bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Impact of the HOPE Intervention on Mental Health Literacy, Psychological Well-Being and Stress Levels amongst University Undergraduates: A Randomised Controlled Trial
Authors: Tay Jing Ling , Goh Yong Shian Shawn , Sim Kang , Klainin-Yobas Piyanee
Published: August 2022

Mental health literacy (MHL) promotes mental health among youths. We aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of the newly developed HOPE intervention in improving depression literacy, anxiety literacy, psychological well-being, and reducing personal stigma and stress levels amongst young adults at a university in Singapore. After two pilot studies, we conducted a randomised controlled trial (RCT) and recruited 174 participants aged 18–24 years old through social media platforms. The HOPE intervention group received four online sessions over two weeks and the control group received online inspirational quotes. Study outcomes were measured with self-reported questionnaires and they were assessed at baseline, post-intervention, and two-month follow-up (ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT04266119). Compared with the control arm, the intervention group was associated with increased depression and anxiety literacy levels at post-intervention and two-month follow-up. In addition, personal stigma for depression was reduced at the post-intervention juncture. However, there were no statistically significant changes in the ratings of psychological well-being and stress levels between the two groups. Longitudinal studies with larger sample sizes are warranted to replicate and extend the extant findings.
Taxing the Digital Economy through Consumption Taxes (VAT) in African Countries: Possibilities, Constraints and Implications
Authors: Mpofu Favourate Y.
Published: August 2022

Owing to the Fourth Industrial revolution and digital transformation, the digital economy has grown substantially globally and in Africa. Despite the positive outcomes such as advancements in technology, improvements in business models and expansion in digital financial inclusion, negative implications include the erosion of tax bases due to the invisible nature of digital transactions. Although the digital economy is one of the biggest and quickest growing sectors in the African continent, its contribution to tax revenue is negligible. Developed and developing countries are grappling to find effective ways of mobilizing revenues from this hard to tax economy. African countries have turned to digital services taxes, value added taxes and withholding taxes in a bid to collect revenue from the digital economy to broaden their tax bases. There is intense debate among policymakers, governments, development bodies and tax bodies on the most effective way to tax the digital economy. Through a conceptual analysis based on a critical review of the literature, this article contributes to the ongoing debate by assessing the possibilities and constraints of taxing the digital economy in Africa using value added tax (VAT). The paper reviewed 55 articles, most of them current, published between 2014 and 2022, reflecting embryonic nature of the subject area. The findings on the opportunities include the existence of VAT regulation, increased revenue mobilization and efficiency gains, while challenges include ambiguities in legislation, capacity constraints and tax knowledge gaps. The implications of using VAT to collect tax from the digital economy encompass increased cost of digital services, decreased access, increased inequality and impediment on employment creation, poverty reduction, digital financial inclusion, and the realization of the sustainable development goals.
A Novel Antibody Targeting the Second Extracellular Loop of the Serotonin 5-HT2A Receptor Inhibits Platelet Function
Authors: Ramirez Jean E. M. , Alarabi Ahmed B. , Khasawneh Fadi T. , Alshbool Fatima Z.
Published: August 2022

Serotonin (5-hydroxytriptamine or 5-HT) is known to be a weak platelet agonist, and is involved in thrombus formation. While 5-HT cannot induce platelet aggregation on its own, when secreted from the alpha granules, it binds to its G-protein Coupled Receptor (GPCR; i.e., 5HT2AR), thereby acting to amplify platelet functional responses (e.g., aggregation). Thus, 5HT2AR-mediated responses are more involved in the secondary amplification of platelet aggregation in the growing thrombus. Therefore, even though 5-HT can be seen as a weak inducer of platelet activation, it is an important amplifier of aggregation triggered by agonists such as ADP, collagen, and epinephrine, thereby enhancing thrombogenesis. The 5HT2AR/5HT2A signaling pathway is of clinical interest to the scientific and medical communities as it has been implicated in the genesis of several forms of cardiovascular disorders. However, efforts to develop antagonists for 5HT2AR as therapeutic agents in cardiovascular diseases have thus far failed due to these reagents having deleterious side-effects, and/or to lack of selectivity, amongst other reasons. In light of research efforts that identified that the 5HT2AR ligand binding domain resides in the second extracellular loop (EL2; amino acids P209-N233), we developed an antibody, i.e., referred to as 5HT2ARAb, against the EL2 region, and characterized its pharmacological activity in the context of platelets. Thus, we utilized platelets from healthy human donors, as well as C57BL/6J mice (10–12 weeks old) to analyze the inhibitory effects of the 5HT2ARAb on platelet activation in vitro, ex vivo, and on thrombogenesis in vivo as well as on 5HT2AR ligand binding. Our results indicate that the 5HT2ARAb inhibits 5-HT-enhanced platelet activation in vitro and ex vivo, but has no apparent effects on that which is agonist-induced. The 5HT2ARAb was also found to prolong the thrombus occlusion time, and it did so without modulating the tail bleeding time, in mice unlike the P2Y12 antagonist clopidogrel and the 5HT2AR antagonist ketanserin. Moreover, it was found that the 5HT2ARAb does so by directly antagonizing the platelet 5HT2AR. Our findings document that the custom-made 5HT2ARAb exhibits platelet function blocking activity and protects against thrombogenesis without impairing normal hemostasis.
Calcium-Dependent Protein Kinase 28 Maintains Potato Photosynthesis and Its Tolerance under Water Deficiency and Osmotic Stress
Authors: Zhu Xi , Wang Fangfang , Li Shigui , Feng Ya , Yang Jiangwei , Zhang Ning , Si Huaijun
Published: August 2022

