bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Deepfake detection using convolutional vision transformers and convolutional neural networks
Authors: Soudy Ahmed Hatem , Sayed Omnia , Tag-Elser Hala , Ragab Rewaa , Mohsen Sohaila , Mostafa Tarek , Abohany Amr A. , Slim Salwa O.
Published: August 2024

Deepfake technology has rapidly advanced in recent years, creating highly realistic fake videos that can be difficult to distinguish from real ones. The rise of social media platforms and online forums has exacerbated the challenges of detecting misinformation and malicious content. This study leverages many papers on artificial intelligence techniques to address deepfake detection. This research proposes a deep learning (DL)-based method for detecting deepfakes. The system comprises three components: preprocessing, detection, and prediction. Preprocessing includes frame extraction, face detection, alignment, and feature cropping. Convolutional neural networks (CNNs) are employed in the eye and nose feature detection phase. A CNN combined with a vision transformer is also used for face detection. The prediction component employs a majority voting approach, merging results from the three models applied to different features, leading to three individual predictions. The model is trained on various face images using FaceForensics++ and DFDC datasets. Multiple performance metrics, including accuracy, precision, F1, and recall, are used to assess the proposed model’s performance. The experimental results indicate the potential and strengths of the proposed CNN that achieved enhanced performance with an accuracy of 97%, while the CViT-based model achieved 85% using the FaceForences++ dataset and demonstrated significant improvements in deepfake detection compared to recent studies, affirming the potential of the suggested framework for detecting deepfakes on social media. This study contributes to a broader understanding of CNN-based DL methods for deepfake detection.
A lightweight deep learning architecture for malaria parasite-type classification and life cycle stage detection
Authors: Chaudhry Hafiza Ayesha Hoor , Farid Muhammad Shahid , Fiandrotti Attilio , Grangetto Marco
Published: August 2024

Malaria is an endemic in various tropical countries. The gold standard for disease detection is to examine the blood smears of patients by an expert medical professional to detect malaria parasite called Plasmodium. In the rural areas of underdeveloped countries, with limited infrastructure, a scarcity of healthcare professionals, an absence of sufficient computing devices, and a lack of widespread internet access, this task becomes more challenging. A severe case of malaria can be fatal within one week, so the correct detection of the malaria parasite and its life cycle stage is crucial in treating the disease correctly. Though computer vision-based malaria detection has been adequately explored lately, the malaria life cycle stage classification is still a relatively unexplored field. In this paper, we introduce a fast and robust deep learning methodology to not only classify the malaria parasite-type detection but also the life cycle stage identification of the infected cell. The proposed deep learning architecture is more than twenty times lighter than the widely used DenseNet and has less than 0.4 million parameters, making it a good candidate to be used in the mobile applications of such economically challenged states for malaria detection. We have used four different publicly available malaria datasets to test the proposed architecture and gained significantly better results than the current state of the art on malaria parasite-type and malaria life cycle classification.
Molecular and morphological support for transferring the tropical African species of Gnidia to Lasiosiphon (Thymelaeaceae: Thymelaeoideae) and a worldwide synopsis of the species
Authors: Olaniyan Oluwayemisi D. , Boatwright J. Stephen , Magee Anthony R. , Manning John C. , van der Bank Michelle
Published: August 2024

Lasiosiphon Fresen. (Thymelaeaceae: Thymelaeoideae) is now understood to be a morphologically diverse genus distributed across southern and tropical Africa, Madagascar, and India. It is diagnosed morphologically by ± involucrate, mostly pedunculate heads of pentamerous or tetramerous flowers, with or without petaloid scales, and a bright yellow, orange, or red corolla. The taxonomic history of Lasiosiphon has been marked by several revisions in its circumscription and status, particularly regarding its relationship with Gnidia L. Our phylogenetic analysis of nuclear (ITS) and plastid (matK, rbcL, rps16 and trnL-F) regions of an expanded sampling of the tropical African species of Gnidia provides compelling supporting evidence for existing morphological evidence to include all the tropical African species of Gnidia in Lasiosiphon. We accordingly provide 31 new combinations in Lasiosiphon for species of Gnidia that currently lack combinations in that genus. We also provide a comprehensive nomenclator of all currently recognized Lasiosiphon species at the regional level encompassing their distribution across different geographic regions globally. This will serve as the framework for future taxonomic revisions in the genus.
Modified data classification for extreme values in Şen’s innovative trend analysis: A comparative trend study for the Aegean and Eastern Anatolia Regions of Türkiye
Authors: Asikoglu Omer Levend , Alp Harun , Temel Ibrahim
Published: August 2024

