bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
ShapeCoder: Discovering Abstractions for Visual Programs from Unstructured Primitives
Authors: Jones R. Kenny , Guerrero Paul , Mitra Niloy J. , Ritchie Daniel
Published: July 2023

We introduce ShapeCoder, the first system capable of taking a dataset of shapes, represented with unstructured primitives, and jointly discovering (i) useful
abstraction
functions and (ii) programs that use these abstractions to explain the input shapes. The discovered abstractions capture common patterns (both structural and parametric) across a dataset, so that programs rewritten with these abstractions are more compact, and suppress spurious degrees of freedom. ShapeCoder improves upon previous abstraction discovery methods, finding better abstractions, for more complex inputs, under less stringent input assumptions. This is principally made possible by two methodological advancements: (a) a shape-to-program recognition network that learns to solve sub-problems and (b) the use of e-graphs, augmented with a conditional rewrite scheme, to determine when abstractions with complex parametric expressions can be applied, in a tractable manner. We evaluate ShapeCoder on multiple datasets of 3D shapes, where primitive decompositions are either parsed from manual annotations or produced by an unsupervised cuboid abstraction method. In all domains, ShapeCoder discovers a library of abstractions that captures high-level relationships, removes extraneous degrees of freedom, and achieves better dataset compression compared with alternative approaches. Finally, we investigate how programs rewritten to use discovered abstractions prove useful for downstream tasks.
Motion from Shape Change
Authors: Gross Oliver , Soliman Yousuf , Padilla Marcel , Knöppel Felix , Pinkall Ulrich , Schröder Peter
Published: July 2023

We consider motion effected by shape change. Such motions are ubiquitous in nature and the human made environment, ranging from single cells to platform divers and jellyfish. The shapes may be immersed in various media ranging from the very viscous to air and nearly inviscid fluids. In the absence of external forces these settings are characterized by constant momentum. We exploit this in an algorithm which takes a sequence of changing shapes, say, as modeled by an animator, as input and produces corresponding motion in world coordinates. Our method is based on the geometry of shape change and an appropriate variational principle. The corresponding Euler-Lagrange equations are first order ODEs in the unknown rotations and translations and the resulting time stepping algorithm applies to all these settings without modification as we demonstrate with a broad set of examples.
MERF: Memory-Efficient Radiance Fields for Real-time View Synthesis in Unbounded Scenes
Authors: Reiser Christian , Szeliski Rick , Verbin Dor , Srinivasan Pratul , Mildenhall Ben , Geiger Andreas , Barron Jon , Hedman Peter
Published: July 2023

Neural radiance fields enable state-of-the-art photorealistic view synthesis. However, existing radiance field representations are either too compute-intensive for real-time rendering or require too much memory to scale to large scenes. We present a Memory-Efficient Radiance Field (MERF) representation that achieves real-time rendering of large-scale scenes in a browser. MERF reduces the memory consumption of prior sparse volumetric radiance fields using a combination of a sparse feature grid and high-resolution 2D feature planes. To support large-scale unbounded scenes, we introduce a novel contraction function that maps scene coordinates into a bounded volume while still allowing for efficient ray-box intersection. We design a lossless procedure for baking the parameterization used during training into a model that achieves real-time rendering while still preserving the photorealistic view synthesis quality of a volumetric radiance field.
Bodyformer: Semantics-guided 3D Body Gesture Synthesis with Transformer
Authors: Pang Kunkun , Qin Dafei , Fan Yingruo , Habekost Julian , Shiratori Takaaki , Yamagishi Junichi , Komura Taku
Published: July 2023

Automatic gesture synthesis from speech is a topic that has attracted researchers for applications in remote communication, video games and Metaverse. Learning the mapping between speech and 3D full-body gestures is difficult due to the stochastic nature of the problem and the lack of a rich cross-modal dataset that is needed for training. In this paper, we propose a novel transformer-based framework for automatic 3D body gesture synthesis from speech. To learn the stochastic nature of the body gesture during speech, we propose a variational transformer to effectively model a probabilistic distribution over gestures, which can produce diverse gestures during inference. Furthermore, we introduce a mode positional embedding layer to capture the different motion speeds in different speaking modes. To cope with the scarcity of data, we design an intra-modal pre-training scheme that can learn the complex mapping between the speech and the 3D gesture from a limited amount of data. Our system is trained with either the Trinity speech-gesture dataset or the Talking With Hands 16.2M dataset. The results show that our system can produce more realistic, appropriate, and diverse body gestures compared to existing state-of-the-art approaches.
Listen, Denoise, Action! Audio-Driven Motion Synthesis with Diffusion Models
Authors: Alexanderson Simon , Nagy Rajmund , Beskow Jonas , Henter Gustav Eje
Published: July 2023

Diffusion models have experienced a surge of interest as highly expressive yet efficiently trainable probabilistic models. We show that these models are an excellent fit for synthesising human motion that co-occurs with audio, e.g., dancing and co-speech gesticulation, since motion is complex and highly ambiguous given audio, calling for a probabilistic description. Specifically, we adapt the DiffWave architecture to model 3D pose sequences, putting Conformers in place of dilated convolutions for improved modelling power. We also demonstrate control over motion style, using classifier-free guidance to adjust the strength of the stylistic expression. Experiments on gesture and dance generation confirm that the proposed method achieves top-of-the-line motion quality, with distinctive styles whose expression can be made more or less pronounced. We also synthesise path-driven locomotion using the same model architecture. Finally, we generalise the guidance procedure to obtain product-of-expert ensembles of diffusion models and demonstrate how these may be used for, e.g., style interpolation, a contribution we believe is of independent interest.
DZ-SMS: An Authentic Corpus of Algerian SMS
Authors: Dahou Brahim , Falek Leila , Abbas Mourad , Mekaoui Slimane , Lichouri Mohamed , Zitouni Aicha
Published: July 2023

