encounters between Hungarians living in Hungary and Hungarians still residing in Asia, the article proposes a new framework for interpreting the debates in the early 19th century about the Saami people and Hungarian settlements in the Orient. Instead of polarizing opinions around the idea of Turkic/Oriental versus Saami/primitive origin of Hungarians and avoiding the traps of considering some parts of the contemporary discourse unscientific, the article argues that it is more illuminating to focus on the representational schemes applied by the authors to understand and represent Otherness and Sameness during the course of the debate.
The content and qualitative composition of starch in bread wheat samples
Authors: Smirnova Olga Grigorievna , Goldstein Vladimir Georgievich , Nosovskaya Liliya Petrovna , Adikaeva Larisa Vladimirovna , Wasserman Lyubov Aleksandrovna , Simonov Alexander Vladimirovich , Pshenichnikova Tatyana Alekseevna
Published: February 2024

Starch is one of the main components of wheat endosperm and is used in the production of food and non-food products. The composition and content of starch largely determines quality of flour in breadmaking. The genotype and environmental conditions affect the quantity and qualitative composition of starch and the ratio of different types of starch granules in wheat endosperm. In this work, the qualitative and quantitative content of gluten, starch and starch fractions in the grain of wheat samples with hard and soft endosperm was studied to assess variability of traits. Wholemeal flour was separated into gluten, starch and dietary fiber by the "plant on the table" method. The isolated starch was separated into fractions A and B. Starch granules were examined using laser-scanning microscopy to determine their size. The analysis showed that the hard-grain variety Novosibirskaya 67 and the soft-grain variety Golubka could be the donors of high content of starch A. The hybrid lines SSL-2, SSL-2 and Rodina-M1 can be the donors of high content of starch B. For the studied samples, the proportion of small starch granules (<10 µm) was associated with grain endosperm structure.
Verdad y existencia en Hegel y Tomás de Aquino
Authors: Espiña Yolanda
Published: February 2024

La existencia constituye un desafio para la relación entre pensamiento y realidad. Se aborda aquí esta problemática a partir de una aproximación entre Hegel y Tomás de Aquino, siendo que ambos sitúan la verdad en el ámbito de lo inteligible. Ahora bien, la realidad, al convocar la existencia, convoca también una reflexión sobre la inteligibilidad misma. Tomás encara la existencia como condición necesaria para la inteligibilidad; Hegel apela a la inteligibilidad como condición necesaria para la existencia. El talante metafísico de esta discusión (diacrónica) alcanza su culminación en la cuestión sobre la existencia de Dios.
Nietzsche crítico de Wagner prolegómenos de la transformación del arte en espectáculo
Authors: Cruz León Francisco
Published: February 2024

El presente ensayo explora el itinerario de la crítica que Nietzsche ejerció sobre el arte de Wagner en tres pasos. Primero, se trata de reconocer la juvenil admiración del filósofo por la ópera wagneriana entendida como un renacimiento del drama musical antiguo. Luego, se explora el tránsito hacia su desilusión en la clave de la influencia de Schopenhauer sobre Wagner. Finalmente, el ensayo remata en la crítica madura de Nietzsche sobre Wagner, donde se advierten los prolegómenos decimonónicos de la transformación general del arte en espectáculo en el sentido contemporáneo.
Salto y cesura del pensar. En medio de la «parada» dialéctica benjaminiana
Authors: Hernández Gutiérrez Eduardo
Published: February 2024

