bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Use of Segment Anything Model (SAM) and MedSAM in the optic disc Segmentation of colour retinal fundus images: Experimental Finding
Authors:   Department of Data Science, Kaali Al Labs, Gorakhpur, Uttar Pradesh, India, Bhardwaj Ravi Bhushan , Haneef Dr. anum ,   Department of Surgery Ophthalmology, Tehsil Hospital, Lahore, Pakistan.
Published: June 2023

Detection of Optic Disc segmentation in retinal fundus images is important step in identification of various abnormal conditions like diabetic retinopathy, Glaucoma etc. and is an important part of eye that is routinely examined. We have used Segment Anything model (SAM) by Meta AI and based fine-tuned model MedSAM for segmentation of optic disc in retinal fundus images. We have used Indian Diabetic Retinopathy dataset (IDRiD) segmentation part. It consists of 81 original colour fundus images in jpg files split into train and test set. Ground-truth images for the lesions (Microaneurysms, Haemorrhages, Hard Exudates and Soft Exudates divided into train and test set - TIF Files) and Optic Disc (divided into train and test set - TIF Files). This dataset is feed into the deep learning neural network model; Segment Anything Model (SAM) and MedSAM for the image segmentation task. The Dice Similarity Coefficient (DSC) is used in the experiment for observing the model performance. We have used 80% for training and 20% for testing of Indian Diabetic Retinopathy Dataset (IDRiD) in both models. After 100 epochs with 32 batch size it is observed that average Dice Similarity Coefficient (DSC) of SAM and MedSAM models in the optic disc segmentation task are, 85.97 % and 90.15 %. Also, in finding it is observed that SAM and MedSAM both have very low DSC where the fundus images are having very high brightness.
Two–Point Diagonally Implicit Extended Super Class of Block Backward Differentiation Formula for Stiff Initial Value Problems
Authors:   Umaru Musa Yar’adua University, Musa H , Iliyasu H ,   Umaru Musa Yar’adua University
Published: June 2023

In this paper, a diagonal form of the extended super class of block backward differentiation formula is derived. The method is fully implicit and approximates two solution values at a time. By varying a parameter 𝜌𝜖 (–1,1) in the formula, different sets of formulae can be generated. Analysis of the method indicated that the method is both zero and A–stable, hence, suitable for solving stiff initial value problems. Comparison of the method with some existing algorithms showed its advantage in terms of accuracy over some methods.
Dynamik und Kommunikation prähistorischer Gesellschaften im zentralen Alpenraum. Konzepte zu Mobilität und Netzwerken
Authors: Brunner Mirco
Published: June 2023

Im südlichen Mitteleuropa stellen die Alpen zugleich Barrieren als auch Kommunikationsräume dar. Über diese topografischen, naturräumlichen Begrenzungen hinweg belegen archäologische Fundsituationen immer wieder zahlreiche Nachweise transalpiner Mobilität, deren Entwicklung im Verlauf der prähistorischen Epochen in verschiedenen Formen von Interaktionen und Netz-werken erkennbar ist. Die damit einhergehenden sichtbaren Transformationsprozesse im archäologischen Fundmaterial kann unter der Fragestellung der soziokulturellen und sozial-ökonomischen Verbindungen zwischen Siedlungsgemeinschaften betrachtet werden. Der Schwerpunkt des Untersuchungsgebiets liegt auf dem Alpenrheintal und den benachbarten inneralpinen Tallandschaften sowie der am Ausgang der Traversale liegenden Regionen mit ihrer hohen Dichte an prähistorischen Siedlungsplätzen. Dafür wurden Fundensembles neolithischer und bronzezeitlicher Fundstellen erfasst und analysiert. Durch die Aufarbeitung bisher publizierter Fundstellen konnten chronologische Lücken mittels Radiokarbondatierungen durch stratifizierte Proben von Schlüsselfundstellen geschlossen werden. Diese Datierungen werfen ein neues Licht auf die absolute Chronologie des Raumes und bilden die Grundlagen dieser Studie. Das Ziel dieser Studie ist eine diachrone Synthese vom Neolithikum bis in die Bronzezeit, um anhand ausgewählter Fundstellen im zentralen Alpenraum, die gekennzeichnet sind durch die Diversität des keramischen Fundmaterials und seinen stilistischen Veränderungen, Modelle zu Mobilität und Netzwerken zu entwickeln. Die keramischen Funde zeigen weitreichende Kommunikationsprozesse zwischen den inneralpinen und voralpinen Regionen auf. Ab der Bronzezeit sind im zentralen Alpenraum eindeutige stilistische Einflüsse im Fundmaterial aus nördlicher und südlicher Richtung erkennbar, die für Handelsrouten über die Alpenpässe sprechen. Die damit in Verbindung stehende Besiedlung der Alpengebiete kann somit weder als isoliertes Phänomen betrachtet werden, noch kann dies ohne Berücksichtigung der soziokulturellen Gesellschaftsstrukturen verstanden werden. Im Zusammenhang damit stehen die Dynamiken und Beweggründe der urgeschichtlichen Alpen-besiedlung mit ihren exogenen und endogenen Faktoren, die die Besiedlung der Landschaften limitieren, transformieren und somit den Naturraum als auch die Ökonomie und soziokulturellen Aspekte prägen, was sich u. a. in der Erschliessung von Handelswegen zeigt. Dieses komplexe Zusammenspiel wird vor allem an den bronzezeitlichen Höhensiedlungen im Untersuchungsgebiet aufgedeckt.
Effects of Different Soil Tillage on Soil Moisture, Weed Control, Yield and Quality of Maize (Zea mays L.)
Authors: Partal Elena , Oltenacu Cătălin Viorel , Paraschivu Mirela , Cotuna Otilia , Dima Milica , Contescu Elena Laura
Published: June 2023

