bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Biotransformation of 2-keto-4-hydroxybutyrate via aldol condensation using an efficient and thermostable carboligase from Deinococcus radiodurans
Authors: Jeong Yeon-Ju , Seo Min-Ju , Sung Bong Hyun , Kim Jeong-Sun , Yeom Soo-Jin
Published: January 2024

The bioconversion of 4-hydroxy-2-keto acid derivatives via aldol condensation of formaldehyde and pyruvate has received substantial attention as potential source of chemicals for production of amino acids, hydroxy carboxylic acids, and chiral aldehydes. We developed an environmentally friendly biocatalyst consisting of a novel thermostable class II pyruvate aldolase from Deinococcus radiodurans with maltose-binding protein (MBP-DrADL), which has specific activity of 46.3 µmol min–1 mg–1. Surprisingly, MBP-DrADL maintained over 60% of enzyme activity for 4 days at 50 to 65 °C, we used MBP-DrADL as the best candidate enzyme to produce 2-keto-4-hydroxybutyrate (2-KHB) from formaldehyde and pyruvate via aldol condensation. The optimum reaction conditions for 2-KHB production were 50 °C, pH 8.0, 5 mM Mg2+, 100 mM formaldehyde, and 200 mM pyruvate. Under these optimized conditions, MBP-DrADL produced 76.5 mM (8.94 g L–1) 2-KHB over 60 min with a volumetric productivity of 8.94 g L–1 h–1 and a specific productivity of 357.6 mg mg-enzyme–1 h–1. Furthermore, 2-KHB production was improved by continuous addition of substrates, which produced approximately 124.8 mM (14.6 g L–1) of 2-KHB over 60 min with a volumetric productivity and specific productivity of 14.6 g L–1 h–1 and 583.4 mg mg-enzyme–1 h–1, respectively. MBP-DrADL showed the highest specific productivity for 2-KHB production yet reported. Our study provides a highly efficient biocatalyst for the synthesis of 2-KHB and lays the foundation for large-scale production and application of high-value compounds from formaldehyde.

Graphical Abstract
Bacterial wilt affects the structure and assembly of microbial communities along the soil-root continuum
Authors: Liang Jinchang , Wei Chengjian , Song Xueru , Wang Rui , Shi Heli , Tan Jun , Cheng Dejie , Wang Wenjing , Wang Xiaoqiang
Published: January 2024

Background

Beneficial root-associated microbiomes play crucial roles in enhancing plant growth and suppressing pathogenic threats, and their application for defending against pathogens has garnered increasing attention. Nonetheless, the dynamics of microbiome assembly and defense mechanisms during pathogen invasion remain largely unknown. In this study, we aimed to investigate the diversity and assembly of microbial communities within four niches (bulk soils, rhizosphere, rhizoplane, and endosphere) under the influence of the bacterial plant pathogen Ralstonia solanacearum.

Results

Our results revealed that healthy tobacco plants exhibited more diverse community compositions and more robust co-occurrence networks in root-associated niches compared to diseased tobacco plants. Stochastic processes (dispersal limitation and drift), rather than determinism, dominated the assembly processes, with a higher impact of drift observed in diseased plants than in healthy ones. Furthermore, during the invasion of R. solanacearum, the abundance of Fusarium genera, a known potential pathogen of Fusarium wilt, significantly increased in diseased plants. Moreover, the response strategies of the microbiomes to pathogens in diseased and healthy plants diverged. Diseased microbiomes recruited beneficial microbial taxa, such as Streptomyces and Bacilli, to mount defenses against pathogens, with an increased presence of microbial taxa negatively correlated with the pathogen. Conversely, the potential defense strategies varied across niches in healthy plants, with significant enrichments of functional genes related to biofilm formation in the rhizoplane and antibiotic biosynthesis in the endosphere.