En Das Passagen-Werk Benjamin vuelve sobre el concepto de Ursprung, esta vez como salto genuino de lo que ha sido, como vuelco dialéctico en el instante del Jetztzeit del materialista histórico, instante de legibilidad, pero también como parada e interrupción [Stillstand] de este despliegue, donde la fuerza dialéctica queda suspendida por un instante, en el ahora de su cognoscibilidad. Para llegar a esto, el berlinés ha hecho un recorrido reflexivo, crítico y contundente, el cual comienza a definirse más intensamente desde el prólogo Epistemocrítico de su Trauerspiel. Rastrearemos el recorrido en ambas obras y en las construcciones problemáticas de sus textos y fragmentos anteriores, especialmente en la tensión de la mediación, relación y conexión entre la obra de arte y el arte como despliegue teórico; sobre todo la tensión existente entre los primeros Románticos y Goethe, en la dialéctica entre la forma pura [Idee] y el contenido ideal [Ideale] del arte. También nos inmiscuiremos en las tesis Sobre el concepto de historia y Parque central y algunos fragmentos sobre Baudelaire. Nuestro objetivo principal es mostrar el despliegue de la imagen [Bild] en la escritura filosófica benjaminiana, en medio [Mittel] de los extremos de idea y fenómeno, de verdad y conocimiento, por tanto en la misma construcción conceptual, cuando nombrar y contemplar la realidad histórica, la realidad material debía ser comentada, interpretada y leída en su eterna caducidad [ewige Vergängnis] o hundimiento [Untergang], como exposición [Darstellung] de una experiencia histórica configurada por determinadas constelaciones imaginales.
Democracia, diferencia(s) y deconstrucción. Un análisis relacional a propósito de la filosofía de Judith Butler
Authors: Hernández Rodríguez Ana Isabel
Published: February 2024

Judith Butler es una filósofa que se apoya en elementos deconstructivistas y se encuadra en el clima de la diferencia para escapar a la dinámica de las políticas y economías de signo neoliberal y esencialista. La concepción butleriana de la subjetividad, de fuerte impronta contextualista, es una asunción de la democracia en términos radicales y plurales y, por ello, su filosofía política y ética propone un feminismo de tintes postmodernos cuyo enclave es una figura de la subjetividad aperturista. La política de los nuevos movimientos sociales, más allá de los límites institucionales, así como el énfasis en las diferencias y en su reconocimiento, sirven para asumir al antagonismo como una posición deseable democráticamente.
Comprensión de la vida y aceptación de la muerte. La gestión estoica del duelo en las «Consolaciones» de Séneca
Authors: Linares Huertas Omar
Published: February 2024

La filosofía posee un potencial terapéutico presente desde sus inicios griegos. De entre todas las escuelas helenísticas, podemos afirmar que la que más se preocupó por el malestar humano fue la estoica. El presente artículo analiza la gestión estoica del duelo presente en las Consolaciones de Séneca, exponiendo la operatividad terapéutica de su modelo, en tanto que metodología explicativo-experiencial de fines eudaimónicos o sapienciales.
Recepción de la «teoría mimética» de René Girard en la obra de Peter Sloterdijk
Authors: Parrilla Desiderio
Published: February 2024

La hipótesis mimética es una teoría antropológica formulada por el pensador René Girard según la cual la esencia del deseo humano se caracteriza por una imitación paradójica y ambivalente, capaz de generar efectos de signo contrario. El pensador Peter Sloterdijk ha elaborado su obra bajo los presupuestos de esta hipótesis antropológica aunque sea de forma polémica. De hecho, funda en ella no sólo su fenomenología del espacio afectivo sino también su crítica al psicoanálisis y su análisis de la sociedad post-industrial de masas. En el presente artículo expondremos los principales puntos de acuerdo y de oposición entre ambos autores.
La concepción bantú-africana de la muerte
Authors: Musyoka Gregory Nzau
Published: February 2024

La pregunta sobre la muerte sigue siendo una gran preocupación para el hombre de hoy. La concepción bantú-africana de la muerte y el más allá ofrece una original respuesta a este misterio. Presentar la coincidencia y diferencias de dicha original respuestas con otras respuestas posibles será el objetivo de esta reflexión.
Neill Gross versus Pierre Bourdieu. ¿Estrategia o autocomprensión? Reflexiones sobre un falso debate en sociología de la filosofía
Authors: Vázquez García Francisco
Published: February 2024

