bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
eNOS plays essential roles in the developing heart and aorta linked to disruption of Notch signalling
Authors: Eley Lorraine , Richardson Rachel V. , Alqahtani Ahlam , Chaudhry Bill , Henderson Deborah J.
Published: December 2023

eNOS (NOS3) is the enzyme that generates nitric oxide, a signalling molecule and regulator of vascular tone. Loss of eNOS function is associated with increased susceptibility to atherosclerosis, hypertension, thrombosis and stroke. Aortopathy and cardiac hypertrophy have also been found in eNOS null mice, but their aetiology is unclear. We evaluated eNOS nulls before and around birth for cardiac defects, revealing severe abnormalities in the ventricular myocardium and pharyngeal arch arteries. Moreover, in the aortic arch, there were fewer baroreceptors, which sense changes in blood pressure. Adult eNOS null survivors showed evidence of cardiac hypertrophy, aortopathy and cartilaginous metaplasia in the periductal region of the aortic arch. Notch1 and neuregulin were dysregulated in the forming pharyngeal arch arteries and ventricles, suggesting that these pathways may be relevant to the defects observed. Dysregulation of eNOS leads to embryonic and perinatal death, suggesting mutations in eNOS are candidates for causing congenital heart defects in humans. Surviving eNOS mutants have a deficiency of baroreceptors that likely contributes to high blood pressure and may have relevance to human patients who suffer from hypertension associated with aortic arch abnormalities.
Study of the composition, antioxidant and antimicrobial properties of selected foods and beverages
Authors: Λλούπα Γιονίλντα
Published: December 2023

Τα τελευταία χρόνια, η αυξανόμενη ανησυχία παγκοσμίως για τις σοβαρές ασθένειες, την ανθεκτικότητα των μικροβίων στα αντιβιοτικά και τον κίνδυνο από τα τεχνητά πρόσθετα στα τρόφιμα έχει μετατοπίσει την προσοχή των ερευνητών προς φυσικές πηγές βιοδραστικών ενώσεων που διαθέτουν δυνητική αντιοξειδωτική και αντιμικροβιακή δράση. Από τις φυσικές πηγές φυτικής προέλευσης, τα φρούτα και οι φρουτοχυμοί θεωρούνται ευνοϊκές και πλούσιες πηγές φυτοχημικών και επιδεικνύουν διάφορες φαρμακευτικές ιδιότητες και δυνητικά οφέλη στην υγεία που αποδίδονται στην αντιοξειδωτική τους δράση και στις αντιμικροβιακές τους ιδιότητες. Τα φαινολικά οξέα, οι ανθοκυανίνες, τα φλαβονοειδή και η επικατεχίνη είναι μερικές από τις βιοδραστικές ενώσεις που περιέχονται φυσικά στους φρουτοχυμούς και σχετίζονται με θετική επίδραση σε διάφορους καρκίνους, στα καρδιαγγειακά νοσήματα και σε άλλες εκφυλιστικές ασθένειες, όπως η νόσος Alzheimer. Τα φρούτα που εξετάζονται στην παρούσα μελέτη, όπως το ρόδι, το μήλο, το δαμάσκηνο, το μύρτιλο, το γλυκό κεράσι και το κυδώνι, αντιπροσωπεύουν ένα ποικίλο και πολύπλοκο υπόστρωμα βιοδραστικών ενώσεων. Σε αυτό το πλαίσιο, η μελέτη αυτή αποτελεί μια ολοκληρωμένη έρευνα με σκοπό τον προσδιορισμό της χημικής σύνθεσης των επιλεγμένων δειγμάτων φρουτοχυμού μέσω σύγχρονων μεθόδων ανάλυσης, όπως LC-MS/MS Orbitrap, GC-FID, GC-MS/MS, LC-ESI-MS/MS. Επιπροσθέτως, για τον προσδιορισμό της πιθανής αντιοξειδωτικής ικανότητας εφαρμόστηκαν in vitro μέθοδοι όπως η TPC (προσδιορισμός ολικών φαινολικών ενώσεων), η TFC (προσδιορισμός ολικών φλαβονοειδών) και η μέθοδος DPPH, που προσδιορίζει την ικανότητα ενός αντιοξειδωτικού να δεσμεύει την ελεύθερη ρίζα DPPH (2,2-διφαινυλο-1-πικρυλ-υδραζυλιο). Στη συνέχεια της μελέτης, μέσω κατάλληλων πειραματικών μεθόδων, εξετάστηκε η πιθανή ανασταλτική επίδραση στην ανάπτυξη μιας σειράς αντιπροσωπευτικών μικροοργανισμών, όπως ο Bacillus pumilus, ο Serratia plymuthica και ο Escherichia coli. Το σύνολο των δεδομένων αυτής της έρευνας, ακολουθούμενο από προσεκτική στατιστική επεξεργασία αυτών, αποκαλύπτει την ισχυρή συσχέτιση μεταξύ της χημικής σύστασης, της αντιοξειδωτικής δράσης και των αντιμικροβιακών ιδιοτήτων των επιλεγμένων δειγμάτων. Συμπερασματικά, η παρούσα μελέτη φιλοδοξεί όχι μόνο να αποσαφηνίσει την ατομική συνεισφορά κάθε χυμού φρούτου, η οποία είναι σημαντικά διαφορετική για κάθε είδος φρούτου, αλλά και να προβεί σε συγκρίσεις μεταξύ των ιδιοτήτων τους, υποδεικνύοντας πιθανές συνεργιστικές επιδράσεις.
Comparison of oral iron chelators in the management of transfusion-dependent β-thalassemia major based on serum ferritin and liver enzymes
Authors: Yusuf Sulaiman , Herdata Heru Noviat , Edward Eka Destianti , Khairunnisa Khairunnisa
Published: December 2023

