bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Haunted by Reconciliation?
Authors: Van Wyngaard George J (Cobus) , Schneider Rachel C.
Published: October 2023

Conversations about race in South Africa continue to be shaped by a religious-redemptive narrative of reconciliation that emerged in the democratic transition. However, there is a history of critical Black and liberation theological voices questioning whether the religious/ethical ideal of reconciliation adequately addresses the injustices of systemic racism. These questions gained new resonance in recent years with social movements like #feesmustfall. This article asks whether the seemingly intractable hope that a theological concept of reconciliation will be efficacious in facilitating racial justice is warranted. We begin by reviewing and interrogating how reconciliation is being used in contemporary theological discourses, arguing that given rising discontent, it is striking that reconciliation continues to be a prominent theme and topic within South African Christian theological discourses. We then propose several alternatives that may help address the problem of white racism and benefit from the sustained energy that South African theology has been putting into the language of reconciliation.
Rural Land Governance and Women Marginalisation in Amhara Regional State
Authors: Belay Degwale Gebeyehu
Published: October 2023

Women have international and national rights to use, control, transfer, and inherit rural land. Unless laws and institutions are strong enough, women’s land rights can’t be effectively discharged. Moreover, the different socioeconomic status of women highly affects their land rights. This study has the objective of exploring land acquisition, landholding, and land transfer rights and practical challenges in North Mecha Woreda. The study has applied phenomenological qualitative research design. The findings show that the status of land acquisition, control, inheritance, and use is highly affected by the socioeconomic status of women. Moreover, women’s rights to land inheritance are highly affected due to the culture of male domination. This study recommends that there has to be legal protection to women to fully exercise their land rights to use, control, and transfer. These needs stretching the structure of Women, Children and Social Affairs Office at Kebele level of administration.
Resolving Conflict and Building Peace Through Re-Thinking Community Relationship
Authors: Ayalew Sisay Tamrat , Belay Degwale Gebeyehu
Published: October 2023

This study aims at appraising the nature of two major community relationships (I-Thou and I-It) in Ethiopia and analyse how these types of relationships play a corresponding role in resolving or exacerbating conflict and building/deteriorating peace. This study adopted an exploratory research design and primary data is collected from different social and mainstream media. The I-Thou relationship is a genuine societal relationship that led to a genuine dialogue between groups, which, in turn, creates mutual understanding, enrichment, reciprocity, and enlightenment. The I-It relationship, on the other hand, is characterised by mutual suspicion, prejudice, misunderstanding, wearing masks, and keeping secrets where there is no genuine dialogue. The study explores that the type of relationship that best characterise the Ethiopian society is mainly the I-It relationship. Since the society is polarised mainly based on ethnic and linguistic lines, the relationship has resulted in conflict, mass killing, displacement, and gross human right violations.
Movement For Justice In Africa And State Transformation In Liberia
Authors: Kieh George Klay
Published: October 2023

Historically, social movements have designed and implemented various modalities for the transformation of the state. Some of these modalities have contributed to the various state transformation projects, while others have not. Overall, state transformation projects have had various outcomes, including success, failure and a mixture of successes and failures. Against this backdrop, this article examines the state transformation project that was undertaken by the Movement for Justice in Africa (moja0 in Liberia from 1973–1980. Specifically, the article interrogates the various modalities that moja designed and implemented in its quest to transform the Liberian society. In terms of a “balance sheet,” some of the modalities, including the political conscientization campaign, the training of cadres, the assistance to labor movements, and coalition building with other progressive forces succeeded in promoting the state transformation project. On the other hand, however, moja did not succeed in transforming state structures, state policies, and power relations. Two major factors contributed to these challenges: 1) moja’s left-wing populist ideology was an obstacle to the organization’s diagnosis of the major causes of the multidimensional crises of underdevelopment that enveloped Liberia; and 2) moja prematurely embraced the Doe-led military regime that came to power after the April 12, 1980 coup, thereby jeopardizing the future of the organization.
Did the 2014 Crimean Crisis have an Impact on the European Union’s Energy Policy Towards the United States?
Authors: Landon Lucie
Published: October 2023

This article investigates the energy policy of the European Union (EU) towards the United States (US) from 2009 to 2020. It focuses more particularly on the impact that the Crimean crisis has had on this EU policy in the context of the transatlantic relationship. To do so, it applies securitisation theory and uses both content and discourse analyses on three document types: exclusively EU-produced texts, texts produced by both the EU and the US through the EU-US energy council and think-tank reports. Contradicting the security discourse often displayed by mainstream media, this article asserts that the Crimean crisis did not add any significant security-based features to the EU’s external energy policy after 2014 when the EU-US partnership is analysed. Despite a discourse containing more security elements, the approach of the EU’s energy policy vis-à-vis the United States has remained primarily market-oriented throughout the period under investigation.
Palace, Prison, Park or Palimpsest? The Contested Heritage of the Former Palace of Chiang Mai
Authors: Tantinipankul Worrasit
Published: October 2023

