bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Acute moderate normobaric hypoxia does not modify circulating thyroid hormone concentrations induced by 1 h of head-out cold-water immersion
Authors: Keeler Jason M. , Greenshields Joel T. , Goss Curtis S. , Baker Tyler B. , Chapman Robert F. , Johnson Blair D. , Schlader Zachary J.
Published: April 2024

Acute head-out cold (22°C) water immersion (HOWI) decreased core temperature and increased thermogenesis. This thermogenic response was paralleled by the activation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-thyroid axis, as evidenced by changes in thyroid hormones. However, cold HOWI in combination with moderate normobaric hypoxia did not modify the thermogenic nor the circulating thyroid hormone response. This finding suggests that hypoxia-induced alterations in thyroid hormone concentrations are unlikely to acutely contribute to adaptations resulting from repeated cold-water exposures.
Neuronal glucose sensing mechanisms and circuits in the control of insulin and glucagon secretion
Authors: Thorens Bernard
Published: April 2024

Glucose homeostasis is mainly under the control of the pancreatic islet hormones insulin and glucagon, which, respectively, stimulate glucose uptake and utilization by liver, fat, and muscle and glucose production by the liver. The balance between the secretions of these hormones is under the control of blood glucose concentrations. Indeed, pancreatic islet β-cells and α-cells can sense variations in glycemia and respond by an appropriate secretory response. However, the secretory activity of these cells is also under multiple additional metabolic, hormonal, and neuronal signals that combine to ensure the perfect control of glycemia over a lifetime. The central nervous system (CNS), which has an almost absolute requirement for glucose as a source of metabolic energy and thus a vital interest in ensuring that glycemic levels never fall below ∼5 mM, is equipped with populations of neurons responsive to changes in glucose concentrations. These neurons control pancreatic islet cell secretion activity in multiple ways: through both branches of the autonomic nervous system, through the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis, and by secreting vasopressin (AVP) in the blood at the level of the posterior pituitary. Here, we present the autonomic innervation of the pancreatic islets; the mechanisms of neuron activation by a rise or a fall in glucose concentration; how current viral tracing, chemogenetic, and optogenetic techniques allow integration of specific glucose sensing neurons in defined neuronal circuits that control endocrine pancreas function; and, finally, how genetic screens in mice can untangle the diversity of the hypothalamic mechanisms controlling the response to hypoglycemia.
Implementation of Bioelectrical Impedance Measuring Instrument Based on Embedded System
Authors: Pawar Charu , Khan Munna , Saini Jai Prakash , Singh Dev , Bhardwaj Manish , Hu Yu-Chen
Published: April 2024

The present research aims to measure the segmental bioelectrical impedance (BI) of the human body at multifrequency, using a server user interface-based prototype, which provides subjects with measured data online anywhere accessed by their unique identifications. The present research measures the BI of the human leg and arm at a multifrequency range of 50–400 kHz with a developed and standard device. Recorded data can be transferred to the subject using Wi-Fi technology with their unique identifications and password. The system uses Wi-Fi interfacing for real-time data measurement and online data storage. The prototype can be used commercially. The compact size of the prototype becomes the demand of the common population. The pocket carry size makes it easy to carry anywhere for regular monitoring of the human body to prevent critical disease. The resultant data show that the mean and standard deviation of the left and right leg are 282.2 ± 14.29 and 274.80 ± 13.91 Ω, respectively. Similarly, in the case of the left arm and right arm, the mean and standard deviation are 325.41 ± 16.54 and 320.73 ± 16.07 Ω, respectively. The relative error between developed and standard devices is 3.53%. Results show that the left leg and arm impedance is always greater. However, the right leg and arm muscles are stronger than the left one, with less impedance at all frequencies.
Highly Semiconducting One‐Dimensional Porous ZnO Nanorod Array Nanogenerators for Mechanical Energy Harvesting Functions
Authors: Lee Dong Jin , Kumar Ganesan Mohan , Kim Deuk Young , Ilanchezhiyan Pugazhendi
Published: April 2024

The development of energy harvesters based on inexpensive inorganic materials has attracted considerable attention to envisage next‐generation self‐powered electronic devices. In this work, we presented surface modification of ZnO nanorods (NRs) by thermochemical reaction using photoresist (PR) as an etching source. The morphological and microstructural properties of surface‐etched ZnO NRs (M: ZnO) were systematically studied in detail through SEM and HRTEM. The morphological results show that the surface‐etched NRs possess nanofiber‐like porous structures and are penetrated throughout the NRs with high surface area. We fabricated triboelectric nanogenerators (TENG) using M: ZnO NRs with poly (dimethylsiloxane) (PDMS) as negative triboelectric material and mica as positive triboelectric material. The prepared M: ZnO NR TENG successfully delivered an output voltage of up to 20 V and a current density of 3.2 μA cm−2, which is ∼1.5 times higher than those observed for smooth ZnO NRs, respectively. The prepared M: ZnO NR TENG device can be able to lit 24 red light‐emitting diodes (LEDs) as the power source. Finally, to demonstrate the practical applications of M: ZnO NR TENG, it was attached to the human body (elbow, knee, wrist, and heel) and efficiently harvested the energy from daily human activities.
Antimicrobial Susceptibility Profiles of Klebsiella pneumoniae Strains Collected from Clinical Samples in a Hospital in Southern Italy
Authors: Santella Biagio , Boccella Mariarosaria , Folliero Veronica , Iervolino Domenico , Pagliano Pasquale , Fortino Luigi , Serio Bianca , Vozzella Emilia Anna , Schiavo Luigi , Galdiero Massimiliano , Capunzo Mario , Boccia Giovanni , Franci Gianluigi
Published: April 2024

