bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The role of human property administration in quality management in the public sector
Authors: Gogalis Theodoros
Published: June 2023

Human Resource Management is defined as "The design, implementation and maintenance of strategies to manage people for optimum organization performance where they work". It constitutes a set of strategies to be implemented in the public sector so that its operations could give high quality services and satisfaction to the citizens.

This paper deals with the role and importance of human resource management in creating an efficient and functionally sound Greek public sector. An attempt is made to analyze the importance of Human Resource Management in the operation and development of public bodies through its connection to the Common Evaluation Framework which is essentially a "new" tool for Total Quality Management and which has been the subject of research by many scholars.

It is apparent the lack of adoption of quality management principles and the lack of a culture of change which leads to reduced efficiency of public services and its human resources. This combined by the lack of implementation of modern Total Quality Management practices with due emphasis on skills, employee training, performance appraisal, communication and labor relations.

The present research has shown that it is imperative to upgrade the human resource management strategies implemented in the public sector of our country through the broader and more effective implementation of the principles of human resource management in order to both enhance employee performance and effective functioning of the public sector.

Keywords: human resources management, total quality management, management practices, public sector.
A project on “wine and distillation trade” course. The consumers mindset regarding retsina
Authors: Iliadou Georgia , Giannopoulos Dionisis , Nikolakakis Konstantinos
Published: June 2023

On early ‘70s the consumers stopped preferring retsina, due to many reasons, some of them have already been mentioned, like the bad quality of the wine, that the owners of small Greek restaurants used and with the use of resin they were trying to cover the wine’s flaws, of the change of the lifestyle, because anything that was related to the tradition or the countryside was characterized as outdated. Finally, the living standards change and that made the consumers seek of more elegant and aromatic and wines. The last decade despite all the above facts, some wine producers have started to produce higher quality of resinated wine to ensure that this product will remain on the market. The cause of this research is to figure out what is today’s consumers mindset regarding resonated wine and their opinion on the new trend of higher quality retsina.

The method which used, was to collect data through a questionnaire. The questions are about demographics, questions about wine consumption and questions about retsina. The questionnaire was shared through Social Media. The number of answers reached 768 questionnaires throughout Greece. The results were processed with SPSS Statistics 22.

 

Keywords: marketing, resinated, wine, Retsina, SPSS analysis

JEL Classification Code: M31, L36
Branding commodity, tourist & cultural products: some thoughts on applying semiotic analysis for the marketing strategy in each product category
Authors: Papadaki Eirini
Published: June 2023

This paper proposes the adoption of semiotic analysis to the branding process in an attempt to understand the function of the specific sign system and successfully manage its designing and evaluation processes, from audience research to audience targeting. Specific case studies of commodity, tourist and cultural product branding will be presented, in an attempt to underline, in a parallel goal, the differences and similarities of the symbolic process involved in the three areas: commodities, tourism and culture.

 

EL Classifications: M, Z

Key words: branding, commodity products, cultural products, tourist products, semiotics
Chaos and Strategy in Managing the Diplomatic Service. The Case of Andrzej Taranowski’s Missions to Michael the Brave in 1600
Authors: Jakubowska Magdalena
Published: June 2023

In 1600, Sigismund III, King of Poland-Lithuania, sent an envoy to Michael the Brave the Voivode of Wallachia, three times. His mission aimed to conduct negotiations on the treaty between Poland-Lithuania and Wallachia. In brief, the treaty stipu- lated that Michael the Brave should become a voivode of Moldavia and, therefore, Sigismund III’s vassal. The contents of that pact came into conflict with both the reality and the general policy of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth. Although it might seem surprising, talks gave an extra opportunity to save time. It was the moment of his highest military activity when Wallachian troops would be unchecked power near to Polish-Lithuanian border. Taranowski’s mission represented unofficial and chaotic moves in establishing contacts with the Danubian Principalities, but still clearly shows how diplomatic practice worked in Poland-Lithuania at the end of the sixteenth century.
A Direct Utility Model for Access Costs and Economies of Scope
Authors: Kim Dong Soo , Lee Sanghak , Hur Taegyu , Kim Jaehwan , Allenby Greg M.
Published: June 2023

Consumers encounter costs and inconvenience in the purchase and consumption of goods. Time, effort, training, and expertise, also referred to as access costs, are examples of factors that constrain the ability of consumers to derive utility from offerings beyond the price of a good. Economies of scope exist when household production of these factors share commonalities among choice alternatives, making it more likely that some products would be purchased and consumed in conjunction with others. For example, consumers planning out-of-town travel might consider visiting multiple tourist attractions during their trip, and course offerings might appeal more to students who are already in the mindset of taking courses. We develop a model with economies of scope that captures a leveraging effect where the purchase of one good makes the purchase of other goods more likely. Our model offers an alternative explanation of complementary purchases that are driven by cost reductions rather than utility enhancements. The model is applied to four conjoint datasets where we find that economies of scope and access costs play an important role in consumer purchases and have high economic value relative to the role played by price.

This paper was accepted by Eric Anderson, marketing.

Supplemental Material: The data files and online appendices are available at https://doi.org/10.1287/mnsc.2023.4841 .
Appraisals and performance reviews: measuring progress
Authors: Peate Ian
Published: June 2023

The aim of the annual appraisal meeting is to provide an opportunity for you and your manager to review your performance over the previous 12 months and to agree key goals, objectives and personal development needs for the year ahead. This article gives readers information concerning appraisals and performance reviews and how to prepare for them within an NHS setting. The primary focus is on being prepared and ready for the appraisal, to gain as much from the activity as possible. Issues surrounding appraisals and performance reviews are discussed, for example, the relevance of the NHS Constitution and the importance of wellbeing conversations.