This paper investigates the contestations between state and local actors over the interpretation of a state prison built in the grounds of the Chiang Mai palace, known as Wiang Kaew. Engaging with postcolonial approaches to heritage interpretation, this paper argues that the local movement calling for the removal of the prison in favor of a public park represents an effort to reclaim local Lan Na history and identity from the national past. Using the critical heritage concept of “authorized heritage discourse” (Smith 2006), I show how central Thai authorities—including the Fine Arts Department and the Buddhist Sangha—have privileged nationalist interpretations of the site over the intangible meanings and values expressed by the local community. The paper concludes by suggesting how newer frameworks of heritage management might be harnessed to resolve the conflict by recognizing the site as a historical palimpsest with multiple layers of value and meaning.
Effects of Ursolic Acid in Extracts of Prunella vulgaris on the Proliferation of Thyroid Papillary Carcinoma Cells Under the p53MAPK Signaling Pathway
Authors: Hu Chao , Zhang Qi , Liu Dongxian , Li Chao , Li Ming
Published: October 2023

The aim of this research was to demonstrate the impact of ursolic acid (UA) in Prunella vulgaris extracts on the proliferation of papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) cells through the p53MAPK signaling. Effects of Prunella vulgaris extracts on TPC-1 cell proliferation were
analyzed by intervening with various concentrations of UA, including negative control (NC) group, solvent control (SC) group, 3 μM UA group, 6 μM UA group, 12 μM UA group, and 15 μM UA group. Flow cytometry was adopted to evaluate apoptosis in TPC-1
cells, while real-time fluorescent quantitative (RT-q) PCR was implemented to assess expression (EP) of Bax and Bcl-2 in TPC-1 cells following UA intervention. RT-qPCR and Western blotting were employed to examine the differential EP levels of cell apoptosis, Bax, and Bcl-2 proteins. RT-qPCR
was utilized to investigate the influence of UA on EP of various genes in MAPK pathway. The ethyl acetate extract exhibited the most notable inhibitory effect on TPC-1 cells. The content of UA in Prunella vulgaris increased gradually with the extension of ultrasonic time. The growth
curve of TPC-1 cells demonstrated an initial increase followed by a decrease with increasing time. As the concentration increased, cell proportion in S phase increased, while the proportions in the GO-G1 and G2-M phases decreased, indicating that UA concentration-dependently arrested cells
in the S phase. The level of Bax mRNA exhibited an increasing trend with increasing concentration, and the 12 μM UA and 15 μM UA groups demonstrated remarkable differences versus NC group (P <0.01). Bcl-2 protein demonstrated a decreasing trend with increasing
concentration, and the 6 μM UA, 12 μM UA, and 15 μM UA groups exhibited considerable differences relative to NC group (P < 0.05). Additionally, pro-apoptotic protein Bax increased, while that of anti-apoptotic protein Bcl-2 decreased. UA treatment upregulated
EP of the p53 gene in the MAPK pathway. Genes such as ERK, MEK, TSHR, Ras, p53, BRAF, PAK4, and PAKCa were downregulated. In summary, UA can upregulate EP of the p53 gene in the MAPK pathway, greatly inhibit proliferation of TPC-1 cells in PTC, and promote apoptosis. These findings provide
insights for therapy of thyroid cancer.
Mechanism of Glucose Transporter Protein 1 Mediating Malignant Behavior in Breast Cancer Through the PI3K/Akt Signaling Pathway
Authors: Lin Kai , Wu Xinghua , Qi Yuying , Wang Kaiyin , Guan Yunzhu , Hu Tinghui
Published: October 2023

To investigate the mechanism of action of GLUT1 in mediating breast cancer development through the PI3K/Akt signaling pathway. Knockdown of breast cancer cell line MDA-MB-231 GLUT1 was achieved by siRNA with the addition of IGF-1, an activator of the PI3K/AKT signaling pathway. The
experimental groupings were NC, shGLUT1, shNC+IGF-1, and shGLUT1+IGF-1. The proliferation, invasion, and migration behaviors of breast cancer cells were observed by MTT, Transwell, and scratch-repair assays; Western blot was used to detect the protein expression levels of p-PI3K, p-AKT, and
p-mTOR in the PI3K-AKT signaling pathway. After the knockdown of GLUT1, the expression levels of key proteins of the PI3K/AKT signaling pathway, p-PI3K, p-AKT, and p-mTOR, were significantly decreased. After the addition of IGF-1 alone, the decreasing trend of the protein expression levels
of p-PI3K, p-AKT, and p-mTOR was even more pronounced, and the cellular functions of the cancer cells, such as proliferation and invasion, were also all inhibited. GLUT1 can promote breast cancer development through the PI3K/Akt signaling pathway.
Cytotoxicity Modelling of Pasteurella multocida Toxin and Its Histological Study
Authors: Lu Heng , Shen Huanhuan , Huang Yong
Published: October 2023

