bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Extended phylogenetic analysis and morphology of the Iresine cassiniiformis – I. hartmanii alliance (Amaranthaceae) reveals two further geographically distinct species
Authors: Borsch Thomas , Flores-Olvera Hilda
Published: December 2024

Background: Shrubs recognized as I. hartmanii were known from the northern Mexican deserts, whereas I. cassiniiformis is considered to occur throughout the Mexican highlands. Morphologically similar individuals were reported under both names also south beyond the Isthmus of Tehuantepec to Guatemala.
Question: Are I. hartmanii and I. cassiniiformis distinct species, or do they represent widespread taxa exhibiting clinal variation due to adaptation along a gradient spanning desert to evergreen tropical forest?
Taxon: Amaranthaceae, Iresine.
Study site: Mexico and Central America.
Method: Field and herbarium work, molecular phylogenetics, morphology, palynology, distribution mapping.
Results: Plastid and nuclear phylogenetic trees suggest a complex speciation scenario in Iresine, revealing new lineages in the mountains of Chiapas, Oaxaca and Guatemala that also differ by morphological characters. Iresine cassiniiformis appears monophyletic and occurs in the Trans-Mexican Volcanic Belt whereas I. hartmanii comprises a core clade of individuals confined to the northern deserts. Specimens morphologically intermediate to I. cassiniiformis, and part of the I. hartmanii species clade in nrITS, occur directly south of the desert zone, either representing ancestral types in the speciation of I. hartmanii or introgression from I. cassiniiformis.
Conclusion: Our results underscore the importance of an integrative taxonomy approach including molecular phylogenetics and morphology with a dense sampling of putative species from throughout the geographical range in order to arrive at explicit hypotheses on species limits. Here this supports the description and naming of two new species.
ENERJİ SÜRDÜRÜLEBİLİRLİĞİNİN ÇOK KRİTERLİ KARAR VERME YÖNTEMLERİ İLE ÖLÇÜLMESİ VE COPELAND YÖNTEMİ İLE BÜTÜNLEŞTİRİLMESİ: OECD ÜLKELERİ ÜZERİNE BİR ÇALIŞMA
Authors: Teker Sude , Avcı Azkeskin Selen , Aladağ Zerrin
Published: December 2024

Günlük hayatın devamı için enerji bir zorunluluktur. Günümüzde yaşanan teknolojik gelişmeler, sanayileşme ve nüfus artışı gibi nedenler enerjiye olan ihtiyacı daha da arttırmıştır. Bu artışa bağlı olarak yenilenemeyen enerji kaynakları tükenme tehlikesi ile karşı karşıya kalmış ve zararlı gazların çevreye salınımı artmıştır. Ayrıca bu durum enerji ihtiyacını ithalat yoluyla karşılayan birçok ülkenin dışa bağımlılığını arttırarak ekonomisini etkilemiştir. Dolayısıyla, “enerji sürdürülebilirliği” ülkeler için hayati öneme sahip olmuştur. Günümüzde çoğu ülke enerji sürdürülebilirliğine önem vermekte ve bu alanda çeşitli politikalar yürütmektedir. Bu çalışmada, 36 OECD (Organisation for Economic Co-Operation and Development) ülkesinin enerji sürdürülebilirliği 15 kriter kullanılarak Çok Kriterli Karar Verme (ÇKKV) yöntemleri ile karşılaştırılmıştır. Kriterler CRITIC (Criteria Importance Through Intercriteria Correlation) yöntemi ile ağırlıklandırılmış; alternatifler PROMETHEE (Preference Ranking Organisation Method For Enrichment Evaluations), VIKOR VIseKriterijumsa Optimizacija I Kompromisno Resenje) ve Gri İlişkisel Analiz (GİA) yöntemleri ile sıralanmıştır. Elde edilen sıralamalar Copeland yöntemi kullanılarak birleştirilmiştir. Ayrıca, 4 yöntemin birbiri ile ilişkisi Spearman Sıra Korelasyon Katsayısı ile analiz edilmiştir. CRITIC yöntemine göre en öncelikli kriter “güneş enerjisinden elektrik üretimi”dir. PROMETHEE, GİA ve Copeland yönteminden elde edilen sonuçlara göre enerji sürdürülebilirliği bakımından en iyi alternatif “İsviçre” olurken, VIKOR yöntemine göre “Almanya” en iyi alternatiftir. “Güney Kore” tüm sıralamalarda son sırada yer almıştır. Spearman Korelasyon Katsayısına göre en benzer sıralamalar PROMETHEE ve Copeland yöntemlerinden elde edilen sıralamalardır.
PAY PİYASASINDA FİYAT BALONLARI VE YATIRIMCI İLGİSİNİN ETKİSİ: BIST TEKNOLOJİ ENDEKSİNDE BİR UYGULAMA
Authors: Söker Fahrettin
Published: December 2024