The increase in greenhouse gases in the atmosphere has worsened global warming, and marked changes have been observed in meteorological and climatic events, especially since the early 2000s. Trend analysis studies are important for determining changes in meteorological and climatic events over time. This study investigated the trends of maximum precipitation and minimum temperature in the Aegean Region and Eastern Anatolia Region of Türkiye by conducting an innovative trend analysis (ITA), the Mann–Kendall (MK) test, and linear regression analysis (LRA). As a method, ITA has been used together with traditional methods in the last decade, and its advantages have been demonstrated in comparative trend studies. An important contribution of ITA is that it can categorize datasets according to their size (low, medium, and high). The classification technique of the ITA method includes dividing the sorted dataset into three equal parts and separately examining the trends of low, medium, and high data values. This approach is reasonable for datasets with low skewness (or normally distributed series). However, the normal distribution acceptance of ITA data classification is insufficient for trend analysis of data series with extreme values. Therefore, we propose a modified data classification method to rationally examine skewed datasets with the use of quartiles. Our study was performed for the trend analysis of maximum rainfall and minimum temperature data in two regions located in the west and east of Türkiye showing different climatic characteristics. In the first part of the study in which the numerical trend analysis of ITA was evaluated, the MK and LRA methods showed similar results, whereas the ITA detected trends at a greater number of stations owing to its sensitivity feature in detecting trends. In the second part, which included data classification in trend analysis, the equal split data classification used in the ITA and the modified data classification proposed in the study were compared. The comparative results of the trend analysis of the maximum rainfall and minimum temperature data showed the superiority of the proposed data classification in examining the trend of extreme values, especially for maximum rainfall data with relatively high skewness.
A radial basis function method for noisy global optimisation
Authors: Banholzer Dirk , Fliege Jörg , Werner Ralf
Published: August 2024

We present a novel response surface method for global optimisation of an expensive and noisy (black-box) objective function, where error bounds on the deviation of the observed noisy function values from their true counterparts are available. The method is based on Gutmann’s well-established RBF method for minimising an expensive and deterministic objective function, which has become popular both from a theoretical and practical perspective. To construct suitable radial basis function approximants to the objective function and to determine new sample points for successive evaluation of the expensive noisy objective, the method uses a regularised least-squares criterion. In particular, new points are defined by means of a target value, analogous to the original RBF method. We provide essential convergence results, and provide a numerical illustration of the method by means of a simple test problem.
Effect of immunogenetics polymorphism and expression on direct-acting antiviral drug response in chronic hepatitis C
Authors: Abdelaziz Aya Ismail , Abdelsameea Eman , Abdel-Samiee Mohamed , Ghanem Samar E. , Wahdan Sara A. , Elsherbiny Doaa A. , Zakaria Zeinab , Azab Samar S.
Published: August 2024

The prevalence of HCV infection in Egypt has decreased following the introduction of direct-acting antiviral therapy. However, treatment response is influenced by various factors, particularly host immunogenetics such as IL-28B and FOXP3 polymorphisms. The current study examined the impact of SNPs in the FOXP3 gene promoter region on HCV-infected Egyptian patients, along with SNPs in the IL28B gene.This study involved 99 HCV patients who achieved SVR12 after a 12 week DAA treatment while 63 HCV patients experienced treatment failure. IL28B rs12979860 SNP was identified using real-time PCR, while IL28B rs8099917, FOXP3 rs3761548, and rs2232365 SNPs were analyzed using RFLP-PCR. Serum levels of IL28B and FOXP3 were quantified using ELISA technique in representative samples from both groups. The IL28B rs12979860 T > C (P = 0.013) and FOXP3 rs2232365 A > G polymorphisms (P = 0.008) were found to significantly increase the risk of non-response. Responders had higher IL28B serum levels (P = 0.046) and lower FOXP3 levels (P < 0.001) compared to non-responders. Regression analysis showed an association between IL28B rs12979860 and FOXP3 rs2232365 with treatment response, independent of age and gender. A predictive model was developed with 76.2% sensitivity and 91.9% specificity for estimating DAAs response in HCV patients.Our findings confirmed the IL28B rs12979860 T > C and FOXP3 rs2232365 A > G polymorphisms significantly affect DAA treatment response in HCV Egyptian patients. Lower levels of IL-28B along with higher levels of FOXP3 are linked to poor response. Our results may lead to new insights into DAA responsiveness contributing to personalized medicine and improving therapeutic decision-making for HCV patients.

Graphical abstract
The impact of cultural differences on the success of elite labor migration—Evidence from professional soccer
Authors: Bosker Joost , Gürtler Marc
Published: August 2024

The literature finds that cultural differences have a negative impact on the success of international labor migration. However, modeling cultural effects requires a variety of individual-level, firm-level and country-level data that are not sufficiently considered in the literature. Precisely, previous migration experiences are not taken into account and the culture effect is not isolated from adaptation effects that occur with any change of employer. We find that an identified culture effect is biased if such data are not considered. To take these aspects into account, we utilize soccer data with its abundance of single player information and leverage the approaches established in Operations Research to model soccer player performance. To this end, we extend a prominent mixed-effects model to fit the case of international migration and find contrary results compared to the literature: cultural differences positively affect employee value in the long term and we identify a distinct and positive culture effect in the short run for switches between industry-leading firms. Finally, we show that our results are not driven by peculiarities of soccer player data by using a reduced model without isolating general adaptation difficulties from cultural differences. In this (too) simple model, in accordance with the literature, the biased negative culture effect emerges.
Counting QBF solutions at level two
Authors: Plank Andreas , Möhle Sibylle , Seidl Martina
Published: August 2024

