bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The DNA helicase FANCJ (BRIP1) functions in double strand break repair processing, but not crossover formation during prophase I of meiosis in male mice
Authors: Horan Tegan S. , Ascenção Carolline F. R. , Mellor Christopher , Wang Meng , Smolka Marcus B. , Cohen Paula E.
Published: February 2024

Meiotic recombination between homologous chromosomes is initiated by the formation of hundreds of programmed double-strand breaks (DSBs). Approximately 10% of these DSBs result in crossovers (COs), sites of physical DNA exchange between homologs that are critical to correct chromosome segregation. Virtually all COs are formed by coordinated efforts of the MSH4/MSH5 and MLH1/MLH3 heterodimers, the latter representing the defining marks of CO sites. The regulation of CO number and position is poorly understood, but undoubtedly requires the coordinated action of multiple repair pathways. In a previous report, we found gene-trap disruption of the DNA helicase, FANCJ (BRIP1/BACH1), elicited elevated numbers of MLH1 foci and chiasmata. In somatic cells, FANCJ interacts with numerous DNA repair proteins including MLH1, and we hypothesized that FANCJ functions with MLH1 to regulate the major CO pathway. To further elucidate the meiotic function of FANCJ, we produced three new Fancj mutant mouse lines via CRISPR/Cas9 gene editing: a full-gene deletion, truncation of the N-terminal Helicase domain, and a C-terminal dual-tagged allele. We also generated an antibody against the C-terminus of the mouse FANCJ protein. Surprisingly, none of our Fancj mutants show any change in either MLH1 focus counts during pachynema or total CO number at diakinesis of prophase I. We find evidence that FANCJ and MLH1 do not interact in meiosis; further, FANCJ does not co-localize with MSH4, MLH1, or MLH3 in meiosis. Instead, FANCJ co-localizes with BRCA1 and TOPBP1, forming discrete foci along the chromosome cores beginning in early meiotic prophase I and densely localized to unsynapsed chromosome axes in late zygonema and to the XY chromosomes in early pachynema. Fancj mutants also exhibit a subtle persistence of DSBs in pachynema. Collectively, these data indicate a role for FANCJ in early DSB repair, but they rule out a role for FANCJ in MLH1-mediated CO events.
Burden of non-serious infections during biological use for rheumatoid arthritis
Authors: Bergmans Barbara , Jessurun Naomi , van Lint Jette , Murk Jean-Luc , van Puijenbroek Eugène , de Vries Esther
Published: February 2024

Introduction

Biologicals have become a cornerstone in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) treatment. The increased risk of serious infections associated with their use is well-established. Non-serious infections, however, occur more frequently and are associated with a high socioeconomic burden and impact on quality of life but have not received the same attention in the literature to date. The aim of this study was to gain insight into the various non-serious infections reported in RA patients using biologicals and their experienced burden.

Materials and methods

The Dutch Biologic Monitor was a prospective observational study that included adults with rheumatoid arthritis and biological use who answered bimonthly questionnaires on the adverse drug reactions (ADRs) they experienced from their biological and reported the associated impact score (ranging from 1, no impact, to 5, very high impact). ADRs were assigned a MedDRA code by pharmacovigilance experts and labeled as definite, probable, possible or no infection by infectious disease professionals. Descriptive statistics were performed using medians and interquartile ranges.

Results

A total of 586 patients were included in the final analysis. Eighty-five patients (14.5%) reported a total of 421 ADRs labeled as probable or definite infections by the experts. Patient-assigned burden was ADR-specific. Upper respiratory tract infections were most frequently reported and had a high rate of recurrence or persistence, with a median impact score of 3.0 (IQR 2.0–3.0) which remained stable over time.

Discussion

Non-serious infections significantly outnumbered serious infections in this real-life cohort of RA patients using biologicals (77.1 non-serious infections and 1.3 serious infections per 100 patient years, respectively). Infections in the upper respiratory tract were rated as having an average burden, which remained constant over a long period of time. Awareness of the impact of recurrent and chronic non-serious infections may enable healthcare professionals to timely treat and maybe even prevent them, which would lessen the associated personal and socioeconomic burden.
Accelerometer-measured 24-hour movement behaviours over 7 days in Malaysian children and adolescents: A cross-sectional study
Authors: Brady Sophia M. , Salway Ruth , Mariapun Jeevitha , Millard Louise , Ramadas Amutha , Rizal Hussein , Skinner Andy , Stone Chris , Johnson Laura , Su Tin Tin , Armstrong Miranda E. G.
Published: February 2024

Background

Quantifying movement behaviours over 24-hours enables the combined effects of and inter-relations between sleep, sedentary time and physical activity (PA) to be understood. This is the first study describing 24-hour movement behaviours in school-aged children and adolescents in South-East Asia. Further aims were to investigate between-participant differences in movement behaviours by demographic characteristics and timing of data collection during Ramadan and COVID-19 restrictions.

Methods

Data came from the South-East Asia Community Observatory health surveillance cohort, 2021–2022. Children aged 7–18 years within selected households in Segamat, Malaysia wore an Axivity AX6 accelerometer on their wrist for 24 hours/day over 7 days, completed the PAQ-C questionnaire, and demographic information was obtained. Accelerometer data was processed using GGIR to determine time spent asleep, inactive, in light-intensity PA (LPA) and moderate-to-vigorous PA (MVPA). Differences in accelerometer-measured PA by demographic characteristics (sex, age, ethnicity, socioeconomic group) were explored using univariate linear regression. Differences between data collected during vs outside Ramadan or during vs after COVID-19 restrictions, were investigated through univariate and multiple linear regressions, adjusted for age, sex and ethnicity.

