bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Balancing quality and well-being: a study on the impact of quality assurance measures on burnout among EFL teachers in Vietnam
Authors: Tran Thi Thuy , Pham Trut Thuy , Le Thanh Thao
Published: December 2024

Introduction

This qualitative study investigates the impact of quality assurance (QA) measures on the well-being and professional satisfaction of English as a Foreign Language (EFL) teachers in Vietnam, focusing on the manifestations of burnout as a direct consequence of these pressures.

Methods

Employing a phenomenological approach, semi- structured interviews were conducted with 10 Vietnamese EFL teachers from two educational institutions, exploring their experiences with QA initiatives. Thematic analysis revealed a dual burden: the intensified administrative responsibilities and heightened student expectations associated with QA processes contribute significantly to stress and burnout among teachers.

Results/Findings

Key findings include the emotional exhaustion, depersonalization, and reduced personal accomplishment experienced by participants, alongside physical symptoms and mental health challenges. Teachers reported employing various coping strategies to navigate the pressures of their professional environment, highlighting their quest for professional fulfillment amidst these challenges.

Discussion

The study underscores the need for a balanced approach to QA that considers teacher well-being, advocating for policies that alleviate administrative burdens, promote work-life balance, and support professional development. Additionally, it calls for institutional prioritization of mental health resources and collaborative environments to mitigate the adverse effects of QA on teachers. The findings contribute to the discourse on QA in higher education, emphasizing the importance of supporting EFL teachers’ well-being for sustainable educational excellence.
“It’s been like a spiritual awakening for me”: the impacts of traumatic brain injury education with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women in the Australian correctional system
Authors: Fitts Michelle S. , Cullen Jennifer , Montgomery Rachel , Duffy Aunty Glenda
Published: December 2024

Introduction

A majority of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women in correctional centers report prior experience of traumatic brain injury (TBI) from assault. TBI education in settings outside correctional centers, such as health settings, is shown to help people living with TBI implement strategies for symptom management. The aim of this study was to understand and identify what impacts TBI education would have for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women in correctional centers in Australia.

Methods

In August 2023, two Aboriginal facilitators from a national brain injury organization delivered workshops on brain injury, with a primary focus on TBI, to 15 women involved in a peer-mentor support group (Sisters for Change) at one regional correctional center in Queensland (Australia). TBI resource packages were also shared with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women at the correctional center with lived experience of TBI from family violence. Nine semi-structured interviews were conducted with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women who attended the workshops and/or received the TBI information resource packages. Thematic analysis was conducted on interview transcripts as well as the written notes recorded from the workshops.

Results

The workshops supported women to develop a deeper understanding of brain anatomy, impacts of physical violence on brain function and how TBI appears in everyday life, both inside a correctional center and in the community. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women reported gaining deeper insight into, and greater compassion for, themselves and other women at the correctional center who have histories of family violence.

Conclusion

The findings underscore the need for greater consideration of how TBI education and screening pathways can contribute to the provision of appropriate and responsive supports for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women in correctional centers and subsequent to their release from the correctional center.
Novel insights into the role of metabolic disorder in osteoarthritis
Authors: Yu Congcong , Zhao Siyu , Yue Songkai , Chen Xiaoyang , Dong Yonghui
Published: December 2024

Osteoarthritis (OA) is a prevalent condition that affects individuals worldwide and is one of the leading causes of disability. Nevertheless, the underlying pathological mechanisms of OA remain inadequately understood. Current treatments for OA include non-drug therapies, pharmacological interventions, and surgical procedures. These treatments are mainly focused on alleviating clinical manifestations and improving patients’ quality of life, but are not effective in limiting the progression of OA. The detailed understanding of the pathogenesis of OA is extremely significant for the development of OA treatment. Metabolic syndrome has become a great challenge for medicine and public health, In recent years, several studies have demonstrated that the metabolic syndrome and its individual components play a crucial role in OA. Consequently, this review summarizes the mechanisms and research progress on how metabolic syndrome and its components affect OA. The aim is to gain a deeper understanding of the pathogenesis of OA and explore effective treatment strategies.
Thermodynamic integration in combined fuel and power plants producing low carbon hydrogen and power with CCUS
Authors: Mullen Daniel , Lucquiaud Mathieu
Published: December 2024