We lift the problem of enumerative solution counting to quantified Boolean formulas (QBFs) at the second quantifier block. In contrast to the well-explored model counting problem for SAT (#SAT), where models are simply assignments to the Boolean variables of a formula, we are now dealing with tree (counter-)models reflecting the dependencies between the variables of the first and the second quantifier block. It turns out that enumerative counting on the second level does not give the complete solution count and more fine-grained view is necessary. We present a level-2 solution counting approach that works for true and false formulas. We implemented the presented approach in a counting tool exploiting state-of-the-art QBF solving technology. We present several kinds of benchmarks for testing our implementation and show that even with this very basic approach of solution enumeration the solution counts of challenging benchmarks can be found.
Sulfate sensitivity of early life stages of freshwater mussels Unio crassus and Margaritifera margaritifera
Authors: Hu Xiaoxuan , Mäkinen Mikko , Taskinen Jouni , Karjalainen Juha
Published: August 2024

Sulfate is increasingly found in elevated concentrations in freshwater ecosystems due to anthropogenic activities. Chronic exposure to sulfate has been reported to cause sublethal effects on freshwater invertebrates. Previous sulfate toxicity tests have mostly been conducted in hard or moderately hard waters, and research on species inhabiting soft water is needed, given that freshwater organisms face heightened sensitivity to toxicants in water of lower hardness. In the present study, we examined sulfate sensitivity of two endangered freshwater mussel species, Unio crassus, and Margaritifera margaritifera. Glochidia and juveniles of both species were subjected to acute and/or chronic sulfate exposures in soft water to compare sulfate sensitivity across age groups, and effective concentrations (EC)/lethal concentrations (LC) values were estimated. Mussels were individually exposed to allow relatively larger numbers of replicates per treatment. Chronic sulfate exposure significantly reduced growth, foot movement, and relative water content (RWC) in juvenile mussels of M. margaritifera. Mussels at younger stages were not necessarily more sensitive to sulfate. In the acute tests, LC50 of glochidia of M. margaritifera and U. crassus was 1301 and 857 mg/L, respectively. Chronic LC10 was 843 mg/L for 3-week-old U. crassus juveniles, 1051 mg/L for 7-week-old M. margaritifera juveniles, and 683 mg/L for 2-year-old M. margaritifera juveniles. True chronic Lowest Effective Concentration for 7-week-old M. margaritifera may be within the 95% interval of EC10 based on RWC (EC10 = 446 mg/L, 95%CI = 265–626 mg/L). Our study contributed to the understanding of sulfate toxicity to endangered freshwater mussel species in soft water.
Can the Arts Challenge Mainstream Representations of Migration? An Inquiry into the Aga Khan Museum’s Afghanistan My Love Exhibition
Authors: Massari Alice , Molho Jeremie
Published: August 2024

In the past few years, numerous art initiatives have addressed the subject of migration and sought to voice an alternative to the predominant images diffused in the mainstream media. This article starts from the premise that the role of the arts in challenging dominant narratives of migration is too often taken for granted and argues for the need for a critical examination of the conditions and modalities through which arts can engage with a key societal debate like migration that has become so divisive on a global scale. Drawing on the notion of art worlds established in the sociology of the arts, we argue it is essential to move beyond a romanticized figure of the enlightened creator and consider the embeddedness of art in a complex network of production and diffusion, which greatly influences the nature of the meanings produced and their reception. The article focuses on the “Afghanistan, My Love” exhibition organized by the Aga Khan Museum of Toronto, Canada, in the aftermath of the Taliban’s takeover of Afghanistan in the summer of 2021, which led to a significant surge of media coverage and the start of a dedicated scheme for the resettlement of Afghan nationals who collaborated with the Canadian Government due to Canada’s active involvement in the conflict. By employing a multi-modal methodology that includes textual and visual social semiotic analysis along with key stakeholder interviews, the paper examines under what conditions art can participate in (re)shaping representations of migration. Drawing from this case study, the article proposes to differentiate between “reframing” and “counter-narrating” to understand the distinct modalities through which the arts can engage with and seek to challenge representations of migration. While reframing seeks to implicitly change perceptions by offering complex portrayals of migrant experiences, counter-narrating introduces explicit alternative discourses. Less than intended to shift underlying structural representations, the latter approach seeks to ignite a collective process and generate empathy.
Variable range hopping conductivity of hydrothermally reduced graphene oxide fibers
Authors: Ostrowski Adam , Synoradzki Karol , Tomaszewski Damian , Tadyszak Krzysztof
Published: August 2024

