bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Sex, lies, and memoirs: on writing intimate ethnography, dealing with silence and ethically ambiguous storytelling
Authors: Garapich Michał P.
Published: September 2024

This article uses the notion of intimate ethnography to further a discussion on social constructions of family ties, secrets and complex strategies of storytelling. Using the example of a book published about one’s own family history, the author presents several ethical dilemmas where engagement with intimate ethnographies is fraught with pitfalls and can tear apart people, families and individuals; however, it can also give a brief and illuminating holistic experience of mutual horizontal connectedness, human harmony, and communion across time and space. The article argues that the intimacy in this ethnography traces the residues of violence and oppression, but also moments of harmony and happiness to create a holistic, complete, anthropological picture of myself and the world that makes me – with its bright and dark sides.
Lo ininterpretable en Moby-Dick (1851), de Herman Melville, y en Hijo de hombre (1960), de Augusto Roa Bastos
Authors: Andrés Rodrigo
Published: September 2024

El escritor paraguayo más reconocido, Augusto Roa Bastos, coincide con el autor de su obra preferida —Moby-Dick— Herman Melville en señalar que la (sobre)exposición a lo ininterpretable de la naturaleza resulta en el rechazo a la vida propia y a la excedencia del yo a través del rechazo a la paternidad. Tanto en Moby-Dick como en Hijo de hombre los personajes masculinos enajenados por su exposición a la indiferencia de una naturaleza ininterpretable materializan su enajenación en el ejercicio de cancelación de su relación paterno-filial. En ambas obras, la esperanza radica en apartar la mirada de una naturaleza indiferente al sufrimiento humano y verterla sobre un ser humano legible que sí ofrezca claves interpretativas abiertas a una existencia pluralista.
Montajes vegetales: ejercicios de postproducción y representación en el poemario Teoría del polen de Victoria Ramírez
Authors: Israyy Contreras Natalie Marielle
Published: September 2024

El poemario Teoría del Polen de Victoria Ramírez publicado en 2021, plantea a través de ejercicios de postproducción una forma de representación de lo vegetal que es visible a través de montajes dentro de la obra. En ella se observan los fragmentos de citas e imágenes que se intercalan con poemas en verso y prosa, los que, a su vez, varían entre formas líricas y otras de carácter más bien informativo. El montaje elaborado por Ramírez permitiría levantar un discurso político y dar espacio a las corporalidades vegetales para manifestar su capacidad de agenciamiento. Sin embargo, se produce un problema en la representación en este gesto, puesto que tal agenciamiento estaría truncado precisamente por el ejercicio de representación al estar dichas por otro, una voz humana. Bajo esta perspectiva, las plantas no tendrían capacidad íntegra de agenciamiento en el espacio literario.
Chantal Maillard y la poética del daño. Significaciones del cuerpo en «Matar a Platón»
Authors: Fernández Martínez Sergio
Published: September 2024

Este trabajo propone un análisis de la noción del daño físico en el poemario Matar a Platón, de Chantal Maillard (2004). En primer lugar, se incide en el marco teórico y conceptual de la «poesía fenomenológica», una propuesta lírica de la propia autora. A continuación, se examinan los vínculos interdisciplinares entre poesía y filosofía que se dan en el libro, y, de manera más específica, se estudia la noción de acontecimiento deleuziano para caracterizar el cuerpo accidentado. Finalmente, se propone un acercamiento al largo poema «Escribir», incluido como adenda en el citado volumen, un texto en el que se explora el daño en primera persona. Con todo ello es posible vislumbrar, desde el discurso poético, una renovada reflexión acerca del cuerpo, el dolor y la identidad.
A Naṣrid guardian in rural areas: Abrahím El Boraque according to Arabic Romanised documents (1475)
Authors: Trillo San José Carmen
Published: September 2024

This study explores the figure of guardian (alcaide, del árabe al-qāʻid), in rural areas, using Abrahím El Boraque as an example, and his patrimony in the Cubillas estate (Granada). Our source for this analysis was a collection of Romanised Arabic and Castilian documents from the 15th century, that refer to the Cubillas river, in the northwest of the Granada capital. Basing ourselves on this character, we created an image of these guardians: how they exercised their power, what their social and family relationships were, and the assets they had. This will help us provide specific data on a fundamental agent who is a link between the State and rural communities with the aim of better understanding this relationship in the Naṣrid world.
Becoming Hoa: Indigenous Political Thought and the Question of Settler Aloha 'Āina in Hawai'i
Authors: Maile David Uahikeaikalei'ohu
Published: September 2024