The study of the relationship between the crop plant and the technological measures is very important for establishing the best management to increase the yield, to preserve water in the soil and to reduce weed pressure. This article emphasizes the influence of tillage systems: conventional tillage (CT), minimum tillage (MT) and no-tillage (NT) on soil moisture, weed control and maize yield over three years (2020-2022) on a chernozem soil type at NARDI Fundulea, Romania. Determinations of soil moisture contributed to the climatic characterization of the agricultural year and supplied yearly reference data. In 2022, very low soil moisture values were recorded, being differentiated by the tillage system, leading to a minimum value of only 15.0% (517.5 m3 ha-1 ) for the CT system with spring plowing, a maximum of 19.4% (640.2 m3 ha-1 ) in the NT system and intermediate values in the MT system with 15.8% (564.9 m 3 ha-1 ) for chisel variant. The structure of the weeds present in the maize crop was 36% monocotyledonous and 64% dicotyledonous. The best weeds management does not involve their eradication, but keeping them under economic threshold using technological measures, such as soil tillage systems. Statistical analyzes showed significant effects of all soil tillage on maize yield and of their interactions with other technological measures. The three-year average results showed that the highest yields were recorded with MT (4.51 t ha-1 ), while the averages for CT and NT were lower (4.81 t ha-1 and, respectively, 3.38 t ha-1 ). The application of technological measures in accordance with the climate forecast led to an increase in the chances that maize crop will go well through the vegetation period and give high and stable yields.
The Effectiveness of a Proposed Educational Program Based on Infographics on Developing Spatial Thinking Skills in Geography for Tenth Grade Students in Jordan
Authors: Kosha Raed , Talafha Ahmad
Published: June 2023

This study aimed to reveal the effectiveness of applying a proposed educational program based on infographics in teaching geography on developing spatial thinking skills for tenth grade students in Jordan. To achieve the purpose of the study, the two researchers prepared a spatial thinking exam, and a proposed educational program based on infographics for teaching geography for the tenth grade, and the validity and reliability of the study tools were verified. The sample of the study consisted of (70) students, where they were randomly distributed into two groups: experimental group, and control group and each consisted of (35) students. The researchers applied the guide of the proposed educational program based on infographics in teaching geography for the experimental group, while the conventional way was used for the control group. The  results of the study revealed that there is a statistically significant effect of applying the proposed educational program based on infographics in teaching geography on developing spatial thinking skills among the tenth grade students in Jordan. The researchers recommended applying the proposed educational program based on infographics in teaching geography to develop spatial thinking skills among the tenth-grade students in Jordan.
Bangladeshi Undergraduates’ Attitudes towards Teachers’ Feedback on Midterm Scripts
Authors: Shorna Sadia Afrin , Suchona Iffat Jahan
Published: June 2023

This paper explores different kinds of feedback that teachers give on the midterm scripts and the students’ attitudes towards these kinds of feedback. The total number of participants of this study was eighty-one. The participants were randomly chosen from the Departments of English of three private universities in Bangladesh. To collect the data a questionnaire with twenty-three items was used. The findings show that the students received three types of feedback more frequently (oral, written, and explicit) and the students preferred both oral and written feedback at times.
Note to Contributors
Authors: Note to contributors
Published: June 2023

CROSSINGS: A Journal of English StudiesDepartment of English and HumanitiesUniversity of Liberal Arts Bangladesh (ULAB)crossings@ulab.edu.bdVolume 12 | September 2021 | ISSN 2071–1107
Editorial Note
Authors: Editorial Note
Published: June 2023

CROSSINGS: A Journal of English StudiesDepartment of English and HumanitiesUniversity of Liberal Arts Bangladesh (ULAB)crossings@ulab.edu.bdVolume 13, No. 1 | Special Issue on Entangled Englishes | June 2022 | ISSN 2071–1107
Donne’s Imagery:
Authors: Shameem Musarrat
Published: June 2023

In this article I am going to discuss some essential aspects of the images that Donne uses in his poems. The images that he uses create a riddle like effect in the reader’s mind as there are some deliberately missing links in them. So as teachers of Donne’s poems we get a unique pleasure when we are able to solve the riddles and understand their intended meaning. At the same time we feel like taking part in the creation of the poem since we have to fill up the gaps/missing links that are there in the poems. As a theoretical background of this process of creation the reader response theory can be put forward which supports the role of the reader as a creator. My article is going to focus on this issue of riddles through a close reading of three poems by Donne, namely, “Air and Angels,” “The Flea” and “The Ecstasy.”
L1 Influence on Learning Spoken English of Bangla Speakers
Authors: Ariful Islam S.M.
Published: June 2023

With a long historical background of contrastive analysis, language transfer, language distance and the Superset and the Subset Principles, L1 influence on learning the target language has been one of the significant domains of linguistic research. In this paper “L1 influence on learning Spoken English of Bangla Speakers.” I have intended to investigate how the L1 (Bangla) of L2 students plays role in their practical use of (L2) English. It is established in this essay that in every linguistic feature, e.g. morphology, and semantics, syntax, phonetics and phonology, there is sufficient influence of Bangla language on spoken English among Bangla speakers. While this influence has been present in the speech of all subjects. it varies greatly from subject to subject depending on their success in learning.
Pengelolaan Pemasaran dan Pembukuan Secara Digital Pada Bisnis Kecil Ayam Potong “D”
Authors: Dewi Ika Octavia  , Tri Ratna Pamikatsih  , Putri Maisara  , Amy Wulandari
Published: June 2023

