bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
What School did You Go To? Education and Status in Edinburgh
Authors: McCrone David
Published: September 2023

Ostensibly feeding the world of social elites is the Edinburgh private school system. This is the sphere of cultural power, though not distinct from the world of economics, nor of the dominant professions in the city: law, medicine and accountancy. The historic ubiquity of the question - what school did you go to? – is an attempt to ‘place’ people in the local social hierarchy. The question is: to what extent that still prevails. Are we able to identify a social-political caste who hold power, or is power nowadays a function of technocratic structures and financial sleights-of-hand? The chapter explores the shifting status of private schools in the city, as social, economic and cultural changes impact on Edinburgh.
Lost in Leith: Accounting for Edinburgh’s Trams
Authors: McCrone David
Published: September 2023

As a vehicle for economic development, the City of Edinburgh Council in the early 21st century embarked on a programme of investing in a tram network. The sage of Edinburgh’s trams sheds important light on systems of power and influence in the city. ‘The Trams’ had all the hallmarks of a ‘megaproject’, heavily over-budget and out of time. It shows how Edinburgh became an example of the ‘calculable city’ in which assets are treated as future forms of revenue rather than as public resources. In particular, such projects shed light on ‘outsourcing the state’, and the ways in which cities are treated as collections of tradable assets, not under the direct control of political representatives.
Introduction: A Military Regime in the Third Century ad
Authors: Waldron Byron
Published: September 2023

This chapter discusses the controversial sources employed when studying the late third century and the Tetrarchic period, including Zosimus, Lactantius, the Historia Augusta,epitomes, coins, and the Panegyrici Latini. It considers ‘official’ media and the bilateral shaping of imperial ideology.The introduction then explains and defends the book’s premise, namely that by the time Diocletian took power in 284, the military had come to dominate imperial politics, and that the rise of Diocletian and his co-rulers had depended upon the increased political power of Rome’s military units. It discusses how Rome’s armies became increasingly involved in imperial politics over the course of the third century, looking at military rebellion, changes in the command of Rome’s armies, and the usurpation of the position of Roman emperor by military professionals. It then argues that Diocletian and his co-rulers were likewise military professionals and had benefitted from military revolts.
A Tale of Two Princes: Constantine and Maxentius before 306
Authors: Waldron Byron
Published: September 2023

This chapter reconstructs and examines the lives and careers of Maxentius and Constantine prior to their seizures of power in 306. It is argued that Diocletian sought to control the princes and discourage the assumption that they were to become Caesars. Diocletian appears to have kept Constantine under surveillance as a hostage, and to have denied him an independent military command and a dynastic marriage. Maxentius was in theory bound to Galerius through his marriage to Galerius’ daughter Maximilla, andthe Augusti may have located him in Rome partly so that he would be far from the armies. But in some respects, Diocletian undermined these efforts. Diocletian granted Constantine military tribunates and allowed the prince to be seen alongside himself and Galerius. Maxentius’ marriage to Maximilla was prestigious, and his relationshipwith Rome, where he served as a representative of the emperors, lent the prince a special kind of legitimacy as well as access to a powerful but discontented city. Tradition dictated that princes be treated as important, and Diocletian also may not have been sufficiently transparent about the prospects of the sons. Maxentius was treated more favourably than Constantine, since he was the son of Diocletian’s long-time ally Maximian.
Invisible Feminae and Galerian Empresses: The Representation of Imperial Women
Authors: Waldron Byron
Published: September 2023

This chapter argues that from 284 to 308, imperial women were less visible within media and enjoyed a lesser status than their predecessors. The imperial women were not honoured on coins as Augusta or diua, and they did not appear on coins at all until 307. They were excluded from group depictions of the imperial college, and they were given the new title of nobilissima femina. As with the absence of sons and kinship terms within official media, the Tetrarchic representation of women is best explained by Diocletian’s wish not to defer to hereditary norms. However, following the abdication of the Augusti, the representation of women transformed. Perhaps in this later period Galerius deified his mother Romula, albeit without minting consecratio coins, and he used Romula to suggest divine birth. In 307 Constantine minted a rare silver issue for his new wife Fausta while retaining for her the title of nobilissima femina. Finally, in 307 or 308, Galerius made his wife Valeria Augusta, and the latter subsequently received widespread promotion and honours throughout the empire’s east. However, there are reasons to suspect that the absence of Augustae for most of the Tetrarchic period had a lasting impact on imperial custom.
Conclusions: Domus Militaris
Authors: Waldron Byron
Published: September 2023

This chapter summarizes the arguments made in the book. Additionally, it suggests that Diocletian’s military background influenced his decision to abdicate, and it argues that Diocletian’s approach to dynasty accorded with his overall approach to governance. Diocletian was an innovator who ruled in an interventionist style, a shrewd problem-solver if sometimes overbold. The chapter then revisits and summarizes the ways in which dynastic norms returned in the wake of Diocletian’s abdication, both in terms of media and through major political actions. However, it is argued that the Tetrarchy was successful in securing relative stability, so long as the ‘brothers’ and friends Diocletian and Maximian remained at the helm. The succession in 305 was too novel for Diocletian’s specific vision to remain in place. Moreover, the relationship of Constantius and Galerius, or Maximian and Galerius, was unlike that of Diocletian and Maximian, and Tetrarchic concordia could not be preserved through the artificial replication of a prior friendship. However, this did not entail a return to the crises of the third century, for a remnant of the Tetrarchic dynasty would continue as the Constantinian dynasty.
The Changing World of Islam
Authors: Turner Bryan S. , Turner Bryan S.
Published: September 2023