In this article, a complete methodology of a corpus realization of authentic Short Message Service (SMS) from Algerian dialect and which are transcribed in Latin characters or symbols is presented. A linguistic material constituted by 6,000 SMS coming from the different geographical regions of Algeria (Middle, East, and West) corresponding to 42 administrative and geographical departments, have been collected. The coexistence of several dialects through these three regions simultaneously has obliged us to consider and operate a classification of the data for each dialect. This data classification has yielded three extracted regional dialectic corpora, each of them covering a specific number of administrative departments. These treatments are based on the so-called Data-n-gram tokenization targeting the suppression of the stop words, the stemming and the imbalance of the classes linked to the nature of the SMS. Consequently, three text classifiers based on three linear classifiers, namely, Stochastic Gradient Descent (SGD), The Ridge Regression (RDG), and Linear Support Vector Machines, to find out the number of significant corpora to extract from the collected data. A deep analysis of the results has shown that the 5-grams data representation is more representative whereas the stop-words removal and stemming process has generated an information loss that has subsequently inferred an alteration of the recognition rate of about 2%. The emerging problem of classes imbalance has been treated by using three techniques: Random Oversampling, Synthetic Minorities Oversampling Technique (SMOTE), and Adaptive Synthetic (ADASYN). This treatment produced interesting results and enhancements; particularly, the classification by region with the oversampling process SMOTE by using the RDG technique has reached a better percentage of 55.93% whereas the classification by department with the oversampling process ADASYN associated with the SGD has only yielded a maximum score of about 17.11%. The results, which undoubtedly are in favor of the classification by region, have compelled us to create three Subdialectal regional corpora, each, covering a certain number of Algerian departments.
Extensions of Fuzzy Cognitive Maps: A Systematic Review
Authors: Schuerkamp Ryan , Giabbanelli Philippe J.
Published: July 2023

Fuzzy Cognitive Maps (FCMs) are widely used to simulate complex systems. However, they cannot handle nonlinear relationships or time delays/lags, nor can they fully represent uncertain information, which prompted the development of extended FCMs. The latest review covered extensions up to 2010. We search for extensions from 2011 to March 2023 and assess their motivations, features, operationalizations, use cases, reproducibility, and evaluation to support modelers in reusing existing solutions. We reviewed 26 extensions and found a paucity of extensions addressing multiple limitations, and none of the extensions provided code, hindering modelers in reusing existing extensions while suggesting future work.
Reconceptualizing Archaeological Perspectives on Long-Term Political Change
Authors: Feinman Gary M.
Published: July 2023

In archaeology, along with a large sector of other social sciences, comparative approaches to long-term political change over the last two centuries have been underpinned by two big ideas, classification and evolution, which often have been manifest as cultural history and progress. Despite comparative archaeology's agenda to explain change, the conceptual core of these frames was grounded in the building of stepped sequences of transformation with expectations drawn from synchronic empirical snapshots in time. Nevertheless, especially over the last 70 years, archaeology has seen the generation and analysis of unprecedented volumes of data collected along multiple dimensions and a range of spatial scales. Compilation and comparison of these data reveal significant diversity along various dimensions, which have begun to create dissonance with key tenets, assumptions, and even the aims of extant, long-held approaches. Expanded conceptual framing with a shift toward a focus on explaining variation and change is necessary.
Energy Transfer and Temperature Measurement Performance for NaGd(1-x-y)TbxEuySiO4 Phosphor
Authors: Tian Xiaohui , Yang Xiaoliang , Xiao Siguo
Published: July 2023

NaGd(1-x-y)TbxEuySiO4 phosphors were synthesized through high-temperature solid-state reaction method. The effects of doping concentration and temperature of Tb3+ and Eu3+ doped NaGdSiO4 on the luminescence performance are investigated in detail. Eu3+ luminous intensity enhancement and excitation spectra expansion are realized through efficient energy transfer of Tb3+ → Eu3+. The luminous color is regulated from green to red by altering the concentration of Tb3+ and Eu3+. The temperature measurement performance of the NaGd0.85Tb0.1Eu0.05SiO4 phosphor has also been witnessed. In the temperature range of 273 K − 483 K, the maximum absolute and relative sensitivity are 0.008 K−1 and 0.533%K−1, respectively. It is evident that NaGd(1-x-y)TbxEuySiO4 phosphors are available for temperature measurement.
Synthesis, Characterization, and Biological Evaluation of Some Isoindole-1,3-(2H) Dione Derivatives
Authors: Jabbour Mirna , Al-Khayat Mohammad Ammar
Published: July 2023