Bu çalışma BIST Teknoloji endeksinde işlem gören firmalarda fiyat balonlarının incelenmesini ve yatırımcı ilgisinin fiyat balonlarına etkisinin tespit edilmesini amaçlamaktadır. İncelemede 12 firmanın 2019-2023 dönemindeki haftalık verileri kullanılarak Phillips vd. (2015a) tarafından geliştirilen Generalized Sup Augmented Dickey Fuller (GSADF) testi ile fiyat balonları belirlenmiş ve yatırımcı ilgisinin fiyat balonlarına etkisi panel logit model ile analiz edilmiştir. GSADF testi sonucunda BIST Teknoloji endeksinde işlem gören tüm firmalarda en kısası 1 hafta, en uzunu 49 hafta süren fiyat balonu oluşumları tespit edilmiştir. Panel logit model ile yapılan analizde ise Google arama hacmi endeksi verileriyle temsil edilen yatırımcı ilgisinin fiyat balonları oluşma olasılığını önemli seviyede ve pozitif yönde etkilediği belirlenmiştir. Sonuçların teknoloji sektöründe fiyat balonu oluşumlarını firma bazında göstermesi ve fiyat balonlarını etkileyen bir faktör olarak yatırımcıların pay senetlerine olan ilgisinin önemli rolünü ortaya koyması ile literatüre katkı sağlaması beklenmektedir. Ayrıca çalışmada elde edilen sonuçların pay piyasasında fiyat balonlarının tahmin edilebilmesi konusunda yatırımcı ilgisinin de takip edilmesi gerekliliğini ortaya koyması açısından yatırımcılara, portföy yöneticilerine ve araştırmacılara katkı sağlaması hedeflenmektedir.
BİREY, GRUP VE ÖRGÜT DÜZEYİNDE ÖĞRENMENİN ÖRGÜT PERFORMANS DÜZEYİNE ETKİLERİ: ZONGULDAK İLİ BANKA ÇALIŞANLARI ÜZERİNE BİR ARAŞTIRMA
Authors: Yılmaz Sinan , Doğan Girgin Cansu , Başaran İbrahim Müjdat
Published: December 2024

Bireysel öğrenme deneyimi kişilere özgü farklılıklardan kaynaklanan değişken etkilere sahip olsa da iş organizasyonlarına ilişkin yazında, örgüt düzeyinde ortak ve kapsayıcı niteliklere sahip bilgi yönetimi yapı, süreç, politika ve stratejileri geliştirilebileceğine ilişkin yaygın bir kabul olduğunu belirtmek mümkündür. Buna rağmen öğrenmenin bireylere özgü bir davranış biçimi olup olmadığı ve dahası öğrenme düzeyleri arasındaki etkileşimlerin yönü iş örgütleri için öğrenme kavramının doğasına ilişkin derin bir tartışma sahası haline gelmiştir. Bu makalenin temel amacı; birey, grup ve örgüt düzeyinde öğrenme süreçleri arasındaki etkileşimleri ve bu etkileşimlerin örgütsel performans düzeyi üzerindeki etkilerini incelemektir. Bu amaç doğrultusunda yürütülen araştırmada, Türkiye genelinde faaliyet gösteren farklı bankaların Zonguldak ili Merkez şubelerinde çalışan 212 beyaz yakalı çalışandan anket yoluyla veri toplanmış; elde edilen veriler yapısal eşitlik modellemesi teknikleri ile analiz edilmiştir. Analiz sonuçlarına göre; birey, grup ve örgüt düzeyinde öğrenme süreçleri hiyerarşik bir etkileşim eğilimi sergilemektedir. Buna göre örgütsel öğrenme süreçlerini destekleyen bilgi yönetimi stratejileri, farklı seviyelerde farklı özellikler gösteren kritik başarı faktörleri haline gelirken, üç farklı örgütsel öğrenme düzeyinin örgütsel performans düzeyi üzerindeki etkileri öğrenme düzeyleri arasındaki hiyerarşiyi doğrulamaktadır.
FİNANSAL TEKNOLOJİLERDEKİ GELİŞMELERİN EKONOMİK KOMPLEKSİTEYE YANSIMALARI ÜZERİNE BİR ANALİZ
Authors: Başoğlu Aykut , Kömürcüoğlu Ömer Faruk
Published: December 2024

Ekonomik kompleksite (ECI) kavramı sofistike ürün ihracatı vasıtasıyla ölçülen ve ekonominin üretken bilgi kapasitesinin göstergesi olarak kabul edilen bir ölçüttür. Yüksek ECI seviyesine sahip ekonomilerin birçok sosyoekonomik alanda görece iyi performans gösterdiği kabul edilmektedir. Kısmen yeni bir ölçüt olmasına rağmen ECI’nın sosyoekonomik değişkenler üzerindeki etkileri ve ECI’yi belirleyen faktörlerin tespiti son yıllarda literatürde yaygın bir şekilde araştırılmaya başlanmıştır. Öte yandan, özellikle son on yıllık süreçte finansal hizmetleri teknoloji yoğun hale getiren FinTek gelişmelerinin makroekonomik etkileri de kayda değer bir ilgi çekmektedir. Bu bağlamda literatürden ayrışan çalışma, FinTek gelişmelerini temsil eden bir endeks yardımıyla bu gelişmelerin ECI üzerindeki etkisini ortaya koymayı amaçlamaktadır. Analiz sürecinde verilerin ulaşılabilirliği dikkate alınarak ECI skoru en yüksek 7 ekonomi ve 2012-2021 dönemi incelenmiştir. Çalışmada, otokorelasyon, değişen varyans ve birimler arası korelasyon gözetilerek Driscoll-Kraay dirençli tahmincisi kullanılmıştır. Elde edilen sonuçlar finansal alanda yaşanan teknolojik gelişimlerin örneklem grubunda ECI seviyesini olumsuz etkilediğini göstermektedir. Dolayısıyla bu ülke grubunda finansal teknolojik gelişmeler sofistike ürün ihracatını azaltmaktadır. Diğer yandan kontrol değişken olarak kullanılan insani gelişmişlik endeksi, AR&GE harcamaları ve girişim özgürlüğü ECI skorunu olumlu yönde etkilemektedir.
TUNGSTEN KARBÜR TAKVİYELİ BAKIR ESASLI KOMPOZİT TOZUNUN MEKANİK ALAŞIMLAMA YÖNTEMİYLE SENTEZİNE İŞLEM KONTROL KATKILARININ ETKİSİ
Authors: Bıyık Serkan
Published: December 2024