Background Excess iron deriving from a chronic transfusion and dietary intake increases the risk for cardiac complications in β-thalassemia major patients. Deferiprone and deferasirox are commonly prescribed to thalassemic patients who are at risk of iron overload. This study aimed to compare the performance and toxicity of deferiprone and deferasirox in β-thalassemia major patients. Methods A cross-sectional observation was performed on 102 patients with β-thalassemia major. Serum ferritin along with total, indirect, and direct bilirubin levels were measured. Levels of liver enzymes, transaminase (ALT), and aspartate transaminase (AST), were also determined. Ferritin correlations with serum ALT, AST, and total bilirubin were constructed based on Spearman’s rank correlation. Statistical differences based on the serum parameters were analyzed between deferiprone and deferasirox groups. The differences of iron chelators’ effects between those receiving short-term (≤7 years) and long-term (>7 years) blood transfusion were also analyzed. Results The averaged levels of bilirubin, ALT, AST, and ferritin were found to be high. Ferritin was positively correlated with ALT (r=0.508 and p<0.001) and AST ((r=0.569; p<0.001). There was no statistical difference in ferritin levels between the deferiprone and deferasirox groups (p=0.776). However, higher total bilirubin and ALT were observed in the deferasirox group than in the deferiprone group (p=0.001 and 0.022, respectively). Total (p<0.001), indirect (p<0.001), and direct bilirubin levels (p=0.015) were significantly higher in patients with long-term transfusions than those receiving short-term transfusions. Higher ferritin was found with a statistical significance of p=0.008 in the long-term transfusions group. Conclusions Ferritin is high in people with transfusion-dependent β-thalassemia major and positively correlated with ALT and AST. Deferasirox might pose a higher risk of developing hepatic injury as compared with deferiprone. Yet, no significant change of deferasirox efficacy (based on ferritin level) was found between those receiving short-term and long-term transfusions.
Effect of lactoferrin in oral nutrition supplement (ONS) towards IL-6 and IL-10 in failure to thrive children with infection
Authors: Widjaja Nur Aisiyah , Hamidah Azizah , Purnomo Marissa Tulus , Ardianah Eva
Published: December 2023

Background Growth failure due to infection in children is a major health problem throughout the world. It provokes a systemic immune response, with increased interleukin (IL)-6 and reduced IL-10. Lactoferrin (Lf) is a multifunctional iron-binding protein that can be found in whey protein inside formula milk such as oral nutrition supplement (ONS), which is able to upregulate anti-inflammatory cytokines (IL-10) and modulate pro-inflammatory cytokines. We conducted this study to investigate the effect of Lf supplementation in ONS on IL-6 and IL-10 levels in children with failure to thrive and infection. Methods We performed a quasi-experimental pre- and post-study in children aged 12–60 months old with failure to thrive due to infectious illness. The subjects received 400 ml of oral nutritional supplements (ONS, 1 ml equivalent to 1 kcal) each day for 90 days, and their parents received dietary advice and medication based on the underlying illness. Blood was drawn to measure IL-6 and IL-10 before and after the intervention. Results There were 75 subjects recruited and divided into group-1 and group-2 based on age. The incidence of undernutrition was 37.33%. Lf in ONS intervention improved body weight and body length. Lf also reduced IL-6, although there was not a significant difference before and after the intervention. However, the IL-6 reduction was significantly higher in subjects with undernutrition compared with subjects with weight faltering. Pre-intervention IL-6 levels were higher in children with stunting than in children with normal stature. There was a greater change in IL-6 in children with severe stunting than in children with normal stature or stunting. IL-10 was significantly reduced after the intervention. Conclusions In addition to improving body weight and length, Lf supplementation in ONS improved immune response homeostasis by balancing IL-6 and IL-10 levels and by improving the IL-6/IL-10 ratio. ClinicalTrials.gov number ID: NCT05289674, dated May 3rd 2022.
The revitalization of endangered heritage buildings: A decision-making framework for investment and determining the highest and best use in Egypt
Authors: Selim Mohanned , Abulnour Adham , Eldeeb Sally
Published: December 2023

