bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Buyer / Seller Relationship in the Services Sector at the Bottom of the Pyramid: A Commitment-Trust Theory Perspective
Authors: Tjizumaue Bianca
Published: February 2024

Drawing on the commitment-trust theory as the central approach, this paper aims to evaluate the importance of the commitment-trust theory in improving relationships between buyers and sellers in the service sector at the Bottom of the Pyramid. The paper further aims to investigate if the relationship formed between the buyers/sellers can impact the organization’s financial performance through customer satisfaction. From that, a conceptual framework is developed, which illustrates how the buyers’ and sellers’ relationships through commitment-trust theory are displayed as mediators in the conceptual framework, subsequently impacting the financial performance of the service providers. The study is a conceptual paper; therefore, it only concentrated on secondary data, which led to reviewing the literature of 190 articles focused on the conceptual evaluation of existing actors in relationship marketing and services marketing. The findings of this study illustrate that service providers should not only concentrate on high earners but also give attention to the bottom of the pyramid markets as those markets are also profitable. The findings also prove that service providers must adequately pay attention to the Bottom of the pyramid customers. The findings further revealed that well-served customers result in positive word of mouth, which subsequently increases loyalty and referrals, thus resulting in more outstanding market share. The study also showed that the customers at the Bottom of the Pyramid are not usually well acquainted with the benefits of the products and their rights as consumers; hence, some service providers take advantage of them.
A Social Contract with Humans and Nature Center Stage
Authors: A. Papakonstantinidis Leonidas , Storlund Vivan
Published: February 2024

A small number of the world population, 1 %, is getting richer while an increasing number, the 99 %, are getting poorer. This is by now an undisputed fact. Behind this scenario, we have major societal trends since the 1970s; globalisation, flexibilisation of working life standards, the introduction of neoliberal economic policies, as well as the introduction of digital technologies. These changes have, in a variety of ways, adversely affected the playing field among different sectors and groups in society. To this should be added the longstanding trend of depleting natural resources, which should urgently be reversed to secure continued existence on Mother Earth. The present neoliberal policies are destroying the conditions for democracy Arran Gare says, illustrating it with the situation in the USA. Between 1989 and 2018, the top 1% of Americans increased their wealth by $21 trillion, from $8.4 trillion to $29.5 trillion, while the bottom 50% lost $900 billion, from owning $0.7 trillion to being indebted by $0.2 trillion. As to the global ecological crisis, Gare asserts that those analyzing the root causes fail to address questions of political philosophy for finding a way out, and equally so, the failure of ethical and political philosophers to effectively engage with the deep assumptions, power structures and dynamics that actually operate in the current world‐order. Gare contends that this marginalization of political philosophy, for whatever reason, has made it impossible to mobilize humanity to overcome this crisis of civilization. (Arran Gare, Rethinking Political Philosophy through Ecology and Ecopoiesis, 2023). These developments require a profound change of policies = a new social contract. With Leonidas A. Papakonstantinidis’ Political win-win-win model, we will explore pitfalls and obstacles as well as means of striving toward a consensus, which a new social contract requires. The win-win-win model offers strategic potential by combining different research fields such as game theory and behavioral science, the choice problem, the decision making problem, the ultimate game etc. It addresses the challenges of blending empathy and conflict to move the playing field toward an equilibrium. In addition, contemporary perceptions are enriched by drawing upon thinkers who in the past have addressed related problems, mainly Thomas Paine, Aristotle, and Plato.
Sensibilidad in vitro de Gammarus pulex a la exposición controlada de Sulfatos de Cobre y Aluminio
Authors: Cedeño Moreira Angel Virgilio , Arellano Ibarra Ketty Vanessa , Macias Holguín Cristhian John , Puente Bosquez Daysi Katherine , Molina Sanchez Genesis Alondra , Ramos Corrales Pablo Cesar
Published: February 2024

Los ecosistemas acuáticos, vitales para la purificación del agua, la regulación climática y la preservación de la biodiversidad, se encuentran amenazados por la creciente liberación de contaminantes, entre los cuales destacan el sulfato de cobre y el sulfato de aluminio. Estos compuestos ejercen graves efectos en la salud de los organismos acuáticos y la integridad de sus nichos biológicos. Este estudio se enfoca en Gammarus pulex, un indicador altamente sensible de la contaminación en hábitats acuáticos. Para abordar esta investigación, se implementó una metodología rigurosa que abarcó desde el aislamiento y la identificación de individuos de G. pulex hasta su aclimatación y posterior exposición controlada a sulfato de cobre y aluminio. La evaluación integral de los efectos de esta exposición incluyó análisis morfométricos y poblacionales detallados. Los resultados revelaron que todas las concentraciones estudiadas de estos contaminantes provocaron reducciones significativas en el crecimiento de las poblaciones de G. pulex. Destacando, de manera preocupante, que el tratamiento con Al2(SO4)5 durante un período de exposición de 48 horas y a una concentración de 40 ppm resultó en una mortalidad del 100%. En conjunto, estos hallazgos subrayan la urgente necesidad de abordar la contaminación por sulfato de cobre y sulfato de aluminio en los ecosistemas acuáticos, reconociendo la vulnerabilidad de especies clave como G. pulex. La preservación de la salud de estas poblaciones y la conservación de la integridad de los ecosistemas acuáticos son esenciales para garantizar el funcionamiento adecuado y la sostenibilidad de estos valiosos hábitats.
Spotlights: Faculty, Alumni, Festival
Authors: Creel Stacy , Osborne Mary
Published: February 2024

