bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A Novel Anti‐DRFM Active Jammer Method for Two‐Station Netted Radar Based on Extended Kalman Filtering
Authors: Luo Yasong , Wu Zhaodong , Feng Chengxu , Hu Shengliang
Published: December 2024

Active jammers in the form of digital radio frequency memory (DRFM) could produce false targets with a coherence of range and velocity, making it increasingly efficient in interrupting radar systems based on data correlation analysis. By integrating the temporal variability characteristic and mitigating the impact of measurement errors inherent in the radar system, we propose a novel false target recognition methodology for a two‐station netted radar utilizing extended Kalman filter (EKF) and the Neyman–Pearson criterion. From the aspects of filtering characteristics and active jammer parameters, the simulation shows that the technique could obtain observable different convergence curves for false targets and is sensitive to velocity or range deception under specific parameters. Moreover, the method exhibits a favorable tolerance for measurement error and an exceptional capability to identify false targets from various directions, considering both radar performance parameters and spatial scale. This outcome highlights the significance of setting specific parameters following countermeasure scenarios and requirements, showcasing its practical value in engineering practice.
Candy Cane Hypopyon Secondary to Intraocular Mantle Cell Lymphoma: A Case Report
Authors: Babiker Fatima , Zhou Avery , Rujkorakarn Ploysai , Philip Andrew M. , Valerio Tate , Massoudi Yasmin , Anesi Stephen D. , Foster C. Stephen
Published: December 2024

Introduction: Bilateral hemorrhagic hypopyon, also known as candy cane hypopyon, is an extremely rare presentation which we report as a unique case in association with intraocular mantle cell lymphoma (MCL). Case Presentation: A 63-year-old white male presented with a 3-week history of conjunctival injection OS that was unresponsive to erythromycin ointment and topical steroids, in the setting of recently discovered diffuse lymphadenopathy and malaise. On presentation, he was found to have bilateral hemorrhagic hypopyon. Lymph node biopsy was diagnostic of MCL, and subsequent anterior chamber paracentesis confirmed intraocular MCL. The patient was put into remission with intravitreal rituximab injections, systemic chemotherapy, and external beam radiation. Conclusion: Cases of MCL with ocular involvement typically involve ocular adnexal structures, and seldom involve the uvea. Furthermore, this patient represents an extremely unusual case in his presentation with a hemorrhagic hypopyon.
Anti-amyloid drugs for Alzheimer’s disease: considering the role of depression
Authors: Pozuelo Moyano Beatriz , Zullo Leonardo , Rouaud Olivier , Vandel Pierre , von Gunten Armin , Allali Gilles
Published: December 2024

Depressive symptoms are the second most common neuropsychiatric symptom (NPS) in dementia, and there are compelling arguments linking depression and amyloid deposition in the brain. Clinical trials on anti-amyloid treatment are primarily focused on cognitive and functional decline: participants with Alzheimer’s disease (AD) and significant psychiatric symptoms are typically excluded from anti-amyloid treatment, and the amelioration of depressive symptomatology is not considered as an outcome. The aim of this opinion article is to analyze whether, given the known association between depression and AD, people with depression should still be excluded from anti-amyloid treatment. Considering the scenario of their inclusion, we shall analyze which factors might interfere with the proper functioning of the anti-amyloid treatment.
Survival outcomes of Durvalumab in combination to cisplatin and gemcitabine in advanced biliary tract cancer: real world results from a single Italian institution
Authors: Rimini Margherita , Foti Silvia , Camera Silvia , Rossari Federico , Vitiello Francesco , Lo Prinzi Federica , Aldrighetti Luca , De Cobelli Francesco , Pedica Federica , Arcidiacono Paolo Giorgio , Persano Mara , Cascinu Stefano , Casadei-Gardini Andrea
Published: December 2024

Introduction: The TOPAZ-1 phase III trial showed a survival benefit with durvalumab plus gemcitabine and cisplatin in patients with advanced biliary tract cancer (BTC). To understand this combination's real-world efficacy and tolerability, we conducted a retrospective analysis of its first-line treatment outcomes.
Methods: We included patients with unresectable, locally advanced, or metastatic BTC treated with cisplatin, gemcitabine plus durvalumab. The primary endpoint was overall survival (OS).
RESULTS: 33 patients were enrolled. Median OS was NR and median PFS was 7.6 months, after a median follow up of 13.5 months. The investigator-assessed overall response rate was 34.5 %, with stable disease in 53.0 % of patients. High baseline CEA levels were associated with poor survival. Any grade adverse events (AEs) occurred in 97 % of patients. Immune-related AEs (irAEs) occurred in 16 % (grade >2: 6 %).
Presence of TP53 mutation was related to a worse OS, conversely the presence of ARID1A genomic alteration was related to a better PFS. A tendence toward a better OS was found for BRCAness patients which did not reach the statistical significance. On the other hand, BRCAness patients showed significantly higher PFS compared to no BRCAness patients
Conclusion: This real-world analysis largely confirmed the TOPAZ-1 findings, supporting gemcitabine, cisplatin, and durvalumab as a first-line standard of care for patients with advanced BTC.
Double-blind, placebo-controlled trial of the efficacy and safety of azelastine hydrochloride in children with perennial allergic rhinitis
Authors: Bousquet Jean , Klimek Ludger , Kuhl Hans-Christian , Nguyen Duc Tung , Ramalingam Rajesh Kumar , Canonica G. Walter , Berger William
Published: December 2024

Background: Allergic rhinitis (AR) affects up to 40% of the pediatric population. The US practice parameter recommends the use of INAH or INCS as first-line therapy for the treatment of AR. Although not directly targeted to children, the recent US Practice Parameters proposed intranasal antihistamines as first-line therapy whereas the ARIA guidelines did not.