Abstract: How is Indigenous-settler solidarity to protect interconnected social ecologies urgent yet altogether precarious? The essay stews on this question in the context of Hawai'i and, through immanent critique of theories about settler aloha 'āina, demonstrates that becoming hoa provides a necessary alternative practice and dialectic process of binding relations together to aloha 'āina. First, I elaborate on Kanaka Maoli conceptualizations of aloha 'āina to foreground the investigation in Indigenous political thought and therein launch an immanent critique of settler aloha 'āina. Second, I examine the question of settler aloha 'āina to explore what it means, and its political and ethical implications concerning solidarity. I contend that the "settler" of settler aloha 'āina undermines Indigenous political thought by obscuring aloha 'āina. Third, I argue that becoming hoa is an alternative mode of solidarity to being settler aloha 'āina. Beyond contributing to critical interdisciplinary scholarship on Hawai'i, the analysis is useful for researching other contexts wherein non-Indigenous theorists, discourses, and movements deploy "settler" as a qualified additive to Indigenous worldviews and practices toward cultivating solidarity with Indigenous peoples on their territories. Settler liberal humanism's attachment to Indigenous worldviews and practices should be reconsidered even as it clings tightly to the language of solidarity.
Michel Houellebecq et les supermarchés: Regards sur une vie bon marché
Authors: Diette Thomas
Published: September 2024

Abstract: Houellebecq, le "Baudelaire des supermarchés," explore dans ses romans la thématique de l'effondrement des sociétés occidentales, minées par un consumérisme outrancier et par une perte de repères généralisée. Établir un parallèle entre valeurs humaines et valeurs marchandes paraît particulièrement intéressant pour comprendre comment la fiction est un outil heuristique efficace pour évoquer des phénomènes sociaux qui sourdent à l'époque contemporaine. Pour l'auteur, les supermarchés se présentent comme des reproductions en miniature de la réalité de notre temps. Derrière l'apparente banalité de ce motif littéraire surgissent des questions d'ordre philosophique et ontologique sur la place des êtres humains. Soumis à la violence perpétuelle du marché et résignés à subir leurs désirs, ils sont obligés de consommer leur existence avec frustration et sans pouvoir se lier à autrui. Les supermarchés disent alors de façon détournée et ironique la désolation et l'engloutissement des individus de notre époque.
Video-rate two-photon microendoscopy using second harmonic resonance fiber scanning
Authors: Zhang Kai , Ducourthial Guillaume , Sharan Taresh , Mohan Arvind , Hou Jiasen , Timilsina Sudip , Liang Rongguang , Louradour Frederic , Spring Bryan Q.
Published: September 2024

We present a 2.5-mm-diameter resonant fiber scanning two-photon microendoscope with a 30-mm long forward-viewing rigid probe tip that enables video-rate imaging (20 Hz frame rate) suitable for hand-held imaging of tissues without motion artifacts. Higher-order harmonic oscillation scanning techniques are developed to significantly increase the frame rate compared to prior published fiber scanning microendoscopy designs while maintaining the field-of-view (∼125 µm), the optical resolution (1.2 µm lateral and 10.9 µm axial resolution, full width at half maximum), and the spatial sampling (1250 circumferential pixels per spiral × 20 radial pixels over the diameter; 210 spirals per frame, ∼4 spiral samples per resolvable pixel) compared to a traditional scan using the fundamental resonance. 3D printed mounts were created to reduce the cost and simplify the fabrication for the fiber scanner without compromising performance or stability (<0.3 µm drift over 84 hours). A custom long-wavelength (∼1.08 µm) femtosecond fiber laser is coupled into several meters of fiber to realize a flexible, hand-held device for long-wavelength multiphoton microendoscopy.
Non-collinear bipulse reconstruction via dispersion scan
Authors: Altenburg Julia , Bauer Carolin , Meier Katrin , Vogelsang Jan
Published: September 2024

Light pulses in the femtosecond range require sophisticated methods for their precise temporal characterization. Several techniques have been developed over the past decades that deliver the temporal structure of ultrashort light pulses. Still, there are special cases left that cannot be treated directly by established methods. Here we expand the applicability of existing tools to the case of non-collinear propagation of a pair of identical pulses with an unknown, but fixed temporal spacing. By applying the successful dispersion scan (d-scan) technique to a setup known from the established frequency-resolved optical gating (FROG) technique, we record a rather peculiar measurement trace. A nonlinear signal is only generated outside optimal temporal compression, in contrast to previously used techniques. This feature enables an improved dynamic range for the measurement of the temporal wings of a pulse. We expand a well-established retrieval algorithm to reconstruct the pulse structure from the measurement data. Our results are confirmed by comparison to d-scan and FROG measurements.
Ring-assisted, racetrack, and Mach-Zehnder modulator: which one offers the lowest voltages and chirp-free operation?
Authors: Blatter Tobias , Horst Yannik , Eppenberger Marco , Pappas Christos , Tsakyridis Apostolos , Giamougiannis George , Kohli Manuel , Koch Ueli , Smajic Jasmin , Moralis-Pegios Miltiadis , Pleros Nikos , Leuthold Juerg
Published: September 2024

