bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
POLITENESS AS A BASIS OF COMMUNICATIVE BEHAVIOUR (based on German-Russian and Russian-German phrasebooks of the 18th and 19th centuries)
Authors:   St. Petersburg State University, Sokoljuk Maria A.
Published: June 2024

Phrasebook as a type of text, aimed at providing the basis of communication in the situation of lack of foreign language knowledge, offers a large number of politeness formulas for definite communicative situations. The article deals with the problem of language expression of politeness in bilingual phrasebooks. The aim of the study is to distinguish communicative behavior peculiarities of representatives of German and Russian cultures and to analyze stable language units, typical for Russian and German in the 18th–19th centuries. The peculiarities of the linguistic expression of politeness are illustrated by examples from the texts of German-Russian and Russian-German phrasebooks of the 18th–19th centuries, covering the time period from 1783 to 1886, which were created both for teaching German or Russian, and for practical use during travels. With the help of pragmalinguistic analysis, the main speech acts of language expression of politeness are described — “request” (including “order”, “instruction”), “gratitude”, “compliment”, in which, along with those used in modern languages, there is also a widely represented range of the obsolete politeness formulas. The analysis of the speech acts “request”, “order”, “instruction” illustrates the social opposition of communicants, which is expressed with language markers of politeness. Dialogues with people of equal status are characterized by exaggerated politeness (Erzeigen Sie mir die Gnade / den Gefallen — ‘Окажите мне милость/любовь’), while in communication with people of a lower social status there are no politeness formulas. Comparison of translations showed isolated inconsistencies between the German and Russian versions, which can be explained by the desire to “smooth out” the rudeness of the original (Принесите нам еще кипятку! — Bringen Sie uns noch siedendes Wasser, bitte). Phrasebook, therefore, reflects the era of creation not only in content, but also in communicative practices relevant to the time of its creation.
TO THE QUESTION ABOUT THE PRAGMATICS OF POLITE DISCORD WITH A COMMUNICATION PARTNER (based on the German language)
Authors:   St. Petersburg State University, Filippov Konstantin A.
Published: June 2024

In a dialogue, both the speaker and the listener have expectations on the transmitted information that require confirmation or refutation. The validity or unreasonability of these expectations is stated with linguistic affirmation or negation. In a verbal confrontation, each participant has the right to question the position of the partner and put forward their own point of view. At the same time, following the rules of politeness makes it possible to smoothen the sharp angles while expressing disagreement. The article aims to identify and to carry out a semantic-pragmatic analysis of how polite disagreement is expressed in German. The material of the study are versatile dialogues in German. One way to express polite disagreement in a dialogue is to use the modal modifiers leider, bedauerlicherweise, etc. in the response, expressing the speaker’s regret about disagreeing with the partners statement. These words enhance the emotional component of the response and soften the point-blank refusal, which can be considered as a kind of courtesy. Another way to express polite disagreement is to switch the interlocutor’s attention from the main topic to a secondary topic or build a response using the interlocutor’s verbal material and in compliance with the norms of politeness. The response statement can consist of two parts, an agreement with the previous statement and arguments in favor of the speaker’s own position, for example, Ja, aber… Standing apart is the adverb allerdings, which conveys opposite meanings (JA-allerdings and NEIN-allerdings) and signals readiness to continue communication.
THE ELEMENT OF META-COMMUNICATIVE STRATEGY OF TACTFULNESS IN THE GERMAN PREPOSITIONAL GROUP AUS HÖFLICHKEIT
Authors:   St. Petersburg State University, Manerova Kristina V.
Published: June 2024

The article concerns the element of the meta-communicative strategy of tactfulness in the German prepositional group aus Höflichkeit (by courtesy) placed in various contexts to correspond the following situations: 1) In the combination with the verb schweigen to express image-sensitive “on face-work”; 2) In the combination with the verb verschweigen to express intentional insincerity and evasiveness. Politeness and tact are close in meaning, but not identical. Tact is an innate feeling, a constant and unconscious consideration of feelings and rights of other people. The research is innovative in the approach to traditional types of speech behaviour in the framework of “silent and evasive behaviour” as a manifestation of tactfulness within the meta-communicative category of politeness. The analysis of the material in the article is conducted following the assumption that tactfulness is a category evaluated in relation to the expectations of the partners in communication. The basis for the study is Erving Goffman’s theory of facial interaction rituals. The aim of the article is to describe the patterns of tactful behaviour in communicative interaction where the speaker seeks to preserve the image through concealment and non-dissemination of information, and demonstrates evasive behaviour. A corpus of 110 examples has been selected from the German electronic corpus Digitales Wörterbuch der deutschen Sprache (DWDS). Methods used in the investigation include lexical-semantic analysis, hypothetic-deductive method, methods of contextual and distributional analysis. Specific features of the use of the prepositional group aus Höflichkeit in combination with “act of silence” verbs are considered. The author concludes that in collocations of the aforementioned verbs with the prepositional group aus Höflichkeit express the relationship of tactfulness and inter-personal interaction as forms of alienation in silence and evasiveness speech patterns.
SEMANTIC-PRAGMATIC CATEGORY OF POLITENESS IN THE DISCOURSE PRACTICE OF INTERVIEW MEDIA TEXTS
Authors:   Ufa University of Science and Technology, Tayupova Olga I.
Published: June 2024

