bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Tranfusion reactions in newborns
Authors: Bojanić I. , Ćepulić B. Golubić
Published: November 2024

The transfusion of blood components is a safe and life-saving procedure. However, it may lead to an adverse outcome. Some of the more frequent acute immunologic transfusion reactions that are seen in older children and adults, such as febrile or allergic reactions, are rarely reported in the newborn. When these reactions do occur, they are usually the result of passively acquired antibodies infused into a relatively small plasma volume, rather than of antibodies produced by the infant. Newborns, on the other hand, may be more vulnerable to metabolic or physiologic complications as a result of the immature nature of their organ systems. The immature development of several organ systems in the premature infant has led to many concerns relating to the infant's ability to efficiently metabolize various compounds present in the anticoagulants and preservatives used for the storage of blood components. The risks for transfusion-related infection from screened donations for hepatitis B virus, hepatitis C virus and human immunodeficiency virus are today very low. Unfortunately, the potential still exists for previously unknown microorganisms to be transmitted via transfusion. All transfusions should be carefully monitored, and adverse reactions to blood components should be appropriately investigated. The decision to transfuse a patient, whether the patient is a newborn, an older child, or an adult, requires considering both the risks and the intended benefits of the transfusion
Form und Affordanz
Authors: Eming Jutta , Jones CJ , Pape Carolin
Published: November 2024

Interdisziplinäre Zugänge – Zur Einführung
Navigating the labyrinth: exploring the experiences of Roma families with child protection services
Authors: Kostka Joanna , Greenfields Margaret , Felja Dragica , Boyce Melanie , Radley Chantal , Coker Sophie
Published: November 2024

This article presents findings regarding the experiences of Roma families interacting with child protection services. Using a mixed-methods approach grounded in critical realism, the research team explored the complex dynamics that shape these interactions. The study adopts a critical stance on child welfare, moving beyond dominant individualistic and risk-averse narratives to emphasise the need for contextualising child protection within a broader socio-economic and cultural landscape. Findings reveal that Roma families engaging with child protection services must navigate a labyrinthine institutional environment rooted in Anglocentric values often ill-equipped to support minoritised populations. These interactions, deeply entrenched in socio-economic disparities and cultural biases, routinely place Roma families in adversarial positions with state agents. Rather than being isolated incidents, these systemic barriers exacerbate the already challenging circumstances faced by Roma families.
Politics of the Home: Northern New England Women and the US Civil War
Authors: Clark Savannah
Published: November 2024

Abstract: Northern New England women took political action during the US Civil War to protect and maintain their households by forming and expressing political identities. They sought to prevent the conflict from changing their households, but in doing so they often had to challenge the traditional belief that women should be apolitical or, alternatively, to use traditional notions of women's place in the home to their advantage. Either way, northern New England women engaged in a personal politics of the home, a type of political action characterized by letter writing and attempts to both use and subvert traditional notions of women's place in the home to achieve their political goals.
Is AI a threat to faith? How could we maintain human freedom, autonomy, and agency in the age of rising AI power? The Perspective of a Shi‘a Muslim
Authors: Paya Ali
Published: November 2024

ABSTRACT: The main problem this paper aims to deal with is the threat posed to faith, human autonomy, and freedom by AI. I must hasten to add that while the focus of this paper is to discuss some of the possible dangers of AI systems for human agency, I have no intention of discussing the two broader questions of either the more general risks of AI systems or their great benefits for individuals and societies. In the first section, I briefly discuss the ways in which AI functions. I then explain the main aspects of religion, freedom, and autonomy and, in the third section, explore some of the dangers and threats that AI creates for religion, freedom and autonomy. The last section is dedicated to the introduction of some of the ways that human beings could use to ward off the threats of AI or at least mitigate them.
The Role of Eloquence in the Inimitability of the Qur’an
Authors: Esmail Zoheir Ali
Published: November 2024

ABSTRACT: Linguistic eloquence has been considered a key factor by Qur’anic scientists in the discussion surrounding the inimitability of the Qur’an. After examining the general concept of inimitability, this paper surveys the pre-Islamic milieu in which the Qur’an was revealed, and then examines the development of the doctrine of inimitability in the classical Islamic period. The analysis will refresh our understanding of this crucial feature of the Qur’an, showing that its inimitability is not limited to literary excellence, but also intimately connected to the Qur’anic message. Using this new understanding, the article will then examine some traditions in Uṣūl al-Kāfī concerning the excellence of the Qur’an, showing that eloquence, as a factor encompassing depth of inner meaning and linguistic style, was referred to by the Prophet Muhammad.
Rituals and the Gendering of Children in the Pauline Letters
Authors: Punt Jeremy
Published: November 2024

Abstract: This paper explores the role of ritual in gendering children in biblical settings and in the NT in particular. In ancient society children were gendered in many ways, and rituals played important if different roles in the various contemporary contexts. In Roman society contemporary to the NT, the toga virilis ritual gendered boys and signalled their adulthood, their coming of age as adult men. In the NT where various socio-cultural contexts intersected, the Jewish frame of reference informs the references to certain rituals with circumcision taking pride of place. Such sentiments also inform the discourse of the Pauline letters, where distinctions between non-gendered children and male children (sons) carry significance. Tracing a few Pauline texts, the ritualised aspects of the gendering of children in the NT are considered.
Itinerant Entrepreneurs: #bigger6, Digital Humanities Pedagogy & Minimal Computing
Authors: Harris Katherine D.
Published: November 2024

