bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Who benefits more from supply chain alliances? Customers or suppliers
Authors: Xia Yun , Xu Xin , Liu Ying , Zhang Yanjiang
Published: November 2024

Existing research provides limited evidence on the impact of supply chain relationships on the financial performance of upstream and downstream firms. Taking the recent proliferation of supply chain alliances between Chinese listed companies as an opportunity, we study the impact of supply chain alliances on the performance of customers and suppliers as well as the underlying mechanisms at play. We focus on Chinese A-share listed companies from 2001 to 2021 and use announcements issued by the listed companies to identify whether they have established a supply chain alliance with another listed company. The announcements come from the information disclosure system of listed companies of the Shenzhen Stock Exchange and the Shanghai Stock Exchange. Finally, we obtained 148 pairs of supply chain alliances which formed by 231 listed companies and involved 296 announcements of supply chain alliances. By using the propensity score matching method and difference-in-differences regressions, we find that supply chain alliances can alleviate friction between customers and suppliers and significantly improve the efficiency of working capital used by both customers and suppliers. Supply chain alliances increase suppliers’ inventory turnover and accounts receivable turnover, and reduce cash holdings, while supply chain alliances improve customer raw material turnover, and reduce accounts payable turnover. Moreover, the economic impact of supply chain alliances on customers and suppliers is asymmetric. Suppliers benefit more from alliances relative to customers, as evidenced by significant improvements in their financial performance and significantly reduced performance volatility. The “inherent differences” in market power and market value between customers and suppliers can have considerable asymmetries on economic consequences. We divide firms in a pair of supply chain alliances by market power and market value. The magnitude of the financial performance accruing from an alliance is considerably higher for the lower-market-power firm than for the higher-market-power firm. The magnitude of the financial performance accruing from an alliance is considerably higher for the lower-market-value firm than for the higher-market-value firm. Additionally, vertical supply chain alliances can significantly improve firm performance and reduce performance volatility compared to horizontal supply chain alliances. This paper provides new empirical evidence for our insight into the economic consequences of supply chain alliances and their boundary conditions.
Observations of Molecular CN toward S-type Asymptotic Giant Branch Stars
Authors: Feng Yanan , Li Xiaohu , Yang Xiaofeng , Millar Tom J. , Szczerba Ryszard , Qin Sheng-Li , Jiang Xuejian , Quan Donghui , Tuo Juan , Miao Zhenzhen , Liu Sheng-Yuan , Liu Xiang
Published: November 2024

S-type asymptotic giant branch (AGB) stars are defined by their carbon-to-oxygen (C/O) ratio approaching unity. However, observations of circumstellar molecules in these stars are limited and challenging. In this study, we used the James Clerk Maxwell Telescope to search for cyanide (CN) in 12 selected S-type AGB stars, with only 4 of these stars displaying CN spectral line signals. The column density and fractional abundance of CN were calculated assuming local thermodynamic equilibrium, and the average CN-to-hydrogen-cyanide (HCN) abundance ratio of the four sources is about 0.036. We investigate, for the first time, the relationship between CN and HCN fractional abundances in all types of AGB stars, finding that the ratio is similar in O-rich and S-type stars, while those in C-rich stars are quite different. This result supports the idea that the level of HCN photodissociation plays a crucial role in determining the CN abundance in the circumstellar envelopes of AGB stars at various stages of their evolution.
SMILES Initial Data Release: Unveiling the Obscured Universe with MIRI Multiband Imaging
Authors: Alberts Stacey , Lyu 吕 Jianwei 建伟 , Shivaei Irene , Rieke George H. , Pérez-González Pablo G. , Bonaventura Nina , Zhu Yongda , Helton Jakob M. , Ji Zhiyuan , Morrison Jane , Robertson Brant E. , Stone Meredith A. , Sun Yang , Williams Christina C. , Willmer Christopher N. A.
Published: November 2024

The James Webb Space Telescope is revolutionizing our view of the Universe through unprecedented sensitivity and resolution in the infrared, with some of the largest gains realized at its longest wavelengths. We present the Systematic Mid-infrared Instrument (MIRI) Legacy Extragalactic Survey (SMILES), an eight-band MIRI survey with Near-Infrared Spectrograph spectroscopic follow-up in the GOODS-S/HUDF region. SMILES takes full advantage of MIRI’s continuous coverage from 5.6 to 25.5 μm over an ∼34 arcmin2 area to greatly expand our understanding of the obscured Universe up to cosmic noon and beyond. This work, together with a companion paper by G. Rieke et al., covers the SMILES science drivers and technical design, early results with SMILES, data reduction, photometric catalog creation, and the first data release. As part of the discussion on early results, we additionally present a high-level science demonstration on how MIRI’s wavelength coverage and resolution will advance our understanding of cosmic dust using the full range of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon emission features from 3.3 to 18 μm. Using custom background subtraction, we produce robust reductions of the MIRI imaging that maximize the depths reached with our modest exposure times (∼0.6−2.2 ks per filter). Included in our initial data release are (1) eight MIRI imaging mosaics reaching depths of 0.2−18 μJy (5σ) and (2) a 5−25.5 μm photometric catalog with over 3000 sources. Building upon the rich legacy of extensive photometric and spectroscopy coverage of GOODS-S/HUDF from the X-ray to the radio, SMILES greatly expands our investigative power in understanding the obscured Universe.
Assessing Core-powered Mass Loss in the Context of Early Boil-off: Minimal Long-lived Mass Loss for the Sub-Neptune Population
Authors: Tang Yao , Fortney Jonathan J. , Murray-Clay Ruth
Published: November 2024