Tungsten karbür (WC) parçacık-takviyeli bakır (Cu) esaslı kompozitler geleneksel malzemelere göre özellikle aşınma dayanımı, sertlik, yüksek sıcaklık dayanımı ve ark oluşumu ile gerçekleşen malzeme transferi üzerindeki olumlu etkileri sayesinde elektrik kontak malzemesi üretiminde kullanılmaktadır. CuWC kompozit tozu; işlem kontrol katkısı cinsi ve miktarı, öğütme hızı, bilye-toz-ağırlık oranı ve öğütme süresi gibi birçok işlem parametresinin optimize edilmesi sayesinde mekanik alaşımlama (MA) yöntemi ile üretilebilir. Bu yüzden çalışmada işlem kontrol katkısının, CuWC kompozit toz sentezine etkisi araştırılmıştır. Bu amaçla Cu ve WC tozlarından oluşan karışıma katı işlem kontrol katkısı olarak stearik asit, polietilen glikol ve çinko stearat ayrı ayrı ilave edilerek oluşturulan üç farklı karışım bilyeli öğütücüde öğütülmüştür. Polietilen glikol kullanımında öğütme verimi en düşük seviyelerde iken çinko stearatın 16 saate kadar belirgin etkisi öne çıkmaktadır. Ortalama toz boyutu değerleri ve SEM görüntülerinin karşılaştırılmasından 25 saatlik öğütme sonucunda en uygun işlem kontrol katkısının stearik asit olduğu tespit edilmiştir.
THERMAL COMFORT ANALYSIS OF WORKERS IN AN INDUSTRIAL FACILITY: A FIELD STUDY IN BOLU PROVINCE
Authors: Caner İsmail , Özbağ Şükran , İlten Nadir
Published: December 2024

Thermal comfort in industrial facilities has critical importance in terms of worker productivity and health. Providing optimal thermal comfort requires effective use of HVAC systems. In this context, continuous monitoring and improvement are important to ensure appropriate thermal conditions in the working environment. In this study, the current environmental conditions of a facility located in Bolu province were evaluated in terms of workers with the help of measurements and surveys. The measurements were taken separately for summer, winter and spring periods and the evaluations were made by taking into account age, gender, clothing status and activity status. PMV and PPD values were calculated and these values were compared with the survey results and the current thermal comfort conditions were revealed. As a result, it was seen that the clothing status could cause a change between 0.9 ºC and 2.2 ºC in the optimum working temperature.
FixNCut v2.0Enhanced Cell and Tissue Fixation for Single Cell Assays v1
Authors: Wang Shuoshuo , G Martelotto Luciano
Published: December 2024

The original FixNCut 1.0 protocol faced challenges in scalability bottlenecks due to the limited solubility and stability of DSP (dithiobis-succinimidyl propionate) NHS-esters in aqueous environments. Additionally, preparing the working solution required careful handling and experience, which restricted its application in large-scale, parallel experiments. This enhancement of original FixNCut (OzSoup v1) overcomes these limitations by a dual complementary system combining DSP for crosslinking and cold methanol for fixing and permeabilizing. This combination improves cell integrity, minimizes clumping, and simplifies processing. Integrated rehydration and washing steps further prepare cells for downstream molecular assays. These refinements aim to overcome limitations of the original protocol, and enhance its reliability, scalability, and versatility, making it more accessible for diverse experimental workflows while inviting broader validation and application.
Ideologeme “Collective West”: Russian-Language vs English-Language Media
Authors: Dymova A. V. , Koptyaeva N. N.
Published: December 2024

The use of ideologemes in the political media discourse of one linguistic culture, and how they are represented in the context of another linguistic culture, can be a powerful tool for influencing audiences through shared cultural attitudes. This also presents an intriguing and promising area of research. The ideologeme “collective West” has firmly entered the political media discourse, the number of its uses is growing rapidly, but the connotation of this lexeme remains understudied. In this article, based on news publications of Russian and English media for 2022–2023, the connotation of the ideologeme “kollektivny Zapad” and its English version “collective West” is explored, using the methods of content, component and discourse analyses. The features of its functioning in Russian-language media texts are described, namely, the use of evaluative epithets and markers of alienation (quotation marks and the adjective “so-called”). The lexeme has a negative connotation and consists of the components confrontation, aggression, hegemony, decline, hypocrisy, etc. In the English-language media, the lexeme “collective West” is placed in quotation marks more often than its Russian-language version, it is used with almost the same frequency with the adjective “so-called”, and its connotation consists of such components as confrontation, active participation in the Russian-Ukrainian conflict, aggression, hegemony, backwardness, etc. The negative connotation of the lexeme “collective West” is softened by the absence of evaluative epithets and various techniques of linguistic manipulation (depersonalization, personification, distortion in translation). The results of the research can be used in the study of information warfare techniques, language manipulation in media texts, the representation of Russia in English-language media in order to provide information security and teach media literacy.
The Archeological Site of Arkaim: Development Practices and Meanings in Individual Perception of Memorial Landscapes
Authors: Zubanova L. B. , Zykhovskaya N. L. , Shub M. L.
Published: December 2024