In this study, we investigated the molecular mechanism by which the recombinant multicidal Bartonella toxin rPMT damages PK15 cells. We successfully constructed the prokaryotic expression vector pCold I-toxA and identified suitable expression and purification conditions for rPMT. Using
the CCK8 assay, we established a cellular damage model and found that PK15 cells were significantly affected by rPMT infection at a concentration of 20 ug/mL for 24 h. Flow cytometry experiments revealed that rPMT induced apoptosis in PK15 cells. To further understand the underlying mechanism,
we prepared a potent murine anti-polyclonal antibody against rPMT and evaluated its effectiveness (potency of 1:1000). In mouse experiments, the LD50 of rPMT was determined to be 0.460 ng/g. Transcriptome sequencing data indicated that rPMT injury to PK15 cells led to elevated expression of
inflammation-related pathways and genes. Additionally, QPCR experiments confirmed that rPMT injury significantly upregulated the expression of inflammation-related factors, including NLRP3, IL-1β, IL-6, IL-8, and TNF-α, compared to normal PK15 cells. In conclusion,
the recombinant PMT toxin (rPMT) used in this study exhibited high biological activity and caused significant damage to PK15 cells, possibly through an inflammatory validation effect. These findings shed light on the molecular mechanisms underlying rPMT-induced cellular damage and its potential
role in inflammation-related pathways.
Single-Cell Analysis Reveals Adipose Cancer-Associated Fibroblasts Linked to Trastuzumab Resistance in Human Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor 2-Positive Breast Cancer
Authors: Zhang Siming , Huang Xiaojia , Zhu Wenbiao , Liu Yumei , Qiu Ni , Cai Zheyou , Xu Tai , Wu Yuan , Fan Yuanlin , Qiu Dongqin , Zhu Junqiang , Li Hongsheng
Published: October 2023

Trastuzumab, a first-line targeted agent for HER-2-positive breast cancer, often faces challenges due to resistance. The IGF-1R/IRS-1/AKT pathway hyperactivation has been linked to this resistance, but the primary culprit, whether epithelial cells or cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs),
remains uncertain. To investigate, we employed seRNA-seq to differentiate CAFs and epithelial cells in trastuzumab-sensitive and resistant breast cancer samples. iTALK analysis revealed potential interactions between CAFs and epithelial cells through IGF-1. We then analyzed 43 HER-2-positive
breast cancer samples treated with trastuzumab, confirming higher expression of IGF-1R/IRS-1/AKT pathway proteins using immunohistochemistry. Notably, we identified five CAFs subtypes with varying proportions in both trastuzumab-sensitive and resistant samples. Further analysis revealed elevated
IGF-1 levels in CAFs of trastuzumab-resistant tissues, particularly in adipose CAFs. Immunohistochemistry staining corroborated overexpression of COL11A1 (an adipose CAF marker) and increased IGF-1R and Tyr-phosphorylated IRS-1 in HER-2-positive breast cancer, associated with poor trastuzumab
response. Our findings suggest that CAFs, particularly adipose CAFs, may induce trastuzumab resistance in HER2-positive breast cancer epithelial cells through IGF-1-mediated activation of the IGF-1R/IRS-1/AKT pathway.
Effects of Recepteur D’origine Nantais/Phosphatidylinositol 3 Kinase Pathway Mediated by Polymer Biodegradable Sustained-Release Materials on Proliferation and Apoptosis of Uterine Fibroids
Authors: Wang Jianhua , Wang Qinmei , Liu Jianmin
Published: October 2023

This research was aimed to investigate the effects of biodegradable letrozole (LE) sustained release (SR) polymer material on the biological behavior of uterine fibroids (UFs) and RON/PI3K signaling pathway (SPW). Poloxamer 188 (P188) and poly L lactide acid (PLLA) were selected to
prepare the degradable SR electrospinning (ES) materials LE/P188/PlLA-1 (LE concentration: 6.25%), LE/P188/PLLA-2 (LE concentration: 12.25%), and LE/P188/PLLA-3 (LE concentration: 25%) with different concentrations of LE. UF cells were then co-cultured with free LE and degradable SR ES materials.
Cell proliferation and apoptosis were detected by MTT and flow cytometry, respectively. The expression changes of apoptosis-related proteins (Bcl-2, Bax, and caspase-3), epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT)-related proteins (E-cadherin, N-cadherin, Vimentin), and RON/PI3K SPW-related proteins
(RON and PI3K) were detected by western blot. The average diameter of LE/P188/PLLA-1, LE/P188/PLLA-2, and LE/P188/PLLA-3 were (145.6±20.8) nm, (158.1±16.3) nm, and (173.4±20.1) nm, respectively. Moreover, it possessed the obvious characteristics of LE, P188, and PLLA.
LE/P188/PLLA-3 had the lowest SR rate of LE but the longest SR duration. Compared with normal cells, the proliferation inhibition rate (PIR) and apoptosis rate (AR) of LE and its degradable SR ES materials were increased (P <0.05). While expressions of Bax, caspase-3, E-cadherin,
and PI3K were increased, Bcl-2, N-cadherin, Vimentin, and RON were decreased (P <0.05). In contrast to the free LE, the cell proliferation inhibition rate (PIR) and apoptosis promotion rate (APR) of LE degradable SR ES materials were increased, the levels of Bax, caspase-3, E-cadherin,
and PI3K were increased, and the levels of Bcl-2, N-cadherin, Vimentin, and RON were decreased (P <0.05). The results herein were concentration-dependent. The preparation of LE degradable SR ES materials with P188/PLLA can improve the therapeutic effect of LE. LE degradable SR ES
materials can effectively inhibit the proliferation of UFs, promote cell apoptosis, inhibit its EMT process and activation of RON/PI3K SPW in a concentration-dependent manner.
Adoption of Composite Bone Scaffold Loaded with Osteoporosis Drugs in the Repair of Bone Defects in an Osteoporotic Animal Model
Authors: Tang Honghui , Xue Fei , Yue Haitao , Ji Feng
Published: October 2023