Abstract: This article offers insight into the creation of a project-based graduate seminar that relied on collaboration, play, student agency, and practice to understand the powerful Bigger 6 Global Romanticism movement. By deploying Digital Humanities pedagogy and minimal computing, these first-generation students at a minority-serving institution began to understand that the literary voices heralding the Industrial Revolution and mechanization of print culture were immigrant, non-white, or female. The culminating digital project, "The Bengal Annual: A Digital Exploration of Non-Canonical British Romantic Literature," explores what can be accomplished in a single semester as "itinerant entrepreneurs" of Digital Humanities.
The Digital Edition of Juliusz Słowacki's Eastern Diary : New Possibilities for the Romantic Canon
Authors: Chilińska Milena
Published: November 2024

Abstract: The paper discusses the influence of digital tools on the reception of Romanticism. The study is based on the digital edition of Polish poet Juliusz Słowacki's travel notebook from his journey to the East. The research demonstrates that a full reading of the fragmentary diary requires multidisciplinary work and that digital tools can integrate diverse approaches, showcasing its fragmentary nature. Special attention is given to the specificity of Polish Romanticism and the need for new readings of Romantic works. Digital editions and popularization enable an interdisciplinary view of Romanticism, revealing it as a multidimensional and attractive era for modern readers.
Universities at the intersection of past, present and future
Authors: Bawa Ahmed , Boulton Geoffrey
Published: November 2024

ABSTRACT: As human societies have grown and diversified, so the need for institutions like universities, adaptable to a wide range of social needs, arose. We argue that these inherently flexible organisations have become constrained in their functions because of an increasing tendency by governments to fund them for exclusively delivering on their own priorities, because of a persistent colonial mentality and because of a dramatic increase in the uptake of student numbers. The dominant priority required from academics has emerged as research, partly because of a view that it is essential to economic progress and partly because of a branding and ranking mentality. We argue that these priorities run counter to the challenges that face modern society, namely the need for deeper and more diverse modes of learning provided by its universities. A major issue for both the colonised and the coloniser is the post-colonial dilemma of how to re-imagine the roles of universities in the Global South and Global North as distinctive parts of a rich global tapestry. Can we develop an approach to a new era of Open Science that enriches this tapestry as one of its priorities?
Inversion for offshore oil-water emulsion concentration based on a six-flux model of laser-induced fluorescence
Authors: Zhang Xiaodan , He Zhenxue , Liang Fangfang , Dong Jie , Yu Kui , Xie Beibei , Hao Hu
Published: November 2024

Oil-water emulsions, as one of the momentous weathering forms of the marine oil-spill, have caused more severe detriment to the marine environment. Laser-induced fluorescence (LIF) is an extremely influential technique for monitoring spilled oil at sea. However, the evaluation of offshore oil-water emulsion concentration based on LIF detection technology has been rarely discussed. Simultaneously, a scientific low-flux model including fluorescence flux has not been established and applied to detect oil spill at sea. In view of this, a six-flux model of laser-induced fluorescence is proposed to invert the concentration of oil-water emulsions at sea. On the cornerstone of laser flux, fluorescence flux is introduced. Utilizing the absorption, scattering, and other characteristics of flux in the medium, differential equations of various flux are established, and the solution framework of the differential equations is afforded. Thereafter, a formula of the fluorescence radiation transfer factor of the oil-water emulsions and their concentration is derived. Furthermore, the validity and availability of the proposed model are proved by experiments. The experimental results reveal that the proposed model has high accuracy in inverting the concentrations for oil-water emulsions, and the average error is within 6%. Meanwhile, this model consumes a short time, not exceeding 60 s at most. Utilizing the model, the concentration of oil-water emulsions can be evaluated in real time.
Multi-culture label-free quantitative cell migration sensing with single-cell precision
Authors: Arcab Piotr , Rogalski Mikołaj , Marzejon Marcin , Rogujski Piotr , Stanaszek Luiza , Trusiak Maciej
Published: November 2024

A fair comparison of multiple live cell cultures requires examining them under identical environmental conditions, which can only be done accurately if all cells are prepared simultaneously and studied at the same time and place. This contribution introduces a multiplexed lensless digital holographic microscopy system (MLS), enabling synchronous, label-free, quantitative observation of multiple live cell cultures with single-cell precision. The innovation of this setup lies in its ability to robustly compare the behaviour, i.e., migratory pathways, of cells cultured or contained in different ways (with varied stimuli applied), making it a valuable tool for dynamic biomedical diagnostics on a cellular level. The system's design allows for potential expansion to accommodate as many samples as needed, thus broadening its application scope in future quantitative diagnostics on global multi-culture cellular behaviours via their localized single-cell spatiotemporal optical signatures. We believe that our method has the potential to empower reliable live cell multi-culture comparisons through simultaneous quantitative imaging, enhancing label-free investigations into cell cultures and the effects of biochemical or physical stimuli over large areas, and unlocking novel mechanistic understandings through high-throughput time-lapse observations.
Optical beam steering and distance measurement experiments through an optical phased array and a 3D printed lens
Authors: Muntaha Sidra Tul , Hokkanen Ari , Harjanne Mikko , Cherchi Matteo , Roussey Matthieu , Aalto Timo
Published: November 2024