We report applying the autoclaved hydrothermal method for obtaining conductive reduced graphene oxide (rGO) fibers for potential flexible electronic applications, such as supercapacitors, transistors, or sensing applications. The reduction of GO was performed in the temperature range 120 to 180 °C under increased pressure of ca. 8 bar in a sealed Teflon lined up, stainless steel autoclave. The fiber’s diameter and length were defined by the glass tube used as the mold for reducing GO water suspension (diameter of 600 µm and length of 8 cm). After drying, in an ambient atmosphere, the hydrogel fiber shrinks to ca. 50 µm in diameter and 6 cm in length (collapsed pore structure). The drying process, in addition to enhancing electrical conductivity, also increases the mechanical strength of the fibers due to the stronger overlapping of the graphene flakes. The best performance was observed in the fiber reduced at the highest temperature studied, 180 °C, and a minimum temperature of 120 °C is necessary to obtain a fiber. Electrical conductivity was measured using the 4-probe method. The results were analyzed within the framework of variable range hopping and Arrhenius models to pinpoint the best model describing electrical conductivity in dry rGO fibers.
The Association of Acculturation and Well-Being: Second-Generation Immigrants in Switzerland
Authors: Schwarz Beate , Pfammatter Pirmin
Published: August 2024

In recent decades, there has been a rapid increase in immigration rates throughout Europe, and many immigrants remained permanently. As a result, a substantial part of society are second-generation immigrants. Despite an increase in research related to this population, predominantly from the US, it remains unknown, whether growing up and living in two cultures fosters immigrants’ subjective well-being. The present study investigated the association between acculturation (here heritage and mainstream culture orientation) and subjective well-being of second-generation immigrants in Switzerland. We further ran a multigroup analyses for women and men separately. Data of N = 492 adult children of immigrants (66% women; Mage = 32.39, SDage = 10.46) were analyzed. Structural equation modelling showed that both orientation toward heritage and toward mainstream culture were positively related to subjective well-being, and that this was moderated by gender. Furthermore, the interaction between both kinds of orientation had a significant effect on subjective well-being. The study addresses several gaps in the existing research literature in three key ways: (1) it adds a European perspective; (2) it focuses on understudied second-generation immigrants; (3) it measures acculturation bilinear and multidimensional, as is required theoretically. Moreover, the findings may contribute to a more nuanced public discourse, where the significance of both mainstream orientation and heritage culture is occasionally called into question.
Random Normal Matrices: Eigenvalue Correlations Near a Hard Wall
Authors: Ameur Yacin , Charlier Christophe , Cronvall Joakim
Published: August 2024

We study pair correlation functions for planar Coulomb systems in the pushed phase, near a ring-shaped impenetrable wall. We assume coupling constant $$\Gamma =2$$

Γ
=
2

and that the number n of particles is large. We find that the correlation functions decay slowly along the edges of the wall, in a narrow interface stretching a distance of order 1/n from the hard edge. At distances much larger than $$1/\sqrt{n}$$

1
/

n

, the effect of the hard wall is negligible and pair correlation functions decay very quickly, and in between sits an interpolating interface that we call the “semi-hard edge”. More precisely, we provide asymptotics for the correlation kernel $$K_{n}(z,w)$$

K
n

(
z
,
w
)

as $$n\rightarrow \infty $$

n
→
∞

in two microscopic regimes (with either $$|z-w| = \mathcal{O}(1/\sqrt{n})$$

|
z
-
w
|
=
O
(
1
/

n

)

or $$|z-w| = \mathcal{O}(1/n)$$

|
z
-
w
|
=
O
(
1
/
n
)

), as well as in three macroscopic regimes (with $$|z-w| \asymp 1$$

|
z
-
w
|
≍
1

). For some of these regimes, the asymptotics involve oscillatory theta functions and weighted Szegő kernels.
A detailed thermohydraulic performance assessment of surface-modified silver nanofluids in turbulent convective heat transfer
Authors: Bunpheng Wasurat , Dhairiyasamy Ratchagaraja , Almuflih Ali Saeed , Alam Mohammad Mukhtar , Dixit Saurav , Ağbulut Ümit
Published: August 2024

This study investigates the thermohydraulic performance of surface-modified silver nanofluids in turbulent convective heat transfer applications. The primary objective is to evaluate the impact of citrate, lipoic acid, and silica surface modifications on heat transfer coefficients, pressure drops, and friction factors under turbulent flow conditions. Silver nanoparticles (50 nm) with the specified surface modifications were synthesized and dispersed in deionized water, ensuring stable nanofluid preparations. Experimental evaluations were conducted in a smooth brass tube with a uniform heat flux, covering Reynolds numbers from 3400 to 21,800, mass flow rates of 32 to 78 g s−1, and inlet temperatures of 26 °C, 31 °C, and 36 °C. Key findings indicate that the silica-shelled nanofluid (Ag/S) exhibited a significant 35% increase in the heat transfer coefficient compared to DI water, while citrate-coated (Ag/C) and lipoic acid-coated (Ag/L) nanofluids showed slight decreases of 0.2% and 2%, respectively. The mean Nusselt number for Ag/S also increased by 9%, demonstrating enhanced heat transfer capabilities. Surface-modified nanofluids experienced higher pressure drops and friction factors than the base fluid. Ag/C showed a 7.7% increase in pressure drop, Ag/L a 12.3% increase, and Ag/S a 12.5% increase, correlating with an 11.9% rise in viscosity. While surface-modified silver nanofluids, particularly silica-shelled, can significantly improve heat transfer performance, the associated increases in pressure drops and friction factors must be carefully balanced for specific applications. Future research should explore long-term stability, varying nanoparticle concentrations, and more complex geometries to optimize nanofluid formulations for targeted heat transfer applications.
A thermal study on NiAl-citrate LDH as catalyst precursor for dry reforming reaction
Authors: Fortunato Marco , Piccinni Marco , Pastorino Andrea , Cardinale Anna Maria
Published: August 2024