Calcium-dependent protein kinases (CDPK) are implicated in signaling transduction in eukaryotic organisms. It is largely unknown whether StCDPK28 plays a role in the response to water deficiency and osmotic stress in potato plants (Solanum tuberosum L.). Potato cv. Zihuabai was cultivated under natural, moderate, and severe water deficiency conditions; to induce osmotic stress, potato plants were treated with 10% or 20% PEG. StCDPK28-overexpression and StCDPK28-knockdown plants were constructed. StCDPKs were evaluated by qRT-PCR. The subcellular location of the StCDPK28 protein was observed with confocal scanning laser microscopy. Phenotypic changes were indicated by photosynthetic activity, the contents of H2O2, MDA and proline, and the activities of CAT, SOD and POD. Results showed water deficiency and osmotic stress altered StCDPK expression patterns. StCDPK28 exhibited a membrane, cytosolic and nuclear localization. Water deficiency and osmotic stress induced StCDPK28 upregulation. Photosynthetic activity was enhanced by StCDPK28 overexpression, while decreased by StCDPK2 knockdown under water deficiency and osmotic stress. StCDPK28 overexpression decreased H2O2 and MDA, and increased proline, while StCDPK28 knockdown showed reverse results, compared with the wild type, in response to water deficiency and osmotic stress. StCDPK28 overexpression increased the activities of CAT, SOD and POD, while StCDPK28-knockdown plants indicated the reverse trend under water deficiency and osmotic stress conditions. Regulation of StCDPK28 expression could be a promising approach to improve the tolerance ability of potato plants in response to drought or high salt media.
Neuroprotective Effect of Dexmedetomidine against Postoperative Cognitive Decline via NLRP3 Inflammasome Signaling Pathway
Authors: Cho Inja , Koo Bon-Nyeo , Kim So Yeon , Park Sujung , Kim Eun Jung , Kam Eun Hee , Kim Jeongmin
Published: August 2022

Dexmedetomidine (Dex), widely used as a sedative in surgical procedures and intensive care units, induces sympatholytic, anxiolytic, analgesic, and sedative effects. Postoperative cognitive dysfunction (POCD) is routinely observed in postoperative care following surgery and general anesthesia. The NLRP3 inflammasome complex plays a critical role in innate immune response by detecting pathogenic microorganisms and activating pro-inflammatory cytokines. Although there are numerous protective effects of Dex among the neurological diseases, specific mechanisms including NLRP3 inflammasome-mediated neuroinflammation via oxidative stress response in a POCD model are not fully understood. Here, we investigated whether Dex exhibits neurocognitive effects through the NLRP3 inflammasome signaling in a POCD mouse model using a neurobehavioral test and ELISA analysis. We also confirmed the level of oxidative stress-related response in the in vitro system in the POCD model. Furthermore, we evaluated the NLRP3 inflammasome complex by immunoprecipitation analysis. In summary, the results of the present study indicated that Dex showed a neuroprotective effect in the POCD model by reducing oxidative stress response through NLRP3 inflammasome-mediated neuroinflammation.
Zinc Deficiency Induces Autophagy in HT-22 Mouse Hippocampal Neuronal Cell Line
Authors: Kim Si-Yeon , Lee Jung-Ho , Kim Soon-Ae
Published: August 2022

Zinc is a trace metal vital for various functions in nerve cells, although the effect of zinc deficiency on neuronal autophagy remains unclear. This study aimed to elucidate whether zinc deficiency induced by treatment with N, N, N′, N′-tetrakis (2-pyridylmethyl) ethylenediamine (TPEN), a zinc chelator, affects and alters autophagy activity. In cell viability assays, TPEN showed cytotoxicity in HT-22 cells. TPEN treatment also increased LC3-II levels and the ratio of LC3-II to LC3-I. Western blot analysis showed that phospho-AMP-activated protein kinase levels and the ratio of phospho-AMP-activated protein kinase to total AMP-activated protein kinase increased. Protein levels of the mammalian target of rapamycin and sirtuin 1 decreased following TPEN treatment. When TPEN-treated HT-22 cells were cotreated with autophagy inhibitors, 3-methyladenine (1 mM), or bafilomycin A1 (3 nM), the TPEN-induced decrease in cell viability was exacerbated. Cotreatment with chloroquine (10 μM) partially restored cell viability. The study showed that zinc deficiency induces autophagy and may be cytoprotective in neurons. We expect our results to add a new perspective to our understanding of the neuronal pathology related to zinc deficiency.
LEAF TIP RUMPLED 1 Regulates Leaf Morphology and Salt Tolerance in Rice
Authors: Wang Jiajia , Liu Yiting , Hu Songping , Xu Jing , Nian Jinqiang , Cao Xiaoping , Chen Minmin , Cen Jiangsu , Liu Xiong , Zhang Zhihai , Liu Dan , Zhu Li , Hu Jiang , Ren Deyong , Gao Zhenyu , Shen Lan , Dong Guojun , Zhang Qiang , Li Qing , Yu Sibin , Qian Qian , Zhang Guangheng
Published: August 2022