The article provides readers with information that is necessary for them to prepare effectively for such reviews. Tips that may help with the appraisal process are provided at the end of the discussion.
Resource-efficient protection scheme for optical service units in fifth-generation fixed networks
Authors: Li Zhuotong , Zhao Yongli , Wang Wei , Ibrahimi Memedhe , Tornatore Massimo , Zhang Jie
Published: June 2023

One of the visions of fifth-generation fixed networks (F5G) is to provide a guaranteed reliable experience (GRE). Optical transport networks (OTNs) represent a primary candidate technology to offer high-quality bandwidth in F5G and hence to support GRE. Unfortunately, current OTN technologies provide large-bandwidth tunnels for carrying aggregated (typically, Ethernet) traffic, and corresponding protection techniques in OTNs consume a lot of resources. The emergence of a new technology called an optical service unit (OSU), which subdivides the payload block of traditional optical data units into smaller units, allows for the development of more flexible and resource-efficient protection schemes. In this paper, we propose a new resource-efficient protection scheme for OSU-based OTNs called OSU protection (OSU-P), with the aim to save network resources while providing individual customized protection for each single user. OSU-P only reserves small-bandwidth protection/backup connections for protected services; then, when a failure occurs, the protection bandwidth is adjusted to the bandwidth required by the service during the switching process. This scheme can save a significant amount of network resources, but it may encounter resource conflicts between the protected services and other preemptable services after a failure occurs. Hence, we also propose a deterministic protection algorithm and a preemptable service provisioning algorithm based on overlapping risk avoidance, which can ensure successful recovery switching of protected services and the least impact on preemptable unprotected services after a network failure occurs. Simulation results show that, compared with traditional 1+1 and 1:1 protection schemes, OSU-P can reduce spare resources allocated for protection by about 30% and 11%, respectively, and reduce the blocking rate by about 27% and 10%, respectively. The performance of the proposed algorithms in terms of the percentage of unsuccessful protection and affected preemptable services is also verified.
Quantum Rényi-2 entropy power inequalities for bosonic Gaussian operations
Authors: Shin Woochang , Noh Changsuk , Park Jiyong
Published: June 2023

We derive quantum Rényi-2 entropy power inequalities for Gaussian operations of the beam-splitting and squeezing type. We first show that known quantum von Neumann entropy power inequalities generalize straightforwardly to quantum Rényi-2 entropy power inequalities for Gaussian states but fail to do so for non-Gaussian states. We then derive quantum Rényi-2 entropy power inequalities that provide lower bounds for the Gaussian operations for any state. The inequality for the squeezing operation is shown to have applications in the generation and detection of quantum entanglement.
Near-infrared pumped, octave-tunable, on-chip mid-infrared Raman soliton source
Authors: Wang Senyu , Zhao Xinsheng , Lei Hao , Luo Hongyu , Li Jianfeng
Published: June 2023

This article proposes and numerically demonstrates a widely tunable on-chip Raman soliton source based on a cascaded As2Se3 waveguide. The cascaded sub-waveguides (input and output) with varying widths act as nonlinear devices, while a tapered waveguide is arranged between them to achieve low-loss transmission. The input waveguide provides anomalous dispersion in the near-infrared band, thereby enabling the 1.96 µm source for Raman soliton self-frequency shift (SSFS) pumping. The output waveguide exhibits large anomalous dispersion and good mode confinement in the mid-infrared band thus supporting further SSFS process. A 2.29∼4.57 µm tunable Raman source is theoretically realized in this on-chip platform. This work presents a simple and easy-to-implement strategy to extend the tuning range of on-chip sources. Notably, to the best of our knowledge, this is the first demonstration of the cascading strategy for SSFS process in an on-chip platform. The proposed tunable source has great potential in integrated spectroscopy, gas sensing, and LiDAR applications.
Spectrum collapse in a 7-core Yb-doped fiber laser with an array of fs-inscribed fiber Bragg gratings
Authors: Kuznetsov Alexey G. , Wolf Alexey A. , Egorova Olga N. , Semjonov Sergey L. , Dostovalov Alexander V. , Podivilov Evgeniy V. , Babin Sergey A.
Published: June 2023

Femtosecond inscription of fiber Bragg gratings (FBGs) in each core of a cladding-pumped seven-core Yb-doped fiber enables efficient (≈70%) 1064-nm lasing in a robust all-fiber scheme with ≈33 W power, nearly the same for uncoupled and coupled cores. However, the output spectrum is quite different: without coupling, seven individual lines corresponding to the in-core FBG reflection spectra sum up into a broad (0.22 nm) total spectrum, whereas the multiline spectrum collapses into a single narrow line at strong coupling. The developed model shows that the coupled-core laser generates coherent superposition of supermodes at the wavelength corresponding to the geometric mean of the individual FBG spectra, whereas the generated laser line broadens, with a power (0.04–0.12 nm) like the single-core mode of a seven-times larger effective area.
Proposing a 1.0°C climate target for a safer future
Authors: Breyer Christian , Keiner Dominik , Abbott Benjamin W. , Bamber Jonathan L. , Creutzig Felix , Gerhards Christoph , Mühlbauer Andreas , Nemet Gregory F. , Terli Özden
Published: June 2023