Ni-based layered double hydroxides (LDHs) are well-known as catalysts precursors; in fact, their properties allow for a homogeneous distribution of Ni on a matrix through simple and economic synthetic passages. In this work, NiAl-citrate LDH was synthetized through a recently developed synthetic pathway that led to the formation of almost single-layered hexagonal nanocrystals. These ones seem to be promising for the production of a Ni (0)-based material with a very high surface area, since through pyrolysis, the interlayered citrate could be turned into CO that simultaneously reduces the Ni (II) to Ni (0) and blow-up the original crystals. In this transformation, temperature plays a key role; therefore, the processes occurring during heating were investigated to discriminate which of them contribute to the material reduction. Additionally, the appropriate pyrolysis temperature was determined to achieve the desired compound that was a homogeneous distribution of nanopatterned micro-flakes of Ni (0) and Al/Ni mixed oxides, with a high specific surface area (177m2g−1). The high surface area and the expected properties of this new material make it an interesting candidate for heterogeneous catalysis of high-temperature gas reactions, such as dry reforming, a noteworthy process that produces syngas from the two greenhouse gases CO2 and CH4. DRM applicability is limited by high temperatures required to obtain acceptable conversion and by solid carbon deposition on catalyst, both leading to its deactivation over time; so, it is important to develop new catalysts able to overcome those problems. For these purposes, some preliminary tests on the obtained material were performed confirming its catalytic behavior for the DRM, especially at temperatures > 800 K.
The Shropshire Redemption: John Audelay’s Carols, Repetition, and Confessional Authority
Authors: Finn Andrew
Published: August 2024

In this essay, I analyze the extent to which repetition can be considered creative in the context of penitential poetry, and what the ramifications are of that pairing for our own understandings of that poetry. When sin is inherited and confessions were guided by eminently repeatable formulae, how does penitential poetry come into being for the first time and enter penitential discourse as a “makyng” that is created or made yet already received, already repeated and circulating at the moment of its birth? The carol, I argue, presents a good place to address that question: its idiosyncratic formal components present a site of creativity and repetition between text and audience, a conjunction which anticipates the dynamics of filmic montage as conceived by Sergei Eisenstein. This aspect of the carol also invites us to explore how authority is created and received in the present moment, bereft of the difference from the present moment so often involved in constructing auctoritas. In conversation with Eisenstein, the medieval penitential carol ultimately becomes a site to reconsider how poetic form can simultaneously uphold and dismantle hierarchical relationships between creators and audiences. In so doing, the penitential carol invites us to re-approach our own critical “makyngs,” which effectively channel the work of medieval poetic form from centuries past.
Board diversity faultlines and textual social and environmental disclosures
Authors: Elshandidy Tamer , Elsayed Mohamed , Omara Hossam , Sharma Abhijit
Published: August 2024

By creating a comprehensive corporate social- and environmental-related lexicon, this paper examines the extent to which board diversity impacts social and environmental disclosures. Contributing to diversity literature, we rely on the faultlines concept, postulated and developed by organizational research, which is hypothetical dividing lines that split a boardroom into relatively homogeneous subgroups based on directors’ diversified attributes. Employing a sample of FTSE All-share non-financial firms, our findings show that firms with higher faultline strength in the boardroom (i.e., relatively more homogeneous subgroups) exhibit significantly lower levels of both social and environmental disclosures in their narrative sections of annual reports. This implies that board diversity faultlines are likely to have a detrimental effect on corporate boards regarding reaching a consensus decision on disclosing information on social and environmental aspects. Our results remain robust after a battery of sensitivity tests and addressing potential endogeneity problems. Our results provide timely evidence-based insights into major recent structural reforms aiming at proposing remedies to corporate governance problems in the UK, specifically that interest should not be confined to board diversity per se but configurations (the extent of convergence) between the diversified attributes. Furthermore, the evidence provided by our paper should be of interest to the UK’s regulatory bodies (Financial Reporting Council) considering their increasing focus and pursuit to understand the underlying challenges of corporate social and environmental reporting.
Roughness regularization for functional data analysis with free knots spline estimation
Authors: De Magistris Anna , De Simone Valentina , Romano Elvira , Toraldo Gerardo
Published: August 2024

In the era of big data, an ever-growing volume of information is recorded, either continuously over time or sporadically, at distinct time intervals. Functional Data Analysis (FDA) stands at the cutting edge of this data revolution, offering a powerful framework for handling and extracting meaningful insights from such complex datasets. The currently proposed FDA methods can often encounter challenges, especially when dealing with curves of varying shapes. This can largely be attributed to the method’s strong dependence on data approximation as a key aspect of the analysis process. In this work, we propose a free knots spline estimation method for functional data with two penalty terms and demonstrate its performance by comparing the results of several clustering methods on simulated and real data.
Credo in unam credentiam: religious beliefs are standard beliefs
Authors: Ryan Liam D.
Published: August 2024

