bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A Study Based on the Interaction Between Music and Movie Used by Neo-Riemannian Transformation Theory: Focus on the James Newton Howard’s Film Scoring
Authors:   The Korean Society of Culture and Convergence, Oh Sangho , Han Kyunghoon
Published: October 2023

This study exhibits how to examine the harmony progressive characteristics used in James Newton Howard’s music. James represents interaction and understanding of his music theory in the films. The films that portrays the theoretical background of the Neo-Riemannian Transformation Theory. This transformation analyzed James Newton Howard’s music interaction between the music and films. As a result of the study, the chromatic progression which is the harmony that has a common tone, and the harmony which does not have a common tone of James’s composition technique were revealed. In addition, his technique draws the three results of interaction with film and music: the ‘remind effect’,‘concetration effect’, and ‘tension effect’. Through out this study, it was certified that certain harmony progression of music can be a obvious factor in enhancing interaction with movies, and it is hoped that the derived research results can be used as meaningful information for the development of the field of video music contents.
An Importance-Performance Analysis of University Freshmen’s Educational Services Needs
Authors:   The Korean Society of Culture and Convergence, Jeong Hwanhui
Published: October 2023

This study aims to prioritize educational services for university freshmen using ImportancePerformance Analysis (IPA). I assess how freshmen rate the importance and performance of various educational services factors. From a survey of 1,082 freshmen in a University in Chungbuk, 18 factors across four areas (academics, adaptation, campus activities, and job support) are derived. Results indicate that the importance of all factors exceeded their performance, with statistically significant differences observed. Major knowledge acquisition, job preparation, and practical skills enhancement are identified as critical areas for improvement. Conversely, areas like senior relationships, student activities, counseling support, and volunteering need policy reconsideration. The significance of this study is that it provides foundational data for university policy makers to plan, operate, and modify freshman support programs.
A Study on College Students’ Perspectives and Attitudes Toward the Use of ChatGPT in English Classes
Authors:   The Korean Society of Culture and Convergence, Im Heejoo
Published: October 2023

The purpose of this paper aims to examine students’ perceptions and attitude on chatGPT and provide some suggestions about them. To that end, an online survey was conducted on 134 college students enrolled in an university in Chungcheong-namdo and the collected data were analyzed using descriptive statistics. As a result of this study, students used chatGPT the most to check and modify English grammar. After that, it appeared in the order of natural context, information collection, sentence structure, words, ideas, and translation. Second, overall, students showed high satisfaction on the use of chatGPT. Using chatGPT has increased the students’ usefulness on English learning and confidence in writing English presentation script. Based on the results of this study, instructors should include activities through the use of chatGPT in the curriculum to enhance students' various language experiences and present guidelines to become self-directed learners who control and control their own learning.
Current Status and Tasks of Domestic Culture and Arts Information Portal
Authors:   The Korean Society of Culture and Convergence, Kim Hyeonyeong , Lee Hwansoo
Published: October 2023

The purpose of this paper is to propose an effective and appropriate organizational system and specific introduction plans for information portals based on the analysis of the current status of the organization and composition system of websites opened in existing cultural and arts administrative organizations and related facilities. First, the main core institutions related to cultural and artistic organizations and facilities were systematized and existing by various institutions by cultural and artistic organizations and facilities. Second, when the website components of each culture and arts organization and each facility are classified into specific areas, most of each organization applied the same website composition system with a standardized basic platform construction system applied. Third, the main core areas of culture and arts websites existed in similar types, and the data management and system systems of the current websites were all set similarly. Culture and arts websites should be systematically supplemented to activate them as useful information portal systems for everyone with a reasonable design that considers both the user-side effectiveness and institutional characterization.
The Effect of Local Problem Solving Service Learning Experience on Sustainable Development Awareness
Authors:   The Korean Society of Culture and Convergence, Park Sunyoung
Published: October 2023

The purpose of this study is to analyze how the experience of local problem-solving service learning, which was operated as part of education for sustainable development, affects university students' perception of sustainable development and to suggest an effective way of Education for Sustainable Development. In order to show changes in knowledge, attitude, and behavior about sustainable development the paired t-test was applied targeting 41 students. As a result, only the behavioral level showed a statistically significant difference, but knowledge, attitude, and behavioral levels all improved. In addition, the level of awareness on sustainable development was higher in the active type than in the proposal type. Also, it was found that interests and affection for the region, volition to solve the social problems, confidence for pro-social behavior were formed in the process of solving problems.
Aspects of Korean University Students’ Reading Strategies through Think-aloud Protocol: Focusing on Proficiency Levels and Item Types
Authors:   The Korean Society of Culture and Convergence, Ji Heejeong
Published: October 2023