En su conocida monografía sobre Richard Rorty, publicada en 2008, el sociólogo de la filosofía Neill Gross, formuló, con la intención de corregir los modelos de «sociofilosofía» propuestos por Randall Collins y Pierre Bourdieu, una teoría acerca del «autoconcepto» que los pensadores elaboran sobre sí mismos. Esa teoría, bastante influyente, se sustenta entre otras cosas en lo que puede considerarse una errónea lectura de la obra de Pierre Bourdieu. En primer lugar se exponen los principios que guían la teoría de Gross y su aplicación en la monografía sobre Rorty. En segundo lugar se pondrá en duda la tesis de Gross pretendiendo rebasar con su teoría el modelo explicativo ofrecido por Bourdieu en el ámbito de la sociología de la filosofía, mostrando las distorsiones introducidas en su lectura del sociólogo francés. Finalmente, se sugerirá una reinterpretación de la trayectoria de Rorty apoyándose en la teoría bourdieusiana del habitus y prescindiendo de la noción de «autoconcepto intelectual» introducida por Gross.
Detection of giant cytoplasmic inclusions in a pediatric patient with recurrent infections: a case report
Authors: Saiz-Sierra Leire , Marull Arnall Anna , Nieto-Moragas Javier , Deulofeu Meritxell , Jiménez Romero Orlando , Mademont Irene , Obón Ferrer María , Serrando Querol María Teresa
Published: February 2024

Objectives

Giant inclusions in leukocytes is a common feature that can be observed in some infections but can be also related to rare genetic disorders such as Chédiak-Higashi syndrome (CHS). A differential diagnosis between these groups of diseases has to be performed using specific genetic tests. Clinical and pathological history is relevant for a diagnostic orientation due to the difficulty and specificity of the diagnostic confirmation.

Case presenation

We present the case of a 3-years-old male patient with recurrent respiratory infections. It is important to highlight the presence of a lock of white hair on the front of the head and some hypopigmentation of the skin. In the blood smear, the presence of big cytoplasm granules in all the leukocytes, especially in neutrophils.

Conclusions

CHS is an uncommon genetic disorder caused by the mutation in the LYST gene situated in chromosome 1q42.3 which codified for LYST protein. Molecular genetic testing also can be done to detect the biallelic variants in the LYST gene. It is essential to perform peripheral blood smears in the presence of changes in quantitative and/or qualitative values in the complete blood count as a first step in the diagnosis algorithm.
Biomarcadores séricos para la evaluación de la fibrosis hepática
Authors: Maroto-García Julia , Moreno-Álvarez Ana , Sanz de Pedro María P. , Buño-Soto Antonio , González Álvaro
Published: February 2024

La fibrosis hepática se desarrolla como respuesta a la presencia de daño hepático crónico de diferentes etiologías, provocando un desequilibrio entre la síntesis y degeneración de la matriz extracelular y la desregulación de diversos mecanismos fisiológicos. En los estadios iniciales de las patologías crónicas, el hígado posee una elevada capacidad de regeneración, por lo que la detección temprana de la fibrosis hepática resulta esencial. En este contexto, es preciso contar con herramientas sencillas y económicas que permitan detectar la fibrosis hepática en sus fases iniciales. Para evaluar la fibrosis hepática, se han propuesto multitud de biomarcadores séricos no invasivos, tanto directos, como el ácido hialurónico o las metaloproteasas, como indirectos. Así mismo, se han desarrollado diversas fórmulas que combinan dichos biomarcadores junto con parámetros demográficos, como el índice FIB-4, el índice de fibrosis en la enfermedad de hígado graso no alcohólico (NFS, por sus siglas en inglés), la prueba ELF o el score de fibrosis Hepamet (HFS, por sus siglas en inglés). En el presente manuscrito, realizamos una revisión crítica del valor diagnóstico y pronóstico de los diferentes biomarcadores séricos y fórmulas actualmente existentes.
Incidental vocabulary learning from listening, reading, and viewing captioned videos: frequency and prior vocabulary knowledge
Authors: Teng Mark Feng
Published: February 2024

