Seeing What I Did (Not): Cerebral and Behavioral Effects of Agency and Perspective on Episodic Memory Re-activation

Intuitively, we assume that we remember episodes better when we actively participated in them and were not mere observers. Independently of this, we can recall episodes from either the first-person perspective (1pp) or the third-person perspective (3pp). In this functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) study, we tested whether agency and perspective modulate neural activity during memory retrieval and subsequently enhance memory performance. Subjects encoded a set of different episodes by either imitating or only observing videos that showed short toy stories. A week later, we conducted fMRI and cued episodic retrieval by presenting the original videos, or slightly modified versions thereof, from 1pp or from 3pp. The hippocampal formation was sensitive to self-performed vs. only observed actions only when there was an episodic mismatch. In a post-fMRI memory test a history of self-performance did not improve behavioral memory performance. However, modified videos were often (falsely) accepted as showing truly experienced episodes when: (i) they were already presented in this modified version during fMRI or (ii) they were presented in their original form during fMRI but from 3pp. While the overall effect of modification was strong, the effects of perspective and agency were more subtle. Together, our findings demonstrate that self-performance and self-perspective modulate the strength of a memory trace in different ways. Even when memory performance remains the same for different agentive states, the brain is capable of detecting mismatching information. Re-experiencing the latter impairs memory performance as well as retrieving encoded episodes from 3pp.

Virtual and Space Tourism as New Trends in Travelling at the Time of the COVID-19 Pandemic

The first European COVID-19 infection was recorded in February 2020, and Poland followed in mid-March. Restrictions were imposed on traveling between states and using public space. These movement restrictions forced a search for new, often innovative, forms of tourism. Google Earth virtual reality (VR), Google Street View, and the Chernobyl VR Project are just some of the selected opportunities to create virtual tours. Different activities using VR mean that people can experience the illusion of travelling in time and space, outside of their everyday surroundings, in a digitally constructed three-dimensional (3D) environment, for cognition or entertainment. Therefore, this study aimed to present virtual and space tourism as new traveling trends during various crise,s such as health, economic, etc. A diagnostic survey with a developed questionnaire was conducted in June and July 2021 in Poland. A total of 564 fully answered responses were collected from randomly selected respondents. We found that around 82% of Polish people were aware of VR technology, and 70% believed that new technologies determine VR tourism development. VR presents the possibility of travelling to places that no longer exist in their original form, but have been reconstructed only in VR. Around 75% of the respondents agreed that VR tourism plays an essential role in tourism promotion in Poland and throughout the world. Moreover, VR and augmented tourism lets us visit fictitious and dangerous, politically restricted, and geographically as well as economically difficult destinations. For example, our results revealed that many people want to experience North Korea, the USA, Antarctica, Syria, etc. At the same time, people recommended the NASA space station as a visiting destination using VR and augmented reality. VR offers an alternative form of tourism during crises and pandemics such as COVID-19. We found over 26% of the respondents were satisfied with contemporary tourists’ cognitional needs during VR sightseeing. More than 87% of the respondents believed that VR tourism cannot substitute real-world tourism in the long run. However, VR tourism will be more beneficial for developing countries facing difficulties in economic aspects, and easier than attaining visas to enter developed countries. Furthermore, virtual sightseeing may also constitute an alternative for people who are disabled or sick, and who cannot undertake the effort of active tourism and explore tourist resources of the world on their own.

Emerging zero-dimensional to four-dimensional biomaterials for bone regeneration

Bone is one of the most sophisticated and dynamic tissues in the human body, and is characterized by its remarkable potential for regeneration. In most cases, bone has the capacity to be restored to its original form with homeostatic functionality after injury without any remaining scarring. Throughout the fascinating processes of bone regeneration, a plethora of cell lineages and signaling molecules, together with the extracellular matrix, are precisely regulated at multiple length and time scales. However, conditions, such as delayed unions (or nonunion) and critical-sized bone defects, represent thorny challenges for orthopedic surgeons. During recent decades, a variety of novel biomaterials have been designed to mimic the organic and inorganic structure of the bone microenvironment, which have tremendously promoted and accelerated bone healing throughout different stages of bone regeneration. Advances in tissue engineering endowed bone scaffolds with phenomenal osteoconductivity, osteoinductivity, vascularization and neurotization effects as well as alluring properties, such as antibacterial effects. According to the dimensional structure and functional mechanism, these biomaterials are categorized as zero-dimensional, one-dimensional, two-dimensional, three-dimensional, and four-dimensional biomaterials. In this review, we comprehensively summarized the astounding advances in emerging biomaterials for bone regeneration by categorizing them as zero-dimensional to four-dimensional biomaterials, which were further elucidated by typical examples. Hopefully, this review will provide some inspiration for the future design of biomaterials for bone tissue engineering. Graphical abstract