The purpose of this study is to examine six Korean university students’ reading strategies by proficiency levels and item types. A think-aloud protocol, interviews, and observations were employed and all qualitative data were analyzed using NVivo 12. Fistly, it revealed that high proficieny groups preferred general strategies and meta cognitive strategeis, while intermediate/low proficiency groups preferred local strategies. Secondly, it indicated that it is effective to go back to the text and find the evidence in the text and make judgement based on their understanding of the text in both factual information items and inferencing items. In the case of insertion items, certain strategy use was observed, differing from other items. Also, it showed that there is a difference of all the strategies used in the study between high proficiency groups and other proficiency groups. Lastly, pedagogical implications and suggestions for future research are discussed.
Reality and Improvement of Korean Historical Culture Education for Korean Language Learners
Authors:   The Korean Society of Culture and Convergence, Song Sinae
Published: October 2023

The purpose of this paper is to present an educational plan to efficiently teach Korean history and culture to Korean learners in the field of Korean language education for foreigners. In this paper, we conceptualized history and culture, focusing on discussions on history and culture education at home and abroad. In addition, the categories of Korean history and culture were set and the main contents and characteristics of each category were investigated. As a result, it was confirmed that “history” or “historical culture” was included in the universal Korean curriculum and textbooks, and it was also included in the textbooks. However, in the current Korean language education, “historical culture” education has limitations in many ways, and as a way to improve it, cooperation with neighboring studies, development of curriculum based on demand surveys, and improvement of teachers' capabilities were suggested.
Aspects of Shame and Hatred in Kim Seung-ok’s Novels
Authors:   The Korean Society of Culture and Convergence, Ryu Donggyu
Published: October 2023

Kim Seung-ok's novel, published between 1963 and 1964, contains the young protagonist's experience of living in Seoul. Due to the modernization of the 1960s, Seoul and hometown became asymmetrical spaces, and as a result, the young protagonist who moved to Seoul suffered emotional difficulties. In “To understand my sister”, the young man disguises himself to cover up his shame. In “The Strong Man” and “Fifteen Stereotypes I Confirmed”, the main characters fall into 'mirror Play' and 'writing' to escape shame. ‘Mirror play’ and ‘writing’ can be evaluated as an attempt to escape from the eyes of others and gain freedom of self. On the other hand, in “The Strong Man”, the main character changes his shame toward himself into hatred toward others. “The Strong Man” explores the possibility of reversal between the self and the other by changing the direction of emotion, and this can be evaluated as an ethical practice that 'writing of shame' has reached.
A Study on the Aspect of Insertion in Classical Novels: Focused on
Authors:   The Korean Society of Culture and Convergence, Lee Younghwan
Published: October 2023

The purpose of this paper is to discuss the aspects of  included in Shin Gwanghan's Gijaegii. As a research method, in order to examine the aspects of poetry inserted in classical novels, the author was considered and the genre recognition was considered in the literary style at the time, and six works inserted in  were analyzed. The history of literature has developed from the lyrical genre to a major. Poetry inserted into classical novels shows the development of the narrative genre in an era where the lyric genre is active. Shin Gwang-han lived in the early Joseon Dynasty. At this time, it was an era centered on the lyric genre.  belongs to a love story with a biographical character. In the story of a man and a woman meeting each other and overcoming obstacles and achieving love, the psychological description of the characters is very important. In the early Joseon Dynasty, narrative techniques representing the psychology of characters did not develop, and the role was replaced by inserted poems. It contributed to the completeness of the narrative by revealing the psychology of the character by taking advantage of the characteristics of the poem revealing the emotion.
A Study on Yun Dong-ju's Poetry through Bibliographic Data Analysis 3
Authors:   The Korean Society of Culture and Convergence, Kim Hyung-tae
Published: October 2023

The purpose of this paper is to discuss the life and poetry of Yun Dong-ju, focusing on “Catholic Boys,” a bibliographic data related to Yun Dong-ju. “Catholic Boys”, first published in April 1936, contains eight children’s poems by Yun Dong-ju, as well as works by his friend Um Dal-ho and children’s literature writer Kang So-cheon. This paper summarizes the works of Eom Dal-ho in “Catholic Boys” and infers the time and place where Yun Dong-ju and Kang So-cheon met based on Kang So-cheon’s works in “Catholic Boys”. In addition, we analyzed the eight children's poems published by Yun Dong-ju in “Catholic Boys” and analyzed the way the works were included in Yun Dong-ju's study notes and magazine scraps and their evolution, the issue of confirming the certified copy of Yun Dong-ju's poetry was discussed by examining the aspects in which they were accepted in posthumous collections of poetry and the recently published complete works of Yun Dong-ju.
A Study of the Roman de Fauvel, a 14th Century French Manuscript: Focusing on the Satirical Technique of Images in Roman de Fauvel
Authors:   The Korean Society of Culture and Convergence, Park Joohyang
Published: October 2023

