  In a recent review it was shown that the cross sections of $\alpha$-induced
reactions in the $A \approx 20 - 50$ mass range follow a general and smooth
trend in most cases. For comparison of cross sections of different targets at
various energies the method of reduced cross sections $\sigma_{\rm{red}}$ and
reduced energies $E_{\rm{red}}$ was used. Four outliers were identified:
$^{36}$Ar and $^{40}$Ar with unusally small cross sections and $^{23}$Na and
$^{33}$S with unusually large cross sections. New data for $^{23}$Na were
presented at this NPA-7 conference; contrary to the previous data, these new
data fit into the general systematics. In addition, a relation between the most
effective energy $E_0$ for astrophysical reaction rates (the so-called Gamow
window) and the reduced energy $E_{\rm{red}}$ is presented.