NEOLOGISM IN ENGLISH-ARABIC TRANSLATION OF INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY TERMS

Technological advancements have aided in the expansion of a languages vocabulary through the addition of new items. Naming items can be accomplished during the translation process by constructing a diverse structure of neologisms. The purpose of this study was to analyse the results of technical term translations from English to Arabic in the field of Information Technology (IT) and to ascertain the frequency with which Arabic neologisms are published as a result of the process. Additionally, the study identified factors that influence the formation of neologisms through the translation process of translators. The study analysed data from the ProZ.com website regarding IT terms. The data were analysed by dividing the source term into a variety of neologism structures, such as derivatives, blended, compound, and acronym. The research was conducted using al-Sihabis theoretical framework for word formation, which classified word formation into two categories: Morphological Neologism, which refers to the process of word development, and Loan Neologism, which refers to the process of converting foreign language words to Arabic. The findings indicate that ProZ.com translators took one of two approaches to the formation of Arabic neologism: they either altered the original structure of the source term or preserved it as the structure of Arabic neologism. Nonetheless, 44% of the data wereconverted to compound form. While the majority of other neological structures are derived from the original structure of the source language. The structure of such neologisms is shaped by the translators translation process. Translators frequently translate data literally in order to preserve the source language neologism in its original form, according to studies. However, 25% of data were translated using descriptive and functional equivalence, while 13.1% of data were translated using the Arabization process, which converts source language terms that lack an Arabic equivalent.

Digitalization and 3D Documentation Techniques Applied to Two Pieces of Visigothic Sculptural Heritage in Merida Through Structured Light Scanning

Technological advancements have a great impact on the dissemination and understanding of the cultural heritage reality due to innovative techniques. These innovations are based on high-precision and high-resolution technologies that allow for the geometric documentation of any object within the fields of history and the arts. Through these techniques, new proposals may be studied and objects can be placed in any historical context. Three-dimensional (3D) digitization allows one to obtain a digital 3D model, which can be handled virtually and recreated at any historical period, enabling the conservation and safeguarding of cultural heritage. Society currently demands new visualization techniques that allow interacting with architectural and artistic heritage, which have been applied in numerous virtual reconstructions of historical sites or singular archaeological pieces. This project allowed us to geometrically document a reused piece with two surfaces (shield and columns) and a plaque of the city of Merida using a structured light scanner from a theoretical-practical perspective. The 3D virtual reconstruction of the pieces was accomplished within this study. The generation of QR codes enabled the interactive display of the heritage pieces. Likewise, a proposal was made to reuse the aforementioned pieces through virtual archaeology. The initial hypothesis is based on the possible existence of a Visigothic niche as an original form. This research reports significant advances in the conservation and exploitation of cultural heritage.

Evaluation of blurring and noise of a medical image using a digital phantom

Blurring and noise are an essential characteristic of a medical image on the imaging system. This study shows the characteristics of blurring and noise of a medical image using a digital phantom. A square-shaped digital phantom was produced with pixels that consist of black and white. The line profile was selected on a binary digital image. An image with noise added was generated and a corresponding line profile was also drawn. The degree of noise was increased using the gaussian noise value. The blurring images obtained by applying gaussian blur to a digital phantom was produced similarities to real images. Also, the degree of blurring was increased using the gaussian blur value. As noise increased, the standard deviation of pixels inside and background the object also increased. However, the boundary of the object was retained. As image blurring increased, the boundary of the object was not clearly distinguished. However, the standard deviation of pixels inside and background the object was retained. When extreme noise and blurring are increased, the resulting images are different. For adding noise, the shape is visually maintained. However, the blurred image does not maintain a square shape. Therefore, it is shown that blurring due to movement of object cannot maintain original form. In the image processing method, the reduction of noise is achieved through blur processing. The noise was reduced through blur processing in the image with noise. The degree of noise decreased, but the ambiguity of the boundary increased.

