bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
ВИКОРИСТАННЯ МОВИ LEAN ДЛЯ ПЕРЕВІРКИ НА НЕСУПЕРЕЧНІСТЬ МАТЕМАТИЧНИХ ЗАДАЧ У НАВЧАЛЬНІЙ РЕКОМЕНДАЦІЙНІЙ СИСТЕМІ
Authors: СМИШ Олег , ЗАГОРУЛЬКО Андрій
Published: April 2024

У статті розглянуто проблему забезпечення якості вивчення математики в умовах зростання популярності самонавчання. Запропоновано підхід на основі функційної мови Lean, що уможливлює автоматичну перевірку на точність та несуперечність даних математичної задачі та розв’язку цієї задачі. Цей підхід впроваджено в створювану рекомендаційну систему, що призначено для розв’язування математичних задач, з інтерфейсом для взаємодії та навчання кінцевих користувачів. Створена підсистема на основі мови Lean здатна виявляти потенційні помилки та суперечності в умовах задачі, а також сприяти коректному розв’язку задач.

Мову програмування Lean першочергово розроблено, щоб слугувати ефективним асистентом у доведенні теорем, через це цю мову й обрано.

Розроблено підсистему перевірки на Lean, де додано аксіоми та теореми з планіметрії, що дає змогу забезпечити інтеграцію з іншими створеними модулями системи та виконувати перевірку на несуперечність даних. Для ілюстрації потенціалу Lean використано декілька прикладів задач, що демонструють, які є переваги мови в забезпеченні точності розв’язків та виявленні помилок у математичних задачах.

У висновках  до статті підкреслено, що Lean ефективно доповнює рекомендаційну систему для розвʼязування  простих планіметричних задач, забезпечуючи не лише перевірку на несуперечність умов задачі, але й коректність розв’язків. Додатково висвітлено певні вади в мові, що ускладнюють її використання й потребують подальших досліджень та розробок для оптимізації роботи підсистеми. Порівняно з іншими підходами, як-от використання онтологій в програмі Protégé, Lean надає значні переваги в гнучкості визначення математичних моделей і виконанні нетривіальних доведень, що робить Lean потужним інструментом для підтримки якісного вивчення математики.
Gender in Relation to Academic Self-concept among Government Secondary School Students of Mbeya City Council, Tanzania
Authors: Mhule Daliko
Published: April 2024

The study focused on the association between gender and academic self-concept (ASC) among secondary school students in Mbeya City Council, Tanzania. The study employed a cross-sectional survey design in which 218 Form Three students were randomly selected to participate in the study. The study used the ASC scale developed by William M. Reynolds (1988), consisting of 40 items. The Statistical Package for Social Sciences version 26.0 was used for data analysis. The Mann-Whitney test showed that students differed significantly by gender in ASC; (N=218, U=4682.00, Z= -2.230, p=.026). Male students ranked higher than females (Mean Rank=121.18 and 101.74, respectively). The Spearman’s rho correlation test indicated a weak negative association between gender and ASC (r=-.151, p=.03). Ordinal Logistic Regression showed a significant association between gender and ASC (B=.53, S.E=.24, Wald X2 (1) =4.88, p=.03; EXP(B)=1.70). The gender difference in ASC among students was evident. The areas for policy attention have been suggested.
PENGARUH WORD OF MOUTH, LOKASI DAN KUALITAS PELAYANAN TERHADAP KEPUTUSAN PEMBELIAN PADA WARUNG SEBLANG DI KECAMATAN SINGOJURUH BANYUWANGI
Authors: Safitri Desi , Sudirman Rio , Angin Sofia Asyriana BR Perangin
Published: April 2024

Penelitian ini bertujuan menguji dan menganalisis Pengaruh Word Of Mouth, Lokasi Dan Kualitas Pelayanan terhadap Keputusan Pembelian Pada Warung Seblang Di Kecamatan Singojuruh Banyuwangi. Penelitian ini dilakukan di Jl Krajan Timur Desa. Krajan Timur, Padang, Kecamatan Singojuruh, Kabupaten Banyuwangi, Jawa Timur. (68464). Sampel penelitian ini yaitu konsumen pada Warung Seblang. Teknik pengambilan sampel yang digunakan dalam penelitian ini menggunakan probability sampling dengan jumlah 80 sampel. Metode dalam penelitian ini menggunakan metode kuantitatif dengan menyebar kuesioner. Metode analisis data yang digunakan adalah uji instrument, uji regresi linier berganda, uji hipotesis, uji koefisiensi determinasi, dan uji asumsi klasik. Berdasarkan hasil analisis didapatkan bahwa hasil F hitung > F tabel (24,844 > 2,724) artinya bahwa secara simultan word of mouth (X1), lokasi (X2), dan kualitas pelayanan (X3) berpengaruh terhadap keputusan pembelian (Y) sedangkan secara (Uji t) pada variabel word of mouth didapatkan t hitung > t tabel (4,103 > 1,991), maka dapat disimpulkan word of mouth berpengaruh terhadap keputusan pembelian. Sedangkan pada variabel lokasi t hitung > t tabel (4,695 > 1,991), maka dapat disimpulkan lokasi berpengaruh terhdap keputusan pembelian. Sedangkan pada variabel kualitas pelayanan t hitung < t tabel (0,342 < 1,991), maka dapat disimpulkan variabel kualitas pelayanan tidak berpengaruh terhadap keputusan pembelian.
The influence of selected mineral ingredients on the technological properties of sealing slurries
Authors: Wieczorek Michał , Pichniarczyk Paweł , Stryczek Stanislaw , Złotkowski Albert
Published: April 2024