Demand for low-carbon sources of hydrogen and power is expected to rise dramatically in the coming years. Individually, steam methane reformers (SMRs) and combined cycle gas power plants (CCGTs), when combined with carbon capture utilisation and storage (CCUS), can produce large quantities of on-demand decarbonised hydrogen and power respectively. The ongoing trend towards the development of CCUS clusters means that both processes may operate in close proximity, taking advantage of a common infrastructure for natural gas supply, electricity grid connection and the CO2 transport and storage network. This work improves on a previously described novel integration process, which utilizes flue gas sequential combustion to incorporate the SMR process into the CCGT cycle in a single “combined fuel and power” (CFP) plant, by increasing the level of thermodynamic integration through the merger of the steam cycles and a redesign of the heat recovery system. This increases the 2nd law thermal efficiency by 2.6% points over un-integrated processes and 1.9% points the previous integration design. Using a conventional 35% wt. monoethanolamine (MEA) CO2 capture process designed to achieve two distinct and previously unexplored CO2 capture fractions; 95% gross and, 100% fossil (CO2 generated is equal to the quantity of CO2 captured). The CFP configuration reduces the overall quantity of flue gas to be processed by 36%–37% and increases the average CO2 concentration of the flue gas to be treated from 9.9% to 14.4% (wet). This decreases the absorber packing volume requirements by 41%–56% and decreases the specific reboiler duty by 5.5% from 3.46–3.67 GJ/tCO2 to 3.27–3.46 GJ/tCO2, further increasing the 2nd law thermal efficiency gains to 3.8%–4.4% points over the un-integrated case. A first of a kind techno economic analysis concludes that the improvements present in a CO2 abated CFP plant results in a 15.1%–17.3% and 7.6%–8.0% decrease in capital and operational expenditure respectively for the CO2 capture cases. This translates to an increase in the internal rate of return over the base hurdle rate of 7.5%–7.8%, highlighting the potential for substantial cost reductions presented by the CFP configuration.
Vapor pressure deficit and temperature variability drive future changes to carbon sink stability in China’s terrestrial ecosystems
Authors: Zhou Ziyan , Ren Xiaoli , Shi Liang , He Honglin , Zhang Li , Wang Xiaoqin , Zhang Mengyu , Zhang Yonghong , Fan Yuchuan
Published: December 2024

The stability of future carbon sinks is crucial for accurately predicting the global carbon cycle. However, the future dynamics and stability of carbon sinks remain largely unknown, especially in China, a significant global carbon sink region. Here, we examined the dynamics and stability of carbon sinks in China’s terrestrial ecosystems from 2015 to 2,100 under two CMIP6 scenarios (SSP245 and SSP585), using XGBoost and SHAP models to quantify the impact of climatic drivers on carbon sink stability. China’s future terrestrial ecosystems will act as a “carbon sink” (0.27–0.33 PgC/yr), with an initial increase that levels off over time. Although the carbon sink capacity increases, its stability does not consistently improve. Specifically, the stability of carbon sinks in future China’s terrestrial ecosystems transitions from strengthening to weakening, primarily occurring in areas with higher carbon sink capacity. Further analysis revealed that atmospheric vapor pressure deficit (VPD) and temperature (Tas) are the two primary factors influencing carbon sink stability, with significant differences in their impacts across different scenarios. Under the SSP245 scenario, variations in VPD (VPD.CV) regulate water availability through stomatal conductance, making it the key driver of changes in carbon sink stability. In contrast, under the SSP585 scenario, although VPD.CV still plays an important role, temperature variability (Tas.CV) becomes the dominant factor, with more frequent extreme climate events exacerbating carbon cycle instability. The study highlights the differences in driving factors of carbon sink stability under different scenarios and stresses the importance of considering these differences, along with the scale and stability of carbon sinks, when developing long-term carbon management policies to effectively support carbon neutrality goals.
The landscape of chemokine and cytokine is associated with the distinct clinical status of leprosy patients and their respective household contacts
Authors: Pereira de Oliveira Lorena Bruna , Marçal Pedro Henrique Ferreira , Campos Karolina Dias , dos Santos Daisy Cristina Monteiro , Lima Marlucy Rodrigues , Martins-Filho Olindo Assis , Brito-de-Sousa Joaquim Pedro , Abdala-Torres Thais , Pinheiro Roberta Olmo , Sarno Euzenir Nunes , Fairley Jessica K. , Fraga Lucia Alves de Oliveira
Published: December 2024

Introduction

Leprosy, a chronic infectious disease, is closely linked to the host immune response. According to the WHO, leprosy patients (L) and household contacts (HHC) are classified into subgroups: paucibacillary (PB) and multibacillary (MB), witch reflect the degree of infection in patients and the level of exposure of their contacts. The main goal of this study was to: i) establish a comprehensive overview of soluble mediator signatures of PBMCs upon in vitro antigen-specific stimuli and ii) identify whether the chemokine (CH) and cytokine (CY) signatures were associated with distinct clinical manifestations in (L) and immune response profiles in (HHC).

Methods

Long-term PBMC cultures were carried out and supernatants collected for 12 CH and CY analisys by Cytometric Beads Array.