Background Egypt’s major cities have been losing heritage and historical buildings due to neglect and misuse, prompting non-governmental organizations, academic institutions, and researchers to advocate for adaptive reuse strategies to preserve the cities’ heritage and identity. Adaptive reuse involves changing, modifying, or reusing a space based on community needs, business model, location, and proximity to facilities and services. Heritage buildings offer many tangible and intangible benefits that enhance financial returns, making them challenging but feasible and attractive for investors who value authenticity, uniqueness, and sustainability. Methods This study examines how market value, acquisition opportunities, target clients, age groups, and socioeconomic status affect decision-making. A comparative analysis of three buildings in the Egyptian cities of Alexandria and Cairo is utilized to establish development guidelines and decision-making parameters that significantly impact project design and building functions to determine the highest and best use. In order to complete this study, AutoCAD by Autodesk was used for 2D drawings, SketchUp by Trimble for 3D models, Adobe Photoshop for diagram presentation, and Microsoft Office for tables and diagrams. Results The comparative analysis provided valuable insights into the adaptive reuse of heritage buildings in developing countries. Findings highlighted how cultural heritage preservation could foster socioeconomic development. Key success factors included stakeholder and community engagement, financial viability, and architectural compatibility. The decision-making framework provides a practical tool for evaluating heritage building reuse. Conclusions The analysis illustrates successful reuse strategies and considerations. Decision-making frameworks and tools offer practical guidance for future investments and decisions. These findings affect heritage conservation and urban development policymakers, planners, and investors. Stakeholders can make informed decisions and implement strategies to preserve cultural and environmental value by realizing challenges and opportunities. This study hopes to inspire more research and help preserve and revitalize heritage buildings in developing countries, preserving their cultural and socioeconomic value.
Households with children under 5 years and older adults, and probability of expenditure on Food Away from Home (FAFH) in Peru in 2021: A Cross-Sectional Study
Authors: Lozada-Urbano Michelle , Alvarez-Risco Aldo , Flores-Montero Amalia , Corzo-Ponte Juana , Huamán Franklin , Aguirre-Sosa Joaquin , Benavente Ayquipa Rosa Maria , Rivera-Lozada Oriana , Yáñez Jaime A.
Published: December 2023

For the CFAFH study, it is necessary to analyze the economic variable of families and the way it is distributed, since it allows a broader perspective of what a household invests in food consumption and how it is associated with health. The aim of this research was to determine the probability of expenditure on households that consume food away from home, with the presence of children under five years (Ch<5y) and households with the presence of older adults (HOA). A cross-sectional, descriptive, and quantitative study was carried out based on the grouping and analysis of data obtained from the Peruvian National Household Survey (ENAHO) 2021 database. After joining the database, the household type variables were created. Households with and without children under five years, and households with and without older adults were selected, as well as other variables such as the area of origin, gender of the head of the household, ethnicity, education level, marital status, age of the head of the household, occupation of the head of the household, and poverty. Descriptive statistics of the expenses made according to the variables studied and on the effect of each variable on the probability of purchase was obtained a through the application of the Logit model. These results warrant that it is necessary to generate awareness in the population about the food that is sold and consumed away from home for an appropriate selection of healthy options.
PECULIARITIES OF INTERPERSONAL COMMUNICATION ADOLESCENTS IN SOCIAL NETWORKS
Authors: Kulikova Tatyana I.
Published: December 2023

Purpose. The article is devoted to the identification of peculiarities of interpersonal communication of adolescents in the Internet for further development of the program of development of skills of safe and productive interpersonal communication of adolescents in social networks. The relevance of the study is determined by the fact that the use of social networks not only generates the problem of adolescent Internet addiction, but also has a negative impact on the process of socialisation, as well as provokes bullying and other violent actions against the developing personality.

Method. The study involved 56 adolescents aged 14-15 years - students of the centre of education of the city of Tula. As a diagnostic material were used methods to identify interpersonal and communicative features of adolescents (questionnaire of interpersonal relations A.A. Rukavishnikov and questionnaire K.S. Zhmyrko); determination of the level of communication of adolescents (questionnaire of interpersonal relations A.A. Rukavishnikov and questionnaire K.S. Zhmyrko). Zhmyrko); determining the level of communicative tolerance in the process of interpersonal interaction (the method of diagnostics of communicative tolerance V.V. Boyko); establishing the main orientations in the communication of schoolchildren (the method of diagnostics of motivational orientations in interpersonal communications I.D. Ladanov, V.A. Urazaeva).

Results. The results obtained during the diagnostic survey allow us to conclude that adolescents, due to their psychological and personal characteristics, unformed culture of communication in social networks, inability to express their opinions and defend their own point of view, create situations of conflict in social networks and provoke cyberbullying.

Practical implications. The materials of the study can be used in the work of psychological service of educational organisation and contribute to the development of skills of effective and safe communication in social networks among adolescents, formation of resistance to the negative impact of virtual environment.
INFLUENCE OF COMPUTER GAMING TECHNOLOGIES ON UNIVERSITY STUDENTS’ ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE
Authors: Shirshov Ivan S. , Razumnikova Olga M.
Published: December 2023

The article examines the relationship between self-assessment of time spent on computer gaming technologies and academic performance of university students.

The novelty of the obtained results is the negative impact of the time spent on computer games on the academic performance of students. The most informative predictor of academic underachievement and the occurrence of academic debt among students is the measure of gaming time per week, i.e. engagement in gaming for more than 10 hours per week is reduced effectiveness in academic activities.

The goal is to identify the relationship between engagement in computer gaming technologies and students’ academic performance. The sample consists of 389 students (average age of 19 years) studying in their first and second years at the university.

The hypothesis is that the degree of involvement in computer gaming technologies affects students’ academic performance.