This study presents a comparison between resonant and non-resonant electro-optical modulator configurations. The focus lies on finding the configuration with the highest modulation amplitude at the lowest drive voltage while achieving a large electro-optical bandwidth. It is found that the ring-assisted Mach-Zehnder modulator (RaMZM) offers chirp-free and resonantly enhanced modulation without bandwidth limitations imposed by the ring. In contrast, a racetrack modulator (RTM) offers resonant enhancement at the cost of a chirped modulated signal and with a bandwidth limitation. The traditional non-resonant Mach-Zehnder modulator (MZM) configuration requires higher modulation voltages while offering chirp-free operation with a flat frequency response. The RaMZM, therefore, looks like an ideal candidate for encoding information in backbone networks where small modulation voltages and perfect control over the phase of a signal are needed. The results are supported by experiments that show driverless plasmonic modulation at 220 GBaud 2PAM, 160 GBaud 4PAM and 100 GBaud 8PAM with record low peak voltages of 0.5 V.
Theoretical analysis of on-axis obstructed Laguerre-Gauss beams
Authors: Mabena Chemist M.
Published: September 2024

Advances in the generation of structured light beams have led to their increased adoption in various applications such as laser-based material processing, optical microscopy, and optical communication. However, the reliability of these beams, particularly Laguerre-Gauss beams, further hinges on their resilience against damage caused by obstructions. In this work, the self-reconstruction of Laguerre-Gauss beams upon on-axis obstruction is analyzed by modeling the obstructed beam in terms of two orthogonal components–one component representing the attenuated beam and another representing the perturbation by the obstruction. Due to the orthogonality of the two components, the perturbation term is reminiscent of harmonic distortion in signal processing. This approach provides a simple method to quantify the damage via the modal cross-talk generated by the obstruction. To this end, closed-form expressions are derived to calculate the modal spectrum and the total damage caused by the obstruction. The results show that amplitude-obstructed Laguerre-Gauss beams self-reconstruct in the central region. The reduced intensity of the outer rings is shown to be due to the attenuated component being out of phase with the perturbation component. In the case of an on-axis obstruction with phase perturbation, the beam suffers more damage in certain parameter windows and may become reshaped. The results of this work provide a tool that could inform design methods and strategies in applications of structured light.
Density adaptive path based on stacked rotation convolution model in ultra-precision robotic optical polishing
Authors: Li Hanjie , Wan Songlin , Yan Shuo , Zhang Lanya , Han Yichi , Li Zheng , Wang Lin , Niu Zhenqi , Hu Chen , Jiang Guochang , Cao Zhen , Zhang Yifan , Wei Chaoyang , Shao Jianda
Published: September 2024

Deterministic optics fabrication using sub-aperture tools has been vital for manufacturing precision optical surfaces, industrial robotic polishing, which is a more economical and intelligent method is required in modern fabrication process. However, the challenge of robotic polishing lies in the widely used spiral and raster paths, which may leave excess waviness from the tool path, and the unavoidable constant removal layer is added to obtain positive dwell time which cause low polishing accuracy. The waviness can be removed by either using smoothing tools sequentially or randomizing the tool path. However, process efficiency and accuracy are not well considered in the existing tool-path planning. A density adaptive path based on a stacked rotation convolution model to ensure polishing accuracy and efficiency while avoiding waviness generation is proposed in this study, and then the dwell time is calculated by anti-aliasing space-variant deconvolution. The robotic polisher experimental results confirm that the root mean square (RMS) of the final surface figure has been successfully reduced and stabilized at 7.355 nm, and the convergence effect at unit wavelength has been significantly augmented with an improvement of 367%, reducing the measurement from 28% to 131%; in addition, no obvious mid-spatial frequency (MSF) peak was generated in the PSD analysis of density adaptive path polishing results. Henceforth, the polishing accuracy, efficiency, and MSF error of robotic polishing can be greatly enhanced.
Manipulation of topological antichiral edge states by inducing valley–chirality coupling
Authors: Tang Jie , Dai Xiaoyu , Xiang Yuanjiang
Published: September 2024

Benefiting from the non-uniform assigning on the sublattices A and B in a modified Haldane model, the reductions of both spatial inversion and time-reversal symmetries can be induced to implement the competition of valley and chirality, which provide us a new, to the best of our knowledge, means to manipulate the topological antichiral edge states (ACEs). An implementation method for harnessing ACEs in a two-dimensional gyromagnetic photonic crystal (PC) has been proposed, which reveals that the opposite magnetization applied in the cylinders of sublattices A and B can generate the ACEs, and the valley Hall phase induced by dimerization of the structure further manipulates the edge states. Moreover, we found that the one-way dual transport channels of the ACEs can be transformed from both upper and lower zigzag edges into only one channel due to the propagating direction mismatched in the gyromagnetic PC heterojunction structure. Our research enriches the understanding of antichiral one-way transport states and offers useful insights and routines to design novel topological electromagnetic and optical functional devices.
Single-molecule tracking technology based on symmetric power exponential phases
Authors: Wang Famin , Liu Huijian , Zhang Yunhai , Ge Zhou , Li Jiao , Wen Gang , Xiao Yun , Wang Chi
Published: September 2024