In this study, we have established promising drug candidates with approved antimicrobial, antioxidant, antileishmanial, and anticancer activities. We hereby report drug likeliness, ADME prediction, synthesis, characterization, and in vitro biological evaluation of isoindole-1,3-(2H) dione derivatives. Synthesized compounds showed a free radical scavenging effect, with compound 1 being the most effective (IC50 value 1.174 μmol/mL). The antibacterial activity of compounds was studied against two microbial Gram-positive and Gram-negative strains by well diffusion method. The inhibition zone of compound 3 is comparable with the inhibition zone of gentamycin at the same concentration. The compounds are highly effective against Leishmania tropica with compound 3 being the most effective one (IC50 0.0478 μmol/mL). The compounds are highly potential for the treatment of Leishmania tropica, and they are more effective than the first-line treatment, Glucantime. Compounds showed good antiproliferative activity against two human cancer cell lines (Caco-2 and HCT-116). Treatment with studied compounds arrests progress throughout the cell cycle and induces apoptosis in cancer cells. Data from structure-activity relationship (SAR) analysis revealed that lipophilic properties of compounds might enhance their activity as antimicrobial, antileishmanial, and antiproliferative activity. The halogenation of isoindole-1,3 (2H) dione moiety increases antimicrobial, antileishmanial, and anticancer activities. Tetra-brominated derivatives are more effective than tetra-chlorinated derivatives.
On the Experimental Investigation of Bone Fracture Recovery Process Using an Ultra-Wideband Planar Monopole Antenna
Authors: Rizwan Shaik , Phani Kumar Kanaparthi V. , Palaniswamy Sandeep Kumar
Published: July 2023

In this paper, a noninvasive bone fracture monitoring system is developed using a planar monopole antenna. The proposed antenna provides an ultra-wideband response, and its overall size is 18 × 19 × 0.8 mm3. The proposed ultra-wideband monopole (UWM) antenna has a maximum measured gain of 3.77 dBi, and the maximum SAR value for an input power of 18 dBm is less than 1.6 (W/kg) (1 g). A bovine tibia is experimentally tested using a proposed UWM antenna to monitor the fracture recovery process and then further analysed using principle component and linear regression analysis. In addition, a microcontroller with a wireless communication module is developed to monitor the data in an Android application. The proposed system could be a promising approach for developing a portable, noninvasive monitoring device.
Biallelic Dicer1 Mutations in the Gynecologic Tract of Mice Drive Lineage-Specific Development of DICER1 Syndrome–Associated Cancer
Authors: Wang Yemin , Chen Shary Yuting , Ta Monica , Senz Janine , Tao Lan Valerie , Thornton Shelby , Tamvada Nirupama , Yang Winnie , Moscovitz Yana , Li Eunice , Guo Jingjie , Shen Cindy , Douglas J. Maxwell , EI-Naggar Amal M. , Kommoss Felix K.F. , Underhill T. Michael , Singh Naveena , Gilks C. Blake , Morin Gregg B. , Huntsman David G.
Published: July 2023

DICER1 is an RNase III enzyme essential for miRNA biogenesis through cleaving precursor-miRNA hairpins. Germline loss-of-function DICER1 mutations underline the development of DICER1 syndrome, a rare genetic disorder that predisposes children to cancer development in organs such as lung, gynecologic tract, kidney, and brain. Unlike classical tumor suppressors, the somatic “second hit” in DICER1 syndrome–associated cancers does not fully inactivate DICER1 but impairs its RNase IIIb activity only, suggesting a noncanonical two-hit hypothesis. Here, we developed a genetically engineered conditional compound heterozygous Dicer1 mutant mouse strain that fully recapitulates the biallelic DICER1 mutations in DICER1 syndrome–associated human cancers. Crossing this tool strain with tissue-specific Cre strains that activate Dicer1 mutations in gynecologic tract cells at two distinct developmental stages revealed that embryonic biallelic Dicer1 mutations caused infertility in females by disrupting oviduct and endometrium development and ultimately drove cancer development. These multicystic tubal and intrauterine tumors histologically resembled a subset of DICER1 syndrome–associated human cancers. Molecular analysis uncovered accumulation of additional oncogenic events (e.g., aberrant p53 expression, Kras mutation, and Myc activation) in murine Dicer1 mutant tumors and validated miRNA biogenesis defects in 5P miRNA strand production, of which, loss of let-7 family miRNAs was identified as a putative key player in transcriptomic rewiring and tumor development. Thus, this DICER1 syndrome–associated cancer model recapitulates the biology of human cancer and provides a unique tool for future investigation and therapeutic development.

Significance:

Generation of a Dicer1 mutant mouse model establishes the oncogenicity of missense mutations in the DICER1 RNase IIIb domain and provides a faithful model of DICER1 syndrome–associated cancer for further investigation.
Data from Combined CDK4/6 and ERK1/2 inhibition enhances anti-tumor activity in NF1-associated plexiform neurofibroma
Authors: Flint Alyssa C. , Mitchell Dana K. , Angus Steven P. , Smith Abbi E. , Bessler Waylan , Jiang Li , Mang Henry , Li Xiaohong , Lu Qingbo , Rodriguez Brooke , Sandusky George E. , Masters Andi R. , Zhang Chi , Dang Pengtao , Koenig Jenna , Johnson Gary L. , Shen Weihua , Liu Jiangang , Aggarwal Amit , Donoho Gregory P. , Willard Melinda D. , Bhagwat Shripad V. , Clapp D. Wade , Rhodes Steven D.
Published: July 2023