Conclusion

Our study revealed the varied community composition and assembly mechanism of microbial communities between healthy and diseased tobacco plants along the soil-root continuum, providing new insights into niche-specific defense mechanisms against pathogen invasions. These findings may underscore the potential utilization of different functional prebiotics to enhance plants’ ability to fend off pathogens.
The Social Bond Adrift
Authors: Dessal Gustavo
Published: January 2024

This essay argues from a Lacanian perspective that capitalism’s current modality promotes a perverted ideal of liberty as an unrestricted acceptance of the prerogatives of the market. The decomposition and decline of the paternal function, a phenomenon through which psychoanalysis condenses the collapse of narrativity structured by normative, moral, religious, and ideological values, has been accompanied by the elimination of limits on which the social state has always relied. Social engineering, based on the calculated and extreme exploitation of man’s helplessness, has replaced social and psychological constraints once transmitted through different narrative orders, as generalized human uncertainty is manipulated through the supreme concept of security.
Inviting Catastrophe: The Welcoming of the Act in Psychoanalysis
Authors: McNulty Tracy
Published: January 2024

This essay approaches the problem of the act from the perspective of psychoanalysis, which teaches us that the fear of the act as catastrophic—and especially as a mortal threat to the social bond—is often synonymous with the repudiation of the unconscious itself, whether by the individual subject or by the collective. To understand how an act of the unconscious can be received as catastrophic, whether by the actor or by others, we first have to consider both the resistance to the act at the level of the ego and its censorship by culture and civilization. For this we need to be more explicit about the nature of the act with which psychoanalysis is concerned, which is very different from other kinds of acts.
A Photo Album's Redrawn Color Line: On Black Freedom in Japan, 1947–1949
Authors: Boone Emilie
Published: January 2024

While art historians have highlighted the reputed freedoms afforded to African Americans—such as painters and sculptors—who traveled abroad to escape racism in the United States, little attention has been paid to vernacular photography or to places beyond a few storied locations. Made partly within the context of the American military base of Camp Gifu, an album by a woman named Darlene Littleton brings attention to the vernacular photographs of Black life in Japan under the US Occupation following World War II. The album serves as a creative practice in which Black visual production is propelled by a range of circumstances distinctly marked by alternate modes of freedom—moments loosened from the logic of race, gender, and class commonly known to the United States.
Nociceptive Processing of Elite Athletes Varies Between Sport-Specific Loads: An EEG-based Study Approach
Authors: Dreismickenbecker Elias , Fleckenstein Johannes , Walter Carmen , Enax-Krumova Elena K. , Fischer Michael J. M. , Kreuzer Matthias , Zinn Sebastian , Anders Malte
Published: January 2024

Introduction

For the downstream nociceptive processing of elite athletes recent studies indicate that athletes probably tolerate more pain as compared to a normally active population. Phenotyping the nociceptive processing of athletes in different types of endurance sports can provide insight into training-specific effects, which may help in understanding the long-term effects of specific exercise.

Methods

26 elite endurance athletes from the disciplines of rowing, triathlon and running, and 26 age and sex-matched, recreationally active control subjects the subjective pain perception and processing of standardized noxious stimuli were investigated by EEG. This included standardized heat pain thresholds (HPT) and contact heat-evoked potentials (CHEPS) from heat stimulation, measured with EEG as well as pinprick-evoked potentials (PEP) from mechanical stimulation.

Results

Following noxious stimulation, athletes showed a higher activation of the event-related spectral perturbation (ERSP) patterns in the N2P2 EEG response at the Cz Electrode compared to the controls. Following noxious contact heat stimulation, triathletes had a higher ERSP activation compared to the controls, while the rowers had a higher ERSP activation following noxious mechanical stimulation. Also, HPTs in triathletes were increased despite their increased central activation following thermal stimulation. We found a correlation between increased HPTs and training hours and years, though athletes did not differ within these variables.

Conclusions

Although we were able to identify differences between athletes of different endurance sports, the reasons and implications of these differences remain unclear. The study of sport-specific somatosensory profiles may help to understand the mechanisms of exercise-related long-term effects on pain processing and perception. Furthermore, sport-specific somatosensory effects may support the personalization of exercise interventions and identify risk factors for chronic pain in elite athletes.
Injury Incidence, Severity and Type across the Menstrual Cycle in Female Footballers: A Prospective Three Season Cohort Study
Authors: Barlow Ally , Blodgett Joanna M. , Williams Sean , Pedlar Charles R. , Bruinvels Georgie
Published: January 2024

Purpose

The aim of the study was to assess the influence of menstrual cycle phase on injury incidence, severity and type in elite female professional footballers over three seasons.

Methods

Time-loss injuries and menstrual cycle data were prospectively recorded for 26 elite female football players across three seasons. The menstrual cycle was categorised into four phases using a standardised model: menstruation (phase 1; P1), remainder of follicular phase (phase 2; P2), early luteal (phase 3; P3), and pre-menstrual phase (phase 4; P4). Injury incidence rates (IRR) and ratios (IIRR) were calculated for overall injuries, injury severity, type, contact vs non-contact and game/training.