Research methods: To determine the specifics of gaming engagement and preferences in computer gaming technologies (CGT), we created a questionnaire with questions about gaming activity and CGT preferences. Indices of average performance and academic debt were obtained from the university’s dean’s office databases.

Statistical analysis of the data involved the use of correlation and regression analysis.

According to the survey results, 75% of the students in the entire sample play computer games. Regression analysis results revealed that longer gaming time (per day, week, year) corresponds to a decrease in academic performance and an increase in student debt. The most informative predictor of students’ performance is the measure of self-assessed gaming time per week, and the most stable relationship between these measures is observed when the gaming time exceeds 10 hours per week.

Conclusion: The hypothesis that the degree of involvement in computer gaming technologies affects students’ academic performance has been confirmed.

The results of the conducted research can be used for psychological and pedagogical work with students, to inform about the impact of excessive engagement in CGT on academic performance and to prevent the initial signs of computer addiction.
SOCIAL ORIENTATION OF ATHLETES: SOCIO-CULTURAL AND AXIOLOGICAL ANALYSIS
Authors: Belov Miсhaеl S. , Kislyakov Pavel A.
Published: December 2023

Relevance. The contradictory and ambiguous situation that has developed in modern sports requires an expanded range of scientific research in the field of axiology and psychology of sports. The existing facts of negative manifestations in sports determine the search for socio-cultural and axiological features of the social orientation of athletes.

The purpose of the study was to conduct a sociocultural and axiological analysis of the social orientation of athletes.

Research methods: The methodological basis of the study was socio-philosophical, ethical-philosophical, cultural, macro-psychological and axiological characteristics of sports as a social institution, socio-psychological aspects of sports and sports activities; ideas of multidimensionality and systemic development of the social orientation of an athlete.

When conducting a theoretical study, a theoretical analysis of the literature, the study of dissertation research, regulatory documents and scientific articles, generalization and systematization of the results obtained were used.

The results of the study. It is substantiated that the phenomenon of sport, which demonstrates a general social orientation, is the object of a wide range of cultural, philosophical, psychological, sociological scientific works. The analysis made it possible to identify socio-cultural and axiological factors that determine the social orientation of athletes.
FEATURES OF INDICATORS OF SITUATIONAL AND PERSONAL ANXIETY IN PATIENTS WITH METABOLIC SYNDROME
Authors: Moskalenko Olga L. , Kasparova Irina E. , Yaskevich Roman A.
Published: December 2023

The purpose of the study. To study the influence of various metabolic syndrome clusters on the severity of situational and personal anxiety.

Materials and methods. The study included 136 patients, including 60 with metabolic syndrome. Metabolic syndrome was diagnosed based on the criteria of clinical recommendations of the All-Russian Scientific Society of Cardiology in 2009. The severity of personal and situational anxiety was assessed using the scale of self-assessment of the level of anxiety by Ch.D. Spielberger modified by Yu.L. Khanina.

Results. It was established that in the examined groups of men, the median scores of both personal and situational anxieties corresponded to a moderate level. The most common variant of metabolic syndrome among men with high and moderate levels of situational and personal anxiety was its three-component combination. Among men with moderate and high levels of situational anxiety, there were statistically significantly more people with 5 or more metabolic syndrome components compared to patients with low levels.

Conclusion. The combination of central obesity, arterial hypertension, and lipid disorders characterized by high levels of low-density lipoprotein was the most common cluster of MS among men with high and moderate levels of situational and personal anxiety.
INFLUENCE OF HYBRID EDUCATION TRENDS ON THE TEACHING METHODS OF MEDICAL STUDENTS
Authors: Voloshenko Anna A. , Khomovich Natalia V.
Published: December 2023

The article discusses innovative learning models, as well as trends in the development of hybrid education, including alternative forms of education, and its impact on the teaching methods of medical university students.

The aim of the study was to study the formation of the content of education in conditions of simultaneous combination of digital and traditional teaching methods. An analysis of the works of both Russian and European authors has shown that some identify mixed and hybrid education; others distinguish between these concepts, while mixed learning consists of online (distance) and offline (traditional) forms. Whereas hybrid learning combines various forms of learning: informal and independent education, tutoring.

In this work, a mixed methodology was used, as well as interdisciplinary and interpretative analysis.

The conducted research allowed the author to conclude that hybrid training is designed to solve a number of tasks that are being put forward today in the medical education system: increasing the availability of information, taking into account the personality-oriented educational needs of students. At the same time, the importance of the thoughtfulness of the hybrid educational process is emphasized, otherwise, with the inept design and use of hybrid learning, it is possible to create uncomfortable conditions for all participants in the educational process.
Błogosławiony ks. Jerzy Popiełuszko jako wzór osobowy w wychowaniu do chrześcijańskiej dojrzałości
Authors: Juroszek Weronika
Published: December 2023