Does religious belief differ in any interesting way from other kinds of belief? For now, take ‘belief' to mean how one takes the world to be, on the basis of which they act. Call beliefs like this ‘ordinary beliefs'. There are also more complicated, or abstract, beliefs. Call such beliefs ‘non-ordinary beliefs’. Are religious beliefs different in any significant or interesting way from what we call ‘standard belief’? Our analysis shows that they are not. Although the content of religious belief is different, and sometimes so is the function, religious beliefs are still mental, dispositional attitudes that aim to provide a correct representation of the world. Therefore, religious beliefs are best understood as a sub-category of standard beliefs, alongside ordinary and non-ordinary beliefs. This account of religious belief provides further insight into the meaning of belief and supports a revision of a strict demarcation between standard and non-standard beliefs.
Acetic and citric acids effect the type II secretion system and decrease the metabolic activities of salmon spoilage-related Rahnella aquatilis KM05
Authors: Myszka Kamila , Wolko Łukasz , Borkowska Monika
Published: August 2024

Rahnella aquatilis causes seafoods to spoil by metabolizing sulfur-containing amino acids and/or proteins, producing H2S in products. The type II secretion system (T2SS) regulates the transport of proteases from the cytoplasm to the surrounding environment and promotes bacterial growth at low temperatures. To prevent premature fish spoilage, new solutions for inhibiting the T2SS of bacteria should be researched. In this study, global transcriptome sequencing was used to analyze the spoilage properties of R. aquatilis KM05. Two of the mapped genes/coding sequences (CDSs) were matched to the T2SS, namely, qspF and gspE, and four of the genes/CDSs, namely, ftsH, rseP, ptrA and pepN, were matched to metalloproteases or peptidases in R. aquatilis KM05. Subinhibitory concentrations of citric (18 µM) and acetic (41 µM) acids caused downregulation of T2SS-related genes (range from − 1.0 to -4.5) and genes involved in the proteolytic activities of bacteria (range from − 0.5 to -4.0). The proteolytic activities of R. aquatilis KM05 in vitro were reduced by an average of 40%. The in situ experiments showed the antimicrobial properties of citric and acetic acids against R. aquatilis KM05; the addition of an acidulant to salmon fillets limited microbial growth. Citric and acetic acids extend the shelf life of fish-based products and prevent food waste.
Effect of in situ CO2 mixing of cement paste on the leachability of hexavalent chromium (Cr(VI))
Authors: Cho Kian , Kim Won Kyung , Moon Juhyuk , Cha Daniel , Park Junboum
Published: August 2024

In situ CO2 mixing technology is a potential technology for permanently sequestering CO2 during concrete manufacturing processes. Although it has been approved as a promising carbon capture and utilisation (CCU) method, its effect on the leachability of heavy metals from cementitious compounds has not yet been studied. This study focuses on the effect of in situ CO2 mixing of cement paste on the leaching of hexavalent chromium (Cr(VI)). The tank leaching test of the CO2 mixing cement specimen resulted in a Cr(VI) cumulative leaching of 0.614 mg/m2 in 28 d, which is ten times lower than that of the control mixing specimens. The results in thermogravimetric analysis indicated that a relatively significant amount of CrO42− is immobilised as CaCrO4 during the CO2-mixing, and a higher Cr–O extension is observed in the Fourier transform infrared spectra. Furthermore, a portion of the monocarboaluminate is inferred from microstructural analyses to incorporate CrO42− ions. These results demonstrate that in situ CO2 mixing is beneficial not only in reducing CO2 emissions, but also in controlling the leaching of toxic substances.
Do prompts and strategy instruction contribute to pre-service teachers’ peer-feedback on technology-integration?
Authors: Franke Ulrike , Backfisch Iris , Scherzinger Luisa , Tolou Arash , Thyssen Christoph , Brahm Taiga , Rudolf Ina , Lachner Andreas
Published: August 2024

Peer feedback is regarded as playing a vital role in fostering preservice teachers’ noticing and reasoning skills during technology integration. However, novices in particular (e.g., pre-service teachers) tend to provide rather superficial feedback, which does not necessarily contribute to professional development. Against this background, we developed an online video-annotation tool, LiveFeedback + , which allows for providing peer feedback on the quality of technology integration during microteachings in a fine-grained manner. Applying a design-based research approach (2 design cycles, N = 42 pre-service teachers, quasi-experimental interrupted time-series design), we investigated whether the addition of prompts (Cycle 1) and strategy instruction combined with prompts (Cycle 2) contributed to the quality of peer feedback. Contrary to our predictions, piecewise regressions demonstrated that pre-service teachers provided more feedback comments with superficial praise and fewer feedback comments with substantial problem identification and solutions when prompts were available. However, when pre-service teachers were explicitly instructed in strategy use, the reasoning during peer feedback could be enhanced to some extent, as pre-service teachers provided less praise and more problem diagnosis in feedback comments when strategy instruction was available. These findings suggest that the addition of strategy instruction that explicitly models adequate feedback strategies based on prompts can help overcome mediation deficits during peer feedback in technology-based settings.
Opportunities to Narrow Potato Yield Gaps and Increase Resource Use Efficiency in West Java, Indonesia
Authors: Pronk Annette A. , Gunadi Nikardi , Hermelink Marleen I. , Hengsdijk Huib , Jindo Keiji , Silva João Vasco
Published: August 2024