The collapse of the Afghan government was the context in which this volume was written. The struggle over Afghanistan by both British and Russian forces began in the nineteenth century. The Taliban are often seen as one component in the general development political Islam. Western criticism of radical Islam forgets the long history of western colonialism in the Middle East and Asia. These ‘tit-for-tat’ arguments are futile. We need to look at the common forces shaping both Islam and Christianity such as globalisation, secularism and commercialism. Both religions are being transformed by struggles over tradition and modernity. The Arab Spring is an example of involvement of women and youth movements in struggle for democracy and political freedoms
Islamophobia
Authors: Turner Bryan S.
Published: September 2023

With the development of Muslim minorities in the West, there has been an upsurge of Islamophobia, namely an irrational fear of Islam as a threat. A report on the failures of multiculturalism in 1997 described Britain as a society of ‘parallel communities’. It is also believed that there is a deep ‘clash of civilisations’ in the West in response to Islam. A more extreme view was the idea of ‘Islamofascism’. This negative attitude towards Muslim communities has been captured in the idea that Islam is ‘a warrior religion’. The conflict between Muslim minority communities and European host societies has often focused on the alleged influence of the Shari’a. Some of the tension has been mitigated by the development of arbitration courts based on the Shari’a for example over divorce procedures.
From News Writers to Journalists: An Emerging PROFESSION?
Authors: Conboy Martin
Published: September 2023

This chapter explores the following questions: Who wrote the news? What sort of person committed to regular publication on contemporary events? A committed believer in a cause? A servant to democracy? A hired pen? The chapter examines Civil War writers, women writers, the first full flowering of the review style of journalism in the work of writers such as Swift, Addison and Steele as well as the very different, politically engaged interventions of Jacobite, Nathaniel Mist. By the end of the period roles within periodicals had begun to shape the contours of modern journalism: foreign correspondents, editors, cultural commentators and dedicated political reporters. In terms of timing, full-time professional writers specialising in news moved from weekly contributions towards more regular patches on daily newspapers towards the century’s end. The chapter underlines the fact that journalism was not something that emerged as an abstract entity. It was shaped by men and women as a process of experimentation in dialogue with the state, printers and most importantly audiences hungry for news and commentary on contemporary affairs. The chapter also includes a case study of Daniel Defoe.
Newspapers and War
Authors: Greenspan Nicole
Published: September 2023

This chapter argues that newspapers and war were intimately connected. The corantos of the 1620s and 1630s were based on English translations of continental newsletters, principally devoted to the Thirty Years War, while the civil wars of the 1640s saw the emergence of regular weekly newsbooks, which provided wartime coverage. Newsbooks, followed by the daily, bi-weekly, and tri-weekly newspapers of the eighteenth century, were important vehicles for political and civic engagement, and mobilisation of public support during wartime. The chapter focuses on a series of conflicts in the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries: the civil and imperial wars of the 1640s and 1650s; the Glorious Revolution (1688–91); the 1745 Jacobite rebellion; and the American War of Independence (1775–83). The chapter also includes a case study on the newsbook MercuriusPoliticus and the conquest of Jamaica (1655). These conflicts enable us to examine the ways in which the press shaped the coverage of war, as well as the influence of particular wartime conditions on the circulation and presentation of news.
Informational Abundance and Material Absence in the Digitised Early Modern Press: The Case for Contextual Digitisation
Authors: Gooding Paul
Published: September 2023

This chapter addresses the tension between the informational abundance of the digitised early modern press on the one hand and the limited forms of usage that our digital collections afford on the other. Divided into three parts, the first section considers the scope and range of digitised resources available for the early modern period in Britain and Ireland and illustrates how large-scale digitisation has afforded new forms of historical research. The chapter then illustrates the growth of materialist analysis of the digitised press, an emerging area of research that is considered to be largely ignored in digitisation practices. The last section examines the potential implications of materialist research for digitisation practices. The chapter also includes a case study of online versions, and the problematic issues involved, of the Oxford Gazette of 1665 (renamed London Gazette in 1666).
Digital Literacy of the State Civil Apparatus in the Administrative Services Unit (ULA) of the Ministry of Home Affairs
Authors: Gumanti Zahwa Nabila , Uluputty Irfan
Published: September 2023

Background: Digital literacy is crucial for the State Civil Apparatus (ASN) in providing excellent services. Meanwhile, Administrative Services Unit (ULA) has obtained several awards in recognition of outstanding performance, serving as a significant foundation for the current finding.

Purpose: This research aimed to describe the digital literacy competency of ASN in ULA to provide excellent services to the public and local governments.

Method: A qualitative method with a descriptive approach was selected with the concept of digital literacy competency of ASN to analyze data. In addition, the validity of the findings was tested through data triangulation.