Infections caused by antibiotic-resistant bacteria represent a serious threat to global public health. Recently, due to its increased resistance to carbapenems and β-lactams, Klebsiella pneumoniae has become one of the main causes of septicemia, pneumonia, and urinary tract infections. It is crucial to take immediate action and implement effective measures to prevent further spread of this issue. This study aims to report the prevalence and antibiotic resistance rates of K. pneumoniae strains isolated from clinical specimens from 2015 to 2020 at the University Hospital of Salerno, Italy. More than 3,800 isolates were collected from urine cultures, blood cultures, respiratory samples, and others. K. pneumoniae isolates showed broad resistance to penicillin and cephalosporins, and increased susceptibility to fosfomycin and gentamicin. Extended spectrum beta-lactamase (ESBL) isolates accounted for 20–22%. A high percentage of strains tested were resistant to carbapenems, with an average of 40% to meropenem and 44% to ertapenem. The production of ESBLs and resistance to carbapenems is one of the major public health problems. Constant monitoring of drug-resistant isolates is crucial for developing practical approaches in implementing antimicrobial therapy and reducing the spread of K. pneumoniae in nosocomial environments.
A Branch-and-Price Algorithm for an Integrated Online and Offline Retailing Distribution System with Product Return
Authors: Jie Wanchen , Pei Cheng , Xu Jiating , Yan Hong
Published: April 2024

This study identifies critical inefficiencies within a dual-channel operation model employed by a fast fashion company, particularly the independent operation of three logistics distribution systems. These systems result in high operational costs and low resource utilization, primarily due to redundant vehicle dispatches to meet the distinct demands of retail store replenishment, online customer orders, and customer return demands, as well as random and scattered return requests leading to vehicle underutilization. To address these challenges, we propose a novel integrated logistics distribution system design and management method tailored for dual-channel sales and distribution businesses. The approach consolidates the three distribution systems into one cohesive framework, thus streamlining the delivery process and reducing vehicle trips by combining retail and customer visits. An optimization algorithm is introduced to factor in inventory and distribution distance, aiming to achieve global optimization in pairing retail store inventory with online customer orders and unifying the distribution of replenishment products, online products, and returned products. The paper contributes to the field by introducing a new variation of the Vehicle Routing Problem (VRP) that arises from an integrated distribution system, combining common VRP issues with more complex challenges. A custom Branch-and-Price (B&P) algorithm is developed to efficiently find optimal routes. Furthermore, we demonstrate the benefits of the integrated system over traditional, segregated systems through real-world data analysis and assess various factors including return rates and inventory conditions. The study also enhances the model by allowing inventory transfers between retail stores, improving inventory distribution balance, and offering solutions for scenarios with critically low inventory levels. Our findings highlight a significant reduction in total operating cost savings of up to 49.9% and vehicle usage when using the integrated distribution system compared to independent two-stage and three-stage systems. The integrated approach enables the utilization of vacant vehicle space and the dynamic selection and combination of tasks, preventing unnecessary mileage and space wastage. Notably, the integration of inventory sharing among retail stores has proven to be a key factor in generating feasible solutions under tight inventory conditions and reducing operational costs and vehicle numbers, with the benefits amplified in large-scale problem instances.
TABLE 2 from Impact of Surgery-Induced Myeloid-derived Suppressor Cells and the NOX2/ROS Axis on Postoperative Survival in Human Pancreatic Cancer
Authors: Grauers Wiktorin Hanna , Aydin Ebru , Kiffin Roberta , Vilhav Caroline , Bourghardt Fagman Johan , Kaya Mustafa , Paul Sanchari , Westman Beatrice , Bratlie Svein Olav , Naredi Peter , Hellstrand Kristoffer , Martner Anna
Published: April 2024

Cox regression analysis of absolute numbers of M-MDSC and frequency of NKp30high of CD16+ NK cells on overall survival in patients with periampullary cancer before (preoperative) and at different days after (days 1, 3–5, 28) surgery. Covariates with impact on overall survival in univariable analysis (P-values <0.15) were included in multivariable analysis
Figure S2 from Impact of Surgery-Induced Myeloid-derived Suppressor Cells and the NOX2/ROS Axis on Postoperative Survival in Human Pancreatic Cancer
Authors: Grauers Wiktorin Hanna , Aydin Ebru , Kiffin Roberta , Vilhav Caroline , Bourghardt Fagman Johan , Kaya Mustafa , Paul Sanchari , Westman Beatrice , Bratlie Svein Olav , Naredi Peter , Hellstrand Kristoffer , Martner Anna
Published: April 2024