The present study, given increasing attention to incidental vocabulary learning, explores how different input modes (i.e., listening, reading, and viewing captioned videos) affect such learning while considering frequency and prior vocabulary knowledge. One hundred twenty Chinese university students learning English as a foreign language were allocated to three treatment groups and one (test-only) control group. Target words included 48 terms appearing at various frequencies (1–6 occurrences) in a documentary video. Incidental vocabulary learning outcomes were measured through form and meaning recognition. Mixed effects models showed that the caption viewing condition led to the most pronounced incidental vocabulary learning and retention outcomes, followed by the reading and listening conditions. A significant interaction effect was identified between time, group, and prior vocabulary knowledge. A significant interaction effect was also observed between time, group, and frequency. Meanwhile, frequency was less important for incidental vocabulary learning than prior vocabulary knowledge. Pedagogical implications are discussed based on these findings.
Facemask comfort enhancement with graphene oxide from recovered carbon waste tyres
Authors: Aziz Ungku Nur Ainaa Ungku Mohd , Nor Affandi Nor Dalila , Harun Ahmad Mukifza , Rahman Mohd Azizi Abdul , Indrie Liliana , Bonnia Noor Najmi
Published: February 2024

Commercial disposable facemasks have lower breathability and may cause discomfort after hours of wearing them. Graphene oxide (GO) nanoparticles offer a significant opportunity to improve the breathability of facemask materials. Hence, the current study aimed to investigate the feasibility of incorporating GO in facemask materials. The GO was synthesized from recovered carbon of waste carbon tyre. In this study, two concentrations of GO (0.01 and 0.02%) were used to enhance the comfort properties of the polypropylene (PP) facemask fabric. The GO-coated PP facemask fabrics were characterized for scanning electron microscopy, energy dispersive X-ray, and Raman spectroscopy. The comfort properties were determined using air permeability, water vapour permeability, and moisture management test. Raman analysis revealed distinctive peaks corresponding to GO at approximately 1,300 and 1,500 cm−1. The GO displayed bumping pieces of particles and a textured surface, with a diameter ranging from 30 to 80 nm. The result of mercury porosimetry shows that the PP fabric coated with 0.02% of GO provided a higher pore diameter and porosity at approximately 21.31 µm and 82.79%, respectively. Due to its high pore diameter and porosity, the PP filter facemask fabric coated with 0.02% GO demonstrated enhanced air permeability, water vapour permeability, and moisture management. These results suggested that the sample possesses favourable breathability properties as compared to the sample without GO. By undertaking this study, GO synthesized from the waste carbon tyre was developed, which can enhance the breathability of fabric materials.
Synergistic effects of essential oils and phenolic extracts on antimicrobial activities using blends of Artemisia campestris, Artemisia herba alba, and Citrus aurantium
Authors: Benamar-Aissa Boualem , Gourine Nadhir , Ouinten Mohamed , Yousfi Mohamed
Published: February 2024

