bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Использование «ролевых игр» (role plays) в практике преподавания рки как способ активизации коммуникативных навыков учащихся с точки зрения лингводидактики
Authors: Drużyłowska Dorota
Published: January 2024

Цель данной статьи - представить особый тип языковых игр, так называемых “ролевых игр” на занятиях по русскому языку как иностранному. В тексте рассматриваются различные виды языковых игр, эффективность их применения для совершенствования коммуникативных навыков учащихся, а также для формирования социокультурной компетенции. Обсуждается современная концепция эдьютейнмент. Статья содержит краткий обзор избранных сборников языковых игр. В основной части текста представлены примеры ролевых игр, которые можно использовать на занятиях по русскому языку как иностранному.
Cura de continguts en les xarxes socials de revistes d'informació i documentació d'Iberoamèrica
Authors: Cascón Katchadourian Jesús , Artigas Wileidys , Guallar Javier
Published: January 2024

Objectius: L'article té com a objectiu analitzar les característiques de la cura de continguts que duen a terme les revistes científiques iberoamericanes d'informació i documentació en les seves xarxes socials.
 Metodologia: Investigació descriptiva basada en la tècnica de l'anàlisi de contingut de productes digitals, en la qual es presenta un enfocament tant quantitatiu, de la presència dels elements estudiats, com qualitatiu, d'anàlisi i de selecció de bones pràctiques. S'han examinat totes les revistes iberoamericanes de la categoria Library and Information Science segons el SCImago Journal & Country Rank (SJR).
 Resultats: El 60 % de les revistes tenen perfils en les xarxes socials, tot i que només el 55 % estan actius. Twitter és la plataforma preferida. Predomina en les seves publicacions la cura de continguts, present en el 86 % de les entrades en quinze dels divuit perfils analitzats. En l'àmbit temàtic, gran part de les publicacions tracten del número actual (60,57 %); en cada perfil de xarxa social sol predominar una tècnica de cura per sobre de la resta, essent la més emprada 'Comentar' (en sis perfils), seguida d''Extractar', 'Resumir' i 'Citar' (en quatre). Es conclou que una bona part de les revistes iberoamericanes d'informació i documentació disposen de xarxes socials, i que aquestes utilitzen àmpliament tècniques de cura de contingut per difondre la seva producció acadèmica.
Una història cultural del paisatge i de les identitats al País Basc contemporani
Authors: Amatllé Gerard
Published: January 2024

Ressenya de

Maitane Ostolaza, Landscape and identity in the modern Basque country,1800 to 1936, Nova York, Routledge, 2023
La desobediència civil: Teoria i pràctica per al canvi social
Authors: Diaz Aitor
Published: January 2024

Se presenta la desobediencia civil como una realidad que muestra dos naturalezas íntimamente ligadas. En primer lugar, es preciso hacer referencia al contenido teórico en tanto que concepto (o idea) teorizado a lo largo de la historia desde diversas aportaciones. En segundo lugar, y casi al mismo tiempo, cabe hacer referencia a la aplicabilidad y la articulación de este concepto como herramienta para el cambio y la transformación social. En conjunto, se observa cómo la desobediencia civil se vincula directamente con el concepto de no-violencia y la tradición del pacifismo político. Igualmente, se constata un fructífero desarrollo conceptual y un aumento considerable de la introducción de la desobediencia civil en las acciones de movilizaciones sociales durante las primeras décadas del siglo xxi. Por este motivo, se ha creído conveniente aportar este estudio de revisión y actualización de la desobediencia civil desde sus dos vertientes: la teórica y la práctica.
Cómo construimos las emociones en la entonación coloquial
Authors: Padilla Xose A.
Published: January 2024

El objetivo de este artículo es analizar la entonación emocional en español. Los datos obtenidos permitirán determinar si el análisis de la prosodia refrenda o no una visión constructivista de las emociones (Barrett, 2017). Con este fin, hemos examinado cómo se comportan los rasgos melódicos en un corpus de 70 enunciados coloquiales, estableciendo cuáles son, hipotéticamente, las huellas prosódicas emocionales usadas por los hablantes. Los resultados apoyan algunas tendencias generales, es decir, la existencia de un modelo general de rasgos melódicos emocionales que se manifiesta de forma estadísticamente significativa. No obstante, los resultados no parecen respaldar la hipótesis de huellas prosódicas excluyentes adscritas a cada emoción. De este último dato, puede derivarse que el comportamiento prosódico de los hablantes parece respaldar una visión constructivista de las emociones.
Acoustic phonetics: Notes on the evolution of /ti̯, ki̯/ yod contexts in Spanish
Authors: Rost Bagudanch Assumpció
Published: January 2024

The explanation for the evolution of /ti̯/ and /ki̯/ yod contexts has been based on articulatory reasons. However, sound change has an important auditory and acoustic basis. This paper deals with two main topics: (a) it examines the confluence of the phonetic realisations of dental and velar stops in /ti̯/ and /ki̯/, and (b) it seeks to determine whether voicing occurs after the assibilation process. The results show that the allophones for /t/ and /k/ display acoustic similarities regarding point of articulation cues, which could explain misperceptions. Voicing also seems to be very frequent in these phonetic realisations, which points to a process simultaneous with assibilation.
Voice disguise and foreign accent: Prosodic aspects of English produced by Bra-zilian Portuguese speakers
Authors: Silva Jr. Leônidas , A. Barbosa Plínio
Published: January 2024