Abstract
Purpose: Plexiform neurofibromas (PNF) are peripheral nerve sheath tumors that cause significant morbidity in persons with neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1), yet treatment options remain limited. To identify novel therapeutic targets for PNF, we applied an integrated multi-omic approach to quantitatively profile kinome enrichment in a mouse model that has predicted therapeutic responses in clinical trials for NF1-associated PNF with high fidelity. Experimental Design: Utilizing RNA sequencing combined with chemical proteomic profiling of the functionally enriched kinome using multiplexed inhibitor beads coupled with mass spectrometry, we identified molecular signatures predictive of response to CDK4/6 and RAS/MAPK pathway inhibition in PNF. Informed by these results, we evaluated the efficacy of the CDK4/6 inhibitor, abemaciclib, and the ERK1/2 inhibitor, LY3214996, alone and in combination in reducing PNF tumor burden in Nf1flox/flox;PostnCre mice. Results: Converging signatures of CDK4/6 and RAS/MAPK pathway activation were identified within the transcriptome and kinome that were conserved in both murine and human PNF. We observed robust additivity of the CDK4/6 inhibitor, abemaciclib, in combination with the ERK1/2 inhibitor, LY3214996, in murine and human NF1(Nf1) mutant Schwann cells. Consistent with these findings, the combination of abemaciclib (CDK4/6i) and LY3214996 (ERK1/2i) synergized to suppress molecular signatures of MAPK activation and exhibited enhanced anti-tumor activity in Nf1flox/flox;PostnCre mice in vivo. Conclusion: These findings provide rationale for the clinical translation of CDK4/6 inhibitors alone and in combination with therapies targeting the RAS/MAPK pathway for the treatment of PNF and other peripheral nerve sheath tumors in persons with NF1.
Next-Generation JAK2 Inhibitors for the Treatment of Myeloproliferative Neoplasms: Lessons from Structure-Based Drug Discovery Approaches
Authors: Nair Pramod C. , Piehler Jacob , Tvorogov Denis , Ross David M. , Lopez Angel F. , Gotlib Jason , Thomas Daniel
Published: July 2023

Selective inhibitors of Janus kinase (JAK) 2 have been in demand since the discovery of the JAK2 V617F mutation present in patients with myeloproliferative neoplasms (MPN); however, the structural basis of V617F oncogenicity has only recently been elucidated. New structural studies reveal a role for other JAK2 domains, beyond the kinase domain, that contribute to pathogenic signaling. Here we evaluate the structure-based approaches that led to recently-approved type I JAK2 inhibitors (fedratinib and pacritinib), as well as type II (BBT594 and CHZ868) and pseudokinase inhibitors under development (JNJ7706621). With full-length JAK homodimeric structures now available, superior selective and mutation-specific JAK2 inhibitors are foreseeable.

Significance:

The JAK inhibitors currently used for the treatment of MPNs are effective for symptom management but not for disease eradication, primarily because they are not strongly selective for the mutant clone. The rise of computational and structure-based drug discovery approaches together with the knowledge of full-length JAK dimer complexes provides a unique opportunity to develop better targeted therapies for a range of conditions driven by pathologic JAK2 signaling.
Fatores que influenciam a infecção por H. Pylori e a ocorrência de câncer gástrico: uma revisão sistemática
Authors: Aranha Maria Fernanda de Almeida Cavalcante , Silva Ana Beatriz Dias , Souza Isabela de Nazaré Tavares Cardoso , Oliveira Rita de Cássia Silva de
Published: July 2023

Introdução: Dentre os fatores de risco para o câncer gástrico se destaca a infecção por H. pylori. Assim, objetiva-se compilar essa relação e os fatores que a influenciam de maneira sistemática para facilitar seu acesso e entendimento. Material e métodos: Trata-se de uma revisão sistemática. As buscas foram realizadas nas bases de dados PubMed, LILACS e SciELO. Foram incluídos artigos originais nas línguas inglesa, portuguesa e espanhola e excluídos artigos de revisão, cartas e editoriais. Resultados: Nos 15 estudos incluídos, verificou-se a investigação de 14 possíveis fatores que influenciam a relação entre a infecção por H. pylori e o desenvolvimento de câncer gástrico: gênero/sexo, idade, local de residência, consumo de álcool, de tabaco, de frutas e vegetais, suplementação com vitamina C, com vitamina E, com selênio, com ferro e com óleo de alho, tratamento farmacológico contra H. pylori, dispepsia e diabetes mellitus tipo 2. Discussão: Notou-se alta associação entre a infecção por H. pylori e a carcinogênese gástrica, assim como a interferência da dispepsia, diabetes mellitus tipo 2, depleção de ferro, hábitos de vida e dietéticos nessa relação. Conclusão: Portanto, a infecção por H. pylori se caracteriza como instrumento de desencadeamento e progressão dessa patologia.
Hipertensão arterial resistente por hiperaldosteronismo primário: relato de caso
Authors: Resende Aline Lazara , Rosa Luiz Henrique Paranhos de Sousa , Carvalho Ricardo Pinheiro de , Santos Luciana da Ressurreição , Menezes Junior Antonio da Silva
Published: July 2023

