bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Therapeutic avenues for γδ T cells in cancer
Authors: Costa Gonçalo Palrão , Mensurado Sofia , Silva-Santos Bruno
Published: November 2023

γδ T cells are regarded as promising effector lymphocytes for next-generation cancer immunotherapies. In spite of being relatively rare in human peripheral blood, γδ T cells are more abundant in epithelial tissues where many tumors develop, and have been shown to actively participate in anticancer immunity as cytotoxic cells or as “type 1” immune orchestrators. A major asset of γδ T cells for tackling advanced cancers is their independence from antigen presentation via the major histocompatibility complex, which clearly sets them apart from conventional αβ T cells. Here we discuss the main therapeutic strategies based on human γδ T cells. These include antibody-based bispecific engagers and adoptive cell therapies, either focused on the Vδ1+or Vδ2+γδ T-cell subsets, which can be expanded selectively and differentiated or engineered to maximize their antitumor functions. We review the preclinical data that supports each of the therapeutic strategies under development; and summarize the clinical trials being pursued towards establishing γδ T cell-based treatments for solid and hematological malignancies.
Efficacy and safety of telitacicept in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus: a multicentre, retrospective, real-world study
Authors: Jin Hui-Zhi , Li Yu-jing , Wang Xin , Li Zhijun , Ma Bin , Niu Lin , Wang Peng , Pan Hai-feng , Li Si-dong , Bao Wei , Wang Guosheng , Li Xiao-mei , Chen Zhu
Published: November 2023

Objective

To examine the efficacy and safety of telitacicept in the treatment of patients with SLE in everyday clinical practice.

Methods

Seventy-two patients with active SLE who received telitacicept for more than 24 weeks at multiple centres in China between 2019 and 2022 were retrospectively identified. Twenty-one of these patients received 52 continuous weeks of treatment with telitacicept. Treatment outcomes were analysed separately according to whether patients had renal or haematological abnormalities. Trajectory analysis was performed to identify patients with a limited response. Factors contributing to a limited response were explored by multivariable logistic regression analysis.

Results

After treatment with telitacicept for 4, 12, 24 and 52 weeks, 22.22%, 54.17%, 72.22% and 80.95% of patients, respectively, achieved an SLE Responder Index 4; 8.33%, 26.39%, 34.72% and 47.62% achieved a Lupus Low Disease Activity State; and 0%, 4.17%, 8.33% and 23.81% achieved remission. Significant decreases in serum IgA, IgG and IgM levels were observed at 4 weeks and showed a downward trend at 12, 24 and 52 weeks. The median 24-hour urinary protein declined from 1323.5 mg to 224.0 mg in patients with lupus nephritis after treatment with telitacicept for 52 weeks. Furthermore, a large proportion of patients (10 of 13) with haematological abnormalities recovered after 52 weeks of treatment with telitacicept. No severe adverse events were reported during the observation period. Age appeared to have a negative impact on treatment efficacy.

Conclusions

Telitacicept demonstrated favourable efficacy and safety in patients with active SLE and improved the renal and haematological manifestations of the disease.
Lead isotopes in New England (USA) volcanogenic massive sulfide deposits: implications for metal sources and pre-accretionary tectonostratigraphic terranes
Authors: Slack John F. , Swinden H. Scott , Piercey Stephen J. , Ayuso Robert A. , van Staal Cees R. , LeHuray Anne P.
Published: November 2023

Lead isotope values for volcanogenic massive sulfide (VMS) deposits provide important insights into metal sources and the nature of pre-accretionary tectonostratigraphic terranes and underlying basements. Deposits of this type in New England formed in diverse tectonic settings including volcanic arcs and backarcs, a supra–subduction zone arc, a rifted forearc foreland basin, and a rifted continental margin. Following VMS mineralization on or near the seafloor, components of the tectonostratigraphic assemblages—volcanic ± sedimentary rocks, coeval intrusions, sulfide deposits, and underlying basements—were diachronously accreted to the Laurentian margin during the Paleozoic. Lead isotope data for galena show relatively large ranges for206Pb/204Pb,207Pb/204Pb, and208Pb/204Pb. Evaluation of potential lead sources, using for comparison Pb-isotope data from modern and ancient settings, suggests that principal sources include the mantle, volcanic ± sedimentary rocks, and deeper basement rocks. Integration of the Pb-isotope values with published data such as Nd isotopes for the volcanic rocks and from deep seismic reflection profiles points to the involvement of several basements, including those of Grenvillian, Ganderian, Avalonian, and West African (and (or) Amazonian) affinity. Clustering of Pb-isotope data for VMS deposits within individual Cambrian and Ordovician volcanic and volcanosedimentary settings, delineated by differences in206Pb/204Pb and µ (238U/204Pb) values, are consistent with lead derivation from at least four and possibly five different tectonostratigraphic assemblages with isotopically distinct basements. Collectively, our Pb-isotope data for New England VMS deposits provide a novel window into the nature of subarc basement rocks during pre-accretionary sulfide mineralization outboard of Laurentia during early Paleozoic time.
A Case of Ruptured Exophytic Uterine Artery Pseudoaneurysm without Specific Risk Factors That Manifested Seven Days after Vaginal Delivery
Authors: Toshimitsu Masatake , Iriyama Takayuki , Sato Jiro , Abe Osamu , Ichinose Mari , Sayama Seisuke , Seyama Takahiro , Sone Kenbun , Kumasawa Keiichi , Osuga Yutaka
Published: November 2023