Roman de Fauvel conveys the turbulent politics of France during the reign of Philip IV (1268-1314) through poetry, music and painting. This thesis discusses how such political themes were expressed in paintings in Roman de Fauvel. Before discussing the paintings, a discussion of the two authors of Roman de Fauvel will examine the context in which they were created and their intentions. Because the manuscript was created from the perspective of Roman de Fauvel's alignment with political forces and criticism of his time. Based on this understanding, the painting techniques used in Roman de Fauvel to convey the intent of the work include the choice of colors according to the characters, Fauvel's imitation of the French royal family, and the use of anti-biographical techniques, which expose the fake as a clumsy imitation of the real thing. Through this study, we hope to get closer to the achievements of Roman de Fauvel, who achieved a complete fusion of literature, music, and painting.
The Effects of Education Using Modern Fusion Gugak on Cultural Understanding and Acquisition: Focusing on Pansori Education for Korean Language Learners
Authors:   The Korean Society of Culture and Convergence, Chun Youngsun , Lee Chankyu , Cui Yonglin
Published: October 2023

The purpose of this paper is to examine the effects of education using modern fusion Gugak on cultural understanding and acquisition in the traditional culture education for foreign learners of Korean. To this end, we reviewed the perspectives of cultural education that many scholars have considered, and focused on the type of cultural integration education called ‘cultural-centered language integration education’. We designed a lesson model that combines language activities of reading and speaking. Based on the results of a preliminary survey of 30 advanced foreign learners, a cultural class that combines modern Pansori and traditional Pansori using video media was organized. Then, we applied it to a real class and analyzed the learner satisfaction through a questionnaire.
Effects of Group Art Therapy on Psychological Well-Being of Career-Interrupted Women
Authors:   The Korean Society of Culture and Convergence, Eo Eun Kyung , Kim Younga
Published: October 2023

The purpose of this study is to investigate the effect of group art therapy on the psychological well-being of women who have had a career break. Group art therapy was conducted at the ○○ Center for a total of 10 sessions of 80 minutes once a week from July 9 to September 3, 2022, for 8 women who had a career break living in City B. In order to understand the effectiveness of group art therapy, psychological well-being tests were conducted before and after the program was implemented, and the results were analyzed. As a result of the group art therapy program, there was a significant effect on the pre- and post-examinations. Therefore, through this study, it is discussed that women who have a career break have a sense of psychological well-being as stay-at-home mothers, which leads to positive communication with the people around them and an attitude to actively cope with and overcome the current situation.
Analysis of Needs for Early Childhood Teachers to Improve Play Support: Using Borich Need Assessment and The Locus for Focus Model
Authors:   The Korean Society of Culture and Convergence, Ha Yeonsoo
Published: October 2023

The purpose of this study was to analyze the priorities of early childhood teachers' demands for improvement in play support, identify factors that should be prioritized to improve early childhood teachers' play support, and provide basic data for related program development and educational materials. For this purpose, a survey was conducted on 234 kindergarten teachers. To analyze needs priorities, t-test, Borich needs analysis, and The locus for focus model type analysis were used. As a result of the study, the factors that should be considered as top priorities for improving play support for early childhood teachers were analyzed as 3 factors of play observation and understanding, 1 factor of play environment support, and 1 factor of play support reflection. Play interaction factors were not included in the needs or priorities. As a result of analyzing the priorities for improvement in each field of early childhood teacher play support, it was found that early childhood teacher play support requires efforts to improve circular practice of supporting, interacting with and reflecting on the play environment based on play observation. Based on these research results, implications for improving play support for early childhood teachers were presented.
A Study on Korean Content Supply of Global OTT Services in US
Authors:   The Korean Society of Culture and Convergence, Shin Soyoun
Published: October 2023

This study sought to confirm the supply and status of Korean content by examining the supply by country of all content supplied by the top four OTTs in the U.S. market. Through the processing and analysis of data collected in March 2023 via 'Just Watch’, it was revealed that there are differences between broadcast channel-owned OTT platforms with a substantial library of existing popular content and broadcast channel-independent OTT platforms that were proactive in original content production and overseas content acquisition. These differences were observed in terms of the total number of content titles and the distribution of content by country or region. The supply of Korean content also varied significantly among different OTT platforms, Netflix was standing out as a significant provider of the latest Korean content. This study confirmed the reality of Korean content that is inevitably dependent on the operational strategies of global OTTs, and suggested that in order for Korean content to truly secure global competitiveness, it is necessary to diversify overseas distribution centered on domestic platforms and foster a sustainable creative ecosystem.
A Study on the K-POP Educational Curriculum Status in Specialized Universities
Authors:   The Korean Society of Culture and Convergence, Chae Seungkyun
Published: October 2023

