bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Static and Dynamic Compression Performances of Hybrid Fiber‐Reinforced Lightweight Aggregate Concrete
Authors: Zhou Yan , Chen Ming-Gao
Published: December 2022

In this study, basalt fiber and polypropylene fiber with different volume ratios were mixed into lightweight aggregate concrete (LAC), and the static compressive strength and dynamic compressive performance of LAC mixed with fiber were tested. The influence of basalt fiber and polypropylene fiber on the stress‐strain relationship and energy conversion relationship of LAC was analyzed. The results show that basalt fiber and polypropylene fiber with an appropriate volume ratio are beneficial to enhance the strength and toughness of LAC, but the mixing effect is better. When the volume ratio of mixed fibers is 0.2%, the compressive strength, elastic modulus, peak strain, and ultimate strain are increased by 61.9%, 23.57%, 32.81%, and 45.14%, respectively, compared with the LAC without fibers. Based on the statistical damage theory, the compressive damage constitutive model of fiber LAC is established; fiber improves the ductility and energy absorption capacity of LAC and shows better impact resistance. Finally, based on modern SEM microscopic testing technology and EDS testing technology, the internal structure and chemical element composition of ordinary LAC and fiber lightweight aggregate were compared and analyzed. The internal compactness of the aggregate concrete improves the strength and toughness of the lightweight aggregate concrete, which reveals the mechanism of the fiber on the LAC from a microscopic point of view.
Research Progress in Intestinal Microecology in Pancreatic Cancer Diagnosis and Treatment
Authors: Han Zetao , Zhang Haiyan , Lu Lu , Li Xin , Zhang Caoyu , Zhu Jiajie , Li Chaonan , Wang Qingjing , Chen Keda
Published: December 2022

The intestinal microbiota has an increasingly recognized role in the development of cancer, in which microbial interactions play a more important than expected role. Pancreatic cancer is a highly fatal disease, in which its mortality is closely related to its morbidity. Early detection is the best chance of improving survival. Through an in-depth understanding of the pancreatic cancer microbiota, we could establish screening or early diagnosis methods for pancreatic cancer, implement bacterial treatment, adjust the therapeutic effect, and even reduce adverse reactions. These would lead to new developments and provide hope for patients with pancreatic cancer. Herein, we review the progress in intestinal microbiology research to diagnose and treat pancreatic cancer.
Modeling and Analysis of Prostate Soft Tissue Puncture Performance using Puncture Needle
Authors: Li Bing , Yuan Lipeng
Published: December 2022

When treating prostate cancer, the use of puncture robots is an effective method to perform radioactive seed implantation surgery. However, when the puncture needle enters the lesion, the soft tissue is easily deformed owing to the complex force between the puncture needle and soft tissue, which leads to a puncture deviation between the needle tip and target point. To solve this problem effectively, the prostate soft tissue puncture process is studied based on the analysis of the puncture needle–soft tissue interaction. First, the puncture force is classified into contact, friction, and cutting forces by a quantitative decomposition method, and the corresponding force model is established. Based on the theoretical analysis of the model, it is deduced that these factors can affect the deformation created by puncturing the soft tissue. Subsequently, a puncture platform is built and many biomimetic soft tissue models are established. Multiple puncture experiments on the influencing factors are conducted using the method of controlling a single variable. Using the spatial puncture deviation as the test metrics, the significance of the influencing factors of the puncture deformation is verified. Finally, it can be concluded from the experimental analysis that the main factor that affects the puncture deviation is the puncture speed, whereas the puncture depth has no significant influence. The puncture speed was optimized and verified by experiments, and the results showed that a stable puncture accuracy under different puncture depths can be obtained by selecting an optimized puncture speed (12.6 mm/s). This work provides a design reference to study the positioning accuracy of minimally invasive puncture surgery.
Astragaloside IV Alleviates Brain Injury Induced by Hypoxia via the Calpain-1 Signaling Pathway
Authors: Meng Yan , Yu Shengxue , Zhao Fang , Liu Yu , Wang Yue , Fan Siqi , Su Yuhong , Lu Meili , Wang Hongxin
Published: December 2022