A uterine artery pseudoaneurysm (UAP) is a life-threatening complication during pregnancy and postpartum. Early diagnosis of exophytic UAP rupture is difficult due to the absence of vaginal bleeding. This study reports the case of a 31-year-old postpartum woman who presented with abdominal pain and fever seven days after vaginal delivery, without symptoms of maternal shock. Ultrasonography revealed a ruptured exophytic UAP with hemoperitoneum, which was confirmed using computed tomography. Interventional radiology confirmed that the site of the pseudoaneurysm was at the level of the uterine artery bifurcation, and embolization was performed immediately after diagnosis using a coil and n-butyl-2-cyanoacrylate. The patient’s symptoms were relieved, and she was discharged 12 days after the embolization. At eight months postpartum, the UAP was not visible on transvaginal ultrasonography. Exophytic UAP can occur even in the absence of specific risk factors such as cesarean section or endometriosis, and the UAP may not necessarily rupture immediately after delivery. Obstetricians must remain aware of the possibility of exophytic UAP rupture manifesting as abdominal pain with postpartum fever, rather than as unstable vital signs. This is the first report of an exophytic UAP that occurred at the level of the uterine artery bifurcation. Identification of the sites where exophytic UAP can occur can aid in the early diagnosis of the condition.
Brand Experience and Customer Loyalty in Dentistry: The Role of Perceived Brand Authenticity
Authors: Al-Abdallah Ghaith , Ababakr Jegr
Published: November 2023

This study investigates the impact of brand experience (BE) on customer loyalty (CL) and examines the possible mediating effect of brand authenticity (BA) and the moderating effect of frequency of visits on the original relationship between BE and CL in dental practices. A descriptive, deductive, and quantitative research methodology was applied, with a self-administrated survey questionnaire over a cross-sectional convenience sample from dental clinics and centers in Erbil, Sulaymaniyah, and Duhok (Iraqi Kurdistan). Data were collected in July and August 2022. SPSS AMOS 26 was used for analyzing 952 patients’ responses. The results indicate that BE has a statistically significant positive effect on CL. However, only affective experiences, cognitive experiences, and behavioral experiences have a statistically positive effect on CL. BA has a significant direct mediation effect on the original relationship between BE and CL. In addition, a greater frequency of dental visits improves the BE and impacts CL. Discussion, recommendations, and future research orientation are provided.
Assembly Sequence Planning for Rectangular Modular Robots with Accessibility Constraints
Authors: Zomkowski Salvi Anelize , Simas Henrique
Published: November 2023

Product assembly is the final step in a manufacturing process where the individual components of a product are joined together. Assembly sequence planning (ASP) can be defined as the problem of finding a collision-free sequence of operations that allow the product assembly. Considering that during assembly individual modules cannot pass through a gap only as large as a module side, the ASP problem can be extended to modular robots, more specifically to rectangular modular robots. The main ASPs presented in the literature that are applicable to rectangular modules do not allow configurations with narrow corridors, i.e., corridors which are too narrow for a robot to transverse. Furthermore, these ASPs do not allow preassembled substructures or the free selection of the assembly starting point. Thus, the main goal of this work is to extend the classes of rectangular modular robot configurations that can be assembled without violating the accessibility condition. This paper introduces three novel ASP for constructing planar target structures composed of rectangular modular robots. Each ASP is adequate for a different scenario. Original implementation results and mathematical proofs for the three novel ASPs are also presented. To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this is the first work that presents, considering the accessibility condition, how to obtain centralized ASPs for assembling planar structures composed of rectangular modules with narrow corridors. Furthermore, the novel ASPs allow structures composed of subsets of preassembled modules and configurations with internal holes. They also allow the choice of the assembly starting point. Moreover, the third ASP proposed in this work allows achieving discontinuous assembly paths, i.e., wherever possible, the ASP allows a novel module to not connect to the latest added robot.
Novel BTK Mutation in Patient with Late Diagnosis of X-Linked Agammaglobulinemia
Authors: Kalkat Amanpreet , Humpel Olivia , Hostoffer Robert
Published: November 2023

X-linked agammaglobulinemia (XLA) is a genetic disorder with mutation in Bruton’s tyrosine kinase (BTK). Defects in B cell development and immunoglobulin production lead to recurrent infections following loss of maternal IgG at 6 months of age. A 55-year-old male with a longstanding common variable immunodeficiency diagnosis on infusion therapy presented to the clinic with cutaneous T-cell lymphoma, which inspired overall repeat evaluation. Immunoglobulin levels and lymphocyte markers, family history, and genetic testing prompted a true diagnosis of XLA and novel mutation in the BTK gene. Disease-associated mutations have been noted in all five domains of BTK, with missense variants most commonly cited among the 100s of reported genetic alterations. The BTK protein is expressed in hematopoietic lineages and plasma cells, with the exception of T lymphocytes. Disruption in the protein function or absence of BTK halts normal B cell development at the pre-B transitional cell stage and induces premature apoptosis. We present the first reported case of a novel hemizygous BTK c.1492C > G mutation in a patient causing XLA.
Macronutrient Intake in Children and Adolescents with Type 1 Diabetes and Its Association with Glycemic Outcomes
Authors: Fisher Emma L. , Weaver Natasha A. , Marlow Alexandra L. , King Bruce R. , Smart Carmel E.
Published: November 2023