Pandemi Covid-19 telah mempengaruhi semua sektor ekonomi di Indonesia. Salah satu sektor usaha yang terpengaruh adalah usaha perunggasan terutama usaha ayam potong. Ayam potong “D” merupakan salah satu pelaku usaha yang berlokasi di kabupaten Sukoharjo. Permasalahan yang dihadapi oleh pelaku usaha ayam potong “D” antara lain pertama, penjualan yang terus menurun karena hanya mengandalkan penjualan secara offline. Permasalahan yang kedua adalah tidak dapat mengelola keuangan terutama uang tunai dengan baik sehingga pelaku usaha merasa bahwa selama ini belum mendapatkan keuntungan. Program pengabdian ini memiliki tujuan dapat mengatasi dua permasalahan tersebut dengan cara memberikan pemahaman dan pendampingan tentang melakukan pemasaran melalui media sosial yaitu whatsapp business serta menyampaikan materi dan pendampingan terkait pembukuan sederhana dengan format buku kas dan laporan keuangan menggunakan microsoft excel. Hasil dari kegiatan pengabdian ini, pelaku usaha ayam potong “D” mulai merasakan dampak positif terkait peningkatan penjualan yang lebih baik dibandingkan sebelum adanya pendampingan dan juga pendampingan pembukuan sederhana membuat pelaku usaha ayam potong “D” dapat mengetahui bagaimana kondisi usahanya saat ini karena sudah melakukan pengelolaan uang tunai dengan baik.
SI-Tizen Bootcamp: Pelatihan Sistem Informasi, Copywriting, dan Konten Kreasi Untuk Siswa SMA dan SMK se-Sulawesi Selatan
Authors: Furqan Zakiyabarsi  , Andi Jamiati Paramita2  , Andi Hutami Endang  , Syafaat Abdul Hakim , Achmad Zulfajri Syaharuddin  , Fizar Syafaat  , Muhammad Syafaat  , Dewi Fatmarani Surianto
Published: June 2023

Penguasaan teknologi digital adalah satu modal utama yang dibutuhkan oleh semua orang di era digital ini. Indonesia adalah negara dengan ekonomi internet terbesar dan mempunyai pertumbuhan paling cepat di Asia Tenggara. Hal itu didorong oleh kekuatan demografi digital Indonesia yang mencapai 202,6 juta orang atau 73,7% dari total populasi Indonesia pada tahun 2021, dan dari 202,6 juta pengguna internet itu 92,82% adalah pengguna media sosial. Media sosial menjadi integrasi antara teknologi, sosialisasi, dan berbagi pemikiran melalui kata-kata dan alat bantu visual. Pemilihan dan penggunaan kata-kata serta pembuatan media visual biasa kita sebut dengan copywriting dan content creating. Indonesia dalam kurun waktu 2015-2030 diproyeksikan membutuhkan talenta digital sebanyak 9 juta orang dengan kebutuhan rata-rata 600.000 orang per tahun. Sayangnya, hal itu belum dibarengi dengan sumber daya manusia yang siap. Belum adanya inklusifitas penggunaan teknologi digital untuk kegiatan produktif dan kemampuan untuk beradaptasi dengan perkembangan digital masih tergolong rendah. Untuk itu dibutuhkan kegiatan-kegiatan yang produktif untuk menyiapkan sumber daya manusia yang unggul dalam dunia teknologi digital untuk menyambut kebutuhan dimasa mendatang. Melihat permasalahan tersebut, Program Studi Sistem Informasi Institut Teknologi dan Bisnis Kalla membuat kegiatan SI-Tizen Bootcamp yang dilaksanakan pada 23-24 Juli 2022 yaitu kegiatan pelatihan sistem informasi, konten kreasi, dan copywriting kepada siswa SMA/SMK/MA se-Sulawesi Selatan. Pelatihan yang diberikan mampu meningkatkan pemahaman dan ketrampilan peserta di bidang Multimedia Content Creation dan Copywriting evaluasi yang diberikan. Pelatihan juga diterima dengan baik oleh peserta dimana ditunjukkan melalui hasil kuisioner evaluasi pelaksanaan kegiatan dengan nilai kepuasan sebesar 98% terhadap indikator-indikator yang disampaikan dalam kegiatan.
Relación entre los niveles de ansiedad precompetitiva y rendimiento deportivo en atletas adolescentes
Authors: Riquelme O. Matías , Cisternas M. Cecilia , Núñez E. Cristian
Published: June 2023

Introduction: Multiple factors can influence the psychological response of an athlete, in which we find Precompetitive Anxiety. This type of anxiety is composed of different modalities: Somatic Anxiety, Cognitive Anxiety, Worry, Deconcentration, and Self-confidence. Each one of these modalities can be modified, with the objective of improving the state with which an athlete faces a competition, and with it, to be able to influence in a better sport performance.
Objective: Determine if there is a relationship between Precompetitive Anxiety levels and sports performance in adolescent athletes.
Method: A descriptive study, not probabilistic for convenience, where 67 athletes participating in the 27th version of the Araucanian Binational Games were surveyed and given the instruments; Revised Competitive Anxiety Inventory-2, Sports Anxiety Scale-2, and Anamnesis.
Results: There is a slight negative correlation between Self-confidence and classification, evaluated in the Sports Anxiety Scale-2 (rp = -0.325, p<0.01), there is also a strong correlation between Cognitive Anxiety and Worry (rp = 0.813, p<0.01). The field test athletes present lower levels of Somatic Anxiety than the track test athletes, it is also observed that the Argentinean athletes have higher averages than the Chilean athletes in Cognitive Anxiety (p<0.01) and Worry (p<0.05).
Conclusion: Precompetitive Anxiety is established to have a slight effect on sports performance. Cognitive Anxiety and Worry could indirectly affect sports performance, based on the influence that both have on the athlete's perception.
METODIČKI PRISTUP SAVREMENOJ UMJETNOSTI U RAZREDNOJ NASTAVI LIKOVNE KULTURE
Authors: Grubor Marina , Drljača Miroslav D.
Published: June 2023