To promote the differentiation of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) into osteogenic lineages, icariin (ICA) was utilized. A composite scaffold material of ICA-bone powder/poly lactic acid (PLA) was constructed using biotechnology, and its therapeutic effects on osteoporotic bone defects
were visualized. During the experiment, the physicochemical properties and biocompatibility of the material were analyzed, and a rat model of osteoporotic bone defects was constructed. The prepared material was implanted into the osteoporotic bone defect region, and according to the drug-loading
amount (10−5 M, 10−6 M, and 10−7 M), the experimental rats were assigned into three groups (group A, group B and group C) to verify its bone defect repair performance. The results revealed that the porosity and pore size of bone powder/PLA
material were (91.75±2.36)% and (213.42±16.37) μm, respectively. The addition of the Chinese herbal medicine caused a decrease in the porosity of the ICA-bone powder/PLA material, but it still exceeded 85%. After 48 h of co-culturing with human adipose-derived stem
cells (hADSCs) using various drug loading amounts (10−5 M, 10−6 M, and 10−7 M) of the composite bone scaffold material, no obvious cell death was visualized. After 7 days of co-culturing, ALP staining showed that the cells grown on the prepared
material surface secreted a large amount of extracellular matrix. In particular, the composite bone scaffold material with a loading amount of 10−7 M demonstrated strong positive ALP staining. The repair progress of group C rats was faster at 4 weeks and 8 weeks after surgery
versus group A and group B (P < 0.05). According to ALP expression analysis, at 4 weeks after surgery, group C rats had higher ALP positive expression versus group A and group B rats (P < 0.05), and at 8 weeks after surgery, group B and group C rats had higher ALP positive
expression versus group A rats (P < 0.05). These findings demonstrated that the bone powder/PLA material loaded with ICA has favorable adoption value in the repair of osteoporotic bone defects.
Effects of Tricalcium Silicate Cement on Corneal Cell Proliferation and Its Relationship with Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Level and Receptor Typing
Authors: Peng Zhengwu , Zhou Xiaoping , Kuang Guoping , Li Zhenghua
Published: October 2023

This research analyzed the effects of tricalcium silicate (C3S) cement and hypoxia on proliferation of human corneal epithelial cells (HCEpiCs) and the levels of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and its receptors (VEGFRs). Nanoscale C3S was prepared using a combustion
method and characterized using X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and laser particle size (LPS) analyzer. HCEpiCs were cultured, and influences of C3S with changed concentrations on proliferation of (HCEpiCs were analyzed. The cells were treated with hypoxia
or with low-concentration (0.5 mg/mL, LC-C3S), medium-concentration (5 mg/mL, MC-C3S), or high-concentration (50 mg/mL, HC-C3S) of C3S. Meanwhile, normal HCEpiCs were undertaken as controls (Ctrl group). Cell proliferation, apoptosis, and the expression
of target genes were detected using CCK-8, Annexin V-FITC/PI, fluorescent quantitative polymerase chain reaction (fqPCR), and Western blotting (WB). The results suggested that nanoscale C3S had multiple morphologies and an average particle size (APS) of (231.5±8.3) nm. With
increasing nanoscale C3S concentration, proliferation of HCEpiCs increased (P < 0.05), and the highest proliferation was visualized at 5 mg/mL. Based on the conditions in the Ctrl group, the hypoxia group exhibited a decreased proliferation rate (PR), an increased apoptosis
rate (AR), downshifted VEGF, VEGFR-2, and VEGFR-3, and elevated VEGFR-1 (P < 0.05). Based on the hypoxia group, the LCC3S, MC-C3S, and HC-C3S groups presented increased cell PRs, decreased APs, upshifted VEGF, VEGFR-2, and VEGFR-3, and downregulated
VEGFR-1 (P < 0.05). The MC-C3S group showed an increased cell PR, a decreased AP, upregulated VEGF, VEGFR-2, and VEGFR-3, and downregulated VEGFR-1 to the LC-C3S group (P < 0.05). Additionally, the HC-C3S group had a decreased cell PR, an
increased AP, upregulated VEGF, VEGFR-2, and VEGFR-3, and a downshifted VEGFR-1 to the MC-C3S group (P < 0.05). Therefore, C3S promoted proliferation of HCEpiCs, upregulated VEGF, VEGFR-2, and VEGFR-3, and downregulated VEGFR-1.
Combined Use of Calf Blood-Deproteinized Extract and Eye Drops for the Treatment of Moderate to Severe Dry Eye Patients
Authors: Yue Jiang , Liu Zhengqun , Yin Juanping
Published: October 2023