The article is devoted to the study of the semantic-pragmatic specifics and the role of the category of politeness in the German printed media discourse. The relevance of this work is due to the lack of knowledge of the language means of representing the category of politeness of the speech behavior of communicants, which in their totality contribute to increasing the effectiveness of interpersonal media communication and preventing not only conflict, but also awkward situations in relation to dialogic media texts in the perspective of their discursive practice. Also, the significance of this study is due to the appeal to the study of politeness in the dialogical texts of magazine interviews that are actively published in the media, which contribute to the rapid andsuccessful transmission of timely information, improve communication efficiency and achieve the desired pragmatic impact on addressees. Special attention is paid to culturally specific parameters, which are based on the cultural values of Germany and its national and cultural characteristics, in particular, the attitude towards communication. Сommunicants, and above all, journalists, choose the appropriate and, if possible, the most appropriate language means in a particular situation of speech communication. Undoubted markers of positive politeness in the discursive practice of media texts of German interviews are a polite address to the interviewee (Herr, Frau), polite third person pronoun Sie, conjunctive, modal particles (mal, nur, fast, vielleicht, gern), verb danken, combination besten (vielen) Dank, nouns Verzeihung, Entschuldigung.
Semana Santa en Sabanalarga, Atlántico: poder político, vivencias y patrimonialización
Authors: Roa Barraza William , Ávila Patiño Xavier
Published: June 2024

En este artículo se aborda la Semana Santa de Sabanalarga, que es la celebración litúrgica y la práctica religiosa popular más importante del departamento del Atlántico. El objetivo es analizar la utilización histórica de esta expresión cultural como mecanismo de influencia ideológica en las relaciones de poder político. Se trata de un proceso que en principio fue forzado y con el paso de los siglos se arraigó en la sociedad, pero fue direccionado por las élites y el clero. Para alcanzar este propósito se escudriñó en la información existente en la Arquidiócesis de Barranquilla, el Archivo General de la Nación, los periódicos, se hizo una revisión bibliográfica de la temática y se observó la festividad. En tal sentido, aquí se muestra la articulación existente entre estas prácticas religiosas que fueron reconocidas como Patrimonio Inmaterial de la Nación, y el poder político, el cual pretende consolidarse como representante de las buenas costumbres debido a su relación piadosa con Dios.
Exploring the Mechanism of Zhishi-Xiebai-Guizhi Decoction for the Treatment
of Hypoxic Pulmonary Hypertension based on Network Pharmacology and
Experimental Analyses
Authors: Huang Pan , Wang Yuxiang , Liu Chuanchuan , Zhang Qingqing , Ma Yougang , Liu Hong , Wang Xiaobo , Wang Yating , Wei Minmin , Ma Lan
Published: June 2024

Background:

Hypoxic Pulmonary Hypertension (HPH), a prevalent disease in highland areas, is a
crucial factor in various complex highland diseases with high mortality rates. Zhishi-Xiebai-Guizhi Decoction
(ZXGD), traditional Chinese medicine with a long history of use in treating heart and lung diseases, lacks a
clear understanding of its pharmacological mechanism.

Objective:

This study aimed to investigate the pharmacological effects and mechanisms of ZXGD on HPH.

Methods:

We conducted a network pharmacological prediction analysis and molecular docking to predict the
effects, which were verified through in vivo experiments.

Results:

Network pharmacological analysis revealed 51 active compounds of ZXGD and 701 corresponding
target genes. Additionally, there are 2,116 targets for HPH, 311 drug-disease co-targets, and 17 core-targets.
GO functional annotation analysis revealed that the core targets primarily participate in biological processes
such as apoptosis and cellular response to hypoxia. Furthermore, KEGG pathway enrichment analysis demonstrated
that the core targets are involved in several pathways, including the phosphatidylinositol-3 kinase/protein
kinase B (PI3K/Akt) signaling pathway and Hypoxia Inducible Factor 1 (HIF1) signaling pathway. In vivo
experiments, the continuous administration of ZXGD demonstrated a significant improvement in pulmonary
artery pressure, right heart function, pulmonary vascular remodeling, and pulmonary vascular fibrosis in HPH
rats. Furthermore, ZXGD was found to inhibit the expression of PI3K, Akt, and HIF1α proteins in rat lung tissue.

Conclusion:

In summary, this study confirmed the beneficial effects and mechanism of ZXGD on HPH
through a combination of network pharmacology and in vivo experiments. These findings provided a new insight
for further research on HPH in the field of traditional Chinese medicine.
The Potential Mechanism of Eriodictyol in Treating Alzheimer's Disease: A Study on
Computer-assisted Investigational Strategies
Authors: Du Dan , Qin Chunmeng , Sun Mei , Lv Feng , Li Wenjun , Liu Songqing
Published: June 2024

Background:

At present, drug development for treating Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is still highly
challenging. Eriodictyol (ERD) has shown great potential in treating AD, but its molecular mechanism is unknown.