We present beam steering experiments based on the wavelength tuning of edge-coupled 1D optical phased arrays (OPAs) on a 3 µm silicon on insulator (SOI) platform. Two versions of 512-channel OPA with different pitch values, namely 2 µm and 3 µm, are designed, fabricated, and characterized. For the 2 µm pitch, the width of the output array is 1 mm, steering sensitivity is measured to be 1°/nm, and the maximum beam steering angle is 45°. For the 3 µm pitch, the output array is 1.5 mm wide, the steering sensitivity is 0.6°/nm, and the maximum beam steering angle is 30°. Since the chip doesn’t offer vertical collimation, both a cylindrical (2D-shaped) lens and a 3D printed (3D-shaped) lens were tested with the OPA chips. The high number of output channels results in a wide width of the output array, therefore enabling frequency-modulated continuous-wave (FMCW) distance measurements up to a few meters. The ability to achieve precise steering angles and distance measurements with up to 5 cm accuracy improves the efficiency of light detection and ranging (LiDAR) systems in various fields, such as autonomous vehicles, robotics, and environmental mapping.
Amplified spontaneous emission and photoresponse characteristics in highly defect tolerant CsPbCl
x
Br3−x
crystal
Authors: Su Longxing , Meng Bingheng , Li Heng , Yu Zhuo , Zhu Yuan , Chen Rui
Published: November 2024

All inorganic perovskite CsPbX3 with excellent optical properties and a tunable bandgap is a potential candidate for optoelectronic applications, and the amplified spontaneous emission (ASE) is normally reported in low-dimensional structures where the quantum confinement enhances ASE. Herein, we not only demonstrate the ASE in millimeter size CsPbCl
x
Br3−x crystal with a high defect concentration, but also tune the emission wavelength from the green band to blue band through the ion exchange of Br with Cl. The ASE centered at ∼456  nm is probed at 50 K with a threshold of 106  μJ/cm2. Furthermore, a metal-semiconductor-metal (MSM) structure CsPbCl
x
Br3−x photodetector is fabricated and shows a distinct response to lights from UV to the blue band; the response spectrum range is quite different from the narrow band (∼30  nm) response of the CsPbBr3 photodetector induced by a charge collection narrowing (CCN) mechanism. The CsPbCl
x
Br3−x photodetector also exhibits fast response speeds with a rise time of 96 μs and a decay time of 34 μs, indicating the defects have limited influence on the transportation speed of the photo-generated carriers.
Genomic sequencing and neutralizing serological profiles during acute dengue infection: A 2017 cohort study in Nepal
Authors: Prajapati Sabita , Elong Ngono Annie , Mc Cauley Melanie , Timis Julia , Shrestha Srijan , Bastola Anup , Mandal Shrawan Kumar , Ray Yadav Sanjay , Napit Rajindra , Moi Meng Ling , Yamabhai Montarop , M. Sessions October , Shresta Sujan , Manandhar Krishna Das
Published: November 2024

Dengue virus (DENV) is a mosquito-borne flavivirus that poses a threat to nearly 50% of the global population. DENV has been endemic in Nepal since 2006; however, little is known about how DENV is evolving or the prevalence of anti-DENV immunity within the Nepalese population. To begin to address these gaps, we performed a serologic and genetic study of 49 patients from across Nepal who presented at central hospitals during the 2017 dengue season with suspected DENV infection. Of the 49 subjects assessed, 21 (43%) were positive for DENV NS1 antigen; of these; 5 were also anti-DENV IgM+ IgG+; 7 were DENV IgM+ IgG−, 2 were IgM− IgG+, and 7 were IgM−IgG− by specific ELISAs. Seven of the 21 NS1 positive sera were RNA positive by RT-PCR (six DENV2, one DENV3), suggesting that DENV2 was the dominant serotype in our cohort. Whole-genome sequencing of two DENV2 isolates showed similarity with strains circulating in Singapore in 2016, and the envelope genes were also similar to strains circulating in India in 2017. DENV-neutralizing antibodies (nAbs) were present in 31 of 47 sera tested (66%); among these, 20, 24, 26, and 12 sera contained nAbs against DENV1, 2, 3, and 4 serotypes, respectively. Additionally, 27 (58%) samples had nAbs against multiple serotypes (2 or more). Serology analysis suggested that 12 (26%) and 19 (40%) of the 47 subjects were experiencing primary and secondary DENV infections, respectively. Collectively, our results provide evidence for current and/or past exposure to multiple DENV serotypes in our cohort. These data suggest that expanded local surveillance of circulating DENV genotypes and population immunity will be important to effectively manage and mitigate future dengue outbreaks in Nepal.
Patterns, clusters, and transitions in U.S. state ENDS policy implementation: 2010–2020
Authors: Zaborenko Callie , Vuolo Mike , Maggs Jennifer L. , Staff Jeremy , Kelly Brian C.
Published: November 2024