Aims. This study aimed to identify the quantity and range of protein, fat, and carbohydrate consumed in meals and snacks in children with Type 1 diabetes (T1D), and to explore associations between the variability in fat and protein intakes with the glycemic outcomes. Methods. This was a cross-sectional dietary study of children 6–18 years attending pediatric diabetes service in Australia. Three-day weighed food records were analyzed for the macronutrient intake. Impacts of dietary intake on glycemic outcomes were explored. Results. Forty-eight children (63% male) aged 11.7 ± 2.9 (mean ± SD) with HbA1c 6.7 ± 1.1% (mmol/mol), BMI Z-score 0.51 ± 0.83, and daily insulin dose 0.99 units/kg completed 3-day weighed food records. Mean intakes at breakfast were 47-g carbohydrate, 15-g protein, and 12-g fat. Lunch: 49-g carbohydrate, 19-g protein, and 19-g fat. Dinner: 57-g carbohydrate, 33-g protein, and 26-g fat. Fifty-five percent (n = 80) of the dinner meals met criteria for a high-fat, high-protein (HFHP) meal. In a subset (n = 16) of participants, exploratory analysis indicated a trend of reduced %TIR (58%) in the 8 hr following HFHP dinner, compared to %TIR (74%) following non-HFHP dinner (

p
=
0.05

). Seventy-eight percent of the participants aged 12–18 years intake at dinner varied by more than 20-g fat or more than 25-g protein. There was no association between the variability in fat and protein intake at dinner with HbA1c. Saturated fat contributed to 14.7% (±3.0) of participants energy intake. Conclusions. Children with T1D frequently consume quantities of fat and protein at dinner that have been shown to cause delayed postprandial hyperglycemia. HFHP dinners were associated with the reduced %TIR over 8 hr, presenting an opportunity for insulin-dose adjustments. Future research that explores the meal dietary variability with postprandial glycemia in this population is needed. Excessive intake of the saturated fat highlights the need for dietary interventions to reduce CVD risk. This trial is registered with ACTRN12622000002785.
Data-Driven Bearing Fault Diagnosis for Induction Motor
Authors: Raqeeb Aqib , Shah Fahim , Alam Zaheer , Choudhury Subhashree , Khan Bilal , Palanisamy R.
Published: November 2023

Bearings are critical components in modern manufacturing, yet they are prone to failures in induction machines. Detecting these faults early can reduce repair costs. To achieve efficient and accurate fault detection, we explore vibration-based analysis. Traditional methods rely on manual feature extraction, which is time-consuming. In contrast, our work leverages deep learning, particularly convolutional neural networks, to automatically extract fault features from raw data. We investigate various image sizes (16 × 16, 32 × 32, 64 × 64, 128 × 128, 256 × 256) and their performance in bearing fault diagnosis. Our convolutional neural networks-based approach is compared to traditional methods such as support vector machine, nearest neighbors, and artificial neural networks. Results demonstrate the superior performance of our data-driven fault diagnosis using convolutional neural networks.
Successful Use of Bortezomib in an Adolescent with Refractory TTP
Authors: Wali Junaid Ahmad , Quigley Brian M. , Schaefer Beverly
Published: November 2023

With increasing early and upfront use of rituximab and caplacizumab in the modern management of immune-mediated thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (iTTP), the risk of refractory disease is expected to decline. However, despite the use of adequate initial therapy, a small subset of patients develop a refractory disease which is difficult to manage. Bortezomib has come to be known as a safe and effective treatment option for refractory iTTP, but its use in children is limited. Here, we describe the case of an adolescent patient with refractory iTTP who had a satisfactory and sustained response to the use of bortezomib.
The Relationship between Transformational Leadership and Staff Nurse Retention in Hospital Settings: A Systematic Review
Authors: Conroy Nathalie , Patton Declan , Moore Zena , O’Connor Tom , Nugent Linda , Derwin Rosemarie
Published: November 2023