Objective:

We aimed to explore the potential targets and mechanisms of ERD in the treatment of AD through
network pharmacology, molecular docking, and molecular dynamics simulations.

Methods:

ERD-related targets were predicted based on the CTD, SEA, PharmMapper, Swiss TargetPrediction,
and ETCM databases, and AD-related targets were predicted through the TTD, OMIM, DrugBank,
GeneCards, Disgenet, and PharmGKB databases. Protein-protein interaction, Gene Ontology (GO), and Kyoto
Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomics analyses (KEGG) were used to analyse the potential targets and key
pathways of the anti-AD effect of ERD. Subsequently, potential DEGs affected by AD were analysed using
the AlzData database, and their relationships with ERD were evaluated through molecular docking and molecular
dynamics simulations.

Results:

A total of 198 ERD-related targets, 3716 AD-related targets, and 122 intersecting targets were identified.
GO annotation analysis revealed 1497 biological processes, 78 cellular components, and 132 molecular
functions of 15 core targets. KEGG enrichment analysis identified 168 signalling pathways. We ultimately
identified 9 DEGs associated with AD through analysis of the AlzData data. Molecular docking results
showed good affinity between the selected targets and ERD, with PTGS2, HSP90AA1, and BCL2. The interactions
were confirmed by molecular dynamics simulations.

Conclusion:

ERD exerts anti-AD effects through multiple targets, pathways, and levels, providing a theoretical
foundation and valuable reference for the development of ERD as a natural anti-AD drug.
At the Speed of Light: Recent Advances on Photocatalyzed Generation and
Applications of Iminyl Radicals Promoted by Visible-light
Authors: Valle-Sánchez Mario , López-Saladino Osvaldo F. , González-Rivas Nelly , Estévez-Martínez Yoxkin , Frontana-Uribe Bernardo A. , Cuevas-Yañez Erick
Published: June 2024

:

Nitrogen-positioned radicals are chemical entities that have a lengthier history
than carbon ones and their high reactivity makes them invaluable. But, despite its power,
much of its chemistry is still uncharted. Currently, developed methodologies to access
nitrogen-positioned radicals, such as transition metal catalysis or visible-light photoredox
methods through a single-electron transfer process, avoiding the use of harmful or toxic
reagents, excess raw materials, solvents as well as pre-functionalization steps or extensive
synthetic routes are in continuous progress. This revision aims to depict the recent
advances in the field of iminyl-radicals’ syntheses, a special class of radicals placed on
nitrogen, catalyzed by transition metals or photoredox techniques for the construction of
C-N bonds and their synthetic applications. This work serves as a comprehensive guide for
the scope of synthetic applications that this kind of radicals could have.
In Silico ADME And Molecular Docking Studies of New Thiazolyl-bipyrazole,
Pyrazolopyridine and Pyrano[2,3-d]pyrazolopyridine Derivatives as Antibacterial Agents
Authors: Metwally Heba M. , Abdel-Latif Ehab , El-Rayyes Ali
Published: June 2024

:

In this study, a series of novel pyrazole-based compounds were synthesized starting
from the precursor ethyl 3-(4-amino-1-phenyl-3-((4-sulfamoylphenyl)carbamoyl)-1Hpyrazol-
5-yl)-3-oxopropanoate (2). Various synthetic routes were used to obtain pyrazolylpyrazolone
3, tricyclic dipyrazolopyridine 4a-c, thiazolyl-bipyrazoles 5 & 6, pyrazolo[4,3-
b]pyridines 7 & 9, and tricyclic pyranopyrazolopyridine 10a–c. These compounds were
screened for their antibacterial activity against four bacterial strains. The promising candidates
4a, 4b, 4c, 7, 9, and 10c exhibited minimum inhibitory concentrations ranging from
0.98 to 31.25 μg/mL. The in silico ADME properties for the active compounds exhibited
similar physiochemical properties, with compound 9 demonstrating the best likeness and no
inhibition effect on the popular drug metabolism enzyme CYP. Molecular docking simulations
highlighted compounds 9 and 10c as potent antibacterial agents via DNA-gyrase inhibition
1,4-Diazabicyclo[2.2.2]octane (DABCO) in Organic Synthesis and Catalysis: A
Quinquennial Report (2019-to Date)
Authors: Varala Ravi , Seema Vittal , Alam Mohammed Mujahid , Amanullah Mohammed , Prasad Beda Durga
Published: June 2024

:

DABCO is one of the more effective basic organocatalysts/reagents that can be
used for a range of organic transformations, including C-H functionalization, formation of
hetero-hetero bonds, rearrangements, the synthesis of heterocyclic compounds, cyclizations
and annulations, other miscellaneous reactions. This quinquennial review aims to critically
and perceptively address noteworthy contributions of non chiral catalyst DABCO for regular
organic transformations from 2019 onward. The key areas of attention were the advantages
and limits of the approach, in addition to the mechanistic pathway, which is required
for a specific organic transformation to be performed effectively.
Effects of water-based Thai dance on balance, muscle strength, quality of life, and blood glucose levels in elderly women
Authors:   Faculty of Sport and Health Sciences, Thailand National Sports University Chaiyaphum Campus, Thailand, Limnararat Kornthip
Published: June 2024