Electronic nicotine delivery systems (ENDS), such as e-cigarettes, have become increasingly used across the world. To respond to global public health challenges associated with vaping, governments have implemented numerous ENDS policies. This research highlights the patterns, clustering, and transitions in U.S. state ENDS policy implementation from 2010 to 2020. Policy data for tobacco and ENDS policies primarily from the Americans for Nonsmokers’ Rights Foundation (ANRF) were analyzed for the years 2010 to 2020 for all fifty states and Washington, D.C. Patterns and clusters of policies were assessed. Latent trajectories were modeled for ENDS policies across states over time. ENDS policies commonly have analogous tobacco control policies in place prior to their implementation. ENDS policies in states were commonly implemented in “bundles.” The temporal trajectories of ENDS policy implementation occurred in 3 latent forms. A majority of states were “catch-up implementers,” indicating their slow initial implementation but stronger position by the end of the period of observation in 2020. These trajectories of ENDS policies were not associated with any individual tobacco control policy in place at the start of the trajectory in 2010. The development of ENDS policies in U.S. states has been temporally and geographically uneven. Many states that had initially been slow to implement ENDS policies caught up by 2020. The implementation of policy “bundles” was common. The clustering of policies in bundles has important methodological implications for analyses, which should be considered in ENDS policy evaluations.
Antimicrobial prescribing practices and factors associated with antimicrobial prescribing in hospitalized COVID-19 patients in Oyo state: A retrospective study
Authors: Oladunni Amos Abimbola , Busayo Sina-Odunsi Ayomide , Adebisi Yusuff Adebayo , Bamidele Rebecca Folasade , Bary Abila Derrick , Afolabi Oluwatoyin Elizabeth , Ahmadi Attaullah , Obaro Michael , Lucero-Prisno III Don Eliseo
Published: November 2024

Background

Proportion of hospitalized COVID-19 patients receiving antimicrobial drug is significantly high despite evidence of low level of actual bacterial co-infection, potentially contributing to poor health outcome and global antimicrobial resistance.

Materials and methods

A retrospective study was performed on antimicrobial agents prescribed to adult patients with confirmed COVID-19 admitted across three isolation facilities between 1 March 2020 and 30 April 2021 in Ibadan, Oyo state, Nigeria. From individual records, we evaluated patient demographics, COVID-19 risk factors, diagnostic testing, disease severity and antimicrobial utilization. The primary aim was to determine the prevalence of antimicrobial prescription as well as factors associated with antimicrobial prescribing in hospitalized patients with COVID-19 in Oyo state.

Results

In total, 271 patients were included in this study. The median age of the population was 51 years (IQR; 32–62 years). The mean duration of hospital admission was 13 days (IQR: 10–14 days). Majority of participants were symptomatic (81.5%). All participants had a COVID-19 PCR test performed and none had bacterial culture performed. All patients received antimicrobial therapy across the entire cohort. The mean DOT per LOT across cohorts was 1.2 for mild cases, 1.4 for moderate cases and 1.3 for severe cases. Factors associated with the number of antimicrobials per prescription were being single (P = 0.02), being below 60 years of age (P = 0.04), mild COVID-19 symptoms (P < 0.001) and diabetes comorbidity (P = 0.03).

Conclusion

Given the high rate of antimicrobial prescription and absence of bacteriological culture analysis in these patients, there is risk of development and spread of antimicrobial resistant. Continuous review of antimicrobial prescription is critical in the management of hospitalized COVID-19 patients.
The impact of cyberbullying on mental health outcomes amongst university students: A systematic review
Authors: Arif Aahan , Qadir Muskaan Abdul , Martins Russell Seth , Khuwaja Hussain Maqbool Ahmed
Published: November 2024

Cyberbullying is increasingly prevalent globally, particularly among young individuals. Cybervictims may be at an increased risk of adverse psychological outcomes. This systematic review aims to summarize the mental health effects of cyberbullying among college and university students. A systematic search of PubMed, Cochrane, and Embase databases was performed to identify studies reporting mental health effects of cybervictimization among college/university students until April 15, 2023. Risk of bias assessment was conducted using the National Institute of Health (NIH) tool. The review is registered on PROSPERO (CRD42023429187). Thirty-two studies involving 29,593 students were included. Depression showed a significant association with cyber-victimization in 16/20 studies (prevalence: 15–73%). Anxiety was significant in 12/15 studies (27–84.1%), stress in 3/3 studies (32–75.2%), and suicidal behavior in 4/9 studies (2–29.9%). Cybervictimization weakly but significantly correlated with lower self-esteem in 4 out of 6 studies (r = -0.152 to -0.399). Fear of perpetrators was reported in 2 out of 2 studies (12.8–16%), while decreased academic concentration/productivity was found in two studies (9–18%). Cybervictims were more likely to engage in substance abuse (adjusted odds ratio: 2.37 [95% confidence interval: 1.02–5.49]; p = 0.044). The majority of articles were of good quality (22/32). This review demonstrates a high prevalence of adverse mental health outcomes among cybervictims, including depression, anxiety, stress, and suicidal behavior. Based on these findings, we recommend that institutions of higher education worldwide introduce zero tolerance policies against cyberbullying, implement screening processes to identify affected students, and provide psychological therapy within their institutions.
Modulation of neural networks and symptom correlated in fibromyalgia: A randomized double-blind multi-group explanatory clinical trial of home-based transcranial direct current stimulation
Authors: Lopes Alves Rael , Zortea Maxciel , Vicuña Serrano Paul , Laranjeira Vani dos Santos , Franceschini Tocchetto Betina , Ramalho Leticia , Fernanda da Silveira Alves Camila , Brugnera Tomedi Rafaela , Pereira de Almeida Rodrigo , Machado Bruck Samara , Medeiros Liciane , R. S. Sanches Paulo , P. Silva Danton , Torres Iraci L. S. , Fregni Felipe , Caumo Wolnei
Published: November 2024

Background

Transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) might modulate neural activity and promote neural plasticity in patients with fibromyalgia (FM). This multi-group randomized clinical trial compared home-based active tDCS (HB-a-tDCS) on the left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (l-DLPFC) or home-based sham tDCS (HB-s-tDCS), and HB-a-tDCS or HB-s-tDCS on the primary motor cortex (M1) in the connectivity analyses in eight regions of interest (ROIs) across eight resting-state electroencephalography (EEG) frequencies.