This research was aimed to demonstrate the clinical therapeutic effect of the joint use of calf blood-deproteinized extract (CBDE) and eye drops in therapy of moderate to severe dry eye (MSDE) patients. By analyzing the therapeutic effects of different treatment modalities, the superiority
of the combined approach was examined. The main components of the calf blood protein extract were analyzed using ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry. Ninety patients with MSDE were included. They were assigned into two groups randomly: the eye drops group (45 patients
receiving eye drop treatment) and the joint therapy group (45 patients receiving the combined treatment of CBDE and eye drops). The treatment effects between the two groups were compared. It was revealed that the CBDE had a high content of glucose. The treatment effectiveness was 80.00% in
the eye drops group and 95.56% in the joint therapy group. The combined treatment demonstrated a greatly higher effectiveness in MSDE versus the use of eye drops alone (P <0.05). The joint therapy group showed more pronounced improvements in tear breakup time (BUT), Schirmer I test
(SIT), corneal fluorescein test (FL) scores, and symptom scores (P <0.05). Moreover, the joint therapy group exhibited a more drastic decrease in the corneal surface asymmetry index (SAI) and corneal surface regularity index (SRI) (P <0.05), as well as a greater reduction
in the levels of inflammatory markers (P <0.05). The dry eye symptom scores were also markedly lower in the joint therapy group (P <0.05). These findings indicate that the combined use of CBDE and eye drops has a positive effect in therapy of MSDE patients, improving dry
eye symptoms, suppressing inflammatory markers, and promoting disease recovery.
Effects ofCallicarpa nudifloraGranules on the Proliferation and Apoptosis of Uterine Fibroid Cells
Authors: Xu Yan , Wang Yuhui
Published: October 2023

This research was aimed to discuss and understand the effects and mechanisms of action ofCallicarpa nudifloragranules on proliferation and apoptosis of uterine leiomyoma (UL) cells. Firstly, normal uterine myometrium (UM) and UL tissues were collected, and the levels of p-Akt and Phosphatase and Tensin Homolog (PTEN) in UL tissues were detected using immunohistochemistry. Next, the UL cells were successfully obtained using enzymatic digestion, and their identification was performed using alpha-smooth muscle actin (α-actin) immunocytochemistry. Specifically, the cells were grouped into four: a control group (CG), a low-dose group (LDG, 50 mg/LCallicarpa nudiflorasolution), a medium-dose group (MDG, 100 mg/LCallicarpa nudiflorasolution), and a high-dose group (HDG, 200 mg/LCallicarpa nudiflorasolution). Moreover, the proliferation of UL cells was assessed using the thiazolyl blue (MTT) assay, while cell apoptosis was analyzed using flow cytometry (FCT). Real-time fluorescent quantitative PCR (fq-PCR) and Western blot assay (WBA) were utilized to determine the PAI-1, P38, TGF-β1, E-cadherin, and Vimentin in UL cells. The results revealed that the positive rate (PR) of p-Akt in the UL tissues was much higher to that in normal UM tissues (P< 0.001). More than 90% of UL cells were positive forα-actin. The viabilities of UL cells in theCallicarpa nudifloratreatment groups were greatly weakened to that of untreated cells (P< 0.05). Viability of UL cells in the HDG group was the lowest, showing a great difference withP< 0.01 to the LDG group and that withP< 0.05 to the MDG group, while that between the MDG and LDG groups exhibited a great difference withP< 0.05. AR of UL cells in CG group was sharply lower to that in theCallicarpa nudifloratreatment groups, showing great differences withP< 0.05,P< 0.01, andP< 0.001, respectively. AR of UL cells in HDG group was higher to the LDG group (P< 0.01) and MDG group (P< 0.05), and that in LDG group was lower and exhibited a great difference withP< 0.05 to the MDG group. The HDG, LDG, and MDG groups exhibited greatly lower TGF-β1, PAI-1, and P38 to the CG group (P< 0.05). In the HDG group, the TGF-β1, PAI-1, P38, and Vimentin levels were greatly lower and presented a great difference withP< 0.01 to those in the CG group and LDG group. Additionally, E-cadherin in UL cells was elevated in the LDG and MDG groups to CG group, showingP< 0.05 andP< 0.01, respectively. Such findings indicated that theCallicarpa nudifloragranules can suppress proliferation of UL cells and promote their apoptosis, which may be associated with the TGF-β1/P38/PAI-1 singling pathway (SPW).
Microstructural and Electrical Resistivity of TiN Electrode Films Prepared by Direct Current (DC) Reactive Magnetron Sputtering
Authors: Zhang Yu , Shi Wen-Tao , Chen Lei , Zhong Fu-Ru , Fang Zhen-Xing , Yuan Long-Fei
Published: October 2023

In this study, the crystal structure as well as electron transport of TiN thin films were evaluated. We used DC reactive magnetron sputtering to deposit a thin layer of polycrystalline titanium nitride (TiN) on a Si (100) substrate starting from elemental Ti in a nitrogen atmosphere.
The influence of nitrogen flow rate on the crystal structure, surface morphology, and electron transport of TiN were investigated systematically. It was found that the preferred orientation and conductivity of TiN thin films exhibit strong nitrogen flow rate dependence. The preferred orientation
changed from (111) to (200) initially and then changed back to (111) as the nitrogen flow rate increases. However, an increase in the (200) phase leads to higher conductivity and lower surface roughness. At the optimized deposition conditions, ultra-thin (around 30 nm) TiN thin films with
a low resistivity of 101.8 μC·cm and a surface roughness of less than or equal to 0.51 nm were obtained. These superior performances, along with low running costs, suggest that TiN thin films have great potential for use as electrodes in microelectronic devices.
Core–Shell Electrode Material Co9S8@Ni(OH)2 for High-Performance Supercapacitors
Authors: Wang Jian , Li Yucai , Song Shiwei
Published: October 2023