Problematyka tekstu koncentruje się wokół roli wzorów osobowych w wychowaniu do wartości. Celem artykułu jest udzielenie odpowiedzi na następujące pytanie badawcze: Jak wychowywać młodzież do chrześcijańskiej dojrzałości kierując się wzorem błogosławionego ks. Jerzego Popiełuszki?
W rozważaniach odwołano się do koncepcji chrześcijańskiej dojrzałości autorstwa Mariana Nowaka. Wykorzystano metodę biografii historyczno-pedagogicznej. Na podstawie wybranych opracowań i tekstów źródłowych poświęconych życiu i działalności ks. Jerzego wykazano, że już na etapie wczesnej dorosłości doskonale spełniał on kryteria chrześcijańskiej dojrzałości wyszczególnione przez Nowaka: stworzył projekt życia autentycznie ludzkiego i stale kształtował w sobie cechy umożliwiające urzeczywistnianie tego projektu (sumienność, autentyczność, odwaga). Wymienione kryteria wypełniał w optyce wiary chrześcijańskiej, dla której ostatecznym celem jest zbawienie i życie wieczne. Wychowując młodych ludzi do dojrzałego chrześcijaństwa warto kierować się wzorem ks. Popiełuszki i kształtować ich osobowość zgodnie z wyznacznikami opracowanymi przez Nowaka. Jako pomoc w wychowaniu jawią się konkretne przykłady z życia ks. Popiełuszki, będące inspiracją, jak formować w wychowankach chrześcijańską dojrzałość.
Perspectivas de los estudiantes sobre las prácticas docentes de instrucción tradicional, de presentación–práctica-producción y de métodos basados en el aprendizaje por tareas.
Authors: Calle Calle Ana María , Calle Calle María Daniela , Cabrera Tenecela Homero Patricio , León Vélez María Verónica
Published: December 2023

This study intends to explore student beliefs regarding the usefulness of their teachers’ instructional practices and compare them with a categorization of their teachers’ profiles. A questionnaire with 4 close questions and 3 open questions including topics such as pair and group work, students’ interest, usefulness of the material and content, the best and least useful aspects of the class and suggestions to improve it was administered to 481 high school students of a southern city of Ecuador; also 18 high school teachers were observed delivering one lesson. Using the information gathered from students’ questionnaires, a 481 data matrix was constructed relating it to the 18 teachers’ profiles. In addition, a descriptive analysis was carried out and a comparison between the observers’ and the students’ criteria for the first four closed questions was conducted. For the open questions, the answers were categorized according to the usefulness of three elements: grammar, content, and methodology. Results showed that students favored modern EFL pedagogy. Task Based Learning Teaching (TBLT) and Presentation-PracticeProduction (PPP) methods were considered as the most accepted methodologies; notwithstanding, traditional methodology was considered as the least effective one. A model was constructed which allowed us to point out the relevance of pair work, content, and methodology, so if these factors occur in teacher practices, it can be inferred that a teacher is closer to a TBLT profile.
Correlation Clustering Problem Under Mediation
Authors: Ales Zacharie , Engelbeen Céline , Figueiredo Rosa
Published: December 2023

In the context of community detection, correlation clustering (CC) provides a measure of balance for social networks as well as a tool to explore their structures. However, CC does not encompass features such as the mediation between the clusters, which could be all the more relevant with the recent rise of ideological polarization. In this work, we study correlation clustering under mediation (CCM), a new variant of CC in which a set of mediators is determined. This new signed graph clustering problem is proved to be NP-hard and formulated as an integer programming formulation. An extensive investigation of the mediation set structure leads to the development of two efficient exact enumeration algorithms for CCM. The first one exhaustively enumerates the maximal sets of mediators in order to provide several relevant solutions. The second algorithm implements a pruning mechanism, which drastically reduces the size of the exploration tree in order to return a single optimal solution. Computational experiments are presented on two sets of instances: signed networks representing voting activity in the European Parliament and random signed graphs.

History: Accepted by Van Hentenryck, Area Editor for Pascal.

Funding: This work was supported by Fondation Mathématique Jacques Hadamard [Grant P-2019-0031].

Supplemental Material: The software that supports the findings of this study is available within the paper and its Supplemental Information ( https://pubsonline.informs.org/doi/suppl/10.1287/ijoc.2022.0129 ) as well as from the IJOC GitHub software repository ( https://github.com/INFORMSJoC/2022.0129 ). The complete IJOC Software and Data Repository is available at https://informsjoc.github.io/ .
The Anchoring Effect, Algorithmic Fairness, and the Limits of Information Transparency for Emotion Artificial Intelligence
Authors: Rhue Lauren
Published: December 2023

Emotion artificial intelligence (AI) is shown to vary systematically in its ability to accurately identify emotions, and this variation creates potential biases. In this paper, we conduct an experiment involving three commercially available emotion AI systems and a group of human labelers tasked with identifying emotions from two image data sets. The study focuses on the alignment between facial expressions and the emotion labels assigned by both the AI and humans. Importantly, human labelers are given the AI’s scores and informed about its algorithmic fairness measures. This paper presents several key findings. First, the labelers’ scores are affected by the emotion AI scores, consistent with the anchoring effect. Second, information transparency about the AI’s fairness does not uniformly affect human labeling across different emotions. Moreover, information transparency can even increase human inconsistencies. Plus, significant inconsistencies in the scoring among different emotion AI models cast doubt on their reliability. Overall, the study highlights the limitations of individual decision making and information transparency regarding algorithmic fairness measures in addressing algorithmic fairness. These findings underscore the complexity of integrating emotion AI into practice and emphasize the need for careful policies on emotion AI.
The need for health visitors to act as change agents
Authors: Noakes Amy
Published: December 2023