Leaf morphology is one of the important traits related to ideal plant architecture and is an important factor determining rice stress resistance, which directly affects yield. Wax layers form a barrier to protect plants from different environmental stresses. However, the regulatory effect of wax synthesis genes on leaf morphology and salt tolerance is not well-understood. In this study, we identified a rice mutant, leaf tip rumpled 1 (ltr1), in a mutant library of the classic japonica variety Nipponbare. Phenotypic investigation of NPB and ltr1 suggested that ltr1 showed rumpled leaf with uneven distribution of bulliform cells and sclerenchyma cells, and disordered vascular bundles. A decrease in seed-setting rate in ltr1 led to decreased per-plant grain yield. Moreover, ltr1 was sensitive to salt stress, and LTR1 was strongly induced by salt stress. Map-based cloning of LTR1 showed that there was a 2-bp deletion in the eighth exon of LOC_Os02g40784 in ltr1, resulting in a frameshift mutation and early termination of transcription. Subsequently, the candidate gene was confirmed using complementation, overexpression, and knockout analysis of LOC_Os02g40784. Functional analysis of LTR1 showed that it was a wax synthesis gene and constitutively expressed in entire tissues with higher relative expression level in leaves and panicles. Moreover, overexpression of LTR1 enhanced yield in rice and LTR1 positively regulates salt stress by affecting water and ion homeostasis. These results lay a theoretical foundation for exploring the molecular mechanism of leaf morphogenesis and stress response, providing a new potential strategy for stress-tolerance breeding.
Aberrant Splicing of INS Impairs Beta-Cell Differentiation and Proliferation by ER Stress in the Isogenic iPSC Model of Neonatal Diabetes
Authors: Panova Alexandra V. , Klementieva Natalia V. , Sycheva Anna V. , Korobko Elena V. , Sosnovtseva Anastasia O. , Krasnova Tatiana S. , Karpova Maria R. , Rubtsov Petr M. , Tikhonovich Yulia V. , Tiulpakov Anatoly N. , Kiselev Sergey L.
Published: August 2022

One of the causes of diabetes in infants is the defect of the insulin gene (INS). Gene mutations can lead to proinsulin misfolding, an increased endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress and possible beta-cell apoptosis. In humans, the mechanisms underlying beta-cell failure remain unclear. We generated induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) from a patient diagnosed with neonatal diabetes mellitus carrying the INS mutation in the 2nd intron (c.188-31G>A) and engineered isogenic CRISPR/Cas9 mutation-corrected cell lines. Differentiation into beta-like cells demonstrated that mutation led to the emergence of an ectopic splice site within the INS and appearance of the abnormal RNA transcript. Isogenic iPSC lines differentiated into beta-like cells showed a clear difference in formation of organoids at pancreatic progenitor stage of differentiation. Moreover, MIN6 insulinoma cell line expressing mutated cDNA demonstrated significant decrease in proliferation capacity and activation of ER stress and unfolded protein response (UPR)-associated genes. These findings shed light on the mechanism underlying the pathogenesis of monogenic diabetes.
Management of Dyslipidemia in Secondary Prevention of Cardiovascular Disease: The Gap between Theory and Practice
Authors: Santangelo Gloria , Moscardelli Silvia , Simeoli Pasquale Simone , Guazzi Marco , Faggiano Pompilio
Published: August 2022

Hypercholesterolemia is one of the most important modifiable risk factors for cardiovascular events (CV) representing the principal driving force in the development of atherosclerotic cardiovascular diseases (ASCVD) [...]
Classification, Diagnosis, and Treatment of Coronary Microvascular Dysfunction
Authors: Sucato Vincenzo , Madaudo Cristina , Galassi Alfredo Ruggero
Published: August 2022

Coronary microvascular dysfunction represents a widespread disease which is highly disabling for the patient, who constantly presents angina [...]
Atypical 15q11.2-q13 Deletions and the Prader-Willi Phenotype
Authors: Grootjen Lionne N. , Juriaans Alicia F. , Kerkhof Gerthe F. , Hokken-Koelega Anita C. S.
Published: August 2022

Background: Prader-Willi syndrome (PWS) is a rare genetic disorder resulting from the lack of expression of the PWS region (locus q11-q13) on the paternally derived chromosome 15, as a result of a type I or II paternal deletion (50%), maternal uniparental disomy (43%), imprinting defect (4%) or translocation (<1%). In very rare cases, atypical deletions, smaller or larger than the typical deletion, are identified. These patients may have distinct phenotypical features and provide further information regarding the genotype–phenotype correlation in PWS. Methods: A prospective study in eight patients (six males and two females) with an atypical deletion in the PWS region accompanies an overview of reported cases. Results: All patients had hypotonia (100%) and many had typical PWS facial characteristics (75%), social and emotional developmental delays (75%), intellectual disabilities (50%), neonatal feeding problems and tube feeding (63%), history of obesity (50%), hyperphagia (50%) and scoliosis (50%). All males had cryptorchidism. Two patients had two separate deletions in the PWS critical region. Conclusions: Our findings provide further insight into PWS genotype–phenotype correlations; our results imply that inclusion of both SNURF-SNPRN and SNORD-116 genes in the deletion leads to a more complete PWS phenotype. A larger deletion, extending further upstream and downstream from these genes, does not cause a more severe phenotype. Conventional PWS methylation testing may miss small deletions, which can be identified using targeted next generation sequencing. PWS’s phenotypic diversity might be caused by differentially methylated regions outside the 15q11.2 locus.
Academic Achievement: Influences of University Students’ Self-Management and Perceived Self-Efficacy
Authors: Al-Abyadh Mohammed Hasan Ali , Abdel Azeem Hani Abdel Hafeez
Published: August 2022