This study aims to explore how much a speaker of English as a foreign language can mask one’s accent by performing voice disguise toward a native-like accent, and what implications it might bring forward. For the Methods, we conducted three experiments, (a) both the native and the foreign groups produced authentic voices, (b) the native group performed authentic voice and the foreign group performed disguised voice, and (c) a group of native listeners of English rated the degree of foreign accent from experiments a and b. The results showed evidence of correlation between the ratings and authentic voices. Nevertheless, they remained somewhat inconclusive for the disguised voice. It may be concluded that the more the Brazilian speaker approaches the L1-English target accent when voice disguising, the harder it is for the listener to recognize his/her L2-English accent.
Reseña de “Polo Cano, N. (2019). Teoría y práctica de la fonología. Síntesis”
Authors: Caño Laguna Almudena
Published: January 2024

[No abstract]
Phonetic variation in Italian L2: An acoustic analysis of sibilant fricatives in the speech of L1 Spanish learners
Authors: Rossi Martina , Meluzzi Chiara , Lahoz-Bengochea José María
Published: January 2024

The present study investigates the acoustic features of Italian sibilant fricatives (/s/, /z/ and /ʃ/) in the speech of L1 Spanish learners. Segmental duration, degree of voicing and place of articulation of learners’ productions are analysed alongside those of a control group of L1 Italian speakers to investigate the fine-grained phonetic differences between native and non-native pronunciation. Results from a quantitative analysis suggest that factors such as the degree of typological markedness of the phoneme and the influence of the L1 in perception and production affect L2 pronunciation to a different extent for each of the target sounds.
Dynamics and a Hydraulic-Soil Mechanical Model for Pockmarks in a Mud-draped Lake: Lake Sünnet (NW Anatolia)
Authors: Ocakoglu Faruk , Topçu Sadettin
Published: January 2024

The scarcity of bathymetric studies in most Turkish lakes does not allow the documentation and the potential causes of lake bottom irregularities. In this study, relatively high-resolution bathymetric data from Lake Sünnet (NW Anatolia) revealed five deep (5.7 to 9.2m) and narrow (10 to 20m) depressions located along the boundary between the lake bottom and the steep lake margins. Analysis of lake level data belonging to dry seasons hints no leakage through these depressions. However, the negative conical shape and weakly developed levees around the holes suggest an upward episodic groundwater discharge for which direct evidence has been absent up to date. A combined hydraulic and soil mechanical model successfully explains the pockmark activity due to the flow of water through conduits in karstic carbonate bedrock. According to sedimentation rates and average depth of pockmarks in Lake Sünnet, and available regional paleoclimate studies, the onset of pockmark activity might coincide with the transition from the Near East Aridification Phase to the humid Beyşehir Occupation Phase around 300 BCE in SW and NW Anatolia.
The Role of Family Culture on the Transgenerational Transfer in Colombian Family Business
Authors: Klinger Mosquera Willian , López Vergara María Piedad , Lagos Cortés Diógenes
Published: January 2024

This exploratory research seeks to identify the role of family culture in the transgenerational transfer in Colombian family businesses. The sample was selected for convenience from a list of companies provided by the Chocó Chamber of Commerce (Colombia). To be included in the sample, the companies had to meet the following criteria: (a) Be over 25 years; (b) be in operation; (c) have a turnover of more than 265,000 dollars (1,000 million Colombian pesos) in the previous year; and (d) have an intention of succession to the next generation. A semi-structured interview was applied to members of five family businesses in the department of Chocó. It was evidenced that the type of family culture influences the transgenerational transfer process through the preparation for succession, values, decision-making process, and level of commitment.
Explorers, Audacious, Hesitant, and Hermetics: N-Helix Dynamics and Collaboration Behavior in Latin America Family Firms
Authors: Ibáñez María José
Published: January 2024

This research aims to explore the collaborative behavior of family firms based on their partners, the objective of cooperation, their market position, and the intensity of competition. This research used a N-Helix approach and implemented a multiple correspondence analysis in a sample of 127 Chilean family businesses of different ages, sizes, and industries. According to their collaboration behaviors, the data analysis proposes that family firms may be grouped into four clusters: explorers, audacious, hesitant, and hermetics. These clusters are defined principally by the number of collaborators and the goals of the collaboration. Additionally, Triple Helix and dyadic collaborative partnerships have been identified when exploring the cooperative behavior of family firms. These research findings have implications for understanding the dynamics of family firms' collaboration and analyzing the critical strategical issues found in family firms' collaborative behavior.
How family businesses benefit from familiness: Strategy change
Authors: Mizumoto Fabio Matuoka
Published: January 2024