Meet Dr. Welsh, Professor Emeritus of Library and Information Science, and Adjunct Faculty for SLIS. Meet MLIS SLIS alum, Marjorie Hills, the Library Director for Iberia Parish Library. Learn about the exciting speakers for the 2024 Fay B. Kaigler Children's Book Festival.
The Pack Horse Library Initiative and Kentucky's librarians in the Great Depression: An academic essay
Authors: Omer Jessica
Published: February 2024

The history of libraries is a complex story of ups and downs. There have been times in American history when libraries almost ceased to exist (Boyd, 2009). One of those moments was during the American Great Depression of the 1930s. During this time, American institutions failed, jobs disappeared, homes were lost, and American libraries began to disappear. This paper aims to discover the Pack Horse Library Project's role in Kentucky history and its legacy. This paper answers two questions—How did The Pack Horse Library Project save libraries in Kentucky? And how did women save library services in eastern Kentucky?—by exploring different aspects of this topic, including the history of libraries in Kentucky during the Great Depression, The New Deal, the creation of the Works Progress Administration, the history of the Pack Horse Library Project, what role the program had on the development of libraries in Kentucky, and how the Pack Horse Library Project affected the role of women in the library.
Biochemical Basis of Resistance to Sterility Mosaic Disease in Pigeon Pea Genotypes
Authors: Siril P.S. , Balol Gurupad B. , Kumbar Basamma , Sabale P.R. , Biradar Revanappa S. , Vijaykumar K.N. , Rohit M.K. , Barigal Amruta P.
Published: February 2024

Background: Sterility mosaic is the most destructive disease of pigeon pea causing yield losses up to 95 per cent. Pigeon pea genotypes are found to vary in different biochemical characteristics, thereby playing a crucial role in resistance to sterility mosaic disease. The best approach to manage the disease is by adopting resistant genotypes for cultivation, which is highly necessary in the areas with high sterility mosaic incidence. Methods: Field screening of 41 pigeon pea genotypes was conducted during Kharif 2021 and 2022 at the Indian Institute of Pulse Research, Regional Research Center, Dharwad, to identify the resistance sources to Pigeon pea sterility mosaic virus. All the test genotypes were artificially inoculated by leaf stapling technique at 15-20 days after sowing and the infector hedge row technique was also employed to develop high disease pressure. Observation on per cent disease incidence was recorded at the peak period of the disease. The study also focused on biochemical components that confer resistance in pigeon pea. Further, the leaf samples were collected from the selected pigeon pea genotypes showing resistance and susceptible reactions and statistically analysed for total phenol content, peroxidase and polyphenol oxidase activity. The genotypes showing resistance and susceptible reactions were analysed for leaf chlorophyll content using SPAD Meter. Result: Seven genotypes were found resistant to sterility mosaic disease with a mean disease incidence of 1.9-8.86 per cent. SPAD Chlorophyll Meter Reading revealed that chlorophyll content remained high in all resistant/moderately resistant genotypes as compared to susceptible genotypes. The resistant genotypes were shown to have higher phenol content, peroxidase and polyphenol oxidase activity in comparison to susceptible genotypes suggesting their crucial role in imparting resistance.
Polyphenol Content, Antioxidant Properties and Trypsin Inhibition Activity of Methanol Seed Extract and Fractions of White Velvet Bean from Vietnam
Authors: Ha D.T. , Ha P.T.T. , Tuyen P.T. , Henry R.J. , Loi T.T. , Chi T.N.
Published: February 2024

Background: White Velvet bean (Mucuna pruriens) is a very valuable plant due to its medical potential. Different parts of the plant have been studied by various researchers. However, the seeds, which contain a lot of bioactive compounds, have been considered of substantial medicinal importance. Methods: The total phenolic content, total flavonoid content, antioxidant and trypsin inhibition properties in the methanol extract of white Velvet bean (WVB) seeds and its fractions (methanol, n-hexane, ethyl acetate, n-butanol and aqueous) were studied. Result: The highest total phenolic content was recorded in the methanol extract (206.3 mg GAE g-1). The highest total flavonoid content was in the n-hexane fraction (7.75 mg rutin g-1). The methanol extract showed the highest total antioxidant potential (261.5 mg AAE g-1). The methanol extract also had the strongest DPPH radical scavenging activity and the highest level of trypsin inhibitory activity compared to the other fractions with an IC50 value (35.3 ìg mL-1).
Thermal Conductivity of CaSrFe2O6-δ
Authors: Hona Ram Krishna
Published: February 2024

The thermal conductivity of CaSrFe2O6-δ, an oxygen-deficient perovskite, is a critical parameter for understanding its thermal transport properties and potential applications in energy conversion and electronic devices. In this study, we present an investigation of the thermal conductivity of CaSrFe2O6-δ at room temperature for its thermal insulation property study. Experimental measurement was conducted using a state-of-the-art thermal characterization technique, Thermtest thermal conductivity meter. The thermal conductivity of CaSrFe2O6-δ was found to be 0.574W/m/K, exhibiting a notable thermal insulation property.
Los pluralia tántum en español y polaco
Authors: Sorbet Piotr
Published: February 2024