Methods: This was a randomized, double-blind, parallel-group study with a duration of 28 days. It compared Azelastine hydrochloride 0.10% and 0.15% to placebo of one spray per nostril twice daily in pediatric subjects with moderate-to-severe symptomatic perennial allergic rhinitis (PAR).

Results: A total of 486 subjects were included in the study. The change from baseline rTNSS was statistically significant for 0.15% AZE (P = .005) and 0.10% AZE (P = .015) vs. placebo. 0.15% AZE showed an LS mean change of -3.45 (20.2%) over the 28-day treatment period from a baseline value of 16.60 in rTNSS. 0.10% AZE showed an LS mean change of -3.37 (20.5%) over the 28-day treatment period from a baseline value of 16.35 in rTNSS. Somnolence was reported by one patient in the 0.1% group and one placebo patient (both of mild severity and unlikely to be related to treatment). None of the patients reported fatigue.

Conclusions: 0.15% AZE significantly improved the overall rTNSS compared with placebo over the 28-day study period. 0.15% AZE was well tolerated in this study.
Adjunctive Left Atrial Posterior Wall Isolation in Treating Non-Paroxysmal Atrial Fibrillation: An Updated Meta-Analysis of Randomized Clinical Trials
Authors: Li Zhaofeng , Gao Tingwen , Li Wei , Wang Xue , Xie Xinxing
Published: December 2024

Background: The clinical outcomes of adjunctive posterior wall isolation (PWI) beyond pulmonary vein isolation (PVI) for non-paroxysmal atrial fibrillation (AF) remain unclear. This meta-analysis was conducted to evaluate the role of PWI in non-paroxysmal AF by pooled analysis of most updated randomized controlled trials (RCTs). Methods: A literature search in PubMed, Embase, and the Cochrane Library was performed to identify RCTs comparing the outcomes of PVI with and without PWI in non-paroxysmal AF patients. The primary outcomes were recurrence rates of all atrial arrhythmias, AF, and atrial tachycardia/flutter (AT/AFL). The secondary outcomes included total procedure time, ablation time, fluoroscopy time and procedure-related complications. Estimated risk ratios (RRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were evaluated. Results: Nine RCTs with a total of 1,243 non-paroxysmal AF patients were included in our analysis. There were no significant differences in all atrial arrhythmias recurrence (RR: 0.86, 95% CI: 0.66–1.11, p = 0.24, I2 = 49%) and AF recurrence (RR: 0.74, 95% CI: 0.51–1.08, p = 0.12, I2 = 62%) between stand-alone PVI group and PVI plus PWI group. Adjunctive PWI increased the AT/AFL recurrence rate (RR: 1.62 95% CI: 1.08–2.42, p = 0.02, I2 = 0%). In the subgroup analysis, PWI using cryoballoon ablation was associated with a significantly lower recurrence rate of all atrial arrhythmias (p = 0.01) and AF (p = 0.02) recurrence and similar recurrence rate of AT/AFL (p = 0.15). Additional PWI was associated with an increased AT/AFL recurrence (p = 0.03) in patients with left atrial diameter (LAD) <44 mm. Adjunctive PWI needed longer ablation time, fluoroscopy time, and total procedure time. The incidence of procedural adverse events was low and similar between both groups. Conclusion: Adjunctive PWI beyond PVI did not improve the freedom from all atrial arrhythmias and AF with an increased recurrence rate of AT/AFL in non-paroxysmal AF patients. The ablation energy and LAD might affect the clinical outcome of PWI. However, larger more RCTs were needed to verify our findings.
Clinical and Ultrasound Features of Normocyclic Non-Hyperandrogenic Adolescents in Early Gynecological Life.
Authors: Fulghesu Anna Maria , Di Michele Stefano , Zangaris Ilaria , Cordella Martina , Pittui Elena , Scalise Giulia , Vitale Salvatore Giovanni , Angioni Stefano
Published: December 2024