This study investigated the impact of a water-based Thai dance routine on balance, muscle strength and endurance, quality of life, and blood glucose levels among elderly individuals. Participants were 128 women aged 60 to 70 from the Chaiyaphum Elderly Club, divided equally into an experimental group and a control group. Assessments were conducted at three intervals: before training, after six weeks, and after twelve weeks. Both one-way and two-way ANOVAs with repeated measures were employed, and Bonferroni's method was used for mean difference comparisons. Results showed that the experimental group, who engaged in the water-based Thai dance routines, exhibited significant improvements in static and dynamic balances, enhanced muscle strength and endurance, better quality of life, and maintained normal blood glucose levels compared to the control group (p < .01). Notably, improvements were more significant after twelve weeks of training than after six weeks. Conversely, the control group showed a slight decline in static balance after twelve weeks, although there were no significant changes in dynamic balance, muscle strength and endurance, quality of life, or blood glucose levels at any stage of the study.
Employment continues to expand in 2023, though at a slower pace than in the previous 2 years
Authors: Ramos Maria , Walk Lindsay
Published: June 2024

Total nonfarm employment in the United States continued to expand in 2023, with most industry sectors showing slower growth than in the prior 2 years. Over-the-year job gains were led by government and by private education and health services, while job losses occurred in information and in transportation and warehousing.
Pitfalls in Developing Machine Learning Models for Predicting Cardiovascular Diseases: Challenge and Solutions
Authors: Cai Yu-Qing , Gong Da-Xin , Tang Li-Ying , Cai Yue , Li Hui-Jun , Jing Tian-Ci , Gong Mengchun , Hu Wei , Zhang Zhen-Wei , Zhang Xingang , Zhang Guang-Wei
Published: June 2024

In recent years, there has been explosive development in artificial intelligence (AI), which has been widely applied in the health care field. As a typical AI technology, machine learning models have emerged with great potential in predicting cardiovascular diseases by leveraging large amounts of medical data for training and optimization, which are expected to play a crucial role in reducing the incidence and mortality rates of cardiovascular diseases. Although the field has become a research hot spot, there are still many pitfalls that researchers need to pay close attention to. These pitfalls may affect the predictive performance, credibility, reliability, and reproducibility of the studied models, ultimately reducing the value of the research and affecting the prospects for clinical application. Therefore, identifying and avoiding these pitfalls is a crucial task before implementing the research. However, there is currently a lack of a comprehensive summary on this topic. This viewpoint aims to analyze the existing problems in terms of data quality, data set characteristics, model design, and statistical methods, as well as clinical implications, and provide possible solutions to these problems, such as gathering objective data, improving training, repeating measurements, increasing sample size, preventing overfitting using statistical methods, using specific AI algorithms to address targeted issues, standardizing outcomes and evaluation criteria, and enhancing fairness and replicability, with the goal of offering reference and assistance to researchers, algorithm developers, policy makers, and clinical practitioners.
Bioethanol from Sweet Potato Clones at Pruning Age and Yeast Concentrations
Authors: Indawan Edyson , Lestari Sri Umi , Thiasari Nurita , Sasongko Pramono , Dzikrika Ferziana Nurmeilinda
Published: June 2024

The use of bioethanol can save premium usage in addition, bioethanol can reduce greenhouse gas emissions by up to 80% from its combustion results so as to decomp additionally greenhouse effects. Raw materials for producing bioethanol from that materials containing glucose, starch, cellulose. The purpose of the study was to find out of tape yeast concentrations on the bioethanol fermentation process of 8 sweet potato clones. The interaction between clone variation and yeast concentration has a noticeable effect on the results of the analysis of starch levels after the fermentation process. Starch levels showed a very significant decrease in the starch levels of fresh raw materials before the fermentation process. The results showed that the interaction between clone variation and yeast concentration had a noticeable effect on the results of the analysis of alcohol levels produced. The highest alcohol content is produced from Sari clones (150 DAP) with a yeast concentration of 15% with a content of 6.59%. The variation of clones and the concentration of yeast interacts manifestly with the results of the analysis of the total sugar content after the fermentation process. The total sugar measured is the total amount of sugar left after the fermentation process. Results showed a significant decrease in total sugar fermentation process by tape yeast showed the absence of starch hydrolysis and a total overhaul of the resulting sugar into alcohol. The concentration of yeast has no effect on the change of pH in the fermentation process, the pH at the end of the fermentation process is in the range of 4.1-6.3.
La producción científica mexicana en Inteligencia Artificial: un análisis bibliométrico
Authors: Sued Gabriela Elisa
Published: June 2024