Developing electrodes with hybrid architectures holds significant importance in enhancing the efficiency of energy storage and conversion processes. In general, single-component metal oxides tend to exhibit poor operational stability and sluggish ionic-electron mobility. To address
these issues, we have successfully synthesized a hybrid-structured material, Co8S9@Ni(OH)2, leveraging the easily modifiable characteristics of spinel-structured Co8S9. This hybrid material was prepared through a hydrothermal synthesis
method. The resulting Co8S9@Ni(OH)2 hybrid structure demonstrates an impressive specific capacitance of 1029 C g−1 at 1 A g−1, accompanied by outstanding stability. In addition, the as-prepared samples shows a capacitance retention
of 81.09% initial capacitance, indicating that the as-prepared sample possess an excellent cycle stability.
Synthesis of Metal–Organic Frameworks for the Adsorption of Congo Red from Wastewater
Authors: Ren Qinhui , Chen Peng , Yang Yaqi , Wei Fuhua , Chen Hongliang , Wang Siyuan , Liang Zhao
Published: October 2023

In this paper, metal–organic frameworks (MOFs) are applied to get rid of Congo red from effluent in an inexpensive and effective manner. Co-containing MOFs (Co-MOF) were prepared via solvothermal treatment, and their structures were tested by performing SEM, TG, and XRD. The MOFs were studied for the removal of CR from wastewater, and the kinetics of the adsorption process were investigated. The results indicated that the pseudo second-order kinetic model properly describes the removal of CR and the maximum adsorption capacity within 5 h is 355.2 mg/g for Co-MOF. The adsorption capacity of the MOFs was evaluated under different pH conditions. This work highlights the broad application prospect of MOFs in sewage disposal.
Where Are the Fathers? Effects of Earmarking Parental Leave for Fathers in France
Authors: Périvier Hélène , Verdugo Gregory
Published: October 2023

Does providing nontransferable months of parental leave earmarked for fathers, as mandated by the European Union to its member countries since 2019, increase their participation? To answer that question, the authors investigate the consequences of a 2015 French reform that designated up to 12 months of paid leave for fathers while simultaneously reducing the maximum paid leave for mothers by the same number of months. Although the benefits were low, parental leave could be taken on a part-time basis, which can be more attractive to fathers. Using administrative data and comparing parents of children born before and after the reform, the authors find that in response to a 25 percentage point (pp) decline in mothers’ participation rate triggered by the reform, fathers’ participation increased by less than 1 pp, primarily through part-time leave. The reform increased mothers’ labor earnings, but it had no significant impact on fathers’ earnings. Overall, the substitutability of parental leave between parents appears to be low and, as a result, earmarking alone does not substantially increase fathers’ participation.
Connecting Supervisor Procedural Justice to Perceived Tensions With Litigants Among Chinese Judges
Authors: Ding Yao , Sun Ivan Y. , Wu Yuning , Zhao Qianwei
Published: October 2023

Recent literature on procedural justice has consistently shown positive organizational outcomes resulting from fair and just treatment by supervisors. This study expands the current literature by assessing the beneficial effect of being treated fairly and justly by supervisors in court settings. Based on survey data from Chinese judges, this study analyzes the direct linkage between supervisor procedural justice and judges’ perceived tensions with litigants and their indirect relationship through trust in litigants and external procedural justice. The results of structural equation modeling indicate that supervisor justice is positively related to trust in litigants and external procedural justice and negatively associated with tensions with litigants. The indirect connection between supervisor justice and tensions with litigants is mainly through external procedural justice. Female and seasoned judges are more willing than their male and less-experienced counterparts to treat litigants in a procedurally just manner.
Do Measures of Systemizing and Empathizing Reflect Perceptions of Gender Differences in Learning Affordances?
Authors: Aday Audrey , Schmader Toni , Ryan Michelle
Published: October 2023

Gender differences in systemizing and empathizing are sometimes attributed to inherent biological factors. We tested whether such effects are more often interpreted as reflecting men’s and women’s different learning affordances. Study 1 ( N = 624) estimated gender differences in item-level activities from systemizing and empathizing scales (SQ, EQ) in large representative samples. Lay coders (Study 2, N = 199) and psychology experts (Study 3, N = 116) rated SQ and EQ activities as being more learned (vs. innate) and believed that men receive more systemizing and women receive more empathizing (Study 3 only) affordances. Items showing the largest gender differences in Study 1 were those rated as having the largest gender affordances (more than gendered genetic advantages) in Studies 2 and 3. Claims about inherent sex differences in systemizing, and to a lesser degree empathizing, appear to be out of step with a consensus view from the public and psychological scientists.
Why Do People Think Individuals in Poverty Are Less Vulnerable to Harm?: Testing the Role of Intuitions About Adaptation
Authors: Cheek Nathan N. , Murray Jackson
Published: October 2023

People often falsely believe that individuals from low socioeconomic status (SES) backgrounds are less harmed than those from higher SES backgrounds by a wide range of negative events. We report three studies (total N = 1,625) that provide evidence that this “thick skin bias” emerges at least in part because people overgeneralize otherwise accurate intuitions about adaptation. Across studies, participants accurately intuited that people adapt to psychophysical experiences (e.g., brightness, weight, and volume) but also inaccurately intuited that people similarly adapt to life hardships that actually tend to exacerbate the harm of future negative events. Experimentally decreasing the salience of psychophysical adaptation intuitions reduced the thick skin bias, suggesting a causal link between these adaptation intuitions and the belief that people in poverty are less vulnerable to harm and underlining the importance of studying how biased beliefs about the effects of poverty may perpetuate inequality.
Intraindividual Changes in Political Identity Strength (But Not Direction) Are Associated With Political Animosity in the United States and the Netherlands
Authors: Brandt Mark J. , Vallabha Shree
Published: October 2023