Objective: This study aimed to determine the prevalence of Polycystic Ovarian Morphology (PCOM) in healthy postmenarchal girls and assess whether it represents a crucial physiological phase in gynecological development. Additionally, it evaluated if an elevated stromal-to-surface area (S/A) ratio could identify individuals at risk of developing Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS).
Design: Observational cross-sectional study.
Setting: The study was carried out at the Pediatric and Adolescent Gynecology Service of the Policlinico Universitario Duilio Casula, Monserrato, University of Cagliari, from 2020 to 2023.
Participants: A total of 302 healthy postmenarchal girls aged 14-18 were included in the study.
Methods: Participants were divided into three groups: Normal Ovarian Morphology (NOM), PCOM with normal S/A ratio (PCOM-NS), and PCOM with increased S/A ratio (PCOM-IS). Anthropometric, clinical, hormonal, and ultrasound (US) characteristics were analyzed.
Results: The overall prevalence of PCOM was 43% (95% CI: 0.37-0.49). Among 302 subjects, 171 (57%) exhibited NOM, 90 (30%) showed PCOM-NS, and 41 (13%) had PCOM-IS. The age and years of postmenarchal life were significantly lower in the PCOM-NS group than in the NOM group. PCOM-NS exhibited a higher waist-to-hip ratio (WHR), hirsutism prevalence, and follicle count per ovarian section. PCOM-IS was associated with elevated androgen levels. A significant reduction in the PCOM pattern was observed after the third postmenarchal year, while the NOM pattern increased significantly beyond five years postmenarche.
Limitations: The study is limited by its cross-sectional design, which precludes establishing causality. Additionally, the exclusion of certain participants due to technical limitations in ultrasound evaluation may introduce selection bias.
Conclusions: PCOM may represent a normal physiological phase in ovarian development during early adolescence, predominantly observed in the first 1-3 years postmenarche. An increased S/A ratio could help identify adolescents who may benefit from monitoring for potential PCOS development.
Reduced functional connectivity in the default mode network in EEGs without other abnormalities in Early Creutzfeldt-Jacob disease
Authors: Pirker-Kees Agnes , Platho-Elwischger Kirsten , Lang Clemens , Oder Anna , Baumgartner Christoph
Published: December 2024

Introduction:
Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease is a rare, neurodegenerative disorder that is incurable, always fatal, and transmissible. EEG is an integral part of the diagnostic workup with typical periodic sharp‐wave complexes indicative of CJD, but early in the disease EEG is often unaltered. Accordingly, we aimed at evaluating disruption of brain network functional connectivity (FC) in regions belonging to the default mode network (DMN) as a potential early marker in CJD when EEG is considered visually normal.

Methods: EEGs considered visually normal obtained from 7 CJD patients were compared to EEGs of 7 patients with subjective cognitive impairment (SCI) using Brainstorm application for Matlab. FC was calculated using the phase locking value separately for the delta-, theta-, alpha-, and beta-frequency-band. The global efficacy of the DMN was calculated as the inverse characteristic path length with brain-regions belonging to the DMN as nodes.

Results: CJD vs. SCI had significantly lower global efficacy of the DMN in the gamma band. FC was decreased between bilateral orbitofrontal regions and the right parahippocampal gyrus and between bilateral orbitofrontal gyrus and the right anterior cingulate gyrus in CJD.

Conclusion: Our findings provide evidence of disruption of the DMN in the gamma band and alterations of FC between specific brain regions in early CJD patients with visually normal EEGs. EEG brain network properties bear potential as a diagnostic tool for CJD early in the disease course in addition to established criteria. These findings call for further studies evaluating the diagnostic value of FC in early CJD.
De luxo é lixo a lixo é luxo: a subversão do poema concreto de Augusto de Campos no conto de Marcelino Freire
Authors: Bozzo Gabriela Cristina Borborema
Published: December 2024

A subversão é inerente ao texto literário e, na sua leitura, se dá pelo preenchimento de silêncios pelo leitor. Nosso corpus, por sua vez, é constituído por “Luxo”, de Augusto de Campos, e “Muribeca”, de Marcelino Freire. Desse modo, almejamos demonstrar a subversão realizada por Freire em relação a Campos. Por fim, a baliza teórica é constituída por Barthes, Kristeva, Jenny, Genette e Viviane de Cássia Maia Trindade.
Lésbia e Lado a Lado: A representatividade da autoria feminina nos romances de folhetim
Authors: Placido Silva Milena , Almeida Edwirgens Aparecida Ribeiro Lopes de
Published: December 2024

Este estudo busca fazer uma análise comparativa da representatividade feminina na novela Lado a Lado, transmitida pela Rede Globo entre setembro de 2012 a março de 2013, a partir da personagem Laura Viera contrapondo com a personagem Lésbia, cuja obra, de mesmo nome, foi escrita pela autora Maria Benedita Bormann e publicada no ano de 1890.
A mulher entre Mater Dolorosa e Mater Horribilis: As figurações maternas no Grotão
Authors: Ferreira Renata de Paula
Published: December 2024

This paper seeks to reflect on the work of Cornelio Penna, A Menina Morta (1954), highlighting the representations of female characters related to motherhood in the context of the narrative, ie, nineteenth century, on the farm Grotão. Therefore, the impositions for female figures are considered between two narrow possibilities of figuration and representation.
A Literatura Indígena e o direito à Justiça Epistêmica: reflexões a partir das políticas educacionais e de reparação histórica
Authors: Fernandes Juliana Ventura de Souza
Published: December 2024

Neste artigo, discutimos a centralidade da literatura indígena contemporânea para a efetivação de processos de “justiça histórica” e “epistêmica”. Para isso, partimos de questões centrais que caracterizam essa produção – a vinculação aos movimentos indígenas e a forma particular de se compreender autoria, para analisarmos seu papel em duas dimensões consideradas necessárias ao enfrentamento contra o histórico de violência vivenciado pelos povos indígenas: a escolarização e os processos de reparação política.
Chão suprimido: do trapiche ao porto vertical de Santos
Authors: Torrano Dhiego , Santos Luciene Ribeiro dos , Miranda Rosana Helena
Published: December 2024