This study aims to examine the current status of K-POP programs offered by specialized universities in South Korea and analyze their educational curricula, in order to reflect on the reality of K-POP as a higher education subject and propose directions for its development. To achieve this, the study analyzed the status, curriculum structure, and course offerings of K-POP programs in seven specialized universities. The results revealed both commonalities and implications, indicating a lack of consistency between the current situation and the educational curriculum, particularly concerning employment and career paths. Given the coexistence of K-POP with existing programs in practical music and practical dance, the key lies in maximizing its distinctiveness and originality. Furthermore, there is a need for ongoing revisions in the curriculum to ensure practicality and coherence with career opportunities and entrepreneurship.
A Study on Korean Teacher’s Collective Teacher Efficacy and Job Challenge
Authors:   The Korean Society of Culture and Convergence, Jang Eunmi
Published: October 2023

This study aims to examine the relationship between collective teacher efficacy and job challenge of Korean language teachers. Study participants were instructors teaching Korean language at university-affiliated institutions in Korea. To measure the collective teacher efficacy that Korean language teachers can experience in educational institutions, the collective teacher efficacy and job challenge scales created in previous studies were modified and applied to Korean language education. The results showed that enhancing collective teacher efficacy can influence the development of individual teacher competence.
A Study on the Shape of Nationalism as a Korean Blockbuster Movie in the 2010s
Authors:   The Korean Society of Culture and Convergence, Jeon Jieun
Published: October 2023

This study analyzes the narrative characteristics of 'Korean blockbuster' movies made after the 2010s. Through the process, the “national identity” and “community sense” of the modern Korean public will be diagnosed. And it aims to understand the specificity of Korean movies. Popular films literally aim to represent the consciousness, desires, and values of the 'public'. At that time, recent films that have been highly talked about and commercially successful serve as the “representation of the nation” of the Korean public these days. Among them, this study targets to analyze “spy movies” that have recently increased in quantity and have narrative genealogies. The keywords of Korea's special situation of “division”, “capital”, which is most important than anything else in the movie, and “hero”, which is made of masculine solidarity and fantasy, are repeated. These Korean spy films will tell you what the public is aiming for and wanting, and what objects are angry and cynical.
A Study on Measures to Activate Classic Music Using Augmented Reality
Authors:   The Korean Society of Culture and Convergence, Piao shuyan
Published: October 2023

The purpose of this study is to suggest measures for activating classic music by using augmented reality, among other metaverse technologies. For the purpose of the study, this study used relevant preceding studies and relevant data.
Advanced scientific technologies have been utilized in various fields since 2010. Especially, a new technology called metaverse is applied to various areas, along with distribution of smartphones and tablet computers. As classic music is gradually losing popularity, this study suggests measures to activate the classic music by utilizing augmented reality as the new utilization technique for boosting the classic music.
This study suggested providing information about the classic music before the concert by using augmented reality and using augmented reality program to recreate the classic music. To revitalize the classic music market, this study also suggested on application of augmented reality to all classic music fields, like fashion industry and education industry.
Robert Balfour and William Chalmers on the Essence, Existence and Aptness of Accidents
Authors: Broadie Alexander
Published: October 2023

Two seventeeth-century Scottish Catholic philosophers, Robert Balfour and William Chalmers, are introduced and their accounts of the metaphysics of the Eucharist are discussed. Their ideas are largely in terms of the Aristotelian concepts of substance, accident and inherence, with special attention paid to the idea that the essence of an accident is not its actual inherence (that is, its act of inhering) in a substance but its aptness for inherence in a substance. Balfour appears to accept this (Thomist) doctrine. But Chalmers has a different story to tell. He holds that the essence of an accident is not its actual inherence or its power to inhere (which includes its aptness for inherence), but instead belongs to what he terms the ‘root and basis’ of that power. I speculate briefly about a possible Scotistic interpretation of his words.
ANALYSIS OF THE ALGORITHMS OF THE CONSTITUENT PARTS OF THE COMPILER AND ITS OPTIMIZATION
Authors:   National Research University “MEI”, Moscow, Russian Federation, KHARIN I.A. , RASKATOVA M.V.
Published: October 2023

Program optimization arose as a response to the emergence of high-level programming languages, and includes special techniques and methods used in building compilers to produce sufficiently efficient object code. A combination of these techniques constituted in the past and are now an integral part of so-called optimizing compilers, the purpose of which is to create object code, saving computer resources such as processor time and memory. For modern supercomputers, the requirement to make proper use of hardware features is also added. In this context, issues related to compiler optimization deserve special attention, which may involve adapting the compiler to reduce runtime or object size, or both. In view of the above, the aim of the paper is to analyze the algorithms of the compiler constituents and outline ways to optimize it. The general technology of the compiler is briefly characterized. Particular attention is paid to the main functions of the algorithms, which are implemented at different stages of the compiler’s work. The possibilities of using machine learning to optimize compilers are also considered.
CONSTRUCTION OF A REVERSIBLE FULL-CYCLE TRANSFORMATION IN A THRESHOLD BASIS
Authors:   Russian Academy of Natural Sciences, Moscow, Russian Federation, NIKONOV V.G. , ZOBOV A.I. ,   Foundation for the Promotion of Secure Information Technologies, Moscow, Russian Federation
Published: October 2023