Successful students are more than just those who have more effective and efficient learning techniques for acquiring and applying information. They can also motivate, evaluate, and adjust their behavior if they are not learning properly. Thus, the objective of this study was to investigate the influence of university students’ self-management during their learning experience and their self-efficacy on their academic achievement. Additionally, the study investigated the differences between the Egyptian and Saudi students’ perceptions of self-management skills and self-efficacy in their academic achievement within the two countries. A total of 889 students from two different Arab countries took part in the study (Egypt and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia). The sample was given an online questionnaire to evaluate their self-management abilities, perceived self-efficacy, and academic achievement. A quantitative approach using SmartPLS-SEM was deployed. The findings demonstrate that self-management and self-efficacy have positive influences on students’ academic achievement in both countries. Further, self-management skills have been proven to influence self-efficacy, which in turn highly influences academic achievement. Moreover, the findings of the Multi-Group Analysis (MGA) did not report significant differences between the Egyptian and Saudi students in terms of their perception of self-management, self-efficacy, and academic achievement.
Tidal Bore Scour around a Spur Dike
Authors: Pan Dongzi , Li Ying
Published: August 2022

Tidal bores are a natural phenomenon with high flow velocity and destructive potential. A spur dike is a widely used river regulation and embankment protection structure that minimizes erosion, promotes deposition, and protects riverbanks. However, the scouring mechanism around a spur dike under the action of a tidal bore is not fully understood, and accurately estimating the maximum scour depth has always been a challenge, limiting the construction and maintenance of spur dikes in estuarine and marine environments. This study analyzed the scouring characteristics around a spur dike induced by tidal bores via field observation and model experiments. The results show that the scours around a spur dike can be divided into dike head scour and upstream side scour. The scour depth is related to the geometric shape of the spur dike and its surrounding riverbed, hydrodynamic forces, and sediment characteristics. The least squares method obtained the fitting formulas for the depth of the scour at the dike head and upstream side. Overall, the present study indicates an agreement of the scouring characteristics around a spur dike between the field observations and laboratory experiment, and the fitting formulas can be effectively applied to engineering practices of a macro-tidal estuary.
Seasonal Compositions of Size-Fractionated Surface Phytoplankton Communities in the Yellow Sea
Authors: Kim Yejin , Youn Seok-Hyun , Oh Hyun-Ju , Joo Huitae , Jang Hyo-Keun , Kang Jae-Joong , Lee Dabin , Jo Naeun , Kim Kwanwoo , Park Sanghoon , Kim Jaehong , Lee Sang-Heon
Published: August 2022

Little information on the phytoplankton community in the Yellow Sea (YS)—especially size-fractionated phytoplankton—is currently available, in comparison to the various physicochemical studies in the literature. Using high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), size-fractionated phytoplankton communities were seasonally investigated in the YS in 2019. In the study period, diatoms (55.0 ± 10.2%) and cryptophytes (16.9 ± 9.3%) were the dominant groups. Due to the recent alteration in inorganic nutrient conditions reported in the YS, the contribution of diatoms was lower than in previous studies. The large-sized phytoplankton group (>20 µm) was dominated mostly by diatoms (89.0 ± 10.6%), while the small-sized phytoplankton group (<20 µm) was also dominated by diatoms (41.9 ± 9.1%), followed by cryptophytes (19.2 ± 9.8%). The contributions of small-sized diatoms (<20 µm) have been overlooked in the past, as they are difficult to detect, but this study confirms significant amounts of small-sized diatoms, accounting for 62.3% of the total diatoms in the YS. This study provides an important background for assessing the seasonal variations in different-sized diatom groups in the YS. Further detailed studies on their potential ecological roles should be conducted, in order to better understand marine ecosystems under future warming scenarios.
A Shared Vision on the 2004 Indian Ocean Tsunami in Malaysia: Hazard Assessments, Post-Disaster Measures and Research
Authors: Moon Wei Chek , Sidek Lariyah Mohd , Lau Tze Liang , Puay How Tion , Majid Taksiah Abdul , Wahab Ahmad Khairi Abd , Teo Fang Yenn
Published: August 2022