This article explores the interaction between the hydrological regime and the population in the insular region of Santos (São Paulo, Brazil) by means of an infrastructure project and its primary sources. We investigate how coexistence with the waters, in an attempt to domesticate them, supports land planning at the Port of Santos, highlighting the centripetal and centrifugal movements within the Anthropocene. We analyze the historical and cultural heritage and the natural and anthropic elements of tropical coastal regions, applying a theoretical-methodological approach that clarifies these dynamics. We propose three prospective scenarios based on the identified movements: the first scenario, centripetal, focuses on historical techniques for water domestication and integrating these practices into current urban planning. The second, centrifugal, reflects a strategic distancing aiming to transform the port ground into areas such as natural parks and spaces of “common urbanism.” The third scenario, marked by the disappearance of the planned logistic ground, introduces the “binary amphibious quay,” an infrastructure that operates in harmony with the sea, inspired by historical studies on sea-level rise and climate projections. The concept of “suppressing” encompasses both physical elements, such as docks and quay walls, and now obsolete natural, social, cultural, and political aspects of estuaries. We argue that the construction of large infrastructures must consider their integration with the environment, using architecture that dialogues with various fields of knowledge to prevent disasters and improve urban life. In this essay we propose the “Vertical Port,” a project that challenges paradigms by minimizing land use and maximizing the use of airspace, promoting ecological balance, and revitalizing the “suppressed grounds” in the port area of Santos. This project, in the investigation phase, seeks to challenge existing norms and engage.
Demetrio Ribeiro e o realismo socialista: arquitetura e política em Porto Alegre nos anos 1950
Authors: Troyano Rodrigo
Published: December 2024

This article sheds light on the architectural-political events that took place in the early 1950s in Porto Alegre by focusing on the architect Demetrio Ribeiro and his connection to socialist realism. Investigating Ribeiro’s work, inspired by communist aesthetic ideology, reveals the complexities of the theoretical and practical context of the first modern architecture phase in Porto Alegre. The opening years of 1950 marked a period in which the first generation of architects from the southernmost capital of Brazil dared to present first examples of modern “Brazilian architecture,” a term that qualified certain expressions belonging to the “Carioca school” or its canons, within a still conservative urban fabric.
As Duas Meditações de Lomonóssov: Apresentação e Tradução
Authors: Frate Rafael
Published: December 2024

O presente trabalho pretende apresentar a tradução de duas das mais conhecidas obras do polímata setecentista russo Mikhail Lomonóssov: A Meditação Matinal sobre a Grandeza Divina e a Meditação Noturna sobre a Grandeza Divina, ambos produzidos no auge de sua carreira poética. Para tanto, apresento um breve relato do significado dentro da história literária russa de tais obras, dois breves poemas que representam a mais fina flor do caráter de Lomonóssov enquanto poeta, bem como um vislumbre de sua atividade científica mediante sua poesia, bem como sua complexa relação com o divino. Para estas duas produções basilares da poesia russa, ofereço tradução analógica em decassílabos heroicos.
Tolstói determinista? História, determinação e liberdade em Guerra e Paz (1863-1869)
Authors: Santos Erick Oliveira da Silva
Published: December 2024

O principal objetivo deste artigo é analisar as complexas relações entre História, determinação e liberdade desenvolvidas em Guerra e Paz (1863-1869). Primeiro, analiso as principais características da História para Liev Tolstói. Segundo, investigo as relações entre determinação e liberdade em Guerra e Paz. Por último, apresento os meios, descobertos pelos personagens do romance, para agir na História. Afasto-me da hipótese, defendida por Isaiah Berlin, de que Liev Tolstói tinha uma posição determinista de História. Creio que o escritor russo, através de Guerra e Paz, defendeu um equilíbrio entre o passado, o presente e o futuro para criar possibilidades de ações profícuas sobre o mundo. Assim, valoriza-se as tradições camponesas russas com o intuito de desenvolver ações no presente, criar
A figura da “Mãe” na cultura e literatura soviética: o realismo em Górki e o testemunhal em Aleksiévitch
Authors: Costa Ian Anderson Maximiano
Published: December 2024

This article aims to analyze the representations of the figure of the "Mother" in Maksim Górki's The Mother (1907) and Svetlana Aleksiévitch's Zinc Boys (1989). In both works, we see a political construction of motherhood. In the first, it is linked to the antechamber of socialist realism and the teleological announcement of the future. In the second, to the testimony as a "prayer-account"of these women who lost their children in the "colonial conflict" of the Afghan War (1979-1989).They raise their voices to criticize the impassive bureaucracy. The future is replaced by the continuous present, the perennial and therefore traumatic mark of their son's death. In the figurations, the mothers appear in the public space. Emotion is not a feeling of withdrawal, but of encountering the other. Emotion doesn't say "I". In order to carry out these discussions, we also went through, as reverberations, the historical and iconographic figurations of motherhood in the Soviet Union.
Levinas lecteur d’écrivains (anti)soviétiques
Authors: Colin Yoann
Published: December 2024

Levinas cita apenas escritores soviéticos muito raros (Grossman, Zinoviev), enquanto abundam referências à literatura russa anterior em suas obras. Acreditamos que as referências a estes últimos, que criticam o regime ou a sociedade soviética, enfatizando o anti-semitismo soviético e o mau uso da linguagem, complementam a crítica levinasiana à filosofia europeia moderna e não podem ser uma alternativa legítima.
Regras para autores iniciantes (presente de aniversário — em vez de uma caixa de correio vazia)
Authors: Prudencio Rafael do Amaral
Published: December 2024