We present a design approach for a symmetric power exponential phase, resulting in a phase-modulated point-spread function with two symmetrical mainlobes that can be steered toward the optical axis opposite the x axis. This design offers nanoscale 3D localization capabilities suitable for 3D single-molecule tracking and localization imaging. The axial probing depth of this symmetric power exponential point-spread function can be adjusted as needed by manipulating specific parameters. Optimization of the symmetric power exponential phase involves truncation filtering to reduce sidelobes and the utilization of a phase inversion-based optimization algorithm to enhance transfer function efficiency and localization precision. A successful multi-molecule 3D tracking experiment was conducted at a 10 µm axial depth using a numerical aperture of 1.4 to validate the efficacy of the proposed design methodology.
Ultrasonic Lamb wave detection using a fiber-optic quasi-distributed acoustic sensing system
Authors: Liu Chaozhu , Fan Xinyu , Ma Lin , He Zuyuan
Published: September 2024

The Lamb wave represents one of the most utilized forms of ultrasonic guided waves for flaw detection. A novel approach, to the best of our knowledge, for Lamb wave sensing using a fiber-optic quasi-distributed acoustic sensing (QDAS) system is proposed. Sensing elements constructed with optical weak reflectors are designed and analyzed, demonstrating the theoretical feasibility of establishing an ultrasonic sensing array comprising over 300 points. An empirical mode decomposition method is applied to this system to remove harmonic components in a frequency division multiplexed interrogation system. Verification experiments are carefully designed, employing compact 2.5 cm-sized sensing elements to capture 1 MHz Lamb wave signals on an aluminum plate. These findings significantly broaden the applicability of QDAS in the field of ultrasonic flaw detection.
Efficient temporal compression of 10-µJ pulses in periodic layered Kerr media
Authors: Wang Wenchao , Eisenberg Yishai , Chen Yi-Hao , Xu Chris , Wise Frank
Published: September 2024

Pulse compression based on periodic layered Kerr media has been
demonstrated as an effective technique for femtosecond pulses with
energies around 100 µJ or more. We report such a compressor designed
for pulses in the 10-µJ range, which is
valuable for many applications. Pulses from a fiber chirped-pulse
amplifier are compressed from 300 fs to as short as 60 fs, with good
pulse and beam quality. The compressor is a simple and efficient way
to extend the performance of common Yb-based sources of pulses with
microjoule energies.
Can the speed of information dissemination exceed the speed of light?
Authors: Wan Chuyi
Published: September 2024

When a single photon passes through a slit, the principles of quantum mechanics regarding the boundary conditions of the wave function hide a specific condition: within the wave packet of the photon, the speed of information transmission perpendicular to the direction of photon propagation is infinite. This does not violate Relativity, as it does not conflict with the Principle of Constancy of Light Velocity. In the direction parallel to the propagation of the photons, the speed of information transmission matches c. However, in other directions, the speed of information transmission can exceed c. Causality is not an immutable law of nature, it is not easily overturned at the macro level, while it is not so at the quantum level. Cause and result are mutually causal in different reference frames. Assuming that the angle between the direction of information transmission inside the wave packet and the direction of photon propagation is θ, quantum mechanics utilizes the special case of θ=π/2 to handle wave functions, while the establishment of Relativity is based on the special case of θ=0. Relativity and quantum mechanics can be viewed as two specific instances of a unified theory.
Plasmodium RON11 triggers biogenesis of the merozoite rhoptry pair and is essential for erythrocyte invasion
Authors: Anaguano David , Adewale-Fasoro Opeoluwa , Vick Grace W. , Yanik Sean , Blauwkamp James , Fierro Manuel A. , Absalon Sabrina , Srinivasan Prakash , Muralidharan Vasant
Published: September 2024

Malaria is a global and deadly human disease caused by the apicomplexan parasites of the genus Plasmodium. Parasite proliferation within human red blood cells (RBCs) is associated with the clinical manifestations of the disease. This asexual expansion within human RBCs begins with the invasion of RBCs by P. falciparum, which is mediated by the secretion of effectors from 2 specialized club-shaped secretory organelles in merozoite-stage parasites known as rhoptries. We investigated the function of the Rhoptry Neck Protein 11 (RON11), which contains 7 transmembrane domains and calcium-binding EF-hand domains. We generated conditional mutants of the P. falciparum RON11. Knockdown of RON11 inhibits parasite growth by preventing merozoite invasion. The loss of RON11 did not lead to any defects in processing of rhoptry proteins but instead led to a decrease in the amount of rhoptry proteins. We utilized ultrastructure expansion microscopy (U-ExM) to determine the effect of RON11 knockdown on rhoptry biogenesis. Surprisingly, in the absence of RON11, fully developed merozoites had only 1 rhoptry each. The single rhoptry in RON11-deficient merozoites were morphologically typical with a bulb and a neck oriented into the apical polar ring. Moreover, rhoptry proteins are trafficked accurately to the single rhoptry in RON11-deficient parasites. These data show that in the absence of RON11, the first rhoptry is generated during schizogony but upon the start of cytokinesis, the second rhoptry never forms. Interestingly, these single-rhoptry merozoites were able to attach to host RBCs but are unable to invade RBCs. Instead, RON11-deficient merozoites continue to engage with RBC for prolonged periods eventually resulting in echinocytosis, a result of secreting the contents from the single rhoptry into the RBC. Together, our data show that RON11 triggers the de novo biogenesis of the second rhoptry and functions in RBC invasion.
Health system interventions and responses to anti-microbial resistance: A scoping review of evidence from 15 African countries
Authors: Alhassan Jacob Albin Korem , Abdallah Clement Kamil
Published: September 2024