U radu se ispituje kako učenici mlađeg školskog uzrasta reaguju na djela savremene umjetnosti, može li savremena umjetnost biti podsticaj za dječje likovno izražavanje i na koji način učenici mogu uraditi likovni rad podstaknuti djelima savremene umjetnosti. Istraživanje je provedeno u OŠ „Sveti Sava“ Novi Grad. U istraživanju je učestvovao 21 učenik drugog razreda osnovne škole. Učenici su realizovali svoje radove u tehnici kolaža, asamblaža i u slikarskoj tehnici tempera, podstaknuti djelima Vasilija Kandinskog i Mladena Karana. Nalazi istraživanja pokazuju da učenici mlađeg školskog uzrasta pozitivno reaguju na djela savremene umjetnosti i da savremena umjetnost može biti podsticaj za dječje likovno izražavanje. Istraživanjem je dokazano i da se sadržaji savremene umjetnosti mogu realizovati unutar nastavnih tema i jedinica propisanih aktuelnim Nastavnim planom i programom za osnovno vaspitanje i obrazovanje.
ИНТЕРКУЛТУРАЛНО ОБРАЗОВАЊЕ У БОСНИ И ХЕРЦЕГОВИНИ ИЗМЕЂУ ОСМАНСКОГ ЦАРСТВА И АУСТРОУГАРСКЕ МОНАРХИЈЕ
Authors: Вукановић Немања
Published: June 2023

Иако се појам интеркултурализма јавио прије педесетак година, његови прин- ципи могу се проучавати на било ком мјесту гдје се укрштају различите кул- туре. Босна и Херцеговина одувијек је била мјесто различитих култура, неких устаљених и неких у транзицији. Аутор се у раду бави питањима интеркулту- ралног образовања посматраног у контексту образовних тенденција и дина- мизама, културних и демографских обиљежја народа, те политичких утицаја на подручју Босне и Херцеговине између Османског царства и Аустроугар- ске монархије. Циљ истраживања је да се истраже друштвене околности и специфичности образовања у посљедњим годинама владавине Османског царства и првим годинама владавине Аустроугарске монархије, те да се на ос- нову тога утврди присуство интеркултуралног образовања на подручју Босне и Херцеговине. Проучавајући релевантне изворе и литературу, аутор је дошао до закључка да упркос јасно изнесеном циљу новоформираних аустроугарских власти, живот у условима неприхватања културних и других различитости није могао подстицати интеркултуралну осјетљивост. Интенционално и тенденционално урушавање културе, вјере и нације народа Босне и Херцегови- не није ишло у прилог изградњи интеркултуралног идентитета.
НОВИ ПРИСТУПИ ФОРМИРАЊУ ПОЈМОВА У НАСТАВИ ПРИРОДЕ И ДРУШТВА
Authors: Драгић Желимир
Published: June 2023

У издаваштву Филозофског факултета у Бањој Луци 2021. годи- не изашла је монографија Формирање појмова у настави природе и друштва (теоријске основе и методички поступци) аутора проф. др Славише Јењића, ванредног професора на Катедри за педагогију и ме- тодике, која спаја теоријске и методичко-практичне варијатете једног од најважнијих феномена у процесу наставе ‒ формирање почетних појмова. Монографијом се на методичко-зналачки и логички заокру- жен начин приказује како једино континуиран наставни рад води ка ис- правном формирању појмова у настави природе и друштва и као таква има шансу да постане назаобилазна „карика“ у методичком проучавању наставе природе и друштва.
Historiography of the study of mytho-religious songs of Ossetians before the 1930s.
Authors: Dzlieva Dzerassa Mairamovna
Published: June 2023

The subject of the study is the historiography of the study of Ossetian song folklore. The object of the study is mytho-religious songs. The purpose of the article is to systematize information sources reflecting the history of the development of research interest in the song folklore of Ossetians, paying special attention to mytho-religious songs. With the help of source research methods, handwritten collections, music collections, notes of individual samples in music publications, descriptions of audio recordings, research works were identified. This article discusses issues related to the activities of various collectors of Ossetian musical folklore. The author traces the stages of the formation of scientific thought, and the development of collecting activities. The most significant works are highlighted, including samples of mytho-religious songs of Ossetians. The main conclusions of the study relate to observations on the activities deployed in the 1920s - 1930s and related to various collectors. The analyzed data indicate an undoubted interest in the Ossetian song tradition. Thanks to folklore and ethnographic expeditions of the 1920s, an impressive set of materials of Ossetian song folklore was collected, but it is worth noting the careless attitude of collectors to the poetic text. Quite often it is presented in a distorted version, in the volume of one stanza, and sometimes it is completely absent. The breakthrough in collecting detail was the appearance of the phonograph. Phonographic recordings made in the 1930s. they still make up the main body of materials on the folk musical culture of Ossetians. A special contribution of the author to the study of the topic is the systematization of information sources on mytho-religious songs, which determines the scientific novelty of this research work.
Art in design. The specifics of creating a visual image of a musical and artistic event
Authors: Demidova Malvina
Published: June 2023