Aim. This systematic review aimed to synthesise the relationship between transformational leadership style and staff nurse retention in hospital settings. Background. It is known that globally there is a shortage of nurses. Thus, nurse retention and organisational commitment have never been more critical. Nurse managers are responsible for staff retention. Therefore, nurse managers could reduce staff turnover by adopting the “right leadership style.” Methods. Systematic review, following the guidance of PRISMA. Databases CINAHL, MEDLINE, PubMed, PsychInfo, Cochrane Central Register, and Embase were searched between 27th December 2021 and 22nd June 2023 to find relevant publications. Relevant studies were hand searched in January 2022 and June 2023 to source further potential evidence. A total of twelve articles were retrieved. Results. Twelve studies were included in this review, including six cross-sectional studies, two correlational studies, two cross-sectional correlational studies, and two surveys. In relation to retention, the primary outcome, data from eleven of the twelve studies reported statistical significance favouring transformational leadership improving staff retention. One study reported a statistically nonsignificant improvement in retention. Conclusion. There is evidence to suggest that transformational leadership may have a positive and significant relationship with staff nurse retention, job satisfaction, and quality of care. Implications for Nursing Management. Nurse managers should attend leadership and management training programs. This will allow them to understand and practice transformational leadership which may have a positive connection with staff nurse retention.
Topological Descriptors and QSPR Modelling of HIV/AIDS Disease Treatment Drugs
Authors: Farooq Fozia Bashir , Parveen Saima , Hassan Awan Nadeem Ul , Fanja Rakotondrajao
Published: November 2023

A topological index is a real number derived from the structure of a chemical graph. It helps determine the physicochemical and biological properties of a wide range of drugs, and it better reflects the theoretical properties of organic compounds. This is accomplished using degree-based topological indices. We examined some of the physiochemical characteristics of thirteen HIV therapy medications and created a QSPR model utilizing nine of the medication’s topological indices. The melting point, boiling point, flash point, complexity, surface tension, etc., of HIV medicines are closely related according to this QSPR model. This work can help to design and synthesize new HIV treatments and other disease drugs.
Thriving in a Disruptive World: How Entrepreneurs and Managers Learn for a Brighter Future
Authors: Handrito Radityo Putro , Noermijati Noermijati , Ibrahim Andi Indriani , Setiawan Margono , Kurniawati Desi Tri , Prameka Adelia Shabrina , Hakim Abdrrahman , Fakhri Erie Awalil , Prabandari Sri Palupi , Kurniasari Irma , 'Adilla Nur , Rofiaty Rofiaty , Champaca Mychelia , Widodo Deny Edy , Armanu Armanu , Indrawati Ayu Desi , Korry Putu Dyah Permatha , Susilowati Christin , Barinta Dunga Dwi , Arif Moh. Erfan , Suryadi Nanang , Elmiani Haqu Imaning , Willaert Camille , Willaert Fleur , Rohman Fatchur , Hussein Ananda Sabil , Yulianti Ida , Parwati Kardina Yudha , Arimbawa Putu Adi Putra , Puspaningrum Astrid , Hapsari Raditha , Aisjah Siti , Kalimasada Kalimasada , Fasieh M. Fajrul Islam , Fadilah Wildan , Riandi Muhammad Hafiz , Nani Safrilia Ayu
Published: November 2023

This study aims to discuss the importance of entrepreneurial orientation in improving MSME performance amid highly competitive markets. Micro, Small, and Medium-Sized Enterprises (MSME) have a strategic role in the national development of Indonesia, one of the countries with rapid MSME growth. MSMEs are small-scale businesses growing and trying to level themselves up as major businesses. In spite of their size and scale, their contribution to the national economy and people’s economy is tremendous. However, MSMEs in Indonesia, in general, are still low in performance due to the low entrepreneurial orientation. Thus, in order to be able to improve their performance and to survive and compete in the domestic and international markets, MSME owners need to improve their entrepreneurial orientation. Further, entrepreneurial orientation with innovativeness, proactiveness, and risk-taking actions can improve the performance of the MSME. Different from other articles, this article expands the study and develops the discussion about the concept of innovativeness in entrepreneurial orientation theory by referring to innovative work behavior as the key to the creation of innovation at the individual level, especially in the MSME sphere, to improve their performance.
Entrepreneurial Orientation and MSME Performance Improvement
Authors: Noermijati Noermijati , Ibrahim Andi Indriani , Setiawan Margono , Kurniawati Desi Tri
Published: November 2023

This study aims to discuss the importance of entrepreneurial orientation in improving MSME performance amid highly competitive markets. Micro, Small, and Medium-Sized Enterprises (MSME) have a strategic role in the national development of Indonesia, one of the countries with rapid MSME growth. MSMEs are small-scale businesses growing and trying to level themselves up as major businesses. In spite of their size and scale, their contribution to the national economy and people’s economy is tremendous. However, MSMEs in Indonesia, in general, are still low in performance due to the low entrepreneurial orientation. Thus, in order to be able to improve their performance and to survive and compete in the domestic and international markets, MSME owners need to improve their entrepreneurial orientation. Further, entrepreneurial orientation with innovativeness, proactiveness, and risk-taking actions can improve the performance of the MSME. Different from other articles, this article expands the study and develops the discussion about the concept of innovativeness in entrepreneurial orientation theory by referring to innovative work behaviour as the key to the creation of innovation at the individual level, especially in the MSME sphere, to improve their performance.
Entrepreneurship Education in Higher Education and Government in Supporting New Entrepreneurs in Indonesia
Authors: Prabandari Sri Palupi , Kurniasari Irma , 'Adilla Nur
Published: November 2023