Long-term hypoxia can induce oxidative stress and apoptosis in hippocampal neurons that can lead to brain injury diseases. Astragaloside IV (AS-IV) is widely used in the antiapoptotic therapy of brain injury diseases. However, its mechanism of action is still not fully understood. In this study, we investigated the effect of AS-IV on hypoxia-induced oxidative stress and apoptosis in hippocampal neurons and explored its possible mechanism. In vivo, mice were placed in a hypoxic circulatory device containing 10% O2 and gavaged with AS-IV (60 and 120 mg/kg/d) for 4 weeks. In vitro, mouse hippocampal neuronal cells (HT22) were treated with hypoxia (1% O2) for 24 hours in the presence or absence of AS-IV, MDL-28170 (calpain-1 inhibitor), or YC-1 (HIF-1α inhibitor). The protective effect of AS-IV on brain injury was further explored by examining calpain-1 knockout mice. The results showed that hypoxia induced damage to hippocampal neurons, impaired spatial learning and memory abilities, and increased oxidative stress and apoptosis. Treatment with AS-IV or calpain-1 knockout improved the damage to hippocampal neurons and spatial learning and memory, attenuated oxidative stress and inhibited cell apoptosis. These changes were verified in HT22 cells. Overexpression of calpain-1 abolished the improvement of AS-IV on apoptosis and oxidative stress. In addition, the effects of AS-IV were accompanied by decreased calpain-1 and HIF-1α expression, and YC-1 showed a similar effect as AS-IV on calpain-1 and caspase-3 expression. In conclusion, this study demonstrates that AS-IV can downregulate the calpain-1/HIF-1α/caspase-3 pathway and inhibit oxidative stress and apoptosis of hippocampal neurons induced by hypoxia, which provides new ideas for studying the antiapoptotic activity of AS-IV.
Complementary Effects of Surgery and Pexidartinib in the Management of Patients with Complex Diffuse-Tenosynovial Giant Cell Tumor
Authors: Bernthal Nicholas M. , Randall R. Lor , Zeitlinger Lauren N. , Geiger Erik J. , Healey John H.
Published: December 2022

Tenosynovial giant cell tumor (TGCT) is a rare neoplasm of the joint synovium that has a wide clinical spectrum including pain and stiffness in the affected joint, joint swelling, periarticular erosions, and cartilage loss, which can severely impact quality of life. The mainstay treatment for TGCT has been surgery involving partial or total synovectomy using arthroscopic or open techniques. However, surgical resection alone is associated with high recurrence rates, particularly in diffuse-TGCT (D-TGCT) cases. The 3 cases presented here summarize a combination approach (surgery+pexidartinib [tyrosine kinase inhibitor]) in patients with previously unresectable or inoperable D-TGCT. Case 1-Hip. A 29-year-old male was treated with pexidartinib prior to surgery, resulting in tumor reduction. A left total hip arthroplasty (THA) was then performed with a lack of recurrence in 12 months postoperative, and the patient currently on pexidartinib treatment. Case 2-Foot. A 35-year-old female, nearly a decade following a left foot mass resection, was treated with pexidartinib following disease recurrence. A decrease in soft tissue lesions at the midfoot and decreased marrow enhancement at the first metatarsal head were seen within 4–5 months of pexidartinib treatment; the patient is currently on pexidartinib (400 mg/day) with improved symptom control. Case 3-Knee. A 55-year-old male patient received pexidartinib pre- and postoperatively. A reduction in swelling and the size of the popliteal cyst was significant and maintained, with the synovial disease growing when pexidartinib was discontinued. Surgery and adjuvant therapy eliminated the disease as of the last follow-up visit (11 months postoperative). These cases provide a unique perspective based on tumor location, type/timing of treatment strategy, and patient outcomes. Optimal treatment strategies for this debilitating disease may entail utilizing a combination approach (surgery+systemic treatment) to reduce surgical morbidity and the risk of postoperative disease recurrence.
Automated Detection of Microseismic Arrival Based on Convolutional Neural Networks
Authors: Liu Weijian , Chang Haoyuan , Xiao Yang , Yu Shuisheng , Huang Chuanbo , Yao Yuntian
Published: December 2022

It is difficult to accurately and efficiently detect seismic wave signals at the time of arrival for automatic positioning from microseismic waves. A U-net model to detect the arrival time of seismic waves is constructed based on the convolutional neural network (CNN) theory. The original data for 1555 segments and synthetic data of 7764 segments were detected using Akaike’s information criterion (AIC) algorithm, the time window energy eigenvalue algorithm, and the U-net model. During uniaxial compression of the test block, acoustic emission equipment is used to collect the vibration wave generated by the rupture of the test block. Source imaging images are drawn using the Origin software, the arrival time error is counted, and the advantages and disadvantages of the three arrival time methods are discussed. Similarities between the source image and the actual fracture image are observed. There is a high similarity between the source imaging map and the physical trajectory map when the U-net model is used. Thus, it is feasible to use the U-net model to detect the arrival time of seismic waves. Its accuracy is greater than that of the time window energy eigenvalue algorithm but lower than that of the AIC algorithm for high signal-to-noise ratios. After reducing the signal-to-noise ratio, the stability and accuracy of the U-net model to detect the arrival time have improved over the other two algorithms.
Ultrastructure of a Columbite-Tantalite Mineral from the Zhaojinggou Ta-Nb Deposit in the North China Craton: Direct Evidence of the Formation Mechanism of the Columbite-Group Minerals
Authors: Zuo Yushan , Gao Zhengxi , Zuo Lei , Zhang Peng , Liu Rui , Zhang Qing , Zhang Tingting
Published: December 2022