Presentation and Translation into Portuguese of Anton Chekhov's Text “Rules for Beginners.”
Literatura soviética para crianças: a revista Ouriço (Ioj)
Authors: Mountian Daniela
Published: December 2024

O artigo apresenta, em linhas gerais, a revista Ouriço (Ioj), considerada uma das melhores publicações soviéticas voltadas para crianças Pioneiras. Algumas seções serão destacadas e analisadas, do ponto de vista literário e gráfico, em particular das edições de 1928 e 1929, antes de o realismo socialista tornar-se estética oficial do país. Idealizada pelo editor e poeta Samuil Marchak (1887–1964), a revista reuniu relevantes escritores e pintores de variadas tendências artísticas que proliferavam no início do século XX, incorporando experiências poéticas, gráficas e educacionais inovadoras.
Entre nós e os outros: a história ambivalente dos museus etnográficos
Authors: Silva Gustavo Ruiz da , Slerca Mariana , Rovère Maxime
Published: December 2024

Qualquer museu destinado a apresentar “outras” culturas se constitui como uma exceção em relação à função usual de um museu: a ambição de retratar um mundo em miniatura requer uma expografia muito específica, na qual a alteridade tensiona com a continuidade, que os museus em geral presumem, entre os visitantes e os objetos que vieram ver. A ambição de constituir um microcosmo, portanto, levanta um problema de legitimidade: quem, entre “nós”, tem legitimidade para assumir a responsabilidade paradoxal de colocar em cena o “Outro”? Mais do que uma simples abordagem sobre a história dos museus, mais do que uma viagem pelos problemas colocados pela Antropologia, o livro de Benoît de l’Estoile (2007) permite encarar de frente tal dificuldade, comum a todas as instituições francesas que se sucederam após a exposição colonial de 1931 (mas não somente). Entregando-se aos prazeres da intertextualidade cinematográfica, para além de ser uma forma de apresentar a questão fundamental da legitimidade (bom gosto contra mau gosto), o título da obra coloca o “gosto” em questão: “por ‘gosto alheio’, entendo as diversas formas de apropriação ‘das coisas dos Outros’, entendidas em um sentido amplo como manifestações da alteridade cultural” (L’Estoile 2007: 20). O gosto, portanto, remete aos modos de apropriação em todos os processos de apropriação, cuja legitimidade se apresenta, imediatamente, de maneira problemática. É sob este ângulo, considerando o problema da legitimidade como uma tensão que atravessa todo o texto, que abordaremos uma obra que demonstra como a alteridade foi construída ao longo de um século, segundo modos diferenciados, colocando em evidência a mais fundamental das questões: “O que significa a distinção entre nós e os outros no mundo em que vivemos?”.
Os asnos no período paleoassírio: animais indispensáveis à vida do mercador e ao funcionamento do comércio (Mesopotâmia, Idade do Bronze Médio)
Authors: Fattori Anita
Published: December 2024

At the beginning of the 2nd millennium BCE, in the Old Assyrian period, the city of Aššur (situated in northern Mesopotamia) emerged as a prominent center in an extensive long-distance trade network. Hundreds of members of Assyrian merchant families ventured into the remote Anatolian lands, specially Kaneš, to trade tin and textiles, and sometimes copper and wool, in exchange for gold and silver. The success of this endeavor largely owns to the use of donkeys as pack-animals. Donkeys were organized in caravans, leaving Mesopotamia a couple of times a year to reach central Anatolia, where they were also traded. This article aims to present the fundamental importance of donkeys in the organization of long-distance trade as well as all the effort required to properly select and care for this animal along its life cycle. For this purpose, we intend to carry out a bibliographical review based on a discussion of available literature in dialogue with the Old Assyrian textual sources. The archive of an Assyrian merchant named Elamma provides us a case study. It will enable us to examine in detail the presence of these animals in the life of a merchant.
Awake rodent fMRI: Gradient-echo echo planar imaging versus compressed-sensing fast low-angle shot
Authors: Cover Christopher , Reddy Sujatha , Vazquez Alberto , Fukuda Mitsuhiro , Poplawsky Alexander J.
Published: December 2024

Awake rodent functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) is increasingly becoming a reliable neuroimaging technique to study neuronal activity at both the whole-brain and high-resolution laminar scales. Prior studies have focused on developing acclimation protocols, experimental paradigms, and hardware to optimize outcomes. However, little effort has been made to address the impact of pulse sequence selection on detecting brain activation in awake fMRI experiments. In the current study, we compare gradient-echo echo planar imaging (GE-EPI) and compressed-sensing fast low-angle shot (CS-FLASH) sequences with cerebral blood volume-weighted (CBVw) contrast enhancement to investigate their sensitivity to hemodynamic activity in the olfactory bulb of awake rodents. Compared with GE-EPI, CS-FLASH had comparable motion parameters but was more sensitive to large motions, often resulting in corruption of the image quality. The use of framewise displacement as a motion censoring technique may over censor the data, requiring alternative approaches, such as spatial correlation censoring. CS-FLASH images were qualitatively sharper than GE-EPI; however, the contrast-to-noise ratio for odor activation was consistently greater for GE-EPI than for CS-FLASH that cannot be explained by olfactory adaptation alone. The activation maps of CS-FLASH to four different odors showed spatially unique patterns consistent with GE-EPI, but with lower z-scores or detection sensitivity. Activation maps were consistent with previously established histological findings. Additionally, odor-evoked laminar activation was greatest in the superficial layers that decreased with laminar depth, consistent with prior findings. We conclude that CS-FLASH produces sharper images with equivalent spatial activation maps to GE-EPI, albeit with lower statistical strength and contrast-to-noise ratio (CNR), and without being prohibited by motion-related image distortion.
Advancing primate conservation: a global collection of education and outreach initiatives
Authors: Nekaris K.A.I. , Balestri Michela , Feddema Kim
Published: December 2024