A hipertensão arterial resistente (HAR) é um problema clínico comum. A identificação dos pacientes portadores de HAR é de fundamental importância, uma vez que eles apresentam uma maior taxa de danos a órgãos-alvo e um risco significativamente maior de eventos cardiovasculares fatais e não fatais. Neste trabalho é relatado o caso de um paciente do sexo masculino, 54 anos, encaminhado para avaliação nefrológica em função de hematúria. Tinha diagnóstico de hipertensão arterial há 8 anos, em uso de 4 classes de anti-hipertensivos. Fazia atividade física e apresentava um bom padrão alimentar. Negava uso de drogas ilícitas ou quaisquer outros medicamentos. Exames complementares excluíram o efeito do avental branco e confirmaram o impacto da hipertensão arterial sobre órgãos-alvo. Além disso, ele apresentava glicemia de jejum, função tireoidiana e renal normais. Diante do exposto, foi feito a hipótese diagnóstica de HAR e solicitado investigação para causas secundárias de hipertensão arterial, que evidenciou uma relação aldosterona/atividade de renina plasmática de 453.  Deste modo, foi feito o diagnóstico de hiperaldosteronismo, e solicitado exame de imagem  que demonstrou hiperplasia adrenal bilateral. O paciente foi orientado a iniciar espironolactona, evoluindo com rápida queda dos níveis pressóricos, sendo possível a retirada de todos os hipotensores que vinham sendo utilizados. O hiperaldosteronismo primário é uma das principais causas de hipertensão arterial secundária. Apesar dos avanços na compreensão de sua fisiopatologia, esta condição clínica segue subdiagnosticada. O diagnóstico adequado permite intervenções terapêuticas específicas, que melhoram significativamente o controle da pressão arterial e os desfechos cardiovasculares relacionados a esta condição.
A representação do feminino na tríade camoniana de “Lianor” e no “Poema da autoestrada” de António Gedeão
Authors: Machado Alleid Ribeiro
Published: July 2023

Este artigo analisa a representação da identidade feminina na literatura portuguesa e, como recorte de análise, visita a produção lírica de dois autores de distintos tempos: Luís de Camões e António Gedeão, a partir de uma perspectiva intertextual. Mais especificamente, a discussão gira em torno da construção de Leonor, que é projetada pelos dois autores, respectivamente, nos seguintes poemas: tríade de “Lianor” e “Poema da autoestrada”. Ao discutir o propósito intertextual estabelecido no diálogo entre textos, o artigo evidencia, ainda que de maneira breve, a questão da epigrafia, aspecto dialogante da poesia portuguesa, conforme Martelo (2020). Como parcial conclusão, destaca que a personagem intertextualmente construída por Gedeão carrega marcas de uma liberdade de gênero impossível de ser realizada pelo paradigma camoniano.
Governos electrónicos em Moçambique e os dilemas de accountability vertical no contexto da COVID-19
Authors: Sitoe Júnior António Bai
Published: July 2023

Com a pandemia de COVID-19, considerar práticas de governação que prezam o distanciamento social e asseguram a transparência e a prestação de contas dos governos como principais nas democracias foi uma emergência. Apesar de o governo electrónico constituir um fenómeno de décadas e prática em alguns Estados, no contexto da COVID-19, mostrou-se uma avenida significativa para a prestação de contas em todos os Estados democráticos. Nesse sentido, esta pesquisa procurou compreender como os governos de Moçambique foram responsivos ao cidadão no quadro da pandemia da COVID-19 por meio dos seus portais. Para atender a esses objetivos, recorremos à observação assimétrica nos portais dos governos, pela qual, constatamos que os governos de Moçambique não foram cumpridores dos requisitos analisados, e continuam utilizando métodos tradicionais, que, no quadro da COVID-19, colocam em risco a boa governação e desenvolvem ações ligadas à corrupção.
Um estudo denso sobre o colonialismo português em Angola
Authors: Gomes Peti Mama
Published: July 2023

ABRANTES, Carla Susana Alem.  Os futuros portugueses: um estudo antropológico sobre a formação de especialistas coloniais para Angola (1950- 1960). 1. ed. – Rio de Janeiro: Mórula, 2022, 324 p.
As disputas de narrativas em torno das imagens do imperador Shaka kaSenzangakhona e dos zulus na África do Sul
Authors: Silva Milca Salem dos Santos , Delcano Rubilson Velho
Published: July 2023

Este trabalho se propõe a problematizar e descortinar os movimentos analítico-historiográficos que acompanham as disputas de narrativas em torno das diferentes imagens do mais conhecido imperador zulu, Shaka kaSenzangakhona. Sabe-se que os discursos sobre o Império Zulu e o legado de Shaka, inicialmente, emergiram dos relatos de viajantes e administradores coloniais, depois, utilizados por historiadores exógenos e brancos que, nas suas formulações centrais, interpretaram a figura de Shaka como um déspota irracional e sedento por sangue. No entanto, por outro lado, o texto problematiza, também, as percepções contemporâneas sobre a figura de Shaka, recuperando a narrativa de como os historiadores e os movimentos sociais e intelectuais políticos da África do Sul passaram a se dedicar à “questão nativa”, descontruindo e reconstruindo os relatos sobre a história do Império zulu.
Memórias coloniais: Alemanha e Camarões
Authors: Calça Elaine
Published: July 2023

Gouaffo, Albert; Stefanie Michels (Hrsg.): Koloniale Verbindungen – transkulturelle Erinnerungstopografien. Das Rheinland in Deutschland und das Grasland Kameruns. Bielefeld 2019: ISBN 978-3-8376-4529-3
Checklist of soil nematode diversity from Udupi District, Karnataka, India
Authors: M.V. Keshava Murthy  , A. Shwetha
Published: July 2023