The global rise in antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is claiming the lives of more than 1.2 million people each year. According to the World Health Organization (WHO) this global health crisis is particularly acute in Africa, largely due to fragile and underfunded health systems. Efforts to combat this public health threat have led to the implementation of health system interventions worldwide aimed at managing and containing the spread of AMR. However, the literature on the real time impacts and the barriers that hinder the implementation of these interventions in the African context is limited. The objective of this scoping review was to identify AMR interventions in African health systems, their impact, and the challenges of the implementation. Drawing on Muka and colleague’s 24 step approach for scoping reviews, two major public health databases (PubMed and Global Health) were searched for articles in accordance with the PRISMA guidelines resulting in 4,783 records. Screening and retrieval of articles was done using Rayyan software based on specified inclusion criteria and 36 articles included in the final list. These articles were synthesized after extracting specific data on AMR interventions and their impact on African health systems. The review identified four broad impacts of AMR interventions including 1. Reduction in antibiotics use, 2. Increased adherence to guidelines and protocols, 3. Enhanced laboratory-based AMR surveillance, 4. Development of antimicrobial stewardship (AMS) Action Plans and Teams. However, challenges such as poor laboratory infrastructure, logistical challenges, poor financial commitment and inadequate education and training were identified as challenges impeding the successful implementation of AMR interventions in Africa. Our findings reveal a range of successful AMR interventions in African health systems although infrastructural and financial challenges remain. Better standardization and reporting of AMR diagnosis while leveraging the available information is needed to improve the optimization of treatment guidelines across Africa.
A comparative evaluation of maize silage quality under diverse pre-ensiling strategies
Authors: Serva Lorenzo
Published: September 2024

Maize silage serves as a significant source of energy and fibre for the diets of dairy and beef cattle. However, the quality of maize silage is contingent upon several crucial considerations, including dry matter loss, fermentative profile, pH level, ammonia content, and aerobic stability. These aspects are influenced by a multitude of factors and their interactions, with seasonality playing a crucial role in shaping silage quality. In this study an open-source database was utilised to assess the impact of various pre-ensiling circumstances, including the diversity of the chemical composition of the freshly harvested maize, on the silage quality. The findings revealed that seasonality exerts a profound influence on maize silage quality. Predictive models derived from the composition of freshly harvested maize demonstrated that metrics were only appropriate for screening purposes when utilizing in-field sensor technology. Moreover, this study suggests that a more comprehensive approach, incorporating additional factors and variability, is necessary to better elucidate the determinants of maize silage quality. To address this, combining data from diverse databases is highly recommended to enable the application of more robust algorithms, such as those from machine learning or deep learning, which benefit from large data sets.
Reflector variables in augmented reality lineups: Assessing eyewitness identification reliability in children and adults with confidence, response time, and proximity to the lineup
Authors: Price Heather L. , Fitzgerald Ryan J.
Published: September 2024

Attending to the behaviors of eyewitnesses at police lineups could help to determine whether an eyewitness identification is accurate or mistaken. Eyewitness identification decision processes were explored using augmented reality holograms. Children (n = 143; Mage = 10.79, SD = 1.12 years) and adults (n = 152; Mage = 22.12, SD = 7.47 years) viewed staged crime videos and made identification decisions from sequential lineups. The lineups were presented in augmented reality. Children were less accurate than adults on the lineup task. For adults, fast response times and high post-identification confidence ratings were both reflective of identification accuracy. Fast response times were also reflective of accuracy for children; however, children’s confidence ratings did not reflect the likely accuracy of their identifications. A new additional measure, the witness’ proximity to the augmented reality lineup, revealed that children who made mistaken identifications moved closer to the lineup than children who correctly identified the person from the crime video. Adults who moved any distance towards the lineup were less accurate than adults who did not move at all, but beyond that, adults’ proximity to the lineup was not reflective of accuracy. The findings give further evidence that behavioral indicators of deliberation and information-seeking by eyewitnesses are signals of low lineup identification reliability. The findings also suggest that when assessing the reliability of children’s lineup identifications, behavioral measures are more useful than metacognitive reports.
Effects of COVID-19 related economic threat on political conservatism, xenophobia, and racial bias in the United States
Authors: Wang Crystal X. , Huey Stanley J. , Rubenson Miriam P.
Published: September 2024