Methods

We included 48 women with FM, aged 30 to 65, randomly assigned to 2:1:2:1 to receive 20 sessions during 20 minutes of HB-a-tDCS 2mA or HB-s-tDCS, over l-DLPFC or M1, respectively. EEG recordings were obtained before and after treatment with eyes open (EO) and eyes closed (EC).

Results

In the EC condition, comparing pre to post-treatment, the HB-a-tDCS on l-DLPFC decreased the lagged coherence connectivity in the delta frequency band between the right insula and left anterior cingulate cortex (ACC) (t = -3.542, p = .048). The l-DLPFC HB-a-tDCS compared to HB-s-tDCS decreased the lagged coherence connectivity in the delta frequency band between the right insula and left ACC (t = -4.000, p = .017). In the EO condition, the l-DLPFC HB-a-tDCS compared to M1 HB-s-tDCS increased the lagged coherence connectivity between the l-DLPFC and left ACC in the theta band (t = -4.059, p = .048). Regression analysis demonstrated that the HB-a-tDCS effect on the l-DLPFC was positively correlated with sleep quality. On the other hand, the HB-a-tDCS on l-DLPFC and HB-s-tDCS on M1 were positively correlated with pain catastrophizing.

Conclusions

These results show that HB-a-tDCS affects the neural connectivity between parts of the brain that control pain’s emotional and attentional aspects, which are most noticeable at lower EEG frequencies in a rest state. This effect on neural oscillations could serve as a neural marker associated with its efficacy in alleviating fibromyalgia symptoms.

Clinical trial registration

identifier [NCT03843203].
The final plague outbreak in Scotland 1644–1649: Historical, archaeological, and genetic evidence
Authors: Dittmar Jenna , Crozier Rebecca , de-Dios Toni , Scheib Christiana L. , Armstrong Jackson W. , Pape Jenny , MacLennan Ross , Craig Ricky , Oxenham Marc
Published: November 2024

This paper has several aims: to determine if Yersinia pestis was the causative agent in the last Scottish plague outbreak in the mid-17th century; map the geographic spread of the epidemic and isolate potential contributing factors to its spread and severity; and examine funerary behaviours in the context of a serious plague epidemic in early modern Scotland. Results confirm the presence of Y. pestis in individuals associated with a mid-17th century plague pit in Aberdeen. This is the first time this pathogen has been identified in an archaeological sample from Scotland. The geographic spread of the plague from 1644 through to 1649 is generally, with some key exceptions, restricted to the central lowlands of Scotland. The role of administrative responses to the epidemic in managing its spread and distribution is unclear. Finally, normative funerary practices tended to co-exist with mass burial scenarios. In conclusion, the distribution of the epidemic is arguably a function of population density/distribution, transportation networks, and the chaos associated with the concurrent civil war. Administrative responses to the epidemic likely had a variable, albeit limited, effect in the central lowlands. More peripheral cities, such as Aberdeen, while also employing sophisticated plague prevention measures, were perhaps initially spared simply due to their distance from the central plague belt. It is unclear if a general fear of the dead and contracting the Pest from plague victims can be used to characterise mid-17th century Scottish public opinion. Mass burial appears to have been a practical approach to the logistical problems mass mortality presented, while many instances of normative burial treatment can also be seen.
EasyFlow: An open-source, user-friendly cytometry analyzer with graphic user interface (GUI)
Authors: Ma Yitong , Eizenberg-Magar Inbal , Antebi Yaron
Published: November 2024

Flow cytometry enables quantitative measurements of fluorescence in single cells. The technique was widely used for immunology to identify populations with different surface protein markers. More recently, the usage of flow cytometry has been extended to additional readouts, including intracellular proteins and fluorescent protein transgenes, and is widely utilized to study developmental biology, systems biology, microbiology, and many other fields. A common file format (FCS format, defined by the International Society for Advancement of Cytometry (ISAC)) has been universally adopted, facilitating data exchange between different machines. A diverse spectrum of software packages has been developed for the analysis of flow cytometry data. However, those are either 1) costly proprietary softwares, 2) open source packages with prerequisite installation of R or Python and sometimes require users to have experience in coding, or 3) online tools that are limiting for analysis of large data sets. Here, we present EasyFlow, an open-source flow cytometry analysis graphic user interface (GUI) based on Matlab or Python, that can be installed and run locally across platforms (Windows, MacOS, and Linux) without requiring previous coding knowledge. The Python version (EasyFlowQ) is also developed on a popular plotting framework (Matplotlib) and modern user interface toolkit (Qt), allowing more advanced users to customize and keep contributing to the software, as well as its tutorials. Overall, EasyFlow serves as a simple-to-use tool for inexperienced users with little coding experience to use locally, as well as a platform for advanced users to further customize for their own needs.
12,000-year-old spindle whorls and the innovation of wheeled rotational technologies
Authors: Yashuv Talia , Grosman Leore
Published: November 2024