The article describes a class of full-cycle transformations in the threshold basis, defined by matrices of coefficients of linear forms, and proves that the definition of the inverse transformation is carried out using a system of threshold functions, the coefficients of which form the transposed matrix with respect to the original one.
IT TECHNOLOGIES IN HEALTH CARE INSTITUTIONS IN RUSSIA: APPLICATION WITH A DIGITAL INTERACTIVE MAP
Authors:   School of Computer and Artificial intelligence at Changzhou University, Changzhou, China, BANDYLO V.V. , LINHONG D. ,   Institute of Biomedical Engineering and Health Sciencesof at Changzhou University, Changzhou, China
Published: October 2023

IT technologies are currently one of the priority areas for the development of the healthcare sector. In the context of global information and development of the digital economy, digitalization is able to ensure the availability and decent quality of services provided without increasing the cost. The purpose of this study is to study the processes of informatization affecting medical companies and determine the role of information technologies on the base of the applications in health care institutions in Russia. The object of the study is the medical institutions of the healthcare sector, and the subject of study is the information and digital technologies used in the practice of companies. The role of information technologies in the activities of a medical institution is determined on the example of application for distribution of ambulances from a distribution center (DC). Key elements of the digital transformation of healthcare institutions (development of the author of the study) are advised in the article. The use of digital technologies in the practice of managing a medical institution is not an end in itself. The analysis made it possible to make sure that the most important tool for improving the efficiency of management, the implementation of goals and purposes, a means of adaptation in the activities of medical institutions in the context of global informatization and digitalization of the economy is the active use of information and digital technologies.
SYSTEMATIZATION OF APPROACHES TO THE DEVELOPMENT AND REGULATION OF FINANCIAL TECHNOLOGIES
Authors:   Moscow State Institute of International Relations (University) Russian Foreign Ministry, Moscow, Russian Federation, RAZLETOVSKAIA V.V.
Published: October 2023

The relevance of the study is due to the search for priorities for the development of financial technologies and clarification of the main directions of their regulatory regulation. The article discusses approaches to regulating the development of financial technologies as a financial service, using innovations, as financial innovation and engineering, or as a convergent management category, and the corresponding range of priority areas of development regulation. Based on the evolutionary approach, it is proved that, depending on the influence of scientific and technological progress and local civilizational factors, these approaches have been used and are being used at the same time, unevenly and inconsistently by different countries. According to the author, taking into account the evolutionary genetic characteristics of fintech, considering its essence from the point of view of managerial content, as a way and technology of organizing relations for the redistribution of resources by innovative methods and technologies will theoretically make sense of the processes of their development as a consistent and orderly development of events. This will create the basis for the methodology of state regulation of the processes of their development, the development of recommendations for the state approach to assessing the situation to justify adequate regulatory measures, including regulatory. Regulatory regulation of not only services with innovative tools, but above all convergent technology-management content, will require clarification of the participants in the relationship, coordination processes, development directions, relevant development coordination structures. Recommendations for the development of the Russian fintech segment are presented.
PROBLEMS OF ENSURING THE PROTECTION OF THE RIGHTS OF SPOUSES IN BANKRUPTCY CASES: TRENDS AND PROSPECTS
Authors:   Institute of State and Law of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, Russian Federation, LETOVA N.V.
Published: October 2023

Purpose of the study. In this article, the author considers the problems of theory and practice that arise due to the lack of precise criteria in the bankruptcy rules that allow differentiating the bankruptcy procedure depending on the legal status of a person (the status of a spouse or ex-spouse). The article outlines the problems associated with determining the jurisdiction of such cases, the distribution of debts between spouses, the legal fate of their common joint and personal property in cases of formation of a bankruptcy estate in bankruptcy cases of one of the spouses, systematizes the regulatory conditions that make it possible to distinguish between general and personal obligations of spouses, in a state of bankruptcy. The author formulated general trends in the development of bankruptcy legislation, identified the prospects for its development, proposed ways to improve the bankruptcy procedure for one or both spouses (former spouses), formulated proposals for improving the bankruptcy rules, taking into account the established judicial practice in such cases.
Solar System Wave Packet
Authors: Soltani Abolfazl
Published: October 2023