Results

The 491 participants providing accelerometer data spent 8.2 (95% confidence interval (CI) = 7.9–8.4) hours/day asleep, 12.4 (95% CI = 12.2–12.7) hours/day inactive, 2.8 (95% CI = 2.7–2.9) hours/day in LPA, and 33.0 (95% CI = 31.0–35.1) minutes/day in MVPA. Greater PA and less time inactive were observed in boys vs girls, children vs adolescents, Indian and Chinese vs Malay children and higher income vs lower income households. Data collection during Ramadan or during COVID-19 restrictions were not associated with MVPA engagement after adjustment for demographic characteristics.

Conclusions

Demographic characteristics remained the strongest correlates of accelerometer-measured 24-hour movement behaviours in Malaysian children and adolescents. Future studies should seek to understand why predominantly girls, adolescents and children from Malay ethnicities have particularly low movement behaviours within Malaysia.
Prevalence of falls and comparison of health-related physical fitness factors between different faller categories among institutionalized older adults in Kandy District of Sri Lanka
Authors: Ihalage Welgama Ihalage Suheja Madhushani , Wijebandara Vidhana Ralalage Chalana Sithara , Wickramakumari Diwalawaththe Gedara Wathsala Sewwandi , Wickramasingha Wickramasingha Mudiyanselage Buddhini Dilesha , Sampath Rathnayaka Mudiyanselage Ruwan Keerthi , Manchanayake Manchanayake Mudiyanselage Jinali Pabodha , Liyanage Esther
Published: February 2024

Falls can be identified as one of the main issues in elderly population which can lead to serious consequences. Elderly population can be subdivided as community dwelling older adults and institutionalized older adults. The components of health-related physical fitness factors play an important role in the perspective of healthy ageing. The objective of the study was to determine the prevalence of falls and to compare health-related physical fitness factors between different fall categories among institutionalized older adults. This descriptive cross-sectional study comprised of one hundred and seventy-two elders above 60 years of age, living in registered elder’s homes in Kandy District. The prevalence of falls was determined by the number of falls reported by the subjects. They were further categorized as non-fallers, fallers, and frequent fallers depending on the number of falls. Body Mass Index (BMI) for body composition, 2-minute walk test for cardiovascular endurance, 30 second sit to stand test for muscle strength and endurance, hand grip strength for upper body strength, chair sit and reach test for lower body flexibility and back scratch test for upper body flexibility were the measures used to assess health-related physical fitness factors. The prevalence of falls is presented as percentage and the health-related factors were compared between the three faller categories using one-way ANOVA and pairwise comparison was performed using Scheffe test. The prevalence of falls was 47.1%. There was a significant difference in BMI, cardiovascular endurance, and lower body flexibility between the three categories of fallers. Higher BMI, lower cardiovascular endurance and lower flexibility in the lower body were associated with increased prevalence of falls (p<0.05). There was no significant difference in body fat percentage, hand grip strength, lower body muscle strength and endurance and upper body flexibility (p>0.05). The findings suggest that, BMI, cardiovascular endurance, and lower body flexibility must be addressed and managed, while designing intervention programs for falls prevention among institutionalized older adults.
Perifascial areolar tissue graft promotes angiogenesis and wound healing in an exposed ischemic component rabbit model
Authors: Miyanaga Toru , Yoshitomi Yasuo , Miyanaga Aiko
Published: February 2024

Multiple studies have reported the use of perifascial areolar tissue (PAT) grafts to treat wounds involving exposed ischemic tissues, avascular structures, and defective membrane structures. Our objective was to assess the quantitative effects of PAT grafts and their suitability for wounds with ischemic tissue exposure and to qualitatively determine the factors through which PAT promotes wound healing and repair. We conducted histological, immunohistochemical, and mass spectrometric analyses of the PAT grafts. PAT grafts contain numerous CD34+ progenitor/stem cells, extracellular matrix, growth factors, and cytokines that promote wound healing and angiogenesis. Furthermore, we established a male rabbit model to compare the efficacy of PAT grafting with that of an occlusive dressing treatment (control) for wounds with cartilage exposure. PAT grafts could cover ischemic components with granulation tissue and promote angiogenesis. Macroscopic and histological observations of the PAT graft on postoperative day seven revealed capillaries bridging the ischemic tissue (vascular bridging). Additionally, the PAT graft suppressed wound contraction and alpha smooth muscle actin (αSMA) levels and promoted epithelialization. These findings suggested that PAT can serve as a platform to enhance wound healing and promote angiogenesis. This is the first study to quantify the therapeutic efficacy of PAT grafts, revealing their high value for the treatment of wounds involving exposed ischemic structures. The effectiveness of PAT grafts can be attributed to two primary factors: vascular bridging and the provision of three essential elements (progenitor/stem cells, extracellular matrix molecules, and growth factors/cytokines). Moreover, PAT grafts may be used as transplant materials to mitigate excessive wound contraction and the development of hypertrophic scarring.
Cellular receptors for mammalian viruses
Authors: Valero-Rello Ana , Baeza-Delgado Carlos , Andreu-Moreno Iván , Sanjuán Rafael
Published: February 2024