‘The wheel and axle’ revolutionized human technological history by transforming linear to rotary motion and causing parts of devices to move. While its ancient origins are commonly associated with the appearance of carts during the Bronze Age, we focus on much earlier wheel-shaped find–an exceptional assemblage of over a hundred perforated pebbles from the 12,000-year-old Natufian village of Nahal Ein-Gev II, Israel. We analyze the assemblage using 3D methodologies, incorporating novel study applications to both the pebbles and their perforations and explore the functional implications. We conclude that these items could have served as spindle whorls to spin fibres. In a cumulative evolutionary trend, they manifest early phases of the development of rotational technologies by laying the mechanical principle of the wheel and axle. All in all, it reflects on the technological innovations that played an important part in the Neolithization processes of the Southern Levant.
Working from home and mental well-being at different stages of the COVID-19 pandemic
Authors: Leitner Sandra M.
Published: November 2024

This paper analyses the relationship between working from home (WFH) and mental well-being at different stages during the first two critical years of the COVID-19 pandemic, when governments repeatedly imposed lockdowns and enacted WFH mandates to contain the spread of the virus. Using data from a representative survey conducted at four different time periods in 2020 (first lockdown, subsequent gradual reopening), 2021 (further lockdown) and 2022 (restrictions widely lifted) in the 27 EU member states, it examines the changing role of several mediators over time: work-family conflict, family-work conflict, stability, resilience, isolation, the importance of different support networks, workload, physical risk of contracting COVID-19 at work and housing conditions. For the first lockdown, it also differentiates by previous WFH experience, in terms of WFH novices and experienced WFH workers. It likewise differentiates by gender, in order to take the potential gendered nature of COVID-19 measures into account. The results point to several important mediators: for those who work from home, less family-work conflict and isolation, but greater stability, resilience, network support from family and friends, and superior housing conditions were associated with better mental well-being. The relevance of mediators was specific to certain stages of the pandemic. Stability was the most important mediator during the first lockdown. Work-family conflict and family-work conflict were only relevant during the first lockdown, while resilience and isolation mattered especially towards the end of the pandemic. Unlike established WFH workers, WFH novices had an advantage during the first lockdown, benefiting from lower family-work conflict and more helpful networks of family and friends. Our results differ by gender: for females who undertook WFH, important mediators were work-family conflict and family-work conflict. Both were related to adjustments they had to make in work and non-work hours in response to the enforced closure of schools and childcare facilities. For males who undertook WFH, support from networks of family and friends was an important mediator during the first lockdown.
Palmitoyl-L-carnitine induces tau phosphorylation and mitochondrial dysfunction in neuronal cells
Authors: Yoon Gwangho , Kam Min Kyoung , Koh Young Ho , Jo Chulman
Published: November 2024

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is characterized by cognitive decline and memory loss, involving mechanisms such as tau hyperphosphorylation and mitochondrial dysfunction. Increasing evidence suggests that age-related alterations in metabolite levels are crucial for the pathogenesis of AD. Here, we analyzed serum metabolites from mice of various ages (2, 4, 14, and 21 months old) using mass spectrometry. We identified palmitoyl-L-carnitine as a key metabolite with significantly increased levels in aged mice. In vitro experiments with SH-SY5Y neuronal cells demonstrated that palmitoyl-L-carnitine treatment enhanced tau phosphorylation, increased mitochondrial fission, and elevated intracellular calcium levels. Furthermore, the increased levels of tau phosphorylation were significantly reduced by the inhibition of GSK-3β, CDK5, and calpain, indicating that tau kinases activated by calcium overload are directly involved in the increase of tau phosphorylation. Considering that mitochondrial fission is related to mitochondrial dysfunction, we propose that the elevated level of serum palmitoyl-L-carnitine during aging contributes to AD pathology through these pathways. These findings highlight the significant role of lipid metabolism in neurodegeneration and offer potential therapeutic targets for age-related diseases, including AD.
Snowy Dove: An open-sourcetoolkit for pre- processing of Chinese Gaofen series data
Authors: Yuan Debao , Zhang Liuya , Dong Jiantao , Fan Cheng , Zhao Xurui
Published: November 2024

Since the launch of the Chinese High-resolution Earth Observation System (CHEOS) program, China has strengthened its research and development in the field of satellite remote sensing. A large number of sensors has been or will be launched, providing very large data streams which all require processing of the engineering data, as provided by the instruments, to physical data which will be used for further processing and interpretation. To handle such large data streams we developed a one-click batch pre-processing toolkit for CHEOS remote sensing data as described in this paper. In this toolkit, IDL language and environment are used as the primary program combined with other programming languages developed in this research. In this paper, we first describe the Gaofen (GF) series data used in this research and then introduce the function design and realization of this one-click batch pre-processing toolkit. Some examples will be presented to illustrate the application of the toolkit to data from several CHEOS satellites.
EhRacM differentially regulates macropinocytosis and motility in the enteric protozoan parasite Entamoeba histolytica
Authors: Shimoyama Misato , Nakada-Tsukui Kumiko , Nozaki Tomoyoshi
Published: November 2024

