bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Chinese organic rice transition spatial econometrics empirical analysis
Authors: Luo Zhuo , Huang Yongxin
Published: April 2024

Based on the integrated model of Super-SBM model, spatial Durbin model (SDM) and Grey neural network model, this paper analyzes the panel data of various provinces in China from multiple angles and dimensions. It was found that there were significant differences in eco-efficiency between organic rice production and conventional rice production. The response of organic rice to climate change, the spatial distribution of ecological and economic benefits and the impact on carbon emission were analyzed. The results showed that organic rice planting not only had higher economic benefits, but also showed a rising trend of ecological benefits and a positive feedback effect. This finding highlights the importance of organic rice farming in reducing carbon emissions. Organic rice farming effectively reduces greenhouse gas emissions, especially carbon dioxide and methane, by improving soil management and reducing the use of fertilizers and pesticides. This has important implications for mitigating climate change and promoting soil health and biodiversity. With the acceleration of urbanization, the increase of organic rice planting area shows the trend of organic rice gradually replacing traditional rice cultivation, further highlighting the potential of organic agriculture in emission reduction, environmental protection and sustainable agricultural production. To this end, it is recommended that the Government implement a diversified support strategy to encourage technological innovation, provide guidance and training, and raise public awareness and demand for organic products. At the same time, private sector participation is stimulated to support the development of organic rice cultivation through a public-private partnership model. Through these measures, further promote organic rice cultivation, achieve the dual goals of economic benefits and environmental benefits, and effectively promote the realization of double carbon emission reduction targets.
Medicinal plants for allergic rhinitis: A systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Lim Xin Yi , Lau Mei Siu , Zolkifli Nor Azlina , Sastu@Zakaria Umi Rubiah , Mohd Rahim Nur Salsabeela , Lai Nai Ming , Tan Terence Yew Chin
Published: April 2024

Herbal medicine is popularly used among patients who suffer from allergic rhinitis. This systematic review and meta-analysis was conducted to evaluate the efficacy and safety of single medicinal plants in the management of allergic rhinitis. We searched MEDLINE, CENTRAL, and Web of Science for randomised controlled trials which evaluated the use of single medicinal plant for allergic rhinitis among adults and children. Twenty-nine randomised controlled trials (n = 1879) were eligible while 27 (n = 1769) contributed data for meta-analyses. Most studies (studies = 20) compared medicinal plants against placebo and Petasites hybridus was most frequently investigated (studies = 5). Very-low-to-low-certainty evidence suggests that compared to placebo, single medicinal plants may improve overall total nasal symptoms (SMD -0.31, 95% CI -0.59 to -0.02; participants = 249; studies = 5; I2 = 21%) especially nasal congestion and sneezing; and rhinoconjunctivitis quality of life (RQLQ) scores (MD -0.46, 95% CI -0.84 to -0.07; participants = 148; studies = 3; I2 = 0%). Moderate-certainty evidence show no clear differences between single medicinal plants and antihistamine in overall symptoms (Total nasal symptoms: SMD -0.14, 95% CI -0.46 to 0.18; participants = 149; studies = 2; I2 = 0%). As adjunctive therapy, moderate-certainty evidence shows that medicinal plants improved SNOT-22 scores when given as intranasal treatment (MD -7.47, 95% CI -10.75 to -4.18; participants = 124; studies = 2; I2 = 21%). Risk of bias domains were low or not clearly reported in most studies while heterogeneity was substantial in most pooled outcomes. Route of administration and age were identified to be plausible source of heterogeneity for certain outcomes. Medicinal plants appear to be well tolerated up to 8 weeks of use. Clear beneficial evidence of medicinal plants for allergic rhinitis is still lacking. There is a need for improved reporting of herbal trials to allow for critical assessment of the effects of each individual medicinal plant preparation in well-designed future clinical studies.
Hospital segregation, critical care strain, and inpatient mortality during the COVID-19 pandemic in New York City
Authors: Zhilkova Anna , Alsabahi Laila , Olson Donald , Maru Duncan , Tsao Tsu-Yu , Morse Michelle E.
Published: April 2024

Background

Hospital segregation by race, ethnicity, and health insurance coverage is prevalent, with some hospitals providing a disproportionate share of undercompensated care. We assessed whether New York City (NYC) hospitals serving a higher proportion of Medicaid and uninsured patients pre-pandemic experienced greater critical care strain during the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic, and whether this greater strain was associated with higher rates of in-hospital mortality.

Methods

In a retrospective analysis of all-payer NYC hospital discharge data, we examined changes in admissions, stratified by use of intensive care unit (ICU), from the baseline period in early 2020 to the first COVID-19 wave across hospital quartiles (265,329 admissions), and crude and risk-adjusted inpatient mortality rates, also stratified by ICU use, in the first COVID wave across hospital quartiles (23,032 inpatient deaths), based on the proportion of Medicaid or uninsured admissions from 2017–2019 (quartile 1 lowest to 4 highest). Logistic regressions were used to assess the cross-sectional association between ICU strain, defined as ICU volume in excess of the baseline average, and patient-level mortality.