El objetivo de esta investigación es llevar a cabo un estudio comparativo de los sustantivos españoles y polacos que tienden a usarse en plural. Estos no constituyen un grupo homogéneo y, por esta razón, en la primera etapa se presentan ciertas cuestiones relativas, por un lado, a la categoría gramatical de número, y, por otro lado, al término pluralia tantum. Estos sustantivos engloban los nombres que carecen del número singular así como los que se emplean preferentemente en plural. En la segunda etapa de esta investigación, se realiza un estudio comparativo de los pluralia tántum españoles y polacos. Se distinguen, entonces, las clases léxicas en las que es posible encontrar este tipo de sustantivos y se indican ciertas diferencias y semejanzas en su funcionamiento entre el español y el polaco.
Cambio de código e acomodación lingüística ante as cámaras de televisión: a gheada e o rotacismo. Unha achega ao cambio lingüístico no galego
Authors: Goris García Xoán Carlos
Published: February 2024

O cambio de código e a acomodación lingüística son fenómenos máis ou menos naturais e comúns dentro das comunidades bilingües compostas por falantes que, canto maior sexa o seu repertorio lingüístico, máis posibilidades pragmáticas terán á hora de comunicarse co seu interlocutor, adaptarse ao tema, situación ou rexistro. Como se producen estas mudanzas e que supoñen para o cambio lingüístico en marcha no galego será o obxectivo deste traballo. Ademais, centrarémonos na análise do comportamento dun grupo de falantes morañeses con respecto aos trazos dialectais da gheada e o rotacismo cando son gravados polas cámaras de televisión. Así, e seguindo a metodoloxía da sociolingüística variacionista de Lavob, puidemos observar que é a gheada o trazo que maior acomodación vai recibir fronte ao gran mantemento do rotacismo, que as mulleres son o grupo máis innovador e que a xeración máis nova semella recuperar algúns usos tradicionais da lingua.
Utilization of simulation models in clinical teaching in the department of clinical medicine at medical training colleges
Authors: Wamalwa B. K. , Mengich G. J. , Kaniaru D. K. , Chemjor H. C. , Mbete D. A.
Published: February 2024

Introduction. Simulation is a teaching, and learning technique that amplifies real experiences with guided experiences in clinical practice. Clinical simulation learning as an educational tool is recommended in the clinical officers’ training. Upon entry into the workforce, clinicians are expected to respond to a range of clinical situations they may not have experienced during their training. To assess the simulation models used in clinical teaching on skills and performance.

Materials and Methods. A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted on 317 clinical medicine students attending the skills laboratory. After collecting the information from the questionnaires, the data analysis was analyzed via SPSS software with a significant p < 0.05.

Results. Out of 317 students, 41.4% were female, and 58.6% were male. A multiple linear regression was fitted to assess the simulation models used in clinical teaching on skills and performance. The overall model explained 62.9% variation of Skills and performance, and it was significantly useful in explaining Skills and performance, F(2, 299) = 54.936, p < 0.05. With the one-unit increase in simulation models, the Skills and performance increased by 0.111, which was found to be a significant change, t(299) =4.007, p < 0.05.

Conclusion. The simulation models used in clinical learning experiences exposed students to critical thinking and increased their clinical judgment.
Prevalence of Early Vascular Aging Syndrome in Men Working Under Noise Exposure
Authors: Rudoi M. D.
Published: February 2024

Noise can be one of the factors provoking the premature development of changes in the artery wall associated with age. Aim: to assess the stiffness of the vascular wall and the prevalence of early vascular aging syndrome in men of working age, depending on contact with noise, smoking status and the presence of hypertension. Materials and methods. 148 men worked in noise and 90 men for whom the level of all harmful production factors in the workplace did not exceed the permissible standards were examined. The average age of the examined patients was 41.6 ± 9.9 years, 133 people (55.9 %) were smokers, 43 people (18.1 %) were obese, 47 people (19.7 %) had a complicated heredity, 132 people (55.5 %) had hypercholesterolemia, and 37 people (15.5 %) suffered from arterial hypertension (AH). Each of the patients suffering from hypertension received antihypertensive therapy. There were no significant differences in the structure of antihypertensive therapy in the compared groups of patients. The groups of surveyed were comparable in age, body mass index, prevalence of smoking, obesity and hypertension. All patients underwent volumetric sphygmography according to the standard procedure in the morning on the VaSera 1500N device (FukudaDenshi, Japan), the device automatically determined the cardio-ankle vascular index on the right and left (R/L — CAVI), the estimated age of the arteries. The syndrome of early vascular aging (EVA syndrome) was considered to be a clinical condition associated with an excess of the estimated age of the arteries of the patient’s passport age by 4 years or more (VaSera criteria). Results and discussion. After exclusion of smokers and hypertensive patients from the analysis and correction for age, the vascular wall stiffness index on the right and left in the main group of patients significantly exceeded the indicated indicator in the comparison group. R — CAVI was 7.2 [6.9; 7.9] and 7.05 [6.05; 7.45], respectively, p=0.02; L — CAVI was 7.3 [7.0; 7.9] and 6.85 [6.05; 7.65], respectively, p =0.007. In the group of people working in noise, the estimated age of the arteries significantly exceeded the passport age (p=0.004), whereas in the control group these indicators were comparable (p=0.27). The prevalence of EVA syndrome in the main group of patients was 14 cases (27.5 %), which was 8.6 times higher than the prevalence of EVA syndrome in the comparison group — 1 case (3.2 %); p=0.004. The comparability of the patient groups according to the main cardiovascular risk factors and the exclusion criteria from the study suggested that the identified changes in the state of the vascular wall are associated with the effects of noise on the body of the examined. Conclusion. Noise can be a factor that accelerates vascular aging. It is necessary to monitor the state of the cardiovascular system in persons working in noise.
The bottleneck/cork interface: a key parameter in bottle-aging of wine
Authors: Chanut Julie , Lagorce Aurélie , Gougeon Régis D. , Bellat Jean-Pierre , Karbowiak Thomas
Published: February 2024