The formation of columbite-group mineral phases in peraluminous granite has not been demonstrated to date. Here, a nanoscale study of the columbite-tantalite mineral in the Zhaojinggou Nb-Ta deposit in North China Craton elucidated its formation mechanism and the role of fluids in Nb-Ta mineralization. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) analysis of a focused ion beam cut of the columbite-tantalite mineral revealed a comparatively well-ordered mineral structure. Energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS) revealed the presence of Nb, Ta, Mn, W, Fe, Sn, and Pb in the columbite-tantalite mineral. Furthermore, detailed TEM images depicted the nanoscale hydrothermal fluid occurring within the columbite-group mineral grain as well as between columbite-tantalite mineral and quartz grains. K, Al, Si, and O were found to be enriched in the hydrothermal fluid that was present between the quartz grains and the columbite-tantalite mineral. It did not react with the mineral grains of the columbite group. The ultrastructure of the columbite-tantalite mineral suggested the columbite-group mineral in the Zhaojinggou Nb-Ta deposit formed during magmatic crystallization rather than from hydrothermal fluids. Furthermore, HR-TEM images provided the first nanoscale observations of the fluid-mediated mineral dissolution and amorphous phase formation. This study also revealed that the mineral dissolution, element transport, and reprecipitation were significantly influenced by the fluid amorphous phase in the Nb-Ta deposits.
Successful Management of Biliary Ascariasis in a High-Endemic Zone and Low-Resource Setting in Ethiopia
Authors: Asfaw Yonathan Aliye , Asrat Girum Tesfaye , Uddo Tesfanew Bekele , Asfaw Bethlehem Aliye , Anand Ayush , Huang Helen , Firew Eden Demessie , Anugu NagaSpurthy Reddy
Published: December 2022

Ascariasis lumbricoides is a roundworm that causes one of the most common soil-transmitted helminth infections worldwide. Ascariasis is typically found in the jejunum and transmitted through the intake of Ascaris lumbricoides eggs through food and water. Initially, ascariasis can cause pulmonary symptoms during the first 6–8 weeks of ingestion and can progress to serious complications of intestinal obstruction and hepatobiliary manifestations. Biliary ascariasis is a complication of ascariasis migration from the jejunum to the hepatobiliary tree and can present with a variety of symptoms ranging from biliary colic to more serious features such as acute cholangitis. Though the mortality rate is low, limited resources for management can make it challenging to manage.
Experimental Study on Fracture Properties of Hydraulic Concrete with Different Crack-Depth Ratios Based on Acoustic Emission and DIC Techniques
Authors: Ning Yingjie , Ye Linjie , Bai Lihui , Xie Chunhui , Xu Huiying
Published: December 2022

In order to study the fracture behavior of hydraulic concrete, wedge splitting tests are performed on notched cubic concrete specimens with different crack-depth ratios (0.3, 0.4, and 0.5). Meanwhile, acoustic emission and the digital image correlation method were used to monitor the crack propagation. Test results show that the initiation toughness of the hydraulic concrete specimen is independent of the crack-depth ratio. As the crack-depth ratio increases, the fracture toughness, the fracture energy, and the critical crack length decrease. The AE cumulative counts and hits can reflect not only the four-stages fracture process of hydraulic concrete but also the boundary effect of hydraulic concrete. The acoustic emission b value can reflect the two stages of postpeak damage of the hydraulic concrete. The length of fictitious crack, the propagation velocity of macrocrack and effective crack length decrease with the increase of the initial notch depth ratio. The effective crack length increases with the increase in the maximum aggregate size, and the growth time increases with the maximum aggregate size and an effective height of the specimen.
Servo System Control of Turntable Lipstick-Filling Machine Based on Particle Swarm Optimization
Authors: Zhong Xiangqiang , Tao Wenbo , Zou Lingling , Yang Huaian , Yao Shunyu
Published: December 2022

In order to improve the production quality of the lipstick-filling machines and the performance of the equipment, the structure of a turntable lipstick-filling machine was designed and the servo control was optimized, considering the known production defects. First, based on the lipstick-filling process, the structure of the turntable lipstick-filling machine was designed. Regarding the bubble problem in lipstick filling, an elastic connecting rod vibration device was designed. Based on the principle of PMSM and a position servo system, a mathematical model of the lipstick-filling servo system was established, the system transfer function was calculated and its dynamic performance was analyzed. Combined with the transfer function, the lipstick-filling servo system PID control and particle swarm optimization PID control simulation models were built. The system adjustment time ts was 0.7 s under particle swarm optimization. Finally, a prototype was built to verify the simulation optimization results. The experimental results demonstrate that the qualified rate of lipstick filling, under the particle swarm optimization PID control implementation, is 97%, indicating that the particle swarm algorithm is quite applicable and has an economic impact by improving the accuracy and stability of the lipstick-filling servo system.
Identification of Damage in Pear Using Hyperspectral Imaging Technology
Authors: Su Cheng-Tao , Li Bin , Yin Hai , Zou Ji-Ping , Zhang Feng , Liu Yan-De
Published: December 2022