This article discusses the importance of entrepreneurship education and the role of universities and the government in fostering entrepreneurship in Indonesia. It explores the debate around the timing of entrepreneurship education, highlighting the benefits of introducing it at an earlier stage while emphasizing the value of university-level education. The article also presents reasons why Indonesia needs more entrepreneurs, including economic growth, job creation, innovation, regional development, and social impact. It identifies sectors with entrepreneurial opportunities and outlines the support systems provided by universities and the government. Lastly, it provides recommendations to strengthen entrepreneurship education, foster collaboration, streamline regulations, expand access to funding and resources, promote international exposure, and encourage social entrepreneurship and sustainability. Overall, this article emphasizes the need for continuous efforts to enhance the entrepreneurial ecosystem in Indonesia.
Knowledge Management Orientation as SME Resilience in Disruption Era
Authors: Susilowati Christin , Barinta Dunga Dwi
Published: November 2023

This article explores the challenges posed by the disruptive era in the business environment and the importance of adapting to change. It emphasizes the role of Knowledge Management Orientation (KMO) in improving company performance and resilience. The article discusses key components of KMO, including organizational memory, knowledge sharing, knowledge absorption, and knowledge receptivity. Practical strategies for implementing KMO are provided, highlighting the significance of knowledge retention for Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) to navigate the era of disruption successfully.
Social Entrepreneurship As Agent Of Change
Authors: Suryadi Nanang , Elmiani Haqu Imaning
Published: November 2023

The rapid growth of social entrepreneurship in Indonesia as a response to the country's social and environmental challenges. Social entrepreneurs, driven by a strong sense of being agents of change, aim to find innovative solutions to pressing issues such as poverty, education, health services, and renewable energy. They empower marginalized communities, create sustainable businesses, inspire others, influence systemic changes, and leverage technology and innovation. Notable examples of successful social enterprises in Indonesia, such as Kitabisa.com, Du Anyam, and Pandawara Group, demonstrate the positive impact of social entrepreneurship in various sectors. The increasing support and awareness surrounding social entrepreneurship hold the potential to inspire more entrepreneurs to drive positive change in Indonesian society.
Adapting to AI as a Tool of Operations Management in Society 5.0
Authors: Riandi Muhammad Hafiz
Published: November 2023

This paper explores the integration of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in operations management, highlighting its transformative impact on industries. It discusses the benefits and challenges of adopting AI in areas such as production planning, inventory control, supply chain management, and quality assurance through case studies. The paper proposes an 8-step model to guide organizations in implementing AI, emphasizing ethical considerations and collaboration. The future implications include IoT integration and predictive analytics. With careful planning, AI has the potential to revolutionize operations management and contribute to societal advancement.
Improving Customer Wellbeing and Loyalty in Culinary Tourism: Integrating Authenticity in Well-being – Loyalty Model
Authors: Puspaningrum Astrid , Hapsari Raditha
Published: November 2023

This study explores the relationship between tourism development, quality of life, and the success of marketing and management strategies in tourism destinations. It emphasizes the role of cultural identity and gastronomy in attracting tourists. Additionally, it focuses on the proliferation of themed cafes in Indonesia, examining how perceived authenticity, service quality, and experience quality influence visitors' satisfaction and revisit intention. The study also highlights the importance of subjective well-being and offers insights into the well-being-loyalty model in the context of thematic cafes.
Lucanian Pragmatism and the Manilian Cosmos
Authors: Sanderson Elaine C.
Published: November 2023

Lucan’s invocation to Nero (1.33-66) is notorious for its seemingly contradictory praise and condemnation of the emperor. While analyses of this passage often turn to Virgil’s Georgics (1.24-28, 489-497, 500-515) to begin to explain this inherent paradox, Grimal (2010) has demonstrated the importance of Manilius’ Astronomica as a cosmological framework for these lines which invites a more positive reading of Nero’s presentation here. By examining the presence of two Manilian models in Lucan’s invocation to Nero, their contributions to the Lucanian cosmos, and their consequences for our understanding of the options laid out for the emperor’s heavenly future, this study argues for a more pragmatic—even hopeful—reading of Nero’s apotheosis and the implications of this for Lucan’s commentary on the Neronian present.
Did Fully Fledged humanitas Exist before the Ciceronian Age?
Authors: Mollea Simon
Published: November 2023

This article investigates the relationship between the noun humanitas and the adjective humanus. In particular, it argues that literary evidence suggests that the comparative and the superlative of humanus are far more suitable than its positive grade to render the Greek ideas of παιδεία and/or φιλανθρωπία which are usually subsumed in the word humanitas. One of the main consequences of this is therefore that it might be hazardous to speak about the humanitas of authors who wrote before the comparative and the superlative of humanus, if not the word humanitas itself, were first attested. Crucial to this discussion are passages by Aulus Gellius, Terence, Cicero, Valerius Maximus and Ammianus, as well as some occurrences of the expressions studia humanitatis and studia humaniora we find in some Renaissance Humanists.
The Hymn to Delos and Callimachus’ Blame of Thebes
Authors: Boychenko Leanna
Published: November 2023