The article deals with memorial landscapes-loci that combine two characteristics: “places of memory”, i.e. these places possess objective cultural and historical value, and “places of power”, i.e. they have sacral or mystical status in individual perceptions. We analyze motivational and behavioral strategies of those who visit the archeological site of Arkaim, located in the Southern Urals. Arkaim is represented in the public consciousness not only as an archaeological site and a natural and cultural reserve, but it is given mystical and esoteric interpretations. The research aims firstly to represent effective practices in developing this memorial landscape and secondly to identify those individual meanings contributed to these practices by Arkaim visitors. We used mass surveys of visitors (380 people), in-depth interviews (with 40 informants), field overt observation and photo-fixation during our five field expeditions in 2023. The diversity of materialized practices in Arkaim development could be arranged in two main types: materialistic and ritual-behavioral. Furthermore, these types should be analyzed through the concept of invented tradition developed by E. Hobsbawm. The results of the survey include the key motivation for the visit, practices of involving different groups in the development of the memorial landscape; they also contain excerpts from the conducted interviews describing emotions experienced by the visitors to Arkaim. A conclusion is made in regard to a specific type of existential pilgrimage that Arkaim visitors perform. The key features ensuring interest of the audience in memorial landscapes have been mentioned as historicity, mythology, narrativity. Factors inducing to visit such places are systematized, among them desire to overcome the framework of daily routine, urban pressure, “spiritual migration” should be emphasized.
Leszek Nowak and His Critique of Historical Materialism
Authors: Rakhinsky D. V. , Musat R. P. , Panasenko G. V.
Published: December 2024

The article examines the specifics and content of the critical re-evaluation of Marxist historical materialism undertaken by the renowned Polish philosopher and legal theoretician Leszek Nowak, a prominent member of the Poznań methodological school. The analysis focuses on Nowak’s insight into the significance of Karl Marx’s contributions to the history of philosophy and social sciences, and particularly those valuable advancements in philosophical methodology attributed to him. Nowak states that Marx’s methodological innovations – namely, the method of idealization – have not been fully recognized or appreciated by Marxists, and he conducts an independent exploration of them. The section dedicated to analyzing Nowak’s understanding of historical materialism highlights his development of a “non-marxist” theory of social formations, which emerges from the study of the peculiar organization of research activities by Marxist philosophers and the substantive conflicts within Marxist social philosophy. Nowak criticizes Marxist historical materialism on both theoretical and practical grounds, illustrating his arguments with examples from the history of socialist states. He identifies two existing Marxist interpretations of historical materialism: the “nomological” interpretation stemming from Karl Kautsky and the “praxis” one, which Nowak traces back to the works of György Lukács. Nowak not only demonstrates strengths and weaknesses of these two interpretations, but also proposes his own interpretation of historical materialism employing the idealization methodology he reconstructed from Marx’s works. Drawing on Nowak’s significant theoretical contributions, the authors conclude by discussing the contemporary relevance of his research for socio-philosophical reflection within entire Marxist philosophy.
The Blind Spot of Public Opinion: The Concept of Propaganda by Walter Lippmann
Authors: Belousov A. B.
Published: December 2024

The article examines Walter Lippman’s concept of propaganda, which has traditionally been overshadowed by the more widely recognized concept of public opinion. The relevance of studying propaganda has heightened due to current events that significantly increased both the volume of propaganda and its impact on the socio-political atmosphere. Among the early researchers of propaganda, such as Edward Bernays, Harold Lasswell, and Arthur Ponsonby – Lippmann was the first to articulate its complexities. However, his contribution to propaganda research is often underestimated. This article asserts that Lasswell, Bernays, and Ponsonby addressed the research tasks initially proposed by Lippmann. The analysis focuses on Lippmann’s understanding of propaganda in his seminal work, Public Opinion, as well as in his subsequent post-war writings, including The Political Scene: an Essay on the Victory of 1918 (1919), Liberty and News (1920), and The Phantom Public (1927), all of which remain untranslated into Russian. For the first time in Russian political science, the biographical context of Lippman’s works is explored, particularly his experiences as a propagandist in Europe in 1918. The study reveals that after encountering negative experience in the field of propaganda and losing the material competition to George Creel, the head of the American propaganda department, Walter Lippman transferred his antipathies into the figure of “propagandist”, attributing to it the most vivid negative epithets in his writings. This disdain casts a shadow over propaganda, which serves as a primary mechanism for shaping public opinion, but is ultimately relegated to a “blind spot” in Lippmann’s Public Opinion.
Artificial Intelligence Systems: Current Status and Future Development Prospects in China
Authors: Badmaeva M. Kh. , Balchindorzhieva O. B. , Zolkhoeva M. V.
Published: December 2024

The article discusses the achievements and potential of artificial intelligence (AI) technology development in China. Currently, China stands as a leader in digitalization, as evidenced by substantial funding in the development and implementation of new technologies, the proliferation of commercial entities engaged in AI, and the significant attention given by state institutions and the scientific community to the application of AI across various sectors of Chinese society. Through the analysis of a substantial amount of empirical material on the application of AI systems in diverse areas of social reality, the authors conclude that China directly associates its national development with the capabilities and advancement of AI technologies. Furthermore, the authors argue that this profound engagement with AI has enabled Chinese scientists, politicians and businessmen to make significant progress in comprehending the negative consequences associated with AI usage. This is reflected in the numerous attempts to establish ethical norms and standards designed to ensure health and well-being of people, which have been adopted at both governmental corporate levels. The authors suggest that China’s success in the AI development is further influenced by traditional Chinese culture, which encompasses a nonanthropocentric worldview. This world-view emphasizes a holistic perception of the world and harmony in the relationship between humanity and the world. The authors conclude that China shares concerns about the further use of AI, and thus shows willingness to cooperate internationally in managing the development and enchantment of AI systems.
Tokenization of Political Texts in BERT Models Using ICF+ Ontologies
Authors:   Ryazan State Radio Engineering University named after V. F. Utkin, Ryazan, Russian Federation, Kashirin I. Yu.
Published: December 2024