The tsunami is one of the deadliest natural disasters, responsible for more than 260,000 deaths and billions in economic losses over the last two decades. The footage of the devastating power of the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami perhaps remains vivid in the memory of most survivors, and Malaysia was one of the countries affected by the unprecedented 2004 tsunami. It was the first time the Malaysian government had managed such a great disaster. This review, therefore, gathers the relevant literature pertaining to the efforts undertaken following the event of the 2004 tsunami from Malaysia’s perspective. A compilation of post-event observations regarding tsunami characteristics is first presented in the form of maps, followed by building damage, including damage modes of wall failure, total collapse, debris impact and tilting of structures. In addition, hazard assessments and projections regarding a hypothetical future tsunami towards vulnerable hazard zones in Malaysia are reviewed. It is observed that future tsunami risks may originate from the Indian/Burma Plate, Andaman Island, Sunda Trench, Manila Trench, Sulu Trench, Negro Trench, Sulawesi Trench, Cotabato Trench and Brunei slide. A rundown of post-2004 measures and tsunami research undertaken in the country is also included in this review, serving as a reference for disaster management globally. Overall, the outcomes of this review are important for understanding tsunami vulnerability and the resilience of coastal infrastructures, which will be crucial for continued progress in the future.
A New Cryptic Lineage in Parmeliaceae (Ascomycota) with Pharmacological Properties
Authors: Garrido-Huéscar Elisa , González-Burgos Elena , Kirika Paul M. , Boustie Joël , Ferron Solenn , Gómez-Serranillos M. Pilar , Lumbsch Helge Thorsten , Divakar Pradeep K.
Published: August 2022

We used molecular data to address species delimitation in a species complex of the parmelioid genus Canoparmelia and compare the pharmacological properties of the two clades identified. We used HPLC_DAD_MS chromatography to identify and quantify the secondary substances and used a concatenated data set of three ribosomal markers to infer phylogenetic relationships. Some historical herbarium specimens were also examined. We found two groups that showed distinct pharmacological properties. The phylogenetic study supported the separation of these two groups as distinct lineages, which are here accepted as distinct species: Canoparmelia caroliniana occurring in temperate to tropical ecosystems of a variety of worldwide localities, including America, Macaronesia, south-west Europe and potentially East Africa, whereas the Kenyan populations represent the second group, for which we propose the new species C. kakamegaensis Garrido-Huéscar, Divakar & Kirika. This study highlights the importance of recognizing cryptic species using molecular data, since it can result in detecting lineages with pharmacological properties previously overlooked.
Increased Attraction and Stability of Beauveria bassiana-Formulated Microgranules for Aedes aegypti Biocontrol
Authors: Zamora-Avilés Norma , Orozco-Flores Alonso A. , Gomez-Flores Ricardo , Domínguez-Gámez Maribel , Rodríguez-Pérez Mario A. , Tamez-Guerra Patricia
Published: August 2022

Aedes aegypti (Linn.) incidence has increased in recent years, causing human viral diseases such as dengue, which are often fatal. Beauveria bassiana (Bals., Vuillemin) efficacy for Ae. aegypti biological control has been evidenced but it relies on host susceptibility and strain virulence. We hypothesized that B. bassiana conidia microgranular formulations (MGF) with the additives acetone, lactic acid, and sugar increase Ae. aegypti adult exposure, thus improving their biocontrol effectiveness. Beauveria bassiana strain four (BBPTG4) conidia stability was assessed after 0 d, 5 d, and 30 d storage at 25 °C ± 2 °C with additives or in MGF after 91 d of storage at 25 °C ± 2 °C or 4 °C ± 1 °C, whereas mortality was evaluated after adult exposure to MGF + conidia, using home-made traps. Additives did not show toxicity to conidia. In addition, we observed that sugar in MGF increased Ae. aegypti adults’ attraction and their viability resulted in a 3-fold reduction after 5 d and 1- to 4-fold decrease after 30 d of storage, and formulations were less attractive (p < 0.05). Conidia stability was higher on MGF regardless of the storage temperature, losing up to 2.5-fold viability after 91 d. In conclusion, BBPTG4 infected and killed Ae. aegypti, whereas MGF attracting adults resulted in 42.2% mortality, increasing fungus auto dissemination potential among infected surviving adults. It is necessary to further evaluate MGF against Ae. aegypti in the field.
The Impacts of the Russia–Ukraine Invasion on Global Markets and Commodities: A Dynamic Connectedness among G7 and BRIC Markets
Authors: Alam Md. Kausar , Tabash Mosab I. , Billah Mabruk , Kumar Sanjeev , Anagreh Suhaib
Published: August 2022

The conflict between Russia and Ukraine has been causing knock-on effects worldwide. The supply and price of major commodity markets (oil, gas, platinum, gold, and silver) have been greatly impacted. Due to the ongoing conflict, financial markets across the world have experienced a strong dynamic regarding commodities prices. This effect can be considered the biggest change since the occurrence of the financial crisis in the year 2008, which explicitly influenced the oil and gold markets. This study attempts to investigate the impacts of the Russian invasion crisis on the dynamic connectedness among five commodities and the G7 and BRIC (leading stock) markets. We have applied the time-varying parameter vector autoregressive (TVP-VAR) method, which reflects the way spillovers are shaped by various crises periods, and we found extreme connectedness among all commodities and markets (G7 and BRIC). The findings show that gold and silver (commodities) and the United States, Canada, China, and Brazil (stock markets) are the receivers from the rest of the commodities/market’s transmitters of shocks during this invasion crisis. This research has policy implications that could be beneficial to commodity and stock investors, and these implications could guide them to make many decisions about investment in such tumultuous situations. Policymakers, institutional investors, bankers, and international organizations are the possible beneficiaries of these policy decisions.
An Analysis of Whether Privately Owned Financial Planning Practices Are Transitioning to Fully Independent Advice Providers
Authors: Pawski Darren , Powell Robert , Golab Anna
Published: August 2022