This article seeks to explain Callimachus’ blame of Thebes in the Hymn to Delos, arguing that Callimachus uses Apollo as a mouthpiece to voice the goals of his poetic project, signaling not only the influence of earlier Greek works—particularly Pindar’s Isthmian 1—but also his departure from these models. Moreover, Callimachus’ relationship with Pindar is more than simply literary, as shown through an intertextual reference that reveals a perceived familial tie, which helps explain Callimachus’ use of Pindar as a source. Callimachus’ blame of Thebes is a programmatic statement, demonstrating how Callimachus views his sources, his poetry, and himself.
Satire and Subversion in the Oracles of Ezekiel
Authors: Arthur David
Published: November 2023

Although functioning primarily as a priest and a prophet, Ezekiel frequently utilized literary devices drawn from the wisdom tradition. The end to which he applied the tools of the wise was, however, far from typical. Where the counsel of the sages generally emphasized prudence and conformity, Ezekiel deployed sapiential speech forms within a disruptive rhetorical strategy designed to subvert debased institutions, delusional cult ideology, and aggrandizing historical narrative. This essay examines two examples from the prophet’s extensive repertoire, highlighting his idiosyncratic but devastatingly effective use of satire.
The Philosophical Implications and Enlightenment of Xi Jinping’s View of Learning
Authors: Gao Yuan , Lin Yingna
Published: November 2023

With the rapid development of economic globalization, the world situation is ever-changing, and new things, new knowledge and new ideas are emerging all the time. Xi Jinping believes that learning is the way to pass on civilization, the ladder to grow in life, the foundation to consolidate political parties and the key to national prosperity. The Chinese nation is a nation that loves learning and is good at learning. The Communist Party of China is a political party that attaches great importance to learning and is good at learning. To create in learning, to develop in practice, the Communist Party of China regards learning as the inherent gene of its own development and the eternal subject of its own construction. It is significant for promoting cultural exchange and mutual appreciation.
Re-structuring Curriculum in Tertiary Institutions to Drive Sustainable Eco-civilization in China
Authors: Qiu Rongji , Zhu Xiaobin , Wang Songliang
Published: November 2023

In the strategic context of building a comprehensive ecologically civilized society as envisaged by the Communist Party and State Government of China, Eco-civilization education would become a mandatory new mission of the higher educational institutions in China. Linking the constructive postmodernism and ecological Marxism theories to eco-civilization, the purpose of the present essay is to restructure the higher education system for realizing the eco-civilized society in China via the literature integration methodology, the findings are as follows: (1) the goal of instituting the educational system of Eco-civilization in Chinese universities and colleges is to facilitate the culturing ecological literacy of the graduates; (2) the implementation of Eco-civilization education will create the graduates’ awareness, impart their requisite knowledge, and motivate them to adopt practices that promote Eco-civilization; and (3) the triple transitions of the higher education institutions in China to deliver on their missions as implementers of Eco-civilization education. Firstly, they must roll-out pragmatic programs to enhance students’ Eco-civilization conscious through the teaching Eco-civilization concepts as part of ideological and political courses. Secondly, they could also deepen students’ Eco-civilization knowledge by adjusting the teaching content and pedagogy of ecology courses. Finally, they could facilitate the Eco-civilization process by reinforcing behavioral reforms required to drive sustainable Eco-civilization and help positions these students as devoted ambassadors of Eco-civilization after graduation.
Are Algorithms Value-Free?
Authors: Johnson Gabbrielle M.
Published: November 2023

As inductive decision-making procedures, the inferences made by machine learning programs are subject to underdetermination by evidence and bear inductive risk. One strategy for overcoming these challenges is guided by a presumption in philosophy of science that inductive inferences can and should be value-free. Applied to machine learning programs, the strategy assumes that the influence of values is restricted to data and decision outcomes, thereby omitting internal value-laden design choice points. In this paper, I apply arguments from feminist philosophy of science to machine learning programs to make the case that the resources required to respond to these inductive challenges render critical aspects of their design constitutively value-laden. I demonstrate these points specifically in the case of recidivism algorithms, arguing that contemporary debates concerning fairness in criminal justice risk-assessment programs are best understood as iterations of traditional arguments from inductive risk and demarcation, and thereby establish the value-laden nature of automated decision-making programs. Finally, in light of these points, I address opportunities for relocating the value-free ideal in machine learning and the limitations that accompany them.
Objects of Pleasure
Authors: Campani Francesca
Published: November 2023

By exploring the connections between sexual science, anthropology, and material culture, this article sheds light on the role that the sexually-themed collection of the Italian anthropologist Paolo Mantegazza had in the development of scientific discourses on sexual behaviour between the nineteenth and twentieth centuries. First, it shows that, far from being an oddity, the collection was created with precise scientific intents and represents a central element in Mantegazza’s research. Second, it explains why the collection should be considered as the empirical transposition of Mantegazza’s sexual science. Third, it demonstrates how Mantegazza used material culture to reveal connections between the ways in which individuals across the globe experienced sexuality and sexual pleasure. Finally, it brings attention to how Mantegazza influenced the so-called “anthropological turn”—particularly on Iwan Bloch’s sexual science—by providing examples of non-pathologised perversions and claiming that the pursuit of pleasure was a fundamental human feature.
“Other than as illustration”
Authors: Pogliano Claudio
Published: November 2023