Crown pears are an important economic crop, but their quality and economy are seriously affected by the different levels of damage. To improve the overall quality of crown pears, sorting of crown pears with different levels of damage is required. However, there are some shortcomings in the traditional detection methods, such as low efficiency and large error. Therefore, the hyperspectral technology was used to discriminate between sound and 3 different levels of damage (defined as level I, II, and III damage, respectively) of crown pears in this study. To improve the discriminatory accuracy of the model, absorbance (A) spectra and Kubelka–Munk (K-M) spectra were added to reflectance (R) spectra. The three spectra were pretreated; then, the partial least squares discriminant analysis (PLS-DA) model and the support vector machine (SVM) model were established to discriminate the crown pears with different levels of damage. The results of the discriminant model show that the discrimination accuracy of the SVM based on R, A, and K-M spectra is higher than that of PLS-DA of them; the A-RAW-SVM model has the best discrimination performance with an overall discrimination accuracy of 100% for the test and 98.98% for calibration sets, respectively. Finally, the spectra were selected by the competitive adaptive reweighted sampling (CARS) and the uninformative variables elimination (UVE) to obtain the characteristic wavelengths, and the SVM models were built based on the filtered R, A, and K-M. Their discrimination results show that the A-RAW-CARS-SVM model has the best discrimination ability, and the discrimination accuracies of the test and calibration sets of the model are 96.88% and 100%, respectively. The results show that the best discrimination of different levels of damage of crown pears is the SVM model based on a spectra. This study provides a theoretical basis and experimental basis for detecting the damage of crown pears using hyperspectral.
On Nonlinear Schrödinger-Bopp-Podolsky System with Asymptotically Periodic Potentials
Authors: Yang Heng , Yuan Yanxiang , Liu Jiu
Published: December 2022

In the paper, we study the existence of ground states for a nonlinear Schrödinger-Bopp-Podolsky system with asymptotically periodic potentials. As a consequence, we also prove ground states for the nonlinear Schrödinger-Bopp-Podolsky system with periodic potentials.
To Explore the Inhibitory Mechanism of Quercetin in Thyroid Papillary Carcinoma through Network Pharmacology and Experiments
Authors: Sun Ying , Xie Wenjun , Kang Ning , Yi Jiaoyu , Ruan Xianhui , Hu Linfei , Zhao Jingzhu , Zheng Xiangqian , Wei Songfeng , Gao Ming
Published: December 2022

Quercetin, a flavonoid with anti-inflammatory and anticancer properties, is expected to be an innovative anticancer therapeutic agent for papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC). However, the downstream signaling pathways that mediate quercetin-dependent anticancer properties remain to be deciphered. Herein, potential targets of quercetin were screened with several bioinformatic avenues including PharmMapper, Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) database, protein–protein interaction (PPI) network, and molecular docking. Besides, western blot, CCK-8 transwell analysis of migration and invasion, flow cytometric analysis, and colony formation assays were performed to investigate the underlying mechanism. We found four core nodes (MMP9, JUN, SPP1, and HMOX1) by constructing a PPI network with 23 common targets. Through functional enrichment analysis, we confirmed that the above four target genes are enriched in the TNF, PI3K-AKT, and NF-κB signaling pathways, which are involved in the inflammatory microenvironment and inhibit the development and progression of tumors. Furthermore, molecular docking results demonstrated that quercetin shows strong binding efficiency with the proteins encoded by these 4 key proteins. Finally, quercetin displayed strong antitumor efficacy in PTC cell lines. In this research, we demonstrated the application of network pharmacology in evaluating the mechanisms of action and molecular targets of quercetin, which regulates a variety of proteins and signaling pathways in PTC. These data might explain the mechanism underlying the anticancer effects of quercetin in PTC.
Evaluation of a Polyherbal Formulation on the Management of Migraine Headaches due to Functional Dyspepsia: A Double-Blind, Randomized, Placebo-Controlled Clinical Trial
Authors: Anushiravani Majid , Hosseini Seyed Mousal-Reza , Nikkhah Karim , Niroumand Shabnam , Derakhshan Ali Reza , Salari Roshanak , Gholampour Ali , Askari Vahid Reza
Published: December 2022

A holistic concept based on traditional Persian medicine (TPM) describes a headache with a gastrointestinal (GI) origin (gastric-headache). Although the neurological manifestations of this headache are similar to those of other headaches, its etiology is different. Considering its simultaneous effects on the brain and GI system, a formulation was designed based on this concept. This study aimed to determine the safety and efficacy of the designed formulation on migraine headache (MH) associated with functional dyspepsia (FD). A total of 75 diagnosed cases of MH patients with concurrent FD were randomly divided equally into 3 groups: (i) the polyherbal formulation, sodium valproate (VPA), and amitriptyline group, (ii) VPA, amitriptyline, and polyherbal formulation placebo group, and (iii) the polyherbal formulation and VPA placebo group. The primary outcomes, including frequency, duration, and severity of MH attacks, were measured at baseline and weeks 4, 8, and 12. However, secondary outcomes, including the Headache Impact Test 6 (HIT-6) Questionnaire and Parkman’s score, were evaluated at baseline and end of treatment. The frequency, duration, and severity of migraine (