In Australia, there are over 20,000 financial advisers, with only 1% registered as independent financial advisers. This study investigates why there has been no significant transition to independent advising. The importance of the study is underlined by the substantial losses suffered by thousands of consumers from advice that has been found to be influenced by conflicts of interest. Using a qualitative technique, the study undertook exploratory semi-structured interviews among financial advisers. The study found that over 90% of privately owned advisers will not be transitioning to independent advising due to the belief that clients will not pay fees for insurance advice. The study finds strong evidence that the affordability of paying fees for insurance advice arguably outweighs the conflicts of interest associated with non-independent insurance advice.
Sensor Network Environments: A Review of the Attacks and Trust Management Models for Securing Them
Authors: Mannix Kealan , Gorey Aengus , O’Shea Donna , Newe Thomas
Published: August 2022

Over the past decade, new technologies have driven the rise of what is being termed as the fourth industrial revolution. The introduction of this new revolution is amalgamating the cyber and physical worlds, bringing with it many benefits, such as the advent of industry 4.0, the internet of things, cloud technologies and smart homes and cities. These new and exciting areas are poised to have significant advantages for society; they can increase the efficiency of many systems and increase the quality of life of people. However, these emerging technologies can potentially have downsides, if used incorrectly or maliciously by bad entities. The rise of the widespread use of sensor networks to allow the mentioned systems to function has brought with it many security vulnerabilities that conventional “hard security” measures cannot mitigate. It is for this reason that a new “soft security” approach is being taken in conjunction with the conventional security means. Trust models offer an efficient way of mitigating the threats posed by malicious entities in networks that conventional security methods may not be able to combat. This paper discusses the general structure of a trust model, the environments they are used in and the attack types they are used to defend against. The work aims to provide a comprehensive review of the wide assortment of trust parameters and methods used in trust models. The work discusses which environments and network types each of these parameters and calculation methods would be suited to. Finally, a design study is provided to demonstrate how a trust model design will differ between two different industry 4.0 networks.
Between Plain and Plateau: Micro-Transitions in Zooarchaeological Landscapes in the Guanzhong Region of Northwest China
Authors: Festa Marcella , Monteith Francesca
Published: August 2022

Transitions in animal exploitation patterns are caused by topographical and climatic variations on both macro and micro scales. This paper presents temporally and spatially contextualized faunal profiles from 27 sites in the Guanzhong (关中) region of Shaanxi province (陕西省), PRC which date from the Early Neolithic to the Bronze Age (ca. 6000–1000 BCE). Climatic and environmental data was cross-referenced with archaeological, archaeobotanical and (where appropriate) historical sources to examine the reasons for the clear micro-transitions observed. Faunal profiles from sites in the Wei River plain (渭河盆地), loess plateau, and the transitional zone between them were analyzed. Animal utilization was found to vary substantially between different zones during the period under analysis. The transition in praxis between the Wei River valley and the loess plateau was not gradual. The hilly transition zone was found to have its own distinct animal exploitation pattern. These spatio-temporal differences in animal exploitation were caused by changes in both the local microclimates and the topography of the landscape in which the communities were living. Some regions apparently reverted to ‘earlier’ animal exploitation patterns in response to climatic changes. These environmental factors were also augmented by internal social developments and interactions with neighboring communities.
The Effect of Land Use and Land Cover Changes on Flood Occurrence in Teunom Watershed, Aceh Jaya
Authors: Sugianto Sugianto , Deli Anwar , Miswar Edy , Rusdi Muhammad , Irham Muhammad
Published: August 2022

The change in land use and land cover in upstream watersheds will change the features of drainage systems such that they will impact surface overflow and affect the infiltration capacity of a land surface, which is one of the factors that contributes to flooding. The key objective of this study is to identify vulnerable areas of flooding and to assess the causes of flooding using ground-based measurement, remote sensing data, and GIS-based flood risk mapping approaches for the flood hazard mapping of the Teunom watershed. The purposes of this investigation were to: (1) examine the level and characteristics of land use and land cover changes that occurred in the area between 2009 and 2019; (2) determine the impact of land use and land cover changes on the water overflow and infiltration capacity; and (3) produce flood risk maps for the Teunom sub-district. Landsat imagery of 2009, 2013, and 2019; slope maps; and field measurement soil characteristics data were utilized for this study. The results show a significant increase in the use of residential land, open land, rice fields, and wetlands (water bodies) and different infiltration rates that contribute to the variation of flood zone hazards. The Teunom watershed has a high and very high risk of ~11.98% of the total area, a moderate risk of 56.24%, and a low and very low risk of ~31.79%. The Teunom watershed generally has a high flood risk, with a total of ~68% of the area (moderate to very high risk). There was a substantial reduction in forest land, agricultural land, and shrubs from 2009 to 2019. Therefore, the segmentation of flood-risk zones is essential for preparation in the region. The study offers basic information about flood hazard areas for central governments, local governments, NGOs, and communities to intervene in preparedness, responses, and flood mitigation and recovery processes, respectively.
Placovinane: 1″β-Ethoxy-6,4′-dimethoxy-3″,3″-dimethyl-1″,2″-dihydropyranoisoflavone, a New Isoflavone Derivative
Authors: Huynh Tuyet T. N. , Do Lien T. M. , Sichaem Jirapast
Published: August 2022