The emptiness of the interplanetary space in the solar system from large objects is very thought-provoking. For example, Consider the distance between Earth and Venus. This distance is about 25 thousand times the total diameter of Earth and Venus. It's like placing two small gravels on either side of a football pitch. Now, it would be self-deception to imagine that the protoplanetary disk didn't have enough material to form dozens of other planets in the wide space between Earth and Venus, and only these two tiny gravels formed in this huge pitch. An event must have cleaned the objects between Earth and Venus from the protoplanetary disk. Here we show that this event is the oscillation of a huge standing wave packet, with the wavelength λ = 0.6 AU, in the newborn protoplanetary disk of solar system.
STEM education in the Global North and Global South: competition, conformity, and convenient collaborations
Authors: Mudaly Ronicka , Chirikure Tamirirofa
Published: October 2023

Science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) education is increasingly viewed as a vehicle for global dominance and a panacea to economic downturns, environmental challenges, and food security. However, divergences in STEM education agendas at regional and national levels imply disparities in policy formulation and implementation in the Global North and Global South. This study sought to explore what informs the drivers of STEM education in the two geo-economic blocks with a view to understanding contextual factors that inform practice. A focus on STEM education in the Global North and Global South becomes necessary, given the widespread calls for collaborative work, for example, shared interests in addressing sustainable development goals, and research on the COVID-19 pandemic. A theoretical approach, based on a review of relevant literature, was adopted. Ideology critique informed the analysis and was used to make sense of the salient themes. In the Global North, STEM education is historically driven by ambitions of political dominance, the need to curb economic slumps and address critical skills shortages, and growing desire for extra-terrestrial colonization. Within this context we argue that a neoliberal agenda drives the STEM education enterprise. In the Global South, massification with equity dominates policy formulation and implementation as countries battle to redress past colonial imbalances. The Global South countries generally sign up to regional and global STEM education agendas but financial constraints compounded by an unabated brain drain result in stagnation at policy adoption at vocational level. Convenient partnerships are increasingly fashionable as countries in the Global North seek to exploit the geographical advantage of those in the Global South in order to fully utilise the extra-terrestrial space, resources for biomedical science and indigenous natural resources, among others. Collaboration endeavors between the Global North and Global South need to be mutually beneficial. The Global North needs to redistribute the aspects of power it holds in relation to STEM to move towards more equitable policies and practices across these geopolitical realms. We recommend greater vocationalisation of STEM education hinged on STEM integration with the humanities in the Global South and balanced, mutually beneficial STEM collaboration endeavors with the Global North countries.
Thyroid hormone sensitivity and diabetes onset: a longitudinal cross-lagged cohort
Authors: Cui Cancan , Sui He , Wang Zhijia , Zhang Te , Zheng Jia , Yan Han , Li Qianyu , Mo Zhanhao , Liu Lin
Published: October 2023

Purpose

Thyroid hormones sensitivity is a newly proposed clinical entity closely related with metabolic health. Prior studies have reported the cross-sectional relationship between thyroid hormones sensitivity and diabetes; however, the longitudinal association is unclear to date. We aimed to explore the relationship between impaired thyroid hormone sensitivity at baseline and diabetes onset using a cohort design.

Methods

This study enrolled 7283 euthyroid participants at the first visit between 2008 and 2009, and then annually followed until diabetes onset or 2019. Thyrotropin (TSH), free triiodothyronine (FT3) and free thyroxine (FT4) were measured to calculate thyroid hormone sensitivity by thyroid feedback quantile-based index (TFQI), Chinese-referenced parametric thyroid feedback quantile-based index (PTFQI), thyrotropin index (TSHI), thyrotroph thyroxine resistance index (TT4RI) and FT3/FT4 ratio. Cox proportional hazard model and cross-lagged panel analysis were used.

Results

The mean baseline age was 44.2 ± 11.9 years, including 4170 (57.3%) male. During a median follow-up of 5.2 years, 359 cases developed diabetes. There was no significant association between thyroid hormones sensitivity indices and diabetes onset, and adjusted hazard ratios per unit (95% CIs) were 0.89 (0.65-1.23) for TFQI, 0.91 (0.57-1.45) for PTFQI, 0.95 (0.70-1.29) for TSHI, 0.98 (0.70-1.01) for TT4RI and 2.12 (0.17-5.78) for FT3/FT4 ratio. Cross-lagged analysis supported the temporal association from fasting glucose to impaired thyroid hormones sensitivity indices.

Conclusions

Our findings could not demonstrate that thyroid hormones sensitivity status is a predictor of diabetes onset in the euthyroid population. Elevated fasting glucose (above 7.0 mmol/L) appeared to precede impaired sensitivity indices of thyroid hormones.
Hydropower unit health assessment based on a combination weighting and improved fuzzy comprehensive evaluation method
Authors: Ke Yangyang , Wang Qingshu , Xiao Huaizhi , Luo Zhangping , Li Jueqing
Published: October 2023