A study of changes in oxygen transfer through micro-agglomerated corks was carried out over 24 months under controlled storage conditions (Chanut et al., 2023a). This work demonstrated that the glass/cork interface can represent a major entry route for oxygen into wine bottles. It also showed that there is no difference in oxygen transfer at 20°C between bottles stored horizontally and vertically. However, high storage temperature greatly increases oxygen transfer at the interface between the cork and the bottleneck.
Analisis pengembangan potensi sektor pariwisata Pantai Panjang di Kota Bengkulu
Authors: Naufal Jilan , Santoso Rokhedi Priyo
Published: February 2024

Purpose – This research aims to analyze issues in the current management of Pantai Panjang Tourism Area, and formulate its strategic analysis of tourism development.Methods – The research employs a descriptive analytical approach using primary data. The main analytical tools used for issue identification are the Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats (SWOT) analysis, and strategy formulation utilizes the Quantitative Strategic Planning Matrix (QSPM).Findings – The optimization of Pantai Panjang Tourism Area's development potential involves strengthening the attraction's image, adding and maintaining facilities, conducting promotions, and reinforcing collaboration among stakeholders.Implication – With the implementation of these priority strategies, it is anticipated that the management and development of Pantai Panjang Tourism Area can be optimized, creating an engaging tourism experience, and providing positive impacts for all relevant parties.Originality – This research yields a more comprehensive strategy for the development of Pantai Panjang Tourism Area.

AbstrakTujuan – Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk mengidentifikasi isu pengelolaan Kawasan Wisata Pantai Panjang , serta menyusun analisis strategi pengembangan potensi wisatanya. Metode – Pendekatan penelitian adalah bersifat deskriptif analitik pada data primer. Alat analisis utama yang digunakan untuk mengindentifikasikan isu dan permasalahan adalah Strength, Weakness, Opportunity, and Threat (SWOT). Sementara itu perumusan strategi menggunakan Quantitatif Strategic Planning Matrix (QSPM) Temuan – Optimalisasi pengembangan potensi Kawasan Wisata Pantai Panjang adalah berupa penguatan dari citra atraksi itu sendiri, penambahan dan perawatan beberapa fasilitas, melakukan promosi, dan penguatan kerjasama antar stakeholder.Implikasi – Dengan implementasi strategi prioritas tersebut, diharapkan dapat mengoptimalkan pengelolaan dan pengembangan Kawasan Wisata Pantai Panjang, menciptakan pengalaman wisata yang menarik, dan memberikan dampak positif bagi semua pihak terkait. Orisinalitas – Penelitian ini menghasilkan strategi pengembangan Kawasan Wisata Pantai Panjang secara lebih komprehensif
Pungutan liar yang dihadapi oleh angkutan truk: Studi kasus angkutan truk dengan trayek serang ke Jabodetabek
Authors: Atmadji Eko , Fajar Muhammad Brilian
Published: February 2024

Purpose – To analyze the phenomenon of illegal payment on truck drivers of delivery business.Method – Qualitative phenomenological method to understand the phenomenon of truck drivers choosing to use non-toll roads rather than toll roads to deliver commodity from expedition company clients. In-depth interviews were conducted with truck drivers, expedition company officials, and illegal levy collectors. To get a feel for the incidence of illegal levies on roads, this research used a participatory method.Findings – Truck drivers choose to use non-toll roads because travel costs are cheaper than if they drive through toll roads, therefore truck drivers can take larger transportation allowance home provided by their company. However, truck drivers do not consider about the criminal risks from the extorters, which could happen to them in longer journey of delivery. Another finding is that delivery of goods is often late due to the truck driver's mistakes.Implication – The travel allowance that the company has given to truck drivers has been too large, which could result in the delivery duration of goods being longer.Originality – This study contributes to qualitative research on extortion using participatory methods.