The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change concludes that climate change has already caused substantial damages at the current 1.2°C of global warming and that warming of 1.5°C would elevate risks of a wide-range of climate tipping points. For example, wet-bulb temperatures are already exceeding safe levels, and the melting of the Greenland and West Antartic ice sheets would lead to over ten metres of sea level rise, representing an existential threat to coastal cities, low-lying nation states, and human wellbeing worldwide. We call for a broad scientific discussion about a stricter and more ambitious climate target of 1.0°C by the end of this century. Comprehensive electrification and highly renewable energy systems offer a pathway to sub-1.5°C futures through rapid defossilisation and large-scale, electricity-based carbon dioxide removal. Independent scenarios show that restoring a stable and safe climate is attainable with coordinated policy and economic support.
Behavioral predictors associated with HIV screening needs in gay Korean men during the COVID-19 pandemic
Authors: Kwon Rang Hee , Kim So-Hyun , Jung Minsoo
Published: June 2023

During the pandemic, the capacity of medical resources focused on testing, diagnosing and treating COVID-19 has severely limited public access to health care. In particular, HIV screening, for which homosexual males in Korea received free and anonymous testing at public health centers, was completely halted. This study investigated behavioral predictors related to the HIV screening needs of Korean male homosexuals during the pandemic. Data were collected by conducting a web survey targeting members of the largest homosexual portal site in Korea with support from the National Research Foundation of Korea (n = 1,005). The key independent variables are COVID-19-related characteristics and sexual risk behavior. The moderating variable is health information search behavior, and the dependent variable is the need for HIV screening. For a statistical analysis, a hierarchical multiple logistic regression analysis was conducted while controlling for potential confounding variables. According to the results of this study, the need for HIV screening was 0.928 times lower for older people (p<0.05, 95% CI = 0.966–0.998). However, if the respondent had a primary partner, the need for HIV screening was 1.459 times higher (p<0.01, 95% CI = 1.071–1.989). In addition, the need for screening was 1.773 times higher for those who preferred anal intercourse (p<0.01, 95% CI = 1.261–2.494) and 2.034 times higher (p<0.01, 95% CI = 1.337–3.095) if there was a history of being diagnosed with an STD. Finally, health information-seeking behavior was marginally significant. This study revealed that male Korean homosexuals who were young, preferred anal sex with a primary partner, and who had a history of a sexually transmitted disease had a high need for HIV screening at public health centers. They are more likely to be susceptible to HIV infection because they are usually consistent with gay men, characterized by risky behavior. Therefore, an intervention strategy that provides health information using a communication campaign is needed.
Aspiration–attainment gaps predict adolescents’ subjective well-being after transition to vocational education and training in Germany
Authors: Nießen Désirée , Wicht Alexandra , Lechner Clemens M.
Published: June 2023

An occupational aspiration–attainment gap (AAG) is defined as a discrepancy between the socioeconomic status (SES) of the aspired occupation and the one attained. We investigated how experiencing an occupational AAG after transition to vocational education and training (VET) affects three domains of subjective well-being (SWB) among adolescents in Germany (general life, job, and income satisfaction). Using longitudinal data from the German Socio-Economic Panel (SOEP), we could track respondents’ SWB during the transition to and during VET. Results from latent growth curve models revealed that both under- and overachievement of aspirations (i.e., negative and positive AAGs) reduced initial levels of SWB after VET entry—especially work-related satisfaction (i.e., income and job satisfaction). Individuals with an AAG (both negative and positive) tended to experience a slightly larger increase in SWB during VET than those who met their aspirations. Overall, our results suggest that the decisive factor for adolescents’ SWB is not the SES of the VET position they attain, but rather whether that position is the exact type of position to which they aspired.
Democratic listening: News podcasts, trust and political participation in Australia
Authors: Bird Dylan
Published: June 2023

This article illustrates how news podcasts are playing a productive role in animating democracy in Australia. Drawing on findings from an exploratory online survey, it highlights how audiences view news podcasts as an important enabler of their participation in democratic life, and that news podcast listeners are likely to engage in both latent and manifest forms of political action. It also indicates that news podcast listeners are discerning media consumers, and that news podcasts are valued for reasons of both convenience and content. With limited prior research into the relationship between podcast listening and civic engagement, this article provides evidence for how this relatively new podcast genre is prized for its ability to enhance democratic life in Australia. It also problematizes the notion of trust in audio news, signalling a key avenue for further research examining the interplay between traditional markers of journalistic authority and more emotional styles of podcast journalism storytelling.
The Journalism Manifesto, Barbie Zelizer, Pablo J. Boczkowski and Christopher W. Anderson (2022)
Authors: Fisher Caroline
Published: June 2023

Review of: The Journalism Manifesto, Barbie Zelizer, Pablo J. Boczkowski and Christopher W. Anderson (2022)

Cambridge: Polity Press, 122 pp.,

ISBN 978-1-50954-263-5, h/bk, AUD 72.95

ISBN 978-1-50954-264-2, p/bk, AUD 20.95

ISBN 978-1-50954-265-9, e-book, AUD 16.99
Digital Journalism in China, Shixin Ivy Zhang (ed.) (2022)
Authors: Josephi Beate
Published: June 2023

Review of: Digital Journalism in China, Shixin Ivy Zhang (ed.) (2022)