Este artículo releva el estado actual de la producción científica de la IA en México con técnicas bibliométricas. Considera la especialización de la IA en seis subcampos. Como metodología, emplea los metadatos de 13 265 publicaciones, recolectados del catálogo bibliográfico OpenAlex y realiza un análisis cuantitativo de productividad con base en métricas de publicaciones, autores, citas y colaboraciones internacionales, e identifica sus principales temas de investigación y su desarrollo. Los resultados muestran una estructura científica local extensa con importantes colaboraciones internacionales. Se identifican tanto subcampos maduros, desarrollados desde hace tres décadas, que abarcan la robótica y las redes neuronales; como subcampos emergentes, desarrollados en los últimos cinco años, que comprenden el aprendizaje automático, el procesamiento del lenguaje natural y la visión por computadora. El artículo distingue aplicaciones recientes en las áreas de salud, medio ambiente, finanzas, procesamiento del lenguaje natural y acústica.
Consumer Style Inventory (CSI) Revisited: The case of Millennial Decision-making Style in a Developing Market
Authors: Oniku Ayodele , Akeke Olushola , Akinwale Olusegun
Published: June 2024

This research study explores the buying styles of young consumers, especially the millennials (Gen Y, and Gen Z), whose idiosyncrasies and consumption peculiarities are quite different from previous generations. This present study further expanded on the eight constructs of the consumer style inventory (CSI) that were conceived by Sproles & Kendall, developing six additional constructs that helped define the younger consumers’ decision-making style. The sample population for this study was made up of 125 respondents (young consumers), who were selected randomly across all 20 local governments from Lagos State in Nigeria. The factor analyses through varimax rotation, the latent root criterion (eigenvalue =1), the scree plot test and the percentage of variance methodologies were conducted to determine the number of constructs that are significant to retain among the variables. The findings revealed that the new CSI constructs developed in this study (sexiness, trendiness, global branding, smartness, socialization and entertainment) are strong and significant within the young consumers’ styles of decision-making. The six (6) constructs developed reveal that the young consumers’ purchasing styles are evolving and have become sophisticated and relatively dynamic. That is why solely relying on Sproles & Kendall’s dimensions to assess the young consumers’ purchasing decision styles is inadequate and create gaps in business/behavior strategy development. By and large, the constructs developed here capture variables the variables that mostly underpin and dominate the considerations within the purchasing decision-making styles and behaviors among millennials.
Accelerating Quantum Computations of Chemistry Through Regularized Compressed Double Factorization
Authors: Oumarou Oumarou , Scheurer Maximilian , Parrish Robert M. , Hohenstein Edward G. , Gogolin Christian
Published: June 2024

We propose the regularized compressed double factorization (RC-DF) method to classically compute compressed representations of molecular Hamiltonians that enable efficient simulation with noisy intermediate scale (NISQ) and error corrected quantum algorithms. We find that already for small systems with 12 to 20 qubits, the resulting NISQ measurement scheme reduces the number of measurement bases by roughly a factor of three and the shot count to reach chemical accuracy by a factor of three to six compared to truncated double factorization (DF) and we see order of magnitude improvements over Pauli grouping schemes. We demonstrate the scalability of our approach by performing RC-DF on the CpdI species of cytochrome P450 with 58 orbitals and find that using the resulting compressed Hamiltonian cuts the run time of qubitization and truncated DF based error corrected algorithms almost in half and even outperforms the lambda parameters achievable with tensor hypercontraction (THC) while at the same time reducing the CCSD(T) energy error heuristic by an order of magnitude.
Imprecise Clinical Assessments and Inaccurate Grades: Family Medicine Clerkship Director Perspectives
Authors: Sarkar Arindam , Heidelbaugh Joel J. , Hallbauer Gage , Appelbaum Nital
Published: June 2024

Background and Objectives: As application to residency programs becomes increasingly competitive, educational leaders face growing student concern about imprecise clinical assessments and clerkship grades.
Methods: As part of a large annual survey of family medicine clerkship directors (FMCDs), 10 questions were disseminated in May 2023 about perceived levels of imprecise assessments by faculty. We aimed to determine to what extent respondents felt their institution’s evaluation system propagated inaccurate grading.
Results: A total of 52% of 169 FMCDs responded to the survey. Of these, 7% of respondents were completely confident that their preceptors would give two students of identical competence the same clinical evaluation rating. FMCDs estimated that an average of 38% of their preceptors inaccurately rate student performance. Most clerkships use an Honors/High Pass/Pass/Fail grading system. We found that 51% of FMCDs prefer to use a different grading paradigm than they currently use. We asked FMCDs to estimate the percentage of students that expressed concern over inaccurate preceptor ratings. Grading systems with more tiers were associated with a higher percentage of concerned students.
Conclusions: Clerkship grades are widely used by residency program directors to classify and differentiate student applicants. We identified a significant concern from FMCDs that clinical evaluation ratings can vary greatly. Given the high stakes and perceived inaccuracy of clerkship grading, we recommend continued investigation into the appropriate weighing and usage of clinical evaluations. Continued exploration is recommended to develop grading paradigms centered on criterion-based assessment.
A novel Wolbachia ftsZ genotype in 'Candidatus Phytoplasma solani' planthopper vector Hyalesthes obsoletus (Hemiptera: Fulgoromorpha: Cixiidae) associated with Convolvulus arvensis
Authors: Stojanovic Luka , Popov Olivera , Stepanovic Jelena , Duduk Bojan , Kosovac Andrea
Published: June 2024