The uncertainty-threat model of conservatism posits that people turn to political conservatism to protect themselves from perceived threats; indeed, studies show increases in conservative ideology and outgroup bias following threat priming. The COVID-19 pandemic is an unprecedented threat that has had devastating effects on the health and economic lives of Americans. Concerns surrounding the threat of COVID-19 may have secondary effects on other aspects of American life, such as political and anti-Asian racial bias. The current studies explored the effects of COVID-19 related threats on expressed political conservatism, xenophobia, and racial bias under the uncertainty-threat model. Study 1 assessed the effects of priming health or economic risks of COVID-19 (vs. control), and found that economic threat led to increased xenophobia, but had no effects on overall conservatism. Study 2 then investigated whether the effects of COVID-related economic threat prime extended to racial bias, and explored moderators and mediators of effects. Results showed that the economic threat prime increased perceived group-status threat, and indirectly increased conservatism, xenophobia, and racial bias through the mechanism of perceived group-status threat. Effects were greatest for those impacted financially by the pandemic. In general, our studies provide support for the uncertainty-threat model with the novel threat of the COVID-19 pandemic. Implications for understanding potential shifts in conservatism and bias in response to future threats in the United States are discussed.
Lower empathy for face mask wearers is not explained by observer’s reduced facial mimicry
Authors: McCrackin Sarah D. , Ristic Jelena
Published: September 2024

Facial occlusion alters social processes that rely on face visibility, including spontaneous mimicry of emotions. Given that facial mimicry of emotions is theorized to play an important role in how we empathize or share emotions with others, here we investigated if empathy was reduced for faces wearing masks because masks may reduce the ability to mimic facial expressions. In two preregistered experiments, participants rated their empathy for faces displaying happy or neutral emotions and wearing masks or no masks. We manipulated mimicry by either blocking mimicry with observers holding a pen in between their teeth (Experiment 1) or by producing a state of constant congruent mimicry by instructing observers to smile (Experiment 2). Results showed reduced empathy ratings for masked faces. Mimicry overall facilitated empathy, with reduced empathy ratings when mimicry was blocked and higher empathy ratings when it was instructed. However, this effect of mimicry did not vary with mask condition. Thus, while observers were impaired in sharing emotions with masked faces, this impairment did not seem to be explained by a reduction in facial mimicry. These results show that mimicry is an important process for sharing emotions, but that occluding faces with masks reduces emotion sharing via a different mechanism.
Video Review of Measuring Education: Memoir
Authors: Patton Michael Quinn
Published: September 2024

A video review produced by Michael Quinn Patton of Bob Stakes's memoir, Measuring Education.
An open access PDF of the memoir has been generously provided by the author for public viewing.
Odluka církve a státu v pojetí baptistů a adventistů sedmého dne a její aplikace v realitě komunistického Československa 1948–1989
Authors: Balcar Michal
Published: September 2024

Both Czechoslovakian Baptists as well as Seventh-day Adventist maintain the principle of the separation of church and state. This study, in its first part, describes differences of understanding of this principle between the two free churches. In the second part it describes the application of this principle in the reality of the communist regime. It is rather surprising that the attitudes of the two in reality differed almost completely. The summary explains the reasons behind this fact being Adventist pragmatism, struggle for free Saturday, and trauma of the government ban of the SDAs (1952–1956).
Zpátky ke kořenům: Základní nástroje pro obnovu komunit podle Erica Lawa a jejich pokračující význam
Authors: Janák František
Published: September 2024

Eric H. F. Law’s tools for the support of diverse and sustainable communities continue to be used and integrated into curricula of Kaleidoscope Institute, which he founded, and two of them can be considered foundational – Mutual Invitation and Respectful Commu¬nication Guidelines. Both of these appear in nearly all curricula developed by Kaleidoscope Institute, and I believe that they are implicitly included in the background of all the work that Kaleidoscope Institute has done in line with its mission. In this article, I would like to present these two basic tools of multicultural dialogue in their original context and, at the same time, explain and exemplify their continuing importance and value for the present, as their regular user in a professional capacity. Mutual Invitation and Respectful Communication Guidelines continue to be introduced in many contexts and situations, and as such are a helpful entry point into understanding Eric H. F. Law’s thinking and work.
Decomposition and graphical correspondence analysis of checkerboard copulas
Authors: Grothe Oliver , Rieger Jonas
Published: September 2024

We analyze optimal low-rank approximations and correspondence analysis of the dependence structure given by arbitrary bivariate checkerboard copulas. Methodologically, we make use of the truncation of singular value decompositions of doubly stochastic matrices representing the copulas. The resulting (truncated) representations of the dependence structures are sparse, in particular, compared to the number of squares on the checkerboard. The additive structure of the decomposition carries through to statistical functionals of the copula, such as Kendall’s

τ

\tau

or Spearman’s

ρ

\rho

, and also motivates similarity measures for checkerboard copulas. We link our analysis to continuous decompositions of copula densities and copula-generating algorithms and discuss further general properties of the decomposition and its truncation. For example, truncated series might lack nonnegativity, and approximation errors increase for monotonicity-like copulas. We provide algorithms and extensions that account for and counteract these properties. The low-rank representation is illustrated for various copula examples, and some analytical results are derived. The resulting correspondence analysis profile plots are analyzed, providing graphical insights into the dependence structure implied by the copula. An illustration is provided with an empirical data set on fuel injector spray characteristics in jet engines.
Comparison of micro- and macro- structural narrative features between Turkish-Kurdish bilinguals and Turkish monolinguals
Authors: Savaş Merve , Kahraman Beğen Senanur , Çelik Başoğlu İlayda , Aktan Berfin , Öge-Daşdöğen Özlem
Published: September 2024