Sealing slurries used to modify the subsoil should meet a number of requirements, including: rheological properties, setting time, appropriate mechanical strength and durability. The study determined the technological properties of sealing slurries prepared with ordinary Portland cement and blended binders containing appropriately selected mineral additives. The tests used granulated blast furnace slag, silica fly ash and ash obtained in the fluidized bed combustion of coal. The assessment of the technological properties of fresh slurries included the selection of an appropriate rheological model and the assessment of the rheological properties of the sealing slurry, such as: plastic viscosity, apparent viscosity and yield point. The research determined the factors causing improvement of the technological properties of fresh slurry. The use of supplementary cementitious materials, also in systems with fluidizing admixtures, allowed for a significant modification of the rheology of the tested sealing slurries. The obtained results indicate their beneficial effect on the functional properties of slurries, enabling their use as binder components replacing Portland cement, while limiting or even eliminating the addition of superplasticizers.
Zdrada małżeńska w świetle ksiąg pokutnych
Authors: Story Marek
Published: April 2024

Cudzołóstwo – rozumiane jako relacja seksualna między dwiema osobami, z których co najmniej jedna pozostaje w związku małżeńskim – z jednej strony od wieków stanowiło przedmiot rozważań, w jaki sposób ograniczyć to zjawisko, a z drugiej strony pomimo nakładanych kar czy pokut na osoby, które naruszyły zasady wierności obowiązującej małżonków, nie straciło ono na przestrzeni wieków na aktualności.
Księgi pokutne, które powstały w epoce późnej starożytności chrześcijańskiej i wczesnego średniowiecza i które są świadectwem kształtowania się praktyki pokutnej w Kościele stały również na straży wierności małżeńskiej, która miała obowiązywać obie strony, a nie tylko kobiety, jak to miało miejsce w niektórych antycznych kulturach prawnych.
Celem artykułu jest ukazanie w świetle ksiąg pokutnych, jakie konsekwencje groziły osobie która zawarła małżeństwo, a później dopuściła się cudzołóstwa, a także osobom, które w jakiś sposób sprzyjały lub zachęcały do takiego zachowania.
Congenital fibrous fusion of the jaws (synechiae) with cleft palate: A case report
Authors: Alhussin W. , Susnerwala S.
Published: April 2024

BACKGROUND:

Congenital maxillomandibular fusion is a rare disorder. Maxillomandibular fusion is usually discovered immediately after birth because the newborn is unable to open mouth or feed normally. The fusion defects can present with a wide range of severity, ranging from mucosal band (synechiae) to complete bony fusion (syngnathia).

CASE DESCRIPTION:

We report a case of congenital alveolar synechiae with posterior cleft palate in a 3-day-old male neonate. The newborn was managed with the help of a multi-disciplinary approach.

CONCLUSION:

Fusion of the gums is a very rare congenital anomaly. Early division of fibrous bands not only allows effective feeding but also prevents the development of facial deformities. However, anesthesia for this procedure can be challenging.
Representation Of The Victim As Implementation Of The Principle Of Competitiveness In Criminal Proceedings
Authors: Iemets Ivan
Published: April 2024

National and international legal acts guarantee everyone the right to hear their case by a competent court. The same principle can be applied to the stage of pretrial investigation, although only a competent investigator or prosecutor can ensure the implementation of an effective investigation. The very process of criminal proceedings is carried out by the general principles of criminal proceedings, among which one of the universal principles is the principle of adversarial. Taking into account the components of the principle of competitiveness, this article is defined as clarifying the place and role of the institution of victim representation in implementing the principle of competitiveness. It is substantiated that to implement the principle of competition in criminal proceedings fully, certain provisions of the current Criminal Procedure Code of Ukraine require revision and certain changes.
Involvement Of A Forensic Expert By A Defense Counsel During Pre-Trial Investigation
Authors: Kolomoitsev Mykola
Published: April 2024

Ensuring equality between parties and adhering to the adversarial principle is crucial, necessitating the availability of all procedural mechanisms to observe the rights and legitimate interests of both the defense counsel and the prosecution. Given the declarative nature of specific provisions outlining the procedure for involving a forensic expert by a defense counsel during the pre-trial investigation stage, the Article Purpose is defined as clarifying the specifics of involving a forensic expert by a defense counsel to conduct a qualified forensic examination at the stage of pre-trial investigation, presenting problematic aspects of such activity. Based on the analysis of investigative and judicial practices, proven methods for involving a forensic expert by a defense counsel have been identified. Recommendations have been formulated on the procedure for appealing against decisions by investigators and prosecutors to refuse to grant a motion for a forensic examination.
Interaction Of Forensic Science Institutions With Ukrainian Civil Society Institutions: Essence, Significance, Prospects
Authors: Victoria Pylyp
Published: April 2024

Formalized structures of civil society are of particular importance in the performance of state functions. Their involvement in the implementation of law enforcement activities is currently approved. Forensic science institutions also play a substantial role in these activities, ensuring justice through scientifically based conclusions based on specific expertise in the field of science and technology. Stemming from the above, the Article Purpose is to clarify the essence, significance, and potential outcomes arising from the collaboration between Ukrainian forensic science institutions and civil society institutions while analyzing both Ukrainian and international experiences. The research findings indicate that these mentioned entities frequently engage with each other, even in the absence of normatively established principles. The development of a normative-legal and organizational-legal framework to govern the interaction between forensic institutions and civil society institutions is deemed promising.
Messiah for the Islamic Republic: Masih Alinejad as Deus Ex Machina?
Authors: Shahghasemi Ehsan
Published: April 2024