The interaction of viral surface components with cellular receptors and other entry factors determines key features of viral infection such as host range, tropism and virulence. Despite intensive research, our understanding of these interactions remains limited. Here, we report a systematic analysis of published work on mammalian virus receptors and attachment factors. We build a dataset twice the size of those available to date and specify the role of each factor in virus entry. We identify cellular proteins that are preferentially used as virus receptors, which tend to be plasma membrane proteins with a high propensity to interact with other proteins. Using machine learning, we assign cell surface proteins a score that predicts their ability to function as virus receptors. Our results also reveal common patterns of receptor usage among viruses and suggest that enveloped viruses tend to use a broader repertoire of alternative receptors than non-enveloped viruses, a feature that might confer them with higher interspecies transmissibility.
Amino acid 138 in the HA of a H3N2 subtype influenza A virus increases affinity for the lower respiratory tract and alveolar macrophages in pigs
Authors: Cardenas Matias , Seibert Brittany , Cowan Brianna , Fraiha Ana Luiza S. , Carnaccini Silvia , Gay L. Claire , Faccin Flavio Cargnin , Caceres C. Joaquin , Anderson Tavis K. , Vincent Baker Amy L. , Perez Daniel R. , Rajao Daniela S.
Published: February 2024

Influenza A virus (FLUAV) infects a wide range of hosts and human-to-swine spillover events are frequently reported. However, only a few of these human viruses have become established in pigs and the host barriers and molecular mechanisms driving adaptation to the swine host remain poorly understood. We previously found that infection of pigs with a 2:6 reassortant virus (hVIC/11) containing the hemagglutinin (HA) and neuraminidase (NA) gene segments from the human strain A/Victoria/361/2011 (H3N2) and internal gene segments of an endemic swine strain (sOH/04) resulted in a fixed amino acid substitution in the HA (A138S, mature H3 HA numbering). In silico analysis revealed that S138 became predominant among swine H3N2 virus sequences deposited in public databases, while 138A predominates in human isolates. To understand the role of the HA A138S substitution in the adaptation of a human-origin FLUAV HA to swine, we infected pigs with the hVIC/11A138S mutant and analyzed pathogenesis and transmission compared to hVIC/11 and sOH/04. Our results showed that the hVIC/11A138S virus had an intermediary pathogenesis between hVIC/11 and sOH/04. The hVIC/11A138S infected the upper respiratory tract, right caudal, and both cranial lobes while hVIC/11 was only detected in nose and trachea samples. Viruses induced a distinct expression pattern of various pro-inflammatory cytokines such as IL-8, TNF-α, and IFN-β. Flow cytometric analysis of lung samples revealed a significant reduction of porcine alveolar macrophages (PAMs) in hVIC/11A138S-infected pigs compared to hVIC/11 while a MHCIIlowCD163neg population was increased. The hVIC/11A138S showed a higher affinity for PAMs than hVIC/11, noted as an increase of infected PAMs in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF), and showed no differences in the percentage of HA-positive PAMs compared to sOH/04. This increased infection of PAMs led to an increase of granulocyte-monocyte colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF) stimulation but a reduced expression of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPARγ) in the sOH/04-infected group. Analysis using the PAM cell line 3D4/21 revealed that the A138S substitution improved replication and apoptosis induction in this cell type compared to hVIC/11 but at lower levels than sOH/04. Overall, our study indicates that adaptation of human viruses to the swine host involves an increased affinity for the lower respiratory tract and alveolar macrophages.
The costumers’ lens: An encounter with The Pink Silk Dress
Authors: Chapman Louise Elizabeth Penn
Published: February 2024

This visual essay documents the evolution of a performative public encounter with an ‘everyday’ pink silk dress opening in June 2022. Narratives of Dress: The Pink Silk Dress (2022) was developed as part of the practice for a practice- based Ph.D. exploring how the contract for participation might be renegotiated between ‘everyday’ historical dress and the spectator in exhibitions and encounters with dress.

Narratives of Dress: The Pink Silk Dress (2022) utilized the pink silk dress as a narrative artifact to evolve maker and making narratives informed by a professional practice of costuming for theatre. A prior emphasis on object- based study in the author’s studies and professional practice informed the interpretation and construction of historical dress for theatre and has evolved practices within her research to permit access to the often, ‘hard to reach’ narratives of everyday historical dress.
Assessing the financial stability of Warsaw-listed transport and logistics firms
Authors: Ludwiczak Anna
Published: February 2024

Purpose. The primary objective of this paper is to evaluate the financial security of transport and logistics companies listed on the Warsaw Stock Exchange. Methodology. The research employs various financial security indicators such as liquidity, capital coverage of assets, working capital, and others. The study focuses on 11 companies in the transport and logistics sector listed on the Warsaw Stock Exchange in the third quarter of 2023. Results. The findings reveal that companies in the transport and logistics sector are highly diverse and challenging to compare on non-financial security aspects. Average data do not reflect the real situation in the sector, and individual companies significantly influence average results. The importance of maintaining an optimal structure of assets and capital for ensuring financial security is also highlighted. Theoretical contribution. This paper contributes to financial security in the transport and logistics sector by analysing companies listed on the Warsaw Stock Exchange. It offers a new perspective on the financial stability of these companies and the factors influencing it. Practical implications. The research calls for caution when assessing the financial security of enterprises in the transport and logistics sector. It also suggests expanding the research group and checking whether the entire sector has any common patterns regarding financial security. This could provide valuable insights for companies in the sector and policymakers.
FEATURES OF MANIFESTATION OF ANTIOXIDANT PROPERTIES OF HYDROLYSIS LIGNIN IN POLYETHYLENE FILMS, ANTAGONISM OF LIGNIN AND LICHEN EXTRACTS
Authors: Vorobyova Elena Valerievna
Published: February 2024