Macropinocytosis is an evolutionarily conserved endocytic process that plays a vital role in internalizing extracellular fluids and particles in cells. This non-selective endocytic pathway is crucial for various physiological functions such as nutrient uptake, sensing, signaling, antigen presentation, and cell migration. While macropinocytosis has been extensively studied in macrophages and cancer cells, the molecular mechanisms of macropinocytosis in pathogens are less understood. It has been known that Entamoeba histolytica, the causative agent of amebiasis, exploits macropinocytosis for survival and pathogenesis. Since macropinocytosis is initiated by actin polymerization, leading to the formation of membrane ruffles and the subsequent trapping of solutes in macropinosomes, actin cytoskeleton regulation is crucial. Thus, this study focuses on unraveling the role of well-conserved actin cytoskeleton regulators, Rho small GTPase family proteins, in macropinocytosis in E. histolytica. Through gene silencing of highly transcribed Ehrho/Ehrac genes and following flow cytometry analysis, we identified that silencing EhracM enhances dextran macropinocytosis and affects cellular migration persistence. Live imaging and interactome analysis unveiled the cytosolic and vesicular localization of EhRacM, along with its interaction with signaling and membrane traffic-related proteins, shedding light on EhRacM’s multiple roles. Our findings provide insights into the specific regulatory mechanisms of macropinocytosis among endocytic pathways in E. histolytica, highlighting the significance of EhRacM in both macropinocytosis and cellular migration.
ACE2-independent sarbecovirus cell entry can be supported by TMPRSS2-related enzymes and can reduce sensitivity to antibody-mediated neutralization
Authors: Zhang Lu , Cheng Hsiu-Hsin , Krüger Nadine , Hörnich Bojan , Graichen Luise , Hahn Alexander S. , Schulz Sebastian R. , Jäck Hans-Martin , Stankov Metodi V. , Behrens Georg M. N. , Müller Marcel A. , Drosten Christian , Mörer Onnen , Winkler Martin Sebastian , Qian ZhaoHui , Pöhlmann Stefan , Hoffmann Markus
Published: November 2024

The COVID-19 pandemic, caused by SARS-CoV-2, demonstrated that zoonotic transmission of animal sarbecoviruses threatens human health but the determinants of transmission are incompletely understood. Here, we show that most spike (S) proteins of horseshoe bat and Malayan pangolin sarbecoviruses employ ACE2 for entry, with human and raccoon dog ACE2 exhibiting broad receptor activity. The insertion of a multibasic cleavage site into the S proteins increased entry into human lung cells driven by most S proteins tested, suggesting that acquisition of a multibasic cleavage site might increase infectivity of diverse animal sarbecoviruses for the human respiratory tract. In contrast, two bat sarbecovirus S proteins drove cell entry in an ACE2-independent, trypsin-dependent fashion and several ACE2-dependent S proteins could switch to the ACE2-independent entry pathway when exposed to trypsin. Several TMPRSS2-related cellular proteases but not the insertion of a multibasic cleavage site into the S protein allowed for ACE2-independent entry in the absence of trypsin and may support viral spread in the respiratory tract. Finally, the pan-sarbecovirus antibody S2H97 enhanced cell entry driven by two S proteins and this effect was reversed by trypsin while trypsin protected entry driven by a third S protein from neutralization by S2H97. Similarly, plasma from quadruple vaccinated individuals neutralized entry driven by all S proteins studied, and availability of the ACE2-independent, trypsin-dependent pathway reduced neutralization sensitivity. In sum, our study reports a pathway for entry into human cells that is ACE2-independent, can be supported by TMPRSS2-related proteases and may be associated with antibody evasion.
Fang experiences in Whitby’s Goth/ic theatre
Authors: Wynne Catherine
Published: November 2024

A sign which regularly appears on the door of St Mary’s Church in Whitby, North Yorkshire, alerts visitors that Dracula is not buried in the churchyard. Dracula arrives in Whitby in Bram Stoker’s fiction, exits the stage and finally turns to dust near his Transylvanian castle. The sign, however, underscores Dracula’s enduring association with Whitby, forged by Stoker’s visit to the town in the summer of 1890. Just over one hundred years after Stoker’s visit, Jo Hampshire, a Goth from Barnsley, West Yorkshire, inspired by Dracula’s association with the town, arranged a Goth visit to Whitby, after posting an advertisement in NME magazine. The gathering launched what would become Whitby Goth Weekend (WGW). Thirty years after Hampshire’s visit, Whitby attracts a range of Goth/ic tourists, a term which here denotes Goths, the subcultural movement dating from the 1970s, and those who are attracted to the Gothic from literary tourists to Instagrammers. The article explores how Whitby, particularly its East Cliff, inspired by Stoker’s vision, operates as Goth/ic tourist space and, in particular, how it presents and is experienced as Goth/ic theatre. It reads the Whitby passages from Dracula in the context of Stoker’s experience of Gothic and melodramatic performance at London’s Lyceum theatre where Stoker worked as business manager. It traces the establishment of WGW in 1994, its evolution and adaptation in the age of social media, and how Whitby has developed to become a place of Goth/ic experience, performance and cultural contestation.
Throbbing Gristle: An Endless Discontent, Ian Trowell (2023)
Authors: Loydell Rupert
Published: November 2024

Review of: Throbbing Gristle: An Endless Discontent, Ian Trowell (2023)

Bristol: Intellect, 284 pp.,

ISBN 978-1-78938-829-9, p/bk, £29.95
“Algo que tem raízes e voa”: o hibridismo musical na carreira discográfica da banda Tocaia da Paraíba
Authors: Didier Guedes Albuquerque Junior Francisco
Published: November 2024