The health state of hydroelectric power generation units is of great significance to ensure the stability and economy of safe operation of the power grid. In order to address the challenges in existing assessment methods of the insufficient reliability of the evaluation of multi-complex systems and the inability to reflect anomalies of a single index. A state evaluation model based on combination weighting and improved fuzzy comprehensive evaluation method is accordingly proposed. First, a hierarchical analysis system is constructed based on actual monitoring indicator data from the hydropower unit. Optimal comprehensive and indicator weights are subsequently obtained for each indicator level using a combination of the improved hierarchical analysis and CRICIT method through game theory. Next, the industry guidelines and regulations are difficult to effectively determine the limit values of each index of the unit, and they do not fully take into account the actual situation of the unit itself and the huge amount of accumulated historical health data. To address this issue. The Gaussian threshold method was proposed to determine the limit values of the monitoring data for each indicator, which more accurately determines the indicator thresholds as well as their standard values. The degradation degree of the hydroelectric unit can be calculated by comparing the real-time monitoring data with these limits. Finally, the combined weights of dynamic change and the fuzzy evaluation matrix are used to obtain the state evaluation matrix reflecting the condition of the turbine. The proposed approach is validated using the actual monitoring data and operating conditions for case study hydroelectric station, The results show that the improved evaluation method has an optimal evaluation effect.
A framework for making citizen science inclusive with storytelling methods
Authors: Veeckman C. , Claes S. , Van Audenhove L. , van der Graaf S.
Published: October 2023

Citizen science is challenged by a participation inequality that is not compatible with a democratic approach to science. To include the voices of underrepresented groups, this article presents “STORCIT”, a framework for making citizen science inclusive with storytelling methods. This framework was trialed in the project “Climate Stories” with two small-scale pilot studies in Hasselt and Brussels (Belgium). This project involved around 50 young people with a diverse background, since they are often overlooked as agents of change in the climate debate. During the project, they recorded their experiences related to the changing climate through citizen science and storytelling methods. The STORCIT-framework was designed through five consecutive phases: i) setting the scene, ii) generating knowledge and learning, iii) sharing personal narratives iv) developing stories, and v) exhibiting to the public. The results reflect on the implementation of this approach, together with the experienced challenges, limitations, and gains. Overall, the approach is highly participatory, multi-faceted and supports the democratization of knowledge generation. The gathered knowledge helps participants to reflect on their story, raise their voice and catalyze actions for social change. In the context of citizen science research, practitioners are encouraged to explore and further adapt this framework to other (justice) domains and involve other vulnerable target groups. In particular, it can be deployed by those who aim to include diverse audiences and stimulate inclusive dialogue between science, society and policy with actions for social change.
Application of gradient boosting model to forecast corporate green innovation performance
Authors: Zhang Jingyi , Yin Kedong
Published: October 2023

Corporate green innovation performance can serve as a critical tool for policymakers to identify the best practice and provide support to micro-entities in need. Accurate forecasting of corporate green innovation performance plays a vital role in innovation incentives by simulating the effects of regulations and strategies. Based on the data of China’s A-share listed companies during 2010–2020, this paper elaborates the gradient boosting algorithm to predict the corporate green innovation performance and compares the prediction results of the gradient boosting model with the linear model, the decision tree model, and the random forest model. Subsequently, it examines the effectiveness of the influencing factors related to the enterprise’s internal driving mechanism and external policy pressure in promoting corporate green innovation performance. It finds that: 1) The gradient boosting model outperforms other methods in its predictive effect. 2) An enterprise’s resource base is a critical factor influencing its green innovation activities, and in particular, the influence of financial indicators on corporate green innovation performance has a significant incentive effect, indicating that the impetus from enterprises’ internal driving mechanism is crucial for enterprises’ green transformation. 3) The effect of secondary indicators is heterogeneous. In the command-based environmental regulation tools, the administrative penalties can activate enterprises’ green innovation better than the approvals of Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) documents for construction projects do; as for the incentive-based environmental regulation, investment in pollution control projects has an apparent inducing effect on the corporate green innovation performance, while the environmental tax presents an inverted U-shape, implying that overly stringent taxation crowds out the corporate green innovation performance. 4) Similarly, in the operating capacity indicators, the increasing operating income growth rate can trigger the improvement of green innovation performance; nevertheless, the total asset turnover ratio shows a suppressing effect. The key to promoting corporate green innovation performance lies in effectively regulating the enterprises’ internal driving mechanism and the rational choice of external policy tools. This study helps to prospectively identify how corporate green innovation performance changes and provides theoretical guidance and micro evidence for the policymakers on choosing environmental regulation tools and for enterprises on adjusting the resource bases.
CRISPR/Cas9 mutagenesis of the Arabidopsis GROWTH-REGULATING FACTOR (GRF) gene family
Authors: Angulo Juan , Astin Christopher P. , Bauer Olivia , Blash Kelan J. , Bowen Natalee M. , Chukwudinma Nneoma J. , DiNofrio Austin S. , Faletti Donald O. , Ghulam Alexa M. , Gusinde-Duffy Chloe M. , Horace Kamaria J. , Ingram Andrew M. , Isaack Kylie E. , Jeong Geon , Kiser Randolph J. , Kobylanski Jason S. , Long Madeline R. , Manning Grace A. , Morales Julie M. , Nguyen Kevin H. , Pham Robin T. , Phillips Monthip H. , Reel Tanner W. , Seo Jenny E. , Vo Hiep D. , Wukoson Alexander M. , Yeary Kathryn A. , Zheng Grace Y. , Lukowitz Wolfgang
Published: October 2023