P
<
0.001

for all cases), HIT-6 (

P
<
0.001

for all cases), and FD (

P
<
0.001

for all cases) scores at the end of treatment showed a significant decrease in the 3 groups compared to the baseline. However, the differences in those variables between the 3 groups were not significant at the end of the study. The polyherbal formulation alone may improve the symptoms of migraine patients and other groups. This effect could be due to improving digestion and FD in migraine patients.
Current Indications for Intraarterial Chemotherapy in Neurointerventional Surgery
Authors: Mott Bryan T. , Iyer Ankitha , Smith Eleanor , Fargen Kyle , Brown Patrick , Wolfe Stacey Quintero
Published: December 2022

Background

In pursuit of a cure for cancer, it is imperative to utilize every tool, resource, and strategy. Included under this umbrella is the optimization of drug delivery. Broadly speaking, anti‐cancer treatment has been perpetually hindered by off‐target activity, systemic toxicity, and other adverse reactions. Intraarterial (IA) delivery of therapeutics is an approach that has garnered increased attention in recent years. This approach can deliver drug directly to the desired site with the potential to minimize systemic toxicity.

Methods

In this review, we briefly cover existing IA indications for peripheral solid tumors as a base from which we can learn, followed by trials and procedural considerations of IA drug delivery for neck, head, and central nervous system tumors.

Results

While the bulk of IA research and clinical trials have focused on drug delivery outside of the central nervous system, there have been recent encouraging results in IA tumor treatment within the neurointerventional arena, such as head and neck tumors, retinoblastoma, glioblastoma multiforme, and central nervous system lymphoma.

Conclusion

This review highlights the need for increased clinical research on IA chemotherapeutic delivery as a multi‐disciplinary approach involving neurointerventional surgeons.
Choice Type Impacts Human Reinforcement Learning
Authors: Rmus Milena , Zou Amy , Collins Anne G. E.
Published: December 2022

In reinforcement learning (RL) experiments, participants learn to make rewarding choices in response to different stimuli; RL models use outcomes to estimate stimulus–response values that change incrementally. RL models consider any response type indiscriminately, ranging from more concretely defined motor choices (pressing a key with the index finger), to more general choices that can be executed in a number of ways (selecting dinner at the restaurant). However, does the learning process vary as a function of the choice type? In Experiment 1, we show that it does: Participants were slower and less accurate in learning correct choices of a general format compared with learning more concrete motor actions. Using computational modeling, we show that two mechanisms contribute to this. First, there was evidence of irrelevant credit assignment: The values of motor actions interfered with the values of other choice dimensions, resulting in more incorrect choices when the correct response was not defined by a single motor action; second, information integration for relevant general choices was slower. In Experiment 2, we replicated and further extended the findings from Experiment 1 by showing that slowed learning was attributable to weaker working memory use, rather than slowed RL. In both experiments, we ruled out the explanation that the difference in performance between two condition types was driven by difficulty/different levels of complexity. We conclude that defining a more abstract choice space used by multiple learning systems for credit assignment recruits executive resources, limiting how much such processes then contribute to fast learning.
Tangling with the Entangled Brain: Putting the Global Back into the Local
Authors: Sadaghiani Sepideh , Alderson Thomas H.
Published: December 2022

Pessoa's precis The Entangled Brain is a call to action. The larger concepts resonate with existing complex systems frameworks in general and in neuroscience in particular, especially in the fields of connectomics and criticality [Cocchi, L., Gollo, L. L., Zalesky, A., & Breakspear, M. Criticality in the brain: A synthesis of neurobiology, models and cognition. Progress in Neurobiology, 158, 132–152, 2017; Bassett, D. S., & Gazzaniga, M. S. Understanding complexity in the human brain. Trends in Cognitive Sciences, 15, 200–209, 2011]. What is provocative from our perspective is that despite recognizing the brain as a complex system, the experimental approaches adopted by our community largely fail to align with this recognition. In this commentary, we lay out the fundamental challenge Pessoa brings to the neuroscience community: to engage with the brain, conceptually and experimentally, as a complex whole.
Syria Conflict and its Impact
Authors: Qandeel Mais , Sommer Jamie
Published: December 2022

The Syrian war has caused catastrophic damage to the lives and livelihoods of millions of people. Chemical attacks in particular have been tremendously devastating to both humans and wildlife ecosystems. Building on previous research in international humanitarian law (ihl) and the protection of the environment, this article identifies the immediate and long-term impact that the use and storage of chemical weapons has on the environment as against the shortcomings in legal coverage for the same. This article further argues that existing ihl provisions addressing the consequences of environmental warfare are fragmented at best, even when applied to a current case that most would consider to be highly applicable to ihl.
Weaving Emotions, Transforming Families: Gendered Power Relations in Filipino Migrant Family Reunification Experiences
Authors: Abrugena Justine Grace N.
Published: December 2022