Results: The digital literacy results among ASN showed that a fairly good insight with knowledge imbalances, good digital skills, and deficiencies in understanding the risks and the ability to control the dangers of digital technology use.

Conclusion: Digital literacy among ASN in ULA shows a commendable level of proficiency and offers opportunities for improvement in certain domains.

 Keywords: State Civil Apparatus (ASN); Digital Literacy; Administrative Services Unit (ULA)

 

Abstrak

 Latar Belakang: Literasi digital sangat penting bagi Aparatur Sipil Negara (ASN) dalam memberikan pelayanan prima. Sementara itu, Unit Pelayanan Administrasi (ULA) telah memperoleh beberapa penghargaan sebagai pengakuan atas kinerjanya yang luar biasa, yang menjadi landasan penting bagi temuan saat ini.

Tujuan: Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk mendeskripsikan kompetensi literasi digital ASN di ULA dalam memberikan pelayanan prima kepada masyarakat dan pemerintah daerah.

Metode: Metode kualitatif dengan pendekatan deskriptif dipilih dengan konsep kompetensi literasi digital ASN untuk menganalisis data. Selain itu, validitas temuan diuji melalui triangulasi data.

Hasil: Literasi digital di kalangan ASN menunjukkan bahwa wawasan yang cukup baik dengan ketimpangan pengetahuan, keterampilan digital yang baik, dan kurangnya pemahaman risiko dan kemampuan mengendalikan bahaya penggunaan teknologi digital.

Kesimpulan: Literasi digital pada ASN di ULA menunjukkan tingkat kemahiran yang patut dipuji dan menawarkan peluang perbaikan pada domain tertentu.

Kata kunci: Aparatur Sipil Negara (ASN); Literasi Digital; Unit Pelayanan Administrasi (ULA)
Exponential stable manifold for some linear system with application to the mean field models
Authors: OUKIL Walid
Published: September 2023

We study the existence of the exponential stable manifold for some linear system and we give some proprieties. We apply the results to the mean field systems similar to the Winfree model in the synchronized state. More precisely, we study it linearized system. This method can be applied to more generalized mean field models.
The Qur'an as a Potential Source of Optimism and Therapeutic Aid for Individuals Afflicted with Mental Disorders
Authors: Rasool Farhan
Published: September 2023

The citing of Quranic verses for mental disorders like anxiety, depression, schizophrenia, and OCD have been witnessed to be practiced. This scholarly paper intends to kindle through the credibility of existing studies on therapeutic efficacy that the Qur’an illustrates for mental disorders. Additionally, this study would deal with probing into impact findings including engagement in activities concerned with listening, reciting, or memorizing the Holy Quran on mental well-being, stress levels, anxiety, and depression. Moreover, the discussion will be focused on impact findings regarding how Quranic recitation affects overall quality of life (QoL).
Redefining the Subject Matter and Methodology of Comparative Literature in an Age of Globalization
Authors: Al-Mousa Nedal
Published: September 2023

The paper explores ways of redefining the subject matter and methodology of comparative literature in harmony with the tremendous cultural and ideological changes in the age of globalization. In this age of globalization, I would argue, comparative literature maintains a unique place from which effective means of human reconciliation, co-existence, and cross-cultural mutual understanding, may be offered. This is mainly a byproduct of the cultural turn which characterizes comparative literature in an age of globalization. In these terms comparative literature may be geared towards highlighting cross- cultural human commonalities, and yet recognizing different peoples' diversities and unique mores and values which could be viewed as distinct components of a universal civilization as it is reflected in world literature – the raw material of comparative literature. Through the study of world literature as a cultural phenomenon in its national perspectives and its international contexts (a practice which lies at the heart of the comparatist inquiry) the reader will be able to grasp the experiences of man in all their diversity and their common human values and cultural codes. This undertaking is bound to draw the world closer together in an age of endless ideological, cultural, civilizational, and political conflicts .The widening of the scope and the expanding of the territories of comparative literature to accommodate the newly defined mission of the discipline may pave the way to produce a concept of global citizenship based on broad human affiliations and common core human values in the new millennium which is marked with the evolving spirit of globalized consciousness. This supports a long-held conviction by proponents of comparative literature that the practice of the discipline contributes to enhancing intellectual liberalism which brings with it an attitude of sympathy and understanding among human beings across national, cultural, and civilizational boundaries..
The application and progress of tissue engineering and biomaterial scaffolds for total auricular reconstruction in microtia
Authors: Huang Yeqian , Zhao Hanxing , Wang Yixi , Bi Siwei , Zhou Kai , Li Hairui , Zhou Changchun , Wang Yudong , Wu Wenqing , Peng Bo , Tang Jun , Pan Bo , Wang Baoyun , Chen Zhixing , Li Zhengyong , Zhang Zhenyu
Published: September 2023