This article examines the impact of the attribute of “familiness” on family businesses when they decide to change strategies and its implications for their economic lives. An empirical investigation was conducted using a quantitative approach to analyze 135 family coffee producers in Brazil. While some producers continued to pursue the same low-cost strategic orientation despite a fundamental institutional change, others decided to switch to a differentiation strategy to benefit from new market opportunities. The effect of familiness varies between early and late adopters of the new strategy. Our empirical findings provide clarification on the paradoxical nature of familiness by isolating its positive and negative effects on business strategy choice. The article concludes with recommendations for family businesses and policy makers based on our empirical results.
Human-animal relationships, silliness, and queer homemaking in Sven Nordqvist’s Pettson and Findus
Authors: Rosenberg-Meereboer Arwen
Published: January 2024

This article argues that the picture book series Pettson and Findus by Sven Nordqvist can be a valuable resource when looking at ethics of matter and thinking through relationships with the more-than-human. Pettson and Findus is a series of picture books written and illustrated by Sven Nordqvist. The books depict the relationship between old man Pettson and his cat Findus, who live in an old farmhouse in the south of Sweden together with chickens, invisible “muckles” and a variety of other creatures and people. The books centre on relatively mundane activities, made into small adventures by the various different creatures. This article analyses the Pettson and Findus series through Donna Haraway’s analysis of human animal relationships in When Species Meet (2008) and calls for the making of oddkin in Staying with the Trouble (2016).  This article, using Will McKeithen’s analysis in Queer Ecologies of the Home and Monica Flegel’s Pets and domesticity in Victorian culture, argues that Pettson and Findus live in a queer kind of household, and participate in queer home making. Using Jack Halberstam’s analysis in The Queer Art of Failure (2011) this article centres Pettson as a figure that is both queer and silly, and through this queer silliness creates certain openings for queer community with the more-than-human, and the making of oddkin.
"Calladita te ves más bonita": subjetividad y silencio en tres novelas de escritoras chilenas de la Generación del 50
Authors: Lorca Ornella
Published: January 2024

Este artículo explora, desde un enfoque feminista, la constitución de la subjetividad en las protagonistas de tres novelas de escritoras chilenas de la Generación del 50 y el rol del silencio en este proceso. Concretamente, el corpus de estudio será La brecha (1961) de Mercedes Valdivieso, Chilena, casada, sin profesión (1963) de Elisa Serrana y La derrota (1965) de María Elena Gertner. Las preguntas para iniciar el análisis son: ¿cómo está constituida la subjetividad de las protagonistas de las novelas? y ¿qué tensiones y conflictos la conforman? En efecto, interesa explorar cómo esas tensiones dialogan con su contexto y se inscriben en las obras de forma múltiple y contingente.
Aportaciones de Kimberlé Crenshaw a la noción de interseccionalidad: mecanismos de invisibilización y reivindicación
Authors: Cantero-Sánchez Mayte
Published: January 2024

El concepto de "interseccionalidad", acuñado por Kimberlé Crenshaw en 1989, ha sido extensamente empleado en múltiples contextos y disciplinas, trascendiendo el ámbito de los estudios críticos de raza estadounidenses en el que se generó. El objetivo general de esta investigación es dar a conocer algunos mecanismos teóricos que fueron relevantes para la formulación del término "interseccionalidad" a través de la revisión de cuatro de sus primeros textos. El éxito y la vigencia de la obra de Crenshaw es incuestionable, por lo que se realiza un análisis del pensamiento de la norteamericana para comprender con qué referentes dialoga y a qué problemáticas responde la acuñación del término "interseccionalidad".
La formación continua del PDI en las leyes universitarias españolas
Authors: Malagón Terrón Francisco Javier , Graell Martín Mariona
Published: January 2024

La formación continua del profesorado universitario recibió impulso a causa de la incorporación de las universidades españolas al Proceso de Bolonia y al Espacio Europeo de Educación Superior (EEES). Más tarde, con motivo de la pandemia de la Covid 19 este tipo de formación ha experimentado un nuevo impulso debido a la necesidad de incorporar nuevas metodologías y métodos de educación a distancia. La nueva Ley Orgánica del Sistema Universitario (LOSU) incorpora, además, importantes novedades respecto a leyes anteriores. Por la importancia creciente que ha ido adquiriendo la formación continua del personal docente e investigador (PDI9, en este trabajo se analiza el tratamiento que este tema ha recibido en las leyes universitarias españolas desde la Ley de Reforma Universitaria (1983) hasta la actual LOSU, considerando también la legislación autonómica vigente. El análisis de contenido aplicado aporta evidencia de que este es un aspecto que se ha tenido en cuenta tempranamente, y de manera creciente, en las sucesivas normas, aunque no en todas las leyes autonómicas, ni en todas por igual, con similitudes y diferencias que se ponen de relieve en este trabajo. Se ha podido observar, además, que tras la LOU de 2001 la ley andaluza fue la que más desarrolló este aspecto; y que, a nivel estatal, el tratamiento de la formación continua del PDI ha experimentado un mayor desarrollo en la recientemente aprobada LOSU, incorporando novedades pero también retrocediendo en la formulación de algunos aspectos.
Wide-field intensity fluctuation imaging
Authors: Fang Qingwei , Tomar Alankrit , Dunn Andrew K.
Published: January 2024