This essay discusses the transformations of family relations, dynamics and structures after reunification of Filipino migrant families in Barcelona, Spain. Ethnographic data were drawn from the narratives of eight Filipino reunited families in Barcelona. The study is anchored on a framework intertwining theories of transnationalism, gender, and family through an emotions lens in migration studies. The results bring to the fore the significance of emotions, and how emotions stem from gendered and cultural ideas. More specifically, as emotions shape migrant behaviour and decision-making in relation to reunification, so they are implicated in the transformation of power relations, roles, hierarchies and values within the family. This essay provides a typology of emotions, practices and processes in transnational family reunification that goes beyond emotional discourse in migration framed as the ‘pursuit of happiness’. Data analysis provides three sets of typology: euphoria and guilt; dependency; indebtedness and helplessness; and resentment and gratitude.
Digital Mosque: Muslim Communities in Germany and Their Digital Strategies in the COVID-19 Pandemic
Authors: Tabti Samira
Published: December 2022

The COVID-19-effect, without overestimating it, seems to contribute to raising the use of digital media and online communication in Muslim communities. Digitisation is increasingly finding its way into community work and is changing communication and working methods. Many Muslim communities in Germany have improved and expanded their online services since the 2020 pandemic. Mosque communities most frequently use Facebook and their websites. They digitise, present, and archive religious content on commercial online platforms. In doing so, they create alternative forms of public visibility. However, the topics of COVID-19 and digital online media also produce theological discourses that deal with questions of the possibilities and limits of digitalisation. Especially when it comes to the extent how which religious content and religious practices can be digitised and digitalised.
Vessel diameter and vulnerability to drought-induced embolism: within-tissue and across-species patterns and the issue of survivorship bias
Authors: Hacke Uwe G. , Jacobsen Anna L. , Pratt R. Brandon
Published: December 2022

Sherwin Carlquist was aware that wood represents a compromise between transport efficiency and safety. He considered wide vessels to be more vulnerable to drought-induced embolism than narrow conduits. He proposed that narrow vessels might provide redundancy and conductive safety. Research on vessel diameter and safety emerged in the 1970s and has dramatically grown in recent years showing the transformative impact these concepts have had on current research. We show how our experimental work largely supports Carlquist’s assumptions on the vulnerability of wide vessels. Although there is great variability in the vulnerability of narrow vessels, the data show that wide vessels are always vulnerable. We offer explanations for why narrow vessels differ in their vulnerability, and these explanations are rooted in Carlquist’s observations on the woody Californian flora. We recognize that there is disagreement among researchers on the correlation between vessel diameter and vulnerability to drought-induced embolism. In relation to this, we discuss the issue of flushing, i.e., whether embolism should be removed prior to generating a vulnerability to cavitation curve. Constructing a vulnerability curve from native samples that contain a substantial fraction of embolized vessels is an example of ‘survivorship bias’ because only those vessels that remained functional through a past selection process are included. Survivorship bias can lead to false conclusions on the relationship between vessel diameter and embolism resistance. This is especially the case because anatomical measures rarely incorporate functional information on the selection of measured vessels, leading to a mismatch between vessels evaluated for function and anatomy.
Comparative Outline of the Terms “Great Unification”, “China”, and “All-under-Heaven”
Authors: Yang Nianqun
Published: December 2022

The concepts “Great Unification” (Dayitong 大一統), “China” (Zhongguo 中國), and “all-under-Heaven” (Tianxia 天下) are all research topics which continue to attract the focus of the Chinese historical community. The three concepts are both related and different. This paper conducts a preliminary comparative analysis of the content of the three concepts and the role that they play in specific historical studies. It finds that the concept “China” emphasizes the origin of Huaxia 華夏 civilization and its significance as a center for expansion and Sinicization of surrounding ethnic groups. The concept “all-under-Heaven,” meanwhile, places more stress on the overall political governance relationship between the center and the periphery. Finally, the concept “Great Unification” focuses on the process by which a dynasty establishes its legitimacy in terms of both ideology and practice. Only by examining the three concepts together can we fully grasp the overall direction and characteristics of Chinese history.
The Earliest “China”: The Concept of Zhongguo during the Xia, Shang, and Western Zhou Dynasties
Authors: Zhao Yongchun , Chi Anran
Published: December 2022

The inscription of “He Zun” 何尊 and the “Zicai” 梓材 in Shangshu 尚書, both of which record events during the early Western Zhou dynasty, are historical texts containing the earliest appearance of the term zhongguo 中國. The zhongguo in those texts was a concept which was extremely rich in meaning. It does not refer specifically to the Luoyang 洛陽 region, which was then considered the heart of the Chinese kingdom, but rather refers to the capital in a geographical sense as well as the state in a political sense. When zhongguo first appeared in writing, it did not refer to China and Chinese culture yet. It was neither a racial concept which referred specifically to the Chinese race, nor a cultural concept which referred to Chinese culture. When zhongguo first appeared in writing during the early Zhou dynasty, it was a written record of the concept of zhongguo which was already in wide circulation in society at that time. In fact, the concept of zhongguo probably originated even before the early Western Zhou dynasty. Noting the origins of concepts such as zhong 中 and dizhong 地中 (the center of the land), some archaeologists have concluded that zhongguo first appeared during the Taosi 陶寺 period, the Miaodigou 廟底溝 period, or the Erlitou 二里頭 period. Studying these archaeological findings in conjunction with recounts regarding zhongguo in historical texts, it is probably historically accurate to date the earliest appearance of the concept of zhongguo to the founding of the Xia dynasty.
Ekphrastic Expression of Western Painting and Cultural In-Betweenness in Evliyâ Çelebi’s Seyahatnâme (The Book of Travels)
Authors: Kaya Nilay
Published: December 2022