Results and discussion

The CH and CY analysis, using continuous variable modeling, demonstrated that PBMCs from both L and HHC exhibited high levels of TNF upon M. leprae-stimuli. While lower production of IFN-γ were observed for L, low levels of CXCL8 was found for HHC. Soluble mediator signatures, analyzed using categorical variables, revealed that while high levels of TNF were observed for L, high levels of IFN-γ appeared as a hallmark of HHC. Overall, these analyses demonstrated that CXCL8, IFN-γ, and TNF were key markers differentiating L from HHC and endemic control (EC), especially considering the categorical analysis of the soluble mediator signatures. Data further demonstrated that higher levels of IFN-γ and lower levels CXCL8 was features associated with HHC(MB), whereas high levels of TNF were observed in both L subgroups. Moreover, data from integrative networks, based on correlation amongst soluble mediators, revealed that in M. leprae-stimuli, the number of correlations was lower in HHC(MB) compared to HHC(PB), but higher in L(MB) compared to L(PB). It was noted that the number of correlations decreased in the following order: EC > L > HHC. Our findings contribute to additional immunological features associated with L and HHC, witch can be useful complementary diagnostic/prognostic tools for classification of L and HHC, providing insights to enrich the research agenda about the hypothesis that HHC should be closely monitored as they may present a subclinical infection.
Exploring the influence of age and diet on gut microbiota development in children during the first 5 years: a study from Yaoundé, Cameroon
Authors: Adjele Jorelle Jeanne B. , Devi Priti , Kumari Pallawi , Yadav Aanchal , Tchuenchieu Kamgain Alex D. , Mouafo Hippolyte T. , Medoua Gabriel N. , Essia Justin J. N. , Chauhan Nar Singh , Pandey Rajesh
Published: December 2024

Introduction

The development of the human gut microbiota is shaped by factors like delivery mode, infant feeding practices, maternal diet, and environmental conditions. Diet plays a pivotal role in determining the diversity and composition of the gut microbiome, which in turn impacts immune development and overall health during this critical period. The early years, which are vital for microbial shaping, highlight a gap in understanding how the shift from milk-based diets to solid foods influences gut microbiota development in infants and young children, particularly in Yaoundé, Cameroon.

Methods

This study involved an analysis of the gut microbiota composition in 70 children aged ≤5 years through 16S rDNA gene metagenomic sequencing of fecal metagenomic DNA. The participants were grouped into four age categories: 0–6 months, 7–12 months, 13–24 months, and 25–60 months.

Results

We observed a reduction in microbial diversity in the younger age groups, which increased progressively with age. At the taxonomic level, our analysis identified Firmicutes as the predominant phylum, with its abundance rising in older age groups, suggesting a maturation of the microbiota characterized by distinct genera associations. In the 0–6 month age group, we noted an enrichment of Lactobacilli and Bifidobacteria, which may play a crucial role in modulating and supporting immune system development during infancy. After 6 months, we found a higher prevalence of Clostridium, Bacillus, Roseburia, and Faecalibacterium, which are associated with fiber fermentation and the production of short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs).

Conclusion

These findings underscore the influence of milk products and complementary diets on gut microbiota across various age groups, promoting increased diversity essential for healthy gut development. More such studies in the LMICs would augment and strengthen understanding towards functional microbiome.
Cognitive aspects of motor control deteriorate while off treatment following subthalamic nucleus deep brain stimulation surgery in Parkinson’s disease
Authors: Munoz Miranda J. , Arora Rishabh , Rivera Yessenia M. , Drane Quentin H. , Pal Gian D. , Verhagen Metman Leo , Sani Sepehr B. , Rosenow Joshua M. , Goelz Lisa C. , Corcos Daniel M. , David Fabian J.
Published: December 2024

Introduction

The long-term effects of surgery for subthalamic nucleus deep brain stimulation (STN-DBS) on cognitive aspects of motor control for people with Parkinson’s disease (PD) are largely unknown. We compared saccade latency and reach reaction time (RT) pre- and post-surgery while participants with PD were off-treatment.

Methods

In this preliminary study, we assessed people with PD approximately 1 month pre-surgery while OFF medication (OFF-MEDS) and about 8 months post-surgery while OFF medication and STN-DBS treatment (OFF-MEDS/OFF-DBS). We examined saccade latency and reach reaction time (RT) performance during a visually-guided reaching task requiring participants to look at and reach toward a visual target.

Results

We found that both saccade latency and reach RT significantly increased post-surgery compared to pre-surgery. In addition, there was no significant change in Movement Disorder Society-Unified Parkinson’s Disease Rating Scale (MDS-UPDRS) Part III score.

Discussion

We found detrimental post-surgical changes to saccade latency and reach RT. We discuss the potential contributions of long-term tissue changes and withdrawal from STN-DBS on this detrimental cognitive effect.
Primary uterine non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma:a rare case report and review of the literature
Authors: Wu Jing , Liu Ting
Published: December 2024