We develop a Python-based state-of-the-art sub-Neptune evolution model that incorporates both the post-formation boil-off at young ages ≤1 Myr and long-lived core-powered mass loss (∼Gyr) from interior cooling. We investigate the roles of initial H/He entropy, core luminosity, energy advection, radiative atmospheric structure, and the transition to an X-ray- and ultraviolet-driven mass-loss phase, with an eye on relevant timescales for planetary mass loss and thermal evolution. With particular attention to the re-equilibration process of the H/He envelope, including the energy sources that fuel the hydrodynamic wind, and energy transport timescales, we find that boil-off and core-powered escape are primarily driven by stellar bolometric radiation. We further find that both boil-off and core-powered escape are decoupled from the thermal evolution. We show that, with a boil-off phase that accounts for the initial H/He mass fraction and initial entropy, post-boil-off core-powered escape has an insignificant influence on the demographics of small planets, as it is only able to remove at most 0.1% of the H/He mass fraction. Our numerical results are directly compared to previous work on analytical core-powered mass-loss modeling for individual evolutionary trajectories and populations of small planets. We examine a number of assumptions made in previous studies that cause significant differences compared to our findings. We find that boil-off, though able to completely strip the gaseous envelope from a highly irradiated (F ≥ 100 F
⊕) planet that has a low-mass core (M

c
≤ 4 M
⊕), cannot by itself form a pronounced radius gap as is seen in the observed population.
Slope of Magnetic Field–Density Relation as an Indicator of Magnetic Dominance
Authors: Zhao Mengke , Li Guang-Xing , Qiu Keping
Published: November 2024

The electromagnetic field is a fundamental force in nature that regulates the formation of stars in the Universe. Despite decades of efforts, a reliable assessment of the importance of the magnetic fields in star formation relations remains missing. In star formation research, our acknowledgment of the importance of magnetic fields is best summarized by the R. M. Crutcher et al. B–ρ relation,

log
B
(
ρ
)
/
Gauss
=

−
5
,

if

ρ

≲

10

−
20

g

cm

−
3

2
3

·
log
ρ
+
log

ρ
0

,

if

ρ

≳

10

−
20

g

cm

−
3

,

whose interpretation remains controversial. The relation is either interpreted as proof of the importance of a magnetic field in gravitational collapse or as the result of self-similar collapse where the role of the magnetic field is secondary to gravity. Using simulations, we find a fundamental relation,

M

A

–k

B−ρ
(the slope of the B–ρ relation):

M
A

M

A
,
c

=

k

B
−
ρ

K

≈

M
A

7.5

≈

k

B
−
ρ

1.7
±
0.15

.

This fundamental B–ρ slope relation enables one to measure the Alfvénic Mach number, a direct indicator of the importance of the magnetic field, using the distribution of data in the B–ρ plane. It allows us to apply the following empirical B–ρ relation:

B

B

c

=
exp

γ

K

−
1

ρ

ρ

c

γ

K

≈

B

10

−
6.3

G

≈
exp

9

ρ

10

−
16.1

g

cm

−
3

0.11

,

which offers an excellent fit to the Crutcher et al. data, where we assume an

M
A

−
ρ

relation (

M

A

M

A

,

c

=

ρ

ρ

c

γ

≈

M

A

/

7.5
≈

ρ

/

10

−
16.1

g

cm

−
3

0.19

). The foundational

M
A

-

k

B
−
ρ

relation provides an independent way to measure the importance of the magnetic field against the kinematic motion using multiple magnetic-field measurements. Our approach offers a new interpretation of the classical B–ρ relation, where a gradual decrease in the importance of B at higher densities is implied.
Endodontic Continuing Education of Dental Practitioners in Croatia: A Nationwide Survey
Authors: Sovic Josipa , Segovic Sanja , Matijevic Jurica , Tomasic Ivan
Published: November 2024

AIM: This study aims to assess the state of endodontic continuing education (ECE) among dental practitioners in Croatia and identify factors influencing participation in such education.
METHODS: A questionnaire was sent to all dental offices in Croatia, yielding 819 responses. The data were analyzed descriptively and statistically modeled.
RESULTS: Most respondents had participated in some form of ECE during their careers. However, in the past 5 years, only about 78% had engaged in such education, with participation decreasing by 2% for each additional year of practice. Male practitioners had significantly less continuing education in the past 5 years, particularly in private clinics, dental clinics with concession contracts, and certain regions. Practitioners who performed more endodontic treatments reported higher levels of continuing education. The endometer was the only modern technique consistently used by about 60% of practitioners with continuing dental education.
CONCLUSION: Continuing education in endodontics should be more strongly promoted among practitioners with longer careers, particularly men.
Clinical Characteristics and Some Related Factors in Children with Prurigo Nodularis in Vietnam
Authors: Sokpharuth Sar , Tran Thi Huyen
Published: November 2024