The temporal intensity fluctuations contain important information about the light source and light-medium interaction and are typically characterized by the intensity autocorrelation function, g2(τ). The measurement of g2(τ) is a central topic in many optical sensing applications, ranging from stellar intensity interferometer in astrophysics, to fluorescence correlation spectroscopy in biomedical sciences and blood flow measurement with dynamic light scattering. Currently, g2(τ) at a single point is readily accessible through high-frequency sampling of the intensity signal. However, two-dimensional wide-field imaging of g2(τ) is still limited by the cameras’ frame rate. We propose and demonstrate a 2-pulse within-exposure modulation approach to break through the camera frame rate limit and obtain the quasi g2(τ) map in wide field with cameras of only ordinary frame rates.
Modeling, fabrication, and metrology of 3D printed Alvarez lenses prototypes
Authors: Gonzalez-Utrera Dulce , Villalobos-Mendoza Brenda , Diaz-Uribe Rufino , Aguirre-Aguirre Daniel
Published: January 2024

In this work, we present the fabrication of two 3D printed plano-freeform prototypes, designed in such a way that, when assembled, an Alvarez lens is formed. The freeform surface of each element was mathematically described using Zernike polynomials and verified by implementing an off-axis null-screen test. Additionally, a characterization by refraction of the assembled lens was performed. Experimental images show the suitability of additive manufacturing engineering for prototyping freeform optics by providing a practical demonstration of the Alvarez lens concept.
Phase correction strategy based on structured light fringe projection profilometry
Authors: Cao Hongyan , Qiao Dayong , Yang Di
Published: January 2024

Fringe projection profilometry based on structured light has been widely used in 3-D vision due to its advantages of simple structure, good robustness, and high speed. The principle of this technique is to project multiple orders of stripes on the object, and the camera captures the deformed stripe map. Phase unwrapping and depth map calculation are important steps. Still, in actual situations, phase ambiguity is prone to occur at the edges of the object. In this paper, an adaptive phase segmentation and correction (APSC) method after phase unwrapping is proposed. In order to effectively distinguish the stable area and unstable area of the phase, a boundary identification method is proposed to obtain the structural mask of the phase. A phase compensation method is proposed to improve the phase accuracy. Finally, we obtain the 3-D reconstruction result based on the corrected phase. Specific experimental results verify the feasibility and effectiveness of this method.
Continuous-wave and SESAM mode-locked operation of a Yb:YSr3(PO4)3 laser
Authors: Li Zhi-Qiang , Lin Zhang-Lang , Zeng Huang-Jun , Nie Hai-Yu , Zhang Ge , Yu Fapeng , Zhao Xian , Liang Hsing-Chih , Petrov Valentin , Loiko Pavel , Mateos Xavier , Wu Guangda , Chen Weidong
Published: January 2024

We report on the continuous-wave (CW) and, for what we believe to be the first time, passively mode-locked (ML) laser operation of an Yb3+-doped YSr3(PO4)3 crystal. Utilizing a 976-nm spatially single-mode, fiber-coupled laser diode as pump source, the Yb:YSr3(PO4)3 laser delivers a maximum CW output power of 333 mW at 1045.8 nm with an optical efficiency of 55.7% and a slope efficiency of 60.9%. Employing a quartz-based Lyot filter, an impressive wavelength tuning range of 97 nm at the zero level was achieved in the CW regime, spanning from 1007 nm to 1104 nm. In the ML regime, incorporating a commercially available semiconductor saturable absorber mirror (SESAM) to initiate and maintain soliton-like pulse shaping, the Yb:YSr3(PO4)3 laser generated pulses as short as 61 fs at 1062.7 nm, with an average output power of 38 mW at a repetition rate of ∼66.7 MHz.
Generation of a sub-wavelength optical needle by wavelength shifting and center masking of a Fresnel zone plate
Authors: Liu Qiang , Deng Yuanhao , Xu Jing , Wang Junli , Liu Wenshuai , Yao Xiaomin
Published: January 2024

In this paper, a method to generate a sub-wavelength optical needle is proposed and demonstrated by wavelength shifting and center masking in the Fresnel zone plate (FZP). In theory, the vectorial angular spectrum (VAS) theory combined with genetic algorithm (GA) is used for the design of the center-masking FZP for generating optical needle, and finite-difference time-domain (FDTD) method is used for theoretical validation. In experiment, an amplitude-type center-masking FZP with a processing error of 5 nm is fabricated by focused ion beam etching (FIB), and the focusing intensity distribution of the optical needle is measured based on a self-made device. Finally, a sub-wavelength optical needle in far field is obtained, featuring a depth of focus of 7.16 µm, a central focal length of 26.87 µm, and a minimum full width at half maximum of 500 nm and 467 nm in x and y directions, respectively. This study provides both theoretical and experimental foundations for the practical application of FZPs.
Joint representation of molecular networks from multiple species improves gene classification
Authors: Mancuso Christopher A. , Johnson Kayla A. , Liu Renming , Krishnan Arjun
Published: January 2024