Consumer demand for potato in Indonesia increases while production stagnates. Government policy recognised this discrepancy and prioritised efforts to increase potato yields through farmer support programs with moderate effects to date. This study aimed to decompose potato yield gaps and identify agronomic yield constraints in West Java. Actual yield and management practices of 178 farm registrations over five consecutive growing seasons were analysed with stochastic frontier analysis. The potential yield (Yp) for each registration was simulated with the LINTUL-POTATO-DSS crop model. The overall yield gap was decomposed into its efficiency, resource and technology components. The potato yield gap was 21.5 t ha−1, corresponding to 54% of Yp. The efficiency and technology yield gaps were both ca. 10 t ha−1, corresponding to 26% of Yp, and the resource yield gap was negligible. All fields received sufficient inputs for potential production, but most inputs were used inefficiently. An early first fungicide spray after emergence and frequently spraying to control late blight increased yields significantly. The seed generation planted was critical to potato yield gaps as yield decreased significantly with older generations. Some high-yielding fields, however, were also planted with older seed generations, so other production factors contributed to the yield gap as well. Improving potato yield and reducing current yield gaps in West Java will require well-performed late blight control, the use of high-quality seed and improved management practices, which include reduced input rates.
ASL, DSC, DCE perfusion MRI and 18F-DOPA PET/CT in differentiating glioma recurrence from post-treatment changes
Authors: Moltoni Giulia , Romano Andrea , Capriotti Gabriela , Campagna Giuseppe , Ascolese Anna Maria , Romano Allegra , Dellepiane Francesco , Minniti Giuseppe , Signore Alberto , Bozzao Alessandro
Published: August 2024

Objectives

To discriminate between post-treatment changes and tumor recurrence in patients affected by glioma undergoing surgery and chemoradiation with a new enhancing lesion is challenging. We aimed to evaluate the role of ASL, DSC, DCE perfusion MRI, and 18F-DOPA PET/CT in distinguishing tumor recurrence from post-treatment changes in patients with glioma.

Materials and methods

We prospectively enrolled patients with treated glioma (surgery plus chemoradiation) and a new enhancing lesion doubtful for recurrence or post-treatment changes. Each patient underwent a 1.5T MRI examination, including ASL, DSC, and DCE PWI, and an18F-DOPA PET/CT examination. For each lesion, we measured ASL-derived CBF and normalized CBF, DSC-derived rCBV, DCE-derived Ktrans, Vp, Ve, Kep, and PET/CT-derived SUV maximum. Clinical and radiological follow-up determined the diagnosis of tumor recurrence or post-treatment changes.

Results

We evaluated 29 lesions (5 low-grade gliomas and 24 high-grade gliomas); 14 were malignancies, and 15 were post-treatment changes.

CBF ASL, nCBF ASL, rCBV DSC, and PET SUVmax were associated with tumor recurrence from post-treatment changes in patients with glioma through an univariable logistic regression.

Whereas the multivariable logistic regression results showed only nCBF ASL (p = 0.008) was associated with tumor recurrence from post-treatment changes in patients with glioma with OR = 22.85, CI95%: (2.28–228.77).

Conclusion

In our study, ASL was the best technique, among the other two MRI PWI and the 18F-DOPA PET/CT PET, in distinguishing disease recurrence from post-treatment changes in treated glioma.
Platform cooperatives in the sharing economy: How market challengers bring change from the margins
Authors: Atanasova Aleksandrina , Eckhardt Giana M. , Laamanen Mikko
Published: August 2024

The now-mature sharing economy has not delivered on its original utopian promises. Instead of providing prosocial benefits for consumers and society, incumbent platforms dominate monopolistic markets. In this article, we study a novel business model in the sharing economy––the platform cooperative––to ask how can a responsible marketing strategy can be viable and effective for market challengers. We draw on a qualitative, ethnographic study of the lived experiences of consumers and managers in leading platform cooperatives Fairbnb and Drivers Cooperative, and find that while challengers cannot overhaul the system, they can engender change from the margins. We identify three dimensions of a change from the margins strategy in decentralizing the marketplace, shaping authentic narratives, and building institutional partnerships. We discuss implications of a responsible marketing strategy for market incumbents and challengers within the sharing economy and beyond, and for theorizing new frameworks in the marketing strategy literature.
Thermal degradation and hydrolysis depolymerization of printing ink components for plastic packaging in recycling processes: a review
Authors: Guo Jinyang , Luo Cong , Chong Zhi Kai , Alassali Ayah , Kuchta Kerstin
Published: August 2024