In September 2022, when the Woman, Life, Freedom protests erupted in Iran, many international commentators anticipated significant changes in the country. However, one and a half years later, there has been little meaningful transformation in Iranian society and politics. This paper argues that the activities of certain prominent Iranian opposition figures, notably Masih Alinejad, contributed to Iranians choosing to abstain from the protests. Through an extensive analysis of data from Google Trends, Wikipedia, and X, we demonstrate widespread cynicism among Iranians towards Masih Alinejad and her initiatives. Consequently, this study views her role as pivotal in safeguarding the Islamic Republic regime by presenting a bleak outlook for Iranians if the protests were to continue and succeed.
Trace Anomaly Redefined in a Convention Leading to the Pontryagin Resolution
Authors: Maalouf Hani W.
Published: April 2024

It is sought a fundamental reason for the then fore contradictory or randomly correct outcomes. As due the dilemma borne out from the multiple methods for the Pontryagin Chiral Fermions density anomalies resolutions and their either zero or imaginary results.

Such is based on extracting the unitarity from a unity-scale diffeomorphic transformation.

The same result can be found independently while is being linked to a generalization of the Wick rotation and as a result of an orbital-wise Pfaffian differential satisfying Gravity.
Florida Pest Management Industry Economic Contributions Report
Authors: Khachatryan Hayk , Wei Xuan , Court Christa D.
Published: April 2024

Florida's pest management industry is one of the nation’s leaders, accounting for more than 14 percent of pest management establishments in 2021. Among other services, this industry provides insect extermination and control, bedbug extermination, mosquito control, termite extermination and control, and rodent control and extermination. The market share concentration of the Florida pest management industry has increased due to consolidation during the past decade, but the general concentration within the industry has remained relatively low. Most operators are midsize or small and strategically located near densely populated areas. To estimate economic contributions of the Florida pest management industry for the most recent fiscal year, we sent survey questionnaires to more than 3,500 pest control firms and received responses from 764 of them. We then conducted an economic contribution analysis using the IMPLAN© regional economic modeling system and associated databases.
Heterogeneity is key to supporting forest-dweller butterflies
Authors: Ambarlı D.
Published: April 2024

Worldwide, forests are considered biodiversity hotspots. Butterflies are among the surrogate species for forest biodiversity yet in many parts of the world, little is known about the presence or habitat use of forest-dweller butterflies. In this study we aimed to narrow the information gap by applying a time-effective butterfly survey in forests in northeast Türkiye that are surrounded by several prime butterfly areas. The target species were Boloria euphrosyne, Coenonympha arcania, Erebia aethiops, and Satyrium ilicis. The surveys provided 128 records of the species. Random forests models showed that the mean temperature of the warmest month, canopy cover of pine trees, tree size, and managed meadows in or at the edge of forests are important parameters for species occurrence. Nevertheless, the direction of the effects varied between species. Maintaining heterogeneity in forests in terms of the forest variables indicated above and promoting small-scale grassland management in forest openings and edges are important conservation measures for forest-dwelling butterflies. The relevance of the temperature suggests that climate change may have significant effects on the occurrence of forest butterflies. Key words: Habitat use, Hay meadows, Forest structure, Erebia aethiops, Satyrium ilicis, Coenonympha arcania
Ideas for Estate and Transition Planning: Gifting
Authors: Groskopf Jessica
Published: April 2024

For many farm and ranch families, bringing children or grandchildren into the operation is the ultimate goal. Successfully bringing additional family members into the operation may require some creativity as all parties need to maintain a viable standard of living. This article is part of a series that will highlight ideas and tactics for bringing another family member into the operation. If this is the first article you are seeing in this series, I would encourage you to go back to the previous article for background and additional guidance.

The second tactic to transfer wealth between generations is gifting. The U.S. tax code has two main laws that apply to gifting: the annual gift tax exclusion and the gift and estate tax basic exclusion amount.” In this article, the person gifting assets is going to be called the donor, and the person receiving the gift is going to be called the donee
العقد الاجتماعي في القانون الدستوري الإسلامي وأثره في العملية السياسية: دراسة تحليلية
Authors: Hasan Baidar Mohammed Mohammed , Mahmoud Edris Mahmoud Mohammad Ali , El-Bourtiaa Wuarda
Published: April 2024

The study aims to discuss the theory of social contract in Islamic constitutionalism and its impact on the political process through analyzing the relationship between the people, the ruler, and constitutional institutions. The study focuses on the value of the theory of the social contract as an Islamic constitutional foundation that creates a balance in the relationship between governing authorities and the people. The study followed a descriptive-analytical approach and arrived at several findings, including that the theory of social contract in Islamic constitutionalism is based on constitutional foundations and principles that contribute to achieving a balance in the relationship between the people and the ruler and regulating governance appropriately. It also preserves the people's constitutional rights in the political process and the constitutional system that organizes the political process, in addition to surpassing the dominance of private groups over the public. The study particularly emphasized the importance of the mutual relationship between the ruler and the people, which forms the basis of the social contract between them, to achieve a balance between civil society groups, governing authorities, and the people. In conclusion, the study serves as a contribution to understanding the theory of the social contract in Islamic constitutionalism and its impact on the political process. It also provided insights into the relationship between the people, the ruler, and governing constitutional institutions.
 