Primary uterine non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL) is rarely reported, as its incidence is extremely low. We describe a 72 year old patient with primary uterine non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma stage IV, diffuse B-cell large cells, who responded well to cytotoxic chemotherapy (R-CHOP). Radiological investigations exhibited certain characteristics, including magnetic resonance T2 weighted imaging, enhanced scanning, diffusion weighted imaging and apparent diffusion coefficient values. The lesion in the anterior wall of the uterine body was relatively large, with a size of about 34mm×47mm×43mm. The gold standard for diagnosis is still the pathological examination of a biopsy specimen, which revealed diffuse large cell of B lineage. This article reviews data collected from 141 patients in the literature.
Dysregulation of saliva and fecal microbiota as novel biomarkers of colorectal cancer
Authors: Rong Jiamei , Chen Xiaocui , Li Zhangqin , Li Bona , Sun Yang , Miao Yinglei
Published: December 2024

The aim of this study was to investigate the biomarkers of salivary and fecal microbiota in Colorectal cancer (CRC). Initially, the study scrutinized the microbial community composition disparities among groups. Utilizing Lasso analysis, it sifted through operational taxonomic units (OTUs) to pinpoint distinctive features. Subsequently, by intersecting feature OTUs across groups, it curated a set of core-shared OTUs and devised a corresponding network. Concluding with functional enrichment analysis, the research delved into the divergent biological functions of these microbial communities within the studied groups. Analysis revealed higher bacterial diversity in saliva compared to feces, with distinct differences at both phylum and genus levels. Feces primarily contained Firmicutes, while saliva was dominated by Bacteroidetes and Proteobacteria. Notably, Escherichia-Shigella and Fusobacterium in feces and Streptococcus in saliva showed increasing abundance from average to adenoma to colorectal cancer. Specific dominant flora was identified within and between groups, including CRC and adenomas across different stages. Seventeen core shared OTUs were identified, and networks of shared OTUs were constructed for each group. Functional enrichment analysis highlighted distinct microbial community functions among the groups. This study’s findings on characteristic OTUs in saliva and fecal samples offer valuable insights for distinguishing between healthy individuals, adenoma patients, and those with colorectal cancer. This study identified distinctive OTUs in saliva and feces to distinguish between healthy individuals, adenoma patients, and those with CRC, offering a valuable diagnostic reference.
Power shapes power construal: the mediating role of entitlement
Authors: Wang Xinyue , Liu Jingyuan , Li Hong
Published: December 2024

Introduction

This article investigates the effect of power on power construal through psychological entitlement as a mediator across three empirical studies (N = 895).

Methods

We examine how people in powerful and powerless conditions construe power, with psychological entitlement as a key mediator.

Results

We uncover a nuanced association whereby people in powerful conditions predominantly adopt socialized orientations to construe power, whereas in powerless conditions, people tend to construe power as a paradox. These different construals appear to be significantly mediated by the perceived psychological entitlement of powerful people.

Discussion

Our research provides insights into the nature of power by revealing two interesting phenomena: the powerful people prosocial gloss and the powerless people paradox. By extending the theory of culturally nurtured power concepts to include the impacts of power itself on power construal, our research offers insights into how power is construed differently based on one’s power position (i.e., with or without power), enriching our understanding of power. This exploration broadens theoretical frameworks and implicates practical considerations in organizational and social settings.
Growing empathy through art therapy, life story, and relationships: experiential learning in adult day services
Authors: Peeples L. Blake , Thompson Benjamin C. , Tucker Jackie B. , Smith LaDerrick , Brown Amy , Carden Keisha D. , Halli-Tierney Anne , Duncan Angel C. , Aggarwal Neelum T. , Allen Jessica Y. , Allen Rebecca S. , Potts Daniel C.
Published: December 2024

Introduction

Empathy is a fundamental element of high-quality healthcare, though it has been shown to be in decline among medical students and residents. Appeals have therefore been made for the development of evidence-based empathy-enhancing experiential learning and training models. Bringing Art to Life (BATL) is a service-learning program designed within experiential learning pedagogy for psychology and pre-healthcare students. Intergenerational relationships are fostered with people with dementia through art therapy and life story/narrative at a community-based adult day services center.

Methods

In this sequential mixed methods study, quantitative data were collected via electronic surveys of students in this course compared with students in didactic introductory psychology or psychology and aging courses. Survey measures included empathy, mindfulness, positive and negative affect, future time perspective, and attitudes toward older adults and working with people with dementia. Weekly BATL student journals submitted as part of their course requirements were analyzed using qualitative content analysis.

Results

Within-subjects analyses of variance revealed increases in empathy and positive affect, broadened time perspective, and improved attitudes toward older adults and people with dementia among students in the BATL course compared with other undergraduate students. Analysis of BATL student journals supported and deepened understanding of these findings, with themes including attitude change, relationship building fostering existential awareness and self-development, art fostering social interactions, and perceived program effectiveness.