Network-based machine learning (ML) has the potential for predicting novel genes associated with nearly any health and disease context. However, this approach often uses network information from only the single species under consideration even though networks for most species are noisy and incomplete. While some recent methods have begun addressing this shortcoming by using networks from more than one species, they lack one or more key desirable properties: handling networks from more than two species simultaneously, incorporating many-to-many orthology information, or generating a network representation that is reusable across different types of and newly-defined prediction tasks. Here, we present GenePlexusZoo, a framework that casts molecular networks from multiple species into a single reusable feature space for network-based ML. We demonstrate that this multi-species network representation improves both gene classification within a single species and knowledge-transfer across species, even in cases where the inter-species correspondence is undetectable based on shared orthologous genes. Thus, GenePlexusZoo enables effectively leveraging the high evolutionary molecular, functional, and phenotypic conservation across species to discover novel genes associated with diverse biological contexts.
High-performing neural network models of visual cortex benefit from high latent dimensionality
Authors: Elmoznino Eric , Bonner Michael F.
Published: January 2024

Geometric descriptions of deep neural networks (DNNs) have the potential to uncover core representational principles of computational models in neuroscience. Here we examined the geometry of DNN models of visual cortex by quantifying the latent dimensionality of their natural image representations. A popular view holds that optimal DNNs compress their representations onto low-dimensional subspaces to achieve invariance and robustness, which suggests that better models of visual cortex should have lower dimensional geometries. Surprisingly, we found a strong trend in the opposite direction—neural networks with high-dimensional image subspaces tended to have better generalization performance when predicting cortical responses to held-out stimuli in both monkey electrophysiology and human fMRI data. Moreover, we found that high dimensionality was associated with better performance when learning new categories of stimuli, suggesting that higher dimensional representations are better suited to generalize beyond their training domains. These findings suggest a general principle whereby high-dimensional geometry confers computational benefits to DNN models of visual cortex.
Exploring the rise and diversity of health and societal issues that use a public health approach: A scoping review and narrative synthesis
Authors: Hurst Alison , Shaw Nick , Carrieri Daniele , Stein Ken , Wyatt Katrina
Published: January 2024

There is an increase in calls across diverse issues for a “public health approach” however, it is not clear whether there is any shared understanding in approach in its conceptualisation or implementation. Our aims were to (1) identify and categorise the issues which discuss a public health approach within published literature since 2010, (2) chart the descriptions and applications of public health approaches across and within four purposively sampled categories of issues, and (3) capture any evaluations conducted. A scoping review of published literature was undertaken; Seven leading databases were searched: AMED, APA PsycInfo, ASSIA, CINAHL complete, Cochrane Library (Review), Embase, and MEDLINE for articles published between 2010 and 2022 which have applied, described or called for a “public health approach” to address any issue. 3,573 studies were identified through our initial searches, of these 1,635 articles were recognised for possible inclusion from analysis of titles and abstract. The final number of included studies was 1,314. We identified 28 categories, 26 of which were societal issues, where a public health approach is being advocated. We purposively selected four of these categories; adverse childhood experiences; end of life care; gambling addiction and violence reduction/ knife crime for further analysis of the approach including how it was conceptualised and operationalised; less than 13% of the studies described the implementation of a public health approach and there was considerable heterogeneity across and within categories as to how this was done. Since 2010 there have been increasing calls for a public health approach to be taken to address health and societal challenges. However, the operationalisation of a public health approach varied extensively and there were few evaluations of the approach. This has implications for policy makers and those involved in commissioning related approaches in the future as the evidence-base is limited.
The pathogenesis of experimental Emergomycosis in mice
Authors: Höft Maxine A. , Duvenage Lucian , Salie Sumayah , Keeton Roanne , Botha Alfred , Schwartz Ilan S. , Govender Nelesh P. , Brown Gordon D. , Hoving Jennifer Claire
Published: January 2024

Emergomyces africanus is a recently identified thermally-dimorphic fungal pathogen that causes disseminated infection in people living with advanced HIV disease. Known as emergomycosis, this disseminated disease is associated with very high case fatality rates. Over the last decade, improved diagnostics and fungal identification in South Africa resulted in a dramatic increase in the number of reported cases. Although the true burden of disease is still unknown, emergomycosis is among the most frequently diagnosed dimorphic fungal infections in Southern Africa; and additional species in the genus have been identified on four continents. Little is known about the pathogenesis and the host’s immune response to this emerging pathogen. Therefore, we established a murine model of pulmonary infection using a clinical isolate, E. africanus (CBS 136260). Both conidia and yeast forms caused pulmonary and disseminated infection in mice with organisms isolated in culture from lung, spleen, liver, and kidney. Wild-type C57BL/6 mice demonstrated a drop in body weight at two weeks post-infection, corresponding to a peak in fungal burden in the lung, spleen, liver, and kidney. An increase in pro-inflammatory cytokine production was detected in homogenized lung supernatants including IFN-γ, IL-1β, IL-6, IL12-p40 and IL-17 at three- and four-weeks post-infection. No significant differences in TNF, IL-12p70 and IL-10 were observed in wild-type mice between one and four-weeks post-infection. Rag-1-deficient mice, lacking mature T-and B-cells, had an increased fungal burden associated with reduced IFN-γ production. Together our data support a protective T-helper type-1 immune response to E. africanus infection. This may provide a possible explanation for the susceptibility of only a subset of people living with advanced HIV disease despite hypothesized widespread environmental exposure. In summary, we have established a novel murine model of E. africanus disease providing critical insights into the host immune components required for eliminating the infection.
Human alveolar echinococcosis in Slovakia: Epidemiology and genetic diversity of Echinococcus multilocularis, 2000–2023
Authors: Antolová Daniela , Šnábel Viliam , Jarošová Júlia , Cavallero Serena , D’Amelio Stefano , Syrota Yaroslav , Rosoľanka Róbert , Avdičová Mária , Miterpáková Martina
Published: January 2024