Results

ICU admissions in the first COVID-19 wave were 84%, 97%, 108%, and 123% of the baseline levels by hospital quartile 1–4, respectively. The risk-adjusted mortality rates for ICU admissions were 36.4 (CI = 34.7,38.2), 43.6 (CI = 41.5,45.8), 45.9 (CI = 43.8,48.1), and 45.7 (CI = 43.6,48.0) per 100 admissions, and those for non-ICU admissions were 8.6 (CI = 8.3,9.0), 10.9 (CI = 10.6,11.3), 12.6 (CI = 12.1,13.0), and 12.1 (CI = 11.6,12.7) per 100 admissions by hospital quartile 1–4, respectively. Compared with the reference group of 100% or less of the baseline weekly average, ICU admissions on a day for which the ICU volume was 101–150%, 151–200%, and > 200% of the baseline weekly average had odds ratios of 1.17 (95% CI = 1.10, 1.26), 2.63 (95% CI = 2.31, 3.00), and 3.26 (95% CI = 2.82, 3.78) for inpatient mortality, and non-ICU admissions on a day for which the ICU volume was 101–150%, 151–200%, and > 200% of the baseline weekly average had odds ratios of 1.28 (95% CI = 1.22, 1.34), 2.60 (95% CI = 2.40, 2.82), and 3.44 (95% CI = 3.11, 3.63) for inpatient mortality.

Conclusions

Our findings are consistent with hospital segregation as a potential driver of COVID-related mortality inequities and highlight the need to desegregate health care to address structural racism, advance health equity, and improve pandemic resiliency.
Research on the chemical oxygen demand spectral inversion model in water based on IPLS-GAN-SVM hybrid algorithm
Authors: Lu Qirong , Zou Jian , Ye Yingya , Wang Zexin
Published: April 2024

Spectral collinearity and limited spectral datasets are the problems influencing Chemical Oxygen Demand (COD) modeling. To address the first problem and obtain optimal modeling range, the spectra are preprocessed using six methods including Standard Normal Variate, Savitzky-Golay Smoothing Filtering (SG) etc. Subsequently, the 190–350 nm spectral range is divided into 10 subintervals, and Interval Partial Least Squares (IPLS) is used to perform PLS modeling on each interval. The results indicate that it is best modeled in the 7th range (238~253 nm). The values of Mean Square Error (MSE), Mean Absolute Error (MAE) and R2score of the model without pretreatment are 1.6489, 1.0661, and 0.9942. After pretreatment, the SG is better than others, with MSE and MAE decreasing to 1.4727, 1.0318 and R2score improving to 0.9944. Using the optimal model, the predicted COD for three samples are 10.87 mg/L, 14.88 mg/L, and 19.29 mg/L. To address the problem of the small dataset, using Generative Adversarial Networks for data augmentation, three datasets are obtained for Support Vector Machine (SVM) modeling. The results indicate that, compared to the original dataset, the SVM’s MSE and MAE have decreased, while its accuracy has improved by 2.88%, 11.53%, and 11.53%, and the R2score has improved by 18.07%, 17.40%, and 18.74%.
A modified rehabilitation paradigm bilaterally increased rat extensor digitorum communis muscle size but did not improve forelimb function after stroke
Authors: Caine Sally , Alaverdashvili Mariam , Colbourne Frederick , Muir Gillian D. , Paterson Phyllis G.
Published: April 2024

Malnutrition after stroke may lessen the beneficial effects of rehabilitation on motor recovery through influences on both brain and skeletal muscle. Enriched rehabilitation (ER), a combination of environmental enrichment and forelimb reaching practice, is used preclinically to study recovery of skilled reaching after stroke. However, the chronic food restriction typically used to motivate engagement in reaching practice is a barrier to using ER to investigate interactions between nutritional status and rehabilitation. Thus, our objectives were to determine if a modified ER program comprised of environmental enrichment and skilled reaching practice motivated by a short fast would enhance post-stroke forelimb motor recovery and preserve forelimb muscle size and metabolic fiber type, relative to a group exposed to stroke without ER. At one week after photothrombotic cortical stroke, male, Sprague-Dawley rats were assigned to modified ER or standard care for 2 weeks. Forelimb recovery was assessed in the Montoya staircase and cylinder task before stroke and on days 5–6, 22–23, and 33–34 after stroke. ER failed to improve forelimb function in either task (p > 0.05). Atrophy of extensor digitorum communis (EDC) and triceps brachii long head (TBL) muscles was not evident in the stroke-targeted forelimb on day 35, but the area occupied by hybrid fibers was increased in the EDC muscle (p = 0.038). ER bilaterally increased EDC (p = 0.046), but not TBL, muscle size; EDC muscle fiber type was unchanged by ER. While the modified ER did not promote forelimb motor recovery, it does appear to have utility for studying the role of skeletal muscle plasticity in post-stroke recovery.
Raman difference spectroscopy and U-Net convolutional neural network for molecular analysis of cutaneous neurofibroma
Authors: Matthies Levi , Amir-Kabirian Hendrik , Gebrekidan Medhanie T. , Braeuer Andreas S. , Speth Ulrike S. , Smeets Ralf , Hagel Christian , Gosau Martin , Knipfer Christian , Friedrich Reinhard E.
Published: April 2024

In Neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1), peripheral nerve sheaths tumors are common, with cutaneous neurofibromas resulting in significant aesthetic, painful and functional problems requiring surgical removal. To date, determination of adequate surgical resection margins–complete tumor removal while attempting to preserve viable tissue–remains largely subjective. Thus, residual tumor extension beyond surgical margins or recurrence of the disease may frequently be observed. Here, we introduce Shifted-Excitation Raman Spectroscopy in combination with deep neural networks for the future perspective of objective, real-time diagnosis, and guided surgical ablation. The obtained results are validated through established histological methods. In this study, we evaluated the discrimination between cutaneous neurofibroma (n = 9) and adjacent physiological tissues (n = 25) in 34 surgical pathological specimens ex vivo at a total of 82 distinct measurement loci. Based on a convolutional neural network (U-Net), the mean raw Raman spectra (n = 8,200) were processed and refined, and afterwards the spectral peaks were assigned to their respective molecular origin. Principal component and linear discriminant analysis was used to discriminate cutaneous neurofibromas from physiological tissues with a sensitivity of 100%, specificity of 97.3%, and overall classification accuracy of 97.6%. The results enable the presented optical, non-invasive technique in combination with artificial intelligence as a promising candidate to ameliorate both, diagnosis and treatment of patients affected by cutaneous neurofibroma and NF1.
Towards secure and efficient integration of blockchain and 6G networks
Authors: Liu Yang , Peng Song , Zhang Miaomiao , Shi Shidong , Fu Jianhao
Published: April 2024

The future of communication systems is undergoing a transformative shift towards intelligence, efficiency, and flexibility. Presently, the amalgamation of blockchain technology and the sixth-generation mobile communication network (6G) has garnered significant attention, as their fusion is poised to profoundly impact the digital economy and society at large. However, the convergence of blockchain and 6G networks poses challenges pertaining to security and performance. In this article, we propose an approach based on the design of secure mechanisms and performance optimization to delve into the key issues surrounding the integration of blockchain and 6G networks from both security and performance perspectives. Specifically, we first introduce the application scenarios of 6G networks and blockchain’s empowerment of them to highlight the necessity of combining blockchain technology with 6G. Subsequently, in order to ensure the security of communication and data transmission between blockchain and 6G networks, we have investigated the design requirements for security mechanisms. Furthermore, we discuss the efficient realization of the amalgamation between blockchain and 6G networks by proposing a solution based on Directed Acyclic Graph (DAG) for blockchain’s asynchronous consensus protocol, alongside optimization strategies for storage and communication to meet the desired characteristics and requirements of 6G networks. Lastly, we provide valuable research directions that serve as references and guidance for the future development of the integration between blockchain and 6G networks.
Design and characterization of protective pan-ebolavirus and pan-filovirus bispecific antibodies
Authors: Wirchnianski Ariel S. , Nyakatura Elisabeth K. , Herbert Andrew S. , Kuehne Ana I. , Abbasi Shawn A. , Florez Catalina , Storm Nadia , McKay Lindsay G. A. , Dailey Leandrew , Kuang Erin , Abelson Dafna M. , Wec Anna Z. , Chakraborti Srinjoy , Holtsberg Frederick W. , Shulenin Sergey , Bornholdt Zachary A. , Aman M. Javad , Honko Anna N. , Griffiths Anthony , Dye John M. , Chandran Kartik , Lai Jonathan R.
Published: April 2024

Monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) are an important class of antiviral therapeutics. MAbs are highly selective, well tolerated, and have long in vivo half-life as well as the capacity to induce immune-mediated virus clearance. Their activities can be further enhanced by integration of their variable fragments (Fvs) into bispecific antibodies (bsAbs), affording simultaneous targeting of multiple epitopes to improve potency and breadth and/or to mitigate against viral escape by a single mutation. Here, we explore a bsAb strategy for generation of pan-ebolavirus and pan-filovirus immunotherapeutics. Filoviruses, including Ebola virus (EBOV), Sudan virus (SUDV), and Marburg virus (MARV), cause severe hemorrhagic fever. Although there are two FDA-approved mAb therapies for EBOV infection, these do not extend to other filoviruses. Here, we combine Fvs from broad ebolavirus mAbs to generate novel pan-ebolavirus bsAbs that are potently neutralizing, confer protection in mice, and are resistant to viral escape. Moreover, we combine Fvs from pan-ebolavirus mAbs with those of protective MARV mAbs to generate pan-filovirus protective bsAbs. These results provide guidelines for broad antiviral bsAb design and generate new immunotherapeutic candidates.
A gain-of-function mutation in zinc cluster transcription factor Rob1 drives Candida albicans adaptive growth in the cystic fibrosis lung environment
Authors: Gnaien Mayssa , Maufrais Corinne , Rebai Yasmine , Kallel Aicha , Ma Laurence , Hamouda Samia , Khalsi Fatma , Meftah Khaoula , Smaoui Hanen , Khemiri Monia , Hadj Fredj Sondes , Bachellier-Bassi Sophie , Najjar Imène , Messaoud Taieb , Boussetta Khadija , Kallel Kalthoum , Mardassi Helmi , d’Enfert Christophe , Bougnoux Marie-Elisabeth , Znaidi Sadri
Published: April 2024