The health visitor role encompasses providing services in a variety of settings, and health visitors are in the privileged position of being able to identify and endorse change, says Amy Noakes
Rapid spatio-temporal pumping volume estimation from electricity consumption big data
Authors: Chu Hone-Jay , Tatas Tatas , Wei Lin Cheng-Wei Lin , Burbey Thomas
Published: December 2023

Land subsidence due to groundwater over-exploitation is a serious problem worldwide. Acquiring total pumping volumes to assess the stresses imposed that lead to subsidence is often difficult to quantify because groundwater extraction is often an unregulated water source. Consequently, pumping volumes represent a critical step for water resource managers to develop a strategic plan for mitigating land subsidence. In this investigation, we develop a time-dependent spatial regression (TSR) model to estimate monthly pumping volume over a ten-year period based on electricity consumption data. The estimated pumped volume is simplified as the spatial function of the electricity consumption and the electric power used by the water pump. Results show that the TSR approach can reduce the errors by 38% over linear regression models. The TSR model is applied to the Choshui alluvial fan in west-central Taiwan, where hundreds of thousands of unregulated pumping wells exist. The results show that groundwater peak extraction across the region occurs from January to May. Monthly pumping volume, and rainfall information are available to provide a better understanding of seasonal patterns and long-term changes of subsidence. Thus, the temporal regional subsidence patterns are found to respond to variations in pumping volume and rainfall.
A Hybrid Photorealistic Architecture Based on Generating Facial Features and Body Reshaping for Virtual Try-on Applications
Authors: Duc Tran Van , Tien Pham Quang , Trieu Hoang Duc Minh , Anh Nguyen Thi Ngoc , Nguyen Dat Tien
Published: December 2023

Online shopping using virtual try-on technology is becoming popular and widely used for digital transformation because of sustainably sourced materials and enhancing customers’ experience. For practical applicability, the process is required for two main factors: (1) accuracy and reliability, and (2) the processing time. To meet the above requirements, we propose a state-of-the-art technique for generating a user’s visualization of model costumes using only a single user portrait and basic anthropometrics. To start, this research would summarize different methods of most virtual try-on clothes approaches, including (1) Interactive simulation between the 3D models, and (2) 2D Photorealistic Generation. In spite of successfully creating the visualization and feasibility, these approaches have to face issues of their efficiency and performance. Furthermore, the complexity of input requirements and the users’ experiments are leading to difficulties in practical application and future scalability. In this regard, our study combines (1) a head-swapping technique using a face alignment model for determining, segmenting, and swapping heads with only a pair of a source and a target image as inputs (2) a photorealistic body reshape pipeline for direct resizing user visualization, and (3) an adaptive skin color models for changing user’s skin, which ensures remaining the face structure and natural. The proposed technique was evaluated quantitatively and qualitatively using three types of datasets which include: (1) VoxCeleb2, (2) Datasets from Viettel collection, and (3) Users Testing to demonstrate its feasibility and efficiency when used in real-world applications
Mystery and the Problem of Election in Judaism and Christianity
Authors: Simkovich Malka Z.
Published: December 2023

Abstract: In the early Common Era, followers of Jesus approached their contradictory truth claims by arguing that God's nature is enveloped in mysterion , and is ultimately unknowable. Rabbinic writers, however, treated their own truth claims through the lens of sod , a word that denoted a secret body of knowledge that was hidden from most but accessible to some. In the wake of the Enlightenment, and particularly after the Second Vatican Council produced Nostra Aetate in 1965, Jewish theologians have begun to engage with Catholic theology, and in particular with the idea of how mystery can be activated as a meaningfully Jewish category that addresses contradictions related to the claim of Jewish election.
Creating the Passamaquoddy-Wolastoqey Dictionary: A Personal Reflection on Fifty Years of Lexicography
Authors: Leavitt Robert M.
Published: December 2023

ABSTRACT: Making a dictionary of the Passamaquoddy-Wolastoqey language has demanded two types of commitment. The technical, practical side of the lexicographers' task is compiling words, organizing the collection into accessible entries with useful content, and formatting the dictionary both for publication as a book and online. Equally important is the cultural and social commitment required of dictionary-makers; for a dictionary by its very nature embodies the language and is a gateway into understanding the ways in which speakers express thoughts, feelings, beliefs, and personal relations. This understanding must be reflected both in the dictionary entries themselves and in their presentation. The compilation of the Passamaquoddy-Wolastoqey dictionary has been a long-term process, which began in the 1970s and continues today. The following account recalls the processes the authors have used, the insights they have gained about language and lexicography, and the results of their work. It is a personal memoir in the sense that it reflects my own perceptions of the dictionary's evolution and of the people who created it.
Neo-Primordialism in the Making of Nations: The Tragedies of Karabakh
Authors: Riegg Stephen Badalyan
Published: December 2023