ملخص البحث
هدفت الدراسة إلى مناقشة نظرية العقد الاجتماعي في الدستورية الإسلامية وأثرها في العملية السياسية، من خلال تحليل العلاقة بين الشعب والحاكم والمؤسسات الدستورية. ويتمحور الاهتمام في الدراسة حول قيمة نظرية العقد الاجتماعي كأساس دستوري إسلامي يخلق توازنًا في العلاقة بين االسلطات الحاكمة والشعب. وقد اتبعت الدراسة المنهج الوصفي التحليلي. وتوصلت إلى عدة نتائج منها: أن نظرية العقد الاجتماعي في الدستورية الإسلامية تقوم على أسس دستورية ومبادئ تسهم في تحقيق توازن العلاقة بين الشعب والحاكم، وتنظيم الحكم بشكل مناسب. كما أنها تحافظ على حقوق الشعب الدستورية في العملية السياسية، والنظام الدستوري المنظم للعملية السياسية، إضافة إلى أنها تتجاوز تفرد الجماعات الخاصة بالأمر من دون الناس. وقد تم التأكيد بشكل خاص على أهمية العلاقة المتبادلة بين الحاكم والشعب، والتي تعد أساسًا للعقد الاجتماعي بينهما، لتحقيق التوازن بين فئات المجتمع المدني والسلطات الحاكمة والشعب. وختامًا، فإن الدراسة تعد بمثابة إسهام في فهم نظرية العقد الاجتماعي في الدستورية الإسلامية وأثرها في العملية السياسية. كما أنها قدمت معطيات حول العلاقة بين الشعب والحاكم والمؤسسات الدستورية المنظمة للحكم.
Застосування методів нарисної геометрії до вирішення практичних завдань
Authors: Карпюк Л. В. , Давіденко Н. О. , Анікєєв М. А.
Published: April 2024

В даній статті, на основі особистої практики, розглядаються позитивні сторони вирішення практичних завдань на основі знань методів нарисної геометрії, що є стимулом до вивчення графічної дисципліни. Нарисна геометрія — одна з основних загальнотехнічних дисциплін, що становлять основу інженерної освіти. Нарисна геометрія та інженерна графіка – одна з найбільш трудомістких дисциплін для студентів молодших курсів технічних вузів. На жаль, стає все більш помітним падіння рівня графічної підготовки випускників шкіл. Їм складно адаптуватися до незвичного предмета, а причина в тому, що в школах більшою мірою наголошують на предметах, рівень знань з яких контролюється централізованим тестуванням, що проводиться під час вступної компанії, а дисципліна «Креслення» викладається за залишковим принципом. Крім того, багато студентів-першокурсників сприймають методи нарисної геометрії, як щось складне, абстрактне та малозастосовне в реальному житті. Отже, щоб виникла зацікавленість у вивченні дисципліни, викладачеві потрібно вміти показати прямий перехід від теорії до вирішення практичних завдань. Для студентів технічних спеціальностей таким переходом від теорії до практики при вивченні теми «Метод заміни площин проєкцій» є виконання кресленика з використанням методів нарисної геометрії. Спосіб заміни площин проєкцій полягає в тому, що одна з площин замінюється на нову. Ця площина вибирається перпендикулярно площині проєкцій, що залишилася. Геометрична фігура при цьому не змінює свого положення у просторі. Нову площину розташовують так, щоб по відношенню до неї геометрична фігура займала особливе положення, зручне для вирішення задачі. Способом заміни площин проєкцій можна розв'язати чотири основні задачі: визначити натуральну величину відрізка прямої та кути нахилу його до площин проєкцій; пряму, паралельну до однієї з площин проєкцій, перетворити на проєктувальну пряму; площину загального положення перетворити на площину, що проєктує; перетворити площину, що проєктує, на площину рівня (площину, паралельну одній із площин проєкцій).
Фінансова безпека суб’єктів господарювання в сучасних умовах: проблеми та перспективи
Authors: Середа О.О. , Севост’янов С.С.
Published: April 2024

В умовах сучасного бізнесу суб’єкти господарювання стикаються з новими викликами та загрозами. З цієї причини важливо ідентифікувати основні ризики та загрози для ефективного управління фінансовою безпекою суб’єктів господарювання. Метою статті є ідентифікація чинників впливу на фінансову безпеку суб’єктів господарювання за ключовими видами економічної діяльності в сучасних умовах. Визначено базові види економічної діяльності національної економіки з урахуванням стратегічних цілей країни, частки в створенні ВВП, наявних ресурсів. Досліджено тенденції впливу на фінансову безпеку у такій послідовності: визначення рівня підприємницької активності на основі кількості діючих суб’єктів господарювання; моніторинг обсягів реалізованої продукції та фінансованих результатів суб’єктів господарювання, аналіз структури капіталу та обчислення фінансових коефіцієнтів. З’ясовано, що загальною тенденцією підприємницької активності є значне зниження кількості діючих суб’єктів господарювання у 2022 році, крім сектора інформації та телекомунікацій, що означає їх адаптивність до зовнішніх умов. Визначено тенденції обсягів реалізації продукції та фінансових результатів за базовими видами економічної діяльності. Для прогнозування чистого прибутку, як ключового чинника забезпечення фінансової безпеки запропоновано трендовий аналіз, результати якого вказують на позитивну динаміку показника в майбутньому. Проаналізовано структуру капіталу за видами економічної діяльності як основного чинника фінансової безпеки суб'єктів господарювання. З'ясовано, що структура капіталу суб’єктів господарювання значно варіювалася залежно від виду економічної діяльності, низька частка власного спостерігалась в будівництві та переробної промисловості, що вказує на низьку фінансову стійкість в цих секторах. Встановлено, що аналіз тенденцій розвитку вітчизняних суб’єктів господарювання за видами економічної діяльності дозволяє простежити наявність проблем, що негативно впливають на їх рівень фінансової безпеки. З огляду на це подальший розвиток суб’єктів господарювання різних галузей буде залежати від ступеня впливу ризиків та врахування їх у діяльності.
Características y comparación de los sistemas de producción de plantas en campo, invernaderos y recintos cerrados con iluminación artificial y ambiente controlado
Authors: Guillen Pérez Victor Manuel
Published: April 2024