Hyalesthes obsoletus (Hemiptera: Fulgoromorpha: Cixiidae) is a pan-European
polyphagous planthopper known as a significant vector of the plant
pathogenic bacterium ?Candidatus Phytoplasma solani? (stolbur phytoplasma),
which poses threats to various agricultural crops. A population of H.
obsoletus associated with Convolvulus arvensis in Serbia was studied to
investigate the presence and genetic diversity of Wolbachia, an
endosymbiotic bacterium known for its promising biological control
applications. Both insect-associated microorganisms, ?Ca. P. solani? and
Wolbachia, were found in the assessed H. obsoletus population. The analyzed
vector population had a ?Ca. P. solani? infection rate of 50%, while
Wolbachia showed a high infection rate of 80%. Wolbachia presence displayed
minimal variation across genders and was independent of individuals?
phytoplasma-infection status. Genotyping of the identified ?Ca. P. solani?
strains revealed four previously described stamp genotypes (Rqg50/St1,
Rqg31/St2, STOL/St4 and M5/St28). Notably, a single novel Wolbachia ftsZ
genotype, designated WHo1, was found in the assessed H. obsoletus
population, providing a valuable insight into the genetic diversity of
Wolbachia endosymbionts within the Cixiidae family. Phylogenetic analysis
demonstrated intricate relationships between WHo1 and other Wolbachia
strains infecting hosts from diverse hemipteran suborders. Although
Wolbachia-based strategies show promise for phytoplasma vector control,
further research is needed to elucidate its potential interactions with ?Ca.
P. solani? and its effects on vector reproduction and fitness.
Air Pollution in the United States and Misstatements in Financial Reporting
Authors: Chen Jade Huayu , Michas Paul N. , Russomanno Dan , Zhuang Wenzi
Published: June 2024

We argue air pollution can jointly impede the quality of work performed by a client’s financial reporting personnel and its auditor. We exploit PM2.5 data from the Environmental Protection Agency and find a positive association between air pollution and misstatements in annual financial reports. Moreover, we find this association using a subsample where auditors must travel a significant distance to their client’s headquarters and accordingly, are more likely to be exposed to a change in air pollution. Finally, our main finding is more salient when both a client’s reporting personnel and its auditor are likely to be present on site, as well as in more complex engagements where the physical and cognitive demands placed on a client’s reporting personnel and its auditor are likely higher. We interpret this evidence as air pollution impeding the quality of work performed by a client’s reporting personnel, its auditor, or both.

Data Availability: All data used in the study are publicly available.

JEL Classifications: I10; M41; M42; Q53.
The Effects of IT Management Certification Type and Corporate Social Responsibility Performance on Investors’ Responses to Cybersecurity Breaches
Authors: Tang Fengchun , Yang Ling
Published: June 2024

We investigate the joint effects of IT management certification type (for example, International Organization for Standardization (ISO) 27001 certification, the certification of a company’s Information Security Management System against the ISO 27001 standard, the leading international standard focused on information security) and CSR performance on investors’ responses to cybersecurity breaches. We find that the ISO 27001 certificate issued by an independent certification body serves as a proactive remedial strategy for reputation management and attenuates investors’ negative reactions following data breaches. However, the connection between the certification body that issues the certificate and the financial audit firm of the audited company may impair the effectiveness of the certificate serving as a remedial strategy for cybersecurity breaches. Similarly, superior CSR performance provides insurance-like protection and spillovers to reduce investors’ negative responses to cybersecurity breaches. We also provide some evidence suggesting that IT management certification type and CSR performance are likely substitutive mechanisms.
Regulatory Role of NF-κB on HDAC2 and Tau Hyperphosphorylation in Diabetic Encephalopathy and the Therapeutic Potential of Luteolin
Authors: Fu Qian , Song Yilin , Ling Zhaoke , Liu Jie , Kong Qingqing , Hao Xin , Xu Ting , Zhang Qiang , Liu Yi
Published: June 2024

Diabetic encephalopathy (DE) is a severe complication of the central nervous system associated with diabetes. In this study, we investigated the regulatory role of mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) on nuclear factor κB (NF-κB) in mice with DE, and the neuroprotective effect and therapeutic mechanisms of luteolin, a natural flavonoid compound with anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and neuroprotective properties. The results indicated that treatment with luteolin improved the degree of cognitive impairment in mice with DE. It also decreased the levels of phosphorylated mTOR, phosphorylated NF-κB, and histone deacetylase 2 (HDAC2) and increased the expression of brain-derived neurotrophic factor and synaptic-related proteins. Furthermore, protein-protein interaction and the Gene Ontology analysis revealed that luteolin was involved in the regulatory network of HDAC2 expression through the mTOR/NF-κB signaling cascade. Our bioinformatics and molecular docking results indicated that luteolin may also directly target HDAC2, as an HDAC2 inhibitor, to alleviate DE, complementing mTOR/NF-κB signaling inhibition. Analysis of luteolin’s target proteins and their interactions suggest an effect on HDAC2 and cognition. In conclusion, HDAC2 and tau hyperphosphorylation are regulated by the mTOR/NF-κB signaling cascade in DE, and luteolin is found to reverse these effects, demonstrating its protective role in DE.