Expression of CD86, HLA-ABC and PD-L1 on M-MDSC before and after surgery
Low-Level Laser Therapy for Allergic Rhinitis: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
Authors: Rajai Firouzabadi Shahryar , Mohammadi Ida , Aarabi Aryan , Sadraei Samin
Published: April 2024

Introduction: Allergic rhinitis (AR) is a common allergic disorder that impairs social and physical functioning as well as quality of life. It is characterized by sneezing, rhinorrhea, congestion, and itching which respond suboptimally to drug therapy. Low-level laser therapy (LLLT) has anti-inflammatory and immunosuppressive properties that have shown promise in some studies. We aimed to systematically review LLLT’s effectiveness in treating AR and meta-analyze our findings. Methods: A systematic search of PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science was conducted on November 24, 2023. All studies investigating LLLT on AR were included, and a pre-post meta-analysis of nasal symptoms (rhinorrhea, nasal congestion, nasal itching, and sneezing) in the LLLT-treated arm was conducted. Rhinoconjunctivitis quality of life questionnaire (RQLQ) scores before and after LLLT were also meta-analyzed alongside a pairwise meta-analysis of LLLT with placebo, acupuncture, steroids/antihistamines, and ultraviolet lasers. A random-effects model was used with a conservative pre-post correlation of 0.4 and standardized mean difference (SMD) as the effect size. Results: Sixteen studies were included in this review, and we found that nasal symptoms are alleviated post-LLLT in people with AR (SMD: −1.4, 95 CI: [−2.07 to −1.13], p value <0.001). RQLQ scores were also reduced after LLLT (SMD = −0.72, 95 CI: [−0.94 to −0.50], p value <0.001), and very few adverse events were reported. This meta-analysis, however, had significant publication bias and heterogeneity. When compared to a placebo, LLLT did not significantly improve nasal symptoms (SMD: −0.69, p value = 0.167), which might mean the post-LLLT nasal symptom alleviation is due to a placebo effect. Comparisons to other treatment modalities were too few to deduce anything meaningful, although it does appear that LLLT is less effective than UV lasers. Conclusion: LLLT is most likely effective at alleviating nasal symptomology and has a low likelihood of adverse event incidence, yet more high-quality studies with larger sample sizes are needed to compare LLLT to a placebo to ensure its superiority to the placebo effect, as well as non-inferiority clinical trials to compare it to standard treatments.
Neuropsychiatric Profiles and Cerebral Amyloid Burden in Adults without Dementia
Authors: Gontrum Eva Q. , Paolillo Emily W. , Lee Shannon , Diaz Valentina , Ehrenberg Alexander , Saloner Rowan , Mundada Nidhi S. , La Joie Renaud , Rabinovici Gil , Kramer Joel H. , Casaletto Kaitlin B.
Published: April 2024

Introduction: We comprehensively evaluated how self- and informant-reported neuropsychiatric symptoms (NPS) were differentially associated with cerebral amyloid-beta (Aβ) PET levels in older adults without dementia. Methods: Two hundred and twenty-one participants (48% female, age = 73.4 years ± 8.4, Clinical Dementia Rating = 0 [n = 184] or 0.5 [n = 37]) underwent an Aβ-PET scan (florbetapir or PIB), comprehensive neuropsychological testing, and self-reported (Geriatric Depression Scale – 30 item [GDS-30]) and informant-reported interview (Neuropsychiatric Inventory Questionnaire [NPI-Q]) of NPS. Cerebral Aβ burden was quantified using centiloids (CL). NPI-Q and GDS-30 queried the presence of NPS within 4 subdomains and 6 subscales, respectively. Regression models examined the relationship between NPS and Aβ-PET CL. Results: Both higher self- and informant-reported NPS were associated with higher Aβ burden. Among specific NPI-Q subdomains, informant-reported changes in depression, anxiety, and irritability were all associated with higher Aβ-PET. Similarly, self-reported (GDS-30) subscales of depression, apathy, anxiety, and cognitive concern were associated with higher Aβ-PET. When simultaneously entered, only self-reported cognitive concern was associated with Aβ-PET in the GDS-30 model, while both informant-reported anxiety and depression were associated with Aβ-PET in the NPI-Q model. Clinical status moderated the association between self-reported NPS and Aβ-PET such that the positive relationship between self-perceived NPS and Aβ burden strengthened with increasing functional difficulties. Conclusions: In a cohort of older adults without dementia, both self- and informant-reported measures of global NPS, particularly patient-reported cognitive concerns and informant-reported anxiety and depression, corresponded with cerebral Aβ burden. NPS may appear early in the prodromal disease state and relate to initial AD proteinopathy burden, a relationship further exaggerated in those with greater clinical severity.
Trans-Cardiac Gradient of Secretoneurin in Patients with Takotsubo Syndrome
Authors: Røsjø Helge , Solberg Ole Geir , Aaberge Lars , Bosse Gerhard , Omland Torbjørn , Stavem Knut , Myhre Peder L.
Published: April 2024