This review covers the decomposition mechanisms of various printing ink binder resins, with a particular focus on their behavior under extrusion conditions in the mechanical recycling process of polyolefin (PO) based plastic packaging. Thermal degradation and hydrolysis of the nitrocellulose (NC) — the most used binder for flexographic surface printing on single-layer flexible plastic packaging, occur concurrently during the mechanical recycling process under 160–210 °C. For other printing ink binders, polyurethane (PU) noticeable degradation takes place between 200 and 300 °C, mostly above 250 °C. However, with the involvement of humidity, degradation by hydrolysis can start from 150 °C. A similar effect is also discovered with the cellulose acetate (CA) derivatives, which are thermally stable until 300 °C and can be hydrolyzed at 100 °C. The thermal stability of polyvinyl butyral (PVB) is not influenced by humidity, with thermal stability ranging from 170 to 260 °C, depending on different types. Ultraviolet (UV)-cured acrylics are thermally stable until 400 °C. The hydrolysis degradation can take place at room temperature. Moreover, this review covers the thermal stability of different colorants used for printing ink application and elaborates on several thermal-stable alternatives of some common colors. This study further reviews how the binder resin affects the quality of recyclates, revealing it to be not only induced by the degradation of the binder resin but also by the immiscibility between the plastic and binder resin. In advanced recycling processes, mainly selective dissolution-precipitation and pyrolysis, the presence of binder resin and its degradation products could still affect the quality of the product. This review accentuates the imperative need for in-depth research to unravel the impact of printing ink constituents on the quality of recycled products.
Content of Biogenic Elements in Sheep Wool by the Regions of Slovakia
Authors: Janíček Martin , Massányi Martin , Kováčik Anton , Halo Marko , Tirpák Filip , Blaszczyk-Altman Martyna , Albrycht Marzena , Stawarz Robert , Halo Marko , Massányi Peter
Published: August 2024

The quality of nutrition and environmental pollution are crucial chemical indicators influencing animal health, reflected in element concentrations in animal tissues and coats. This study investigates the concentrations of biogenic elements (calcium, potassium, magnesium, sodium, copper, and iron) in sheep wool from various regions of Slovakia to compare concentrations and identify possible correlations between individual elements. Samples were collected from six different regions, and concentrations of elements were measured using flame atomic absorption spectrometry. Statistical analysis revealed significant differences in element levels among the examined regions. Calcium concentrations ranged from 729.2 to 4065 ppm, with the highest concentrations in the Kysuce region and the lowest in the Šariš region. Potassium concentrations ranged from 2315 to 3282 ppm, with the lowest values in the Zemplín region and the highest in the Liptov region. Magnesium, sodium, copper, and iron also exhibited varying concentrations across the regions. Correlation analysis identified significant associations between several elements. The findings suggest that regional environmental differences influence element concentrations in sheep wool, highlighting the importance of monitoring biogenic elements for assessing environmental pollution and animal health. Further research is warranted to explore the underlying mechanisms driving element accumulation in wool and its implications for animal welfare and environmental management.
Die Saat des Autoritarismus in Syrien: Der Staat der Assads vom Vater zum Sohn
Authors: Al-Abdullah Alaa
Published: August 2024

Seit mittlerweile 24 Jahren und trotz des seit 2011 tobenden Bürgerkriegs in Syrien ist Bashar Al-Assad weiterhin Staatspräsident. Dieses Amt erbte er von seinem Vater Hafiz Al-Assad, zusammen mit den repressiven Regierungsinstrumenten, die Bashar Al-Assad bis heute an der Macht halten. Die Analyse erläutert, wie diese Instrumente entstanden sind und wie sie funktionieren.
Genotype-environment interaction for grain yield in maize (Zea mays L.) using the additive main effects and multiplicative interaction (AMMI) model
Authors: Bocianowski Jan , Nowosad Kamila , Rejek Dariusz
Published: August 2024

Genotype-environment interaction consists of the different response of individual genotypes resulting from changing environmental conditions. Its significance is a phenomenon that makes the breeding process very difficult. On the one hand, the breeder expects stable genotypes, i.e., yielding similarly regardless of environmental conditions. On the other hand, selecting the best genotypes for each region is one of the key challenges for breeders and farmers. The aim of this study was to evaluate genotype-by-environment interaction for grain yield in new maize hybrids developed by Plant Breeding Smolice Co. Ltd., utilizing the additive main effects and multiplicative interaction (AMMI) model. The investigation involved 69 maize (Zea mays L.) hybrids, tested across five locations in a randomized complete block design with three replications. Grain yield varied from 8.76 t ha–1 (SMH_16417 in Smolice) to 16.89 t ha–1 (SMH_16043 in Płaczkowo), with a mean yield of 13.16 t ha–1. AMMI analysis identified significant effects of genotype, environment, and their interaction on grain yield. Analysis of variance indicated that 25.12% of the total variation in grain yield was due to environment factor, 35.20% to genotypic differences, and 21.18% to genotype by environmental interactions. Hybrids SMH_1706 and SMH_1707 are recommended for further breeding programs due to their high stability and superior average grain yield.