En este trabajo se analizan y comparan los tres sistemas de producción de cultivos: en campo, invernadero y en recintos cerrados con luz artificial y ambiente controlado. Se resumen las estadísticas de la producción hortícola que utilizan estos sistemas en Panamá. Se examinan los beneficios/ventajas y desventajas de cada uno según la bibliografía consultada a nivel internacional, así como los costos de producción, productividad y rentabilidad.
Discriminating Canadian Arctic beluga management stocks using dentine oxygen and carbon isotopes
Authors: Matthews CJD , Longstaffe FJ , Parent GJ , Hornby CA , Watt CA
Published: April 2024

In the eastern Canadian Arctic, belugas Delphinapterus leucas exhibit genetic and ecological differentiation across their distribution that forms the basis of management stocks for traditional Inuit hunts. Using oxygen and stable carbon isotope ratios in dentine phosphate (δ18OP) and structural carbonate (δ13CSC), respectively, we evaluated the spatial structure of 3 of these beluga stocks: Western Hudson Bay (WHB, n = 30), Cumberland Sound (CS, n = 44), and Eastern High Arctic-Baffin Bay (EHA-BB, n = 29). Pairwise comparisons revealed significant differences in δ18OP and Suess-adjusted δ13CSC among all stocks, with the exception of similar δ18OP between the WHB and CS stocks. A linear discriminant analysis (LDA) model fit to 60% of the data set (training data) successfully classified 84% of the remaining belugas (test data) to their respective stocks based on hunt location. Isotopic overlap among stocks could reflect (1) homogeneous baseline stable isotope (SI) composition between geographically adjacent stocks, (2) some degree of marginal geographic overlap in ranges or individual movements among stocks, perhaps during late spring, or (3) confounding dietary influences that increased within-stock SI variation. Some misclassifications consistent with individual movements among stocks were supported by limited genetic data, with a small number of belugas hunted from the CS stock exhibiting both isotopic and genetic similarity to WHB belugas. Geographic stock differentiation inferred from oxygen and carbon isotope proxies largely corroborates current eastern Canadian Arctic beluga stock definitions, which is relevant not only for management purposes but also for monitoring changing beluga distributions in response to ongoing climate-driven changes in Arctic marine ecosystems.
Leveling and Spotlighting: How the European Court of Justice Favors the Weak to Promote its Legitimacy
Authors: Hermansen Silje , Pavone Tommaso , Boulaziz Louisa
Published: April 2024

As private actors turn to international courts (ICs), we argue that judges can seize individual rights litigation to promote themselves as protectors of the weak. By leveling the odds for less resourceful individuals and spotlighting their rights claims, ICs can cultivate support networks in civil society. We verify this legitimation strategy by scrutinizing the first IC with private access: the European Court of Justice (ECJ). Often cast as a stealthy pro-business court, we show that ECJ judges instead publicized themselves as individual rights promoters: do they match words with deeds? Leveraging an original dataset, we find that the ECJ “levels,” favoring individuals’ rights claims compared to claims by businesses boasting larger, more experienced legal teams. The ECJ also “spotlights” support for individuals through press releases that lawyers amplify in law journals. Our findings challenge the view that ICs build legitimacy by stealth and the “haves” come out ahead in litigation.
Investigation of crystalline lens overshooting: ex vivo experiment and optomechanical simulation results
Authors: Dahaghin Ali , Salimibani Milad , Boszczyk Agnieszka , Jóźwik Agnieszka , Skrok Marta , Grasa Jorge , Siedlecki Damian
Published: April 2024

Introduction: Crystalline lens overshooting refers to a situation in which the lens momentarily shifts too much from its typical location immediately after stopping the rotational movement of the eye globe. This movement can be observed using an optical technique called Purkinje imaging.

Methods: In this work, an experimental setup was designed to reproduce this effect ex vivo using a fresh porcine eye. The sample was rotated 90° around its centroid using a high-velocity rotation stage, and the Purkinje image sequences were recorded, allowing us to quantify the overshooting effect. The numerical part of the study consisted of developing a computational model of the eye, based on the finite element method, that allowed us to understand the biomechanical behavior of the different tissues in this dynamic scenario. A 2D fluid–structure interaction model of the porcine eye globe, considering both the solid parts and humors, was created to reproduce the experimental outcomes.

Results: Outputs of the simulation were analyzed using an optical simulation software package to assess whether the mechanical model behaves optically like the real ex vivo eye. The simulation predicted the experimental results by carefully adjusting the mechanical properties of the zonular fibers and the damping factor.