Nematodes are plentiful in soil and may be found in practically every habitat. Around 25% of global biodiversity is considered to be supported by terrestrial ecosystem soils. There has been less research on nematode populations in Karnataka than there has been in other states. The scarcity of available literature provides up even more opportunities for studying these faunas in this region. As a result, the following investigation was conducted. The major goal of this research was to investigate the nematode diversity in the Udupi area. The collected nematodes were fixed, dehydrated, and displayed on a glass slide after isolation. Published keys were used to identify the species; there were 2,833 individual nematodes recovered. This collection contained 49 soil nematode species, which were classified into 34 genera and 20 families distributed over seven orders.
A preliminary assessment of Odonata (dragonflies & damselflies) across an elevation gradient – insights from Shiwaliks to Alpines, northwestern Himalaya, India
Authors: Sharma Neeraj , Singh Dinesh , Sharma Shakha , Ajaz Ansari
Published: July 2023

Understanding the species distribution and richness along an environmental gradient helps identify hotspots and prioritize conservation efforts at landscape scale. This is more effective for the species that are indicators of environmental change, such as odonates. As the information about the distribution of this group of insects is scarce in Jammu & Kashmir, their documentation assumes a greater significance.  Here, we present a checklist of odonate species from 23 sites across diverse landscapes in subtropical, temperate, and alpine ecosystems over an elevational gradient of 3,700 m in Jammu division. We recorded 63 species from 39 genera and 11 families, four Anisoptera and seven Zygoptera. The most represented families were Libellulidae (15 genera & 29 species) and Coenagrionidae (five genera & 10 species). The preliminary surveys resulted in addition of 24 new species to the Odanata fauna of Jammu & Kashmir, including three new to the northwestern Himalaya. The study underlines that even opportunistic records are useful in understanding the distribution range and delineating the potential habitats of odonates. The study calls for intensive odonate surveys to better understand their distribution and ecology in hitherto less explored region in the northwestern Himalaya.
Comparative Effectiveness of Long‐Term Maintenance Beta‐Blocker Therapy After Acute Myocardial Infarction in Stable, Optimally Treated Patients Undergoing Percutaneous Coronary Intervention
Authors: Lee Myunhee , Lee Kyusup , Kim Dae‐Won , Cho Jung Sun , Kim Tae‐Seok , Kwon Jongbum , Kim Chan Joon , Park Chul Soo , Kim Hee Yeol , Yoo Ki‐Dong , Jeon Doo Soo , Chang Kiyuk , Kim Min Chul , Jeong Myung Ho , Ahn Youngkeun , Park Mahn‐Won
Published: July 2023

Background

The benefits of long‐term maintenance beta‐blocker (BB) therapy in patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI) undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) have not been well established.

Methods and Results

Using the Korean nationwide registry, a total of 7159 patients with AMI treated with PCI who received BBs at discharge and were free from death or cardiovascular events for 3 months after PCI were included in the analysis. Patients were divided into 4 groups according to BB maintenance duration: <12 months, 12 to <24 months, 24 to <36 months, and ≥36 months. The primary outcome was the composite of all‐cause death, recurrent MI, heart failure, or hospitalization for unstable angina. During a mean 5.0±2.8 years of follow‐up, over half of patients with AMI (52.5%) continued BB therapy beyond 3 years following PCI. After propensity score matching and propensity score marginal mean weighting through stratification, a stepwise inverse correlation was noted between BB duration and risk of the primary outcome (<12 months: hazard ratio [HR], 2.19 [95% CI, 1.95–2.46]; 12 to <24 months: HR, 2.10 [95% CI, 1.81–2.43];, and 24 to <36 months: HR, 1.68 [95%CI, 1.45–1.94]; reference: ≥36 months). In a 3‐year landmark analysis, BB use for <36 months was associated with an increased risk of the primary outcome (adjusted HR, 1.59 [95% CI, 1.37–1.85]) compared with BB use for ≥36 months.

Conclusions

Among stabilized patients with AMI following PCI, longer maintenance BB therapy, especially for >36 months, was associated with better clinical outcomes. These findings might imply that a better prognosis can be expected if patients with AMI maintain BB therapy for ≥36 months after PCI.

Registration

URL:
https://www.clinicaltrials.gov
; Unique identifier: NCT02806102.
Diagnostic challenges of diabetic kidney disease
Authors: Smirčić Duvnjak Lea , Božičević Sandra , Vučić Lovrenčić Marijana
Published: July 2023

Diabetic kidney disease (DKD) is one of the most common microvascular complications of both type 1 and type 2 diabetes and the most common cause of the end-stage renal disease (ESRD). It has been evidenced that targeted interventions at an early stage of DKD can efficiently prevent or delay the progression of kidney failure and improve patient outcomes. Therefore, regular screening for DKD has become one of the fundamental principles of diabetes care. Long-established biomarkers such as serum-creatinine-based estimates of glomerular filtration rate and albuminuria are currently the cornerstone of diagnosis and risk stratification in routine clinical practice. However, their immanent biological limitations and analytical variations may influence the clinical interpretation of the results. Recently proposed new predictive equations without the variable of race, together with the evidence on better accuracy of combined serum creatinine and cystatin C equations, and both race- and sex-free cystatin C-based equation, have enabled an improvement in the detection of DKD, but also require the harmonization of the recommended laboratory tests, wider availability of cystatin C testing and specific approach in various populations. Considering the complex pathophysiology of DKD, particularly in type 2 diabetes, a panel of biomarkers is needed to classify patients in terms of the rate of disease progression and/or response to specific interventions. With a personalized approach to diagnosis and treatment, in the future, it will be possible to respond to DKD better and enable improved outcomes for numerous patients worldwide.
What did CRISPR-Cas9 accomplish in its first 10 years?
Authors: Khlidj Yehya
Published: July 2023