«NON-PROFESSORAL CORPORATION»: NON-ACADEMIC EMPLOYEES OF THE ODESA BIBLIOGRAPHIC SOCIETY (TO THE 110TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE FIRST ASSOCIATION OF BIBLIOLOGISTS IN UKRAINE)

The purpose of this article is to study how individuals who did not work in universities or academies, were teachers of secondary educational institutions, officials, and public figures took part in the activities of the Odesa Bibliographic Society. In the history of OBS, we can distinguish the following stages: 1) 1911–1914 – the stage of stability, prosperity; 2) 1914–1917 – the stage in the conditions of the first World War, which had a significant impact on the subject, personnel, etc.; 3) 1917–1919 – the period of crisis in the conditions of revolutionary events, when OBS increasingly operated not because of, but in spite of circumstances; 4) 1920–1923 – the period of adaptation to new conditions communist reality, where OBS acted as a bearer of previous traditions. In the end, this was led to the liquidation of the society in its original form, but, at the same time, in fact, the transformation into a Ukrainian bibliographic society, which largely continued the traditions of the “old”. During all these stages, non-academic individuals played an important role in the development of OBS. They participated in all aspects of the OBS’s activities, in particular, replenishing the society’s library, reading reports, and so on. Among them, a large and active group consisted of women, which was a unique phenomenon for the culture of Odessa. They were high school teachers, representatives of the city’s elite. A fairly active role in the life of society, in addition to Odesa members, was played by those who were outside of Odessa. Most often, such persons did not take an active part in societies. But MBT managed to break this trend, as evidenced by the examples of Londoner V. S. Isakovich, Petersburgers O. S. Partsevsky, O. Z. Popelnitsky, M. G. Martynov, a citizen of Riga V. E. Cheshikhin. For the trends of the beginning twentieth century, it is significant that exactly the involvement of non-academic members led to the transformation of OBS into one of the most prominent centers of popularization of Ukrainian culture in Odessa, that was most clearly reflected in the reports of L. O. Chizhikov, S. P. Shelukhin, N. M. Lazurskaya, O. O. Smirnitsky, A. P. Milskaya and others. Thus, we have an example of successful activity of a scientific society, primarily due to the expansion of its social base and the involvement of the public. Popularization of science, blurring the line between “heavy” science for science and public science is quite modern, relevant trend that has both pros and cons. Historical experience should contribute to the development of the most successful approaches.

Accumulation of cadmium and zinc in barley regenerants on a provocative soil background with cadmium

Background. An effective way to obtain barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) genotypes stress-tolerant to cadmium, with a low level of toxic ion accumulation in grain, is the selection of cells in selective in vitro systems, based on somaclonal variability, which promotes the formation of specific and nonspecific adaptive mechanisms.Materials and methods. The object of the study was cv. ‘999-93’, developed by selection from a hybrid combination of spring barley (Luly × Conrad) × 2867-80, and its regenerated forms in seed reproductions of the 3–5th generation, induced in the process of cell selection on media with cadmium, aluminum and polyethylene glycol. The plants were grown under normal soil conditions and against a provocative background for cadmium.Results. The contribution of the environment-forming activity in the roots of the studied genotypes to inactivation of toxic ions appeared insignificant. The total removal of cadmium by plants against a provocative background increased 22.5 times, reaching 5.8–10.3 mg/kg of dry phytomass when distributed among organs: roots (91.9–93.4%) > stems (5.9–7.8%) > grain (0.5–0.8%). The amount of toxic metal in grain increased 11 times in the original form and 2.8–6.8 times in regenerants. The negative effect of excess cadmium in the soil on the accumulation of zinc in barley was shown. There was no gradation in the importance of organs for zinc accumulation or any presence of functional barriers preventing this. Regenerants induced on selective media with cadmium had the greatest adaptive advantages to stress: pronounced barrier functions of roots, minimal accumulation of toxic ions in aerial organs, and high seed productivity (they exceeded the original genotype by 35.5%). Adaptive reactions associated with the limitation of cadmium accumulation in plant tissues of regenerants, obtained by in vitro selections with aluminum and an osmotic, were shown to be weak.