AbstrakTujuan – Menganalisis fenomena pungutan liar pengemudi truk di bisnis pengiriman barang.Metode – Metode kualitatif fenomenologi untuk memahami fenomena pemilihan pengemudi truk yang lebih memilih untuk menggunakan jalan non tol dibanding jalan tol untuk mengirim barang dari klien perusahaan ekspedisi. Wawancara mendalam dengan pengemudi truk, petinggi perusahaan ekspedisi, dan pelaku pemungut pungutan liar dilakukan. Untuk mendapatkan nuansa kejadian pungutan liar di jalan raya, penelitian ini menggunakan metode partisipatif. Temuan – Pemilihan pengemudi truk untuk menggunakan jalan non tol karena pengeluaran ongkos perjalanan lebih murah dibanding jika menggunakan jalan tol sehingga pengemudi truk dapat membawa pulang sisa uang transport dari perusahaan yang lebih besar. Namun demikian, pengemudi truk tidak memikirkan risiko kriminal yang bisa saja menimpa mereka yang bisa mengakibatkan waktu pengiriman menjadi semakin lama. Temuan lain adalah faktor pengiriman barang yang sering terlambat disebabkan oleh kesalahan dari pengemudi truk ini.Implikasi – Uang perjalanan yang diberikan perusahaan ke pengemudi truk selama ini terlalu besar yang bisa menyebabkan justru durasi pengiriman barang menjadi lebih lama.Orisinalitas – Studi ini berkontribusi pada penelitian kualitatif pungutan liar dengan menggunakan metode partisipatif.
Promoting electoral governance in Togo: an analysis of the EMB and the electoral system, 2010-2020
Authors: Lifongo Maureen Namondo , Van Wyk Anna-Mart , Graham Victoria
Published: February 2024

The death of Gnassingbe Eyadema ushered in a new era for Togolese politics. With the transition from military to civilian rule many political actors and citizens had renewed hopes for the birth of a new political dispensation. More than four decades later, under the new leadership of Eyadema’s son Faure, they have been met with scepticism, even though considerable measures have been taken to ensure the promotion of electoral governance. Most political actors continue to question the legitimacy of elections held, and the alternation of power remains highly unlikely. This has led to voter apathy and deepening distrust in electoral management bodies and the electoral system. This paper therefore examines efforts by the Togolese government to promote electoral governance between 2010 and 2020 by analysing two of its important instruments: the electoral system, and the electoral body, the CENI. The paper argues that, despite all efforts made by the government to validate the credibility of elections, ensuring that the proper functioning of these mechanisms is credible, inclusive and transparent remains of paramount concern for the promotion of electoral governance in the country.
Nigeria’s 2023 presidential elections: The question of legitimacy for the Tinubu administration
Authors: Fasakin Akinode
Published: February 2024

This article raises concerns about the legitimacy crisis likely to confront the government of Nigeria’s President Bola Tinubu, following the nature of the conduct and outcome of the 2023 presidential elections. While legitimacy is crucial to government and governance, citizens’ compliance and cooperation with the government, and how elections and their outcomes are perceived can influence the government’s legitimacy. The study reveals how INEC’S conduct, Tinubu’s personality crisis and the burdens facing the ruling APC in a pluralistic society, as well as the emerging youth category, would affect Tinubu’s legitimacy as Nigeria’s president. The analysis relies on careful observation of Nigerian politics and elections as well as the views expressed by experts, political parties, local and international observers and newspaper reports before, during and after the 2023 elections. It offers an empirical contribution to our understanding of the relationship between elections and the legitimacy of Nigeria.
Preparations of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and the outcome of the 2023 General Elections in Nigeria
Authors: Thompson Olasupo , Idris Ridwan , Ademola Oluniyi , Obi Modupe
Published: February 2024

While many scholarly works have been dedicated to the study of elections in Nigeria, the preparations for and outcome of the 2023 elections have not received adequate attention. This article seeks to address that gap with an assessment of the preparations of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and the outcome of the 2023 general elections. Despite earlier concerns about the conduct of Nigeria’s 2023 general elections, assurances from the electoral umpire calmed this anxiety and raised some hopes. However, the outcome of the election betrayed the hopes of not only most of the electorate but also local and international observers. The article argues that the outcome should not be a surprise because of the failure to reckon with endemic problems. These include the nature of Nigeria’s politics, its elite, a lack of political will, lack of rule of law and constitutionalism, unpopular government policies, and a distrust of the system, particularly INEC and the judiciary.
The Dirac Fermion of a Monopole Pair (MP) Model
Authors: Yuguru Samuel
Published: February 2024

The electron of spin −1/2 is a Dirac fermion of a complex four-component spinor field. Though it is effectively addressed by relativistic quantum field theory, an intuitive form of the fermion still remains lacking and it is often described by the so-called Dirac belt trick. In this novel undertaking, the fermion is examined within the boundary posed by a recently proposed MP model of a hydrogen atom into 4D space-time. Its physicality and transformation to Dirac fermion of four-component spinor is unveiled consistent with Dirac belt trick. The outcomes are compatible with Dirac field theory and other associated features like, SO(3) group to SU(2) transition, quantized Hamiltonian, non-relativistic wave function and Feynman diagrams. The model though speculative could become important towards defining the fundamental state of matter and its field theory subject to further investigations.
Bell's Theorem Begs the Question
Authors: Christian Joy
Published: February 2024