Isoflavonoids possess a 3-phenylchroman skeleton and are the biologically active secondary metabolites of various plants that are used for different health promoting and restoring effects through a variety of mechanisms. Chromatographic separation of the n-hexane extract from the stems of Placolobium vietnamense led to the isolation of a new isoflavone derivative, placovinane (1), together with four known compounds (2–5). The structures of isolated compounds were identified from their spectroscopic data and by comparison with the literature. All isolated compounds were evaluated for their α-glucosidase inhibition. They all exhibited potent α-glucosidase inhibition with IC50 values ranging from 11.0 to 87.3 µM, which was significantly less than the positive control acarbose (IC50 179 µM). The cytotoxicity of 1 was evaluated against KB, Hep G2, and MCF7 cell lines, and displayed weak cytotoxicity toward KB and Hep G2 cell lines, with the IC50 values of 89.6 and 93.8 μM, respectively.
The Effect of a 10-MDP-Based Dentin Adhesive as Alternative for Bonding to Implant Abutment Materials
Authors: Carvalho Paula C. K. , Almeida Cláudia C M S , Souza Rodrigo O. A. , Tango Rubens Nisie
Published: August 2022

Bonding to different dental restorative materials is challenging. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of a 10-MDP-based dentin adhesive on the shear bond strength (SBS) of self-adhesive resin cement (RC) to implant abutment materials. One hundred and twenty specimens were obtained from zirconia (ZO), cobalt-chromium alloy (CoCr), and commercially pure titanium (Ti), which were treated as follows (n = 10): control group—non-treated (CG), 10-MDP-based dentin adhesive (SB), light-cured SB (SB-LC), and zirconia primer (ZP). Blocks of RC were buildup and, after 24 h, were tested for bond strength. Data of SBS (MPa) were submitted to two-way ANOVA and Tukey test (α = 0.05). There was no difference in SBS among materials for CG and ZP, higher SBS were recorded for Ti SB and Ti SB-LC compared to ZO upon the same surface treatments. For the comparisons among treatments, SB-LC showed the highest SBS for CoCr. For ZO and Ti, higher SBS were recorded with SB and SB-LC. No cohesive failures were observed. It was concluded that the surface treatment with 10-MDP-based materials increased the bond strength of the resin cement to abutment materials, which showed to be material dependent.
Color Conversion Light-Emitting Diodes Based on Carbon Dots: A Review
Authors: Trapani Danilo , Macaluso Roberto , Crupi Isodiana , Mosca Mauro
Published: August 2022

This paper reviews the state-of-the-art technologies, characterizations, materials (precursors and encapsulants), and challenges concerning multicolor and white light-emitting diodes (LEDs) based on carbon dots (CDs) as color converters. Herein, CDs are exploited to achieve emission in LEDs at wavelengths longer than the pump wavelength. White LEDs are typically obtained by pumping broad band visible-emitting CDs by an UV LED, or yellow–green-emitting CDs by a blue LED. The most important methods used to produce CDs, top-down and bottom-up, are described in detail, together with the process that allows one to embed the synthetized CDs on the surface of the pumping LEDs. Experimental results show that CDs are very promising ecofriendly candidates with the potential to replace phosphors in traditional color conversion LEDs. The future for these devices is bright, but several goals must still be achieved to reach full maturity.
Joining Processes for Fibre-Reinforced Thermoplastics: Phenomena and Characterisation
Authors: Troschitz Juliane , Gröger Benjamin , Würfel Veit , Kupfer Robert , Gude Maik
Published: August 2022

Thermoplastic composites (TPCs) are predestined for use in lightweight structures, especially for high-volume applications. In many cases, joining is a key factor for the successful application of TPCs in multi-material systems. Many joining processes for this material group are based on warm forming the joining zone. This results in a change of the local material structure characterised by modified fibre paths, as well as varying fibre contents, which significantly influences the load-bearing behaviour. During the forming process, many different phenomena occur simultaneously at different scales. In this paper, the deformation modes and flow mechanisms of TPCs during forming described in the literature are first analysed. Based on this, three different joining processes are investigated: embedding of inserts, moulding of contour joints, and hotclinching. In order to identify the phenomena occurring in each process and to describe the characteristic resulting material structure in the joining zones, micrographs as well as computed tomography (CT) analyses are performed for both individual process stages and final joining zones.
A Coupled CFD-DEM Study on the Effect of Basset Force Aimed at the Motion of a Single Bubble
Authors: Chen Huiting , Ding Weitian , Wei Han , Saxén Henrik , Yu Yaowei
Published: August 2022

The physical meaning of Basset force is first studied via polynomial approximation and the Fourier series representation method. After compiling the Basset force into the coupling interface with Visual C, a dynamic mathematical model is set up to describe the upward motion behavior of a single bubble by adopting the CFD-DEM method. Afterwards, the coupling interface with Basset force proposed in this study is verified experimentally and shows very good agreements. The initial velocity, releasing depth, bubble size, density ratio and viscosity ratio are studied qualitatively due to their great importance to Basset force. The ratio of Basset force to the sum of Basset force and drag force and to buoyancy, F→Ba/(F→D+F→Ba) and |F→Ba/F→B|, are employed to quantify the contribution of Basset force quantitatively. In addition, some instructive outlooks and recommendations on a further development of appropriate and justifiable use of Basset force are highlighted at last.
A Hybrid Approach Based on Principal Component Analysis for Power Quality Event Classification Using Support Vector Machines
Authors: Saxena Akash , Alshamrani Ahmad M. , Alrasheedi Adel Fahad , Alnowibet Khalid Abdulaziz , Mohamed Ali Wagdy
Published: August 2022