SUMMARY: This essay gives a historical perspective to the conflict between Armenians and Azerbaijanis that has recently attracted international media attention. The article focuses on imperial actions and inactions, national identities and insecurities, and the continuities of a rivalry that has outlived all tsars, shahs, and sultans. The author argues that it is important to understand how empires throughout the centuries have shaped the region's social and political dynamics and to acknowledge that it is the legacy of foreign hegemony as well as local multiethnic governance, cohabitation, and competition that continues to keep peace at bay and nationalists at work. A special accent is placed on the tendency of competing narrators to revert to primordialist arguments, where a fixed, deep-seated ethnonational identity, usually grounded in religion or language and always tied to a territorialized homeland, is retroactively uncovered. Резюме: Это эссе реконструирует предысторию конфликта между армянами и азербайджанцами, который недавно вновь оказался в центре мировых новостей. Основное внимание уделяется действию и бездействию империй, национальным идентичностям и страхам, а также продолжающемуся соперничеству, которое пережило всех царей, шахов и султанов. Автор подчеркивает важность понимания того, как империи на протяжении веков формировали социальную и политическую динамику региона. Именно наследие гегемонии чужестранцев, а также традиций местного полиэтнического правления, сосуществования и конкуренции продолжают препятствовать миру и обеспечивают востребованность националистов. Особый акцент делается на тенденции конкурирующих нарративов обращаться к примордиалистским аргументам, в которых задним числом конструируется жесткая этнонациональная идентичность, обычно укорененная в религии или языке и всегда привязанная к территориальной родине.
Rhetorical Skills and Renaissance Literature
Authors: Mack Peter
Published: December 2023

Abstract: The renaissance witnessed both a large expansion of teaching and composition of rhetoric manuals and a flowering of literature in the sixteenth century. This essay asks what rhetorical theory contributed to renaissance literature. Where some earlier accounts, for example by Cave, Eden and Vickers, focus on the impact of one or two rhetorical doctrines, this essay argues that renaissance writers drew on, adapted and combined a wide range of rhetorical doctrines in thinking about how to persuade and move their audiences. In order to make this argument it sets out sixteen skills taught by renaissance rhetoric which writers could use: thinking about the audience; self-presentation; reusing reading in writing; style and amplification; emotion; pleasing; narrative; character; argument; examples; comparison; contraries; proverbs and axioms; disposition; beginning; and ending. It analyses texts by Erasmus, Tasso, Sidney, Montaigne and Shakespeare to show how the greatest renaissance writers adapted and combined ideas from rhetoric.
“Improperganda”: The Reception of Bertrand Russell’s Marriage and Morals Immediately After Publication
Authors: Heathorn Stephen
Published: December 2023

Abstract: Marriage and Morals is one of Russell’s most famous and best-selling books. Its publication brought about considerable public debate fuelled in part by a large number of book reviews in newspapers and popular periodicals. Here I outline some of the issues that most exercised reviewers. Despite the book’s sensational nature, it is noteworthy that many reviewers either recognized that Russell was mostly restating, albeit very well, established critiques about contemporary morality, and/or largely missed what was distinctive in Russell’s contribution to the debate.
On The Use of Dots in Principia Mathematica
Authors: Linsky Bernard
Published: December 2023

Abstract: The distinctive squared dots in Principia Mathematica have two uses, to replace parentheses or brackets to indicate the scope of connectives and operators as well as to symbolize the sentential connective “and”. The explanation of the use of dots in the Introduction shows that the punctuation dots express conjunction by symbolizing the juxtaposition of formulas, following Peano, and so they are always used as punctuation. This paper thus supports Turing’s assertion that conjunction in Principia is expressed by juxtaposition.This analysis avoids Curry’s proposal that an “auxiliary” connective for conjunction should be involved in interpreting the dot notation.
“Exact” solutions for the probability density functions of integrated Stokes parameters of partially polarized thermal light or polarization speckle
Authors: Wang Wei
Published: December 2023

As a continuation of a previous investigation on the temporal integration of partially polarized thermal light and/or the spatial integration of polarization speckle, we calculate more accurate probability density functions for integrated Stokes parameters. With the aid of the unitary linear transformation and the Karhunen–Loève expansion of the stochastic electric field, the light of interest has been decomposed into an infinite number of statistically independent modes and the integrated Stokes parameters have been expressed as the sums of infinite numbers of random variables known as the polarization-related mode shape. A mathematical formalism of the exact solutions for the distributions of the integrated Stokes parameters has been derived. Through some approximations to the exact solutions, we also make a comparison of the “exact” and approximate solutions to understand the entire statistics of the integrated stochastic phenomena in optics.
Experimental high-dimensional quantum key distribution with orbital angular momentum
Authors: Sun Zhongqi , Li Yue , Ma Haiqiang
Published: December 2023

The development and practical applications of quantum key distribution are limited by the channel capacity and high error rate during long-distance transmission. High-dimensional quantum key distribution protocols solve these problems effectively. In this paper, a high-dimensional quantum key distribution protocol based on polarization-orbit angular momentum is achieved, using a decoy state method to ensure the security of the protocol. The experimental results show that the high-dimensional quantum key distribution protocol improves the encoding efficiency and the upper bound of the quantum bit error rate.
High-factor interpolation method based on space-time modulation and a Kalman filter for optical encoders
Authors: Ban Yaowen , Zhao Guobo , Zhang Zhenghui , Chen Bangdao , Lu Bingheng , Liu Hongzhong
Published: December 2023