Introduction: Secretoneurin (SN) is a novel biomarker that provides prognostic information in patients with cardiovascular disease. In experimental models, SN production is increased in the failing myocardium. Currently, no information is available on SN production in human myocardium. Accordingly, we wanted to determine the trans-cardiac gradient of SN in patients with Takotsubo syndrome (TTS), and to correlate circulating SN concentrations with indices of cardiac structure and function. Methods: We included 15 women diagnosed with TTS according to established criteria. Plasma SN concentrations were measured in blood samples obtained simultaneously from the aortic root and the coronary sinus. Coronary physiology was assessed by invasive measurements, and we used cardiac magnetic resonance imaging to determine left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) and cardiac mass. Results: Median age was 65 years and median LVEF was 45%. Median SN concentration was 39 (25th–75th percentile 31–44) pmol/L in the coronary sinus and 37 (30–41) pmol/L in the aortic root (p = 0.02 for difference). SN concentrations in the aortic root showed the highest correlations with N-terminal B-type natriuretic peptide (rho = 0.47) and estimated glomerular filtration rate (rho = −0.41). In contrast, we found weak correlations between SN concentrations and index of myocardial resistance (rho = 0.12), LVEF (rho = 0.08), and cardiac mass (rho = −0.09). Conclusion: We demonstrate a positive trans-cardiac gradient of SN in patients with TTS, which supports the hypothesis that SN is produced and released in the human myocardium in situations of myocardial dysfunction and stress.
Mild Hypoxia Accelerates Cerebral Cavernous Malformation Disease Through CX3CR1-CX3CL1 Signaling
Authors: Frias-Anaya Eduardo , Gallego-Gutierrez Helios , Gongol Brendan , Weinsheimer Shantel , Lai Catherine Chinhchu , Orecchioni Marco , Sriram Aditya , Bui Cassandra M. , Nelsen Bliss , Hale Preston , Pham Angela , Shenkar Robert , DeBiasse Dorothy , Lightle Rhonda , Girard Romuald , Li Ying , Srinath Abhinav , Daneman Richard , Nudleman Eric , Sun Hao , Guma Monica , Dubrac Alexandre , Mesarwi Omar A. , Ley Klaus , Kim Helen , Awad Issam A. , Ginsberg Mark H. , Lopez-Ramirez Miguel Alejandro
Published: April 2024

BACKGROUND:

Heterogeneity in the severity of cerebral cavernous malformations (CCMs) disease, including brain bleedings and thrombosis that cause neurological disabilities in patients, suggests that environmental, genetic, or biological factors act as disease modifiers. Still, the underlying mechanisms are not entirely understood. Here, we report that mild hypoxia accelerates CCM disease by promoting angiogenesis, neuroinflammation, and vascular thrombosis in the brains of CCM mouse models.

METHODS:

We used genetic studies, RNA sequencing, spatial transcriptome, micro–computed tomography, fluorescence-activated cell sorting, multiplex immunofluorescence, coculture studies, and imaging techniques to reveal that sustained mild hypoxia via the CX3CR1-CX3CL1 (CX3C motif chemokine receptor 1/chemokine [CX3C motif] ligand 1) signaling pathway influences cell-specific neuroinflammatory interactions, contributing to heterogeneity in CCM severity.

RESULTS:

Histological and expression profiles of CCM neurovascular lesions (

Slco1c1-iCreERT2;Pdcd10
fl/fl
; Pdcd10
BECKO

) in male and female mice found that sustained mild hypoxia (12% O
2
, 7 days) accelerates CCM disease. Our findings indicate that a small reduction in oxygen levels can significantly increase angiogenesis, neuroinflammation, and thrombosis in CCM disease by enhancing the interactions between endothelium, astrocytes, and immune cells. Our study indicates that the interactions between CX3CR1 and CX3CL1 are crucial in the maturation of CCM lesions and propensity to CCM immunothrombosis. In particular, this pathway regulates the recruitment and activation of microglia and other immune cells in CCM lesions, which leads to lesion growth and thrombosis. We found that human CX3CR1 variants are linked to lower lesion burden in familial CCMs, proving it is a genetic modifier in human disease and a potential marker for aggressiveness. Moreover, monoclonal blocking antibody against CX3CL1 or reducing 1 copy of the
Cx3cr1
gene significantly reduces hypoxia-induced CCM immunothrombosis.

CONCLUSIONS:

Our study reveals that interactions between CX3CR1 and CX3CL1 can modify CCM neuropathology when lesions are accelerated by environmental hypoxia. Moreover, a hypoxic environment or hypoxia signaling caused by CCM disease influences the balance between neuroinflammation and neuroprotection mediated by CX3CR1-CX3CL1 signaling. These results establish
CX3CR1
as a genetic marker for patient stratification and a potential predictor of CCM aggressiveness.
Interactions Between HDL and CD4+ T Cells: A Novel Understanding of HDL Anti-Inflammatory Properties
Authors: Atehortua Laura , Davidson W. Sean , Chougnet Claire A.
Published: April 2024