Candida albicans chronically colonizes the respiratory tract of patients with Cystic Fibrosis (CF). It competes with CF-associated pathogens (e.g. Pseudomonas aeruginosa) and contributes to disease severity. We hypothesize that C. albicans undergoes specific adaptation mechanisms that explain its persistence in the CF lung environment. To identify the underlying genetic and phenotypic determinants, we serially recovered 146 C. albicans clinical isolates over a period of 30 months from the sputum of 25 antifungal-naive CF patients. Multilocus sequence typing analyses revealed that most patients were individually colonized with genetically close strains, facilitating comparative analyses between serial isolates. We strikingly observed differential ability to filament and form monospecies and dual-species biofilms with P. aeruginosa among 18 serial isolates sharing the same diploid sequence type, recovered within one year from a pediatric patient. Whole genome sequencing revealed that their genomes were highly heterozygous and similar to each other, displaying a highly clonal subpopulation structure. Data mining identified 34 non-synonymous heterozygous SNPs in 19 open reading frames differentiating the hyperfilamentous and strong biofilm-former strains from the remaining isolates. Among these, we detected a glycine-to-glutamate substitution at position 299 (G299E) in the deduced amino acid sequence of the zinc cluster transcription factor ROB1 (ROB1G299E), encoding a major regulator of filamentous growth and biofilm formation. Introduction of the G299E heterozygous mutation in a co-isolated weak biofilm-former CF strain was sufficient to confer hyperfilamentous growth, increased expression of hyphal-specific genes, increased monospecies biofilm formation and increased survival in dual-species biofilms formed with P. aeruginosa, indicating that ROB1G299E is a gain-of-function mutation. Disruption of ROB1 in a hyperfilamentous isolate carrying the ROB1G299E allele abolished hyperfilamentation and biofilm formation. Our study links a single heterozygous mutation to the ability of C. albicans to better survive during the interaction with other CF-associated microbes and illuminates how adaptive traits emerge in microbial pathogens to persistently colonize and/or infect the CF-patient airways.
Reversing Metabolic Dysfunction-Associated Steatotic Liver Disease Promotes Healthy Pediatric Cardiovascular Structures: The PROC Study
Authors: Li Menglong , Shu Wen , Zou Yuchen , Xiao Huidi , Asihaer Yeerlin , Guan Mengying , Khattab Nourhan , Thapa Bipin , Sapkota Suman , Vermund Sten H. , Huang Dayong , Hu Yifei
Published: April 2024

INTRODUCTION:

We investigated the impact of metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) on cardiovascular structure development in children.

METHODS:

We followed 1,356 children with the mean age of 6.6 years for 4.5 years in Beijing, China. We assessed the association of MASLD with cardiovascular structure (carotid intima-media thickness and left ventricular mass) outcomes at baseline and follow-up.

RESULTS:

Over follow-up, 59 children had persistent MASLD, 109 had incident MASLD (progression), and 35 had normalization of liver health. Children with MASLD normalization showed a significantly lower mean development in carotid intima-media thickness (0.161 vs 0.188 mm) and left ventricular mass (4.5 vs 12.4 g) than children with persistent MASLD.

DISCUSSION:

The control of MASLD was associated with improved cardiovascular structure development.
Pulmonary artery stiffness in fetuses with tetralogy of Fallot
Authors: Liu Yushan , Xu Ran , Zhou Dan , Yang Yang , Xu Ganqiong , Zeng Shi
Published: April 2024

Purpose: This study evaluated the elastic characteristics of the pulmonary trunk and distal branches in fetuses diagnosed with tetralogy of Fallot (TOF) using Doppler echocardiography.Methods: Data on 42 fetuses diagnosed with TOF and 84 gestational age–matched normal fetuses were prospectively collected from the Second Xiangya Hospital of Central South University between August 2022 and January 2023. The severity of TOF was classified into three categories based on the z-score of the pulmonary annulus diameter: mild (z-score ≥-2), moderate (-4<z-score<-2), and severe (z-score ≤-4). Pulmonary artery stiffness (PAS) in the main pulmonary artery (MPA), distal left pulmonary artery (DLPA), and distal right pulmonary artery (DRPA) was measured using pulsed-wave Doppler imaging. Differences in clinical data and echocardiographic parameters were compared between the TOF group and the normal group, as well as among TOF subgroups.Results: Compared with the normal group, the MPA-PAS in fetuses with TOF was significantly higher, while the DLPA-PAS and DRPA-PAS were notably lower (all P<0.05). The MPA-PAS of fetuses with severe TOF was higher than that of those with mild and moderate TOF (all P<0.05). However, there were no significant differences in the DLPA-PAS or DRPA-PAS among fetuses with mild, moderate, and severe TOF (all P>0.05).Conclusion: Fetuses diagnosed with TOF exhibited increased vascular stiffness in the MPA and reduced stiffness in the distal pulmonary artery (PA). Larger-scale follow-up studies are required to elucidate the relationships between these changes in vascular stiffness and PA development in patients with TOF.
Sipuncula (Peanut Worms) in Indonesia Waters: A Review
Authors: Cintra Allsay Kitsash Addifisyukha , Fitrian Tyani , Novianty Hilda , Jasmadi Jasmadi , Sjafrie Nurul Dhewani Mirah
Published: April 2024