Microtia is a congenital deformity of the ear with an incidence of about 0.8–4.2 per 10,000 births. Total auricular reconstruction is the preferred treatment of microtia at present, and one of the core technologies is the preparation of cartilage scaffolds. Autologous costal cartilage is recognized as the best material source for constructing scaffold platforms. However, costal cartilage harvest can lead to donor-site injuries such as pneumothorax, postoperative pain, chest wall scar and deformity. Therefore, with the need of alternative to autologous cartilage, in vitro and in vivo studies of biomaterial scaffolds and cartilage tissue engineering have gradually become novel research hot points in auricular reconstruction research. Tissue-engineered cartilage possesses obvious advantages including non-rejection, minimally invasive or non-invasive, the potential of large-scale production to ensure sufficient donors and controllable morphology. Exploration and advancements of tissue-engineered cartilaginous framework are also emerging in aspects including three-dimensional biomaterial scaffolds, acquisition of seed cells and chondrocytes, 3D printing techniques, inducing factors for chondrogenesis and so on, which has greatly promoted the research process of biomaterial substitute. This review discussed the development, current application and research progress of cartilage tissue engineering in auricular reconstruction, particularly the usage and creation of biomaterial scaffolds. The development and selection of various types of seed cells and inducing factors to stimulate chondrogenic differentiation in auricular cartilage were also highlighted. There are still confronted challenges before the clinical application becomes widely available for patients, and its long-term effect remains to be evaluated. We hope to provide guidance for future research directions of biomaterials as an alternative to autologous cartilage in ear reconstruction, and finally benefit the transformation and clinical application of cartilage tissue engineering and biomaterials in microtia treatment.
Geological carbon storage in northern Irish basalts: prospectivity and potential
Authors: Andrews Graham D. M.
Published: September 2023

Carbon mineralization and storage in basaltic rock sequences is a developing technology but faces challenges with uptake and increases in scale. Northern Ireland (UK) is a useful analog for many parts of the world where thick basalt sequences could be used to aid in reaching carbon reduction and removal targets. Here I reanalyze and reinterpret available lithological, geochemical, and geophysical data to assess carbon storage potential. The physical and geochemical properties of the basalts are indistinguishable from those used for successful carbon sequestration in Iceland and Washington State (USA). Based on the thickness, composition, and potential permeability, I propose that this is a viable location for a series of small-volume stores (total volume ~9–12 MTCO2) suitable for capture at industrial point-sources or purpose-built CO2 “harvesting” facilities. The case for exploiting the CO2 storage potential in Northern Ireland is strengthened by (1) an increasingly urgent need to find socially and economically just decarbonization pathways needed to meet NI's targets, (2) increasing realization among policy experts that point-source CO2 capture and industrial decarbonization will be insufficient to meet those goals, due in part, to the size of the agricultural sector, and (3) the coincidence with plentiful renewable energy and geothermally-sourced industrial heat. These serendipitous relationships could be leveraged to develop CO2-“farms” where direct air capture operations are supplied by renewable energy (biomass and geothermal) and on-site geological storage. I envisage that these sites could be supplemented by CO2 from locally produced biomass as farmers are encouraged to transition away from raising livestock. Because CO2 can be captured directly from the atmosphere or via suitable biomass anywhere, NI's small size and position on the periphery of the UK and Europe need not be a disadvantage. Instead, NI's access to geological storage, renewable energy, and agricultural land may be a boon, and provide new opportunities to become a leader in carbon removal in basalt-covered regions.
The effect of exercise on the risk of metabolic syndrome associated with sleep insufficiency: a cross-sectional study
Authors: Chou Fan-Ya , Chiu Te-Fa , Huang Fen-Wei , Hsu Tai-Yi , Liu Chien-Yu , Lin Chin-Han , Huang Po-Yao , Lin Kuei-Ming , Wu Shih-Hao
Published: September 2023

Introduction

Sleep disturbance and insufficient sleep have been linked to metabolic syndrome, increasing cardiovascular disease and mortality risk. However, few studies investigate the joint effect of sleep and exercise on metabolic syndrome. We hypothesized that regular exercise can mitigate the exacerbation of metabolic syndrome by sleep insufficiency.

Objective

The aim of this study was to investigate whether exercise can attenuate or eliminate the relationship between sleep insufficiency and metabolic syndrome.

Method

A total of 6,289 adults (mean age = 33.96 years; women: 74.81%) were included in the study, a cross-sectional study conducted based on the results of employee health screening questionnaires and databases from a large healthcare system in central Taiwan. Participants reported sleep insufficiency or not. Self-reported exercise habits were classified into 3 levels: no exercise, exercise <150 min/week, and exercise ≧150 min/week. Multiple logistic regression and sensitivity analyses were conducted to understand the joint associations of sleep patterns and exercise with metabolic syndrome with exposure variables combining sleep duration/disturbances and PA.

Results

Compared with the reference group (sufficient sleep), individuals with sleep insufficiency had a higher risk for metabolic syndrome [adjusted odds ratio (AOR) = 1.40, 95% confidence interval (95% CI): 1.01–1.94, p < 0.05] in females aged 40–64 years, but not in other populations. Sleep insufficiency was not associated with the risk of metabolic syndrome among individuals achieving an exercise level of <150 min/week, and in particular among those achieving ≧150 min/week in all populations in our study.