Several studies in animal models and human cohorts have recently suggested that HDLs (high-density lipoproteins) not only modulate innate immune responses but also adaptative immune responses, particularly CD4+ T cells. CD4+ T cells are central effectors and regulators of the adaptive immune system, and any alterations in their homeostasis contribute to the pathogenesis of cardiovascular diseases, autoimmunity, and inflammatory diseases. In this review, we focus on how HDLs and their components affect CD4+ T-cell homeostasis by modulating cholesterol efflux, immune synapsis, proliferation, differentiation, oxidative stress, and apoptosis. While the effects of apoB-containing lipoproteins on T cells have been relatively well established, this review focuses specifically on new connections between HDL and CD4+ T cells. We present a model where HDL may modulate T cells through both direct and indirect mechanisms.
Heat and Cardiovascular Mortality: An Epidemiological Perspective
Authors: Singh Nidhi , Areal Ashtyn Tracy , Breitner Susanne , Zhang Siqi , Agewall Stefan , Schikowski Tamara , Schneider Alexandra
Published: April 2024

As global temperatures rise, extreme heat events are projected to become more frequent and intense. Extreme heat causes a wide range of health effects, including an overall increase in morbidity and mortality. It is important to note that while there is sufficient epidemiological evidence for heat-related increases in all-cause mortality, evidence on the association between heat and cause-specific deaths such as cardiovascular disease (CVD) mortality (and its more specific causes) is limited, with inconsistent findings. Existing systematic reviews and meta-analyses of epidemiological studies on heat and CVD mortality have summarized the available evidence. However, the target audience of such reviews is mainly limited to the specific field of environmental epidemiology. This overarching perspective aims to provide health professionals with a comprehensive overview of recent epidemiological evidence of how extreme heat is associated with CVD mortality. The rationale behind this broad perspective is that a better understanding of the effect of extreme heat on CVD mortality will help CVD health professionals optimize their plans to adapt to the changes brought about by climate change and heat events. To policymakers, this perspective would help formulate targeted mitigation, strengthen early warning systems, and develop better adaptation strategies. Despite the heterogeneity in evidence worldwide, due in part to different climatic conditions and population dynamics, there is a clear link between heat and CVD mortality. The risk has often been found to be higher in vulnerable subgroups, including older people, people with preexisting conditions, and the socioeconomically deprived. This perspective also highlights the lack of evidence from low- and middle-income countries and focuses on cause-specific CVD deaths. In addition, the perspective highlights the temporal changes in heat-related CVD deaths as well as the interactive effect of heat with other environmental factors and the potential biological pathways. Importantly, these various aspects of epidemiological studies have never been fully investigated and, therefore, the true extent of the impact of heat on CVD deaths remains largely unknown. Furthermore, this perspective also highlights the research gaps in epidemiological studies and the potential solutions to generate more robust evidence on the future consequences of heat on CVD deaths.
Toward a Green Energy System: How Does Carbon Capture,  Utilization,  and Storage Technology Innovation Promote Green Total Factor Productivity?
Authors: Dong Kangyin , Wang Jianda , Zhao Congyu , Taghizadeh-Hesary Farhad , Phoumin Han
Published: April 2024

Using a panel data set from 2007 to 2019, we empirically evaluate the impact of carbon capture, utilization, and storage (CCUS) technology innovation on green total factor productivity (GTFP). The findings show that (1) CCUS technology innovation significantly improves GTFP. (2) CCUS technology innovation significantly contributes to GTFP by promoting industrial structure upgrading and carbon emissions efficiency. (3) Environmental regulation plays a positive moderating role in the nexus between CCUS technology innovation and GTFP. The findings of this paper provide guidance for China to achieve green energy transition and build a green energy system.
Technological Progress and Wage Share of Old Workers
Authors: Park Donghyun , Shin Kwanho
Published: April 2024

Technological progress may be less beneficial for older workers than younger workers. In this paper, we empirically examine the relationship between technological change and the wage share of old workers. More specifically, we look at five different types of technological advancement using data from 30 European and Asian countries at the forefront of global population aging. Our findings indicate that recent technological developments centered on information and communication technology, software, and robots do not adversely affect old workers. One possible explanation is that old workers may be more open to and capable of learning new technologies than widely presumed.
Histories of Ancient Israel: Present State and Future Potential
Authors: Leonard-Fleckman Mahri
Published: April 2024

This review considers the state of historical studies of ancient Israel in light of the publication of two recent books on the subject. While this recent scholarship nuances and advances our understanding of the history of the southern Levant, it also reveals ongoing methodological tensions due to the field’s long-running commitments to post-Enlightenment, European (especially German) approaches to the historical analysis of biblical texts. Simultaneously, these two histories point towards some productive ways in which we might move forward in the study of the history of ancient Israel. These productive potentials include reevaluating our historical methods across specialties and approaches and seeking alternative approaches to history writing that make space for fragmentation, multiplicity, and irresolution.
Jesus the Spirit Baptizer
Authors: Macchia Frank D.
Published: April 2024