This special issue on Primate Conservation Education and Outreach assembles the largest collection of conservation education interventions focused on primates to date, aiming to highlight the urgent need for educational initiatives to mitigate the ongoing threats to primate species. Despite decades of warnings from primatologists about the escalating risks to primate populations, including habitat loss, illegal hunting, and human-primate conflict, conservation education remains underdeveloped in the field of primatology. This issue explores 20 diverse case studies from across the globe, with contributions from field sites in Central and South America, Africa, and Asia. The education programmes discussed range in scope, duration, and target audience, with many linked to long-term research projects. A key finding is the significant variation in programme design and evaluation methods, with challenges in assessing long-term behaviour change and conservation impact. The issue emphasises the importance of creative, participatory approaches such as puppet shows, community outreach, and place-based education, which have proven successful in fostering deeper engagement and understanding of primate conservation. Despite the barriers faced, including limited funding and cultural challenges, the authors stress the importance of both small-scale and long-term educational interventions in the global effort to protect primates. This volume serves as a call to action for primatologists to integrate conservation education into their research and outreach efforts, thereby contributing to the preservation of our closest living relatives.
The Establishment of Large Çiftliks: Indebtedness and Property Acquisition in 18th-Century Karaferye (Veria)
Authors: Laçin Bedirhan
Published: December 2024

Çiftliks, i.e., landed estates, were profitable for wealthy investors in the Ottoman Empire, yet detailed information about how they were established and operated is limited. This study delves into the 18th-century practices of local elites in Karaferye (mod. Veria), a town within the province of Selânik (mod. Thessaloniki), who acquired arable lands from peasants thanks to the latter’s debts and security concerns. Interestingly, the debt burden was not exclusive to the peasants; it also affected the local elites who acted as creditors, leading to the phenomenon known as the cycle of debt. Following the ceding of their lands, the peasants transitioned from independent cultivators to wage laborers (ecir). The article draws its empirical base from the land investments of the Sarıcazâdes, one of the most powerful local families, and similar local notables in 14 villages in the rural hinterland of Karaferye.
The Rights of Nature and the Identity of Indigenous Peoples
Authors: Fitzmaurice Malgosia
Published: December 2024

This article will explore and analyse a complex and multifaceted question of the rights of nature and the role of Indigenous Peoples in the creating, shaping, and defining of such rights. This perplexing question has legal and philosophical dimensions, which is multi-layered and not easily resolved. The author of this article will endeavour to analyse the rights of nature, the role of Indigenous way of thinking in forming of these rights and whether the rights of nature form a part of Indigenous Peoples’ identity. Indigenous Peoples and nature are notions which are frequently linked together. However, the relationship between Indigenous Peoples and mature is challenging and complex. The analysis will be conducted at both the national and international levels, exploring both national and international case law.
Danish State Interests as Foundation for Greenland Home Rule of 1979
Authors: Scarpa Federica
Published: December 2024

This paper introduces the US Central Foreign Policy Files (1973–1979) as a novel archival resource for examining the negotiations leading to Greenland’s Home Rule in 1979. By analyzing these files alongside other historical sources, including the minority report by Steen Folke, a member of the Home Rule Commission, this study highlights Denmark’s strategic efforts to safeguard its interests during the Home Rule negotiations (1975–1978). In line with research questions regarding Greenland’s integration into the Danish Kingdom in 1953, this paper raises concerns about the Danish State’s emphasis on maintaining the unity of the realm as a foundation for the Home Rule. The findings underscore the need for further research into Denmark’s strategic priorities and their impact on Greenland’s self-determination.
Greenland Home Rule, 1979
Authors: Scarpa Federica
Published: December 2024

This paper analyses the background of negotiations on economic matters, particularly fisheries and mineral resources, during the Greenland Home Rule Commission (1975–1978). Through a combined analysis of the US Central Foreign Policy Files and other primary sources, the paper highlights the centrality of economic issues in discussions on Greenland’s autonomy. Contrary to a prevailing narrative of Denmark supporting Greenland’s autonomy, the findings suggest that the negotiations were heavily influenced by Danish State interests aimed at preserving the Unity of the Realm by maintaining Greenland’s economic dependency. The paper calls for further research to explore these economic relations and their implications for Greenland’s self-determination.
Future of Japan-China Cooperation in Arctic Affairs
Authors: Hataya Sakiko , Gao Xiang
Published: December 2024

Environmental changes are now rapidly occurring in the Arctic, with global warming progressing three times faster than the global average, thereby impacting the entire planet. Furthermore, international relations in the Arctic have undergone dramatic shifts following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. The Arctic nations have split into Russia and seven states, and the functioning of the Arctic Council has been suspended; it has since been restarted under Norway’s chairmanship, under controlled conditions, but Russia is still not able to engage politically with the other AC members. Notably, Japan and China, both observer states of the Arctic Council, are geographically located to be affected by climate change in the Arctic. However, they are also expected to enjoy future economic and commercial opportunities, such as leveraging the Northern Sea Routes. This paper aims to analyze how Japan and China can cooperate and contribute to the Arctic through scientific research. With the suspension of the Arctic Council, observer States in particular must utilize platforms outside of the Council to engage the Arctic. The role of observers in the Arctic is significant, and it is necessary to continue exploring their potential to facilitate positive international relations.
The European Union and the Arctic: the Case of Fishery
Authors: Melchiorre Tiziana
Published: December 2024