Results

593 cycles across 13,390 days were tracked during the study and 74 injuries from 26 players were eligible for analysis. When comparing IRR between phases (reference: P1), overall injury rates were highest in P4 (IIRR: 2.30 [95% CI: 0.99-5.34; p = 0.05]). When examining rates by injury severity and type, IRR were also highest in P4 for ≤7 days’ time-loss (4.40 [0.93-20.76; p = 0.06]), muscle-specific (6.07 [1.34-27.43; p = 0.02]) and non-contact (3.05 [1.10-8.50; p = 0.03]) injuries. Muscle-specific (IIRR P3:P1: 5.07 [1.16-22.07; p = 0.03]) and ≤ 7 days’ time-loss (4.47 [1.01-19.68; p = 0.05]) injury risk was also significantly higher in P3. Muscle injuries were the most prevalent sub-type (n = 41). No anterior cruciate ligament injuries were recorded across the monitoring period.

Conclusions

Injury risk was significantly elevated during the luteal phase of the menstrual cycle (P3 and P4) among elite female professional footballers. Further research is urgently needed to better understand the influence of the menstrual cycle on injury risk and to develop interventions to mitigate risk.
Left myocardial wall measurements on postmortem imaging compared to autopsy
Authors: Χατζαράκη Βασιλική
Published: January 2024

Οι στόχοι αυτής της μελέτης ήταν, πρώτον, να προσδιοριστεί η σχέση των μετρήσεων του πάχους τοιχώματος της αριστερής κοιλίας μεταξύ μεταθανάτιας αξονικής τομογραφίας και μεταθανάτιας μαγνητικής τομογραφίας και, δεύτερον, η αξιολόγηση της χρησιμότητας της μεταθανάτιας απεικόνισης για τις μετρήσεις του πάχους τοιχώματος της αριστερής κοιλίας σε σύγκριση με τη νεκροτομή. Όλες οι σοροί ηλικίας ≥18 ετών, με μεταθανάτιο διάστημα ≤4 ημερών, μεταθανάτια αξονική και μαγνητική τομογραφία καρδιάς και νεκροτομή εξετάστηκαν στη βάση δεδομένων μας αναδρομικά. Κριτήρια αποκλεισμού ήταν οι συσσώρευση αερίων στο μυοκάρδιο και το τραύμα καρδιάς. Το πάχος του τοιχώματος της αριστερής κοιλίας μετρήθηκε στη μεταθανάτια αξονική και μαγνητική τομογραφία. Οι μετρήσεις επαναλήφθηκαν από τον ίδιο αξιολογητή μετά από 2 μήνες. Το πάχος τοιχώματος της αριστερής κοιλίας και ο όγκος του περικαρδιακού υγρού που μετρήθηκαν στη νεκροτομή καταγράφηκαν με βάση τις νεκροτομικές αναφορές. Ο όγκος περικαρδιακού υγρού >50 ml προσδιορίστηκε ως θετικός για παρουσία περικαρδιακής συλλογής. Στη μελέτη συμπεριλήφθηκαν συνολικά 113 περιπτώσεις, δώδεκα με περικαρδιακή συλλογή. Η ενδοπροσωπική στατιστική αξιοπιστία για τις μετρήσεις στην απεικόνιση ήταν εξαιρετική. Το πάχος του πλάγιου τοιχώματος της αριστερής κοιλίας ήταν στατιστικά σημαντικά μεγαλύτερο στην αξονική (18,3 mm) σε σύγκριση με τη μαγνητική τομογραφία (17,6 mm) αλλά αυτές οι μετρήσεις συσχετίστηκαν θετικά. Το πάχος του προσθίου τοιχώματος ήταν στατιστικά σημαντικά μεγαλύτερο στη μαγνητική τομογραφία (15 mm) συγκριτικά με τη νεκροτομή (14 mm) και αυτές οι μετρήσεις συσχετίστηκαν επίσης θετικά. Η παρουσία περικαρδιακής συλλογής οδήγησε σε μεγαλύτερες διαφορές μεταξύ των μετρήσεων στη μαγνητική τομογραφία και τη νεκροτομή χωρίς όμως στατιστική σημαντικότητα.Υπάρχουν αποκλίσεις μεταξύ των μετρήσεων του πάχους τοιχώματος της αριστερής κοιλίας στη μεταθανάτια απεικόνιση και τη νεκροτομή. Οι ειδικοί πρέπει το λαμβάνουν υπόψη για να μη παρερμηνεύονται οι μετρήσεις της απεικόνισης.
Η ιστορία του Ελληνορθοδόξου Πατριαρχείου Ιεροσολύμων κατά την περίοδο της πατριαρχίας των αοιδίμων Πατριαρχών Ανθίμου και Πολυκάρπου 1788-1827
Authors: Φυρογένης Γεώργιος
Published: January 2024