Human alveolar echinococcosis (AE) is a serious parasitic disease caused by larval stages ofEchinococcus multilocularis. Between January 2000 and October 2023, 137 AE cases were confirmed in Slovakia. The average annual incidence increased from 0.031 per 100,000 inhabitants between 2000 and 2011, to an average of 0.187 since 2012, i.e. about six times. Among patients, 45.3% were men and 54.7% were women; the mean age at the time of diagnosis was 52.8 years. Most cases were diagnosed in the age groups 51–60 years and 61–70 years (33 cases each), and eight patients fell into the age category ≤ 20 years. To better recognize the gene diversity in clinical samples, metacestodes from 21 patients collected between 2013 and 2021 were subjected to DNA sequencing of four mitochondrial genes. Using concatenated sequences ofcob(603 bp),nad2(882 bp) andcox1(789 bp) gene fragments, 14 isolates (66.7%) were assigned to the European E5 profile ofE.multilocularis, two isolates (9.5%) to the E5asubtype, four isolates (19%) to the E4 profile, and one isolate (4.8%) to haplogroup E1/E2. The E5-type profiles and E4 profiles were distributed throughout the country, whereas the E1/E2 profile was found in the patient from western Slovakia. According to the data obtained and GenBank sequences, the E5-type dispersal is so far limited to central-eastern Europe and the variant seems to be indigenous to that region. The admixture with the haplotypes E4 and E1/E2 could have taken place from a historical endemic focus during the fox expansion in the last decades. By employing thenad1fragment, a typical European haplotype was observed in all 21 resolved Slovak samples. The acceleration in the AE incidence in the last decade suggests the emergence of the disease and the need for further research on human and animal isolates.
Tasting to preserve: An educational activity to promote children’s positive attitudes towards intraspecific diversity conservation
Authors: Pessoa Patrícia , Aboim Sara , Afonso Lisa , Lopes J. Bernardino , Sá-Pinto Xana
Published: January 2024

On the edge of causing the sixth big mass extinction event, the development of positive attitudes towards the conservation of intraspecific diversity from early ages is essential to overcome the biodiversity crisis we currently face. However, there is no information available on elementary school students’ attitudes toward intraspecific diversity conservation nor is there a framework available to perform such analysis. For this study we designed, implemented, and evaluated an educational activity planned for third graders (8 to 13 years old) to explore the intraspecific diversity of vegetables and promote healthy eating habits. Additionally, a framework was developed to evaluate students’ attitudes towards intraspecific diversity conservation and applied to semi-structured interviews conducted with students before and after engaging in the educational activity. In this paper we present a reliable framework, developed aligned with the ABC model of attitudes, based on literature, and adapted to elementary school students’ responses, to evaluate students’ attitudes toward intraspecific diversity. Our results show that, before the educational activity, most students choose a non-biodiverse option, justifying this choice with the affective component of attitudes: mostly emotional factors but also aesthetic and social/cultural factors. After the educational activity, we observed a significant increase in the frequency of students that choose the biodiverse option and that justified it with the cognitive component of attitudes: mainly with biology and health knowledge factors, but also with economic and ethical knowledge factors. Our findings support the positive impact of educational activities that explore vegetable varieties on students’ attitudes toward intraspecific diversity conservation. This activity may also be used to foster education for sustainability and address socioscientific issues aligned with diverse sustainable development goals.
HIV-sensitive social protection for unemployed and out-of-school young women in Botswana: An exploratory study of barriers and solutions
Authors: van der Wal Ran , Cockcroft Anne , Kobo Miriam , Kgakole Leagajang , Marokaone Nobantu , Johri Mira , Vedel Isabelle , Andersson Neil
Published: January 2024

Promotive social protection programs aim to increase income and capabilities and could help address structural drivers of HIV-vulnerability like poverty, lack of education and gender inequality. Unemployed and out-of-school young women bear the brunt of HIV infection in Botswana, but rarely benefit from such economic empowerment programs. Using a qualitative exploratory study design and a participatory research approach, we explored factors affecting perceived program benefit and potential solutions to barriers. Direct stakeholders (n = 146) included 87 unemployed and out-of-school young women and 59 program and technical officers in five intervention districts. Perceived barriers were identified in 20 semi-structured interviews (one intervention district) and 11 fuzzy cognitive maps. Co-constructed improvement recommendations were generated in deliberative dialogues. Analysis relied on Framework and the socioecological model. Overall, participants viewed existing programs in Botswana as ineffective and inadequate to empower vulnerable young women socially or economically. Factors affecting perceived program benefit related to programs, program officers, the young women, and their social and structural environment. Participants perceived barriers at every socioecological level. Young women’s lack of life and job skills, unhelpful attitudes, and irresponsible behaviors were personal-level barriers. At an interpersonal level, competing care responsibilities, lack of support from boyfriends and family, and negative peer influence impeded program benefit. Traditional venues for information dissemination, poverty, inequitable gender norms, and lack of coordination were community- and structural-level barriers. Improvement recommendations focused on improved outreach and peer approaches to implement potential solutions. Unemployed and out-of-school young women face multidimensional, interacting barriers that prevent benefit from available promotive social protection programs in Botswana. To become HIV-sensitive, these socioeconomic empowerment programs would need to accommodate or preferentially attract this key population. This requires more generous and comprehensive programs, a more client-centered program delivery, and improved coordination. Such structural changes require a holistic, intersectoral approach to HIV-sensitive social protection.
Effects of two gait retraining programs on pain, function, and lower limb kinematics in runners with patellofemoral pain: A randomized controlled trial
Authors: de Souza Júnior José Roberto , Rabelo Pedro Henrique Reis , Lemos Thiago Vilela , Esculier Jean-Francois , Barbosa Glauber Marques Paraizo , Matheus João Paulo Chieregato
Published: January 2024