The design of machine learning language models, as well as their ensembles, used in complex analytics of news texts of domestic and Western electronic media is considered. An example of software implementation of a new language neural network model with problem-oriented ontological tokenization is given. The language used as tools is Python v.3.10, Anaconda v.2.1. The effectiveness of the approach in comparison with the best foreign analogues is confirmed by a series of experiments using the example of classifying news articles according to their ideological orientation into Western and English-language Russian ones.
Physical Performance Effects Associated with a 16-Week Therapeutic Yoga Intervention in Survivors of Cancers in the South Texas Region: A Pilot Study
Authors: Ortiz Alexis , Darby Nydia , Almeida Gustavo , Calderon Tim , Patel Darpan , Zhang Tony , Hughes Daniel C.
Published: December 2024

Yoga is recognized as a complementary practice that improves physical, mental, and spiritual health in survivors of cancer. The present study assessed associations between a holistic approach and physical function for 30 survivors of cancer in south Texas. Cancer survivors (86% female) of diverse backgrounds (62% underrepresented minorities) performed a battery of physical function tests, including a 6-minute walk test, to assess cardiorespiratory function, isometric shoulder and elbow-flexor strength, dominant-arm grip strength, dominant-arm shoulder range of motion via inclinometer, sit-and-reach test to assess trunk and lower-extremity flexibility, and a 30-second sit-to-stand test to assess lower-extremity endurance. Participants were reassessed 16 weeks after starting the intervention. The intervention involved a 75-minute live-streamed therapeutic yoga program, including meditation, three times a week and daily psychosocial support text messaging through a telehealth platform to increase efficacy in promoting health-enhancing behaviors. Repeated-measures analysis of variance was used to assess changes in physical performance between sessions. Statistically significant improvements were observed for the 6-minute walk test (+35.68 m; p = 0.020), elbow-flexor strength (+7.44 kg; p < 0.001), dominant-hand grip strength (+3.19 kg; p < 0.004), sit-and-reach test (+5.25 cm; p = 0.010), and dominant-arm shoulder range of motion in flexion (+11.18 degrees, p = 0.012) and abduction (+17.06 degrees, p = 0.036). A 16-week live-streamed therapeutic yoga intervention performed three times a week, coupled with daily psychosocial support messaging, was associated with improved cardiorespiratory endurance by increasing the distance walked in 6 minutes, improving upper-extremity strength and range of motion, and increasing the flexibility of back and hamstring muscles.
Effects of Feed Quality on Growth and Feed Utilization of Gilthead Seabream (Sparus aurata, L.) at Low Temperatures
Authors:   University of Zadar, Department of Ecology, Agronomy and Aquaculture Zadar, Croatia, Čolak Slavica , Križanac Silvia , Vitlov Božena , Raljević Josipa , Barić Renata , Bavčević Lav
Published: December 2024

The gilthead seabream (Sparus aurata) is cultured throughout the Mediterranean; the sea temperature most significantly determines the duration of farming. Sea temperatures reduce gilthead seabream’s need for feed and fish growth is not expected in these conditions. It is hypothesized that improving feed formulation could improve growth during the winter months. For the research, two groups were formed, and fed for a month with two types of fish feed of different nutritional composition at an average temperature of 13.9 ± 0.90 °C. The fish from cage A (21.53 ± 1.53 cm; 173.77 ± 38.24 g) were fed fish feed containing protein and lipid 100% from marine origin (H1). The fish from cage B (22.17 ± 1.43 cm; 181.08 ± 43.05 g) were fed with commercial feed for gilthead seabream, whose proteins and lipids were partially replaced by plant raw materials (H2). The temperature was measured daily and samples were taken at the beginning and end of the experiment for biometrics, which included the fish’s total length, total weight, and condition factor. This study showed that fish fed with a modified formula achieved higher growth parameters than fish fed with commercial feed. The data obtained indicate that gilthead seabream can grow at low temperatures and there is a need for further research to ensure the correct selection of raw materials for the testing and production of feed for the period of low sea temperatures.
Autumn Growth and Mortality of Queen Scallop (Aequipecten opercularis L.) in Captivity: Results from a 3-month Experiment
Authors:   Faculty of Educational Sciences, Juraj Dobrila University of Pula Pula, Croatia, Kovačić Ines , Burić Petra , Parić Tina , Iveša Neven , Žunec Ante , Štifanić Mauro
Published: December 2024

Pectinidae species are prominent shellfish in the Adriatic Sea, valued for their commercial and ecological importance. Among them, the queen scallop, Aequipecten opercularis, has not yet demonstrated long-term viability in captivity, posing challenges for aquaculture. However, successful aquaculture of A. opercularis could reduce the adverse effects of fishing gear on sea bottoms. The objective of this study is to offer perspectives on how queen scallops adapt to captive conditions, examining their morphometric response and shell growth over three months under different seawater parameters. We assessed the growth rate and hemocyte count in the scallops’ hemolymph, observing growth rate lengths of 0.058±0.174 mm/day in October, 0.003±0.024 mm/day in November, and 0.022±0.026 mm/day in December. Correspondingly, the growth rate weights slightly decreased from 0.022±0.107 g/day in October to 0.003±0.043 g/day in November and 0.008±0.037 g/day in December. Additionally, the total hemocyte count increased significantly over time, peaking in December at 25.846±7.251×10*6 cells/mL. These findings suggest that optimizing environmental conditions, particularly maintaining a temperature around 15°C and ensuring high food quality, can enhance the shell growth and survival rates of queen scallops in captivity. This research identifies key opportunities to improve the culture practices for A. opercularis, contributing to more sustainable aquaculture methods.
Improving the Emotions Experienced: Regulation Strategies Used by Remote Learners during COVID-19
Authors: Hu Zhongbin , Zhao Ting , Shu Zheng
Published: December 2024