Η παρούσα διδακτορική διατριβή αποτελεί προέκταση και ολοκλήρωση της έρευνάς μου σχετικά με την ιστορία του Ελληνορθοδόξου Πατριαρχείου Ιεροσολύμων την περίοδο της πατριαρχίας δύο σπουδαίων προσωπικοτήτων, του Ανθίμου (1788-1808) και του Πολυκάρπου (1808-1827). Η έρευνά μου για το συγκεκριμένο θέμα είναι άρρηκτα συνδεδεμένη και βασισμένη στην έκδοση πολλών επιστολών και εγγράφων από το Αρχείο του Μετοχίου Παναγίου Τάφου (Μ.Π.Τ.) στην Κωνσταντινούπολη αλλά και από το Αρχείο και τη Βιβλιοθήκη του Πατριαρχείου στα Ιεροσόλυμα. Ουσιαστικά, στόχος της παρούσας διδακτορικής διατριβής είναι η δημιουργία ενός Corpus με όλες τις επιστολές των Πατριαρχών Ανθίμου και Πολυκάρπου των Ιεροσολύμων και βεβαίως η τεκμηρίωση, η συμπλήρωση ακόμα και η διόρθωση των ιστορικών γεγονότων κυρίως με βάση το εκδοθέν αρχειακό υλικό αλλά και τη βιβλιογραφία.
Vers un droit européen des contrats d'exploitation de propriété intellectuelle
Authors: Χίου Θεόδωρος
Published: January 2024

Το εν λόγω πόνημα διερευνά τη χρησιμότητα και τη δυνατότητα δημιουργίας ενός κοινού ευρωπαϊκού δικαίου συμβάσεων εκμετάλλευσης δικαιωμάτων διανοητικής ιδιοκτησίας. Ως «συμβάσεις εκμετάλλευσής» νοούνται οι ιδιότυπες συμβάσεις με τις οποίες ο δικαιούχος παρέχει τη δυνατότητα χρήσης και εκμετάλλευσης δικαιωμάτων πνευματικής και βιομηχανικής ιδιοκτησίας στον αντισυμβαλλόμενο τρίτο. Έχοντας ως σημείο εκκίνησης την ανάλυση του υφιστάμενου ειδικού δικαίου συμβάσεων εκμετάλλευσης σε Ελλάδα, Γερμανία, Γαλλία, Ηνωμένο Βασίλειο και των σχετικών διατάξεων που εντοπίζονται διάσπαρτες στο ευρωπαϊκό κεκτημένο της διανοητικής ιδιοκτησίας, επιδιώκεται η παρουσίαση των δομικών και λειτουργικών ανεπαρκειών που εντοπίζονται τόσο σε εθνικό όσο και ευρωπαϊκό επίπεδο και υποστηρίζεται η ανάγκη αποκατάστασης αυτών, διά της (ανά) κατασκευής ενός ενιαίου και συστηματικά δομημένου ειδικού δικαίου συμβάσεων εκμετάλλευσης δικαιωμάτων διανοητικής ιδιοκτησίας σε Ευρωπαϊκό επίπεδο. Προς στήριξη της εν λόγω θέσης, πραγματοποιείται συγκριτική αντιπαραβολή των υφιστάμενων ρυθμίσεων, η οποία στοχεύει στον εντοπισμό σημείων σύγκλισης, τόσο μεταξύ των διαφόρων κλάδων της διανοητικής ιδιοκτησίας όσο και μεταξύ των διαφορετικών εθνικών νομοθεσιών, τα οποία θα αποτελέσουν τα essentialia και naturalia negottii μίας επώνυμης σύμβασης εκμετάλλευσης δικαιωμάτων διανοητικής ιδιοκτησίας και θα χρησιμεύσουν ως κριτήρια ταξινόμησης των διαφόρων υποκατηγοριών αυτής. Η εργασία ολοκληρώνεται με την πρόταση ολοκληρωμένου οδικού χάρτη προς την (ανα)κατασκευή ενός συνεκτικού και εναρμονισμένου δικαίου συμβάσεων εκμετάλλευσης σε ευρωπαϊκή προοπτική, λαμβάνοντας υπόψιν τις ακαδημαϊκές εργασίες του πεδίου του Ευρωπαϊκού Δικαίου Συμβάσεων καθώς και τα διδάγματα του ευρωπαϊκού δικαίου σε σχέση με την αρμοδιότητα της ΕΕ στο υπό εξέταση πεδίο και τα νομοθετικά εργαλεία που θα μπορούσαν να τύχουν εφαρμογής για εναρμονισμένη ρύθμιση της σύμβασης εκμετάλλευσης στην Ευρώπη.
Audiovisual works in response to creative writing
Authors: Αγιομυργιανάκης Βασίλειος
Published: January 2024