In pouring forth the Spirit, Christ fulfills his mission to baptize others “in the Holy Spirit.” In so doing, he also opens himself to history, to his ecclesial and cosmic identity, in a new way, but in a way that is faithful to that which has gone before. Though fundamentally defined by his own sojourn in the Spirit to Pentecost as the divine Son of his Father in flesh, victorious over sin and death, he is now, at Pentecost, to be experienced in contextually diverse ways. Pentecost is therefore the pivot point from the Christ as bearer of the Spirit who gave himself for the salvation of the world to Christ as the one who pours forth the Spirit so as to take humanity in all of its diversity up into the divine communion. In what follows I will attempt to sketch in broad strokes my thoughts on Christology.
The Supply of Digital Authoritarianism to Africa: an Empirical Study
Authors: Achinivu Chibuzo
Published: April 2024

Over the last two decades, there has been a remarkable increase in the practice of digital authoritarianism in Africa. Yet researchers remain divided as to the drivers of this trend, especially as it relates to its international origins. Some scholars have portrayed China as a foreign supply-side driver of the technologies and the practice of digital authoritarianism in Africa. However, others argue that such origins are overstated, contending that little evidence exists for a direct role of China in Africa’s increasing turn towards digital authoritarianism. In this paper, I use a norm diffusion and order project approach to propose and test an innovative theory of China’s strategic supply of its model of digital authoritarianism to Africa. China, I argue, supplies such technologies and expertise to Africa to shape international norms in a manner that favors its geopolitical goals. Consequently, I hypothesize that the more likely an African country is a regional norm diffuser, the more likely it will be that China supplies it with its model of digital authoritarianism. To test this theory, I conduct a statistical panel analysis of African countries for the years 2000–2020. My results confirm my hypothesis and present novel findings that have implications for technology governance, African politics, China’s rise, and China’s strategic contestation of international norms.
Education and Democracy in Sub-Saharan Africa
Authors: Grimmer Lasse
Published: April 2024

The relationship between education and democracy has been empirically researched since the late 1950s, with most evidence stemming from global datasets. Initial results showed no relationship between education and democracy after looking at the within-country estimation. But, as more advanced statistical methods emerged, addressing endogeneity problems of the within-country estimation, a statistically significant relationship between education, measured through average years of total schooling, and democracy appeared. However, all studies have looked at the association broadly, and only a handful have applied this nexus to the context of Sub-Saharan Africa. By creating a new dataset incorporating thirty countries, this study shows that education is statistically significantly associated with democracy in Sub-Saharan Africa. Results are robust to multiple other covariates and mirror the ones reported in the academic literature. This study echoes the continued focus on education, especially in light of recent developments and multiple organisations announcing that democracy declined worldwide.
The Multitude, the People, and Popular Sovereignty: Pufendorf and Locke in Reply to Hobbes
Authors: Harris James
Published: April 2024

In the early iterations of his political thought, The Elements of Law and De Cive, Hobbes proposed a new account of the nature of the people. In Section 2 I describe Pufendorf’s critical response. Pufendorf’s theory of the people is a neglected aspect of the political argument of the De Jure. Just as neglected is Locke’s theory of the people in Two Treatises of Government, though there is better reason for neglect in Locke’s case, in so far as he fails in his major work of political philosophy to present anything resembling a theory of the people at all. In Section 3 I bring Locke’s thinking about the people into clearer focus. In the concluding Section 4 I explore some of the weaknesses of his position.
Curricular Conundrum: The Jesuit Ratio studiorum and Mary Ward’s Attempts to Balance Latin, Prayer, and Lace
Authors: Brown Laura Feitzinger
Published: April 2024

The 1599 Jesuit Ratio Studiorum effectively organized its educational mission. Catholic Englishwoman Mary Ward (1585–1645) adapted the Ratio as she sought to build a new order for women based on the Jesuit rule and open Catholic schools for girls across Europe. Despite remarkable success, she faced increasing opposition from Jesuits and other leaders. Scholars have explored objections raised against her schools; however, little research addresses objections to teaching girls Latin. In this article, I argue that Ward’s attempts to teach Latin ran into subtle cultural complications because of gendered expectations regarding the language’s uses and abuses, conflicts over time devoted to prayer, and parental and societal expectations regarding young women’s acquisition of handwork skills. Exploring these complications helps illuminate not only Ward’s adaptation of the Jesuit approach to teaching but also nuances in her own spirituality, especially regarding the relationship between active and contemplative lives.
Nutritional composition of three edible caterpillars in the Democratic Republic of Congo
Authors: Numbi G.M. , Kambashi B.M. , Bindelle J. , Francis F. , Megido R.C.
Published: April 2024

The role of edible caterpillars in human nutrition is increasingly undeniable, given their contribution to food security, especially in sub-Saharan Africa. However, some local species are almost unknown and the lack of data on their nutritional composition limits the integration of consumption in consumer diets. This article therefore focuses on the nutritional profiles of three edible caterpillar species from DR-Congo: Aegocera rectilinea, Epidonta sp and Imbrasia truncata. Data on protein content and amino acid profiles were discussed, with particular emphasis on threonine, lysine, methionine, cysteine and histidine; fat content and fatty acid profiles were examined, with particular attention to omega-6 and omega-3 fatty acids and the PUFA/SFA ratio; Finally a discussion of essential minerals in insects, with particular emphasis on Fe and Zn, as well as anti-nutritional factors such as phytic acid, oxalates and tannins, which may have a negative effect on the bioavailability of these trace elements were discussed. The results of this study should induce a change in behavior in terms of the valorization of these edible insects as food in DR-Congo, via their popularization through workshops carried out in their production and consumption areas, while encouraging rational harvesting practices with a view to their sustainable use.
Avant-Garde Egypt
Authors: Bru Sascha
Published: April 2024