Conclusion

Sleep insufficiency was related to a higher risk of metabolic syndrome in female healthcare staff aged 40–64 years. Being physically active with exercise habits in these individuals, the risk of metabolic syndrome was no longer significant.
An improved contrastive learning network for semi-supervised multi-structure segmentation in echocardiography
Authors: Guo Ziyu , Zhang Yuting , Qiu Zishan , Dong Suyu , He Shan , Gao Huan , Zhang Jinao , Chen Yingtao , He Bingtao , Kong Zhe , Qiu Zhaowen , Li Yan , Li Caijuan
Published: September 2023

Cardiac diseases have high mortality rates and are a significant threat to human health. Echocardiography is a commonly used imaging technique to diagnose cardiac diseases because of its portability, non-invasiveness and low cost. Precise segmentation of basic cardiac structures is crucial for cardiologists to efficiently diagnose cardiac diseases, but this task is challenging due to several reasons, such as: (1) low image contrast, (2) incomplete structures of cardiac, and (3) unclear border between the ventricle and the atrium in some echocardiographic images. In this paper, we applied contrastive learning strategy and proposed a semi-supervised method for echocardiographic images segmentation. This proposed method solved the above challenges effectively and made use of unlabeled data to achieve a great performance, which could help doctors improve the accuracy of CVD diagnosis and screening. We evaluated this method on a public dataset (CAMUS), achieving mean Dice Similarity Coefficient (DSC) of 0.898, 0.911, 0.916 with 1/4, 1/2 and full labeled data on two-chamber (2CH) echocardiography images, and of 0.903, 0.921, 0.928 with 1/4, 1/2 and full labeled data on four-chamber (4CH) echocardiography images. Compared with other existing methods, the proposed method had fewer parameters and better performance. The code and models are available at https://github.com/gpgzy/CL-Cardiac-segmentation.
The impact of multisensory learning model-based tale-telling on listening skills and student opinions about it
Authors: Gazioğlu Mustafa , Karakuş Neslihan
Published: September 2023

This study aims to reveal the impact of multisensory learning model-based tale-telling on listening skills. The research was carried out under a hybrid research design using both quantitative and qualitative research methods together. The study group of the research consists of 13 fifth-grade students in total who were studying in a public school during the 2020 to 2021 academic year. Students were involved in the research voluntarily and with parental permission. The following data collection tools were used in the research: “Attitude Scale Towards Improving Listening Skills with Tales,” which was created by the researcher, tale diaries, and tale self-evaluation forms. Quantitative and qualitative data analysis methods were used to analyze the research data. T-test analysis was applied to the quantitative data after transferring them to the SPSS data analysis program; on the other hand, content analysis was used to analyze the qualitative data. As a result of the research, it was concluded that the multisensory learning method-based tale-telling has a positive impact on the attitudes of the fifth-grade students towards tale listening. In light of the results, it was concluded that parents were satisfied with the activities for multisensory tale-telling, students have understood the plots of the tales correctly, themes were remembered correctly by the students most of the time, and parents have shown a positive attitude towards tale listening.
Inclusive education: pedagogical approach to online versus face-to-face teaching
Authors: Baysan Aylin , Naeem Usman
Published: September 2023

In today’s educational landscape, active learning is often overlooked during lectures, seminars, and tutorials. The aim of this study was to investigate perceptions of online and face-to-face lecture formats and their impact on the learning experiences of undergraduate dental students in Years 3–5. This qualitative study was conducted to investigate the effectiveness of different lecture formats at the Institute of Dentistry for undergraduate dental students in Years 3–5. There were two specific questions asked to dental undergraduate students with additional free-text questions. In total, 120 of 221 undergraduate students participated in this study between October 2019 and February 2020, and only 42 participants included the free-text comments. Three core themes related to the blended learning approach were identified: (1) scheduled versus recorded lectures, (2) duration of academic lectures, and (3) neurodiversity and learning experiences. The results showed that the learners perceived the traditional didactic lectures as the least effective format. There is not a “one fits all” lecture format that would accommodate a neurodiversity-based approach that focuses on the strengths, abilities, and interests of students. Hybrid lecture formats in combination with online teaching coupled with small group tutorials could be suggested. There is a unique challenge in the post-COVID-19 era for both educators and learners due to the lack of clinical practice and heavy reliance on online methods of teaching in Dentistry. Therefore, the implication of these results on the planning and financing of programmes could be discussed in Higher Education.
The eclectic landscape: examining Spanish secondary school teachers’ beliefs on literary education
Authors: Fabregat-Barrios Santiago , Fontich Xavier , González-González-de-Mesa Carmen
Published: September 2023