The work experimentally studied the antioxidant properties of hydrolyzed lignin powder in the composition of polyethylene films, showing the possibility of increasing the antioxidant capacity of lignin powder in the polymer matrix due to the adsorption of compounds with antioxidant properties on its surface.
Samples of polyethylene films with a lignin content of 1–7% wt. obtained by thermal pressing. Thermal-oxidative testing of polymer films was carried out at a temperature of 150 °C. Monitoring of the oxidation process was carried out by IR spectroscopy, using the absorption band at 1720 cm-1, which corresponds to carbonyl groups.
Experiments on adsorption of ascorbic acid and resorcinol (weak antioxidants) on the surface of lignin particles were carried out. An increase in the antioxidant properties of modified lignin in the composition of polyethylene films was noted.
Lignin modification with Evernia prunastri lichen extracts; Parmelia sulcata; Hypogymnia physodes led to antagonism (negative synergism) of antioxidant properties in the polymer composition: the thermal-oxidative stability of the experimental polymer films turned out to be extremely low. At the same time, the extracts of the lichens Evernia prunastri, Parmelia sulcata, Hypogymnia physodes themselves exhibit high antioxidant activity in the composition of polyethylene films. The ATR spectra of lignin powders and UV/VIS spectra of lichen extracts were studied before and after mutual contacting. Analysis of the spectra indicates a decrease in the number of oxygen-containing groups of lignin, which determine its antioxidant capacity.
Thou Shalt Forget
Authors: Ross-Tremblay Pierrot
Published: February 2024

Following a decade-long research project, this devastating book examines colonial state imperatives to oppress indigenous peoples and history from mainstream national narratives. Through the study of his community, the Essipiunnuat or, ‘People of the Brook Shells River’, the author hopes to combat the erasure of First Nations people from colonial history-books by shedding a light on historical and current systematic and territorial oppression. From land grabs, to genocide and irreversible ecological warfare, the book demonstrates the impact of psychological colonialism on agency and resistance, the value of elders and community story-telling in empowerment and self-actualisation, and the role of the state and local elites in creating and warping our perception and understanding of history. A critical text for those with an interest in indigenous people, their history and human rights, Thou Shalt Forget also serves as an important tool for remembrance and a starting point for resistance and change.
Trayectoria del capital psicológico en estudiantes adolescentes de Entre Ríos
Authors: Schönfeld Fátima Soledad , Mesurado Belén
Published: February 2024

El capital psicológico refiere a un estado de desarrollo psicológico compuesto por cuatro fortalezas o recursos: eficacia, optimismo, esperanza y resiliencia. El objetivo del trabajo es conocer la trayectoria del capital psicológico en estudiantes secundarios de Entre Ríos, Argentina, en tres momentos de su recorrido escolar. El diseño es cuantitativo, siendo un estudio de tipo longitudinal. El muestreo utilizado fue no probabilístico intencional. La muestra se conformó por adolescentes escolarizados de Entre Ríos. La misma consistió en 313 sujetos para el primer tiempo, 280 para el segundo y 249 para el tercero. Las edades abarcaron desde los 12 hasta los 17 años. Respecto al instrumento, se utilizó la adaptación al contexto educativo realizada en una muestra de estudiantes secundarios de Argentina (Schönfeld & Mesurado, 2019) de la versión abreviada del Psychological Capital Questionnaire – PCQ. Se realizaron análisis de Modelos de Curva de Crecimiento Latente. Los hallazgos indican que la trayectoria de la eficacia puede ser explicada a través de un modelo de cambio lineal, los cambios del optimismo se explican a través de un modelo cuadrático, los de la esperanza mediante un modelo lineal y los de la resiliencia a través de un modelo de no cambio. Así, tres de los cuatro componentes del capital psicológico evidenciaron un descenso hacia el tercer tiempo de evaluación en los estudiantes que conformaron la muestra del trabajo. Los resultados obtenidos denotan la importancia de la promoción del capital psicológico en la adolescencia.
Impactos de la digitalización en la fiscalidad internacional: estudio en el marco del tratado hispanofrancés de doble imposición
Authors: Fernández Amor José Antonio
Published: February 2024

Para el presente estudio se parte de una realidad evidente en nuestro tiempo: estamos viviendo un periodo de transición en lo económico. La digitalización ha potenciado en la economía un fenómeno de licuación de elementos hasta ahora seguros por su fisicidad. En el ámbito de la regulación internacional de la fiscalidad esto tiene su efecto y ahora se pone la atención en tres aspectos. En el marco del Convenio de Doble Imposición Hispano Francés se trabajan los impactos sobre, primero, los puntos de conexión territorial para organizar la tributación de beneficios empresariales; segundo, la oportunidad de planificación que provee a las personas trabajadoras y, tercero, la asunción en su dinámica de los criptoactivos.
Comentarios sobre el nuevo Régimen Fiscal Especial de las Illes Balears
Authors: Navarro Gómez Ricardo J.
Published: February 2024