Conclusion: This study effectively demonstrates the importance of characterizing the dynamic mechanical properties of the eye tissues to properly comprehend and predict the overshooting effect.
EmoAsst: emotion recognition assistant via text-guided transfer learning on pre-trained visual and acoustic models
Authors: Wang Minxiao , Yang Ning
Published: April 2024

Children diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) often struggle to grasp social conventions and promptly recognize others' emotions. Recent advancements in the application of deep learning (DL) to emotion recognition are solidifying the role of AI-powered assistive technology in supporting autistic children. However, the cost of collecting and annotating large-scale high-quality human emotion data and the phenomenon of unbalanced performance on different modalities of data challenge DL-based emotion recognition. In response to these challenges, this paper explores transfer learning, wherein large pre-trained models like Contrastive Language-Image Pre-training (CLIP) and wav2vec 2.0 are fine-tuned to improve audio- and video-based emotion recognition with text- based guidance. In this work, we propose the EmoAsst framework, which includes a visual fusion module and emotion prompt fine-tuning for CLIP, in addition to leveraging CLIP's text encoder and supervised contrastive learning for audio-based emotion recognition on the wav2vec 2.0 model. In addition, a joint few-shot emotion classifier enhances the accuracy and offers great adaptability for real-world applications. The evaluation results on the MELD dataset highlight the outstanding performance of our methods, surpassing the majority of existing video and audio-based approaches. Notably, our research demonstrates the promising potential of the proposed text-based guidance techniques for improving video and audio-based Emotion Recognition and Classification (ERC).
New cold seep sites on the continental slope southwest to Svalbard
Authors: Bellec V. K. , Chand S. , Knies J. , Bjarnadóttir L. R. , Lepland A. , Sen A. , Thorsnes T.
Published: April 2024

We discovered seafloor features such as bacterial mats and carbonate crusts typical for active methane seeps on the continental slope southwest of Svalbard. These features are associated with two main northwest-southeast trending morphological structures that are oriented parallel to the regional continental slope. Both structures occur at c. 800 m water depth, at the boundary between the Storfjorden trough mouth fan to the south and the Hornsund trough mouth fan to the north, which suggests a loading related fluid seepage. The main structure displays depressions and ridges forming a crater in its center. Other occurring features include small sediment mounds, domes often covered by bacterial mats, and hummocky seafloor colonized by siboglinid tubeworms. Free gas bubbles were spotted close to the centre and plumes along the rims of the structure. Thick carbonate crusts indicate a long seepage history in the center of the structure and on top of the ridges. The sources of the seeps are likely to be Miocene old organic-rich deposits, or Paleocene hydrocarbon reservoirs.
Developing a Community of Inquiry using an educational blog in higher education from the perspective of Bangladesh
Authors: Chowdhury Sabbir Ahmed , Siddique Mohammad Nure Alam
Published: April 2024

Web 2.0 tools such as blogs, wikis, social networking, and podcasting have received attention in educational research over the last decade. Blogs enable students to reflect their learning experiences, disseminate ideas, and participate in analytical thinking. The Community of Inquiry (CoI) framework has been widely used in educational research to understand and enhance online and blended learning platforms. There is insufficient research evidence to demonstrate the impact of educational blogging using the CoI model as a framework. This article explores how blogs can be used to support collaborative learning and how such an interaction upholds CoI through enhancing critical thinking and meaningful learning in the context of higher education (HE). An exploratory sequential mixed-method approach has been followed in this study. A convenience sampling method was employed to choose 75 undergraduate students from Dhaka University for a 24-week blogging project. Every publication on the blog was segmented into meaningful units. Whole texts of posts and comments are extracted from the blog, and the transcripts are analyzed in a qualitative manner considering the CoI framework, more specifically, through the lens of cognitive, social, and teaching presence. In addition, the semi-structured questionnaire is used to collect data from students irrespective of whether blogging expedited students' learning or not. The research findings indicate that cognitive presence, namely, the exploration component, is dominant in blog-based learning activity. Moreover, this research has demonstrated that blogs build reliable virtual connections among students through exchanging ideas and information and by offering opportunities for reflective practice and asynchronous feedback. This study also revealed challenges related to blogging in the context of developing countries, including lack of familiarity with blogs, restricted internet connectivity, limited access to devices, and low levels of social interaction. It is recommended that different stakeholders including policymakers, curriculum developers, and teachers take the initiative to synchronize the utilization of educational blogs with the formal curriculum, guaranteeing that blog activities supplement and improve traditional teaching–learning activities.
A new nomogram model for the individualized prediction of mild cognitive impairment in elderly patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus
Authors: Jiang Yuanyuan , Liu Xueyan , Gao Huiying , Yan Jingzheng , Cao Yingjuan
Published: April 2024

Background

A high risk of developing mild cognitive impairment (MCI) is faced by elderly patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). In this study, independent risk factors for MCI in elderly patients with T2DM were investigated, and an individualized nomogram model was developed.

Methods

In this study, clinical data of elderly patients with T2DM admitted to the endocrine ward of the hospital from November 2021 to March 2023 were collected to evaluate cognitive function using the Montreal Cognitive Assessment scale. To screen the independent risk factors for MCI in elderly patients with T2DM, a logistic multifactorial regression model was employed. In addition, a nomogram to detect MCI was developed based on the findings of logistic multifactorial regression analysis. Furthermore, the accuracy of the prediction model was evaluated using calibration and receiver operating characteristic curves. Finally, decision curve analysis was used to evaluate the clinical utility of the nomogram.