Literary education aims to promote the teaching of reading from an academic, social, and personal perspective. At present there is a consensus on the central role that the school institution plays, which can be translated into explicit and implicit approaches. The objective of this article is to explore Spanish Secondary school teachers’ beliefs about literary education to determine their proximity to each of these two approaches, as well as the coherence within such beliefs, unpacking the relationships between adherence to principles and declared practices. To obtain the data that supports the study, the Beliefs About Literary Education of Secondary School Teachers (BALESST) scale has been elaborated. 1,544 Secondary Education teachers from the 17 Spanish communities and the autonomous cities of Ceuta and Melilla have responded to the scale. For the analysis of the data, the statistical packages of IBM SPSS Statistics, 24.0 and G* Power 3 have been used. The results suggest that Spanish Secondary school teachers are in an eclectic position in the debate between explicit and implicit literary education, reveal relevant discrepancies between the two factors that make up the scale (adherence to principles and declared practices), and allow identify majority and minority representations and practices among teachers.
Adaptive slope reliability analysis method based on sliced inverse regression dimensionality reduction
Authors: Zhou Zheng , Xiong Hai-Bin , Wu Wen-Xia , Yang Yi-Jian , Yang Xu-Hai
Published: September 2023

The response surface model has been widely used in slope reliability analysis owing to its efficiency. However, this method still has certain limitations, especially the curse of high dimensionality when considering the spatial variability of geotechnical parameters. The slice inverse regression dimensionality reduction method is efficient to obtaining the dimensionality-reduction variables from the original soil parameters space, before constructing the response surface. However, the dimensionality reduction process may cause accuracy deficiency due to the loss of variable information. An adaptive slope reliability analysis method is proposed to quantify and correct information loss and errors. Additionally, the slope failure probability based on the response surface in the dimensionality reduction space is modified to an unbiased one based on the finite model in the original space. In this study, two soil slopes considering spatial variability are taken as examples. The results illustrate that this method can effectively reduce the loss of accuracy in the dimensionality reduction process, while obtaining unbiased finite-element-based failure probability effectually. The method addresses the limitation whereby the accuracy of the dimensionality reduction process depends on the sample size and the number of dimensionality-reduction variables. Simultaneously, the proposed method significantly improves the computational efficiency of the sliced inverse regression method and realizes a reasonable dimensionality reduction effect, thereby improving the application of the response surface in practical slope reliability high-dimensional issues.
Stilbenoid compounds inhibit NF-κB-mediated inflammatory responses in the Drosophila intestine
Authors: Aalto Anna L. , Saadabadi Atefeh , Lindholm Fanny , Kietz Christa , Himmelroos Emmy , Marimuthu Parthiban , Salo-Ahen Outi M. H. , Eklund Patrik , Meinander Annika
Published: September 2023

Introduction

Stilbenoid compounds have been described to have anti-inflammatory properties in animal models in vivo, and have been shown to inhibit Ca2+-influx through the transient receptor potential ankyrin 1 (TrpA1).

Methods

To study how stilbenoid compounds affect inflammatory signaling in vivo, we have utilized the fruit fly, Drosophila melanogaster, as a model system. To induce intestinal inflammation in the fly, we have fed flies with the intestinal irritant dextran sodium sulphate (DSS).

Results

We found that DSS induces severe changes in the bacteriome of the Drosophila intestine, and that this dysbiosis causes activation of the NF-κB transcription factor Relish. We have taken advantage of the DSS-model to study the anti-inflammatory properties of the stilbenoid compounds pinosylvin (PS) and pinosylvin monomethyl ether (PSMME). With the help of in vivo approaches, we have identified PS and PSMME to be transient receptor ankyrin 1 (TrpA1)-dependent antagonists of NF-κB-mediated intestinal immune responses in Drosophila. We have also computationally predicted the putative antagonist binding sites of these compounds at Drosophila TrpA1.

Discussion

Taken together, we show that the stilbenoids PS and PSMME have anti-inflammatory properties in vivo in the intestine and can be used to alleviate chemically induced intestinal inflammation in Drosophila.
Extracellular vesicles as biomarkers for AIDS-associated non-Hodgkin lymphoma risk
Authors: Martínez Laura E. , Magpantay Larry I. , Guo Yu , Hegde Priya , Detels Roger , Hussain Shehnaz K. , Epeldegui Marta
Published: September 2023

Introduction

Extracellular vesicles are membrane-bound structures secreted into the extracellular milieu by cells and can carry bioactive molecules. There is emerging evidence suggesting that EVs play a role in the diagnosis, treatment, and prognosis of certain cancers. In this study, we investigate the association of EVs bearing PD-L1 and molecules important in B-cell activation and differentiation with AIDS-NHL risk.

Methods

EVs were isolated from archived serum collected prior to the diagnosis of AIDS-NHL in cases (N = 51) and matched HIV+ controls (N = 52) who were men enrolled in the Los Angeles site of the MACS/WIHS Combined Cohort Study (MWCCS). Serum specimens of AIDS-NHL cases were collected at a mean time of 1.25 years (range of 2 to 36 months) prior to an AIDS-NHL diagnosis. The expression of PD-L1 and other molecules on EVs (CD40, CD40L, TNF-RII, IL-6Rα, B7-H3, ICAM-1, and FasL) were quantified by Luminex multiplex assay.