Emotion regulation represents behavioural and cognitive responses to a variety of emotions, some of which are beneficial to learning and affective outcomes, while others are detrimental. In the present study, the process model of emotion regulation was used as a guiding framework to reveal which emotion regulation strategies learners used in remote learning during COVID-19. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews with 23 remote learners. Findings revealed that learners used three phases of emotion regulation strategies in remote learning —situation-focused, task-focused, and self-focused. These findings not only contribute to educational research during emergencies by documenting the diverse and dynamic nature of emotion regulation, but also provide a glimpse into how educational policy makers and educators should modify course syllabi and policies based on learners’ emotions and regulation strategies.
A Comprehensive Review of the Formal Training of Future Schoolteachers in Health, Safety, and Risk Prevention in Spanish Public Universities. Is This Training in Line with International Recommendations?
Authors: Abecia Begoña , Bernal José Luis , Martínez-Jarreta Begoña
Published: December 2024

Advanced countries aim to integrate health and safety training at all educational stages. Research suggests that providing teachers with basic training in health, safety, and risk prevention before they begin teaching could help achieve this goal. Therefore, it is recommended that the preparation of schoolteachers should begin as early as the undergraduate level. This study presents a comprehensive review of the subjects, contents, and curricular elements related to health, security, and risk prevention in Primary Education and Early Childhood Education degrees offered by Spanish public universities (33 universities that met the pre-established requirements were included). The results indicate that most Spanish public universities do not provide sufficient coverage of basic training in health, safety, and risk prevention for future primary and early childhood education teachers in their degree programs.
Research Trends in Competency-Based Education and Training: A Data-Driven Historical Analysis
Authors: Guan Chong , Ng Mei Zhen , Zhang Yimiao
Published: December 2024

This systematic review employs topic modeling techniques to delve into the Competency-Based Education and Training (CBET) research landscape, comprehensively exploring this domain’s prevalent themes and subjects. The study scrutinizes a dataset of over 4000 records from the Web of Science, spanning 1998 to 2024, encompassing journal articles, books, book chapters, and conference papers. The analysis discerns distinct clusters of topics in CBET research: discipline-specific applications, emerging technologies, pedagogical approaches, assessment frameworks, and behavioral intervention. This paper highlights key challenges and opportunities.
Risk factors for biometry prediction error by Barrett Universal II intraocular lens formula in Chinese patients
Authors:   Beijing Key Laboratory of Restoration of Damaged Ocular Nerve, Department of Ophthalmology, Peking University Third Hospital, Beijing 100191, China; State Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Zhongshan Ophthalmic Center, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology and Visual Science, Guangzhou 510060, Guangdong Province, China, Chen Xu-Hao , Ke Xiang-Han ,   Beijing Key Laboratory of Restoration of Damaged Ocular Nerve, Department of Ophthalmology, Peking University Third Hospital, Beijing 100191, China, Song Si-Jia ,   Beijing Key Laboratory of Restoration of Damaged Ocular Nerve, Department of Ophthalmology, Peking University Third Hospital, Beijing 100191, China, Cen Yu-Jie ,   Beijing Key Laboratory of Restoration of Damaged Ocular Nerve, Department of Ophthalmology, Peking University Third Hospital, Beijing 100191, China, Zhang Chun ,   Beijing Key Laboratory of Restoration of Damaged Ocular Nerve, Department of Ophthalmology, Peking University Third Hospital, Beijing 100191, China
Published: December 2024

AIM: To investigate the influence of postoperative intraocular lens (IOL) positions on the accuracy of cataract surgery and examine the predictive factors of postoperative biometry prediction errors using the Barrett Universal II (BUII) IOL formula for calculation.
METHODS: The prospective study included patients who had undergone cataract surgery performed by a single surgeon from June 2020 to April 2022. The collected data included the best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA), corneal curvature, preoperative and postoperative central anterior chamber depths (ACD), axial length (AXL), IOL power, and refractive error. BUII formula was used to calculate the IOL power. The mean absolute error (MAE) was calculated, and all the participants were divided into two groups accordingly. Independent t-tests were applied to compare the variables between groups. Logistic regression analysis was used to analyze the influence of age, AXL, corneal curvature, and preoperative and postoperative ACD on MAE.
RESULTS: A total of 261 patients were enrolled. The 243 (93.1%) and 18 (6.9%) had postoperative MAE<1 and >1 D, respectively. The number of females was higher in patients with MAE>1 D (χ2 = 3.833, P=0.039). The postoperative BCVA (logMAR) of patients with MAE >1 D was significantly worse (t=-2.448; P=0.025). After adjusting for gender in the logistic model, the risk of postoperative refractive errors was higher in patients with a shallow postoperative anterior chamber [odds ratio=0.346; 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.164, 0.730, P=0.005].
CONCLUSION: Risk factors for biometry prediction error after cataract surgery include the patient’s sex and postoperative ACD. Patients with a shallow postoperative anterior chamber are prone to have refractive errors.
Outcomes of a non-diffractive extended depth of focus intraocular lens in patients with well-controlled glaucoma and ocular hypertension
Authors:   Department of Ophthalmology, University of Montreal, Quebec H3T 1J4, Canada, Liu Jia-Ru , Harasymowycz Paul ,   Department of Ophthalmology, University of Montreal, Quebec H3T 1J4, Canada; Department of Ophthalmology, Hôpital Maisonneuve-Rosemont, Quebec H1T 2M4, Canada; Bellevue Ophthalmology Clinics, Quebec H1V 1G5, Canada
Published: December 2024