Bilingualism may lead to differences in narrative micro- and macrostructural features. Creating a normative data set on the narrative characteristics of healthy Turkish-Kurdish bilinguals may allow for a more effective assessment of language disorders that may occur in bilinguals with acquired brain injury. This study aims to determine how narrative micro- and macrostructural features differ in Turkish-Kurdish bilinguals in single picture and story narratives. A total of 23 bilingual (Turkish-Kurdish) and 23 monolingual (Turkish) healthy individuals were included in the study. Narrative samples were obtained using single pictures and a story. Micro- and macrostructural features were compared between bilinguals and monolinguals matched for age, education, and gender. Mean length utterance-morpheme and clausal density variables, considered as indicators of grammatical complexity, were higher in monolinguals in both single picture and story narratives. Morphemic errors were higher for bilinguals. Effort behaviors, which can interrupt verbal efficiency, were higher in bilinguals in single picture narratives. While there was no difference between the groups in verbal fluency (phonemic and categorical), the lexical diversty in storytelling was higher in monolinguals. In terms of macrostructural features, cognitive inferences in the story context and emotional discourse in the single picture context were higher in monolinguals, while enrichment expressions in the single picture narrative were higher in bilinguals. In both groups, macrostructural features such as cognitive inferences and expressions of uncertainty in discourse were negatively correlated with grammatical complexity variables. Turkish-Kurdish bilinguals’ single picture and story narratives in Turkish may show semantic, morphosyntactic and pragmatic differences compared to Turkish-speaking monolinguals.
Barriers to and facilitators of accelerated BSN students’ success: a scoping review with possible strategies for success
Authors: Davis Suja P. , Crawford Catherine , Fleming Louise
Published: September 2024

Objectives

This scoping review aims to map the evidence on barriers and facilitators of success with accelerated BSN (ABSN) students with the inclusion of faculty perspectives.

Methods

We followed the scoping review methodology of the Joanna Briggs Institute for this review. The databases of CINAHL, PubMed, ProQuest, and Google Scholar were searched.

Results

The search resulted in 39 studies. The identified barriers were: Academic factors, non-academic factors, challenges faced by non-native English-speaking and ethnically diverse students, socialization struggles, and faculty perceptions. The facilitators identified were: Supportive environment and practices, benefits of ABSN program completion, students’ background and life experiences, innovative learning strategies and school resources, and faculty perceptions.

Implications for international audience

Given the global nature of the ABSN program now, findings from this scoping review and the strategies for success addressed in discussion will inform ABSN faculty and program managers about helpful strategies to support students’ needs.
Flame retardant polyurethane foam prepared from compatible blends of ammonium ligninsulfonate-based and zinc alginate
Authors: Zhang Xu , Ding Shuai , Wang Zhaoqian , Yuan Dehe , Wang Zhi
Published: September 2024

Zinc alginate (ZnAlg) was prepared and subsequently employed to modify ammonium ligninsulfonate-based polyurethane foams (PUFs). A range of analytical techniques, including thermogravimetry, integral programmed decomposition temperature, activation energy, smoke density, cone calorimetry and scanning electron microscopy, were employed to characterise the modified PUFs. The results demonstrated that PUFA15Z5 (15 % ammonium lignin sulfonate and 5 g ZnAlg) with the lowest mass loss exhibited the second-highest sample decomposition temperature (T50 %), second-highest peak temperature (TMAX2), IPDT and activation energy. Furthermore, the PUFA15Z5 sample exhibited the smallest smoke density (23.11) and the highest light transmittance (67.11 %). The peak heat release rate, total heat release, smoke production rate, total smoke release and four fire risk assessment indicators of PUFA15Z5 were the lowest, while its carbon residue was the densest. The results demonstrated that PUFA15Z5 exhibited the most favourable thermal stability, flame retardant properties and the lowest smoke toxicity. These findings provide a valuable reference for subsequent biomass-based flame retardant modified polyurethane foams (PUFs).
Online language teaching in times of change: a CALL to action for language teachers and educators
Authors: Stickler Ursula
Published: September 2024

Change, whether slowly developing over decades or rapid change caused by worldwide crises, affects education and educators profoundly. This article argues for a change in language teacher education embracing the changing world of online communication, and emphasising the epistemological awareness language teachers need to bring to the online classroom. Based on Computer-Assisted Language Learning (CALL) research and best practice examples from across the world, the paper outlines past changes, contextualises online language teaching in the wider area of online communication and describes progress in practice, theory and epistemological understanding of online teaching. It culminates in a series of evidence-based suggestions for future training and education of language teachers that will integrate adequate pedagogy and an enhanced epistemological understanding.
Diplomatic webs: the influential figures shaping U.S. policy in Israel, Qatar, and Iraq
Authors: Kafiliveyjuyeh Soheil , Porter Lance
Published: September 2024

Purpose

This study examines the Twitter/X networks of U.S. ambassadors in Israel, Iraq, and Qatar from 2017 to 2024, aiming to assess how digital diplomacy is conducted through these platforms. Utilizing Sprinklr, we gathered 586,736 mentions involving the ambassadors’ Twitter handles, with a focus on evaluating the influence and communication strategies within these networks.