London: Routledge, 134 pp.,

ISBN 978-1-03216-215-7, h/bk, USD 103.00

ISBN 978-1-00324-757-9, e-book, USD 32.39
Borderland: Decolonizing the Words of War, Chrisanthi Giotis (2022)
Authors: Murrell Colleen
Published: June 2023

Review of: Borderland: Decolonizing the Words of War, Chrisanthi Giotis (2022)

New York: Oxford University Press, 296 pp.,

ISBN 978-0-19756-579-7, h/bk, GBP 64.00

ISBN 978-0-19756-580-3, p/bk, GBP 19.99

ISBN 978-0-19756-582-7, e-book, AUD 31.75
Do politicians connect with young people? Analysis of Twitter use by candidates in the 2019 European Parliament election campaign
Authors: Roca Trenchs Núria , Estanyol Casals Elisenda , Montaña Blasco Mireia
Published: June 2023

The use of social media, especially Twitter, has become part of the political communication strategies of parties and candidates. Reaching young voters and reducing their historical abstention has become a challenge, even more for candidates standing for the European Parliament, elections that have traditionally witnessed a much smaller turnout. To find out if the main six candidates in the 2019 European Parliament election campaign (10–26 May), called to occupy the presidency of the European Commission, connected with younger voters, this research applies the multiple-case study based on the analysis of their Twitter posts. The results show that candidates (Spitzenkandidaten) preferred to talk about tops such as territory, vote appeal, and their parties’ alliances above the topics that most interest young people: climate change and environment, education, poverty and inequalities, unemployment, human rights and democracy and health. Better political social media communication is needed to make candidates’ communication strategies more consistent and to promote voters’ participation, especially among youth.
Creative Practice Research in the Age of Neoliberal Hopelessness, Agnieszka Piotrowska (ed.) (2020)
Authors: Via Valentin
Published: June 2023

Review of: Creative Practice Research in the Age of Neoliberal Hopelessness, Agnieszka Piotrowska (ed.) (2020)

Edinburgh: Edinburgh University Press, 344 pp.,

ISBN 978-1-47446-357-7, p/bk, £19.99

ISBN 978-1-47446-356-0, h/bk, £90.00

ISBN 978-1-47446-359-1, e-book, £90.00
spilling
Authors: Anderson Kimball
Published: June 2023

This piece was originally made for the anthology CBA #56&57: Uncomics, where the goal was abstraction in both art and narrative. Kimball’s writing has long been influenced by their experience with brain fog, searching for meaning but not necessarily finding it. Fragments of text, repeating with new conjugation and new connections but never finding a definite answer. The art is constructed out of photos and pencil lines and is focused thematically on exploring the nature of panels. Panels trying to contain, trying to hold, like trying to find the right words.
Authorizing Superhero Comics: On the Evolution of a Popular Serial Genre, Daniel Stein (2021)
Authors: Hong Tiffany
Published: June 2023

Review of: Authorizing Superhero Comics: On the Evolution of a Popular Serial Genre, Daniel Stein (2021)

Columbus, OH: The Ohio State University Press, 315 pp.,

ISBN 978-0-81425-802-6, h/bk, $34.95
Arrepentidos, equidistantes y conversos en Frente de Madrid (1939 y 1941): un análisis del discurso falangista en el cine y la literatura de propaganda de Edgar Neville
Authors: Mateo Hidalgo Javier , Huerta Bravo Ignacio
Published: June 2023

Durante la Guerra Civil, ambos contendientes construyeron discursos con los cuales definir la identidad de uno y otro bando. Estos fueron adaptándose a las contingencias y necesidades de un conflicto internacionalizado. El largometraje Frente de Madrid (1939) y la novela homónima (1941) de Edgar Neville (Madrid, 1899-1967) representan un ejemplo paradigmático de esta evolución en el periodo de fascistización del régimen franquista. Tanto en la novela como en la película del autor madrileño, encontramos una visión motivada por su experiencia como diplomático, su antigua filiación republicana y su conversión al falangismo a principios de la guerra. En las mismas observamos una serie de personajes liminales que, desde unos orígenes políticos diferentes, acaban simpatizando con la causa nacionalista o militando en las filas de Falange. Paralelamente, Neville utiliza las penalidades de la retaguardia republicana y la acción arbitraria de las milicias para tratar de minar el discurso antifascista internacional de defensa de la democracia, la paz y la cultura. En la presente propuesta, analizaremos todo ello desde la filmografía y literatura del autor, la intrahistoria de la película y de la novela –producida y publicada en Italia respectivamente–, así como el contexto general de colaboración cultural entre el régimen y las potencias fascistas. Asimismo, tendremos en cuenta su relación con la estética del cine documental de propaganda, la prensa de los nacionalistas –en especial, La Ametralladora y Vértice– y las producciones anteriores y posteriores de posguerra.
Imágenes femeninas en la poesía de raigambre popular de las escritoras españolas de la Edad de Plata (1900-1936)
Authors: Plaza Agudo Inmaculada
Published: June 2023