Discussion

The findings suggest that BATL strongly supports increased empathetic attitudes and decreased stigma of aging in psychology and pre-healthcare students. Intergenerational expressive arts-based programs like BATL should be implemented in healthcare education to enhance empathy and improve attitudes toward aging and dementia care.
Blended police firearms training improves performance in shoot/don't shoot scenarios: a systematic replication with police cadets
Authors: Olma Joshua , Sutter Christine , Sülzenbrück Sandra
Published: December 2024

Senior police officers' tactical gaze control and visual attention improve with an individual video-based police firearms training. To validate the efficacy of said intervention training, a previous experiment was systematically replicated with a sample of N = 52 second-year police cadets. Participants were randomly assigned to the intervention training that focused on situational awareness, tactical gaze control, and visual attention, or an active control training that addressed traditional marksmanship skills. In a pre- and post-test, they had to engage in dynamic shoot/don't shoot video scenarios in an indoor firing range. Overall, the previous findings were replicated: Baseline levels of performance were elevated, yet the intervention group significantly improved their response time and time until the first hit. False positive decision-making cannot be reported at all; false negatives were marginal in the pre-test and eliminated after training. Further, the outcomes of the previous sample of senior officers and the present sample of cadets are compared and lead to the conclusion that the presented approach is a valuable extension of current training standards for both senior police officers and police cadets.
Evaluating virtual reality technology in psychotherapy: impacts on anxiety, depression, and ADHD
Authors: Wang Peng , Ai Xiaowen , Zhang Xiyang , Ma Fei , Zhuang Yan , Wang Suogang
Published: December 2024

Background

Mental health issues pose a significant challenge for medical providers and the general public. The World Health Organization predicts that by 2030, mental health problems will become the leading cause of global disease burden, highlighting the urgent need for effective mental health interventions. Virtual reality-cognitive behavioral therapy (VR-CBT) has emerged as a promising treatment for neuropsychiatric disorders, offering immersive and engaging therapeutic experiences.

Objective

This study aims to assess the advancements in applying virtual reality (VR) technology for diagnosing and treating mental illnesses such as anxiety, depression, and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). It also explores the integration of artificial intelligence (AI) with VR technology in mental health treatment and introduces the CBT-CHAT Treatment Framework to enhance cognitive behavioral therapy.

Method

A systematic search was conducted across the databases of Google Scholar, PubMed, and Web of Science, followed by a scoping review. Duplicates were removed using the EndNote literature management software. Each article was then carefully read and evaluated for its research content, methodology, results, and contribution to the application of VR technology in mental health domains.

Results

The search retrieved 686 articles, and after applying inclusion and exclusion criteria, 32 articles were ultimately selected. These articles covered the application of VR in anxiety, depression, and ADHD. The research results indicate that VR shows promising outcomes in the diagnosis, treatment, and rehabilitation of anxiety, depression, and ADHD, particularly in the diagnosis, treatment, and rehabilitation of ADHD.

Conclusion

The previously published studies consistently demonstrate that VR is an effective tool for supporting the treatment of mental illnesses across various settings and recommend its incorporation into clinical practice.
Effect of composite yeast culture on the jejunal barrier function, inflammatory response, and microbial community structure of laying hens during the late stage of egg production
Authors: Luo Qifei , Yang Lan , Tumenjargal Bazarragchaa , Liu Shixiong , Ma Jiabin , Ning Jie , Yun Zichen , Zhang Xiaojie , Wu Yingga , Lu Yu , Wu Xiaoxuan , Wang Lijuan , Demberel Shirchin , Liu Dacheng
Published: December 2024

During the late laying period, the intestinal barrier of laying hens is susceptible to damage, resulting in enteric infections and even systemic inflammatory responses, posing a major challenge for the poultry industry. Therefore, it is crucial to investigate methods for addressing intestinal inflammation in late laying hens. In order to maximize the production potential of egg laying chickens, farmers usually use various feed additives to prevent damage to the intestinal barrier. Composite yeast cultures have shown advantages in broiler applications. This study aims to assess the impact of composite yeast culture (CYC) on the intestinal barrier function, inflammatory cytokines, and microbial community structure of Hy-Line Brown laying hens. A total of 160 healthy Hy-Line Brown hens, aged 58 weeks and of similar weight, were randomly assigned to two groups, with four replicates per group and 20 hens in each replicate. The control group was fed a basal diet (Con), while the experimental group was provided with a diet supplemented with 40 g/kg of composite yeast culture (CYC). The test period was 25 days. The results indicated that: compared to the control group, CYC significantly improved the egg production rates of hens during days 11–15, 16–20, and 21–25 (p < 0.05). CYC significantly enhanced the relative mRNA expression levels of occludin, claudin-1, zonula occludens-1 (ZO-1), and mucin 2 (Muc2) in the intestinal tract (p < 0.05), while reducing the relative expression levels of pro-inflammatory factors TNF-α and IFN-γ (p < 0.05), and increasing the levels of anti-inflammatory factors IL-4, IL-10, and TGF-β1 (p < 0.05). CYC significantly increased the abundance of Bifidobacterium pseudocatenulatum and Faecalibacterium prausnitzii in the intestine. These findings suggest that the composite yeast culture (CYC) can improve the structure of the intestinal microbial community. In conclusion, CYC may enhance egg production rates, reduce inflammatory responses, and strengthen intestinal barrier function by modulating the composition of the intestinal microbiota in late laying hens.
Data Augmentation for Voiceprint Recognition Using Generative Adversarial Networks
Authors: Lin Yao-San , Chen Hung-Yu , Huang Mei-Ling , Hsieh Tsung-Yu
Published: December 2024