BACKGROUND: Prurigo nodularis in children can become chronic, lasting from several months to many years, triggered and sustained by environmental allergens. In Vietnam, prurigo nodularis is relatively common; however, few studies have been conducted on pediatric populations.
AIMS: This study aims to describe the clinical characteristics and related factors of prurigo nodularis in children.
METHODS: This prospective, cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted at the National Hospital of Dermatology and Venereology from December 2023 to June 2024. A total of 117 children participated in the study. Data were collected according to the study’s medical record template.
RESULTS: The results showed that the proportion of male patients was higher than that of female patients (62.4% vs. 37.6%), with the highest proportion of cases in the under-6 age group (47%). Most patients lived in urban areas (88%). Nearly half of the cases had disease duration of < 12 months (42.2%). The onset rate on the legs was the highest (58.2%). Some related factors were herbal baths (1.7%), food allergies (8.5%), pet keeping (22.2%), insect bites (23.1%), family history of prurigo (24.8%), long fingernails (59.8%), and self-medication (73.5%). The rate of regular deworming was 93.2% of the children. Most patients experienced severe itching (97.4%), with the severity and activity level of the disease mainly at moderate levels (96.6% and 97.4%, respectively).
CONCLUSION: Prurigo nodularis in children presents with diverse clinical characteristics. Factors such as food allergies, pet keeping, insect bites, and family history may play a role in triggering and maintaining the disease, but further research is needed.
Description of developmental stages of Phyllognathus dionysius Fabricius, 1792 (Insecta: Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae) with notes on biology from central India
Authors: Khadakkar Suvarna , Tiple Ashish , Khurad Arun
Published: November 2024

Detailed description of IIIrd Instar larva and pupa of Phyllognathus dionysius is described along with notes on biology and distribution. Beetles belonging to the family scarabaeidae are economically important as crop pests. Grubs of P. dionysius are polyphagous and known to feed on roots of Jowar, Bajra, Maize, Turmeric, Sugarcane and Paddy while adults are nocturnal in habit and feed on foliage of Ficus sp. For the study, grubs of P. dionysius were collected from dung pads from the Bor forest of Maharashtra, central India. Collected grubs were reared in rearing pots in the laboratory under optimum temperature and humidity. Our knowledge of developmental stages of scarabs lags behind our knowledge of the adults especially in the fields of morphology and taxonomy. In this study, we provide diagnostic characters for identification of the immature stages in brief. Biology of the species is described on the basis of its coprophagous behaviour. Life cycle of P. dionysius completed in 145-163 days with prepupal period of 24-36 hours and pupal period of 9-11 days.
Life history of two new species of Prorops (Hymenoptera, Bethylidae) ectoparasitic on adult Hypothenemus eruditus beetles (Curculionidae, Scolytinae) in Hawai‘i
Authors: Honsberger David N. , Magnacca Karl N. , Lorenzo-Elarco J. Hau‘oli , Wright Mark G.
Published: November 2024

Aspects of the life history and biology of two Prorops spp. are explored, Prorops mayasp. nov. and Prorops umiehusp. nov. Aspects of their behavior are deduced through dissection of plant material and through the use of “phloem sandwich” style observation chambers. Both were found to be ectoparasitoids of adult Hypothenemus eruditus beetles. They thus show a novel feeding behavior as, along with a Plastanoxus sp., the only bethylids known to parasitize the adult stage of their hosts, and the only known ectoparasitoids of adult scolytids. Searching, stinging, host feeding, and oviposition behaviors are reported and illustrated with photographs and video. Oviposition occurs on the ventral side of the membraneous region between the pro- and mesothorax of the beetle, and larvae feed through this location. The projection on the frons, a defining character of the genus Prorops, is observed to function as a tongue and groove mechanism with which the adult female pushes on the edge of the prothoracic sclerite of the host beetle while maintaining use of its mandibles to chew on the membrane underneath for host feeding and in preparation for oviposition. Defensive action of a Hypothenemus sp. against the wasp's sting by clamping down on the intruding ovipositor between its pro- and mesothorax is also reported, though this behavior was only observed once and thus its generality is uncertain.
Taxonomic study of Hydnoporia (Hymenochaetales, Hymenochaetaceae) in East Asia with two new species
Authors: Cho Minseo , Cho Yoonhee , Kwon Sun Lul , Kim Dohye , Hosaka Kentaro , Lim Young Woon , Kim Jae-Jin
Published: November 2024

The genus Hydnoporia (Hymenochaetales, Hymenochaetaceae) was first described by Murrill in 1907. However, species of Hydnoporia were subsequently reclassified into the genera Hymenochaete, Hymenochaetopsis, and Pseudochaete due to overlapping morphological characteristics, leading to multiple synonyms and confusion among researchers. Recent phylogenetic analyses based on multimarker datasets have clarified the diversity and relationships within Hydnoporia, but East Asian species remain underrepresented due to limited morphological data. To address this gap, we conducted a comprehensive morphological and phylogenetic analysis of East Asian Hydnoporia specimens using internal transcribed spacer (ITS) and translation elongation factor 1–α (tef1) regions. From 42 specimens, we identified six species, including two novel species, Hydnoporia orienticorrugatasp. nov. and Hydnoporia subtabacinasp. nov., and we report Hydnoporia rimosa for the first time in Korea. Phylogenetic analyses also support the recombination of Hymenochaete intricata and Hymenochaetopsis rigidula as Hydnoporia intricatacomb. nov. and Hydnoporia rigidulacomb. nov., respectively. By elucidating the phylogenetic relationships and morphological traits of Hydnoporia species from East Asia, this study contributes to a deeper understanding of the global diversity and phylogeny of the genus.
Benchmarking three DNA metabarcoding technologies for efficient detection of non-native cerambycid beetles in trapping collections
Authors: Veillat Loïs , Boyer Stéphane , Querejeta Marina , Magnoux Emmanuelle , Roques Alain , Lopez-Vaamonde Carlos , Roux Geraldine
Published: November 2024

Individual sorting and identification of thousands of insects collected in mass trapping biosurveillance programmes is a labour-intensive and time-consuming process. Metabarcoding allows the simultaneous identification of multiple individuals in a single mixed sample and has the potential to expedite this process. However, detecting all the species present in a bulk sample can be challenging, especially when under-represented non-native specimens are intercepted.