The fisheries sector offers the European Union (EU) the opportunity to deepen its engagement in the Arctic affairs. The relevance of fisheries in the region is growing because climate change is making natural resources increasingly accessible. Additionally, the EU and the Arctic states are important fish trading partners to each other. Given this background, this chapter argues that fisheries are instrumental to the EU in its attempt to increase its role as a geopolitical actor in the region in two ways. First, fisheries, which is included in the EU Arctic Policy since 2008, is one of the sectors of the ‘sustainable blue economy’. This latter is crucial to achieve the objectives of the European Green Deal (EGD) that is at the core of the EU involvement in the region. Second, the EU is an ad hoc observer of the Arctic Council (AC) and a full-fledged member of the Barents Euro-Arctic Council (BEAC), the two intergovernmental forums guiding cooperation in the region. Also very importantly, the EU is a Party to a number of fishing regional and international agreements. Finally, this chapter argues that the involvement of the EU in some of the most important fisheries disputes in the region demonstrates not only the strong link between the EU and the Arctic but also the relevance of the geopolitical role played by the EU.
The Resilience of Scientific Co-operation as a Foundational Principle of the Antarctic Treaty
Authors: Leary David , Jabour Julia
Published: December 2024

This paper explores the resilience of the freedom of scientific investigation as a central pillar of the Antarctic Treaty. We highlight the importance or significance of Antarctic science. Why does it matter? Put simply it matters because science is at the core of the Antarctic Treaty and is at the core of governance more broadly in Antarctica. More significantly, science is of greatest importance because of the contributions it makes to knowledge, and the pointers it provides us in understanding and solving the major environmental challenges of our time. Science is not only the currency or price nation states must pay to have a role in the governance of Antarctica but is also the legitimate reason for presence there. This close alignment between legitimacy as an Antarctic actor and decision-maker and the epistemological validity of scientific research explains why at times the Antarctic Treaty seems challenged by the emergence of new actors in Antarctica. We argue however that this is nothing new and merely a consistent and ongoing theme throughout the history of science in Antarctica. The Antarctic Treaty has always been and continues to be resilient to these pressures. We conclude science and scientific co-operation as one of the four foundational principles of the Antarctic Treaty is in fact very resilient.
The Resilience of Antarctic Treaty System in the XXI Century: Procedural and Institutional Legitimacy
Authors: Vigni Patrizia , Yermakova Yelena
Published: December 2024

This article analyses the internal functioning of the Antarctic Treaty System (ATS) in light of present challenges such as new diverse and growing activities in the Antarctic. Specifically, the authors assess whether the ATS is capable of ensuring the effective management of the Antarctic region by looking at the internal legitimacy of the ATS. The internal legitimacy of the ATS is broken into procedural and institutional legitimacy. The authors discuss the following characteristics of the system: participation in the decision-making, accountability and transparency of legislative procedures and acts, and the institutional apparatus.
The World’s Southernmost Continent in International Law: an Exclusive Legal Regime?
Authors: Yüksel Melis
Published: December 2024

The first circle regulating the regime of the world’s southernmost continent was adopted in 1959, namely the Antarctic Treaty. Following its adoption, several international instruments were accepted for the governance of the Antarctic and thereby, a comprehensive legal regime was created for the continent. This regime created on the basis of the Antarctic Treaty is called the Antarctic Treaty System and has very unique characteristics. Even that is the case, the legal regime of Antarctica cannot be examined in isolation from the other spatial regimes of international law.
Engaging Animals in Taiwanese Buddhism: Two Case Studies
Authors: Han Ling , Lee Chengpang
Published: December 2024

Animals play a significant role in Taiwanese Buddhist environmental practices. This article examines two relatively well-known animal-focused organizations: the Life Conservation Association (LCA), founded by Shi Chao Hwei, and Sheng Ming, established by Shi Hai Tao. Our discussion illuminate the central role of animals in shaping the Buddhist understanding of suffering and the different responses it elicits within the Buddhist community, such as renewing traditional practices like fangsheng (releasing animals into the wild) in Sheng Ming and pioneering animal protection campaigns in the LCA. Disagreements among Buddhists over the euthanasia of shelter dogs are also discussed. Situated within the broader theoretical framework of environmentalism and gender, the article shows that in contrast to the decoupling of religion and the animal protection movement in Western societies, Buddhism and Buddhists, particularly several female Buddhist leaders, play a leading role in grassroots efforts for animal welfare.
Fossil Libraries: Philology and Archaeology in the Mirror
Authors: Delmas Adrien
Published: December 2024

Since the end of the nineteenth century, more and more collections of manuscripts have been unearthed in archaeological contexts, from Cairo and Dunhuang to Qumran. Situated at the intersection of archaeological and philological practices, these fossil libraries do not yield a simplistic narrative of ancient manuscripts miraculously reappearing and text corpora accidentally—or heroically—being discovered. On the contrary, they require two incompatible epistemologies to come together, over time, in a meeting between the materiality of the written word and the semantics of the material object.
Do Real-World Connections Make Tasks Catch Secondary School Students’ Interest? What Preservice Teachers Expect and What Students Really Experience
Authors: Liebendörfer Michael , Wagner Kristina
Published: December 2024