We test if within-person changes in political identities are associated with within-person changes in political animosity in two longitudinal studies (United States N = 552, Waves = 26; Netherlands N = 1,670, Waves = 12). Typical studies examine cross-sectional associations without assessing within-person change. Our work provides a stronger test of the relationship. We find that within-person changes in the strength of people’s ideological and partisan identities are associated with increased political animosity. We found no such associations with within-person changes in identity direction. These patterns were robust to covariates and emerged in both studies. In addition to these average effects, we found substantial heterogeneity across participants in the associations among identity strength, identity direction, and political animosity. We did not find robust and replicable moderators for this heterogeneity. These findings suggest that identity strength (but not identity direction) is a key, if heterogenous, factor in changes in political animosity.
‘Led by Intelligence': A Scoping Review on the Experimental Evaluation of Intelligence-Led Policing
Authors: Khalfa Robin , Hardyns Wim
Published: October 2023

Intelligence-led policing (ILP) was introduced in the 1990s as a proactive approach to policing, but to date, there is a lack of studies that have synthesized and summarized the central characteristics and insights of (quasi-)experimental studies related to ILP. This study aims to address this gap by synthesizing and characterizing the central characteristics of 38 quasi-experimental and experimental studies related to ILP. In this study, a scoping review is conducted on different quasi-experimental and experimental studies that relate to the framework of ILP. It was found that most studies within the domain of ILP focus on testing the crime reduction effects of using spatio-temporal crime intelligence to deploy police resources more efficiently and effectively. However, some studies have combined different types of crime intelligence or used solely offender-related intelligence. Several statistical-methodological challenges were also identified that should be considered when designing experimental research within the domain of ILP. Additionally, most studies focused solely on measuring crime reduction, with few focusing on secondary effects of interventions. The review concludes that future evaluation studies should consider evaluating the use of different types of crime intelligence and establish specific, objective, and realistic criteria for measuring specific performance measures such as crime disruption. Future experimental research within the domain of ILP should consider applying the 3-i model, evaluating each leg of ILP thoroughly. The limitations of the study are also discussed. This review provides valuable insights for future research and development of ILP-related approaches.
Inorganic arsenic-mediated upregulation of TUG1 promotes apoptosis in human bronchial epithelial cells by activating the p53 signaling pathway
Authors: Chen Qian , Sun Mingjun , Cheng Huirong , Qi Jun , Tan Jingwen , Gu Yun , Yu Tianle , Li Ming , Xu Hao , He Yuefeng , Wen Weihua
Published: October 2023

Exposure to arsenic, an environmental contaminant, is known to cause arsenicosis and cancer. Although considerable research has been conducted to understand the underlying mechanism responsible for arsenic-induced cancers, the precise molecular mechanisms remain unknown, especially at the epigenetic regulation level. Long non-coding RNAs (LncRNAs) that have been shown to mediate various biological processes, including proliferation, apoptosis, necrosis, and mutagenesis. There are few studies on LncRNAs and biological damage caused by environmental pollutants. The LncRNAs taurine upregulated gene 1 (TUG1) regulates cell growth both in vitro and in vivo, and contributes its oncogenic role. However, the precise roles and related mechanisms of arsenic-induced cell apoptosis are still not fully understood owing to controversial findings in the literature. In this study, quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) analysis revealed higher expression levels of TUG1 in people occupationally exposed to arsenic than in individuals living away from the source of arsenic exosure ( N = 25). In addition, the results suggested that TUG1 was involved in arsenic-induced apoptosis. Furthermore, knockdown experiments showed that silencing of TUG1 markedly inhibited proliferation, whereas depletion of TUG1 led to increased apoptosis. The TUG1-small interfering RNA (siRNA) combination with arsenic (3 μM/L) slightly increased apoptosis compared with the TUG1-siRNA. Additionally, the knockdown experiments showed that the silencing of TUG1 by siRNA inhibited proliferation and promoted apoptosis by inducing p53, p-p53 (ser392), FAS, BCL2, MDM2, cleaved-caspase7 proteins in 16HBE cells. These results indicated that arsenic mediates the upregulation of TUG1 and induces cell apoptosis via activating the p53 signaling pathway.
Alcohol Use, Rape Myth Acceptance, Rape Empathy, and Sexual Assault History Influence the Believability of a Hypothetical Victim’s Report of Sexual Assault
Authors: Rinehart Jenny K. , Nason Erica E. , Yeater Elizabeth A. , Ross Ryan , Vitek Kristen
Published: October 2023