In this study, we quantified the effectiveness of DNA metabarcoding at detecting exotic species within six different mock communities of native and non-native species of European xylophagous cerambycid beetles. The main objective is to compare three different sequencing technologies (MinION, Illumina and IonTorrent) to evaluate which one is the most suitable in this context. Additionally, dry and wet (monopropylene glycol and water) collection methods were compared. Although not observing significant differences in the total number of species detected amongst the three sequencing technologies, the MinION detected a greater number of species in field-like samples. All three sequencing technologies achieved success in detecting and identifying closely-related species and species in low abundance. The capture method of insects in the field greatly influenced sample preservation and detection. Individuals captured in traps containing monopropylene and water had lower DNA concentration, leading to lower species detection rates compared to individuals killed using just an insecticide without any collection medium.
Unveiling the dual anti-viral and anti-bacterial potential of Tridax procumbens: integrating system biology and molecular modeling for therapeutic insights
Authors: Farhan Muthanna Saadi , Jaafar Farrah Rasool , Oraibi Amjad I.
Published: November 2024

This study evaluates the dual anti-viral and anti-bacterial activity of Tridax procumbens using system biology and molecular docking targeting the tumor necrosis factor (TNF) signaling pathway. The bioactive potential of Tridax procumbens was studied using phytochemical databases, and the essential biomolecules were selected for the study. The principle of geneVenn diagrams and protein target prediction was used to identify overlapping molecular targets with viral and bacterial diseases, which was later validated using various database mining tools like GeneCards and OMIM. Cytoscape software was applied to construct protein-protein interaction networks, which showed that TNF, AKT1, EGFR, SRC, and ESR1 are the hub genes of the networks. The gene ontology (GO) enrichment analysis also recapitulated the modulated biological processes, cellular components, and molecular functions of Tridax procumbens compounds, including their action on the TNF signaling in inflammation and immune responses. Molecular docking studies showed strong binding affinities of compounds such as cynaroside and 5,7,2,3,4-Pentahydroxy-3,6-dimethoxyflavone 7-glucoside to TNF, and molecular dynamics simulations confirmed these interactions’ stability. The findings suggest that Tridax procumbens exerts its therapeutic effects by modulating the TNF signaling pathway, offering significant anti-viral and anti-bacterial properties. This integrative approach provides insights into the Tridax procumbens’s mechanisms of action, supporting its potential as a source of novel therapeutic agents against infectious and bacterial diseases. There is still a need for further experimental research to define the full spectrum of Tridax procumbens’ therapeutic application.
Research on the oxidation sequence of Ni-Al-Pt alloy by combining experiments and thermodynamic calculations
Authors: Ta Na , Zhang Lijun , Li Qin
Published: November 2024

In this paper, a comprehensive study on 1373 K high-temperature oxidation behaviors in a Ni-20 at.% Al-5 at.% Pt system was performed by coupling experimental investigations with CALPHAD (CALculation of PHAse Diagram) calculations. The discussion was expanded to include the effects of chemical concentrations on the degradation mechanism of thermally grown oxide layers during oxidation at 1373 K. A step-by-step oxidation procedure was established: first, aluminum oxide grows on the underside, followed by nickel oxide, which fully develops and penetrates the original aluminum oxide. The formation of NiO leads to aluminum enrichment and nickel depletion; once the concentration of Al achieves a threshold, θ-Al2O3 transforms into α-Al2O3, forming a tight structure. At this point, Al diffusion toward the exterior predominates, followed by the inward diffusion of O. The diffusion of Ni is gradually restricted by the establishment of the α-Al2O3 layer. When Al is not enough, Al2O3 combines with NiO to develop NiAl2O4. Nickel segregation may also occur during subsequent oxidation at the oxide layer/matrix alloy boundary. Small voids are likely to form due to the merging of the vacancies caused by the unbalanced diffusion of Al toward the Al2O3 layer and the opposite diffusion of Ni, resulting in significant peeling failure. Additionally, Pt has a beneficial effect by forming a thinner oxide scale that is more resistant to spallation.
Analysis of a multi-server retrial queue with a varying finite number of sources
Authors: D'Apice Ciro , Dudin Alexander , Dudin Sergei , Manzo Rosanna
Published: November 2024