Το χαρτοφυλάκιο των έργων μου τεκμηριώνει την έρευνά μου που βασίζεται στην πρακτική μου για τη μετάδοση της δημιουργικής γραφής σε οπτικοακουστική αφήγηση, μέσω ενός συνδυασμού πεδίων όπως ηχητική τέχνη, συγκεκριμένη μουσική, γραφικά υπολογιστή, κινηματογράφηση, κινούμενα σχέδια, παραστατικά στοιχεία και διαδραστικότητα χρησιμοποιώντας νέες μεθόδους και τεχνικές μέσω αλγοριθμικής σύνθεσης. Οι επιταγές της έρευνας μου περιλαμβάνουν τη διαμεσικότητα, τη διασημειωτική μετάφραση - όπως ορίζεται από τον Jakobson (1959), τη μετα- θεματικότητα όπως συζητήθηκε από τον Graeme Sullivan (2005) και την Αλληλεπίδρασης Ανθρώπου Υπολογιστή (HCI). Όσον αφορά τη διασημειωτική μετάφραση, δείχνω πώς έχω εφαρμόσει λογοτεχνικές έννοιες σε δημιουργικές οπτικοακουστικές ιστορίες χρησιμοποιώντας συμβολισμούς και μεταφορά. Όσον αφορά τη μετα-θεματικότητα, έχω χρησιμοποιήσει μια ποικιλία δημιουργικών τεχνολογιών και στους δύο τομείς του ψηφιακού ήχου και των εικαστικών τεχνών, μέσω αλγοριθμικών συνθέσεων και αυτοσχεδιασμού χρησιμοποιώντας διεπαφές, λογισμικό και ψηφιακές συσκευές. Όσον αφορά την αλληλεπίδραση ανθρώπου υπολογιστή, έχω εκτελέσει και συνθέσει ήχο και γραφικά χρησιμοποιώντας συσκευές όπως το iPad και το Kinect, στο οποίο έχω σχεδιάσει και κωδικοποιήσει το δικό μου γραφικό περιβάλλον διεπαφής χρήστη για να επιτρέψω την αλληλεπίδραση. Για το τελευταίο στοιχείο αυτού του χαρτοφυλακίου έχω ενσωματώσει όλες τις ερευνητικές μου οδούς σε μία, συνδυάζοντας παραγωγή ήχου, αλγοριθμικές μεθόδους, οπτικοακουστικές μετα-θεματικές προσεγγίσεις και αλληλεπίδραση ανθρώπου υπολογιστή.
Refining Adult Learners’ Discursive Capacities: A Response to the Current Epistemological Crisis through the Lens of Transformation Theory
Authors: Virvidaki Katerina
Published: January 2024