Sipunculans, or peanut worms, are unsegmented worm-like marine organisms with distinctive trunk-like bodies. They play important roles in marine ecosystems, such as bioerosion, bioturbation, and food sources. Sipunculans are also harvested as human food in some regions worldwide. Despite their importance, a comprehensive understanding of the Sipuncula in Indonesia is still limited. This work aimed to compile a study of the distribution, ecology, and potency of Sipuncula species in Indonesian waters. The distribution of Sipuncula species in Indonesian waters was recorded from the northernmost to the easternmost part of Indonesia. So far, nineteen species have been found in Indonesian waters and are dominated by Sipunculus nudus. In Indonesia, Sipuncula exhibits a diverse range of habitats, they can be found in seagrass, mangrove and coral reef ecosystems, in both sandy and muddy sediments. Sipunculans found in Indonesia have ecosystem function as bioturbator, shell-utilizer, and coral-symbiotic species. Sipuncula also has potency as a food and nutraceutical for human health maintenance because it contains highly nutritious such as protein, carbohydrates, ash, lipids, moisture, minerals, amino acids, and fatty acids. In some areas in Indonesia, local communities use Sipuncula as a traditional food source and fishing bait. Given its significance for marine ecosystems and human livelihoods in Indonesia, future management strategies should include regulations on catch size and management practices, data collection, promotion of sustainable fishing practices, and research on Sipuncula biology and ecology. Addressing these knowledge gaps will help to ensure the sustainable use and conservation of Sipuncula in Indonesia.
Comparisons of benthic associated fauna assemblages in seagrass meadows across conservation and non-conservation areas in Bali and Lombok, Indonesia
Authors: Atmaja Putu Satya Pratama , Laharjana I Ketut Aditya Krisna , Suardana A. A. Md. Ananda Putra , Van Keulen Mike
Published: April 2024

Benthic ecosystem has been widely considered as an important feature of seagrass associated fauna, and its function as a grazer and linkage between primary producers and higher trophic level is well known. Though the importance of benthic fauna in seagrass ecosystems has been indicated in many studies, its biodiversity in spatial scale has often been poorly studied. This study aimed at examining the assemblages and diversity of benthic associated fauna in conservation areas (CA) and non-conservation areas (NCA) across the seagrass meadows in Bali and Lombok. This study found that the assemblages and diversity of benthic fauna greatly varied between the meadows. A total of 430 individuals associated to benthic fauna from 24 species were identified in Bali and Lombok. Of these, Gastropods were the highest class of taxa recorded in this study, followed by Bivalvia, Echinodermata, Decapoda, and Amphipoda. Permutation multivariate analysis of variance (PERMANOVA) revealed a significantly different benthic fauna diversity between sites. Non-metric Multidimensional Scaling (nMDS) and Bray–Curtis analysis showed a clear distinction of benthic fauna assemblages between CA and NCA, both in Bali and Lombok. These results indicated that from spatial perspective, different characteristics of seagrass meadows may represent different biodiversity of associated fauna. These differences might be driven by different anthropogenic pressure and variation of substrates among the meadows which may affect the composition of the benthic fauna ecosystems. The implication of this study was to providing baseline data on guiding the appropriate approach and strategies for management and conservations of seagrass ecosystems.
Potential of Sea Cucumbers as Fuctional Foods
Authors: Wodi Stevy Imelda Murniati , Dewi Eko Nurcahya , Riyadi Putut Har , Pringgenies Delianis , Dolorosa Roger G.
Published: April 2024

Sea cucumbers have great potential for managing water resources because they have filter feeder properties that can clean water from harmful substances. Apart from that, sea cucumbers also contain active compounds which have properties as functional foods and can help prevent cancer. Samples of sea cucumbers were collected from Karimunjawa, Central Java, and Surabaya. The research included tests for bacteria, chemicals, and heavy metals on dried sea cucumbers, as well as amino acid analysis. Two species of sea cucumbers were identified: Holothuria atra and Stichopus variegates. H. atra had a higher amino acid content and the highest collagen content among all the amino acids (14,600mg.100g-1). Both types of sea cucumber samples contain amino acids that have anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and anticancer properties. This is due to their content of saponins, tannins, flavonoids, steroids, and terpenoids, which are beneficial for health. Additionally, S. variegates has been found to have antibacterial activity against Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli bacteria. The amino acid analysis of S. variegates shows the presence of sulfate and alanine compounds, which are not found in H. atra. Research has shown that sea cucumbers can be consumed as supplements or additional food to support health and prevent various diseases, including cancer. The use of sea cucumbers as functional food ingredients also has the potential to manage water resources sustainably. In conclusion, H. atra and S. varigatus sea cucumbers have great potential for managing water resources for functional food and cancer prevention efforts. Their high content of amino acids and other phytochemical compounds makes them a good choice for development as functional food ingredients.
Phryma leptostachya L. (Phrymaceae): an addition to the flora of Western Himalayas, India
Authors: Kumar Naresh , Prabhukumar Konickal Mambetta , Arya Dhani , Rana Tikam Singh
Published: April 2024