A multi-server retrial queue with a finite number of sources of requests was considered. In contrast to similar models studied in the literature, we assumed this number is not constant but changes its value in a finite range. During the stay in the system, each source generates the service requests. These requests are processed in a finite pool of servers. After service completion of a request, the source is granted the possibility to generate another request. If the source does not use this possibility during an exponentially distributed time, it is deleted from the system. If the request finds all servers busy, it can make repeated attempts to enter the service. If all servers are busy, the request may depart from the system without service. In this case, with a fixed probability, the source that generated this request is deleted from the system. Sources arrive according to a Markov arrival process. If the number of sources in the system at the arrival epoch has the maximum allowed number, the arriving source is lost. This system is a more adequate model of many real-world systems than the standard finite source queue. Analysis of the considered system required a four-dimensional continuous-time Markov chain. The generator of the chain was obtained as a block matrix with four levels of nesting. The stationary distribution of this Markov chain was found numerically as well as the values of the system's performance measures. The dependence of these measures on the maximum allowed number of sources and the number of servers was numerically clarified. An example of solving an optimization problem was presented.
Unveiling the cultural ecosystem services of urban green spaces: A case study of Ljubljana, Slovenia
Authors: Smrekar Aleš , Tiran Jernej , Polajnar Horvat Katarina
Published: November 2024

This paper analyses the value of cultural ecosystem services in urban green spaces. A field survey of 900 respondents in Ljubljana, Slovenia, examined cultural ecosystem services in seven types of urban green spaces and compared the results with two types of non-green public spaces (old town, shopping mall). Differences between the types were assessed using one-way variance analysis (ANOVA). Results showed statistically significant differences between the types, with sports facilities standing out as valuable for recreation and education. The old town's cultural heritage and aesthetics were highly valued, while shopping malls ranked lowest. The study emphasises the importance of urban green spaces for quality of life of residents and informs land use planning decision-making.
Outils numériques pour l’enseignement : des espaces numériques aux salles de classe
Authors: Schmoll Laurence
Published: November 2024

La nécessité de passer à un enseignement à distance durant les confinements a permis, pour beaucoup d’enseignants, de découvrir et/ou d’exploiter des outils numériques. Une fois les confinements passés, les enseignants ont pu retrouver le dispositif d’enseignement en présentiel, ainsi que des situations d’enseignement-apprentissage connues et donc plus sereines. Mais qu’en est-il des outils numériques utilisés au cours des confinements ? Les enseignants ont-ils transféré les démarches pédagogiques mises en œuvre durant leurs cours en ligne à leurs cours en présentiel ? Les applications numériques utilisées en ligne conservent-elles leur légitimité une fois revenu en présentiel ? Cette recherche se propose, à travers un questionnaire et des entretiens d’enseignants portant sur leur vécu pendant et après les confinements, d’étudier les outils numériques employés lors des enseignements à distance et leurs fonctions, puis d’observer quelle suite a été donnée à l’emploi de ces outils une fois acté le retour en présentiel.
Ne plus avoir le temps, ou le risque de l’errance temporelle : considérations anthropologiques et éducatives
Authors: Potier Géraldine , Hétier Renaud
Published: November 2024

Cette contribution vise à proposer une perspective phénoménologique sur l’errance d’un point de vue alternatif, puisqu’il s’agit de l’errance temporelle. L’individu moderne y est décrit comme délié, par l’emprise économique, par la mise à distance de la relation à l’autre, du corps lui-même et de la sensibilité, sur un fond de tendance anthropologique. Ce déliement pourrait être une liberté, mais elle le prive surtout de contenance et de soutien, et le livre à un temps « cru », qui passe sans lui, sans qu’il parvienne à l’habiter. Cette exposition à un temps liquide affecte particulièrement l’enfance, qui se trouve, en Anthropocène, devant un avenir menaçant et sans précédent, que la transmission du passé n'éclaire pas, ce qui pose d’importantes questions éducatives.
Dépasser la forme scolaire pour penser une nouvelle systémique d’apprentissage : de la variation à la rupture
Authors: Lescouarch Laurent
Published: November 2024

Le terme de « forme scolaire » est devenu une sorte de lieu commun qu’il convient d’interroger dans sa portée heuristique pour comprendre les pratiques d’enseignement. Même si la forme socio-historique identifiée par Guy Vincent est en évolution manifeste dans le fonctionnement de nombreux établissements contemporains à travers le développement d'innovations pédagogiques, ce concept apparait toujours pertinent pour interroger les pratiques pédagogiques dans les différentes dimensions singulières caractéristiques des situations scolaires. À partir d’une analyse des différentes dimensions en jeu dans les pratiques présentées dans les contributions de ce numéro et en appui sur des recherches sur les « pédagogies différentes » (classes flexibles, pédagogie Freinet), cet article cherche à mettre en perspective une modélisation des évolutions contemporaines à partir d’une réflexion sur les registres et degrés de rupture avec les déterminants de la « forme scolaire » initiale que nous pouvons repérer dans les pratiques scolaires.
Caractérisation des parcs à Cordyla pinnata (Lepr. ex A. Rich.) Milne-Redh. et Faidherbia albida (Delile) A. Chev. dans les communes de Mérina Dakhar et de Kahi du bassin arachidier sénégalais
Authors: Sarr Oumar , Ndiaye Ibrahima , Sagna Moustapha B. , Diatta Sékouna , Ngom Daouda
Published: November 2024