Voiceprint recognition systems often face challenges related to limited and diverse datasets, which hinder their performance and generalization capabilities. This study proposes a novel approach that integrates generative adversarial networks (GANs) for data augmentation and convolutional neural networks (CNNs) with mel-frequency cepstral coefficients (MFCCs) for voiceprint classification. Experimental results demonstrate that the proposed methodology improves recognition accuracy by up to 15% in low-resource scenarios. The optimal ratio of real-to-GAN-generated samples was determined to be 3:2, which balanced dataset diversity and model performance. In specific cases, the model achieved an accuracy of 96.6%, showcasing its effectiveness in capturing unique voice characteristics while mitigating overfitting. These results highlight the potential of combining GAN-augmented data and CNN-based classification to enhance voiceprint recognition in diverse and resource-constrained environments.
Exploring the Influence of Employee Personality on Incivility and Innovative Deviance Among Frontline Hotel Employees: The Mediating Role of Perceived Stress
Authors: Alola Uju Violet , Egeli Serdar , Echebiri Chukwuemeka
Published: December 2024

This study looked at the complex interactions between agreeableness as a personality trait and five deviant workplace behaviours (including experienced incivility and innovative deviant behaviour) and the role of perceived stress as a mediating mechanism in front-of-house hotel workers. The study adopted a convenience sampling approach to improve access to frontline employees in the hotel sector in Turkey; a total of 500 questionnaires were collected, and 360 were usable. A partial least square structural equation modelling (PLS-SEM) was used to test the conceptual model and hypothesised associations. The findings show that agreeableness has a negative association with perceived stress and experienced incivility but is positively correlated with innovative deviant behaviour. In contrast, perceived stress is negatively correlated with innovative deviant behaviour but positively associated with experienced incivility. We also found that perceived stress serves as a mediating mechanism in this relationship. According to the findings, the personalities of employees and how they perceive stress could shape how it impacts workplace deviance, depending on whether it is constructive or destructive. The study’s findings have significance for managerial policies aimed at building a collaborative and innovative workplace and understanding how personality traits and perceived stress impact broader workplace deviance.
Understanding How Workplace Dynamics Affect the Psychological Well-Being of University Teachers
Authors: Michulek Jakub , Gajanova Lubica , Sujanska Lucia , Tesarova Eva Nahalkova
Published: December 2024

Providing conducive working conditions is essential for fostering the personal and career growth of employees, ultimately ensuring their psychological well-being. This study aims to investigate the impact of workplace conditions on the psychological well-being of university teachers in Slovakia and to examine how factors from the Luxembourg Workplace Mobbing Scale (LWMS) function as moderators in this relationship. A questionnaire survey collected data from 687 respondents, and the analysis included reliability and moderation tests, with a one-way ANOVA confirming the model’s significance. The findings indicate that workplace conditions significantly affect the psychological well-being of university faculty, with LWMS factors—criticizing, ignoring, meaningless tasks, ridicule, and conflicts—moderating this relationship. A limitation of this research is the reliance on the LWMS, which comprehensively addresses bullying but encompasses only five factors. This study contributes to the understanding of workplace bullying and its impact in academic settings, offering implications for theory and practice in fostering healthier work environments in higher education.
How Rural Digitization Promote Coordinated Urban–Rural Development: Evidence from a Quasi-Natural Experiment in China
Authors: Wang Zhongchao , Liu Xinchen , Qin Yaping , Zhang Yang
Published: December 2024

Rural digitalization not only constitutes the strategic orientation of rural revitalization but also serves as a potent means for augmenting farmers’ income. This study regards the implementation of China’s digital village pilot policy as a quasi-natural experiment. Based on the panel data of Chinese counties spanning from 2017 to 2022, it employs a multi-period difference-in-differences model to investigate the influence of rural digitalization on the coordinated development of urban and rural areas from the perspective of the income gap. The findings indicate that the policy has significantly reduced the urban–rural income gap. Mechanism analysis reveals that this reduction is achieved through enhancing county innovation capacity, accelerating agricultural digitization, promoting advanced industrial structure, and expanding non-farm employment. Heterogeneity analyses reveal that the policy has a greater impact in regions with less robust digital infrastructure, higher levels of community service, and stronger financial development. Consequently, it is indispensable to enhance the digital literacy of farmers, accelerate the digitalization of agriculture and the upgrading of industrial institutions, promote the balanced development of digital villages in various regions, and fully exert the guiding and facilitating role of community service levels.
Impact of Biochar Aging on Soil Physicochemical Properties
Authors: Apostolović Tamara , Gross Arthur , Rodríguez Álvaro Fernando García , de la Rosa José María , Glaser Bruno , Knicker Heike , Maletić Snežana
Published: December 2024