This study explores the synergistic antibacterial effects of essential oils (EOs) and phenolic extracts from three plants against foodborne pathogenic bacteria. The present work aimed to investigate the synergistic effects of the binary and the ternary combinations of extracts using different blend proportions of the following plant extracts: Artemisia campestris (AC), Artemisia herba alba (AHA), and Citrus aurantium (CA). The antimicrobial activities of EOs and phenolic extracts were determined and evaluated against five strains. For the EOs, the results of the DIZ showed the existence of synergism for different combinations of binary blends, such as AC/AHA or AHA/CA against Escherichia coli, and AC/CA against Enterobacter faecalis. In addition, ternary blends of AC:AHA:CA at a ratio of 1/6:2/3:1/6 exhibited a synergy effect, as measured by the CI, against E. coli. On the other hand, for the phenolic extracts, synergistic effects were noticed for binary blends of AC/CA at different ratios against E. coli, E. faecalis, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa strains. Similarly, ternary blends of phenolic extracts presented synergy against E. coli, E. faecalis, P. aeruginosa strains, and even C. albicans. In this case, the blending ratios were crucial determining factors for maximizing the synergy effect. The study established that the proportion of a single drug could play an essential role in determining the bioefficacy of a drug combination treatment. Therefore, the results showed the importance of studying the modulation of antibacterial activities based on the proportions of extracts in the mixture and finding the range of proportions (as determined by SLMD) that have a synergistic/additive/antagonistic effect with no or low side effects, which can be used in a food preservation system.
Environmental gradients influence geographic differentiation and low genetic diversity of morphologically similar Ulva species in the Northwest Pacific
Authors: Zhong Kai-Le , Hiraoka Masanori , Gao Xu , Russell Bayden , Hu Zi-Min , Chen Weizhou , Kim Ju-Hyoung , Yotsukura Norishige , Endo Hikaru , Oka Naohiro , Yoshikawa Shinya , Gaitan-Espitia Juan Diego
Published: February 2024

Species classified in the genus Ulva are important foundational marine primary producers distributed worldwide. These species are particularly abundant and diverse through the northwest Pacific (NWP) where they experience marked latitudinal gradients of environmental heterogeneity. It is unclear, however, to what extent such dynamic conditions can modulate phenotypic and genetic patterns in these organisms, potentially reflecting the influence of historical and contemporary biotic and abiotic factors. Here, we assessed inter- and intra-specific genetic patterns of Ulva species through the NWP using plastid rbcL and tufA gene sequences. Although we initially targeted Ulva australis based on morphological identification, we recovered eight Ulva genetic entities masked by morphological similarities. Except for the Ulva linza–procera–prolifera and U. lactuca–reticulata complexes, six of these genetic entities were recovered as individual species (i.e., U. australis, U. ohnoi, U. californica, U. compressa, U. lacinulata, and U. arasakii), and showed biogeographic patterns likely explained by clines in sea surface temperature and ocean current dispersal. At intra-specific level, all the genetic entities showed low genetic variation and divergence based on rbcL (0–0.3 %) and tuf A (0–0.9 %) data. Our results provide insights regarding intra- and inter-specific genetic patterns characterizing morphologically similar Ulva species through the NWP. However, further studies are needed to understand the mechanisms underpinning such patterns and the associated ecological and evolutionary implications.
Stability of ten serum tumor markers after one year of storage at −18°C
Authors: Mondésert Etienne , De Brauwere David-Paul , Lumbroso Serge , Brouillet Jean-Paul , Bancal Candice
Published: February 2024

Objectives

The storage of serum tumor markers (STM) at −18 °C for one year has been a legal requirement in France since 1999, but has been abolished in 2022. This raises the question of the relevance of maintaining these biobanks in terms of conditions of storage. These should only be implemented after validation; in order to maintain the integrity of the biological sample and must be controlled over time according to the laboratoryʼs procedures. The aim of the study was to assess the suitability of storing 10 STMs by evaluating their stability after one year of storage at −18 °C.

Methods

A new immuno-enzymatic assay (A+1) was conducted on samples that had been stored at −18 °C for one year after an initial assay (A) of one of the following STMs: carcino-embryonic antigen (CEA), alpha-fetoprotein (AFP), carbohydrate antigen 125 (CA125), carbohydrate antigen 15-3 (CA15-3), carbohydrate antigen 19-9 (CA19-9), total (TPSA), and free (FPSA) prostate-specific antigen, calcitonin (CT), thyroglobulin (TG), and neuro-specific enolase (NSE). The results were confronted to four different permissible error sources.

Results

In total, 1148 A+1 assays were performed. A strong correlation between A+1 and A values was found for all analytes, but with a statistically significant reduction in the mean A+1 concentration compared to the mean A concentration in 7/10 STMs. The bias induced by conservation seems to be technically unsustainable if we rely on the repositories closest to the current analytical performances.