Teachers should correctly assess which tasks are interesting for their students. A study by Rellensmann and Schukajlow (2017) found that intra-mathematical tasks were more interesting to students than tasks with real-world connections, yet preservice teachers deemed tasks with real-world context to be more interesting to students. We assumed that this result would not hold for contexts that closely connect to students’ lives. We surveyed 34 eighth graders and 53 preservice teachers about how interesting students find tasks in current contexts (climate change and COVID-19) and about how preservice teachers estimate students’ interest. The students’ interest in tasks with superficial wrapper relationships to the context was greater than in tasks without real-world context. Surprisingly, however, tasks with deeper tapestry relationships to the context were not found more interesting. We further confirmed that preservice teachers overestimated students’ interest in tapestry tasks and underestimated how interesting wrapper tasks and intra-mathematical tasks can be.

The impact sheet to this article can be accessed at 10.6084/m9.figshare.27151230
Teachers’ Pedagogical Sensemaking of Mathematics Education Research through Replication: a Way of Increasing Implementability of Research Findings
Authors: Cooper Jason , Hershkowitz Rina , Koichu Boris
Published: December 2024

Arguably, all educational research is conducted with the goal of improving teaching and learning. However, research may not explicitly suggest implications for practice. Furthermore, teachers may not be convinced by findings based on academic theories and methods of analysis that are foreign to them. This suggests that findings of such research may have a low level of implementability. We posit that replication of research by teachers can lead them to findings that are more implementable for them. In this article we elaborate the notion of implementability of educational research findings, make a theoretical case for teachers’ qualitative replication of basic research, and offer the notion of pedagogical sensemaking as the activity by which research findings may become implementable for teachers. We investigate this practice based on empirical data gathered in a graduate course for practicing teachers, who were required to replicate a well-known piece of basic research in mathematics education.

The impact sheet to this article can be accessed at 10.6084/m9.figshare.27151317.
Insights into Nitzschia amphibia Grunow (Bacillariophyta, Bacillariaceae): Lectotypification and a comparative study with N. amphibioides Hustedt and N. semirobusta Lange-Bertalot
Authors: LEHMKUHL ELTON AUGUSTO , KULIKOVSKIY MAXIM , WETZEL CARLOS E. , BICUDO CARLOS EDUARDO DE MATTOS , MANN DAVID G.
Published: December 2024

The original description and illustrations of Nitzschia amphibia by Grunow in 1862 are insufficiently clear for the accurate identification of contemporary specimens, which may have contributed to misidentifications among N. amphibia, N. amphibioides, and N. semirobusta commonly found in the literature. This study aims to clarify the morphological differences between these three species by examining both historical and recent samples, along with the original description of N. amphibia. The species are compared morphologically, and a lectotype for N. amphibia is designated. This work also includes the first report of scanning electron microscopy images of N. amphibioides. While fibula morphology clearly distinguishes N. amphibia from N. semirobusta, measurements such as valve length, width, and the densities of striae and fibulae do not separate these two species. In contrast, N. amphibioides is distinctly different, characterized by longer, wider, and more robust valves with coarser striation. Additionally, this study reassesses various previously published records and revises some identifications based on newly gathered data.
Taxonomic assessment and historical context of Reichardia intermedia (Asteraceae) in the Canary Islands
Authors: SICILIA-PASOS GUILLERMO , ARJONA YURENA , PADRÓN-MEDEROS MIGUEL A. , REYES-BETANCORT J. ALFREDO , GARCÍA ÁNGEL , JAY-GARCÍA LOUIS S. , TUERO-SEPTIÉN JAVIER , PATIÑO JAIRO
Published: December 2024

The Canary Islands harbor four species of the genus Reichardia according to the current knowledge. Three of them are endemic to the archipelago, one is widespread but probably also native. The discovery of a putative population of R. intermedia on La Gomera as a fifth Reichardia species triggered the revisiting of neglected historical occurrence reports of Reichardia for the Canarian archipelago. We combined phylogenetic and morphological evidence to confirm the identity of the newly discovered population and assessed the previous reports for the archipelago. Based on these findings, we confirm the presence of R. intermedia in the Canary Islands.
Sagina nilagirica (Sagineae, Caryophyllaceae), a new species from Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve (Western Ghats, India)
Authors: ATHIRA SUBRAMANIAN , KANAKAMBIKA GOVINDAN , SMITHA MANIKANDAN , REMYA SIVAKUMARAN , MUHSINA ABDUL AZEEZ , MAYA CHANDRASEKHARAN NAIR
Published: December 2024

Sagina nilagirica is described and illustrated as a new species from Doddabetta hills of Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve (Tamil Nadu, India). It is morphologically similar to S. procumbens by its habit (ascending to decumbent), linear leaves, tetramerous flowers and ovoid, 4-valved capsule, but differs in having non-succulent leaves, by the absence of persistent basal leaves, upright fruiting pedicel, lanceolate and pubescent sepal, trigonal petals with bilobed limb and crassuloid-type seeds with reniform, smooth, non-grooved seed surface having distinct elongate cog-wheel like epidermal cells with acute interdigitating teeth.