College sexual assault is a common problem, and survivors often do not report their experience to college campus officials or law enforcement for fear of not being believed. This study examined how contextual factors such as alcohol use and whether the perpetrator was described as a student-athlete or student, and rater characteristics, such as the history of sexual assault and attitudes toward rape, influenced college students’ perceptions of the believability of a hypothetical victim’s sexual assault account. In all, 449 ( N = 449) undergraduates read a vignette describing a hypothetical sexual assault and were assigned randomly to one of four conditions with varying contextual features: college athlete—no alcohol, college athlete—alcohol, college student—no alcohol, or college student—alcohol. They then rated how much they believed the victim in the vignette had been raped (0 [not at all] to 100 [completely]). The presence of alcohol use in the vignette was associated with lower ratings of believability, and participants who were higher in rape myth acceptance and lower in rape empathy rated the hypothetical victim’s rape account as less believable. In addition, women who had been raped previously rated the victim in the vignette as more believable than women with no history of sexual assault. Implications for how college campuses might respond more effectively to reported sexual assaults are discussed.
A National Study on Psychological Violence in Brazil: Differences by Sex and Skin Color
Authors: Garcia Neves Rosália , Goulart Peres Tyele , Nogueira Gonzalez Tatiane , Nascimento da Silva Carine , Goulart Ivana , Pereira Machado Karla , de Oliveira Saes Mirelle
Published: October 2023

Violence is a global public health problem that affects especially the most vulnerable people. The aim was to analyze the prevalence of psychological violence in the Brazilian population and inequalities according to sex and skin color. This was a cross-sectional study in which the database of the National Health Survey 2019 was used. Psychological violence was considered present when an individual answered yes to at least one of the five variables investigated: In the last 12 months, has anyone (a) offended you, humiliated you, or ridiculed you in front of other people?; (b) yelled at you or called you names?; (c) used social media or cell phones to threaten, offend, curse, or expose your images without your consent?; (d) threatened to hurt you or hurt someone important to you?; and (e) destroyed something of yours on purpose? The independent variable was skin color. The crude prevalence ratio (PR) was determined by Poisson regression. All analyses were stratified by sex. Of the 88,531 respondents, 41,662 were males and 46,869 were females. The prevalence of the presence of psychological violence was 19% in women and 15.6% in men. Men and women with black/brown/yellow/indigenous skin color were 20% and 15% more likely to suffer one or more items of psychological violence, respectively, than men and women with white skin color ( PR = 1.20; 95% CI [1.11, 1.30] and PR = 1.15; 95% CI [1.08, 1.23]). Psychological violence occurred predominantly against females and individuals with black/brown/yellow/indigenous skin color. There were notable inequalities in the exposure to this type of violence that need to be considered when making plans to address this problem. The findings emphasize the relevance of constantly reviewing political and social constructions to promote a reduction of inequalities.
Digital Dating Abuse: An Application of the Theory of Planned Behavior
Authors: McArthur Jennifer , Blais Julie , Ternes Marguerite
Published: October 2023

Social media and other technologies are being increasingly adopted as mechanisms to perpetrate abuse against dating partners. Using Ajzen’s theory of planned behavior as a framework, a sample of 352 emerging adults completed a questionnaire that assessed the core constructs of the theory of planned behavior (i.e., attitudes, subjective norms, perceived behavioral control), as well as intentions to commit three types of digital dating abuse in the near future: digital monitoring and control, digital direct aggression, and digital sexual coercion. The models explained 44%, 34%, and 44% of the variance in intentions to commit digitally facilitated monitoring and control, direct aggression, and sexual coercion, respectively. Attitudes and subjective norms significantly predicted intentions, whereas perceived behavioral control did not. Given the increasing prevalence of digital dating abuse, prevention efforts should target attitudes toward digital dating abuse-related behaviors and perceptions of social acceptability and engagement.
Collective Compassion: Responding to Structural Barriers to Compassion With Agentic Action in Healthcare Organizations
Authors: Leach Rebecca B. , Zanin Alaina C. , Tracy Sarah J. , Adame Elissa A.
Published: October 2023

This study investigates compassion among coworkers in healthcare organizations through a lens of structuration theory. The purpose of this study is to examine how healthcare workers exercise agency to (re)produce or transform structures related to the communication of compassion in the workplace, particularly in the context of COVID-19. This study utilizes a phronetic iterative approach and data collected through in-depth, semi-structured interviews with healthcare workers ( N = 27). Qualitative data revealed how healthcare workers responded to structural constraints in managed care through agentic action such as earnest script-breaking, creating spiral time, and coordinating compassion as a collective. Extending compassion scholarship, this study highlights compassion as a communicative, collective, and co-constructed process. Theoretical and practical implications are discussed, followed by directions for future research.
Global De-risking and Local Risk-taking: Chinese Entrepreneurship and Technologies in Time of Global Challenges
Authors: Shi Heini
Published: October 2023

Global environmental crises, geopolitical tensions, and the emergence of new technologies are compelling businesses to adapt to changes. This article delves into strategies employed by Chinese entrepreneurs seeking to create and develop sustainable products and markets by using bio-engineering and digital technologies as a ‘new generation’ of appropriate technologies. The article uses case studies to illustrate that these sophisticated technologies are large scale, both in geographical coverage and numbers of users. Their growing accessibility, often at relatively low costs, to large populations, raises ethical concerns, as deployment may precede a comprehensive understanding or regulation of their applications. The analytical focus shifts from merely evaluating the impact of these technologies on development and poverty alleviation, as traditionally associated with appropriate technologies, to scrutinizing businesses’ accountability for their ethical use and control. Consequently, appropriate technologies should be redefined for the 21st century: ‘broad and bold’, as well as ‘small’, may also be beautiful.