Design/methodology/approach

We analyzed a random sample of 30,000 tweets from the collected data using network analysis techniques. This approach enabled the examination of centrality metrics within the ambassadors’ digital networks, providing insights into the influence patterns and communicative interactions via Gephi.

Findings

The analysis revealed a significant influence of state actors and established political elites who predominantly engage in unidirectional communication, despite the platforms’ capabilities for interactive and reciprocal dialogues. We identified elected officials and specific non-governmental organizations as key actors shaping the diplomatic narratives, highlighting the diverse yet controlled actor interplay in digital diplomacy.

Practical implications

This research underscores the need for strategic adjustments in digital diplomacy practices to enhance interaction and inclusivity. Our work provides policymakers with insights into leveraging digital platforms for more effective and dynamic diplomatic exchanges.

Social implications

The study illuminates the role of digital platforms as critical venues for shaping diplomatic narratives by both state and non-state actors. Notably, our findings highlight the use of hashtags in advancing human rights movements and in discussions surrounding the Israel–Palestine conflict, demonstrating hashtags’ impact on global and regional advocacy efforts.

Originality/value

This research offers a unique perspective on the integration of traditional diplomatic roles with contemporary digital strategies, particularly highlighting the constraints and potentials within Middle Eastern contexts. We suggest ways to enhance the inclusivity and effectiveness of diplomatic engagements through improved social media utilization, thereby contributing to the evolving field of international relations and public diplomacy.
An in vitro assessment of ionizing radiation impact on the efficacy of radiotherapy for breast cancer
Authors: Girgin Merve , Akat Ayberk , Akgül Büşra , Nalbant Nilgül , Karaçetin Didem , Abamor Emrah Şefik , Uğurel Osman Mutluhan , Turgut-Balik Dilek
Published: September 2024

Objectives

Ionizing radiation is still one of the most effective treatment options for various cancers. It is possible to reduce the side effects of this effective treatment method and increase the chance of success by elucidating the responses it creates at the molecular level in the cell. This study aims to investigate of the molecular effects of therapeutic ionizing radiation on breast cancer, which is the most prevalent cancer type.

Methods

MDA-MB-231 and MCF7 cell lines were irradiated with 4 and 8 Gy ionizing radiation and monitored for up to 7 days. RNA was collected at 48 and 96 h, when cellular molecular mechanisms became most evident, and quantitative expression levels of microRNAs (miR-208a, miR-124, miR-145), for which cancer-radiation associations have been determined from existing literature and databases, were evaluated.

Results

Exposure to ionizing radiation resulted in a dose-dependent reduction in cell viability in both MCF7 and MDA-MB-231 breast cancer cell lines. Furthermore, microRNA expression analysis revealed notable changes at all levels. The research demonstrates that miR-208a, miR-145, and miR-124 are crucial in the biological response to ionizing radiation.

Conclusions

Therapeutic ionizing radiation profoundly affects cell viability and microRNA expression in breast cancer cell lines, showing dose and time-dependent effects. The observed microRNA expression patterns suggest potential biomarkers for radiation response and therapeutic targets to improve radiotherapy efficacy. Further in vivo validation and exploration of these microRNAs’ roles in modulating cellular response to ionizing radiation are needed.
Brass corrosion – dezincification in hydrochloric acid
Authors: Fickenscher Thomas , Schröer Jasmin , Reckeweg Olaf , Pöttgen Rainer
Published: September 2024

Brass is among the utility metals for daily life. We present an easy corrosion experiment for demonstration in high school or first-year undergraduate studies. Almost any kind of brass can be dezincified in 1 m hydrochloric acid. Copper as the noble component remains as salmon pink coating on the workpiece while zinc and lead, the latter being a frequent minor alloying component of brass, are dissolved. Lead can be detected as PbS (in-situ generation of H2S from a splinter of FeS or as PbI2 using KI). Zinc can be analyzed as Rinmann’s green or via a microchemical drop reaction with dithizone.
INHILLDAUGAR: minimally invasive fieldwork and linguistic analysis on hillforts along the Daugava river
Authors: Schneeweiß Jens , Haferberga Vanda , Ibsen Timo , Kittel Piotr , Sikora Jerzy , Musiaka Łukasz , Whitefield Hans , Ginter Artur , Kalińska Edyta , Szmańda Jacek , Vyazov Leonid , Seržant Ilja
Published: September 2024

Combining non- and minimally invasive archaeological survey, geomorphological methods and linguistic studies enables a better understanding of the dynamic use of the Daugava waterway from the Bronze to the Viking ages. Results indicate a common origin period of many fortified settlements and also identify research questions about cultural fluctuations in the Baltic-Slavic–Scandinavian contact area.