Background

Patellofemoral Pain (PFP) is one of the main injuries in runners. Consistent evidence support strengthening programs to modulate symptoms, however, few studies investigated the effects of gait retraining programs.

Objective

To investigate the effects of two different two-week partially supervised gait retraining programs on pain, function, and lower limb kinematics of runners with PFP.

Methods

Randomized controlled trial. Thirty runners were allocated to gait retraining groups focusing on impact (n = 10) or cadence (n = 10), or to a control group (n = 10). Impact group received guidance to reduce tibial acceleration by 50%, while cadence group was asked to increase cadence by 7.5–10%. The control group did not receive any intervention. Usual and running pain, knee function, and lower limb kinematics (contralateral pelvic drop, hip adduction, knee flexion, ankle dorsiflexion, tibia inclination, and foot inclination) were evaluated before (T0), immediately after the intervention (T2), and six months after the protocol (T24).

Results

A significant group x time interaction was found for running pain (p = 0.010) and knee function (p = 0.019). Both programs had greater improvements in running pain compared to no intervention at T24 (Impact x Control—mean difference (MD) −3.2, 95% CI −5.1 to −1.3, p = 0.001; Cadence x Control—MD −2.9, 95% CI −4.8 to −1.0, p = 0.002). Participants of the impact group had greater improvements in knee function compared to no intervention at T2 (Impact x Control–MD 10.8, 95% CI 1.0 to 20.6, p = 0.027). No between-group differences in usual pain and lower limb kinematics were found (p>0.05).

Conclusion

Compared to no intervention, both programs were more effective in improving running pain six months after the protocol. The program focused on impact was more effective in improving knee function immediately after the intervention.

Clinical trial registry number: RBR-8yb47v
Early onset of aridity in the past millennium: Insights from vegetation dynamics and climate change in the alpine, cold-desert region of Trans Himalaya, India
Authors: Mohanty Ruchika B. , Mishra Amit K. , Mishra Kriti , Yadava Akhilesh K. , Quamar M. Firoze , Barua Iswar C. , Kar Ratan
Published: January 2024

Palynological analysis of surface soil and sub-surface sediments from the outwash plain of Hamtah Glacier, Lahaul-Spiti, India, has brought out the vegetation and climatic changes in the area during the last 1580 years. The arboreal and non-arboreal pollen ratio (AP/NAP) has been used to demarcate the different vegetation and climatic zones, complemented by the frequencies of the broad-leaved taxa. Lower values of thermophilous, broad-leaved arboreal taxa, indicate that the region experienced cold-arid conditions between 1580 and 1330 yr BP (AD 370–620); which can be related to the Dark Ages Cold Period (DACP). Thereafter, between 1330 and 950 yr BP (AD 620–1000), a rejuvenation of the broad-leaved elements reflects the initiation of a comparatively warm and moist phase, marking the Medieval Climatic Anomaly (MCA) in the region. The warm-moist phase was, however, short-lived, and from 950 yr BP to the Present (AD 1000 onwards), the region saw a return to cold-arid conditions, as evidenced by a sharp fall in the AP/NAP ratio. This cold-arid phase was, nevertheless, punctuated by a warm-moist period during 790 to 680 yr BP (AD 1160–1270), which marks the terminal phase of the MCA. After the termination of the MCA, the Little Ice Age (LIA) is well-marked in the area. The culmination of the long cold-arid regime is characterized by warmer conditions over the last 160 years, which is the manifestation of the Current Warm Period (CWP). Magnetic susceptibility (χlf) and sediment geochemistry (Weathering Index of Parker) were also attempted to have a multi-proxy approach, and show a general compatibility with the palynological data. The palaeoclimatic evidences suggest shorter warm periods and extended colder phases during the last 1580 years; in this high-altitude, cold-desert, Trans Himalayan region.
Effects of MDMA-assisted therapy for PTSD on self-experience
Authors: van der Kolk Bessel A. , Wang Julie B. , Yehuda Rachel , Bedrosian Leah , Coker Allison R. , Harrison Charlotte , Mithoefer Michael , Yazar-Klosinki Berra , Emerson Amy , Doblin Rick
Published: January 2024

Introduction

There is a resurgence of interest in the therapeutic potential of psychedelic substances such as 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA). Primary findings from our randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, multi-site Phase 3 clinical trial of participants with severe PTSD (NCT03537014) showed that MDMA-assisted therapy induced significant attenuation in the Clinician-Administered PTSD Scale for DSM-5 compared to Therapy with placebo. Deficits in emotional coping skills and altered self-capacities constitute major obstacles to successful completion of available treatments. The current analysis evaluated the differential effects of MDMA-assisted therapy and Therapy with placebo on 3 transdiagnostic outcome measures and explored the contribution of changes in self-experience to improvement in PTSD scores.