This article opens with a discussion of contemporary avant-garde art, which according to many critics distinguishes itself by a turn to history, that is by a (seemingly paradoxical) backward-looking stance. Relativizing the ‘newness’ of this turn to history and the past in early twenty-first-century avant-garde art, the article then unearths the early twentieth-century avant-garde’s often neglected fascination with cultures that historically predate that of Europe. Zooming in on the historical avant-garde’s widespread interest in ancient Egypt in particular, the article highlights the “anarcheological impulse” that may well characterize the treatment of the (long-gone) past in all avant-garde exploits, be they early twentieth or twenty-first-century.
The Red Dressing Gown
Authors: Pickard Susan
Published: April 2024

This article explores Beauvoir’s evolving attitude toward aging and old age, specifically the shift from a fear and horror of aging toward a positive acceptance, and links this transformation to the death of her mother. It suggests that Beauvoir resolved her intense and complex relationship with her mother when the latter was dying, replacing melancholia with mourning and abjection with recognition. Escaping from the attraction and fears inherent in the identity of the “dutiful daughter,” henceforth she faced aging with equanimity.
Saving the Unsavable or Self-Translating to Exist? An Investigation into Self-Translation in Sicilian Context
Authors: Kampert Magdalena
Published: April 2024

This article investigates whether self-translation can be a tool of cultural legitimization and contribute to the vitality of minority languages broadly understood, using the example of 21st-century Sicilian poetry. Building on research in biocultural diversity, language maintenance and revitalization, and (self-)translation, the article briefly outlines the issue of language maintenance and the ambivalent role of self-translation in minority-language settings. It then considers the status of Sicilian and its vitality, and analyzes examples of self-translation from Sicilian into Italian in mainstream publishing and social media. The analysis underscores the dynamics of literary production and dissemination, as well as the associated publication practices. The Sicilian context shows that self-translation may be a tool for linguistic sustainability through publication formats that give prominence to minority languages. Bilingual editions and social media, in particular, may offer new opportunities for language maintenance.
A Translingual Voice in Japanese Literature: A Conversation between Li Kotomi and Elaine Wong
Authors: Wong Elaine , Kotomi Li
Published: April 2024

Li Kotomi learned Japanese as a teenager in Taiwan. She is a prolific author writing in Japanese and has received several literary awards in Japan, including an Akutagawa Prize in 2021. Li translates her own works into Mandarin Chinese, her first language. Her novels and short stories often depict experiences of crossing between Japanese and Chinese, such as how a character’s encounter with a new language shapes or even determines her understanding of a new country. In this interview, Li talks about the influences of language and linguistic differences on her creative writing, her learning of Japanese, her thoughts about Japanese and Chinese, self-translation, and linguistic identity. She also discusses, from a queer perspective, her way of innovating Japanese literature by incorporating original Chinese classical poems into contemporary Japanese fiction, and how this act of innovation subverts heteronormativity in Chinese and Japanese literatures for different reasons.
Roundtable Discussion: Translation in Creativity
Authors: Kelbert Eugenia , Goldsworthy Vesna , Reynolds Matthew , Robinson Douglas
Published: April 2024

This Forum, appearing in each issue of the Journal of Literary Multilingualism, aims to continue the conversation started in the very first issue, where we collected articles which assessed and debated the field of literary multilingualism studies. The Forum is a space for shorter, more informal reflections on the field and its future: position papers, dialogues between scholars, roundtable discussions, responses to articles within the journal, and responses to recent multilingualism conferences or events. We welcome proposals for contributions, particularly from marginalized perspectives or on neglected aspects of literary multilingualism. Please contact us directly to discuss ideas.

For this Forum, we present a roundtable discussion, organized and moderated by Eugenia Kelbert, in which Vesna Goldsworthy, Matthew Reynolds, and Douglas Robinson share some of their ideas around the relationship between translation and multilingual writing, particularly in relation to their intersecting roles as writers, translators, and academics.

— Juliette Taylor-Batty and Till Dembeck, Forum Moderators

The study of literary multilingualism exists within the context of recent attempts, by several scholars in comparative literature, to make sense of multilingual and/or global literary practices. From the translation zone (Apter) to born-translated (Walkowitz) or untranslatable fiction, these attempts have almost invariably involved translation, as a concept if not as a practice. What is, then, the place of translation when it comes to understanding multilingual and translingual writing? How does this theoretical debate relate to the actual practice of literary translation? And what happens to literary style when theorists of translation and translators experiment with multilingual writing or when translingual writers translate? The present discussion explores the hitherto undefined zone of creative interaction between translation and multilingual writing in the hope of contributing to the more conceptual debates from a hands-on perspective. It is based on the roundtable entitled “Stylistic Border Crossings in Multilingual and Translated (Con)texts” that was part of the Stylistic Border Crossings In and Beyond Translation conference held on March 9–10, 2023.1 The conference and the roundtable were organized by Eugenia Kelbert with the British Centre for Literary Translation and the East Centre, University of East Anglia.