The object of the research of the article is an actual topic for a modern designer – the forms of representation of a sound/musical image by visual expressive means. The subject of the study are examples of information and accompanying materials developed for cultural events related to music. The projects of contemporary authors Duan Zhihua and Rocio Galarza (Rocío Galarza) are analyzed. The purpose of the work is to consider the specifics of creating a visual image of a musical/sound composition, as well as the design approach of conducting project work on creating a composition in which visual and sound contexts form a structural unity. The research method in this work consists in applying an analytical approach to the analysis of design projects dedicated to music, which is based on the synthesis of iconographic and semantic analysis of compositional solutions, and can be used in the design, research and educational activities of the designer. The scientific novelty of the research lies in the introduction of new empirical material into circulation, in which the creation of a project compositional form is considered as the creation of a communicative system based on the combination of expressive means encoding information about visual and sound content. The study showed that the musical image perceived, as a rule, through the performer, in creating its visual equivalent implies its interpretation by the designer. The analysis of the projects of modern designers posted on the web confirmed that in a visual image that carries information about a musical and artistic event, visual and sound contexts form a structural unity, becoming a unique subject for study, contributing to the development and improvement of design methods. In the works of modern designers Duan Zhihua and Rocio Galarza, there is a desire to develop compositions that differ in an easily readable semantic connection of artistic and expressive elements with a broad socio-cultural context.
Northern Buddhism in the culture of the East Siberian region of Russia (on the history of the Irkutsk Spiritual Mission of the Russian Orthodox Church).
Authors: Zykin Alexey , Aref'ev Mikhail Anatol'evich
Published: June 2023

The study of the cultural activity of the Spiritual missions of the Russian Orthodox Church in various regions of Russia is one of the urgent tasks in the context of the problematic field of the theory of regionalism, cultural studies and socio-philosophical knowledge. Russian settlements on the territory of the Yenisei River basin and the entry of ethnic groups and territories of Yakutia and Buryatia into the Russian Empire has become one of the most important stages of the integration of the ethnic groups of Siberia into a single statehood. The Irkutsk Spiritual Mission received a more perfect organization, institutionalized by increasing the number of missionary camps, which for successful Christian activities carried out among pagans allowed the formation of school educational institutions for the education and upbringing of a new Buryat generation of children in the doctrinal Orthodox canons, and Russian cultural traditions. In this regard, one of the key tasks of the missionaries was to establish a rational view of further life in new Christian-type formations, which was realized in socio-cultural activities: providing medical care to sick representatives of other ethnic groups, a friendly attitude to people of a different faith and a sincere desire to guide them on the path of righteousness, etc. It should be noted that the largest share of foreigners in this territory belonged to Buddhists, which was reflected in the influence of lamas on doctrinal issues, including economic ones. Since Buddhism in the Russian Empire belonged to the section of tolerant religions, direct (administrative) pressure on it was impossible. There remained funds of an exclusively spiritual nature, to which Orthodox missionary work was directed. Today in the Russian Federation, Buddhism, as well as Islam, Catholicism and Protestantism, as well as some other faiths belong to the category of traditional religions, which organizationally operate within the framework of the modern Russian Constitution.
Sacralization of the value structures of human existence in the spiritual culture of the Greater Altai
Authors: Popov Evgeniy Aleksandrovich
Published: June 2023

The article characterizes the substantial level of sacralization of values in the spiritual culture of the Greater Altai. The main emphasis is placed on identifying the grounds for the sacralization of values. It is established that the world order is one of the bases of sacralization and simultaneously performs the function of consolidating cultural carriers. The key thesis of the research is the thesis that spiritual culture cannot be fully comprehended without reference to sacred values. In addition, the sacralization of values is considered as a condition for ensuring spiritual security and continuity of values and norms between generations of cultural carriers. The assessment of the spiritual potential of the culture of the Greater Altai is of great importance. The main conclusions of the study are the following provisions: 1) the sacralization of key values is carried out at the essential or substantial level, while the stages of sacralization are mainly "tied" to the religious and mythological development of culture and its value-normative system; 2) sacralization encompasses those value structures that acquire importance in human existence and are a factor in the integration of cultural carriers and their generations; 3 sacralization is the process of identifying specific value-semantic structures – they are attributed symbolic meaning, and they are also correlated with certain cultural codes, signs and texts.
Metodo e strategie di studio: cosa sanno gli studenti? Un’indagine all’Università di Trento
Authors: Cembrani Veronica , Serbati Anna , Mulatti Claudio
Published: June 2023

Study Methods And Learning Strategies: What Do Students Know? A Survey At The University Of Trento. How do students study? What do students know about study methods and learning strategies? Recent research has shown that most students rely on ineffective study methods. This behavior could be ascribed to a limited knowledge about learning strategies: students might rely on ineffective study methods because they have erroneous views about which learning strategies are effective. The aim of our research has been to further address this topic at the University of Trento. Here, we present and discuss the results of a survey study that investigates the students’ knowledge of some common learning strategies, the beliefs about their utility, and how much students intended to use them during the semester. Our results confirm that students are often not aware of which learning strategies are most effective. Furthermore, our data suggests that even when students do know how they should study, they do not always reflect it in their study activities. These conclusions requires appropriate considerations and intervention in educational contexts.
Presence-Centered Flourishing: A Proposal of Alternative Strategies to Promote Sustainable Living
Authors: Fabjański Marcin , Carrus Giuseppe , Tiberio Lorenza
Published: June 2023