The following article begins with the observation that both public discourses, as well as dialogue between adult learners within certain educational contexts, is frequently confined to competitive and strongly assertive claims, a characteristic which significantly diminishes the epistemological potential of the dialogical act. Drawing on the description of the current ‘epistemological crisis’ by Hoggan and Hoggan – Kloubert (2021), the article first attempts to show how this crisis is reflected in the understanding of the dialogical act among particular groups of adult learners. The article then tries to explore ways through which this understanding can be enriched and transformed into a more complex and multidimensional process. The central orientation of such a transition, is elaborated through the lens of Jack Mezirow’s Transformation Theory (1991, 2000), thus growing out of an examination, as well as an effort to transform, the epistemological ‘habits of mind’ which characterize the learners’ distorted perception of the dialogical act. The discussion of the learners’ epistemological habits of mind, is followed by the attempt to set up a framework of discursive activities, which help learners actualize the above transformation, specifically to the way they articulate questions of value (that is, their value priorities and value assumptions). The suggested activities are geared towards cultivating the learners’ awareness of evaluative and conceptual ‘complexity’, with the ultimate aim of allowing this awareness to strengthen their epistemic and discursive agency. The gradual cultivation of this agency is demonstrated through a range of practical examples, which are analysed in terms of their transformative, philosophical, and ethical dimensions. The learners’ renewed understanding of the dialogical act, is finally related to their capacity to activate their ‘reflective judgment’ (see also Kant, 1790 / 1987 in Hoggan and Hoggan – Kloubert, 2021).
Employment and occupational prospects and Lifelong Learning in Greece
Authors: Tsiboukli Anna , Efstratoglou Angelos
Published: January 2024

The present paper addresses employment and occupational prospects in Greece, in the period 2011-2022, highlighting the dynamic, stagnant and declining occupations and it also  addresses employment and occupational prospects in the near future (2022-2030). The role that Lifelong Learning  can play in an environment of abrupt changes is also discussed. The study reveals that in the period 2011-2022, the total employment rates in Greece increased by 1.0%, with the creation of 43,002 new jobs. A large number of jobs was created for general and keyboard clerks, health professionals and information and communication technology professionals but on the other hand, a large number of jobs were destructed. Therefore, the employment and occupational prospects in Greece in the near future require further attention. The estimates presented in this paper concern the time period 2022-2030, in a two-digit occupation code and they are derived from the application of the Oxford model (Oxford Global Economic Model - GEM), which is managed by NKUA, in the framework of its eLearning program. In this time period, according to relevant estimates, the total employment rates in Greece are expected to decrease by 3.4%, with a loss of 143,998 jobs in total. This negative development, that is expected to take place in an environment of increased production (estimates of the Oxford model), indicate a paradox that is  a period of economic growth which is not followed by the creation of new jobs (jobless growth). In light of this evidence, employment and occupational prospects and Lifelong learning are interlinked and often considered a favored topic for researchers, practitioners, policy makers and politicians. As occupations, dynamic, stagnant or declining, include certain tasks and skills, their evolution (and mainly in the dynamic ones) provide the necessary information areas in which long term strategy of Lifelong Learning should target. However, there seems to be a distance between policy, strategy and action. The paper suggests a more careful mapping of the job market, the lifelong learning programmes and the trainees’ prospective profiles. It also addresses the need to focus on those who rarely participate in lifelong learning programmes and are considered to also be the dropout rates from formal educational processes.
Communication as a prerequisite for forming online learning communities: a case study
Authors: Giannakopoulou Eleni
Published: January 2024

Many researchers and educators have emphasized the importance of forming and developing online learning communities. Moreover, the leading role that the forms and the contents of communication between learners have in the creation and functioning of these communities is stressed. In this paper we present and comment on s, the findings of a research project that studied the aforementioned communication issues between students of undergraduate and postgraduate courses, at the Hellenic Open University. The analysis of the empirical data of this research, shows that the role of communication in the educational activities in which the subjects of our research were involved is extremely weak and consequently the formation of online learning communities is rudimentary.
Limitations and recommendations regarding the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) in illiterate and low educated older adults
Authors: Mandyla Maria-Aikaterini , Kosmidis Mary H.
Published: January 2024

Increasing life expectancy has been associated with higher rates of dementia. As illiterate/uneducated individuals are typically over-represented among older cohorts, it is imperative that we identify and/or develop appropriate, non-biased scales and psychometric tests for early detection of, and screening for, cognitive impairment in this group. Given that many traditional neuropsychological tests may underestimate cognitive abilities in illiterate/uneducated and low educated individuals, their use in these groups needs to be reappraised or their format adapted. One of the most commonly used screening tests worldwide is the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE). Level of education has been shown to be a significant predictor of performance on the MMSE, hence, there is dispute among researchers related to its applicability in populations with low or no schooling. A wide range of recommendations have been made by scholars for overcoming the education effect on the MMSE, as well as other sources of bias, but some methodological limitations remain, and new ones have emerged concerning its administration to illiterate/uneducated and low educated older individuals. In the present study, we present a theoretical discussion of the challenges inherent in the administration and interpretation of MMSE performance in illiterate/uneducated and low educated individuals, consider previous recommendations and address their limitations, and highlight the optimal methods for clinical assessment of these groups when the MMSE is used.
The power of the cognitive unconscious: The case of implicit learning
Authors: Ziori Eleni
Published: January 2024