Biochar undergoes significant transformations in soil as a result of chemical, physical, and biological processes. These alterations can impact its initial properties, influencing both its agronomic effectiveness and its capacity for carbon sequestration. Long-term observations of biochar-aging effects in soil are limited but highly relevant, as they provide a more realistic picture of the agronomic and societal benefits of biochar than short-term studies with relatively “fresh” biochar. This study aimed to describe the aging effects of biochar and their impact on a range of soil properties at a long-term biochar experiment in Bayreuth, Germany. For this purpose, soil and biochar samples were taken 13 years after application (two variants: 1. co-composted and 2. pristine biochar) and compared with a fresh variant in which the same unaged biochar was freshly mixed with the control soil. The soil quality parameters, pH and electrical conductivity, decreased significantly (p < 0.05) during biochar aging. Specifically, the pH dropped from 7.4 in freshly biochar-amended soil to 6.8 in the pristine aged biochar variant and 6.9 in the co-composted aged biochar variant. Electrical conductivity decreased from 217.0 µS cm−1 in the freshly amended soil to 81.1 µS cm−1 in the pristine aged variant and 87.6 µS cm−1 in the co-composted aged variant. Nitrogen retention was enhanced in the soil amended with co-composted aged biochar compared to the pristine aged biochar soil. Total nitrogen (TN) was higher at 1.94 g kg−1 versus 1.57 g kg−1 (p < 0.05), and ammonium-N (NH₄+-N) was slightly elevated at 35.7 mg kg−1 versus 33.0 mg kg−1, although the difference was not statistically significant. The nitrate-N (NO₃−-N) content was significantly lower in all biochar-amended soil variants compared to the control soil. Total carbon (TC) levels decreased during biochar aging in all soil variants. However, the reduction was significantly lower in the co-composted aged biochar soil (25.0 g kg−1) compared to the pristine aged biochar soil (20.5 g kg−1, p < 0.05). This study identified multiple aging effects on biochar following 13 years of exposure in loamy soil. Importantly, the results showed that compared to the amendment of pristine biochar, co-composting did not diminish the TC of the treated soil, and more N could be retained, 13 years after amendment. In fact, co-composting prior to soil application is recommended to fully realize the potential agronomic benefits.
A Study of the Effects of Wetland Degradation on Soil-Microbial-Extracellular Enzyme Carbon, Nitrogen, and Phosphorus and Their Ecological Stoichiometry
Authors: Li Ye , Jin Jiuwang , Li Shuangyi , Xia Shuhao , Wei Jianbing
Published: December 2024

Due to the unique geographic location of A’er Xiang, there is a natural landscape where sandy land and lake-marsh wetlands coexist. However, the wetland degradation caused by the disturbance of anthropogenic activities has led to the change in land use. In this study, the spatial-temporal substitution method was used to select five sample plots: the original wetland converted to forest land for reuse area of five years and ten years; the original wetland converted to cropland for reuse area of five years and ten years; and the native wetland. It aims to investigate the variations in carbon, nitrogen, and phosphorus and their stoichiometric characteristics of soil-microorganisms-extracellular enzymes before and after reuse, and to analyze potential interactions among these elements. The results indicated that following wetlands degradation, changes in land use for five years did not significantly affect the content of soil organic carbon (TOC), total nitrogen (TN), or total phosphorus (TP). However, after ten years, both TOC and TN, except for TP, decreased significantly. Microbial biomass carbon (MBC) and microbial biomass nitrogen (MBN) contents in cropland were consistently higher than those in WL, showing a trend of first increasing and then decreasing with longer conversion periods. In contrast, forest land values were lower than in WL and increased as the conversion period lengthened. The microbial biomass phosphorus (MBP) content was ranked across the five sample sites as follows: 10 CL > 5 CL > 5 FL > 10 FL > WL. β-1,4-glucosidase (BG) activity was significantly increased after conversion to forest land and significantly decreased after conversion to cropland. β-1,4-N-glucosidase (NAG) and L-leucine aminopeptidase (LAP) activities were ranked as follows among the five sites: 5 FL > WL > 5 CL > 10 FL > 10 CL. Phosphatase (PHOS) activity showed no significant changes post-conversion, though it was consistently lower compared to WL.
Predicting Starch Content in Early Potato Varieties Using Neural Networks and Regression Models: A Comparative Study
Authors: Piekutowska Magdalena , Hara Patryk , Pentoś Katarzyna , Lenartowicz Tomasz , Wojciechowski Tomasz , Kujawa Sebastian , Niedbała Gniewko
Published: December 2024