Le bassin arachidier sénégalais présente différents types de parcs agroforestiers. La présente étude vise à caractériser les ligneux de deux types de parcs suivant un gradient pluviométrique. 185 relevés de végétation de dimensions 50 m x 25 m, soit 1250 m2 ont été réalisés dont 104 à Kahi, et 81 à Mérina. Les résultats montrent une richesse spécifique de 40 espèces réparties en 37 genres appartenant à 20 familles dans les parcs à Cordyla pinnata et 22 espèces dans 20 genres inféodés à 12 familles dans les parcs à Faidherbia albida. La densité des ligneux est presque trois fois supérieure au Nord dans les parcs à Faidherbia comparée au Sud dans les parcs à Cordyla. Le taux de régénération du peuplement est très élevé et dépasse 95% quel que soit le type de parc. L’importance spécifique de régénération à Mérina Dakhar est dominée par Annona senegalensis (44,85%) et dans la zone de Kahi par Guiera senegalensis (47,38%). La structure horizontale présente une distribution bimodale pour le parc à Cordyla pinnata où dominent les individus de diamètre 20-40 cm et 70-80 cm ; et une répartition en cloche pour le parc à Faidherbia albida où dominent les individus 30-60 cm de diamètre. L’indice d’anthropisation est plus élevé au Nord avec 83,03% dans la zone de Mérina comparée au Sud avec 43,79% dans la zone de Kahi. L’étude montre un vieillissement des parcs avec la présence d’individus adultes essentiellement. La pratique de la régénération naturelle assistée (RNA) pourrait favoriser la régénération.
A PRE-PROCESSING-FREE MENTAL STATE DETECTION MODEL USING NOISY ECG PLOTS AND DEEP TRANSFER LEARNING
Authors: Abedinzadeh Torghabeh Farhad , Modaresnia Yeganeh , Hosseini Seyyed Abed
Published: November 2024

In recent years, the prevalence of mental disorders, such as depression and stress, has been on the rise, yet a large number of individuals do not receive timely treatment. Addressing mental health concerns involves the evaluation of an individual’s mental state, which can be influenced by a variety of factors. Technological advancements have introduced smart wearable devices that enable real-time monitoring of vital signs, offering potential applications for self-care in mental health. However, the current methodology utilized by most of these devices relies on hand-crafted features and demands time-consuming pre-processing. To address this limitation, our research aims to develop a pre-processing-free model for real-world application, focusing on noisy electrocardiograph (ECG) signals for four-class mental state detection. For this purpose, we used an available wearable stress and affect detection dataset. We took raw ECG signals and transformed them into two-second plots, which were then fed into seven pre-trained convolutional neural networks (AlexNet, GoogLeNet, EfficientNetB0, VGG16, VGG19, XceptionNet, and InceptionV3). Through our experimentation, the fine-tuned VGG16 model emerged as the most effective, outperforming other techniques in accurately detecting baseline, stress, amusement, and meditation states, achieving an impressive accuracy of 99.35%. This achievement stands significantly higher than existing literature, making our model a suitable option for classifying mental states even in noisy raw ECG signals. Furthermore, it exhibits reduced computational complexity when compared to other state-of-the-art studies.
Determination of red colour and lycopene development of Platinum, Padma and Abhiman varieties of tomatoes stored at different temperatures and preparation of tomato puree with watermelon pulp
Authors: Jayarathna G. E. D. A. M. , Navaratne S. B. , Wickramasinghe I. , Somendrika M. A. D.
Published: November 2024

Lycopene is responsible for red colour development in tomatoes. Since locally grown tomatoes have less lycopene content, it negatively affects the production of tomato sauce at required quality.  The aim of this study was to determine the best post-harvest practices to improve the lycopene content in locally grown tomato (Solanum lycopersicon) varieties namely, Platinum, Abhiman, and Padma. They were harvested at the colour break stage and stored at room temperature (32 °C – 34 °C) and cold room temperature (22 °C) for 14 days. Thereafter, they were subjected to analysis, content and colour development (a*) and the obtained values were compared. Lycopene was extracted using a mixture of hexane, ethanol and acetone (2:1:1 ratio) and lycopene analyzed spectrophotometrically. Watermelon is rich in lycopene and pulp extracted from it was incorporated with tomato purees at different ratios to improve the red colour of tomato purees. Results revealed that the average lycopene content of ripe tomatoes at the harvesting stage ranged from 8.34 ± 1.91 to 9.32 ± 2.21 mg/100 g fresh weights.  Tomatoes stored at cold room temperatures contained significantly higher amounts of lycopene (37.05 ± 2.50 to 43.03 ± 1.52 mg/ 100 g fresh weight) compared to that of tomatoes stored at room temperatures (16.50 ± 3.10 to 19.04 ± 2.54 mg/100 g fresh weight). Results revealed that the incorporation of watermelon pulp did not contribute to elevating the colour of tomato puree, even at different ratios.
Pharmacological interactions in novel oral anticoagulants, statins, and hypertension drugs in patients treated with direct-acting antivirals for hepatitis C: a Delphi Consensus project
Authors: Gentile Ivan , Agnelli Giancarlo , Avogaro Angelo , Borghi Claudio , Ciancio Alessia , Claar Ernesto , Pasqualetti Patrizio , Perrone Filardi Pasquale
Published: November 2024

To date, no retrospective or real-world studies have comprehensively examined the interactions between direct-acting antivirals (DAAs) and widely used medications such as novel oral anticoagulant, statins, and antihypertensive agents. However, clinical experience from key opinion leaders may guide physicians in managing these interactions in patients undergoing DAA treatment. This study aims to elucidate the interactions between DAAs and commonly prescribed drugs in patients with prevalent comorbidities (e.g., type II diabetes, hypertension, and dyslipidemia), with a particular focus on those receiving polytherapy with cardiovascular drugs while undergoing DAA treatment for hepatitis C. The clinicians’ experience was combined with input from a qualified expert panel using a Consensus Delphi approach. The findings of this study offer essential and practical recommendations that can be readily applied in everyday clinical practice, helping physicians in managing hepatitis C virus patients undergoing DAA therapy.
On the crossroads: Gender and career-transitioning experiences of a young transgender employee
Authors: Diale Boitumelo M.
Published: November 2024