Flourishing has been identified as a central concept in the new approaches based on the idea of positive psychology emerging at the end of the 20th and beginning of the 21st centuries. A culture based on the idea of harmony may never have existed among the large public in the history of human thought. An educational system of this type could be based on what we propose here as a «presence-centered» pedagogy (in contrast to the contemporary «information-centered» and «skill-centered» pedagogies). The alternative education process that we propose is also particularly fitted to be conducted amongst nature and outdoor spaces rather than within a classroom, based on the extensive literature on the positive effects of contact with nature for human health and wellbeing. From a philosophical perspective, a presence-centered pedagogy would result in the promotion of a new sense of agency: an identity developed by exercising our co-dependence with the rest of the ecosystemic processes and life-support systems, as opposed to an identity conceived as being separated from the external environment. We argue here that such a revolutionary change of human’s self-definition could result in higher likelihood of changing our lifestyles in the direction of sustainability and collective wellbeing.
Bacterial meningitis in the early postnatal mouse studied at single-cell resolution
Authors: Wang Jie , Rattner Amir , Nathans Jeremy
Published: June 2023

Bacterial meningitis is a major cause of morbidity and mortality, especially among infants and the elderly. Here, we study mice to assess the response of each of the major meningeal cell types to early postnatal E. coli infection using single nucleus RNA sequencing (snRNAseq), immunostaining, and genetic and pharamacologic perturbations of immune cells and immune signaling. Flatmounts of the dissected leptomeninges and dura were used to facilitiate high-quality confocal imaging and quantification of cell abundances and morphologies. Upon infection, the major meningeal cell types – including endothelial cells (ECs), macrophages, and fibroblasts – exhibit distinctive changes in their transcriptomes. Additionally, ECs in the leptomeninges redistribute CLDN5 and PECAM1, and leptomeningeal capillaries exhibit foci with reduced blood-brain barrier integrity. The vascular response to infection appears to be largely driven by TLR4 signaling, as determined by the nearly identical responses induced by infection and LPS administration and by the blunted response to infection in Tlr4-/- mice. Interestingly, knocking out Ccr2, encoding a major chemoattractant for monocytes, or acute depletion of leptomeningeal macrophages, following intracebroventricular injection of liposomal clodronate, had little or no effect on the response of leptomeningeal ECs to E. coli infection. Taken together, these data imply that EC responses to infection are largely driven by the intrinsic EC response to LPS.
Hunger- and thirst-sensing neurons modulate a neuroendocrine network to coordinate sugar and water ingestion
Authors: González-Segarra Amanda J. , Pontes Gina , Jourjine Nicholas , Toro Alexander Del , Scott Kristin
Published: June 2023

Consumption of food and water is tightly regulated by the nervous system to maintain internal nutrient homeostasis. Although generally considered independently, interactions between hunger and thirst drives are important to coordinate competing needs. In
Drosophila
, four neurons called the Interoceptive Subesophageal zone Neurons (ISNs) respond to intrinsic hunger and thirst signals to oppositely regulate sucrose and water ingestion. Here, we investigate the neural circuit downstream of the ISNs to examine how ingestion is regulated based on internal needs. Utilizing the recently available fly brain connectome, we find that the ISNs synapse with a novel cell type Bilateral T-shaped neuron (BiT) that projects to neuroendocrine centers.
In vivo
neural manipulations revealed that BiT oppositely regulates sugar and water ingestion. Neuroendocrine cells downstream of ISNs include several peptide-releasing and peptide-sensing neurons, including insulin producing cells (IPC), crustacean cardioactive peptide (CCAP) neurons, and CCHamide-2 receptor isoform RA (CCHa2R-RA) neurons. These neurons contribute differentially to ingestion of sugar and water, with IPCs and CCAP neurons oppositely regulating sugar and water ingestion, and CCHa2R-RA neurons modulating only water ingestion. Thus, the decision to consume sugar or water occurs via regulation of a broad peptidergic network that integrates internal signals of nutritional state to generate nutrient-specific ingestion.
Use of factorial design with significant interaction and Tukey's Test in agricultural and environmental experiments
Authors: Yamada José Tadao , Viana Rafaela Simôes Espírito , Santos Ramona Rodrigues , De Carvalho Cleginaldo Pereira , De Almeida Maria da Glória Diniz , De Barros José Glênio Medeiros , Sampaio Nilo Antonio de Souza
Published: June 2023

This study aimed to present one of the applications of complete factorial planning with significant interactions as well as Tukey's Test in the agricultural and environmental area. To achieve this objective, applied research of exploratory nature and quantitative approach was carried out. As method and technical procedures were adopted, respectively, the bibliographical research, the literature review, and a case study. As a contribution of this research, it is pointed out the use of this tool in other research fields, but mainly in the environmental area.
Causes and Psycho-Social Effects of Child Trafficking in North Wollo Zone, Ethiopia
Authors: Hussen Zewdnesh Endris , Mekonnen Melaku Anteneh
Published: June 2023