Phryma leptostachya L. is reported from Chabba Village in Ramban district, Jammu and Kashmir,as a new distributional record for the flora of Western Himalayas. In India, the distribution of this species was previously reported only in the states of Assam, Mizoram, and Meghalaya.
Identity and Investment: A Critical Exploration of English Major Students’ Perceptions of Learning and Using English Language in Contemporary China
Authors: Yuan Di
Published: April 2024

This study is contextualized onto three levels- the macro-level globalized context, the meso-level national context, and the micro-level of school contexts. Under the influence of these different contexts, this study is designed as a phenomenological study with the aim to understand the phenomenon of English learning and using perceptions, investment, and identity constructions of ten English major students in China through semi-structured interviews. In order to fulfill that goal, Darvin and Norton (2015)’s model provides a solid theoretical foundation for the researcher to investigate this critical educational phenomenon. The findings of the study include not only how participants reflect on their English learning experiences at different learning stages, but also how they exert their sense of agency and re-construct their English language identity in new environment. Findings also show the power of native English as a form of capital and the influence of authoritative voices on students’ perceptions and language identity while students enter and transfer their English learning to teaching trajectories. By providing a critical and multi-layered approach, this study demonstrates how Chinese educational system institutionalizes native English and thus shapes English major students in China.
Motivational Dynamics of Intermediate Chinese Learners in a COVID-Induced Remote IPA-Informed CSL Curriculum: A Case Study From a CDST Lens
Authors: Zhang Xin , Pan Xiaofei
Published: April 2024

Grounded in a complex and dynamic systems theory (CDST) perspective of L2 learning motivation, this year-long longitudinal study examines evolving motivational dynamics of two intermediate Chinese as a Second Language (CSL) learners at a Sino-US joint-venture university in China during the COVID-19 pandemic. Adopting Higgins’ framework of motivation, this case study focuses on the interplay of learner motivation for value, control, and truth effectiveness and contextual factors in shaping the contrastive motivational trajectories of two CSL learners who displayed discrepancy in the improvement of Mandarin oral proficiency. In particular, the two contextual factors of interest are an Integrated Performance Assessment (IPA) -informed CSL curriculum and COVID-induced remote online learning. We focus on how learners co-adapted with the “here-and-now” manifestations of these contextual factors and how their motivational dynamics and learning behaviors evolved based on multiple interrelated layers of the temporal-spatial context. The findings show that CSL learners’ motivational dynamics were shaped by multiple overlapping and interrelated motivations related to value, control, and truth effectiveness, which emerged out of the contingencies and affordances in the learning context. The learner-context co-adaptations play a significant role in directing relevant motivational dimensions and thereby shaping the overall identity of the whole system. This empirical study contributes to CSL and L2 motivational studies by exploring the applicability of a CDST approach and a global motivational framework to study intermediate CSL learners’ motivational dynamics and how they individually co-adapted with an innovative curricular design and the perturbance during the COVID-19 online teaching and learning process. The paper reflects on the effectiveness and applicability of IPA in an intermediate-level CSL curriculum from a motivational perspective and offers insights into understanding and promoting the complex learner motivation during COVID-19 for language educators.
An Investigation Into Learners’ Cognitive Processes in Data-Driven Learning: Case Studies of Six Learners of Chinese
Authors: Liu Tanjun , Chen Meilin
Published: April 2024

Data-driven learning (DDL), the direct use of corpus by learners in the second language classroom, has been shown to be effective in improving learners’ acquisition of various English linguistic items (Boulton & Cobb, 2017). However, it is still limited to our knowledge regarding how learners interact with DDL-related materials or tools and how DDL works in the learning/teaching of languages other than English. This study aims to closely examine the cognitive processes of six learners of Chinese in using printed concordance-based materials to learn Chinese resultative constructions. These materials contained adapted complete concordance sentences drawn from the Lancaster Corpus for Mandarin Chinese (McEnery & Xiao, 2004). The results show that in general, learners employed various strategies when scrutinising the concordance lines, particularly cognitive strategies such as summarising and grouping. Differences among individual learners were also found: learners who used more diverse strategies with higher frequencies could successfully infer the regularities, which led to learning gains. The study provides some implications for effective teacher guidance in DDL.
Toward Teaching Innovatively: L2 Teachers’ Belief Change and Development
Authors: Wang Chaochang , Tsay Li-Jiuan
Published: April 2024

Rapid technological advances and enhanced global cooperation have led to tremendous changes in access to information and new modes of communication and, hence, calls have been made for instantaneous adjustments in education (Fullan, 2007). Despite global access to internet-enhanced modes of communication and up-to-date information on all subjects – including those relating to new and effective approaches to pedagogy – traditional teacher-centered teaching prevails in many EFL contexts. This is the case even though this approach to teaching has been insufficient to address challenges in EFL teaching. This study explores how the teaching beliefs of 12 EFL teachers changed as they learned to teach innovatively and to teach with features of learner-centeredness and L2 interaction. In the context of a MA program capstone course, the teachers were introduced to the essential elements, such as learner-centeredness and L2 interaction, involved in four approaches to teaching innovatively: task-based language teaching, problem-posing, scripting and oral interpretation, and extensive reading. The data analyzed comprised the teachers’ belief reports, written reflections on teaching interactively, interview accounts, and the teacher educator’s observational notes. The results of this study revealed changes in teachers’ beliefs about innovative teaching with the aforementioned features, the influential forces bringing about the change, and teachers’ growing expertise in using and drawing on concepts in teaching practice.
A Strategy for Happiness, in the Wake of Spinoza
Authors: Lavaert Sonja
Published: April 2024