En las últimas décadas, se ha producido una importante labor de recuperación y visibilización de las poetas activas en el primer tercio del siglo XX, lo que ha redundado en una ampliación de la nómina y en un mejor conocimiento de las trayectorias biográficas y literarias de muchas de estas figuras. En el presente artículo abordamos el estudio de la producción poética de algunas de estas autoras que hasta la fecha han recibido una menor atención crítica y cultivaron un tipo de poesía popular. El mismo está caracterizado por seguir, de modo más o menos fiel y sin apenas incorporar innovaciones, los moldes del género. A la hora de llevar a cabo el análisis de este corpus de textos líricos, se adoptará un enfoque de género, de modo que, tras un apartado introductorio referido a cuestiones formales, el artículo se centra en el estudio de los modelos de identidad femenina planteados por estas autoras en su creación, poniendo, para ello, el foco en dos cuestiones que tradicionalmente se han considerado claves en la definición de la identidad femenina: la configuración de los roles de género en las relaciones de pareja y la vivencia de la maternidad en conexión también con la representación de la infancia.
Reseña del libro: Helena Establier Pérez (ed.) (2023), El corazón en llamas. Cuerpo y sensualidad en la poesía española escrita por mujeres (1900-1968)
Authors: Cazorla Castellón Antonio
Published: June 2023

Reseña del libro: Helena Establier Pérez (ed.): El corazón en llamas. Cuerpo y sensualidad en la poesía española escrita por mujeres (1900-1968). Madrid, Iberoamericana-Vervuert, 2023, 421 pp. ISBN 978-84-9192-343-5.
Reseña del libro: Antonio Cazorla Castellón (2022), Una mujer inconveniente. El compromiso feminista en la obra periodística de Elvira Lindo
Authors: Sánchez-Martínez Azahara
Published: June 2023

Reseña del libro: Antonio Cazorla Castellón: Una mujer inconveniente. El compromiso feminista en la obra periodística de Elvira Lindo. Almería: Editorial Universidad de Almería, 2022, 392 pp. ISBN: 978-84-1351-197-9.
Reseña del libro: Pilar Nieva-de La Paz (ed.) (2022), Mitos e identidades en las autoras hispánicas contemporáneas
Authors: Yousfi López Yasmina
Published: June 2023

Reseña del libro: Pilar Nieva-de La Paz (ed.): Mitos e identidades en las autoras hispánicas contemporáneas. Berlín, Peter Lang, Estudios Hispánicos en el Contexto Global/ Hispanic Studies in the Global Context/ Hispanistik im globalen Kontext, 2022, 272 pp. ISBN (PDF): 9783631886427.
Increased Risk of Osteoporotic Fracture in Patients With Autoimmune Hepatitis
Authors: Lim Jihye , Kim Ye-Jee , Kim Seonok , Choi Jonggi
Published: June 2023

INTRODUCTION:

Few large-scale studies have been published regarding the association between autoimmune hepatitis (AIH) and risk of osteoporotic fracture. This study aimed to determine the risk of developing an osteoporotic fracture in patients with AIH.

METHODS:

We used claims data from the Korean National Health Insurance Service between 2007 and 2020. Patients with AIH (n = 7,062) were matched with controls (n = 28,122) based on age, sex, and duration of follow-up using a ratio of 1:4. Osteoporotic fractures included fractures of the vertebrae, hip, distal radius, and proximal humerus. The incidence rate (IR) and IR ratio of osteoporotic fracture were compared between the 2 groups, and their associated factors were evaluated.

RESULTS:

During a median follow-up period of 5.4 years, 712 osteoporotic fractures occurred in patients with AIH with an IR of 17.5 per 1,000 person-years. Patients with AIH had a significantly higher risk of osteoporotic fractures than matched controls, with an IR ratio of 1.24 (95% confidence intervals, 1.10–1.39, P < 0.01) in the multivariable analysis. Female sex, older age, history of stroke, presence of cirrhosis, and use of glucocorticoids were associated with an increased risk of osteoporotic fractures. In the 2-year landmark analysis, longer duration of glucocorticoid exposure was associated with an incremental increased risk of osteoporotic fracture.

DISCUSSION:

Patients with AIH had an increased risk of osteoporotic fracture compared with controls. The presence of cirrhosis and long-term use of glucocorticoids further adversely affected osteoporotic fracture in patients with AIH.
On Designing a Moving Average-Range Control Chart for Enhancing a Process Variation Detection
Authors: Chananet Chanaphun , Areepong Yupaporn , Sukparungsee Saowanit
Published: June 2023

This research purpose is to create a moving average control chart for detecting a change in process variations with a range so-called MA-R chart and to compare the performance of the MA-R chart with the R, S, and MA-S control charts for detecting variation changes. The purposed control chart is an effective alternative to the R control chart using the moving average based on the sample range. The coefficients for the control limit of MA-R varying the sample sizes (m) and the width for moving average calculation (w) are presented. Comparison and application to real data show that the MA-R control chart is more effective at detecting variations at all levels than the R and S control charts. Furthermore, when the magnitude of the variation is small, the MA-R chart becomes more effective as w increases.
Just How Unorthodox? Assessing Lawmaking on Omnibus Spending Bills
Authors: Reynolds Molly E. , Hanson Peter C.
Published: June 2023

Scholars commonly observe that lawmaking in Congress has transitioned from the textbook system of “regular order” in which power was decentralized in committees and lawmaking followed a formal process to one of “unorthodox lawmaking” characterized by the centralization of power in party leaders and a lack of formal process. It is debated whether this change marks a decline in Congress’s lawmaking capacity, or is a procedural adaptation that has allowed Congress to remain productive despite high levels of partisanship. In this article, we maintain that lawmaking in Congress varies along two dimensions: formality of process and centralization of power. We analyze non-spending bills added to omnibus appropriations packages to demonstrate that lawmaking on these bills is informal and decentralized. Rank-and-file members retain a capacity to place matters on the legislative agenda and authorizing committees retain gatekeeping and policymaking authority. The process through which add-ons are approved is also bipartisan. Our findings demonstrate that this style of lawmaking is a procedural adaptation used by members to pass legislation important to their districts and in which committees continue to play an important deliberative role.
Differential analysis of landscape patterns of land cover products in tropical marine climate zones – A case study in Malaysia
Authors: Wang Xue , Wang Wei , Zhong Mianqing , Xu Xiaoting
Published: June 2023