La disposición adicional septuagésima de la Ley de Presupuestos Generales del Estado para 2023 ha introducido el llamado ‘régimen fiscal especial’ de las Illes Balears (RFEIB), con la finalidad de dotar a las empresas establecidas en ellas de un estímulo fiscal en sus actividades que fomente la inversión y el dinamismo social y económico y compense el hecho diferencial de la insularidad. El presente estudio analiza en qué consisten los beneficios fiscales que conforman este régimen, con una especial atención a la figura de la reserva para inversiones, muy similar a la del modelo canario. Para ello, se ha incardinado previamente la nueva regulación en el ámbito del régimen especial de las Illes Balears, ya existente desde 1998, para pasar después a examinar los distintos elementos de su régimen jurídico, a fin de determinar su alcance y su incidencia a la luz de la finalidad que justifica su establecimiento.
Bacillus cereus: an effective bio-inoculant for promoting salt stress tolerance of rice seedlings under saline soil conditions
Authors: Debapriya Choudhury  , Shinjan Dey  , Chandrama Mukherjee  , Sayani Datta  , Sikha Dutta
Published: February 2024

Plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) are a powerful tool to maintain sustainable agriculture and promote plant resistance to biotic and abiotic types of stress. Salinity, a major abiotic stress hampers plant growth, development, and yield. Salt-tolerant PGPR are effective agents for ameliorating salinity effects on rice plants. The present study endeavored to isolate, determine halotolerant ability, characterize Plant Growth Promoting (PGP) traits, and finally observe the effect of PGPR strain on plant growth promotion of rice plants under saline and non-saline conditions. Based on the 16S rRNA gene sequencing technique, the rhizobacterial strain DB2 was identified as Bacillus cereus ATCC 14579(T) from NCMR, NCCS Pune. To check the growth-promoting ability, the strain was inoculated with two rice genotypes named Chinsurah Nona I (salt tolerant-non aromatic) and Badshabhog (aromatic) under polyhouse conditions. Results showed a significant increment in relative water content (RWC), total chlorophyll content (TCC), root length (RL), and shoot length (SL) in both rice genotypes inoculated with DB2 under both saline and non-saline conditions. Under non-saline conditions enhancement of RWC, TCC, RL, and SL was better in DB2 inoculated Chinsurah Nona I than in Badshabhog inoculated with DB2. Whereas, DB2-inoculated Badshabhog showed more recovery of RWC, TCC, RL, and SL than DB2-inoculated Chinsurah Nona I under saline conditions. Under salt stress conditions, inoculation with the rhizobacterial strain showed a significant reduction in electrolytic leakage (EL) in rhizobacteria inoculated with both rice genotypes. Moreover, DB2 inoculation showed a significant reduction in Na+ content in the roots of Chinsurah Nona I (44.6%) and Badshabhog (24.5%) rice genotypes. The present study has indicated that the application of salt-tolerant PGPR may be an effective and sustainable solution for rice cultivation under salt-stress conditions.
Diasporic Consciousness: A Study of Identity Crisis in Jhumpa Lahiri’s “Unaccustomed Earth”
Authors: Dangwal Kamlesh
Published: February 2024

This paper explores the creative work of renowned diasporic Indian writer Jhumpa Lahari in her collection of eight short stories entitled "Unaccustomed Earth" where, she has explored the tug of war between the traditional-cultural values sustained by the immigrant parents but were curtailed by their precocious young American teenagers. The oscillation of permanent settlement in the new land and an overwhelming nostalgia for the homeland is a persistent theme of diasporic writers. In the introductory part of the research paper diaspora is defined and elucidated. The dispersion of Indian people across the globe and their vivid experiences and suffrages is discussed in the second part of the paper. The central themes of the diasporic writer and Indian diasporic writers and their closeness and corelation to celebrated diasporic writer Jhumpa Lahiri is discussed in the subsequent paragraphs. Diasporic terms like assimilation, adaptation, hybridity, host culture, ethnic and culture conflicts have been discussed in the light of the ‘Unaccustomed Earth’ by Lahiri. Irresistible past of the immigrants for their land of origin is a perennial source of study among diasporic writers. This paper explores the tug of war between the first-generation migrants who have the sense of rootlessness, alienation, and nostalgic homesickness on one hand and the hybrid and multicultural third generation and its synthesis of the past and the modern leading to socio-cultural, linguistic, and psychological transfusion widening new dimensions for the next generation in Lahiri’s stories.
Dutch Colonization and Slavery of Asia: From Apology to Reparation
Authors: Steinmetz Carl H. D.
Published: February 2024