This article investigates the genesis and significance of the book published in 1967 by John Collier, Jr. (1913–1992), who proposed a new visual approach to anthropology. After an initiation into painting in the 1930s, he had switched to photography and was soon involved in undertakings that brought him into contact with other cultures. So he began to understand and use the camera as an eminently research technique. In a period of rampant modernization, he identified his mission in defending them from assimilation to the Western life model, and in enhancing their peculiar “energy.” The first section shows how the book was laboriously written and which reactions it aroused. Since Visual Anthropology resembles a travel report about visited places, the second section briefly recounts the experiences that led to its drafting. The third section follows Collier’s subsequent activity and outlines how the American anthropological community has since taken up his proposal.
International Perspectives on the Florentine Edition of Apollonius’ Conics
Authors: Tripepi Alessandro
Published: November 2023

In 1661 Giovanni Alfonso Borelli published his edition of the three hitherto lost books belonging to the treatise on Conics by the Hellenistic mathematician Apollonius of Perga. The long and complex editorial operation is here reconstructed drawing on an unpublished document which had not been redacted within the Florentine circles that promoted the editorial initiative, but rather in the Roman circles which provided indispensable support to the venture. The examined letter, written by the Roman intellectual Michelangelo Ricci to prince Leopoldo de’ Medici, allows us to assess the significance of the effort made by a large a team involving numerous scholars experts in geometry and philology; and it allows us also to emphasise the important international dimension of a work that—from its genesis to its dissemination—has been able to connect the whole Continent.
Bifidobacterium adolescentis – a beneficial microbe
Authors: Leser T. , Baker A.
Published: November 2023

Bifidobacterium adolescentis is one of the most abundant bifidobacterial species in the human large intestine, and is prevalent in 60-80% of healthy human adults with cell densities ranging from 109-1010 cells/g of faeces. Lower abundance is found in children and in elderly individuals. The species is evolutionary adapted to fermenting plant-derived glycans and is equipped with an extensive sugar transporter and degradation enzymes repertoire. Consequently, the species is strongly affected by dietary carbohydrates and is able to utilize a wide range of prebiotic molecules. B. adolescentis is specialized in metabolizing resistant starch and is considered a primary starch degrader enabling growth of other beneficial bacteria by cross-feeding. The major metabolic output is acetate and lactate in a ratio of 3:2. Several health-beneficial properties have been demonstrated in certain strains of B. adolescentis in vitro and in rodent models, including enhancement of the intestinal barrier function, anti-inflammatory and immune-regulatory effects, and the production of neurotransmitters (GABA), and vitamins. Although causalities have not been established, reduced abundance of B. adolescentis as part of a dysbiotic colonic microbiota in human observational studies has been associated with inflammatory bowel diseases, irritable bowel syndrome, coeliac disease, cystic fibrosis, Helicobacter pylori infection, type 1 and 2 diabetes, metabolic syndrome, nonalcoholic steatohepatitis, and certain allergies. It is therefore reasonable to conceive B. adolescentis as a health-associated, or even health-promoting bacterial species in humans.
La régulation des naissances dans la Pologne des années 1930. Une providence (ou la nature) raisonnée
Authors: Labbé Morgane
Published: November 2023

Durant l’entre-deux-guerres, la Pologne est décrite dans les travaux démographiques et les congrès internationaux comme un pays surpeuplé, où, selon des raisonnements malthusiens, la « loi de la nature » voue l’accroissement de la population à des issues fatales. Cet article décrit comment, dans les années 1930, deux nouveaux courants vont lever la trappe malthusienne. L’un au sein de la démographie, suivant une nouvelle approche biologique de la reproduction, lance une enquête sur la natalité qui saisit la diffusion des pratiques anticonceptionnelles. L’autre porté par des militants réunissant des activistes pour l’émancipation des femmes, la liberté sexuelle, et contre la pénalisation de l’avortement, revendique le contrôle des naissances. Dans les deux cas, les termes malthusiens sont remplacés : la biologie est substituée à la nature, la régulation « consciente » des naissances à la fécondité naturelle non contrôlée. Les milieux catholiques qui opposent méthodes naturelle et artificielle, défendent l’adoption par les femmes de la nouvelle méthode Ogino, avec celle-ci s’entre-ouvre la possibilité d’une nature régulée.
Précis of Disagreement, Deference, and Religious Commitment
Authors: Pittard John
Published: November 2023

This paper summarizes Disagreement, Deference, and Religious Commitment. The book’s central question is whether confident (ir)religious commitment can be rationally maintained in the face of systematic religious disagreement. Part i develops an account of the epistemic significance of disagreement and considers the implications of this account for religious belief. This part argues against the commitment of “strong conciliationists” to a rigorous form of epistemic impartiality, a commitment that underlies the strongest argument for disagreement-motivated religious skepticism. Part ii considers the implications for religious commitment if the impartiality constraint favored by strong conciliationists is correct. It is argued that the commitment to epistemic impartiality does not clearly support religious skepticism. However, such a commitment does induce a thoroughgoing normative uncertainty that arguably prevents one from rationally pursuing a religious (or explicitly irreligious) way of life.
The Cypriot Mountain Fortresses and the Protection of the Rural Inhabitants of Venice’s Sixteenth-Century Colonies
Authors: Arbel Benjamin
Published: November 2023