It’s been 10 years now from the debut of clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats-associated protein 9 (CRISPR/Cas9) era in which gene engineering has never been so accessible, precise and efficient. This technology, like a refined surgical procedure, has offered the ability of removing different types of disease causing mutations and restoring key proteins activity with ease of outperforming the previous resembling methods: zinc finger nucleases (ZFNs) and transcription activator-like effector nucleases (TALENs). Additionally, CRISPR-Cas9 systems can systematically introduce genetic sequences to the specific sites in the human genome allowing to stimulate desired functions such as anti-tumoral and anti-infectious faculties. The present brief review provides an updated resume of CRISPR-Cas9’s top achievements from its first appearance to the current date focusing on the breakthrough research including in vitro, in vivo and human studies. This enables the evaluation of the previous phase ‘the proof-of-concept phase’ and marks the beginning of the next phase which will probably bring a spate of clinical trials.
Redescription of Shiinoa prionura Izawa, 2009 (Copepoda, Cyclopoida, Shiinoidae) recovered from Oplegnathus fusciatus (Temminck & Schlegel, 1844) (Actinopterygii) in Japan, with description of the male for the species
Authors: Izawa Kunihiko
Published: July 2023

Shiinoa prionura Izawa, 2009 is redescribed based on specimens of both sexes recovered from the nasal cavity of the barred knifejaw Oplegnathus fasciatus (Temminck & Schlegel, 1844) (Centrarchiformes, Oplegnathidae) in Japan. The male of the species is described for the first time.
Tailoring Peer-to-Peer Learning on “Faith for Rights”
Authors: Salama Ibrahim , Wiener Michael
Published: July 2023

Freedom of religion or belief is a fundamental freedom that provokes tensions but equally provides opportunities for synergy and mutual enhancement with other human rights. This article explores lessons learned from implementing the “Faith for Rights” framework which has been developed by faith-based actors and UN independent experts through a global consultative process since 2017. Related peer-to-peer learning workshops have been tailored to different audiences, including children, youth, students and scholars, parliamentarians, judges and prosecutors, civil servants, diplomats, UN independent experts, national human rights institutions, faith-based actors, human rights defenders and peer-learning facilitators. In conclusion, the article calls for an inclusive human rights “diplocacy” by strategically combining diplomacy and advocacy tools for managing religious diversity in a human rights-based manner that resolve tensions between numerous rights in the context of religions and beliefs.
Publishing Associations and Drivers and Barriers for Climate Action
Authors: Martin Rachel , Kolman Michiel , La Magna Domenico , Deschandelliers Quentin
Published: July 2023

Climate change is an increasingly urgent matter at the national, European, and international levels. In 2021, the European Union pledged to become the first carbon-neutral region by 2050 and to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions by 55 per cent by 2030. In the book industry, publishing associations are one of the main actors in fostering environmental sustainability. They are represented at the European level by the Federation of European Publishers (FEP).

This paper focuses on drivers and opportunities for action on climate within the publishing sector, analysing responses from several senior European publishing association representatives during a series of interviews conducted in May 2022. The interviews revealed differing approaches between European publishing associations that were proactively addressing the topic (push approach) and those whose membership had yet to recognize climate change as a priority issue (pull approach). Overall, publishing associations are well positioned to engage their respective members. The final part of this article suggests some actions that publishing associations could take to help their members to address sustainability.

First, to facilitate discussion, regional or international organizations such as FEP or the International Publishers Association could provide support to frame the wider context. Secondly, all climate-related actions in the publishing sector should be concrete, such as implementing carbon calculators or reimagining a more eco-friendly book fair. Finally, the article emphasizes the reputational risk for associations that do not take a position on the issue, and the increasing pressure that could come from the media and the regulatory environment, and suggests a more consistent approach and communication strategy.
Higher Education Sustainability Initiative SDG Publishers Compact Fellows
Authors: Worthington Roger , Martin Rachel , Beasley Gerald , Gardner Victoria , Lad Nikita , Lough Derek M. , Patel Chirag Jay
Published: July 2023

There is significant support for the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) among global stakeholders in higher education, covering important areas of research and scholarly communication. As a group of volunteers from across the academic publishing spectrum, Higher Education Sustainability Initiative [HESI] SDG Publishers Compact Fellows aim to address key policy issues and help stakeholders across research and publishing to better support the aims and objectives of the SDGs. This article provides details about the work of the Fellows, focusing on top action tips for researchers, authors, and publishers. These top action tips provide practical advice to key stakeholders on translating research into practice in the area of sustainable development.
Case Study of the Treatment of Endometrial Cancer Using al-Ṭibb al-Nabawī
Authors: Ridzwan Zaharom , Rahman Hamidi Abdul , Rahman Nor Azian Ab
Published: July 2023