The present paper highlights the power of unconscious processes within the framework of implicit learning, a research area that has attracted extensive attention in the past decades. More specifically, it discusses theoretical issues concerning this multifaceted type of learning that occurs without conscious awareness and presents various applications in different learning settings and research domains, and in varied populations. Another main focus of this review is on recent advances in our understanding of the factors that affect implicit learning, including motives, attention, affective states, and general knowledge. The paper ends with conclusions and general principles drawn from research on a phenomenon with extended applications both in the lab and in everyday life and underlines the necessity for further research that will refine our methods of distinguishing conscious and unconscious processes and provide answers to unresolved issues and contradictory findings.
Diversity of functional edaphic macrofauna in Musa acuminata x Musa balbisiana (AAB) agroecosystems
Authors: Zúniga-Gonzalez C. A. , Caballero-Hernández A. J.
Published: January 2024

Background This study focused on evaluating the diversity and richness of the edaphic macrofauna in eight banana farms in the western zone of Nicaragua. Methods The sampling design was random and descriptive, it was divided into two phases, the first was the collection of the sample, and the second was the classification, coding, and storage of the extracted macrofauna populations. Subsequently, the indices of diversity and species richness, relative abundance, by functional groups were estimated. Results The results showed that the relative abundance of biodiversity was higher in the 0–20 cm soil depth stratum than in the branch and leaf biomass strata. The values of the diversity indices of Dominion, Simpson, Shanon, Margalef, and Equity were in the normal range, with a tendency towards low diversity. Likewise, in the richness of species, the Dominant or most abundant genus were earthworms (Oligochaeta) and Hymenoptera (Solenopsis, Leptothorax, Camponotus, Pheidole), indicating the directly proportional relationship, that is to say, that the greater the number of earthworms the production increases and the greater the number of Hymenoptera it decreases, confirmed with the Pearson correlation coefficient with a reliability of 95%. Conclusions It was concluded that based on the estimates of the diversity indicators, two detritivore genus (earthworms and Hymenoptera) were the ones with the greatest presence, being important in the production of the banana agrosystem due to the decomposition of organic matter and its nutritional contribution to the plant. We observed a direct correlation with earthworms and an indirect relationship with Hymenoptera.
Factors contributing to online child sexual abuse in Bangladesh: A qualitative inquiry
Authors: Islam Md Redwanul , Towhid Muhammad Ibrahim Ibne , Salwa Merium , Tasnim Anika , Mroy Wai Wai , Khan Md Maruf Haque , Haque Md Atiqul
Published: January 2024

Background Children globally, including in Bangladesh, are facing various forms of online sexual abuse including sextortion, exploitation, body shaming, and blackmail. They are also coerced into engaging in intimate activities, harassed through the sending of sexual content, among other forms of abuse. We aimed to explore the root cause of online child sexual abuse (OCSA) in Bangladesh. Methods This qualitative research design utilized in-depth interviews (IDIs) and key informant interviews (KIIs) between February and April 2022. The study sample comprised 21 school-going children aged 13−17 years, selected from two different geographical settings (10 from rural areas and 11 from urban areas) in Bangladesh using purposive sampling techniques. They participated in in-depth interviews (IDIs) while additional data was obtained through key informant interviews (KIIs) with 11 multidisciplinary stakeholders. Results Children from both rural and urban areas reported facing abuse in various ways, such as being asked to send naked photos, being invited to be naked in video calls, and being invited to have virtual sex, among others, over the internet. Conclusions The government should consider integrating OCSA education into secondary levels. Additionally, there should be efforts to ensure a safe online environment through content scrutiny, promotion of outdoor activities, and community campaigns. An anonymous reporting system must be implemented, and strict measures under the Children's Act must be enforced against perpetrators. Further intervention studies are needed to ensure effective child protection measures in Bangladesh.
Principles and Methods of Auditing As Elements of Audit Theory
Authors: Arabyan Knarik
Published: January 2024

The article discusses the need to develop audit theory in the context of a crisis in auditing activities. The principles of auditing and methods of conducting audits are being systematized.
The System of Educational Work of the Class Teacher to Strengthen the Prestige of the Military Profession
Authors: Nechaev Mikhail
Published: January 2024