Results and discussion

We observed significantly higher levels of EVs bearing PD-L1, CD40, TNF-RII and/or IL-6Rα in AIDS-NHL cases compared with controls. Using multivariate conditional logistic regression models adjusted for age and CD4+ T-cell count, we found that EVs bearing PD-L1 (OR = 1.93; 95% CI: 1.10 – 3.38), CD40 (OR = 1.97, 95% CI: 1.09 – 3.58), TNF-RII (OR = 5.06; 95% CI: 1.99 – 12.85) and/or IL-6Rα (OR = 4.67; 95% CI: 1.40 – 15.53) were significantly and positively associated with AIDS-NHL risk. In addition, EVs bearing these molecules were significantly and positively associated with non-CNS lymphoma: PD-L1 (OR = 1.94; 95% CI: 1.01 – 3.72); CD40 (OR = 2.66; 95% CI: 1.12 – 6.35); TNF-RII (OR = 9.64; 95% CI: 2.52 – 36.86); IL-6Rα (OR = 8.34; 95% CI: 1.73 – 40.15). These findings suggest that EVs bearing PD-L1, CD40, TNF-RII and/or IL-6Rα could serve as biomarkers for the early detection of NHL in PLWH.
Control of maternal Zika virus infection during pregnancy is associated with lower antibody titers in a macaque model
Authors: Krabbe Nicholas P. , Razo Elaina , Abraham Hunter J. , Spanton Rachel V. , Shi Yujia , Bhattacharya Saswati , Bohm Ellie K. , Pritchard Julia C. , Weiler Andrea M. , Mitzey Ann M. , Eickhoff Jens C. , Sullivan Eric , Tan John C. , Aliota Matthew T. , Friedrich Thomas C. , O’Connor David H. , Golos Thaddeus G. , Mohr Emma L.
Published: September 2023

Introduction

Zika virus (ZIKV) infection during pregnancy results in a spectrum of birth defects and neurodevelopmental deficits in prenatally exposed infants, with no clear understanding of why some pregnancies are more severely affected. Differential control of maternal ZIKV infection may explain the spectrum of adverse outcomes.

Methods

Here, we investigated whether the magnitude and breadth of the maternal ZIKV-specific antibody response is associated with better virologic control using a rhesus macaque model of prenatal ZIKV infection. We inoculated 18 dams with an Asian-lineage ZIKV isolate (PRVABC59) at 30-45 gestational days. Plasma vRNA and infectious virus kinetics were determined over the course of pregnancy, as well as vRNA burden in the maternal-fetal interface (MFI) at delivery. Binding and neutralizing antibody assays were performed to determine the magnitude of the ZIKV-specific IgM and IgG antibody responses throughout pregnancy, along with peptide microarray assays to define the breadth of linear ZIKV epitopes recognized.

Results

Dams with better virologic control (n= 9) cleared detectable infectious virus and vRNA from the plasma by 7 days post-infection (DPI) and had a lower vRNA burden in the MFI at delivery. In comparison, dams with worse virologic control (n= 9) still cleared detectable infectious virus from the plasma by 7 DPI but had vRNA that persisted longer, and had higher vRNA burden in the MFI at delivery. The magnitudes of the ZIKV-specific antibody responses were significantly lower in the dams with better virologic control, suggesting that higher antibody titers are not associated with better control of ZIKV infection. Additionally, the breadth of the ZIKV linear epitopes recognized did not differ between the dams with better and worse control of ZIKV infection.

Discussion

Thus, the magnitude and breadth of the maternal antibody responses do not seem to impact maternal virologic control. This may be because control of maternal infection is determined in the first 7 DPI, when detectable infectious virus is present and before robust antibody responses are generated. However, the presence of higher ZIKV-specific antibody titers in dams with worse virologic control suggests that these could be used as a biomarker of poor maternal control of infection and should be explored further.
Epigenetic targeting to enhance acute myeloid leukemia-directed immunotherapy
Authors: Rausch Johanna , Ullrich Evelyn , Kühn Michael W.M.
Published: September 2023

AML is a malignant disease of hematopoietic progenitor cells with unsatisfactory treatment outcome, especially in patients that are ineligible for intensive chemotherapy. Immunotherapy, comprising checkpoint inhibition, T-cell engaging antibody constructs, and cellular therapies, has dramatically improved the outcome of patients with solid tumors and lymphatic neoplasms. In AML, these approaches have been far less successful. Discussed reasons are the relatively low mutational burden of AML blasts and the difficulty in defining AML-specific antigens not expressed on hematopoietic progenitor cells. On the other hand, epigenetic dysregulation is an essential driver of leukemogenesis, and non-selective hypomethylating agents (HMAs) are the current backbone of non-intensive treatment. The first clinical trials that evaluated whether HMAs may improve immune checkpoint inhibitors’ efficacy showed modest efficacy except for the anti-CD47 antibody that was substantially more efficient against AML when combined with azacitidine. Combining bispecific antibodies or cellular treatments with HMAs is subject to ongoing clinical investigation, and efficacy data are awaited shortly. More selective second-generation inhibitors targeting specific chromatin regulators have demonstrated promising preclinical activity against AML and are currently evaluated in clinical trials. These drugs that commonly cause leukemia cell differentiation potentially sensitize AML to immune-based treatments by co-regulating immune checkpoints, providing a pro-inflammatory environment, and inducing (neo)-antigen expression. Combining selective targeted epigenetic drugs with (cellular) immunotherapy is, therefore, a promising approach to avoid unintended effects and augment efficacy. Future studies will provide detailed information on how these compounds influence specific immune functions that may enable translation into clinical assessment.
A novel subsurface sediment plate method for quantifying sediment accumulation and erosion in seagrass meadows
Authors: Ewers Lewis Carolyn J. , McGlathery Karen J.
Published: September 2023