Land cover in tropical marine climate zones is important for global climate change. The existing analysis of land cover product consistency mainly focuses on a continental or national scale and rarely takes different geographical zones (such as tropical marine climate zones) as examples to carry out micro-interpretation from the perspective of ecology from the grid scale. In fact, some types of land cover under different zones have poor accuracy due to the standard of cognition and the complexity of the spatial pattern of ground objects. In addition, land cover and its change in tropical Marine climate zones will affect the greenhouse effect, energy balance, water transport, and so on, thus affecting climate change on a regional or even global scale. Therefore, this article presents an evaluation based on GLOBCOVER, CCI LC, and MCD12Q1 data using Malaysia as a case study, through area composition similarity, field sample point validation, and landscape indices. The results showed that (1) the area correlation coefficient between GLOBCOVER and CCI LC is the highest at 0.998. (2) The CCI LC had the highest OA and kappa coefficient of 59.01% and 0.4957, while the GLOBCOVER product had the lowest OA and kappa coefficient of 49.24% and 0.3614, respectively. (3) The consistency of the water landscape index is high between the CCI LC and GLOBCOVE data, the consistency of the artificial surfaces landscape index is high between the CCI LC and MCD12Q1 products, and the consistency of the grassland/shrubland landscape index is high between the GLOBCOVE and MCD12Q1 products. The results of microscopic landscape patterns show that the three product landscape patterns are generally more consistent in East Malaysia than in West Malaysia. The low accuracy of grassland, bareland, and shrubland is the key reason for the wide variation in landscape patterns between the three products.
Effect of stacking sequence and thickness variation on the thermo-mechanical properties of flax-kenaf laminated biocomposites and prediction of the optimal configuration using a decision-making framework
Authors: Kumar Santosh , Bhowmik Sumit , Zindani Divya
Published: June 2023

The use of naturally derived eco-friendly biocomposites became more popular due to growing environmental concerns and hunt for sustainable materials. Biocomposites can reduce the residual waste and carbon emission to the environment during their lifecycle. The present study aims to develop biocomposites by reinforcing flax fiber (F) and kenaf fiber (K) laminates with bio-epoxy matrix at four different arrangements (FFF, FKF, KFK, and KKK). The biocomposite samples were fabricated with three laminated thicknesses (3 mm, 4 mm and 5 mm) and the thermo-mechanical performance was investigated. The results showed that FFF biocomposites recorded higher tensile, flexural, and interfacial properties with lower density and absorption of water compared to KKK biocomposites due to higher cylindrical lumen diameter of flax laminates. The hybridization of flax with kenaf fiber at different stacking sequences provided greater strength, modulus, toughness, stiffness, thermal stability and degradation behaviour due to greater interfacial interaction between laminated fiber and bio-epoxy. The FKF biocomposites showed maximum impact strength (52.96 kJ/m2), tensile strength (110.21 MPa), and compressive strength (139.64 MPa) at 5 mm laminated thickness while, flexural (158.67 MPa) and shear strength (39.45 MPa) were maximum at 4 mm thickness with the highest degradation temperature (336 °C). The optimal biocomposite configuration has been identified through employability of a novel decision-making framework encompassing interval-valued intuitionistic fuzzy sets, TOmada de DecisaoInterativaMulticriterio (TODIM) and Schweizer–Sklar operations. The inclusive evaluation with regard to the applied framework has revealed that FKF and KFK biocomposites with 4 mm thickness (Lam5 and Lam8) configuration to have the optimal configuration. On the other hand, Lam 10, i.e., KKK_3 mm turned out to be inferior to all the considered biocomposite configurations.
Quality characteristics of white button mushrooms (Agaricus bisporus) affected by gamma irradiation and volatile oils during storage
Authors: Mohammed Marwa K. , Abouel-Yazeed Ayman M. , Abdalla Ahmed E. , Maraei Rabab W. , Aly Amina A.
Published: June 2023

Agaricus bisporus mushrooms contain various bioactive substances, the current study aimed to evaluate the effects of gamma-irradiation (1.5, and 2.0 kGy) and essential oils (EOs) fumigation treatments including; geranium (60, and 80 μL L−1) as well as lemongrass (40, and 60 μL L−1) on quality characteristics (color, weight loss, firmness), and microbial properties, as well as total and reducing sugars of mushrooms at 4 °C during storage for 12 days. It was found that 40 μL L−1 lemongrass (L1) showed the highest L* after 12 days of storage so, it gave the greatest impact on reducing browning of mushrooms. Geranium oil (G1) recorded the least increase in weight-loss (3.01 %) after 12 days of storage. Otherwise, the firmness was also significantly inceased in the EOs (60 μL L−1 of geranium and 40 μL L−1 of lemongrass) samples compared to the controls and gamma-rays. The EOs achieved slight increases in TSS% compared with other treatments. Also, total sugar content in all treatments showed an overall reduction with storage time. Gamma-irradiation (1.5, and 2.0 kGy) was more efficient in inhibiting the development of mesophilic and psychrophilic count. While, lemongrass treatment (L2) has the lowest count of fungi at the end of storage (0.5 log10 CFU g−1). The current findings suggest that and EOs (geranium & lemongrass) and gamma-irradiation are a promise process for maintaining the quality of A. bisporus through refrigeration preservation.
Formen, Kreise, Diagramme. Bemerkungen zur Notation von „Formen“
Authors: Hoegl Franz
Published: June 2023