Melting and Re-Freezing Leads to Irreversible Changes in the Morphology and Molecular-Level Dynamics of Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine

Background and Objectives: As an mRNA-based vaccine, the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine has stringent cold storage requirements to preserve functionality of the mRNA active ingredient. To this end, lipid components of the vaccine formulation play an important role in stabilizing and protecting the mRNA molecule for long-term storage. The purpose of the current study was to measure molecular-level dynamics as a function of temperature in the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine to gain microscopic insight into its thermal stability. Materials and Methods: We used quasielastic and inelastic neutron scattering to probe (1) the vaccine extracted from the manufacturer-supplied vials and (2) unperturbed vaccine in the original manufacturer-supplied vials. The latter measurement was possible due to the high penetrative power of neutrons. Results: Upon warming from the low-temperature frozen state, the vaccine in its original form exhibits two-step melting, indicative of a two-phase morphology. Once the melting is completed (above 0 °C), vaccine re-freezing cannot restore its original two-phase state. This observation is corroborated by the changes in the molecular vibrational spectra. The molecular-level mobility measured in the resulting single-phase state of the re-frozen vaccine greatly exceeds the mobility measured in the original vaccine. Conclusions: Even a brief melting (above 0 °C) leads to an irreversible alteration of the two-phase morphology of the original vaccine formulation. Re-freezing of the vaccine results in a one-phase morphology with much increased molecular-level mobility compared to that in the original vaccine, suggesting irreversible deterioration of the vaccine’s in-storage stability. Neutron scattering can be used to distinguish between the vibrational spectra characteristic of the original and deteriorated vaccines contained in the unperturbed original manufacturer-supplied vials.

Perfectly Boring? The Public Afterlife of Private Films

<p>Home movies are now viewed in a variety of public contexts, a shift that entails a loss of their original meanings. In order to consider the impact of exhibiting these private documents, this thesis analyses the use of home movies within recycled footage productions, archival curation and online video-sharing. Investigating a variety of formal and informal screening contexts through close readings and archival research, it asks: what meanings do home movies acquire in new contexts? How might the reuse of home movies affect our understandings of their production and the past they portray? Does a perception that home movies could appear boring influence how they are framed or altered for public audiences? Due to their form and content, home movies may seem ill-suited to public exhibition. Popular discourses about home movies during their heyday of production reveal a widespread belief that they were boring (for outsiders) to watch. While recent literature has assessed home movies more favourably, it has tended to overlook their potential to bore viewers who have no personal relationship to them. Drawing upon theories of boredom, this study argues meaningfulness is the principal factor determining whether a viewer finds a particular film interesting or boring. In their original form, home movies may appear relatively meaningless and therefore boring to public audiences. Recycled footage films re-edit images, however, to create engaging viewing experiences through narrative and affect. While more experimental productions frequently question the evidential value of home movie images, television documentaries tend to encourage audiences to perceive footage as authentic or nostalgic. Narrative and affect also feature in the exhibition strategies of moving image archives. Curated public programmes provide informative and enjoyable viewing for general audiences, but almost inevitably promote certain understandings of the past by offering specific interpretations of selected films. Moreover, the affective appeal of home movie images may outweigh other forms of meaning for viewers, particularly in community or participatory screening contexts. Online video-sharing platforms such as YouTube, which are curated by algorithms rather than human expertise, feature numerous home movies without any kind of framing or description. While this might seem profoundly boring, viewer comments suggest meaninglessness can foster imaginative and empathetic responses to home movies, often expressed as nostalgic longing. This propensity of home movie footage within different screening contexts to encourage nostalgic sentiments, or a belief that life was better in the past, has implications for collective memory and understandings of history. Moreover, the ability of at least some viewers to enjoy home movies in relatively contextless spaces suggests that in certain instances qualities associated with boredom may not be a significant impediment to meaningful experience after all.</p>