This study is attempted to examine the causes and effects of child trafficking in North Wollo Zone. Child trafficking is a global challenge affecting every country in the world. It involves multiple forms of sexual and labor exploitation which is described as a modern slavery. Hence, it gave the researcher an inspiration to investigate the causes and effects of child trafficking in north Wollo Zone. The specific objectives of this study were; to explore the major causes of child trafficking, to identify the major actors in child trafficking, to disclose effects of trafficking on children/ especially psycho-social effects of trafficking and to describe the trend of child trafficking for the past ten years. To conduct this study embedded exploratory design was employed. In order to collect the data in-depth interview, focus group discussion and document review was used. Thematic analysis for qualitative data and means, tables, graphs and charts for quantitative data employed to analyze the data and to show the trend. Result shows that Child trafficking is a problem in most districts in the zone especially in the lowland districts.  Children got vulnerable to be trafficked because of the poverty, peer pressure, hearing about employment opportunities in towns, attraction by the better living conditions in town, community discrimination, and families interest to be benefited from children employment through trafficking. The major actors in the trafficking process were brokers; brokers cheated family members, money loaning persons /usury lenders, grievance committee and relatives in cities. The trafficked children mainly experienced the physical, psychological and emotional social and economical forms of effects during their trafficking and in the past ten years increasing trend indicates that child/human trafficking is a continual problem of the community and is a global hazard. Eventually the researcher concluded that child trafficking plays a pivotal role in deteriorating the overall development of the children in different forms. Government and non-governmental organizations are recommended to coordination projects which could alleviate the economic challenge of victims of trafficking.
Land Use Planning and Management in Jamrani Dam Command
Authors: Singh R. K. , Sharma H. C.
Published: June 2023

The Present study was conducted to assess the groundwater inventory in Jamrani Dam Command situated in Uttrakhand and Uttar Pradesh, India. Groundwater inventory was prepared for different blocks of Udhamsingh Nagar, Rampur, and Bareilly districts in Jamrani Dam Command from 1988 to 2010 at an interval of five years. Over-exploitation of groundwater has created an alarming situation in a few blocks of Rampur and Bareilly districts in Jamrani Dam Command. In the year 2010, the Bilaspur, Baheri, Gadarpur, and Rudrapur blocks of the study area were found under the safe category; Swar and Meerganj blocks were found under the critical category whereas Milak and Shergarh blocks were found under the over-exploited category. The maximum and minimum stages of development were found at 109.08% and 59.31% at Shergarh and Rudrarpur blocks, respectively. The overall stage of development for the study area was 68.44% and the area as a whole may be put under the semi-critical category for the year 2010. In the present study, the physical-chemical properties of groundwater in shallow aquifers and their suitability for drinking, irrigation, and industrial uses were studied. The physical-chemical properties of the groundwater of the study area were determined using standard methods of water quality analysis. A comprehensive and proper groundwater recharge plan for the identified landforms with their prevailing geomorphic features in the study area has been suggested to maintain the groundwater at a safe and desired level in the future in the Jamrani Dam Command. Various water recharging structures namely: a series of check dams, percolation tanks, farm ponds and nallah bunds are most possible techniques for recharging groundwater aquifers by utilizing excess water available during monsoon season in the form of runoff obtained from the land surface. Geographic information Systems (GIS) and Remote Sensing were applied to the study area to delineate different land uses from the satellite imageries (IRS-1D). The study area delineated from the S.O.I. toposheets was also classified into nine land use classes i.e. agricultural land, grassland, water body, scrubland, and forest etc.
The Impact of Biotechnology on Mango Enhancement: Exploring Genetic Engineering and Molecular Markers
Authors: Kumar Amit , Prakash Om , Pandey Vibhu , Alam Khursheed , Sonkar Satyarth , Singh Satvaan , Singh Shalini , Gangwar Vishal
Published: June 2023

The impact of biotechnology on mango enhancement, particularly through genetic engineering and molecular markers, has been significant. Biotechnology has revolutionized the field of agriculture, offering innovative tools and techniques for improving crop traits. In the case of mangoes, genetic engineering involves the manipulation of the organism's DNA to introduce or modify specific genes, targeting traits such as disease resistance, fruit quality, and yield. This approach has led to the development of mango varieties with enhanced resistance to pests and diseases, improved flavour and aroma, and increased productivity. Similarly, marker-assisted selection (MAS) utilizes molecular markers to identify and select plants with desired traits, bypassing the need for time-consuming and costly phenotypic evaluations. MAS has accelerated breeding programs, enabling the development of superior mango cultivars with desired traits. By exploring the impact of genetic engineering and molecular markers in mango improvement, we gain insights into their potential to address key challenges in mango cultivation and meet consumer demands.
Analysis of Breast Cancer Family History, Estrogen Receptor Status, and Breast Cancer Outcomes in Sweden
Authors: Zhang Yuqi , Wang Qiao-Li , Zeng Erwei , He Wei , Czene Kamila
Published: June 2023

Importance

Breast cancer (BC), the most prevalent cancer among women globally, is a heterogeneous disease, with prognosis differing by estrogen receptor (ER) status. Having a family history of BC increases the risk of BC; however, it is unclear whether family history is associated with the prognosis of overall and ER-specific BC.

Objective

To assess whether a family history of BC is associated with the prognosis of overall and ER-specific BC.

Design, Setting, and Participants

This cohort study was based on data from several national registers in Sweden. All female residents of Stockholm who were born after 1932; had their first BC diagnosis between January 1, 1991, and December 31, 2019; and had at least 1 identified female first-degree relative (FDR) were included. Women who were diagnosed with other types of cancer before their BC diagnosis, were older than 75 years at diagnosis, or had distant metastasis at diagnosis were excluded. A total of 28 649 women were included. Data were analyzed from January 10, 2022, to December 20, 2022.