Sediment dynamics in seagrass meadows are key determinants of carbon sequestration and storage, surface elevation, and resilience and recovery from disturbance. However, current methods for measuring sediment accumulation are limited. For example, 210Pb dating, the most popular tool for quantifying sediment accretion rates over decadal timescales, relies on assumptions often at odds with seagrass meadows. Here, we have developed a novel subsurface sediment plate method to detect changes in sediment accumulation and erosion in real time that: 1) is affordable and simple to implement, 2) can quantify short-term (weeks to months) sediment dynamics of accumulation and erosion, 3) is non-destructive and minimizes impacts to surface-level processes, and 4) can quantify long-term (years) net sediment accumulation rates. We deployed subsurface sediment plates at two sites within a 20 km2 seagrass meadow in the Virginia Coast Reserve Long-Term Ecological Research site, USA. Here, we discuss spatial and temporal trends in sediment dynamics over a 25-month period, the sediment accretion rates estimated using the subsurface sediment plate method compared to previous estimates based on 210Pb dating, the precision of the method, and our recommendations for implementing the method for measuring surface sediment dynamics in other seagrass settings. We recommend the application of this method for quantifying short- and long-term changes in seagrass surface sediments across various spatial scales to improve our understanding of disturbance, recovery, restoration, carbon cycling, sediment budgets, and the response of seagrasses to rising sea levels.
Opportunities to apply systems engineering to healthcare interprofessional education
Authors: Ferreira Susan , Phelps Eleanor , Abolmaali Shannon , Reed Gary , Greilich Philip
Published: September 2023

In medical settings, interprofessional education (IPE) plays an important role by bringing students from multiple disciplines together to learn how to collaborate effectively and coordinate safe patient care. Yet developing effective IPE is complex, considering that stakeholders from different schools and programs are involved, each with varying curriculum requirements and interests. Given its critical importance and inherent complexity, innovative approaches to address these challenges are needed to effectively develop and sustain effective IPE programs. Systems engineering (SE) combines a lifecycle perspective with established interdisciplinary processes to develop and sustain large complex systems. The need for SE approaches to manage healthcare complexity has been recognized, but the application of SE to IPE programs has been limited. We believe that there is a significant opportunity for IPE programs to benefit from the application of SE. The common themes running through SE and IPE led us to ask if SE can be used to address IPE complexity and achieve desired IPE outcomes. We believe that SE could facilitate further development and sustainability of a recently developed healthcare curriculum. We also propose to use SE to accelerate and manage future IPE curriculum development, while better understanding the states of vital IPE-related components. We discuss a framework that considers transitions of key IPE elements. We believe that use of interdisciplinary SE processes and holistic perspectives and methods such as system thinking will improve the management of system challenges while addressing IPE’s inherent complexity and leading to better patient outcomes and more effective interprofessional collaboration.
Progression of radiographic fibrosis in rheumatoid arthritis-associated interstitial lung disease
Authors: Chai Dandan , Sun Di , Wang Yuanying , Song Yawen , Wu Na , Ye Qiao
Published: September 2023

Background and objectives

Preclinical interstitial lung disease (pILD) may represent the early stages of rheumatoid arthritis-associated interstitial lung disease (RA-ILD). However, the characteristics, clinical outcomes, and risk factors associated with fibrosis progression in RA-ILD, including pILD and ILD, remain poorly understood.

Methods

Baseline data were compared between patients with RA-ILD and those with RA alone. Multivariate logistic regression and Cox regression analyses were performed to identify risk factors associated with the prevalence and imaging progression of RA-ILD, respectively.

Results

Among the 371 enrolled RA patients, 32.3% had RA-ILD. Multiple logistic regression analyses identified age over 60.0 years (OR 2.22), smoking (OR 2.09), diabetes mellitus (DM) (OR 3.09), mixed connective tissue disease (MCTD) (OR 2.98), serum lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) levels exceeding 250.0 U/L (OR 6.73), and positive anti-cyclic citrullinated peptide (anti-CCP) antibody (OR 2.06) as independent risk factors for RA-ILD (p< 0.05 or 0.01). Among the 98 RA-ILD patients who underwent follow-up for a median duration of 19.1 months, 51.0% demonstrated fibrotic progression on high-resolution computed tomography (HRCT). Multiple Cox regression analysis identified DM (HR 2.03), Disease Activity Score in 28 joints-Erythrocyte Sedimentation Rate (DAS28-ESR) greater than 5.1 (HR 2.21), and baseline HRCT scores exceeding 5.0 (HR 2.30) as independent risk factors for fibrosis progression in RA-ILD (p< 0.05 or 0.01).

Conclusion

Nearly one-third of RA patients in this cohort had prevalent pILD or ILD, and half of them demonstrated imaging progression during follow-up. DM, higher DAS28-ESR, and advanced HRCT scores were identified as independent risk factors for progressive fibrosis in RA-ILD.