This case study looks into the treatment of endometrial cancer using al-ṭibb al-nabawī. The subject, a 55-year-old female Malay, had a medically-baffling condition but was later diagnosed with endometrial cancer. Her CA 19.9 pancreatic cancer marker had risen from 49 U/ml to 1878 U/ml, astronomically exceeding the normal 37 U/ml. She also had a hypermetabolic lesion measuring 1.0 cm × 0.8 cm with SUVmax 9.1 on the fundus of her uterus. She underwent jinn exorcism and underwent intensive al-ṭibb al-nabawī treatments for two weeks. Her health condition improved remarkably, with the CA 19.9 decreasing to 161 U/ml within a short period. The lesion was later reduced to 0.6 cm × 0.8 cm with SUVmax 2.98. This case study looks into the intensive al-ṭibb al-nabawī treatment programme that she underwent. It also aims to find alternative explanations for the cause of her endometrial cancer based on Islamic epistemology and ontology. Her rapid recovery is consistent with jinn possession as the underlying cause, and is comparable with a few other cases of jinn possession with extraordinary rapid recovery. The likely explanation is that the jinn inside her produced toxins that resulted in her endometrial cancer and extraordinarily high readings of CA 19.9. The exorcism of jinn had removed the source of the toxins, enabling supplementary food recommended by al-ṭibb al-nabawī to be effective in the healing process. The upliftment of spirituality also contributed to the extraordinary speed of recovery.
Living Quran in the Context of Rural Communities: A Study on the Miracle of the Quran in Gentasari, Kroya, Cilacap
Authors: Supriyanto  , Zaman Akhmad Roja Badrus
Published: July 2023

The Quran is a holy book containing various theological and social teachings and guides humans to the straight path. It’s just that when the Quran is present and consumed by the community, it experiences various responses which are implemented in many living Quran practices – positioning the Quran beyond its capacity as a text in their lives. These phenomena seem to be a concrete indicator of the expression often labeled to the Quran as a ṣāliḥ li-kulli zamān wa-makān or relevant to various situations and conditions. This article examines the practice of living the Quran in the Gentasari Village community, Kroya, Cilacap. Researchers used various instruments to explore data sources, such as interviews, observations, and documentation or studies of related documents. In clarifying the validity of the data, the researchers carried out an extension of participation and triangulation of sources and methods. From the research conducted, it can be seen that: 1) some of the Gentasari Village Community position the Quran as objects that have magical powers, 2) The implications of this view are implemented in their various receptions of the Quran, including: as a medium of treatment, as a medium of protection from spirits, repel reinforcements, as a medium to facilitate life’s problems – such as ease in death, ease of delivery, and requests for the birth of an ideal baby, who inherit the characteristics of figures in the Quran, such as Prophet Yunus, Prophet Muḥammād PBUH, Maryām, and so on.
Prosody of Preferred and Dispreferred Speech Acts: L2 Spanish Learners’ Intonation and Fluency in Acceptances and Refusals
Authors: Taguchi Naoko , Dennis Andrew
Published: July 2023

This exploratory study examined L2 Spanish learners’ tone choices and oral fluency when producing preferred and dispreferred speech acts, specifically acceptances and refusals. Participants were 27 college students enrolled in intermediate-level Spanish classes. They completed a video-based speaking task that elicited four acceptances and four refusals in response to imaginary scenarios (two status-equal and two status-unequal scenarios for refusals and acceptances, respectively). After reading a scenario, they watched a short video depicting the scenario and then produced an acceptance or refusal directed to the person in the video. All responses were recorded and analyzed using the Spanish Tones and Break Indices framework (Sp_ToBI; Estebas-Vilaplana and Prieto, 2009). Participants’ tone choices (rising or falling) and speech rate (average number of words spoken per minute) were analyzed and compared between acceptances and refusals. There was a tendency of the participants using more rising tone and less falling tone in refusals in comparison to their acceptances. Similarly, there was a tendency of them speaking more slowly in refusals than acceptances. However, these tendencies were not statistically significant, indicating that intermediate-level learners were not able to differentiate intonation and fluency between preferred and dispreferred speech acts.
The Black Millenarian Jeremiads of William Monroe Trotter
Authors: Pride Aaron N.
Published: July 2023

William Monroe Trotter remains a fixture in historical memory because of his opposition to Booker T. Washington, principal of the Tuskegee normal school and the leading black figure of his generation. Trotter founded the Guardian in 1901 and served as editor of the newspaper for three decades. Numerous scholars and countless historians have detailed the confrontation between Washington and Trotter in the context of their disagreements over segregation, disfranchisement and racial violence. This essay examines the importance of religious ideas and Christian themes in the rhetoric of the Guardian and in the writings of Trotter. Trotter immersed himself in the literature of the antislavery movement and the history of abolitionism. Drawing on this tradition, Trotter employed the black millennial jeremiad discourse to deliver a message of racial reform to the American public. By explicating his pubic declarations, editorials, and orations, this paper analyzes Trotter’s usage of the black millennial jeremiad discourse to exhort the American public to oppose racial oppression.
A revision of the genus Phoebe (Lauraceae) in the Indo-Burmese region
Authors: CHAKRABARTY TAPAS , KUMAR ANAND , GHOSHAL PARTHA PRATIM
Published: July 2023

A taxonomic revision of the genus Phoebe Nees is presented for the Indo-Burmese region including Sri Lanka, Pakistan, India, Nepal, Bhutan, Bangladesh and Myanmar. Eight species are recognized, keyed out and treated with references, type citations, synonymy, flowering and fruiting periods, local names and uses, habitat, distribution and the specimens examined. Eight taxa, namely Ocotea paniculata var. minor Nees, Phoebe baishyae M.Gangop., P. cooperiana P.C.Kanjilal & Das, P. lummaoensis M.Gangop., P. palghatensis M.Gangop., P. pallida subsp. borii M.Gangop., P. prazeri M.Gangop. and P. wightii Meisn. are reduced to synonymy. Lectotypes of 14 names are also designated.