Each of the three guests wears a combination of multiple hats that bridge theory and practice and include “translingual writer,” “literary translator,” “translation studies scholar,” “writer,” and “literary scholar.”

— Eugenia Kelbert
Big Reason: Public Discussion of Big Questions
Authors: Gauch Hugh G.
Published: April 2024

By ‘big reason’ is meant reason that can (1) tackle life’s big questions, like whether God exists, and (2) address a big audience of virtually everyone by means of reasons that count across worldviews. The antithesis of big reason is small reason, the contention that any reasons and evidence in favor of a given worldview count only within the small audience of that worldview. Big reason promotes finding the truth, including the truth of Christianity, and thereby it promotes human flourishing. This article defends big reason by presenting a model of public reason and then applying this model to the evidence for Christianity from fulfilled Bible prophecies.
7. The Minuet in Norway
Authors: Biskop Gunnel
Published: April 2024

The chapter presents the minuet In Norway, where it was danced by various social classes, as in the other Nordic countries. Various pieces of information are examined, and as a result a picture of the minuet as a part of the Norwegian dance culture in the eighteenth century and till the mid-nineteenth century is constructed. Although the information is sparse, it is concluded that the minuet was danced on larger estates and landholdings as well as by different compositions.
8. The Minuet in Denmark 1688–1820
Authors: Christensen Anders Chr. N.
Published: April 2024

The chapter presents the minuet as a dance form of different social classes in Denmark, from the seventeenth until the early nineteenth century. It addresses the significance of the dance as part of the Danish court but also in early urban culture and among the peasants. The chapter also discusses the role of the minuet in nineteenth-century dance schools where dance teachers deliberately kept it as a part of their repertoire although the dance no longer was popular in social dancing.
11. Collecting Minuets in Denmark in the Twentieth Century
Authors: Christensen Anders Chr. N.
Published: April 2024

The chapter presents the process of the documentation of minuet traditions in Denmark. The minuet was preserved in some parts of the country until the twentieth century: the island of Ærø, islands of Lolland and Falster, and Randers region in Jutland. In the islands, several dances called minuets were collected at the beginning of the twentieth century. In Randers region, documentation started in the 1930s and lasted sporadically until the 1980s. Danish minuets have been published in several folk dance manuals, and many of them are an active part of Danish folk dancers’ repertoire today.
12. Collecting Minuets among the Swedish-speaking Population in Finland
Authors: Biskop Gunnel
Published: April 2024

The chapter examines the documentation of minuet traditions in Swedish-speaking Finland from the late nineteenth until the end of the twentieth century. A special attention is paid to the significant work of Yngvar Heikel who collected folk dances, minuets among others, from all Finnish-Swedish regions during the 1920s and 30s. Thanks to his documentation, it is known how the minuet was danced in the early twentieth century. His particular merit is that the complicated habits connected to the ceremonial dances at weddings are known today. The later film recordings, in turn, provide an understanding of how the minuets were danced in the late 1900s.
15. Minuet Structures
Authors: Hoppu Petri , Svarstad Elizabeth , Christensen Anders Chr. N.
Published: April 2024

The chapter analyses steps, figures, and overall structure of the ordinary court minuet and its Danish and Finnish variations. The analysis shows that the overall structure of the ordinary minuet is found in most Danish and Finnish folk minuet variations. The minuet step, main figure, and basic form of the dance have remained their most characteristic features during the centuries, although the details may vary. However, when it comes to style or dance technique, the differences between the ordinary minuet and its Danish and Finnish rural counterparts become significant.
16. New Perspectives on the Minuet Step
Authors: Bakka Egil , Svarstad Elizabeth , Mæland Siri
Published: April 2024

The chapter discusses how the knowledge about the Nordic folk minuet may give a broader basis for interpreting the historical sources regarding the basic French eighteenth-century minuet step. The knowledge of how the minuet is being danced in Nordic tradition, found in the Nordic Folk Minuet as well as at Danish Royal Ballet will cast new light on the minuet step described in earlier centuries. In particular, the chapter addresses the importance of understanding the mechanics of locomotion in terms of vertical movements while analysing the minuet.
19. New Forms and Contexts of the Minuet in the Nordic Countries
Authors: Andersson Göran , Svarstad Elizabeth
Published: April 2024

The chapter examines various revival movements engaged with the minuet in the Nordic countries. The term revival refers here to attempts and efforts to bring back into practice dances that are about to lose their position as regular social dances. They may also have been out of use so long that they can only be reconstructed from descriptions or composed as new dances with references to historical sources. In particular, the chapter discusses the activities of dance groups whose repertoires mainly consist of historical dances of upper classes.