This article is about the history of forced apologies and reparations for the 350 years of Dutch colonization and the Dutch war of occupation of the Republic of Indonesia from 1945-1949, the trade in enslaved people, the extermination of the indigenous population, their replacement by people willing to serve the Dutch colonists, and the looting and plundering of natural mineral resources and earthly products such as nutmeg. The apologies issued are half-hearted, enforced by lawsuits that focus on a few rather than entire populations. The apologies are limited to the Republic of Indonesia and then only for the period 1945-1949. Currently, the Netherlands is considering apologies and possibly reparations for the suffering inflicted on Africans in the transatlantic triangle. In the process, Asian genocides, torture, executions, beheadings, enslavement of people, and looting and robbery of people and land are being covered up.  Perhaps this is neo-colonization at its best. This article also makes a proposal, based on the insights of the international reparations movement and transactional justice, in the hope that the Netherlands and its Dutch municipalities will begin to mend their ways. At the heart of this proposal are methods for apologizing and repairing suffering. This can only be done together with our Asian sisters and brothers.
Γ-convergence analysis of the nonlinear self-energy induced by edge dislocations in semi-discrete and discrete models in two dimensions
Authors: Alicandro Roberto , De Luca Lucia , Palombaro Mariapia , Ponsiglione Marcello
Published: February 2024

We propose nonlinear semi-discrete and discrete models for the elastic energy induced by a finite system of edge dislocations in two dimensions.
Within the dilute regime, we analyze the asymptotic behavior of the nonlinear elastic energy, as the core-radius (in the semi-discrete model) and the lattice spacing (in the purely discrete one) vanish.
Our analysis passes through a linearization procedure within the rigorous framework of Γ-convergence.
Oldies but goldies? Comparing the trustworthiness and credibility of ‘new’ and ‘old’ information intermediaries
Authors: Weidmüller Lisa , Engesser Sven
Published: February 2024

People increasingly access news through ‘new’, algorithmic intermediaries such as search engines or aggregators rather than the ‘old’ (i. e., traditional), journalistic intermediaries. As algorithmic intermediaries do not adhere to journalistic standards, their trustworthiness comes into question. With this study, we (1) summarize the differences between journalistic and algorithmic intermediaries as found in previous literature; (2) conduct a cross-media comparison of information credibility and intermediary trustworthiness; and (3) examine how key predictors (such as modality, reputation, source attribution, and prior experience) affect the trustworthiness and credibility assessments. Results from a quasi-experimental online survey (n = 485) confirm that recipients assess journalistic intermediaries more positively than algorithmic intermediaries and audio more positively than text intermediaries. Furthermore, we found reputation and information credibility to be the most important predictors of intermediary trustworthiness, while general media trust is the most important predictor of information credibility. Implications and directions for future research are discussed.
Periodic orbits in the thin part of strata
Authors: Hamenstädt Ursula
Published: February 2024

Let S be a closed oriented surface of
genus

g
≥
0

{g\geq 0}

with

n
≥
0

{n\geq 0}

punctures and

3
⁢
g

-
3

+
n

≥
5

{3g-3+n\geq 5}

.
Let

𝒬

{{\mathcal{Q}}}

be a connected component
of a stratum in the moduli space

𝒬
⁢

(
S
)

{{\mathcal{Q}}(S)}

of area one
meromorphic quadratic differentials on S with n
simple poles at the punctures
or in the moduli space

ℋ
⁢

(
S
)

{{\mathcal{H}}(S)}

of abelian differentials on S if

n
=
0

{n=0}

.
For a compact subset K of

𝒬
⁢

(
S
)

{{\mathcal{Q}}(S)}

or of

ℋ
⁢

(
S
)

{{\mathcal{H}}(S)}

,
we show that the asymptotic growth rate of the number of periodic orbits for the
Teichmüller flow

Φ
t

{\Phi^{t}}

on

𝒬

{{\mathcal{Q}}}

which are entirely contained in

𝒬
-
K

{{\mathcal{Q}}-K}

is at least

h
⁢

(
𝒬
)

-
1

{h({\mathcal{Q}})-1}

,
where

h
⁢

(
𝒬
)

>
0

{h({\mathcal{Q}})>0}

is the complex dimension of

ℝ
+

⁢
𝒬

{\mathbb{R}^{+}{\mathcal{Q}}}

.
Some properties of extended frame measure
Authors: Li Jinjun , Wu Zhiyi , Xiao Fusheng
Published: February 2024

We prove that the extended frame spectral measures are of pure type and the Beurling dimension of any frame measure for an extended frame spectral measure is in its Fourier dimension and upper entropy dimension.
Kefaya Ba2a as cringe comedy and the multimodal humorous stunts of the podcast’s communitas
Authors: Oleimy Dina M.
Published: February 2024

The aim of this research is to investigate how Egyptian podcast Kefaya Ba2a (That is Enough!) is a good instance of cringe comedy that aims at critising and commenting on social issues in a sarcastic manner. This research presents an interpretive reading of the podcast as a cultural practice that leads to creating a discourse (or narrative) that provides different/alternative knowledge breaking social norms. The meanings and themes delivered through the podcast’s narratives manage to create a communication code that is shared and negotiated by the Kefaya Ba2a digi-communitas on the podcast’s Facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/groups/kefayaba2a). The analytical framework of this research is based on the frame that both Kress and Van Leeuwen propose through their theory of multimodal communication (Kress, Gunther & Theo Van Leeuwen. 2001. Multimodal discourse: The modes and media of contemporary communication. Arnold Publishers). The theory suggests a four-strata-frame that focuses on different multimodal resources that contribute to meaning-making. This research investigates the different semiotic resources that all combine to create the discourse of Kefaya Ba2a which takes humour as its major tool to deliver certain messages. It also explores the effect of Kefaya Ba2a’s discourse on its audience who have the chance to respond to it on the podcast’s Facebook page. Different response patterns are demonstrated to show how Kefaya Ba2a’s discourse turns to into a user-generated content that opens the opportunity for new readings of the original discourse. In this regard, multimodality is investigated to show how audience communicates with the themes and topics the podcast tackles using multimodal resources to generate their readings.
Strain-life behavior of thick-walled nodular cast iron
Authors: Bleicher Christoph , Pittel Christian , Kansy Axel , Niewiadomski Jan , Kaufmann Heinz
Published: February 2024