Power quality has emerged as a sincere denominator in the planning and operation of a power system. Various events affect the quality of power at the distribution end of the system. Detection of these events has been a major thrust area in the last decade. This paper presents the application of Support Vector Machine (SVM) in classifying the power quality events. Well-known signal processing techniques, namely Hilbert transform and Wavelet transform, are employed to extract the potential features from the observation sets of voltages. Supervised architecture consisting of SVM has been constructed by tuning the parameters of SVM by various algorithms. It has been observed that Augmented Crow Search Algorithm (ACSA) yields the best accuracy compared to other contemporary optimizers. Further, Principal Component Analysis (PCA) is employed to choose the most significant features from the available features. On the basis of PCA, three different models of tuned SVMs are constructed. Comparative analysis of these three models, along with recently published approaches, is exhibited. Results are validated by the statistical one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) method. It is observed that SVM, which contains attributes from both signal-processing techniques, gives satisfactory results.
A Novel Divisional Bisection Method for the Symmetric Tridiagonal Eigenvalue Problem
Authors: Chu Wei , Zhao Yao , Yuan Hua
Published: August 2022

The embarrassingly parallel nature of the Bisection Algorithm makes it easy and efficient to program on a parallel computer, but with an expensive time cost when all symmetric tridiagonal eigenvalues are wanted. In addition, few methods can calculate a single eigenvalue in parallel for now, especially in a specific order. This paper solves the issue with a new approach that can parallelize the Bisection iteration. Some pseudocodes and numerical results are presented. It shows our algorithm reduces the time cost by more than 35–70% compared to the Bisection algorithm while maintaining its accuracy and flexibility.
A Review of Emergency and Disaster Management in the Process of Healthcare Operation Management for Improving Hospital Surgical Intake Capacity
Authors: Heydari Mohammad , Lai Kin Keung , Fan Yanan , Li Xiaoyang
Published: August 2022

To perform diagnosis and treatment, health systems, hospitals, and other patient care facilities require a wide range of supplies, from masks and gloves to catheters and implants. The “healthcare supply chain/healthcare operation management” refers to the stakeholders, systems, and processes required to move products from the manufacturer to the patient’s bedside. The ultimate goal of the healthcare supply chain is to ensure that the right products, in the right quantities, are available in the right places at the right time to support patient care. Hospitals and the concept of a healthcare delivery system are practically synonymous. Surgical services, emergency and disaster services, and inpatient care are the three main types of services they offer. Outpatient clinics and facilities are also available at some hospitals, where patients can receive specialty consultations and surgical services. There will always be a need for inpatient care, regardless of how care models develop. The focus of this monograph was on recent OM work that models the dynamic, interrelated effects of demand-supply matching in the ED, OR, and inpatient units. Decisions about staffing and scheduling in these areas are frequently made independently by healthcare managers and clinicians. Then, as demand changes in real-time, clinicians and managers retaliate as best as they can to reallocate staffing to the areas that require it most at a particular moment in time in order to relieve patient flow bottlenecks. We, as OM researchers, must create models that help healthcare administrators enhance OR scheduling policies, ED demand forecasting, and medium- and short-term staffing plans that consider the interdependence of how demand develops.
Higher-Order Asymptotic Numerical Solutions for Singularly Perturbed Problems with Variable Coefficients
Authors: Liu Chein-Shan , El-Zahar Essam R. , Chang Chih-Wen
Published: August 2022

For the purpose of solving a second-order singularly perturbed problem (SPP) with variable coefficients, a mth-order asymptotic-numerical method was developed, which decomposes the solutions into two independent sub-problems: a reduced first-order linear problem with a left-end boundary condition; and a linear second-order problem with the boundary conditions given at two ends. These are coupled through a left-end boundary condition. Traditionally, the asymptotic solution within the boundary layer is carried out in the stretched coordinates by either analytic or numerical method. The present paper executes the mth-order asymptotic series solution in terms of the original coordinates. After introducing 2(m+1) new variables, the outer and inner problems are transformed together to a set of 3(m+1) first-order initial value problems with the given zero initial conditions; then, the Runge–Kutta method is applied to integrate the differential equations to determine the 2(m+1) unknown terminal values of the new variables until they are convergent. The asymptotic-numerical solution exactly satisfies the boundary conditions, which are different from the conventional asymptotic solution. Several examples demonstrated that the newly proposed method can achieve a better asymptotic solution. For all values of the perturbing parameter, the method not only preserves the inherent asymptotic property within the boundary layer but also improves the accuracy of the solution in the entire domain. We derive the sufficient conditions, which terminate the series of asymptotic solutions for inner and outer problems of the SPP without having the spring term. For a specific case, we can derive a closed-form asymptotic solution, which is also the exact solution of the considered SPP.