This article investigates the anthropology of Spinoza as a strategy for happiness, political, as well as individual. Inspired by the readings, comments, and perspectives of Matheron, Deleuze, and Balibar, I will analyze Spinoza’s theory of the affects as the basis for this strategic anthropology. These authors all share an ontological and political vision organized around the concepts of multitude and the transindividual which result directly from Spinoza’s analysis of the human affects in books III and IV of the Ethics, and his theory of political dynamics developed in the Political treatise. They consider Spinoza a contemporary and share with him the idea of a relational ontology and an inextricable and mutual interdependence of the individual and the community which is captured in the concept of the transindividual. With Matheron/Spinoza I will focus on the question of anthropology and the structure of thought, with Deleuze/Spinoza on the kinds of knowledge in relation to the human mind and body, and with Balibar/Spinoza on the transindividual, productive, active, and thus strategic nature of our thinking. These three analyses of human thought and affects all proceed from the hypothesis of conatus/desire as human essence and aim not just at theoretical knowledge but rather at the effective improvement of our well-being and lives, that is, at happiness.
A review on innovative approaches to expansive soil stabilization: Focussing on EPS beads, sand, and jute
Authors: Utkarsh  , Jain Pradeep Kumar
Published: April 2024

Expansive soils pose major geotechnical challenges due to significant volume changes. This research investigates an innovative stabilization approach using sand, expanded polystyrene (EPS) beads, and jute fibres to enhance the properties of expansive soil. The purpose is to utilize the unique characteristics of these admixtures to restrict swelling potential and improve strength and load-bearing capacity. Experimental testing quantified improvements through parameters like unconfined compressive strength (UCS), swelling pressure, California bearing ratio (CBR), compaction characteristics, and Atterberg limits. Soil samples were prepared with individual and combined admixtures at optimum proportions and extensively tested after proper curing. Quantitative results indicated that including sand, EPS beads, and jute fibres increased the soil’s UCS by 41, 29, and 23%, respectively. The swelling pressure, on the other hand, decreased by 14, 18, and 11%, respectively. Maximum improvements were achieved with combined admixtures: UCS increased by 65%, swelling pressure reduced by 23%, and CBR improved from 5 to 6.5%. Regression analysis indicated a strong correlation (R2= 0.96) between admixture proportions and resultant UCS. The key achievements are effective swelling control, a marked increase in shear strength parameters, and synergy between admixtures in enhancing expansive soil properties. This sustainable stabilization method using industrial by-products presents a promising solution for constructing stable civil structures even in problematic expansive soil regions.
Institutionelle Kommunikation in der digitalen Öffentlichkeit: Das kommunikative Repertoire der Polizei Hamburg auf Twitter
Authors: Androutsopoulos Jannis , Maas Nikolaus
Published: April 2024

This paper uses the notion of communicative repertoire to investigate the language conduct of an institutional organization in a social media environment, with the Twitter (now ‘X’) account of Hamburg Police as a case in point. Theoretically drawing on interactional sociolinguistics, media linguistics and Twitter research, we view communicative repertoire as the sum of linguistic and semiotic resources that are mobilized by organizational agents to participate in a multi-faceted digital public space that comprises both the dissemination of messages to a digital audience (the account’s followers) and dialogic exchanges with self-selected members of the digital publics. The analysis is based on all tweets produced by the Hamburg Police over a period of three months, complemented by an interview with the organization’s social media team. We operationalize the communicative repertoire by means of a multi-level analytical scheme that comprises: (a) different types of linguistic and graphic resources, (b) two participation formats (initiative and responsive messages) and (c) several action types. The findings show that the language conduct of Police Hamburg is multi-faceted and shows striking stylistic differences between initiative and responsive tweets. While initiative tweets draw on pre-digital genres of Police communication (e.g. call for witnesses), responsive tweets repeatedly show accommodation towards users. Overall, the case of Hamburg Police illustrates how mediatization transforms practices of institutional communication.
Medical Economic Consequences, Predictors, and Outcomes of Immediate Atrial Fibrillation Recurrence after Radiofrequency Ablation
Authors: Zhang Xuan , Chen Yuxiao , Lou Lian , Shi Wen , Li Haijun , Li Zhihang , Hu Mengjie , Wang Lefeng , Mou Yun , Hu Shenjiang , Yang Jian
Published: April 2024

Background and aims: Immediate recurrence (Im-Recurr), a type of atrial fibrillation (AF) recurrence occurring during the blanking period after radiofrequency catheter ablation (RFCA), has received little attention. Therefore, this study was aimed at exploring the clinical significance of Im-Recurr in patients with AF after RFCA.