For the design of thick-walled cast iron components used for wind energy turbines, large machines, presses, and engine parts made of nodular cast iron, the assessment of fatigue life of critical component areas is a crucial point to consider. Importance increases with the demand to safe resources by applying a lightweight design in combination with a certain resistance against extreme loads and misuse situations. Moreover, this gets more important when notches or deviations in the local microstructure are present. Nevertheless, due to accessibility, a lack in the description of the local strain-based material behavior still exists. Especially new cast iron grades such as ADI are not well investigated but offer an often-discussed potential for a lightweight design of the structure or to increase the highest admissible load on the structure. To determine the cyclic material behavior of nodular cast iron, different grades EN-GJS-400-18LT, EN-GJS-450-18, EN-GJS-500-14, EN-GJS-600-3, EN-GJS-700-2, and ADI in different wall thicknesses were investigated concerning their elastic–plastic material behavior under strain control. Moreover, new possibilities for the trilinear description of the strain-life and the stress–strain curve and the statistical and technological size effect are discussed in the following based on cyclic stress–strain and strain-life curves.
Experimental and numerical investigation of patch effect on the bending behavior for hat-shaped carbon fiber composite beams
Authors: Albayrak Mustafa
Published: February 2024

In this study, reinforced composite panels with hat-shaped profile were produced from woven carbon fiber fabrics by vacuum infusion method. Holes were drilled on the crown surface of these panels and repaired with composite patches. The mechanical behavior was examined by performing a three-point bending test on the obtained patched and unpatched specimens. The contribution of the repair to the failure load of the damaged specimens under bending load has been clearly determined. In the numerical part, Hashin damage criterion was used for the beginning of damage. For damage progression, both Continuum Damage Mechanics and Material Property Degradation methods were preferred and compared. In the analysis carried out using the finite element package program Workbench, the cohesive zone model (CZM) was added to the model and its effect on the damage behavior and load of the composite structure was determined. As a result of the experiments and analyses, it was seen that the maximum contact force of the specimens under the bending load decreased by 29.8 % by increasing the number of holes on the specimen surface from 1 to 3. The maximum contact force was determined to increase by 18.52 % due to repairing the three-hole specimens with a patch.
Two new naturally dimers constituent from Indonesian Sesbania grandiflora plant and their bioactivity
Authors: Noviany Noviany , Osman Hasnah , Mohamad Suriyati , Irawan Bambang , Kusuma Wisnu Ananta , Suwandi Jhons F. , Hadi Sutopo , Aminah Nanik S.
Published: February 2024

A new dimer of natural isoflavonoid along with some known flavonoid compounds was successfully isolated from the roots of Indonesian Sesbania grandiflora plant using ethyl acetate extraction. The new compound specified as naturally bi-isoflavonoid with (4→6) inter-isoflavanyl linkage and four known flavonoids xenognosin B, liquiritigenin, 7,2′4′-trihydroxyisoflavone, demethylvestitol, and 1,1′-bi-2-naphthol was isolated and the antituberculosis activity of the compounds was studied. The structure of all compounds was elucidated with the aid of 1D and 2D NMR, UV spectroscopy, and HRESI mass spectrometry. The data obtained were also compared with the previous published data. Among compounds, 1,1′-bi-2-naphthol was found to exhibit the highest activity against Mycobacterium tuberculosis H37Rv with the MIC’s value of 10.9 µM while the biisoflavonoid with (4→6) inter-isoflavanyl linkage showed moderate activity with the MIC’s value of 92.2 nM, compared with isozianid as a positive control with the MIC’s value of 0.569 nM. It is worth to note that 1,1′-bi-2-naphthol and biisoflavonoid with (4→6) inter-isoflavanyl linkage were isolated for the first time from a natural source. Both compounds have been previously reported as synthetic compounds, which is synonymous with 3,4- trans-4-[(3S)-7,2′-dihydroxy-4′-methoxyisoflavan-6-yl]-7,2′-dihydroxy-4′-methoxyisoflavan and 1,1′-bi-2-naphthol, respectively. In this respect, the results of this study suggest that the roots of S. grandiflora is a potential source of new natural product compounds, with promising bioactivities.
Microstructural analysis of the cast and melt-spun high entropy noble alloy Ag20Pd20Pt20Cu20Ni20
Authors: Simić L. , Kneissl A. C. , Anžel I.
Published: February 2024