After the Ottoman conquest of Cyprus in 1571, the contemporary Cypriot writer Étienne de Lusignan asserted that Venice had destroyed the three mountain fortresses of St Hilarion, Buffavento, and Kantara located in northern Cyprus, a claim that has often been repeated since then. The present article reinforces the author’s earlier argument that this claim was and still is part of an anti-Venetian “black legend.” The absence of any reference to such a destruction in Venetian government papers and the description of these fortresses in contemporary writings as still erect confirm this argument. The article also presents the recurrent appearance in Venetian government circles of the use of these fortresses as protected sites aimed at accommodating a great number of non-belligerent inhabitants of the island’s rural areas during a potential invasion. In particular, in 1561 a senior patrician, Marchiò Michiel, argued for the Republic’s obligation towards the non-belligerent Cypriots, a preoccupation he had already expressed for Corfu in 1559 at the end of his service as governor of that island. There are indications that Michiel’s Cypriot project was put into effect, at least to some extent, during the War of Cyprus (1570-1571). Four Appendices contain transcriptions of pertinent Venetian texts.
Beyond Reasonable Doubt at its Worst – But Also at its Potential Best: Dissecting Ireland v the United Kingdom’s No-Torture Finding
Authors: Dembour Marie-Bénédicte
Published: November 2023

Beyond reasonable doubt (brd) is arguably the Strasbourg Court’s default standard of proof. This favours the respondent state over the applicant, though less starkly so if inferences are allowed. In the foundational Irish Case of 1978, the Court accepted inferences – in theory. In practice, it drew no inference, even omitting to mention crucial facts. brd emerged as a tool of raison-d’état-turned-raison-de-Cour, apparently used to avoid the politically sensitive finding that the United Kingdom had tortured ira suspects during ‘the Troubles’. In 2018, as the Court refused to revise the no-torture finding, ‘disingenuous brd’ remained hovering: requiring direct, unattainable certainty, the Court illogically doubted the significance of declassified British documents indicating torture. brd, however, exists also in a ‘virtuous’ form, already present in Ireland’s original pronouncements. But for the Court’s fear of upsetting states and concomitant reluctance to apply brd according to its self-enunciated principles, brd at Strasbourg could be normatively sound.
Terrorism Challenges and Its Distinct Manifestations in Kyrgyzstan
Authors: Kadyrkulov Idris
Published: November 2023

Central Asia is confronted with an escalating menace of international terrorism and religious extremism, with the Kyrgyz Republic emerging as a significant focal point in this context. This article offers a concise historical perspective on terrorist incidents in the region, delving into the underlying causes and motivations driving the proliferation of terrorist and religious extremist ideologies within Kyrgyzstan. The article also underscores the distinct role played by disputed territories among the countries in this region. Furthermore, it examines the legal dimensions of state-level efforts to combat terrorism and extremism, along with the initiatives undertaken by international organizations in addressing this global predicament.
The Impact of Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Surveillance Technology on the Well-being of the Children of Immigrants
Authors: Martinez-Aranda Mirian G.
Published: November 2023

While existing scholarship examines how Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) electronic monitors (EMs) harm immigrants, less is known about the effects of these surveillance technologies on their children. Based on interviews and ethnographic observations with 39 Latin American immigrant parents monitored via EM between 2015 and 2018 in Los Angeles, California, this study asks: How do ICE’s EMs operate as surveillance tools that spill over to impact parent–child relationships and children’s well-being as their parent’s experience criminalization, punishment, and exclusion? The findings demonstrate that this supposedly “humane” alternative to detention and deportation is responsible for distinct childhood distress. Specifically, EMs impact children’s well-being in two ways: by producing fear that parents will be apprehended and deported and by functioning as visual stigmas that signal criminality and engender shame and anger. EMs also deteriorate the quality of children’s relationships in two ways: by inflicting stress and fear upon parents and by contracting children’s social networks because parents shackled to EMs often become a liability to co-ethnic community members.
Managing Grief for Pharmacy Leaders
Authors: Genna Geoffry A. , Hill John D. , Achey Thomas S.
Published: November 2023

Grief is everywhere and affects individuals and teams in many different ways. The negative effects may not only be felt by the individual, but they can disrupt a team or an entire organization. While grief is common, understanding how to interact with others who are grieving is not. As leaders within healthcare institutions, pharmacists encounter many individuals and teams that are experiencing grief. The sources of grief can arise from pharmacy team members, other healthcare providers, patients, or our own personal experiences. This literature review introduces grief, where it comes from, and how it is emotionally and physically expressed in individuals. It discusses grief’s disruptive nature and how to effectively communicate with those grieving to limit disturbances to individual, team, and organizational performance. Understanding what grief is, how it manifests in individuals and teams, and how to navigate a grieving workplace are vital skills for pharmacy leaders and will enable a more productive workplace.