Methods: This study retrospectively included patients with AF who underwent RFCA at our center. Regression, propensity score matching (PSM), and survival curve analyses were conducted to investigate the effects of Im-Recurr on costs, hospitalization durations, AF recurrence rates, and predictors of Im-Recurr.

Results: A total of 898 patients were included, among whom 128 developed Im-Recurr after RFCA. Multiple linear regression analysis revealed that Im-Recurr correlated with greater cost, hospitalization duration, and hospitalization duration after ablation. Logistic regression and PSM analyses indicated that intraoperative electric cardioversion (IEC) was an independent predictor of Im-Recurr. The follow-up results suggested a significantly higher 1-year cumulative AF recurrence rate in the Im-Recurr group than the control group.

Conclusions: Im-Recurr significantly increases the cost and length of hospitalization for patients with AF undergoing RFCA and is associated with an elevated 1-year cumulative AF recurrence rate. IEC serves as an independent predictor of Im-Recurr.

Registration number: ChiCTR2200065235.
Using vanadium dioxide critical thermistors to protect solar cells from overheating
Authors: Kolbunov V. R. , Tonkoshkur O. S. , Mazurik S. V. , Lyashkov A. Yu. , Nakashydze L. V.
Published: April 2024

The overheating caused by electrical loads is one of the essential factors impairing the reliability of photovoltaic components of solar cells. The most common technical solution to this problem is to use such additional elements as bypass diodes. However, the practice of installing such diodes in parallel with a chain of solar cells has shown that this approach does not eliminate hot spots completely, and thus characteristics of the solar cells deteriorate at a faster pace. One of the possible solutions to this problem is to use critical thermistors based on metal-semiconductor phase transition materials, such as vanadium dioxide. Structurally, such thermal protection is implemented by adding a separate photovoltaic element with a thermistor protection element that is in thermal contact with it. This study investigated the effectiveness of such a solution to prevent local overheating in photovoltaic components of solar cells. Glass-ceramic materials based on vanadium dioxide and vanadium-phosphate glass of the V2O5—P2O5 system were used as thermistor elements, which abruptly change the electrical resistance by 1.5—2.0 orders of magnitude in the temperature range around 700С. The research results showed that the considered protective elements can function as reusable (self-healing) fuses against electrothermal overloads in solar batteries. Considering the relative simplicity and low cost of the manufacturing technology of glass-ceramic materials with a metal-semiconductor phase transition, the described approach to preventing overheating of photovoltaic cells of solar cells in situations with higher reliability requirements appears to be promising.
Defects formation on the surface of Si-substrates during thermal sputtering of gold
Authors: Kukurudziak M. S. , Kukurudziak A. M.
Published: April 2024

Silicon photodetectors, in particular p–i–n photodiodes, are widely used as sensors of optical radiation. With technological advances, the requirements for the parameters and reliability of these elements of solid-state electronics are increasing sharply, thus improving these characteristics is an important task. During the production of silicon photosensors, parameters were observed to degrade after the stage of forming contact pads by thermal sputtering of chrome-gold. Examination of the samples in the selective etchant allowed discovering the complexes of structural defects, which contributed to the deterioration of the parameters, in particular, the growth of dark currents. When investigating the causes of the appearance of these defects, it was established that they were formed as a result of local melting of silicon when gold “drops” hit it with a temperature higher than the melting temperature of silicon due to boiling in the evaporator. It was established that the use of wire is accompanied by a more intensive appearance of gold drops than when using beads. It was also noticed that the roughness of the morphology in the case of sputtering from a wire is significantly higher than in the case of sputtering from beads. It is noted that after the metallization is formed, photolithography is performed on the front side of the substrates to form contact pads, and considering the possibility of etching due to the presence of gold thickenings, it is better to spray on the front side from crowns. Wire spraying should be used for the reverse side of substrates, where defect formation is less critical. The formation of the described defects can be minimized by using spraying from closed evaporators or by increasing the time of spraying on the shutter during gold melting.
Kaip sveria narkotikus Temidės svarstyklės? Kai kurių narkotinių ir psichotropinių medžiagų kiekių nustatymo teisinio reguliavimo ypatumai Lietuvoje
Authors: Lankauskas Mindaugas
Published: April 2024

This article delves into the legal framework concerning threshold quantities for drug offences in Lithuania and examines the potential implications of this regulation on criminal liability. It initiates by scrutinizing criminal liability for drug offences in Lithuania, with an emphasis on the legal significance of the type and quantity of specific substances. It is worth noting that existing legal acts lack defined criteria for determining small, large, or very large quantities of the narcotic and psychotropic substances. Nevertheless, the legal qualification of criminal activities and associated penalties is contingent upon the specific quantity of the drug. Furthermore, certain quantities stipulated in the Recommendations for determining small, large, and very large quantities of narcotic and psychotropic substances have raised concerns about their alignment with the latest scientific findings and empirical evidence. In light of these concerns, there is a compelling need for a review of these recommendations, guided by clearly defined and evidence-based criteria. Until such a review is conducted, the deficiencies in the existing legal regulations could be partially mitigated if courts, within the discretion granted to them, proactively exceed the quantity limits established by the recommendations.