Conclusions

These results support the discontinuation of mandatory STM biobank storage at −18 °C, which requires considerable technical time and organizational effort.
The rheological, textural, frictional, and digestive properties of starch-based cheese analogs prepared with tapioca starch and almond protein
Authors: Li Peijiao , Wen Yanwen , Qiu Xiaomin , Chen Douyi , Zou Yuan , Zheng Qianwang
Published: February 2024

Most commercial starch-based cheese analogs were pointed out that protein content is low, but protein can affect the formation of the starch gel and its sensory properties. Almond proteins have high nutritional values because they are abundant in essential amino acids. In this study, the effects of different tapioca starch/almond protein proportions on the starch-based cheese analogs texture, rheology, friction and digestion properties were studied. The addition of almond protein to starch-based cheese analogs resulted in soft texture, small storage modulus values, increased friction coefficients, and increased fat digestibility as the proportion of protein increased. When increase the starch proportion, an opposite trend was observed. These findings showed that protein-supplemented starch-based cheese analogs with tunable texture, rheological, frictional and digestive properties can be easily produced by controlling the proportion of tapioca starch/almond protein.
Horner syndrome immediately after deep dissection of upper thyroid pole: a case report and review of the literature
Authors: Chen Hongdan , Sun Yiceng , Tang Mi , Zhang Fan
Published: February 2024

Objectives

Horner syndrome (HS) is a rare complication of thyroid surgery. However, the relationship between the occurrence of HS and thyroid upper pole injury is still not completely clear, and there are only few reports.

Case presentation

A 24-year-old female underwent endoscopic thyroidectomy for thyroid papillary carcinoma. The intraoperative examination found that the upper pole of the thyroid was bleeding. During hemostasis, the ultrasonic knife consciously peeled too deep and stopped. The patient developed HS immediately after operation. We analyzed the association between deep dissection of the upper thyroid pole and an increase in the HS incidence rate through literature searches and anatomical relationships.

Conclusions

Our case report discussed the potential relationship between the degree of thyroid upper pole dissection and the occurrence of HS in routine thyroid surgery, and provided a warning for the degree of thyroid upper pole dissection in the clinic to avoid HS.
The assessment of the mechanism of action of lauric acid in the context of oral cancer through integrative approach combining network pharmacology and molecular docking technology
Authors: Buva Kirti , Kumbhar Gauri M. , Deshmukh Ajinkya , Ladke Vaibhav Sunil
Published: February 2024

Objectives

Lauric acid has been investigated for its effects on various human cancer cell types, although limited research has been dedicated to its impact on oral cancer. In light of this, the objective of our study was to comprehensively assess the anticancer properties of lauric acid specifically in the context of oral cancer. This evaluation was achieved through an in-silico approach, leveraging network analysis techniques. By employing this methodology, we aimed to gain valuable insights into the potential therapeutic benefits of lauric acid for treating oral cancer.

Methods

The in-silico analysis involved determination of drug-likeness prediction, prediction of common targets between oral cancer and LA, protein–protein interactions (PPI), hub genes, top 10 associated pathways by gene ontology (GO), Kyoto Encyclopaedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway, molecular docking experiments.

Results

Our study pinpointed 23 common genes involved in critical cellular processes, including proliferation, apoptosis regulation, PI3K AKT cascade, and cell cycle control. Among them, CXCL8, MMP9, PPARA, MAPK1, and AR stood out in the top 10 pathways, particularly in the PI3K/AKT signaling pathway. This highlights the potential role of lauric acid in oral cancer treatment through the PI3K/AKT pathway and calls for further exploration of this mechanism.

Conclusions

Our study highlights lauric acid’s promising anticancer properties through computational analysis, offering a foundation for future research in cancer treatment development. This approach combines molecular insights with in-silico methods, paving the way for identifying therapeutic compounds and understanding their mechanisms. Lauric acid holds potential as a chemotherapeutic agent, opening up new avenues for cancer therapy exploration.