Article Highlights
Regulation of STAT1 Signaling in Human Pancreatic β-Cells by the Lysine Deacetylase HDAC6: A New Therapeutic Opportunity in Type 1 Diabetes?
Authors: Leslie Kaiyven Afi , Lekka Christiana , Richardson Sarah J. , Russell Mark A. , Morgan Noel G.
Published: June 2024

Type 1 diabetes arises from the selective destruction of pancreatic β-cells by autoimmune mechanisms, and intracellular pathways driven by Janus kinase (JAK)–mediated phosphorylation of STAT isoforms (especially STAT1 and STAT2) are implicated as mediators of β-cell demise. Despite this, the molecular mechanisms that regulate JAK-STAT signaling in β-cells during the autoimmune attack remain only partially disclosed, and the factors acting to antagonize proinflammatory STAT1 signaling are uncertain. We have recently implicated signal regulatory protein α (SIRPα) in promoting β-cell viability in the face of ongoing islet autoimmunity and have now revealed that this protein controls the availability of a cytosolic lysine deacetylase, HDAC6, whose activity regulates the phosphorylation and activation of STAT1. We provide evidence that STAT1 serves as a substrate for HDAC6 in β-cells and that sequestration of HDAC6 by SIRPα in response to anti-inflammatory cytokines (e.g., IL-13) leads to increased STAT1 acetylation. This then impairs the ability of STAT1 to promote gene transcription in response to proinflammatory cytokines, including interferon-γ. We further found that SIRPα is lost from the β-cells of subjects with recent-onset type 1 diabetes under conditions when HDAC6 is retained and STAT1 levels are increased. On this basis, we report a previously unrecognized role for cytokine-induced regulation of STAT1 acetylation in the control of β-cell viability and propose that targeted inhibition of HDAC6 activity may represent a novel therapeutic modality to promote β-cell viability in the face of active islet autoimmunity.

Article Highlights
Femtosecond laser etching of Li1.5Al0.5Ge1.5(PO4)3 glass using the Bessel beam
Authors: Liu Weihang , Jiang Kaiyong , Kotobuki Masashi , Yan Binggong
Published: June 2024

Surface textured materials can exhibit enhanced properties due to their unique morphology, large surface area, and modified surface properties. The laser etching process has garnered significant attention for its capability to create textures on sample surfaces, resulting in a substantial improvement of surface properties. In this study, we investigate the application of femtosecond laser etching on solid electrolytes. To achieve this, an axicon lens is employed to transform the conventional Gaussian beam into a Bessel beam, with an extended focal depth that facilitates the laser etching process. A telescope laser system with a Bessel beam having a focal length of 2 mm is constructed based on finite element analysis. Glassy LAGP [Li1.5Al0.5Ge1.5(PO4)3] with a thickness of 2 mm is successfully etched simultaneously on both surfaces using this approach. Utilization of femtosecond laser pulses effectively prevents sample melting during the process. As predicted by finite element analysis, wider ditches are observed on the surface compared to those on the backside due to higher laser intensity at the surface region. By modifying the parameters of the telescope laser system, size and depth control can be achieved for these ditches.
Gjentakende undervisningspraksis i lærerutdanningen
Authors: Tangen Truls Nilsen , Madsen Anders Aasgaard
Published: June 2024

This article presents a teaching scenario in which student teachers taught primary school pupils by doing the same task several times. The study showed that repetition in the context of teaching can contribute to student teachers’ understanding of the unpredictable, or dynamic, in didactics. The repetitive aspect of the teaching, combined with reflection and changes, enabled the students to experience success in their teaching. The findings further demonstrated that, through reflection in various phases, students consider and adapt to the unpredictability of teaching. The pupils’ well-being and learning were pivotal for the changes made by the students. Thus, the students distanced themselves from an instrumental approach to learning. We conclude that facilitating and reflecting on the unforeseen is essential. This opens the door to learning important professional skills. Emphasizing the importance of repetition in teaching practice, the study is a contribution to the didactics and content of teacher education. And as in an action research process, we examine how our own teaching contributed to our competence as educators in teacher education.
Bruk av Storyline innenfor naturfagene – utforskning, kreativitet og didaktiske refleksjoner
Authors: Lund Anne Bonnevie , Cyvin Jardar
Published: June 2024

“Storyline” is an interdisciplinary and problem-based approach towards teaching and learning. Situations are explored through different approaches based on a story in which participants engage in role-play, dramatic activities or more theoretical and practical actions. The work taps into theoretical knowledge and practical skills and provides opportunities for creative, critical and pedagogical reflection and learning. This article discusses a project in which we used storyline as an approach to learning and development within two themes in natural science teacher education: technology and design and sustainable development, evolution, and population development. We wanted to explore whether the students found this as a creative approach to learning, and how they experienced its use as a didactic approach towards the work as prospective science teachers. The students experienced the Storyline project as both creative, and practical, engaging and motivating. A few students believed that the form of work could become very extensive and thus perceived it as time-consuming. If it is facilitated well, it is at the same time well suited for pedagogical and didactical reflections both in connection with practical and theoretical preparations and implementations. With the criticism surrounding teacher education’s lack of practical grounding and the emphasis on the need for student-active forms of learning, we find the use of Storyline as relevant, both in the context of interdisciplinary projects and within individual subjects in teacher education.
Möjligheter att genom kroppsligt lärande beröra studenter i digitala rum
Authors: Järnerot Anna
Published: June 2024