Ekphrasis, a part of the ancient Greek and Roman rhetorical practices, is, in its most basic sense, the verbal expression of a visual object. Since the description of Achilles’ shield in Homer’s Iliad, ekphrasis has been a literary practice used for the portrayal of visual artworks through fiction and poetry, as well as in prose written in history, art criticism and travelogues. Ekphrasis is a convenient literary tool for analysing the author’s treatment of the object depicted. Ekphrastic studies enable the identification of the author’s relationship with objectivity and subjectivity, and the building blocks of the said subjectivity, through literary elements. What kind of fictional language does ekphrasis, which is essentially the act of making the mute object speak, point to, in Evliya Çelebi’s representation? This article will aim to examine the subjective factors, personal taste and cultural positioning that emerge in Evliyâ Çelebi’s writing practice, mainly in his “ekphrastic” narration of the Western paintings that he saw in the Balkans and Vienna, which he describes in great detail in his Seyahatnâme. It is of the author’s opinion that, although Evliyâ Çelebi’s cultural positioning imposed limitations on his aesthetic perception and ekphrastic narration, he had an admiration for the Western art; and his “actual” cultural position manifests itself in an “in-betweenness” in the East-West spiral, which also reflects his unique literary mode.
Landscape Painting in the Tang Dynasty: On “Changes” and the Historical Constitution of the Concept
Authors: Ning Xiaomeng
Published: December 2022

Focusing on the “bian” (changes) of Chinese landscape painting in the Tang Dynasty, this essay seeks to expound a breakthrough in the study of painting in the dynasty. Such a study was once difficult to carry out in the form of pictorial and stylistic analyses due to the lack of physical works. By showing that the prevailing landscape paintings of two representative painters Wu Daozi and Li Sixun were at the time most likely to be dominated by the sutra paintings and pictures of the immortal land, the essay attempts to demonstrate that the meaning of “changes” in landscape painting lies more in the change of style in representing landscape and the attitude of critics towards landscape paintings than in the change of subject matter. Meanwhile, it is worth noting that historical narratives also played a key role in constituting the concept of “landscape painting.” The focus on and analysis of the historical constitution itself provide people with another possible and feasible research approach in addition to the one based on the analysis of works and images.
Dendrochronological Research in Amsterdam Monuments: House Building, Timber Trade, and Methodological Implications
Authors: van Tussenbroek Gabri
Published: December 2022

Between 2006 and 2022 dendrochronological research on buildings was conducted in the historical inner city of Amsterdam with the aim to obtain knowledge about the dating of structures and increase knowledge about the use of wood, its origin, and the timber market in the past. This study highlights three topics: (1) house building in Amsterdam and the transition from oak to pine for construction timber around 1600, which led to new solutions in the construction of houses; (2) the availability of timber with various provenances in the local market and the varied applications of different timber products in construction; (3) the methodological implications of dendrochronology for building historical research. The question to be addressed is the extent to which dendrochronological research provides new knowledge about the building history of an entire city. The significance and quality of this material source was compared with written sources, showing that dendrochronological research can lead to new interpretations of archival material.
Foundlings Raised in the Temple? The Meaning of dumu kar-ra in Ur III Umma
Authors: Ouyang Xiaoli
Published: December 2022

Dozens of temple records from Ur III Umma attest to the Sumerian expression dumu kar-ra. Previous literature interprets it as referring to children born out of wedlock, based on its connection to the term géme kar-kid/kìd (“prostitutes”). An examination of the records shows that dumu kar-ra never appears in the same context as prostitutes. Instead, it appeared among the votive gifts donated to gods by married women and professional men. The gender, age, or name of a dumu kar-ra is never specified in any case. The clues lead to the possibility that the dumu kar-ra could have been young foundlings that people picked up in the quay area and later brought to the temple for long-term care. The temple raised the foundlings with the sponsorship of the Umma government.
How Well Did the “Eternal Treaty” Function? An Appraisal by the Correspondence Between Hattusili III and Ramesses II
Authors: Guo Zhiyun
Published: December 2022

This essay aims to verify that the “Eternal Treaty” was enforced after its conclusion by the Hittite King Hattusili III and the Egyptian Pharaoh Ramesses II. Through the classification, interpretation, and analysis of their letters, combined with historical facts, we can verify whether the treaty accomplished its purpose. The “Eternal Treaty” provided a diplomatic framework for Hatti and Egypt, and as a result, this article demonstrates that almost all of the diplomatic affairs between these two states were based on its clauses.
Eastward Warfare and Westward Peace: On the “One-Sided” Foreign Policy of Ur III Dynasty (2112–2004 BC)
Authors: Liu Changyu
Published: December 2022