AIM: To assess visual outcomes and satisfaction of a non-diffractive extended depth of focus (EDOF) intraocular lens (IOL) in individuals with ocular hypertension (OHT) and well-controlled mild glaucoma undergoing cataract surgery.
METHODS: An investigator-initiated, single-center, prospective, interventional, noncomparative study conducted in Montreal, Canada. The study enrolled 31 patients (55 eyes) with OHT or mild glaucoma who received a non-diffractive EDOF IOL (Acrysof IQ Vivity). Participants underwent sequential cataract surgery with the Vivity IOL. Follow-up evaluations occurred at 1d, 1, and 3mo postoperatively, assessing uncorrected distance, intermediate, and near visual acuity. Questionnaires (QUVID: Questionnaire for visual disturbances and IOLSAT: Intraocular lens satisfaction) were administered pre and post-operatively to measure visual disturbances and spectacle independence in various lighting. Safety parameters included intraocular pressure (IOP), glaucoma medications, spherical equivalence, mean deviation and pattern standard deviation or square root of lost variance on Octopus visual field.
RESULTS: At 1 and 3mo postoperatively, significant improvements were observed in uncorrected distance and intermediate visual acuity. Spectacle independence was enhanced for distance and intermediate vision, especially in bright light settings. Spectacle-free intermediate vision was improved even in dim lighting. Visual disturbances, particularly glare symptoms, were reduced, and there was a notable decrease in IOP and glaucoma medication burden at 3mo. There was more hazy vision postoperatively with no impact on visual acuity and visual satisfaction.
CONCLUSION: The non-diffractive EDOF lens improves distance and intermediate spectacle-free visual function in patients with OHT and well-controlled glaucoma. The findings highlight significant improvements in visual acuity, reduced glare, enhanced spectacle independence, and improved visual performance in different lighting conditions.
Assessing XEN microstent’s one-year efficacy: independent of site variability
Authors:   Department of Ophthalmology, University of Leipzig, Liebigstrasse 10-14, Leipzig 04103, Germany, Bormann Caroline , Rehak Matus ,   Department of Ophthalmology, University of Innsbruck, Anichstraße 35, Innsbruck 6020, Austria, Scharenberg Christian Thomas ,   Smile Eyes Augen- und Laserzentrum Leipzig, Lampestraße 1, Leipzig 04107, Germany, Ziemssen Focke ,   Department of Ophthalmology, University of Leipzig, Liebigstrasse 10-14, Leipzig 04103, Germany, Unterlauft Jan Darius ,   Department of Ophthalmology, University of Leipzig, Liebigstrasse 10-14, Leipzig 04103, Germany; Department of Ophthalmology, Inselspital, University of Bern, Freiburgstrasse 4, Bern 3010, Switzerland
Published: December 2024

AIM: To evaluate the short-term efficacy of XEN45 Gel Stent (XEN) implantation for primary open angle glaucoma (POAG) and pseudoexfoliation (PEX) glaucoma across two university eye clinics, aiming to assess the impact of varying center-specific protocols during the first postoperative year.
METHODS: We retrospectively examined 282 patients (183 in center 1, 99 in center 2), who underwent XEN microstent implantation for uncontrolled POAG or PEX glaucoma. Parameters including intraocular pressure (IOP), IOP-lowering medication count, best corrected visual acuity (BCVA), and postoperative complications were evaluated over 12mo.
RESULTS: Post-implantation, center 1 reported a mean IOP reduction from 25.3±7.4 to 14.1±4.7 mm Hg (P<0.01) and a decrease in IOP-lowering medications from 3.2±1.2 to 1.0±1.3 (P<0.01). Center 2 observed a similar reduction from 24.4±6.5 to 15.1±5.5 mm Hg (P<0.01) and medication decrease from 3.0±1.1 to 1.2±1.0 (P<0.01). BCVA remained stable in both cohorts. The most common complications were hypotony (center 1: 32; center 2: 20) and choroidal detachment (center 1: 22, center 2: 15), with nearly identical needling rates (40% in center 1, 41% in center 2).
CONCLUSION: XEN implantation yields consistent reductions in IOP and medication use across different centers using comparable surgical and postoperative treatment regime. These findings underscore XEN’s short-term effectiveness and suggest standardizable outcomes regardless of exact surgical procedure or treatment differences.
Femtosecond laser small incision lenticule extraction on binocularity for myopia with glasses-free 3D technique
Authors:   Department of Ophthalmology, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, Sichuan Province, China; Department of Optometry and Visual Science, West China School of Medicine, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, Sichuan Province, China, Chen Bing-Jie , Liao Yong-Chuan ,   Department of Ophthalmology, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, Sichuan Province, China
Published: December 2024