Results

In this study, 306 patients were included. Among them, 186 patients were identified as having MCI. The results of multivariate logistic regression analysis demonstrated that educational level, duration of diabetes, depression, glycated hemoglobin, walking speed, and sedentary duration were independently correlated with MCI, and correlation analyses showed which influencing factors were significantly correlated with cognitive function (p <0.05). The nomogram based on these factors had an area under the curve of 0.893 (95%CI:0.856-0.930)(p <0.05), and the sensitivity and specificity were 0.785 and 0.850, respectively. An adequate fit of the nomogram in the predictive value was demonstrated by the calibration plot.

Conclusions

The nomogram developed in this study exhibits high accuracy in predicting the occurrence of cognitive dysfunction in elderly patients with T2DM, thereby offering a clinical basis for detecting MCI in patients with T2DM.
Hair cortisol levels are associated with overweight and obesity in the ELSA-Brasil cohort
Authors: Rodrigues Karine Lino , Scaranni Patrícia de Oliveira da Silva , Pereira Evelyn Nunes Goulart da Silva , da Silva Vivian Vieira Dias , Silvares Raquel Rangel , de Araujo Beatriz Peres , Castilho Cristina , Schmidt Maria Inês , Fonseca Maria de Jesus Mendes da , Griep Rosane Harter , Daliry Anissa
Published: April 2024

Introduction

Hair cortisol level has recently been identified as a promising marker for detecting long-term cortisol levels and a marker of hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal cortex (HPA) axis activity. However, research on the association between obesity and an altered cortisol metabolism remains controversial.

Objective

This study aimed to investigate the relationship between hair cortisol levels and overweight and obesity in participants from the Brazilian Longitudinal Study of Adult Health (ELSA-Brasil)

Methods

This was a cross-sectional study involving 2,499 participants from the second follow-up (visit 3, 2017-2019) attending research centers in Rio de Janeiro and Rio Grande do Sul states. Hair samples were collected, and cortisol levels were analyzed using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) kits. Cortisol levels were classified as low (< 40 pg/mg), medium (40–128 pg/mg), or high (> 128 pg/mg). The participants were classified as eutrophic, overweight, or obese according to their weight (kg) and height (m2). Odds ratios (ORs) with 95% confidence intervals (95%CI) were estimated.

Results

Of the 2499 individuals, 30% had eutrophic weight, 40% were overweight, and 30% were obese. Notably, cortisol levels gradually increased with increasing body weight. Among participants with high hair cortisol levels, 41.2% were classified as overweight and 34.2% as obese. Multinomial logistic regression analysis indicated that participants with high cortisol levels were 43% (OR =1.43; 95%CI: 1.02–2.03) more likely to be overweight and 72% (OR =1.72; 95%CI:1.20–2.47) more likely to be obese than participants with low hair cortisol levels. After adjustment for all covariates, high cortisol levels remained associated with obesity (OR = 1.54; 95%CI:1.02–2.31) and overweight (OR =1.33; 95%CI:0.91–1.94).

Conclusion

In the ELSA-Brazil cohort, hair stress were positively associated with overweight and obesity. These results underscore the importance of considering stress and cortisol as potential factors in obesity prevention and intervention efforts, and highlight a novel aspect of the complex relationship between stress and obesity in the Brazilian population.
An integrated energy system day-ahead scheduling method based on an improved dynamic time warping algorithm
Authors: Li Bohang
Published: April 2024

With the construction and development of the new energy system, the integrated energy system (IES) has garnered significant attention as a crucial energy carrier in recent years. Therefore, to address the scheduling challenges of IES influenced by uncertainty in source load and mitigate the conservatism of scheduling schemes while enhancing clustering accuracy, a method for day-ahead top-note scheduling of IES is proposed. First, by improving dynamic time warping (DTW) for hierarchical clustering of wind, solar, and load data in IES, typical scenarios of IES are derived. Second, using the interval method to model wind, solar, and load data in IES along with their coupled devices and considering the conservatism issue of interval optimization, the established IES interval model undergoes affine processing. Finally, with the goal of minimizing the operating costs of IES, a day-ahead interval affine scheduling model is established, which is solved using the CPLEX Solver and INTLAB toolbox, and scheduling schemes for all typical scenarios are provided. Through comparative analysis of calculation examples, it is found that the method proposed in this paper can enhance clustering accuracy and reduce the conservatism of system scheduling schemes.
New insight into the biological activity of Salmo salar NK-lysin antimicrobial peptides
Authors: Ortega Leonardo , Carrera Crisleri , Muñoz-Flores Carolina , Salazar Santiago , Villegas Milton F. , Starck María F. , Valenzuela Ariel , Agurto Niza , Montesino Raquel , Astuya Allisson , Parra Natalie , Pérez Ercilia T. , Santibáñez Natacha , Romero Alex , Ruíz Pamela , Lamazares Emilio , Reyes Fátima , Sánchez Oliberto , Toledo Jorge R. , Acosta Jannel
Published: April 2024