Genome editing in plants typically relies on T-DNA plasmids that are mobilized by Agrobacterium-mediated transformation to deliver the CRISPR/Cas machinery. Here, we introduce a series of CRISPR/Cas9 T-DNA vectors for minimal settings, such as teaching labs. Gene-specific targeting sequences can be inserted as annealed short oligonucleotides in a single straightforward cloning step. Fluorescent markers expressed in mature seeds enable reliable selection of transgenic or transgene-free individuals using a combination of inexpensive LED lamps and colored-glass alternative filters. Testing these tools on the Arabidopsis GROWTH-REGULATING FACTOR (GRF) genes, we were able to create a collection of predicted null mutations in all nine family members with little effort. We then explored the effects of simultaneously targeting two, four and eight GRF genes on the rate of induced mutations at each target locus. In our hands, multiplexing was associated with pronounced disparities: while mutation rates at some loci remained consistently high, mutation rates at other loci dropped dramatically with increasing number of single guide RNA species, thereby preventing a systematic mutagenesis of the family.
Repurposing HLA genotype data of renal transplant patients to prevent severe drug hypersensitivity reactions
Authors: Manson Lisanne E. N. , Delwig Sander J. , Drabbels Jos J. M. , Touw Daan J. , De Vries Aiko P. J. , Roelen Dave L. , Guchelaar Henk-Jan
Published: October 2023

Introduction: Specific alleles in human leukocyte antigens (HLAs) are associated with an increased risk of developing drug hypersensitivity reactions induced by abacavir, allopurinol, carbamazepine, oxcarbazepine, phenytoin, lamotrigine, or flucloxacillin. Transplant patients are genotyped for HLA as a routine practice to match a potential donor to a recipient. This study aims to investigate the feasibility and potential impact of repurposing these HLA genotype data from kidney transplant patients to prevent drug hypersensitivity reactions.

Methods: A cohort of 1347 kidney transplant recipients has been genotyped in the Leiden University Medical Center (LUMC) using next-generation sequencing (NGS). The risk alleles HLA-A*31:01, HLA-B*15:02, HLA-B*15:11, HLA-B*57:01, and HLA-B*58:01 were retrieved from the NGS data. Medical history, medication use, and allergic reactions were obtained from the patient’s medical records. Carrier frequencies found were compared to a LUMC blood donor population.

Results: A total of 13.1% of transplant cohort patients carried at least one of the five HLA risk alleles and therefore had an increased risk of drug-induced hypersensitivity for specific drugs. HLA-A*31:01, HLA-B*15:02, HLA-B*57:01, and HLA-B*58:01 were found in carrier frequencies of 4.61%, 1.19%, 4.46%, and 3.35% respectively. No HLA-B*15:11 carrier was found. In total nine HLA-B*57:01 carriers received flucloxacillin and seven HLA-B*58:01 carriers within our cohort received allopurinol.

Discussion: Our study shows that repurposing HLA genotype data from transplantation patients for the assignment of HLA risk alleles associated with drug hypersensitivity is feasible. The use of these data by physicians while prescribing drugs or by the pharmacist when dispensing drugs holds the potential to prevent drug hypersensitivity reactions. The utility of this method was highlighted by 13.1% of the transplant cohort patients carrying an actionable HLA allele.
The potential links between human gut microbiota and cardiovascular health and disease - is there a gut-cardiovascular axis?
Authors: Almeida Cátia , Gonçalves-Nobre J. Guilherme , Alpuim Costa Diogo , Barata Pedro
Published: October 2023

The gut-heart axis is an emerging concept highlighting the crucial link between gut microbiota and cardiovascular diseases (CVDs). Recent studies have demonstrated that gut microbiota is pivotal in regulating host metabolism, inflammation, and immune function, critical drivers of CVD pathophysiology. Despite a strong link between gut microbiota and CVDs, this ecosystem’s complexity still needs to be fully understood. The short-chain fatty acids, trimethylamine N-oxide, bile acids, and polyamines are directly or indirectly involved in the development and prognosis of CVDs. This review explores the relationship between gut microbiota metabolites and CVDs, focusing on atherosclerosis and hypertension, and analyzes personalized microbiota-based modulation interventions, such as physical activity, diet, probiotics, prebiotics, and fecal microbiota transplantation, as a promising strategy for CVD prevention and treatment.