AIM: To evaluate the effect of femtosecond laser small incision lenticule extraction (SMILE) on the binocular visual function in myopic patients with glasses-free three-dimensional (3D) technique.
METHODS: Totally 50 myopic patients (39 females and 11 males) with SMILE were enrolled in this prospective study. The glasses-free 3D technique was used to evaluate the binocular visual function in these subjects including static stereopsis, dynamic stereopsis, foveal suppression, and binocular balance point of signal to noise ratio (s/n ratio). All subjects received measurements in 1d before operation, and 1d, 1wk, and 1mo postoperatively.
RESULTS: Both static and dynamic stereopsis showed no significant difference after SMILE. The foveal suppression improved significantly 1wk and 1mo after SMILE (P=0.005 and P=0.007 respectively). The binocular balance point of signal to noise ratio showed a significant improvement 1d, 1wk and 1mo after SMILE for both eyes (P<0.001 for each eye respectively).
CONCLUSION: Glasses-free 3D technique can be used to evaluate the effect of SMILE on the binocular visual function in myopic patients perceptively, and SMILE can improve both foveal suppression and binocular imbalance in these patients.
Glaucomatous retinal ganglion cells: death and protection
Authors:   Department of Ophthalmology, the Second Affiliated Hospital of Xi’an Medical University, Xi’an 710038, Shaanxi Province, China; Xi’an Key Laboratory for the Prevention and Treatment of Eye and Brain Neurological Related Diseases, Xi’an 710038, Shaanxi Province, China, Cui Na , He Yuan ,   Department of Ophthalmology, the Second Affiliated Hospital of Xi’an Medical University, Xi’an 710038, Shaanxi Province, China; Xi’an Key Laboratory for the Prevention and Treatment of Eye and Brain Neurological Related Diseases, Xi’an 710038, Shaanxi Province, China
Published: December 2024

Glaucoma is a group of diseases characterized by progressive optic nerve degeneration, with the characteristic pathological change being death of retinal ganglion cells (RGCs), which ultimately causes visual field loss and irreversible blindness. Elevated intraocular pressure (IOP) remains the most important risk factor for glaucoma, but the exact mechanism responsible for the death of RGCs is currently unknown. Neurotrophic factor deficiency, impaired mitochondrial structure and function, disrupted axonal transport, disturbed Ca2+ homeostasis, and activation of apoptotic and autophagic pathways play important roles in RGC death in glaucoma. This review was conducted using Web of Science, PubMed, Project, and other databases to summarize the relevant mechanisms of death of RGCs in glaucoma, in addition to outlining protective treatments to improve the degradation of RGCs.
Analysis of the Effect of Discipline Learn and Self-Confidence on Chemistry Learning Achievement
Authors: Haryati Sri , Albeta Sri Wilda , Sella Dwi Adheka
Published: December 2024

Research has been conducted with the purpose of identifying the partial and simultaneous influence of discipline learn and self-confidence on student learning achievement in class X chemistry subjects at MA Darul Hikmah Pekanbaru. The kind of research adopted is survey research with quantitative approach. The research was conducted at MA Darul Hikmah Pekanbaru in the even semester of 2023/2034 using random sampling technique using the slovin formula so as to get a research sample of 122 students. Data collection techniques through literature studies and questionnaires. The results showed that discipline learn had a positive and significant reaction on chemistry learning achievement with a contribution of 17.5%, self-confidence had a positive and significant reaction on chemistry learning achievement with a contribution of 14.1%, and discipline learn and self-confidence simultaneously had a positive and significant reaction on chemistry learning achievement with a contribution of 18.2% the remaining part is likely influenced by other aspects not included in this research.
Urban Resilience: Navigating Challenges and Opportunities in Indonesia
Authors: Setiawan Tomi , Samith Muhammad Farras , Mughits Muhammad Hammam
Published: December 2024

This paper aims to examine the notion of urban resilience, multidisciplinary frameworks, and efforts to promote adaptive and sustainable urban systems. Urban resilience has emerged as an important framework to address the vulnerabilities and challenges encountered by rapidly growing urban centers in the context of environmental, social, and economic issues. The method used is a qualitative method with a literature review approach. The work steps taken in the approach are: identifying research gaps, data search and selection, data scanning and sorting, critical analysis and synthesis, and finally interpretation and conclusion drawing. The analysis shows that Jakarta City, as one of the largest metropolitan cities in the world, faces complex challenges that include environmental, social, and economic issues. Key challenges include the unreliability of the electricity system, unintegrated public transportation, increasing air pollution, flooding due to land subsidence and climate change, as well as the adverse impacts of rapid urbanization such as reduced green spaces. Through theoretical analysis and a case study of Jakarta City, the conclusions of this research illustrate important pathways for the integration of resilience principles into urban governance, planning, and policy-making. The paper concludes with pragmatic recommendations for enhancing urban resilience to develop cities that are not only sustainable but also able to adapt to future uncertainties.
Keywords: urban resilience, urban issues, planning, sustainable development.
Soft Power in Action: How Foreign Aid Shapes Global Perceptions and Influences International Relations
Authors: Laowattanabhongse Apisada
Published: December 2024

Soft power and foreign aid alter worldwide perceptions and international relations, according to our study. Soft power, according to Joseph Nye, is a nation's ability to achieve its goals by persuasion rather than force or money. Foreign aid boosts donor nations' global image, diplomatic relations, and culture, according to this study. Effective overseas help can transform donor nations' views, it claims. State aid can build goodwill, confidence, and dependencies that promote recipient countries' goals. Case studies suggest that foreign aid boosts soft power in the US and China. This study examines how foreign aid boosts soft power. It promotes worldwide public diplomacy to achieve national interests. The donor nation's legitimacy and morality affect these methods' efficacy. Altruistic global humanitarian aid boosts soft power, but self-interested or conditional aid may damage it. This study addresses soft power foreign aid limits. It persuades, but its effects are indirect and incremental, making instant results difficult to judge. Authoritarian regimes effect international relations. These countries may weaken soft power via disinformation or propaganda. This research shows how complex foreign aid is as a soft power tactic in modern geopolitics. It examines how help affects global perceptions and international relations to show how governments might use aid to gain power in a changing world. For lasting relationships and diplomatic aims, states using soft power through overseas aid must promote sincere involvement and cultural exchange. This research enhances soft power and international development discourse, allowing nations to influence the world using foreign aid.