Starch content serves as a crucial indicator of the quality and palatability of potato tubers. It has become a common practice to evaluate the polysaccharide content directly in tubers freshly harvested from the field. This study aims to develop models that can predict starch content prior to the harvesting of potato tubers. Very early potato varieties were cultivated in the northern and northwestern regions of Poland. The research involved constructing multiple linear regression (MLR) and artificial neural network (ANN-MLP) models, drawing on data from eight years of field trials. The independent variables included factors such as sunshine duration, average daily air temperatures, precipitation, soil nutrient levels, and phytophenological data. The NSM demonstrated a higher accuracy in predicting the dependent variable compared to the RSM, with MAPE errors of 7.258% and 9.825%, respectively. This study confirms that artificial neural networks are an effective tool for predicting starch content in very early potato varieties, making them valuable for monitoring potato quality.
Nutrient Distribution in the Soil Profile Under Different Tillage Practices During a Long-Term Field Trial
Authors: Mühlbachová Gabriela , Růžek Pavel , Kusá Helena , Vavera Radek , Káš Martin
Published: December 2024

Conservation tillage practices are increasingly used in agricultural systems. However, these practices require a complex approach regarding soil nutrition. Adequate nutrient content in soils is important for crop production, as reduced and no-tillage practices change the distribution of nutrient contents (P, K, Mg, and Ca) in the soil profile, necessitating new approaches for agronomists in crop nutrition. Little is known about the time changes in nutrient distribution in the soil profile under conservation tillage practices. Long-term field experiments with conventional (CT—plowing to 20–22 cm), reduced (RT—chiseling to 8–10 cm), and no-tillage (NT) practices were established in Prague–Ruzyně (Czech Republic) in 1995. This four-year crop rotation consisted of winter wheat changing with oilseed rape or pea. The soil nutrient contents have been determined since 2009 using the Mehlich 3 method and through extraction in 0.5 M ammonium acetate. The obtained results showed that P, K, and, to a lesser extent, Mg contents increased in the soil surface layer (0–10 cm) under the reduced and no-tillage practices, whereas Ca and pH values showed an opposite trend. We found an unbalanced ratio of nutrients in the upper soil layer in RT and NT caused by a high concentration of the monovalent cation K+ and the leaching of the divalent cations Ca2+ and Mg2+ into the deeper soil layers. In conventional practices, the ion contents are equalized throughout the topsoil due to the soil inverting during plowing. The determination of nutrient contents in deeper soil layers revealed that, over time, calcium, magnesium, and potassium were transported to deeper parts of the soil profile under RT and especially NT. Low nutrient ratios were found in the surface layer under RT and NT, negatively affecting the quality of the soil surface layer, including its structure. Fertilizer management and nutrient ratios in soils under RT and NT should be considered to maintain and possibly improve sustainable agricultural practices in fields with reduced or no-tillage practices. Furthermore, nutrient contents and their mutual ratios should be evaluated in more soil layers under these systems, enabling the detection of eventual problems in the upper layer that must be addressed by changing fertilization.
The Sources of Nutrients for the Growing Ear of Winter Wheat in the Critical Cereal Window
Authors: Grzebisz Witold , Szczepaniak Witold , Przygocka-Cyna Katarzyna , Biber Maria , Spiżewski Tomasz
Published: December 2024

The process of winter bread wheat (WW) nutrient management in the Critical Cereal Window (CCW) has a decisive impact on yield component formation and, consequently, the grain yield (GY) and grain protein content (GPC). This hypothesis was verified in a single-factor field experiment carried out in the 2013/2014, 2014/2015, and 2015/2016 seasons. It consisted of seven nitrogen-fertilized variants: 0, 40, 80, 120, 160, 200, and 240 kg N ha−1. The mass of nutrients in ears was determined in the full flowering stage. The mass balance of nutrients (N, P, K, Mg, Ca, Fe, Mn, Zn, and Cu) was determined in leaves and stems. These sets of data were first used to calculate the soil nutrient uptake and then to predict the GY and GPC. Three nutrients, i.e., N, Ca, and Mg, were the main predictors of ear biomass. The set of ear nutrients significantly predicting GY and GE consisted of Ca, P, and Zn. Overall, this indirectly indicates a balanced N status for the ear. A positive nutrient balance in leaves, indicating their remobilization, was found for N, P, Fe, Zn, and Cu. Negative values, indicating a net nutrient accumulation in the non-ear organs of WW, were found for the remaining nutrients. The greatest impact on the GY and its components was observed for the balance of Mg and P but not N. The predictive worth of the nutrient balance for stems was much lower. The GPC, regardless of the type of indicator, depended solely on the N balance. Meanwhile, the main nutrient sources of N and Fe in ears were leaves and stems due to their uptake from the soil. For Cu, the primary source was soil, completed by its remobilization from leaves. For the remaining nutrients examined, the key source for the ear was soil, which was completed by remobilization from leaves and stems. Mg and Ca differed from other nutrients because their source for ears was exclusively soil. They were invested by WW in the ears and non-ear organs, mainly in the stems. The effective use of the yield potential of WW and other cereals requires insight into the nutritional status of the canopy at the beginning of the booting stage. This knowledge is necessary to develop an effective N management strategy and to correct and possibly apply fertilizers to improve both the yield and the GPC.