Este artigo tem como objetivo historicizar a carreira discográfica da Tocaia da Paraíba, banda criada na cidade de Cajazeiras, no Alto Sertão da Paraíba, em 1995. A partir dos discos Tocaia (2000) e Botando pra quebrar (2005), busca-se perceber como o grupo teceu representações sonoras, visuais e identitárias que hibridizaram o local e o global: local por meio das expressões musicais como o coco de roda, repente sertanejo e as bandas cabaçais, presenciadas na paisagem sonora do sertão paraibano; e global através do rock, agregando ideias de contestação e conexão com culturas e temáticas “universais”.
De La Plata a Chilecito (La Rioja, Argentina): una embajada de la academia artística en el Famatina
Authors: Gustavino Berenice
Published: November 2024

La casa Samay Huasi (Universidad Nacional de La Plata, Argentina) conserva una colección de arte formada por más de 70 piezas entre pinturas, grabados y esculturas. En el origen de la colección se encuentran las visitas que los artistas del círculo de sociabilidad de Joaquín V. González hicieron a la finca a comienzos del siglo XX, invitados por quien fuera el fundador de la UNLP y dueño de esas tierras en las cercanías de Chilecito, La Rioja, Argentina. En este trabajo busco aportar elementos para comprender la historia de la formación de la colección cuyo destino estuvo ligado a las diversas políticas culturales de la UNLP a través del tiempo. Autoridades, artistas y docentes de esa institución fueron agentes activos en la construcción de los vínculos entre dos espacios separados geográficamente tanto como lo fueron las imágenes producidas en Samay Huasi que circularon entre La Rioja y La Plata.
A Independência em versos: Teixeira e Sousa e a história do Brasil por meio da epopeia
Authors: Wright Cardoso Eduardo
Published: November 2024

Como seria possível entender o descompasso entre uma obra que foi concebida como monumental e sua presença limitada ao rodapé? Mobilizando essa questão como abertura para este artigo, busca-se discorrer sobre o intuito historiográfico e memorialístico expresso pela epopeia A Independência do Brasil, de Antônio Gonçalves Teixeira e Sousa (1812-1861), publicada em dois tomos em 1847 e 1855. De que maneira a história de um evento contemporâneo, como a emancipação política de 1822, é figurada no poema? O propósito de refletir acerca da história a partir da literatura repousa no pressuposto da interrogação mútua entre os dois saberes e fundamenta- se, por um lado, numa vigorosa tradição de histórias da literatura e, por outro, no valor creditado à matéria histórica que, de modo prescritivo, compõe o gênero épico. Para isso, procura-se contemplar a recepção do poema por alguns de seus contemporâneos a fim de identificar traços comuns na sua fortuna crítica. Além disso, pretende-se abordar como os eventos históricos são (re)construídos pelo autor com o objetivo não apenas de narrar a história pátria, mas sobretudo de celebrá-la. Por último, espera- se oferecer uma possível chave de leitura para a questão sobre o lugar secundário destinado ao monumento de Teixeira e Sousa.
A inserção do conto A escrava, de Maria Firmina dos Reis, nos debates sobre a abolição no Maranhão e a luta dos escravizados pela sua liberdade
Authors: Francinele Ribeiro Sálua
Published: November 2024

Este artigo tem por objetivo inserir o conto A escrava (1887), de Maria Firmina dos Reis, nas discussões públicas referentes à escravidão e à abolição no Brasil. Com base nessa fatura bibliográfica, que engloba a colaboração prestada a vários jornais do Maranhão, estado no qual ela nasceu, reunimos elementos que nos possibilitam analisar como a autora representa o negro (escravizado) como sujeito político dotado de voz própria, por meio da qual expressou sua memória, subjetividade e afetividade no contexto da maternidade escravizada. Evidenciamos, por essa via, como Maria Firmina dos Reis interveio no cotidiano de sua época por intermédio da literatura. O exame dos seus escritos permite que haja a ressignificação da história dos negros, mas dessa vez por uma mulher, escritora e afro-brasileira, sem falar que isso reabre a discussão sobre a inclusão ou exclusão de sua produção na crítica literária e historiográfica nacional.
Marvin Carlson em busca da história do teatro: entre caminhos e atalhos
Authors: Lima Torres Neto Walter
Published: November 2024

Foi lançado no finalzinho de 2023, Teatro: uma brevíssima introdução. Para a área dos estudos teatrais, seu autor, o professor Marvin Carlson, não precisa de grandes apresentações. O teatrólogo estadunidense já é bastante conhecido da gente de teatro brasileira. Ele já teve outros dois livros traduzidos para o português: Teorias do teatro: estudo histórico-crítico, dos gregos à atualidade, pela Editora da Unesp (1997) e Performance: uma introdução crítica (Editora da UFMG, 2009). Além disso, Carlson, nos últimos tempos, antes de se aposentar, esteve no Brasil atendendo a convites de vários programas de pós-graduação, bem como da Abrace (Associação Brasileira de Pesquisa e Pós- Graduação em Artes Cênicas), para participar de eventos universitários e artísticos relacionados ao teatro. Com simpatia e disponibilidade, sua circulação ensejou uma colaboração entre docentes pesquisadores nativos. Dos diferentes pontos do país, brasileiros se deslocaram até a Cuny (The City University of New York), onde ele lecionava, para desenvolverem suas pesquisas ou estágios aproveitando da sua loquaz interlocução.