Background: Research in gender and sexuality studies focuses on the experiences of LGBTQI communities and how they are discriminated against in societies. Research on career transitioning has focused on how employees navigate their world of work, with fewer studies focusing on career transitioning with transgender employees in the workplace.Objectives: This article aims to provide a unique perspective by delving into the career transition journey of a young transgender male-to-female employee. By exploring her experiences in the workplace, I hope to shed light on the challenges and triumphs of her journey.Method: This article presents a qualitative, phenomenological case study exploring the lived experiences of Angel (pseudonym), a young transgender employee at an educational space, as she navigates gender identity and career transition crossroads. The study employed a face-to-face semi-structured interview as a data collection method.Results: This article shows how Angel struggled to find and become herself in the workplace while navigating her gender and career transition. It demonstrates her lived experiences, the multiple faces of gender and career transitioning, and her journey of being at the workplace.Conclusion: The findings reveal significant challenges faced by transgender employees, including discrimination, microaggressions, and systemic barriers. Training about transgender people and workplace inclusivity should be a strategic priority for organisations.Contribution: This case study contributes to our understanding of the complex intersections between gender transition and career development, highlighting unique challenges faced by transgender employees through discrimination, identity navigation, and systemic barriers. These insights can inform inclusive workplace policies and practices.
Musculoskeletal Manifestations of Dengue Fever
Authors: Kamath Vasantha , Avinash B. L. , Ganguly Shreyashi , Markanday Kushal
Published: November 2024

Introduction:

Dengue fever is a multisystem disease that can present with varying severity. With the increasing incidence of dengue-associated morbidity and mortality globally, atypical manifestations are now included in the case definition of severe dengue. Musculoskeletal involvement in dengue ranges from troubling myalgia to life-threatening rhabdomyolysis. However, it is often underreported and underdiagnosed due to a lack of awareness. Hence, this study was undertaken to evaluate dengue patients for specific musculoskeletal presentation.

Materials and Methods:

A prospective study was undertaken between September 2020 and August 2022, with 200 adult dengue patients presenting to the outpatient department or hospitalized in patient department (IPD) at a rural tertiary care hospital. They were assessed, the diagnosis was confirmed with serology, and they were subjected to thorough clinical examination and relevant laboratory studies as was necessary to establish musculoskeletal features of dengue.

Results:

Ninety-five percent of patients had myalgia, 13.5% of patients had myositis, and 14% of patients were found to have hypokalemia; however, only 2.5% of patients developed hypokalemic periodic paralysis. Seventy-three percent of cases reported arthralgia, while none of the cases reported arthritis or rhabdomyolysis.

Conclusion:

Musculoskeletal manifestations of dengue are common, although they are underreported in medical literature. However, many patients with dengue illness presenting with myalgia and progressing to myositis may not have been noticed in practice due to a lack of awareness. Hence, developing awareness and early recognition of this treatable manifestation of dengue become necessary.
Anti–melanogenic properties of FBCC–EP850 derived from Carex pumila Thunb
Authors: Kavinda Mirissa Hewage Dumindu , Park Jinkuk , Kim Nayeong , Choi Yung Hyun , Kim Gi-Young
Published: November 2024

Objective:

To elucidate the anti-melanogenic potential of Carex pumila Thunb. extract (FBCC-EP850).

Methods:

A collection of 180 plant extracts was tested for inhibition of mushroom tyrosinase activity using an in vitro assay. Among them, FBCC-EP850 exhibited the most promising inhibitory activity. Further analysis was conducted to investigate its mechanisms and therapeutic potential in reducing melanogenesis in B16F10 melanoma cells and zebrafish larvae.

Results:

FBCC-EP850 inhibited mushroom tyrosinase activity in a dose-dependent manner, with a half-maximal inhibitory concentration of 45.83 μg/mL. FBCC-EP850 at concentrations up to 50 pg/mL demonstrated minimal cytotoxicity against B16F10 melanoma cells and no adverse effects on zebrafish larvae. Treatment with 50 μg/mL of FBCC-EP850 significantly reduced α-melanocyte stimulating hormone-induced melanin production and suppressed cellular tyrosinase activity in B16F10 melanoma cells. Additionally, FBCC-EP850 at 25 and 50 μg/mL effectively diminished hyperpigmentation in α-melanocyte stimulating hormone-stimulated zebrafish larvae. Its anti-melanogenic action could be attributed to modulation of the cAMP-CREB-MITF signaling pathway.

Conclusions:

Carex pumila extract can inhibit melanogenesis by modulating the cAMP-CREB-MITF signaling pathway, which can be used as a promising candidate for treating hyperpigmentation disorders.
To Evaluate and Compare the Microleakage of Chitosan Nano Hydrogel-Incorporated MTA and Glass Ionomer Cements When used as a Retrograde Filling Material
Authors: Suryavanshi Vinaykumar G. , Tale Ravi K. , Kolvekar Vivekanand D. , Chordiya Rashmi , Amal P S , Abijeet B
Published: November 2024

ABSTRACT

Background:

An inadequate apical seal stands out as a primary cause of disappointment in surgical endodontic procedures. Therefore, the choice of root-end filling material should aim to prevent the leakage of potential contaminants into the periapical tissue.