The article presents and discusses the experiences of the author and some colleagues when they tested the use of digital roleplay in several teaching groups. This was done in the context of a fourth-year pedagogy course in Norwegian teacher education for primary and lower secondary school. The course’s syllabus concerns school as an organisation, and as such, collaboration within the school and with external people. The project was a form of action research or self-study of a limited part of the teaching that semester. The research focus was: “What possibilities are there in using digital roleplay to create embodied, transformative and/or enactive learning?” The author shares how the digital roleplay was organised, what the student teachers and the teacher educators thought about the activity and the learning outcome. The theoretical lenses used come from transformative, enactive and embodied learning. The article also examines how drama/roleplay can be used as a mediating tool to promote learning through an interplay of the body, mind, and surroundings, hopefully affecting the whole person and possibly changing the individual.

The results indicate that digital roleplay is a viable tool and that the students experienced embodied responses, which in turn influenced their cognition, in this case their understanding of the drama-topic (homework) and drama-focus (how people can use various techniques to dominate situations and gain power in ordinary life). Even so, the author concludes that it takes more than one roleplay session to change a person’s identity.
Development of a Signal Processing Algorithm for Feedback (Noise) Reduction in Hearing Aids Using the Spectral Subtraction Technique
Authors: Bolarinwa Mojisola A. , Ayoma Majirioghene E.
Published: June 2024

Despite numerous researches worldwide, feedback issue in hearing aids remains a challenge requiring further improvement. Existing methods employed to reduce feedback can at times be limited in effectiveness, giving rise to undesired aftermaths. Consequently, there is an apparent demand for more efficient and effective solutions to addressing feedback problems in hearing aids. This research was therefore centred on developing a functional signal processing algorithm using the Spectral Subtraction Technique, SST. In this research, noise samples were collected from four different sources, including a Hospital in South-Western Nigeria, so that simulations and analyses were conducted for performance evaluation of selected scenarios of noise types and audio recordings, using SST. The simulations were implemented using a Python-based approach, aided by the power of digital signal processing algorithms. Results from the simulation revealed the effectiveness of SST in background noise reduction, with improved signal–to–noise ratio (SNR) in the different scenarios, including speech recordings with background chatter, calm pop songs with street traffic noise and public speeches with air conditioning noise. In conclusion, the SST offers a practical approach to noise reduction in audio signals. While the code offers users an effective tool for reducing noise in audio recordings and enhancing audio quality, its simplicity and clarity make it accessible to users with varying expertise in audio signal processing.
How are Case Studies Used in Accounting Systems Curricula in Higher Education in Germany and the US?
Authors: Graves William X. , Everhart Jeffrey J.
Published: June 2024

The use of case studies in education is prevalent. The type of case study analyzed in this paper is the manual or the computerized “project” case study. Students are given a set of real-world transactions to process either in a manual accounting information system (AIS) or a computerized AIS. The most popular computerized AIS in the United States is QuickBooks. In Germany, the market standard is DATEV, allowing extensible solutions from “pure” bookkeeping up to complete ERP systems. A manual project is popular in AIS courses to ensure students are exposed to all the steps and integration necessary for a fully functioning system. One famous manual case study in the US is the Systems Understanding Aid Case Study from Armond Dalton Publishers. I tried to find examples of a full-blown (15 to 20 hours) manual case study in Germany but was unsuccessful.
How the students used the DATEV case study and its integration with tax software for corporate and individual taxes became the direction that my research took as I spent time with German colleagues. I sought to answer questions like–how long does the project take students? Do they work together or independently? How much of the project is completed during classroom hours/settings with guidance from the instructor? Does the project represent a significant portion of their grade?
The Correlation Between Asian Port Cities and Traditional Portuguese Urban Forms Based on Map and Machine Learning Analyses
Authors: Chen Yile , Zheng Liang , Zheng Jianyi
Published: June 2024

In the 16th and 17th centuries, under the influence of the Portuguese Empire’s overseas expansion and cultural integration, the island city of Macau became an important international trading port in the Eastern Sea, with close ties to the Asian port cities governed by Portugal. This study introduces a new method for comparing urban morphological layouts using machine learning and investigates the potential benefits of combining urban morphological analysis with machine learning techniques. In addition, a combination of urban morphology theory and machine learning is used to excise samples of urban morphology from Portuguese urban geographical information maps. The morphological characteristics of port city areas are further extracted, and training labels for typical Portuguese urban textures are established. Using the YOLOv4 object detection algorithm, the results are compared with the urban textures of typical island and port cities of the Asian Silk Road—Goa in India, Malacca in Malaysia, Macau in China, and Dili in Timor-Leste—revealing the similarities and differences among the port cities in Asia influenced by traditional Portuguese urban practices. The results reveal the relationship between maritime trade and urban form.