A high-factor interpolation method based on space-time modulation and a Kalman filter for optical encoders is proposed. Space-time modulation employs a reference time signal to modulate the output displacement signal of the optical encoder into a displacement space-time signal. Subsequently, high-frequency pulse signals are used for interpolation, which detect the phase of the reference time signal and the displacement space-time signal to obtain displacement information from the optical encoder output. The interpolation factor of this method depends on the frequencies of the high-frequency pulse signal and the reference time signal, and is independent of the moving speed. A Kalman filter is employed to estimate the velocity, compensating for time lag errors in the displacement information output by space-time modulation to improve the real-time performance of displacement output. The proposed method is simple and effective, which can be implemented on an FPGA. The effectiveness of the proposed method is verified through simulation and experimentation.
Robust compressed ghost imaging against environmental influence factors
Authors: Zhang Xiao , Zhong Haozhe , Cao Liangqi
Published: December 2023

Ghost imaging based on sparse sampling is sensitive to the environmental influence factors frequently encountered in practice, such as instrumental drift and ambient light change, which could cause degradation of image quality. In this manuscript, we report a robust compressed sensing technique which could effectively reduce the influence of measurement errors on image quality. For demonstration purposes, we implement the proposed technique to ghost imaging, namely differential compressed sensing ghost imaging (DCSGI). By applying differential measurements n times, the first n Taylor expansion polynomials of the error could be eliminated in n-order DCSGI. It has been verified theoretically and experimentally that DCSGI works well with typical errors which exists in the realities of ghost imaging applications, while the conventional approach can hardly. In addition, the proposed technique may also replace conventional compressed sensing in other applications for anti-interference high-quality reconstruction.
Decoherence-free-subspace-based deterministic conversions for entangled states with heralded robust-fidelity quantum gates
Authors: Du Fang-Fang , Ren Xue-Mei , Fan Zhi-Guo , Li Ling-Hui , Du Xin-Shan , Ma Ming , Fan Gang , Guo Jing
Published: December 2023

The decoherence-free subspace (DFS) serves as a protective shield against certain types of environmental noise, allowing the system to remain coherent for extended periods of time. In this paper, we propose two protocols, i.e., one converts two-logic-qubit Knill-Laflamme-Milburn (KLM) state to two-logic-qubit Bell states, and the other converts three-logic-qubit KLM state to three-logic-qubit Greenberger-Horne-Zeilinger states, through cavity-assisted interaction in DFS. Especially, our innovative protocols achieve their objectives in a heralded way, thus enhancing experimental accessibility. Moreover, single photon detectors are incorporated into the setup, which can predict potential failures and ensure seamless interaction between the nitrogen-vacancy center and photons. Rigorous analyses and evaluations of two schemes demonstrate their abilities to achieve near-unit fidelities in principle and exceptional efficiencies. Further, our protocols offer progressive solutions to the challenges posed by decoherence, providing a pathway towards practical quantum technologies.
Image-registration-based solar meridian detection for accurate and robust polarization navigation
Authors: Pan Shuixin , Lin Jinmao , Zhang Yueqiang , Hu Biao , Liu Xiaolin , Yu Qifeng
Published: December 2023

Skylight polarization, inspired by the foraging behavior of insects, has been widely used for navigation for various platforms, such as robots, unmanned aerial vehicles, and others, owing to its stability and non-error-accumulation. Among the characteristics of skylight-polarized patterns, the angle of polarization (AOP) and the degree of polarization (DOP) are two of the most significant characteristics that provide abundant information regarding the position of the sun. In this study, we propose an accurate method for detecting the solar meridian for real-time bioinspired navigation through image registration. This method uses the AOP pattern to detect the solar meridian and eliminates the ambiguity between anti-solar meridian and solar meridian using the DOP pattern, resulting in an accurate heading of the observer. Simulation experiments demonstrated the superior performance of the proposed method compared to the alternative approaches. Field experiments demonstrate that the proposed method achieves real-time, robust, and accurate performance under different weather conditions with a root mean square error of 0.1° under a clear sky, 0.18° under an overcast sky with a thin layer of clouds, and 0.32° under an isolated thick cloud cover. Our findings suggest that the proposed method can be potentially used in skylight polarization for real-time and accurate navigation in GPS-denied environments.
MEMS-based two-photon microscopy with Lissajous scanning and image reconstruction under a feed-forward control strategy
Authors: Zhang Xiulei , Han Yongxuan , Liu Huilan , Xiao Xilong , Hu Yanhui , Fu Qiang , Feng Lishuang , Hu Xiaoguang , Wang Conghao , Wang Junjie , Wang Aimin
Published: December 2023

Two-photon microscopy (TPM) based on two-dimensional micro-electro-mechanical (MEMS) system mirrors shows promising applications in biomedicine and the life sciences. To improve the imaging quality and real-time performance of TPM, this paper proposes Lissajous scanning control and image reconstruction under a feed-forward control strategy, a dual-parameter alternating drive control algorithm and segmented phase synchronization mechanism, and pipe-lined fusion-mean filtering and median filtering to suppress image noise. A 10 fps frame rate (512 × 512 pixels), a 140 µm × 140 µm field of view, and a 0.62 µm lateral resolution were achieved. The imaging capability of MEMS-based Lissajous scanning TPM was verified by ex vivo and in vivo biological tissue imaging.