Exposures

Family history of BC, defined as 1 or more female FDRs diagnosed with BC.

Main Outcomes and Measures

Patients were followed up until BC-specific death, censoring, or end of follow-up on December 31, 2019. The role of family history in BC-specific mortality was investigated using flexible parametric survival models among the full cohort, ER-positive subgroup, and ER-negative subgroup, adjusting for demographic characteristics, tumor characteristics, and treatments received.

Results

Among 28 649 patients, the mean (SD) age at BC diagnosis was 55.7 (10.4) years; 19 545 (68.2%) had ER-positive BC, and 4078 (14.2%) had ER-negative BC. Overall, 5081 patients (17.7%) had at least 1 female FDR diagnosed with BC, while 384 (1.3%) had a family history of early-onset BC (FDR diagnosed before age 40 years). During the follow-up period (median [IQR], 8.7 [4.1-15.1] years), 2748 patients (9.6%) died of BC. Multivariable analyses revealed that having a family history of BC was associated with a lower risk of BC-specific death among the full cohort (hazard ratio [HR], 0.78; 95% CI, 0.65-0.95) and the ER-negative subgroup (HR, 0.57; 95% CI, 0.40-0.82) in the first 5 years, after which no association was observed. However, having an early-onset family history was associated with a higher risk of BC-specific death (HR, 1.41; 95% CI, 1.03-2.34).

Conclusions and Relevance

In this study, patients with a family history of BC did not necessarily have a worse prognosis. Those with ER-negative status and a family history of BC had more favorable outcomes in the first 5 years after diagnosis, possibly due to enhanced motivation to receive and adhere to treatment. However, patients with a family history of early-onset BC had worse survival, suggesting that genetic testing of newly diagnosed patients with early-onset family history may provide useful information to aid treatment and future research.
Enhancing Stability of Efficient Perovskite Solar Cells (PCE ≈ 24.5%) by Suppressing PbI2 Inclusion Formation
Authors: Shin Sooeun , Nandi Pronoy , Seo Seongrok , Jung Hyun Suk , Park Nam‐Gyu , Shin Hyunjung
Published: June 2023

Excess lead(II) iodide (PbI2) has controversial roles in affecting the efficiency of perovskite solar cells (PSCs). Since the photoinstability of PbI2 is now known to largely accelerate perovskite degradation, suppressing and/or eliminating excess PbI2 is key to improving the stability of PSCs. Herein, process‐dependent PbI2 formation on the surfaces of formamidinium lead triiodide (FAPbI3) films is examined. Due to the faster evaporation rate of organic substances, crystalline PbI2 as an inclusion is found within the triple junction grain boundaries. With this hypothesis, two strategies are suggested: control of the 1) vapor pressure and 2) stoichiometry of precursor solutions to induce sufficient reaction of FAPbI3. Although both strategies successfully eliminate the PbI2 as inclusions, due to the slower evaporation rate, vapor pressure control films also exhibit a larger grain size (≈1.18 µm) with a good film quality to attain the highest power conversion efficiency (PCE) of 24.5%. Furthermore, the phase stability of α‐FAPbI3 is improved due to the elimination of the degradation sites induced by the photoinstability of PbI2. The findings explore the formation process of unwanted PbI2 (≈2.8%) and provide a simple method to effectively suppress its formation. This may further boost the PCE and stability, especially for FA‐based perovskites.
Nanosized Silk‐Magnesium Complexes for Tissue Regeneration
Authors: Ding Zhaozhao , Cheng Weinan , Liu Lutong , Xu Gang , Lu Qiang , Kaplan David L.
Published: June 2023

Metal ions provide multifunctional signals for cell and tissue functions, including regeneration. Inspired by metal−organic frameworks (MOFs), nanosized silk protein aggregates with a high negative charge density are used to form stable silk−magnesium ion complexes. Magnesium ions (Mg ions) are added directly to silk nanoparticle solutions, inducing gelation through the formation of silk‐Mg coordination complexes. The Mg ions are released slowly from the nanoparticles through diffusion, with sustained release via tuning the degradation or dissolution of the nanosized silk aggregates. Studies in vitro reveal a dose‐dependent influence of Mg ions on angiogenic and anti‐inflammatory functions. Silk‐Mg ion complexes in the form of hydrogels also stimulate tissue regeneration with a reduced formation of scar tissue in vivo, suggesting potential utility in tissue regeneration.
Recent Advances in Laser‐Induced Synthesis of MOF Derivatives
Authors: Guo Shuailong , Gao Ming , Zhang Wang , Liu Feng , Guo Xueyi , Zhou Kun
Published: June 2023

Metal‐organic frameworks (MOFs) are crystalline materials with permanent pores constructed by the self‐assembly of organic ligands and metal clusters through coordination bonds. Due to their diversity and tunability, MOFs are used as precursors to be converted into other types of functional materials by pyrolytic recrystallization. Laser‐induced synthesis is proven to be a powerful pyrolytic processing technique with fast and accurate laser irradiation, low loss, high efficiency, selectivity, and programmability, which endow MOF derivatives with new features. Laser‐induced MOF derivatives exhibit high versatility in multidisciplinary research fields. In this review, first, the basic principles of laser smelting and the types of materials for laser preparation of MOF derivatives are briefly introduced. Subsequently, it is focused on the peculiarity of the engineering of structural defects and their applications in catalysis, environmental protection, and energy fields. Finally, the challenges and opportunities at the current stage are highlighted with the aim of elucidating the future direction of the rapidly growing field of laser‐induced synthesis of MOF derivatives.