I demonstrate that Bell's theorem is based on circular reasoning and thus a fundamentally flawed argument. It unjustifiably assumes the additivity of expectation values for dispersion-free states of contextual hidden variable theories for non-commuting observables involved in Bell-test experiments, which is tautologous to assuming the bounds of ±2 on the Bell-CHSH sum of expectation values. Its premises thus assume in a different guise the bounds of ±2 it sets out to prove. Once this oversight is ameliorated from Bell's argument by identifying the impediment that leads to it and local realism is implemented correctly, the bounds on the Bell-CHSH sum of expectation values work out to be ±2√2 instead of ±2, thereby mitigating the conclusion of Bell's theorem. Consequently, what is ruled out by any of the Bell-test experiments is not local realism but the linear additivity of expectation values, which does not hold for non-commuting observables in any hidden variable theories to begin with.
Safeguarding Lives: SUDEP Awareness and Empathetic Discussions in Epilepsy Management
Authors: Isufi Anisa , Desai Dev , Malafi Maria Eleni
Published: February 2024

SUDEP is a sudden death in a person with epilepsy, without evidence of a seizure before death. While its cause is still unclear, various factors have been linked to seizure onset and cardiopulmonary function. Studies have shown that although 91.3% of epilepsy patients want information on premature death, only 31% of them receive it. The numbers emphasize the need for open and sensitive communication by medical professionals. It is important to choose the appropriate moment for the conversation, avoiding periods of stress and ensuring emotional stability in the patient, as well as clear, appropriate and easy to comprehend information about SUDEP. To facilitate this, knowing the patient's level of knowledge is essential. Education on the warning signs of seizures and SUDEP can help take precautions and can decrease the incidence of the phenomenon itself. Effective epilepsy care requires a comprehensive plan, including medication adherence and lifestyle changes. Regular communication and collaboration between the patient, caregiver and health professionals are essential for the effective management of epilepsy, so just as epilepsy has a fluid, changeable course of disease and follow-up appointments are very important, the topic of SUDEP is not a one-time conversation either.
Can Social Media-Driven Trust and Customer positive Emotions with a Car Dealership Increase Brand Love?
Authors: Hashem Mohamad , Ruiz Mafé Carla , Currás Pérez Rafael
Published: February 2024

The purpose of this study is to analyse the drivers and outcomes of the brand love derived from consumption experiences in the automobile retail sector. We examine the effects of consumers’ perceptions of perceived service quality and the trust they feel towards a car dealership (cognition) on emotions and brand love (affection), and the effects of brand love on consumers´ behavioural intentions (conation). This research provides insights into customer brand love in the automobile industry.
TRAIL-Non-Apoptotic Signalling
Authors: Guerrache Abderrahmane , Micheau Olivier
Published: February 2024

TNF-related apoptosis-inducing ligand (TRAIL or Apo2 or TNFSF10) belongs to the TNF superfamily. When bound to its agonistic receptors, TRAIL can induce apoptosis in tumour cells, while sparing healthy cells. This tumour selectivity prompted, over the last three decades, many studies aiming at evaluating the anti-tumoral potential of TRAIL or its derivatives. Although most of these attempts have failed, so far, novel formulations are still being evaluated. Yet, emerging evidence indicates that TRAIL can also trigger, on the other hand, a non-canonical signal transduction pathway that is likely to be detrimental for its use in oncology. Likewise, increasing studies suggest that TRAIL can induce, through Death receptor 5 (DR5) in some circumstances, tumour cell motility, potentially leading to and contributing to tumour metastasis. While the pro-apoptotic signal transduction machinery of TRAIL is well known from a mechanistic point of view, that of the non-canonical pathway is less understood. We are reviewing here the current state of knowledge of TRAIL non-canonical signalling.
Landscape of Intrinsically Disordered Proteins in Mental Disorder Diseases
Authors: Zhang Xinwu , Yang Yaqing , Hu Guangchun , Liu Ruotong , Zhou Na , Song Xixi , Basu Sankar Chandra , Jing Ming , Hou Qingzhen
Published: February 2024

Intrinsically Disordered Proteins (IDPs) play crucial roles in signal transduction, cell differentiation, and transcriptional regulation. Many disrupted genes associated with mental disorders are identified as IDPs, and emerging evidence suggests the functional role of IDPs in neuropsychiatric disorders. However, few studies comprehensively explore the functional association between protein disorder properties and different mental diseases. To address this gap, we collected disrupted gene sets for seven mental diseases (MDD, SCZ, BP, ID, AD, ADHD, ASD) and a control gene set from normal brains using DisGeNET and GeneCards databases. The state-of-the-art predictor IUPred2A was then utilized to calculate the disorder properties , followed by a thorough comparison between the disordered proteins in mental diseases and healthy controls. Functional enrichment analysis and protein-protein interaction networks were conducted to investigate the IDPs’ functional roles in psychiatric diseases. Additionally, we demonstrated the role of IDPs in protein binding formations through a case study of alpha-synuclein using protein docking.
Our findings reveal that differentially expressed proteins in mental disorders, especially in ASD and ADHD, exhibit more IDPs than those in healthy controls. IDPs in psychiatric disorders are significantly enriched in neurodevelopmental pathways and play an important role in in gene expression regulation. Our results indicate distinct functional patterns of disorder proteins among mental diseases and healthy controls. When comparing the IDPs between ASD and ADHD, we observed that IDPs in ADHD are more likely linked to the synaptic signaling and regulation, while IDPs in ASD are more tendentiously related to diverse and complex biological processes. Our work offers valuable insights into the important functions of IDPs in psychiatric disorders, enhancing our understanding of the molecular mechanisms involved in psychiatric disorders.
Comparing Performance of General Rolled Steel and 3D Printed 316L Stainless Steel
Authors: Lin Yao-Tsung , Tsai Ming-Yi , Yen Shih-Yu , Lung Guan-Hua , Yei Jin-Ting , Hsu Kuo-Jen , Chen Kai-Jung
Published: February 2024