High entropy alloys (HEA) represent a relatively new class of materials with promising properties for various applications. In recent years, these alloys have received considerable attention as potential heterogeneous catalysts in chemical and electrochemical reactions. Their enhanced catalytic activity is controlled by chemical composition, surface atomic coordination, electronic configuration and degree of microstructural metastability. Single-phase HEAs are of particular importance, because they possess a uniform microstructure that is useful for designing and prediction of mechanical and potential functional properties. The cooling rate has a significant impact on the formation of the microstructure, affecting the size of grains, as well as distribution and composition of precipitates and phases that are being formed during solidification. The influence of different cooling rates on the microstructure of the alloy Ag20Pd20Pt20Cu20Ni20 was studied in our research work. The microstructure and phase constituents were characterised by Scanning Electron Microscopy and X-ray Diffraction. Liquid phase separation with a consequential monotectic reaction resulted in an anomalous multiphase cast microstructure. With an increase in the cooling rate using the melt spinning technique, the number of formed phases and the size of the grains decreased and the high entropy supersaturated solid solution was attained, as the atoms in the alloy did not have enough time to diffuse and to rearrange themselves into a stable, ordered structure. It was also confirmed that higher cooling rates cause severe lattice distortion and create coordinatively unsaturated sites at the surface which are essential for the bonding and activation of the reactants and therefore improve the potential catalytic properties of the Ag20Pd20Pt20Cu20Ni20 alloy significantly.
“Gap” matters: reflections on the notion of “gap” of relative clauses
Authors: Wu Tong , Luo Yaohua , Xiao Renfei
Published: February 2024

This study aims to re-examine the essential notion of “gap” in the studies of relative clauses. Following Creissels’ (Creissels, Denis. 2006.Syntaxe générale: une introduction typologique. Paris: Hermès; Creissels, Denis. 2019. Remarks on the typology of noun-modifying clause constructions. Paper presented at the Conference of Complex Sentences, Central China Normal University, 26–29 July) discussion, we argue that there are at least three types of gaps in terms of their respective compositions, namely the gap corresponding to a zero-marked constituent, the gap corresponding to a case-marked constituent, and the gap corresponding to an adposition-marked constituent. This classification, which is not based on the grammatical relation of the relativized constituent in the relative clause but focuses on the composition of the gap, can better explain the existence of the so-called “enlarged gap”, a special type of gap that has been almost completely ignored so far. Moreover, this marking-based approach can shed new light on Keenan and Comrie’s (Keenan, Edward & Bernard Comrie. 1977. Noun phrase accessibility and universal grammar.Linguistic Inquiry8(1). 63–99) Accessibility Hierarchy. In particular, we argue that some interplay of the syntactic position and the morphological marking of a syntactic object determines whether the constituent can be relativized.
The operators of stochastic calculus
Authors: Jorgensen Palle , Tian James
Published: February 2024

We study a family of representations of the canonical commutation
relations (CCR)-algebra, which we refer to as “admissible,”
with an infinite number of degrees of freedom. We establish a direct
correlation between each admissible representation and a corresponding
Gaussian stochastic calculus. Moreover, we derive the operators of
Malliavin’s calculus of variation using an algebraic approach, which
differs from the conventional methods. The Fock-vacuum representation
leads to a maximal symmetric pair. This duality perspective offers
the added advantage of resolving issues related to unbounded operators
and dense domains much more easily than with alternative approaches.
Formulating additives in thermoresponsive surfactant-based nematic liquid crystals
Authors: Denk Patrick , Matthews Lauren , Zemb Thomas , Kunz Werner
Published: February 2024

Bicelles can be formed by mixing in given mole fractions two ethoxylated alkyl ether carboxylic acid surfactants of very different HLB in water. We determine the effect of adding three of the most used additives in formulation in health- and home care: propylene glycol, glycerol, and ethanol. The effects of additives are determined and compared in a concentrated isotropic phase above the LCST, a pseudo-lamellar phase, and a discotic nematic phase. The two latter are birefringent, and the nematic phase is viscoelastic. Propylene glycol acts as a co-solvent, improving the temperature stability of the nematic phase up to 20 wt% propylene glycol. Further addition of propylene glycol reduces the phase transition temperatures, inducing microstructural changes due to headgroup dehydration and preferential solubilization of the hydrophilic short chain surfactant. Glycerol acts as an anti-solvent, progressively decreasing phase transition temperatures by dehydration of headgroups. Ethanol is a good co-solvent for the surfactant-mixture. Adding up to 5 wt% ethanol increases the temperature stability of the nematic phase. Higher concentrations of ethanol lead to a single isotropic phase with increasingly molecular dissolution of the surfactants. The effect of the considered additives on molecular packing is followed by high resolution X-ray scattering.
The assessment of pollutant waste generated by battery and its effect on the environment: a concise review
Authors: Singh Ambrish , Ansari Kashif R. , Ali Ismat H. , Alanazi Abdullah K. , Younas Muhammad , Alamri Aeshah H. , Lin Yuanhua
Published: February 2024

With annualized expansion rates close to 8 % in 2018 and a projected range of 18–30 % by 2030, wasted batteries are a continual economic and ecological concern due to the growing use of electronic gadgets. The improper preservation and handling of waste discharges are not regulated, which allows for their accumulation in public areas and the release of dangerous materials into the ecosystem at the landfill. To improve the energy properties and lifespan of batteries, current advancements in battery manufacturing mandate the application of novel materials for electrolytes and nanomaterials for cathode materials. Novel battery chemicals may further complicate recycling and containment efforts because it still needs to be determined how much of an influence they will have on the ecosystem. Only a few nations can now recycle mass-manufactured lithium batteries, making up barely 5 % of the more than 345,000 tonnes of garbage produced worldwide in 2018. To provide evidence for policy and legislation, this concise review intends to incorporate current describe and emergent battery pollutant, their adverse ecological aftermath, and ongoing diagnostic techniques.