Methods

Participants were randomized to receive manualized therapy with either MDMA or placebo during 3 experimental sessions in combination with 3 preparation and 9 integration therapy visits. Symptoms were measured at baseline and 2 months after the last experimental session using the 20-item Toronto Alexithymia Scale (TAS-20), the 26-item Self Compassion Scale (SCS), and the 63-item Inventory of Altered Self-Capacities (IASC).

Results

90 participants were randomized and dosed (MDMA-assisted therapy, n = 46; Therapy with placebo, n = 44); 84.4% (76/90) had histories of developmental trauma, and 87.8% (79/90) had suffered multiple traumas. MDMA-assisted therapy facilitated statistically significant greater improvement on the TAS-20, the SCS, and most IASC factors of interpersonal conflicts; idealization disillusionment; abandonment concerns; identity impairment; self-awareness; susceptibility to influence; affect dysregulation; affect instability; affect skill deficit; tension reduction activities; the only exception was identity diffusion.

Conclusion

Compared with Therapy with placebo, MDMA-assisted therapy had significant positive effects on transdiagnostic mental processes of self-experience which are often associated with poor treatment outcome. This provides a possible window into understanding the psychological capacities facilitated by psychedelic agents that may result in significant improvements in PTSD symptomatology.
Dietary quality and cardiometabolic indicators in the USA: A comparison of the Planetary Health Diet Index, Healthy Eating Index-2015, and Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension
Authors: Frank Sarah M. , Jaacks Lindsay M. , Avery Christy L. , Adair Linda S. , Meyer Katie , Rose Donald , Taillie Lindsey Smith
Published: January 2024

Background

The Planetary Health Diet Index (PHDI) measures adherence to the sustainable dietary guidance proposed by the EAT-Lancet Commission on Food, Planet, Health. To justify incorporating sustainable dietary guidance such as the PHDI in the US, the index needs to be compared to health-focused dietary recommendations already in use. The objectives of this study were to compare the how the Planetary Health Diet Index (PHDI), the Healthy Eating Index-2015 (HEI-2015) and Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH) relate to cardiometabolic risk factors.

Methods and findings

Participants from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (2015–2018) were assigned a score for each dietary index. We examined disparities in dietary quality for each index. We used linear and logistic regression to assess the association of standardized dietary index values with waist circumference, blood pressure, HDL-C, fasting plasma glucose (FPG) and triglycerides (TG). We also dichotomized the cardiometabolic indicators using the cutoffs for the Metabolic Syndrome and used logistic regression to assess the relationship of the standardized dietary index values with binary cardiometabolic risk factors. We observed diet quality disparities for populations that were Black, Hispanic, low-income, and low-education. Higher diet quality was associated with improved continuous and binary cardiometabolic risk factors, although higher PHDI was not associated with high FPG and was the only index associated with lower TG. These patterns remained consistent in sensitivity analyses.

Conclusions

Sustainability-focused dietary recommendations such as the PHDI have similar cross-sectional associations with cardiometabolic risk as HEI-2015 or DASH. Health-focused dietary guidelines such as the forthcoming 2025–2030 Dietary Guidelines for Americans can consider the environmental impact of diet and still promote cardiometabolic health.
Novel ensemble learning approach with SVM-imputed ADASYN features for enhanced cervical cancer prediction
Authors: Munshi Raafat M.
Published: January 2024

Cervical cancer remains a leading cause of female mortality, particularly in developing regions, underscoring the critical need for early detection and intervention guided by skilled medical professionals. While Pap smear images serve as valuable diagnostic tools, many available datasets for automated cervical cancer detection contain missing data, posing challenges for machine learning models’ efficacy. To address these hurdles, this study presents an automated system adept at managing missing information using ADASYN characteristics, resulting in exceptional accuracy. The proposed methodology integrates a voting classifier model harnessing the predictive capacity of three distinct machine learning models. It further incorporates SVM Imputer and ADASYN up-sampled features to mitigate missing value concerns, while leveraging CNN-generated features to augment the model’s capabilities. Notably, this model achieves remarkable performance metrics, boasting a 99.99% accuracy, precision, recall, and F1 score. A comprehensive comparative analysis evaluates the proposed model against various machine learning algorithms across four scenarios: original dataset usage, SVM imputation, ADASYN feature utilization, and CNN-generated features. Results indicate the superior efficacy of the proposed model over existing state-of-the-art techniques. This research not only introduces a novel approach but also offers actionable suggestions for refining automated cervical cancer detection systems. Its impact extends to benefiting medical practitioners by enabling earlier detection and improved patient care. Furthermore, the study’s findings have substantial societal implications, potentially reducing the burden of cervical cancer through enhanced diagnostic accuracy and timely intervention.