Aim:

To evaluate and compare microleakage of chitosan nano hydrogel-incorporated mineral trioxide aggregate (MTA) and glass ionomer cement (GIC) when used as a retrograde filling material.

Materials and Methods:

Sixty single-rooted premolars were decoronated at cemento enamel junction (CEJ), and root canals were prepared and obturated, with the coronal part sealed with a composite. The dye absorption was measured by an automatic spectrophotometer.

Results:

The results showed that the MTA + chitosan group had less microleakage values compared to the MTA group but was not statistically significant and GIC + chitosan had less microleakage values compared to the GIC group and was statistically significant.

Conclusion:

Chitosan-incorporated MTA and chitosan-incorporated GIC can be considered as retrograde filling material; however, further in vitro and in vivo research and long-term clinical studies are required.
Uniqueness theorems for meromorphic inner functions and canonical systems
Authors: Hatinoğlu Burak
Published: November 2024

We consider uniqueness problems for meromorphic inner functions on the upper half-plane. In these problems, we consider spectral data depending partially or fully on the spectrum, derivative values at the spectrum, Clark measure, or the spectrum of the negative of a meromorphic inner function. Moreover, we consider applications of these uniqueness results to inverse spectral theory of canonical Hamiltonian systems and obtain generalizations of the Borg-Levinson two-spectra theorem for canonical Hamiltonian systems and unique determination of a Hamiltonian from its spectral measure under some conditions.
Atomic length on Weyl groups
Authors: Chapelier-Laget Nathan , Gerber Thomas
Published: November 2024

We define a new statistic on Weyl groups called the
atomic length
and investigate its combinatorial and representation-theoretic properties. In finite types, we show a number of properties of the atomic length which are reminiscent of the properties of the usual length. Moreover, we prove that, with the exception of rank two, this statistic describes an interval. In affine types, our results shed some light on classical enumeration problems, such as the celebrated Granville–Ono theorem on the existence of core partitions, by relating the atomic length to the theory of crystals.
Arbeitsgemeinschaft: Geometry and Representation Theory around the P=W Conjecture
Authors: Hausel Tamas , Maulik Davesh , Mellit Anton , Schiffmann Olivier , Shen Junliang
Published: November 2024

Given a smooth projective curve

C

, nonabelian Hodge theory gives a diffeomorphism between two different moduli spaces associated to

C

. The first is the moduli space of Higgs bundles on

C

of rank

n

, which is equipped with the structure of an algebraic completely integrable Hamiltonian system. The second is the character variety of representations of the fundamental group of

C

into

\mathrm{GL}(n)

. In 2012, de Cataldo, Hausel, and Migliorini [1] proposed the

P=W

conjecture which identifies the perverse filtration on the cohomology of the Higgs moduli space with the weight filtration on the cohomology of the character variety. Recently, in 2022, two independent proofs of the

P=W

Conjecture appeared, in work of Maulik &Shen [2] and Hausel, Mellit, Minets &Schiffmann [6]. The aim of the Arbeitsgemeinschaft was to understand the

P=W

Conjecture and these two recent proofs.
Mini-Workshop: Growth and Expansion in Groups
Authors: Bajpai Jitendra , Dona Daniele
Published: November 2024

The aim of the workshop was to give a panoramic view of the main lines of research on various aspects of growth and expansion in finite groups. The main topics included: diameter bounds for Cayley graphs of alternating and classical groups, with results for generating sets that can be arbitrary, random, or containing special elements; constructions of expander families of finite simple groups, with the use of property (T); and character bounds for finite simple groups, yielding applications to word map problems and random walks on Cayley graphs. A series of smaller topics explored connections and similarities to different problems in group theory.
Evaluation of Drought Tolerance Ability in Wheat Genotypes Through Comprehensive Stress Indices
Authors: Sedghiyeh Vahid , Shekari Fariborz , Abbasi Amin , Sabaghnia Naser , Roustaii Mozaffar
Published: November 2024

The objective was to assess a range of stress indices to discern wheat genotypes resilient to drought stress, so forty-nine genotypes underwent scrutiny in both drought stress in rainfed conditions and non-stress settings (with supplementary irrigation), employing a 7 × 7 lattice layout with two replicates across years 2019 and 2020. The evaluation incorporated twenty stress indices anchored in yield under water stress (YS) and potential (YP) circumstances. Primary analysis indicated that eight indices (RDI, YSI, YI, K2STI, MRP, REI, RR and SSPI) did not give any new information, so they were eliminated in further analysis. Genotypes G33 (4234 kg ha-1) and G9 (2227 kg ha-1) were the best genotypes based on YP in 2019 and 2020, respectively. A positive association was observed between ATI and YP and between YS with DI and K1STI in the year 2019, while in the second year, such positive associations were not seen. We found some wheat genotypes G6, G9, G10 and G11 demonstrated high performance in both potential and rainfed conditions across two years, showing yield higher than 1,800 and 2,700 kg ha-1 for YS and YP, respectively, across both years. These genotypes were detected as the most tolerant genotypes by mean-based indices (TOL, HM, GMP, and MP) as well as SSI and ATI indices, so it can be concluded that these indices are more useful than other indices for identifying the most tolerant as well as the high yielding genotypes.