Welche Rolle spielen die aus vielen Texten der Systemtheorie vertrauten „Form“-Figuren? Der vorliegende Beitrag beobachtet an theorieüblichen Selbstbeschreibungen der Rolle der „Formen“ vorbei den tatsächlichen Gebrauch dieser „Formen“ in ihren unterschiedlichen Notationsweisen. Der Umgang mit den „Formen“ ist in dieser Perspektive kein Anwenden eines Kalkül des Sozialen. Die Formen fungieren nicht als logische Ausdrücke. Vielmehr lassen sich, so die These, diese Figuren alsDiagrammedeuten, die der Systemtheorie, wie Wittgensteins „Sprachspiele“ in der Sprachphilosophie, als Vergleichsobjekte dienen. In diesem Sinne macht der Beitrag den Vorschlag, den diagrammatischen Umgang als eine fruchtbare heuristische Praxis zu begreifen, als eine (systemtheoretische) Form von Design Thinking.
Tricksters Grenzen: Räume, Überschreitungen und die Außenseite der Form
Authors: Götzelt Thomas
Published: June 2023

Unterscheidungen setzen Motive an ihren Außenseiten voraus, die nicht von den Beobachtern selbst, aber von deren Beobachtern gesehen werden können. Diese Möglichkeit ist umso wichtiger, wenn nicht nur einzelne Motive, sondern auch einschlägige und vor allem prekäre Motivmuster thematisiert werden. Am Beispiel der mesopotamischen Heldenfigur Gilgameš skizziert der Beitrag einen parasitären Umgang mit Macht, der zwar das Gemeinwohl zur Schau stellt, aber seine Ambitionen verfolgt und durch seine Übergriffe sichtbar, behandelbar und antizipierbar wird. Visuelle Mementos, hier das Ikon des Huwawa, des von Gilgameš getöteten Wächters, fungieren als Symbolisierung dieses Verhaltens und seiner Beobachtbarkeit. So gingen sie als Zeichen von Hybris, Machtmissbrauch und Tabubruch in das kulturelle Gedächtnis Mesopotamiens und der nachfolgenden Welt ein, und zwar erwartungsgemäß auch außerhalb der schriftkundigen Eliten.
Predictive salivary biomarkers for early diagnosis of periodontal diseases – current and future developments
Authors: Shi Fangping , Liu Wei , Yao Yuexian , Zhang Qingbin , Chen Zhe , Xian Yankui , Sujanamulk Bhavana
Published: June 2023

Periodontal diseases are chronic diseases of oral cavity comprising of inflammatory conditions which effect the supporting structures of dentition. It is a multifactorial disease which is also known to be affected by genetic and environmental factors. However, some of the clinical parameters such as probing depth, attachment level, plaque index, bleeding on probing and radiographic assessment of alveolar bone are known to assess the severity of disease, although the disease activity is not measured. In the current scenario the salivary diagnostic markers for diagnosis of periodontal diseases have included the salivary enzymes, immunoglobulins, bacterial components or products, phenotypic markers such as epithelial markers. Also, saliva is a mirror of oral and systemic health and a valuable source to find out the physiological aspects of periodontal diseases. The present review thus highlights various salivary biomarkers which are quick, easy and reliable method for assessing and monitoring periodontal disease that improves and speeds treatment decisions and moves the field closer to individualized point-of-care diagnostics.
Recurrent Circuits Amplify Corticofugal Signals and Drive Feedforward Inhibition in the Inferior Colliculus
Authors: Oberle Hannah M. , Ford Alexander N. , Czarny Jordyn E. , Rogalla Meike M. , Apostolides Pierre F.
Published: June 2023

The inferior colliculus (IC) is a midbrain hub critical for perceiving complex sounds, such as speech. In addition to processing ascending inputs from most auditory brainstem nuclei, the IC receives descending inputs from auditory cortex that control IC neuron feature selectivity, plasticity, and certain forms of perceptual learning. Although corticofugal synapses primarily release the excitatory transmitter glutamate, many physiology studies show that auditory cortical activity has a net inhibitory effect on IC neuron spiking. Perplexingly, anatomy studies imply that corticofugal axons primarily target glutamatergic IC neurons while only sparsely innervating IC GABA neurons. Corticofugal inhibition of the IC may thus occur largely independently of feedforward activation of local GABA neurons. We shed light on this paradox usingin vitroelectrophysiology in acute IC slices from fluorescent reporter mice of either sex. Using optogenetic stimulation of corticofugal axons, we find that excitation evoked with single light flashes is indeed stronger in presumptive glutamatergic neurons compared with GABAergic neurons. However, many IC GABA neurons fire tonically at rest, such that sparse and weak excitation suffices to significantly increase their spike rates. Furthermore, a subset of glutamatergic IC neurons fire spikes during repetitive corticofugal activity, leading to polysynaptic excitation in IC GABA neurons owing to a dense intracollicular connectivity. Consequently, recurrent excitation amplifies corticofugal activity, drives spikes in IC GABA neurons, and generates substantial local inhibition in the IC. Thus, descending signals engage intracollicular inhibitory circuits despite apparent constraints of monosynaptic connectivity between auditory cortex and IC GABA neurons.

SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENTDescending “corticofugal” projections are ubiquitous across mammalian sensory systems, and enable the neocortex to control subcortical activity in a predictive or feedback manner. Although corticofugal neurons are glutamatergic, neocortical activity often inhibits subcortical neuron spiking. How does an excitatory pathway generate inhibition? Here we study the corticofugal pathway from auditory cortex to inferior colliculus (IC), a midbrain hub important for complex sound perception. Surprisingly, cortico-collicular transmission was stronger onto IC glutamatergic compared with GABAergic neurons. However, corticofugal activity triggered spikes in IC glutamate neurons with local axons, thereby generating strong polysynaptic excitation and feedforward spiking of GABAergic neurons. Our results thus reveal a novel mechanism that recruits local inhibition despite limited monosynaptic convergence onto inhibitory networks.
Phosphorylation of phase‐separated p62 bodies by ULK1 activates a redox‐independent stress response
Authors: Ikeda Ryo , Noshiro Daisuke , Morishita Hideaki , Takada Shuhei , Kageyama Shun , Fujioka Yuko , Funakoshi Tomoko , Komatsu‐Hirota Satoko , Arai Ritsuko , Ryzhii Elena , Abe Manabu , Koga Tomoaki , Motohashi Hozumi , Nakao Mitsuyoshi , Sakimura Kenji , Horii Arata , Waguri Satoshi , Ichimura Yoshinobu , Noda Nobuo N , Komatsu Masaaki
Published: June 2023

NRF2 is a transcription factor responsible for antioxidant stress responses that is usually regulated in a redox‐dependent manner. p62 bodies formed by liquid–liquid phase separation contain Ser349‐phosphorylated p62, which participates in the redox‐independent activation of NRF2. However, the regulatory mechanism and physiological significance of p62 phosphorylation remain unclear. Here, we identify ULK1 as a kinase responsible for the phosphorylation of p62. ULK1 colocalizes with p62 bodies, directly interacting with p62. ULK1‐dependent phosphorylation of p62 allows KEAP1 to be retained within p62 bodies, thus activating NRF2. p62S351E/+ mice are phosphomimetic knock‐in mice in which Ser351, corresponding to human Ser349, is replaced by Glu. These mice, but not their phosphodefective p62S351A/S351A counterparts, exhibit NRF2 hyperactivation and growth retardation. This retardation is caused by malnutrition and dehydration due to obstruction of the esophagus and forestomach secondary to hyperkeratosis, a phenotype also observed in systemic Keap1‐knockout mice. Our results expand our understanding of the physiological importance of the redox‐independent NRF2 activation pathway and provide new insights into the role of phase separation in this process.
MIRO‐1 interacts with VDAC‐1 to regulate mitochondrial membrane potential in Caenorhabditis elegans
Authors: Ren Xuecong , Zhou Hengda , Sun Yujie , Fu Hongying , Ran Yu , Yang Bing , Yang Fan , Bjorklund Mikael , Xu Suhong
Published: June 2023

Precise regulation of mitochondrial fusion and fission is essential for cellular activity and animal development. Imbalances between these processes can lead to fragmentation and loss of normal membrane potential in individual mitochondria. In this study, we show that MIRO‐1 is stochastically elevated in individual fragmented mitochondria and is required for maintaining mitochondrial membrane potential. We further observe a higher level of membrane potential in fragmented mitochondria in fzo‐1 mutants and wounded animals. Moreover, MIRO‐1 interacts with VDAC‐1, a crucial mitochondrial ion channel located in the outer mitochondrial membrane, and this interaction depends on the residues E473 of MIRO‐1 and K163 of VDAC‐1. The E473G point mutation disrupts their interaction, resulting in a reduction of the mitochondrial membrane potential. Our findings suggest that MIRO‐1 regulates membrane potential and maintains mitochondrial activity and animal health by interacting with VDAC‐1. This study provides insight into the mechanisms underlying the stochastic maintenance of membrane potential in fragmented mitochondria.
Conformational change of PlasmodiumTRAP is essential for sporozoite migration and transmission
Authors: Braumann Friedrich , Klug Dennis , Kehrer Jessica , Song Gaojie , Feng Juan , Springer Timothy A , Frischknecht Friedrich
Published: June 2023

Eukaryotic cell adhesion and migration rely on surface adhesins connecting extracellular ligands to the intracellular actin cytoskeleton. Plasmodium sporozoites are transmitted by mosquitoes and rely on adhesion and gliding motility to colonize the salivary glands and to reach the liver after transmission. During gliding, the essential sporozoite adhesin TRAP engages actin filaments in the cytoplasm of the parasite, while binding ligands on the substrate through its inserted (I) domain. Crystal structures of TRAP from different Plasmodium species reveal the I domain in closed and open conformations. Here, we probe the importance of these two conformational states by generating parasites expressing versions of TRAP with the I domain stabilized in either the open or closed state with disulfide bonds. Strikingly, both mutations impact sporozoite gliding, mosquito salivary gland entry, and transmission. Absence of gliding in sporozoites expressing the open TRAP I domain can be partially rescued by adding a reducing agent. This suggests that dynamic conformational change is required for ligand binding, gliding motility, and organ invasion and hence sporozoite transmission from mosquito to mammal.