NK-lysin is a potent antimicrobial peptide (AMP) with antimicrobial activity against bacteria, fungi, viruses, and parasites. NK-lysin is a type of granulysin, a member of the saposin-like proteins family first isolated from a pig’s small intestine. In previous work, for the first time, we identified four variants of nk-lysin from Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) using EST sequences. In the present study, we reported and characterized two additional transcripts of NK-lysin from S. salar. Besides, we evaluated the tissue distribution of three NK-lysins from S. salar and assessed the antimicrobial, hemolytic, and immunomodulatory activities and signaling pathways of three NK-lysin-derived peptides. The synthetic peptides displayed antimicrobial activity against Piscirickettsia salmonis (LF-89) and Flavobacterium psychrophilum. These peptides induced the expression of immune genes related to innate and adaptive immune responses in vitro and in vivo. The immunomodulatory activity of the peptides involves the mitogen-activated protein kinases-mediated signaling pathway, including p38, extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1/2, and/or c-Jun N-terminal kinases. Besides, the peptides modulated the immune response induced by pathogen-associated molecular patterns (PAMPs). Our findings show that NK-lysin could be a highly effective immunostimulant or vaccine adjuvant for use in fish aquaculture.
KP177R-based visual assay integrating RPA and CRISPR/Cas12a for the detection of African swine fever virus
Authors: Luan Haorui , Wang Shujuan , Ju Lin , Liu Tong , Shi Haoyue , Ge Shengqiang , Jiang Shijin , Wu Jiaqiang , Peng Jun
Published: April 2024

Introduction

Early detection of the virus in the environment or in infected pigs is a critical step to stop African swine fever virus (ASFV) transmission. The p22 protein encoded by ASFV KP177R gene has been shown to have no effect on viral replication and virulence and can serve as a molecular marker for distinguishing field virus strains from future candidate KP177R deletion vaccine strains.

Methods

This study established an ASFV detection assay specific for the highly conserved ASFV KP177R gene based on recombinase polymerase amplification (RPA) and the CRISPR/Cas12 reaction system. The KP177R gene served as the initial template for the RPA reaction to generate amplicons, which were recognized by guide RNA to activate the trans-cleavage activity of Cas12a protein, thereby leading to non-specific cleavage of single-stranded DNA as well as corresponding color reaction. The viral detection in this assay could be determined by visualizing the results of fluorescence or lateral flow dipstick (LFD) biotin blotting for color development, and was respectively referred to as fluorescein-labeled RPA-CRISPR/Cas12a and biotin-labeled LFD RPA-CRISPR/Cas12a. The clinical samples were simultaneously subjected to the aforementioned assay, while real-time quantitative PCR (RT-qPCR) was employed as a control for determining the diagnostic concordance rate between both assays.

Results

The results showed that fluorescein- and biotin-labeled LFD KP177R RPA-CRISPR/Cas12a assays specifically detected ASFV, did not cross-react with other swine pathogens including PCV2, PEDV, PDCoV, and PRV. The detection assay established in this study had a limit of detection (LOD) of 6.8 copies/μL, and both assays were completed in 30 min. The KP177R RPA-CRISPR/Cas12a assay demonstrated a diagnostic coincidence rate of 100% and a kappa value of 1.000 (p < 0.001), with six out of ten clinical samples testing positive for ASFV using both KP177R RPA-CRISPR/Cas12a and RT-qPCR, while four samples tested negative in both assays.

Discussion

The rapid, sensitive and visual detection assay for ASFV developed in this study is suitable for field application in swine farms, particularly for future differentiation of field virus strains from candidate KP177R gene-deleted ASFV vaccines, which may be a valuable screening tool for ASF eradication.
New-onset or flare-up of bullous pemphigoid associated with COVID-19 vaccines: a systematic review of case report and case series studies
Authors: Ghanaatpisheh Aref , Safari Mohadesseh , Haghshenas Hoda , Motamed-Sanaye Ali , Atefi Amir Homayoun , Kamangarpour Karo , Bagherzadeh Mohammad Aref , Kamran-Jahromi Amirhossein , Darayesh Mohammad , Kouhro Navid , Bahadori Amir Reza , Esfandiari Mohammad Ali
Published: April 2024

Background

Numerous cutaneous manifestations have been associated with the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) outbreak and vaccination, but new-onset bullous pemphigoid (BP) or flaring up of pre-existing BP is a rare side effect of COVID-19 vaccines that has been mentioned to a lesser extent in the literature. Therefore, we aimed to conduct a systematic review focused on the association between the new- onset or flare-up of BP and the COVID-19 vaccination.

Method

A comprehensive literature search was conducted using PubMed (MEDLINE), Scopus, and the Web of Science databases up to 11 March 2023. The search aimed to identify English-language studies reporting new-onset or flare-ups of BP as a potential side effect of the COVID-19 vaccination. The search terms included bullous pemphigoid and COVID-19 vaccination-related MeSH terms.

Results

The systematic review of 40 articles investigating the incidence of BP in individuals who received various COVID-19 vaccines revealed pertinent findings. Among the 54 patients with new-onset BP, the median age was 72.42 years, and most were men (64%). Conversely, the median age of the 17 patients experiencing a flare-up of BP was 73.35 years, with a higher proportion of women (53%). Regarding vaccination types, a significant number of patients (56%) developed new-onset BP after receiving the BNT162b2 vaccine (Pfizer-BioNTech).

Conclusion

This study indicates a potential association between COVID-19 vaccinations, particularly mRNA vaccines, and the occurrence of BP. It suggests that this rare autoimmune disorder may be triggered as an adverse event following the COVID-19 vaccination. However, it is important to note that the majority of BP patients in our study were unaffected by the COVID-19 vaccine, and even those who experienced worsening of their conditions were managed without significant consequences. These findings provide additional evidence supporting the safety of COVID-19 vaccines. Physicians should be mindful of this uncommon adverse event and encourage patients to complete their planned vaccination schedules.