3D printing is a non-traditional additive manufacturing process. It is different from the traditional subtractive manufacturing process. It offers exceptional rapid prototyping capabilities and results that traditional subtractive manufacturing methods cannot attain, especially in applications involving curved or intricately shaped components. Despite its advantages, metal 3D printing will face porosity, warpage, and surface roughness issues. These issues will affect the future practical application of the parts indirectly, for example, the structural strength and the parts assembly ca-pability. Therefore, this study compares the qualities of the warpage, weight, and surface rough-ness after milling and grinding processes under the same materials (316L stainless steel) between general rolled steel and 3D additive steel. Experimental results show that 3D printing parts are approximately 13% to 14% lighter than the general rolled steel. The surface roughness performance of 3D printing steel is better than general rolled steel under the same material after milling or grinding processing. The hardness of the 3D printing steel is better than that of the gen-eral rolled steel. The research verifies that 3D additive manufacturing can use surface processing to optimize surface performance and achieve the functions of lightness and hardness.
Long-Term Effect of Fire on Leaf Production in a Southwest Missouri Oak Woodland
Authors: Sharma Sanjeev , Wait D Alexander , Khanal Churamani , Khanal Puskar
Published: February 2024

Missouri Ozark woodlands are a unique but imperiled ecosystem type because of fragmentation, lack of proper management and a changing climate. Management, restoration and conservation of Ozark woodlands is a conservation priority. The ecosystem services provided by Ozark woodlands include carbon and nutrient sequestration via primary productivity. We have assessed over- and mid-story leaf production, collecting leaves in baskets every fall, in a 1,200ha conservation area in SW Missouri since 2000. Leaf production data from 2000 to 2020 was compared among sites; control, burned (periodically burned) and reference (continuously burned). Average oak leaf production was high in the burned while the other leaf production was high in control. Sapling density of oak was found high in the burned site compared to the other sites. We applied the regression among productivity, temperature, and precipitation. Reference site showed a statistical significance with the precipitation but not with the temperature. While other sites did not show any statistical significance with the precipitation. No statistically significance difference in effect was observed between the productivity and temperature on any sites. March-June, March-May and June-August precipitation showed a statistically significant difference with the productivity while the other average precipitation and temperature showed no statistical significance.
Shoreline Analysis of Sandbar Topography in the Nakdong River Estuary using SPOT Series Satellite Imagery
Authors: Lee Sang-Hee , Hyun Chang-Uk , Kim Sung-Bo
Published: February 2024

Here, satellite images from 2006 to 2022 were collected to assess changes in the sandbar topography of the Nakdong River Estuary region, southeast of South Korea. The employed method of satellite image acquisition involves capturing images at the same time each year to facilitate a comparison of topographical changes over time. The shorelines of the islands in the study area, including Jinwoo Island, Shinja Island, and Doyo Sandbar, were analyzed. Shoreline analysis was performed using the digital shoreline analysis system (DSAS) package in ArcGIS. The results indicate that Jinwoo Island is expanding at 6.46 m/year in the direction of Nulcha Island. The western side of Shinja Island is expanding at 4.76 m/year, whereas the eastern side is retreating at a rate of 24.41 m/year. In the case of the Doyo Sandbar, the southern shoreline is retreating at a rate of 14.69 m/year; however, the speed is gradually decreasing. Marked topographical changes are evident in the Nakdong River Estuary, and the interlinked barrier islands undergo deposition and erosion, leading to alterations in the shoreline. These findings serve as foundational data for predicting and addressing environmental and social issues arising in the Nakdong River Estuary region due to climate change.
Functional Annotation – How to Tackle the Bottleneck in Plant Genomics
Authors: Pucker Boas
Published: February 2024

This review provides an overview of advancements in plant genomics, emphasizing key stages in genomics projects and addressing associated challenges. Long read sequencing enables the cost-effective sequencing of plant DNA and assembly of highly continuous genome sequences - often even separating haplophases. Incorporating external hints, such as cDNA sequences from RNA-seq or full length cDNA sequencing, enhances the identification of gene models. While these steps enable high-throughput exploration of numerous plant genomes, a significant bottleneck lies in elucidating gene functions. The classical approach based on wet lab methods is impractical when dealing with thousands of genes in a new genome sequence. To overcome this challenge, computational tools harnessing existing information for cross species knowledge transfer are essential for expediting the functional annotation process. In support of researchers entering the field of plant genomics, a collection of recommended tools has been curated and is accessible at https://github.com/bpucker/ToolOverview.
Watermarking Method Based on Neural Network with JPEG Quantization Represented by Quantized Activation Function
Authors: Yamauchi Shingo , Kawamura Masaki
Published: February 2024