The conference presentation that prompted the writing of this short communication formed a part of a new project entitled “A Study of the Foreign Relations of Ur III Mesopotamia,” which will study a wide range of textual data from the late third millennium BC to investigate the nature of Ur III foreign policy. After a general introduction to the project, the article offers a preliminary survey of Ur III year formulae as an accurate and reliable source of information on Ur III military and geopolitical state policy, demonstrating a distinct military emphasis on the eastern and northeastern regions of the state.
Royal Titles in Ur III Mesopotamia and China in the Shang Dynasty
Authors: Chao Xueting
Published: December 2022

This article examines historical transformations of the royal titles employed by kings of Ur III Mesopotamia and the Shang dynasty China. More specifically, it attends to the diverse ways in which royal titles were produced during the development of kingship and early state formation. The article engages mainly with royal titulary in the Ur III dynasty – “mighty man/king, king of Ur, king of Sumer and Akkad/king of the four quarters,” as well as “god of his land” after the self-deification of the king – and three separate royal titles of the Shang dynasty: “king” (王), “I, the one man” (余一人) and “common ruler of all under heaven” (天下共主). Using comparative approach, the article argues that the royal titulary of Ur III reflects particular historical circumstances and the traits of the king, while royal titles in Shang highlight the supremacy, uniqueness as well as loneliness of kingship.
Breaking down bias
Authors: Burkholder Joel , Phillips Kat
Published: December 2022

What is bias? A review of the library literature reveals no attempts to define the concept. Nor does it reveal systematic attempts to develop interventions that teach the identification and evaluation of bias. Current pedagogical approaches (checklists and bias charts) tend to assume a self-evident definition that categorises bias as unquestioningly bad and disqualifying. Current approaches, however, fail to recognise the cognitive complexity of decoding bias within a source. A decoding process includes identifying the type of bias, determining an objective baseline, recognising biased features, and analysing bias’s impact. Based on work done from several fields—argumentation theory, media bias, media literacy, and history education—this paper proposes an operational definition of bias and a practical framework for conceptualising a process to identify and evaluate bias. This paper will explore the limitations of this framework, as well as existing source evaluation paradigms. If librarians want to prepare individuals to participate in a post-truth society, where disinformation weaponises bias by appealing to emotions and beliefs rather than facts, an inclusive and nuanced conception of bias is a necessary component of library instruction.
Numerical simulations of combined size effects acting on an open-hole laminated composite plate under tension
Authors: Serra Joel , Bouvet Christophe , Karinja Haridas Prajwal , Ratsifandrihana Léon
Published: December 2022

Numerical and experimental research programs have been carried out to investigate the effect of scaling on the tensile strength of notched composites. This paper presents a computational study of scaled open-hole tensile tests using the Discrete Ply Model (DPM) method. This finite element model is discrete, and only a small number of parameters are required from experimental characterization tests. Experimental and numerical strength values are compared here, and reveal that DPM simulations tend to slightly overestimate strength values, with an average discrepancy of 9.7%. However, DPM Results show that such modeling simulates both the reduction in strength when specimen size is increased for sublaminate level scaled specimens, where failure is fiber dominated, and the increase in strength when specimen size is increased for ply level scaled specimens, where failure is delamination dominated. In all cases, increasing the total thickness of the specimen leads to a decrease in strength and this effect is dominant over the effect of increasing hole diameter. As well as the variation in strength, three distinct failure mechanisms are observed: fiber failure with extensive matrix damage (pull-out failure), fiber failure with little or no matrix damage (brittle failure) and delamination failure. Comparisons with experiments demonstrate that tensile strengths, damage propagation scenarios and failure patterns are predicted with acceptable accuracy.
Advance Care Planning Among Adult Patients and Their End-of-Life Care Preferences
Authors: Liu Chia-Jen , Yang Chun-Yi , Hsieh Ming-Hsuan , Liu Chih-Kuang , Chen Ming-Chih , Huang Sheng-Jean , Yeh Te-Chun
Published: December 2022

To explore people’s intentions to opt for a good death when planning for their end-of-life care, this study examined the type of end-of-life care preferred by patients receiving advance care planning (ACP) consulting services for five specified clinical and disability conditions and possible factors affecting their decision-making. This cross-sectional study analyzed 1303 hospital patients and 1032 nonhospital patients who attended a clinic providing ACP consulting services. This study revealed the following two results. First, patients who were older, were female, did not have an appointed surrogate decision-maker, and were nonhospital patients had a higher intention of not receiving life-sustaining treatments (LST) or artificial nutrition and hydration (ANH) under the five specified clinical and disability conditions. Second, people who were the least willing to receive LST or ANH under the following conditions (in descending order): permanent vegetative state, severe dementia, irreversible coma, other disease conditions recognized by the central competent authority, and end-of-life stage.