We propose a neural-network-based watermarking method that introduces the quantized activation function that approximates the quantization of JPEG compression. Many neural network-based watermarking methods have been proposed. Conventional methods have acquired robustness against various attacks by introducing an attack simulation layer between the embedding network and the extraction network. The quantization process of JPEG compression was replaced by the noise addition process in the attack layer of the conventional methods. In this paper, we propose a quantized activation function that can simulate the JPEG quantization standard as it is in order to improve the robustness against the JPEG compression. Our quantized activation function consists of several hyperbolic tangent functions and is applied as an activation function for neural networks. Our network was introduced in the attack layer of Ahmadi et al.’s to compare it with their method. That is, the embedding and extraction networks had the same structure. We compared the usual JPEG compressed images and the images applying the quantized activation function. The results showed that a network with quantized activation functions can approximate JPEG compression with high accuracy. We also compared the bit error rate (BER) of estimated watermarks generated by our network with those generated by Ahmadi et al.’s. We found that our network was able to produce estimated watermarks with lower BERs than those of the method of Ahmadi et al.. Therefore, our network outperformed the conventional method with respect to image quality and BER.
Changes in the Range of Four Advantageous Grasshopper Habitats in the Hexi Corridor Under Climate Change
Authors: Li Donghong , Gan Huilin , Li Xiaopeng , Zhou Huili , Zhang Hang , Liu Yaomeng , Dong Rui , Hua Limin , Hu Guixin
Published: February 2024

Oedaleus decorus asiaticus, Calliptamus abbreviatus, Angaracris rhodopa, and Myrmeleotettix palpalis are the main grasshoppers that harm the natural grassland in the Hexi Corridor. In this study, the MaxEnt model was employed to identify the key environmental factors affecting the distribution of the four grasshoppers habitats and to assess their distribution under current and future climate change conditions. The aim was to provide a basis for grasshopper monitoring, prediction, and precise control. In this study, 61 occurrences of O. decorus asiaticus, 68 occurrences of A. rhodopa, 58 occurrences of C. abbreviatus, and 92 occurrences of M. palpalis were recorded by GPS, and the distribution of suitable habitats for O. decorus asiaticus, C. abbreviatus, A. rhodopa, and M. palpalis were predicted under current and future climatic scenarios using a MaxEnt model. The average AUC and TSS values of the four grasshoppers were greater than 0.9, and the simulation results were excellent and highly reliable. The mean annual precipitation was the main factor limiting the current range of suitable areas for these four species. Under the current climate, O. asiaticus, C. abbreviatus, and A. rhodopa were mainly distributed in the central and eastern parts of the Hexi Corridor, and M. palpalis was distributed throughout the Hexi Corridor, with a potential distribution area of 1.44×104, 1.43×104, 1.29×104, and 2.12×104 km2, accounting for 15.3, 15.2, 13.7, and 22.5% of the total area of the grasslands in the Hexi Corridor, respectively. The highly suitable areas of O. asiaticus, C. abbreviatus, and A. rhodopa were mainly distributed in the east-central part of Zhangye City, the western part of Wuwei City, and the western and southern part of Jinchang City, with areas of 0.35×104, 0.29×104, and 0.20×104 km2, accounting for 3.7, 3, and 2.2% of the grassland area, respectively. The high habitat of M. palpalis was mainly distributed in the southeast of Jiuquan City, the west, middle, and east of Zhangye City, the west of Wuwei City, and the west and south of Jinchang City, with an area of 0.32×104 km2, accounting for 3.4% of the grassland area. In the 2030s, the range of O. asiaticus, C. abbreviatus, A. rhodopa, and M. palpalis was predicted to decrease.
Star and Wheel on Recognition of Cancer and Neutrosophic SuperHyperGraph with a Specific Type of Independency of SuperHyperVertices
Authors: Garrett Henry
Published: February 2024

New ideas on the framework of Neutrosophic SuperHyperGraph for different styles of Neutrosophic SuperHyper-Wheel and Neutrosophic SuperHyper-Star are introduced. More instances and more clarifications alongside sufficient references are featured with a specific type of independency of SuperHyperVertices.
Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi and Rhizobium Improve Nutrient Uptake and Microbial Diversity Relative to Dryland Site-Specific Soil Conditions
Authors: Calderon Rosalie , Dangi Sadikshya
Published: February 2024

Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) and rhizobium play a significant role in plant symbiosis. However, their influence on the soil microbiome associated with plant growth and soil health is not well defined in the Northern Great Plains. This study investigated the effect of microbial inoculants as seed treatment on plant yield, nutrient uptake, potential microbial functions, and rhizosphere soil microbial communities using high-throughput sequencing of 16S and ITS rRNA genes. The experiment was conducted under two contrasting dryland conditions with four treatments: control, single inoculation with AMF or Rhizobium, and dual inoculations of AMF and Rhizobium (AMF+Rhizobium). Our findings revealed that microbial inoculation efficacy was site-specific. In a non-P nutrient limiting condition, AMF+Rhizobium exhibited a synergistic effect on grain yield in Sidney, Montana (MT), dryland field site (DFS) 2. While AMF conferred plant resilience but marginal yield in low soil organic matter and acidic soil conditions in Froid, MT (DFS 1). Noteworthy, variation in microbial community structure and composition indicates site-specific response to AMF and AMF+Rhizobium microbial inoculants. Overall, site-specific factors had a greater influence on plant nutrient uptake, microbial community dynamics and functional potential. It underscores the need for tailored management strategies that consider site-specific characteristics to optimize benefits from microbial inoculation.