The article deals with the problem of educational work of the class teacher to strengthen the prestige of the military profession. A system of measures that activate interest in the military profession and professional orientation of schoolchildren to military specialties is described. Methodical recommendations are given to class teachers on the forms of educational work that contribute to strength-ening the prestige of the military profession among students of different levels of general education. Special attention is paid to such a form of education as an interactive and reflexive lesson of cour-age «Heroes of our time».
The vicious circle mechanism in atopic dermatitis: psychological distress as cause and effect of atopic dermatitis
Authors: Nowak Karolina , Olejarz Zuzanna , Drygała Zuzanna , Wyrwał Julia , Zielińska Zuzanna , Słowik Magdalena , Nowak Karolina , Nieć Maria , Gierlach Katarzyna , Krasuska Martyna
Published: January 2024

Introduction and purpose:  Atopic dermatitis (AD) is chronic inflammatory skin disorder. It typically begins in infancy or childhood and might persist into adulthood. AD is characterized by dry, itchy, eczematous skin. The lesions can vary in intensification from mild to severe according to patient age or body region. AD requires ongoing management to control the symptoms. Skin manifestations along with the demand of treatment and care regimens significantly impact quality of life (QOL) in patients with AD. Individuals suffering from this condition are more prone to developing mental health disorders, which are often linked to emotional stress they experience. Exposure to stress exacerbates AD and stimulates skin changes, which in turn leads to intensification of treatment regimens. This cause-and-effect chain can be considered as a vicious circle mechanism. The aim of the review is to highlight the phenomenon by examining current literature on this topic in order to raise the awareness of healthcare professionals regarding this subject as well as implement appropriate and complete support for patients struggling with AD.  A brief description of the state of knowledge:  The pathophysiology of AD is multifactorial. Numerous studies explore the impact of stress on the deterioration of AD symptoms and delve into its pathogenic concepts. Simultaneously, researchers highlight increased psychological distress in AD patients, which surpass that observed in many other chronic conditions. Summary:  Psychological factors play a significant role in AD. It demands considering mental health screening and support as a part of clinical practice, treating AD patients. Further research is necessary to provide efficient and comprehensive interventions.
The Effects of Betrayal Aversion on Effort Provision When Incentives Are Fragile
Authors: Benndorf Volker , Müller Stephan , Rau Holger A.
Published: January 2024

This paper studies the impact of betrayal aversion on employees’ effort provision in exchange for a bonus payment that is at the employers’ expense and discretion. In our first study, using a laboratory experiment, we find that the performance of an employee with average betrayal aversion is lower by more than 15% relative to betrayal-neutral employees. Inspired by the findings, we theoretically identify a tradeoff for the effort provision of betrayal-averse employees. That is, higher effort not only increases the level of betrayal when the bonus is not paid, but it also increases the chances to receive a bonus avoiding betrayal. In a second study, we confirm our findings in an online labor market. The data also find support for the identified tradeoff. In a third study, we manipulate employees’ beliefs about the chances of receiving the bonus to provide causal evidence for the tradeoff.

This paper was accepted by Yan Chen, behavioral economics and decision analysis.

Funding: This work was supported by the Joachim Herz Foundation.

Supplemental Material: The online appendix and data files are available at https://doi.org/10.1287/mnsc.2021.02405 .
Compatibility and Information Asymmetry in Online Matching Platforms
Authors: Basu Amit , Bhaskaran Sreekumar , Mukherjee Rajiv
Published: January 2024

Firms seeking business partners and individuals seeking life partners face several challenges in addition to finding available candidates. One of these challenges is uncertainty about a candidate’s compatibility with the match-seeker on various subjective criteria. Another challenge is authentication of objective quality features, particularly in online settings where credentials can be easily misrepresented. Online matching platforms can address these challenges through counseling services that help assess mutual compatibility of match-seekers and authentication services to validate match-seekers’ credentials. Using a stylized model, we show that the platform’s decisions to offer counseling and authentication services are influenced by match-seeker behavior in response to factors such as the platform’s counseling capability, the composition of the matching market, and the interactions between the two services. This leads to optimal strategies for the platform that are not obvious and can even be counterintuitive. For instance, offering better counseling does not necessarily result in higher revenues for the platform. And it may be optimal for the platform to reduce its access fee when it decides to offer an authentication service. We also show that when the platform’s counseling capability is modest, an increase in this capability increases the value of authentication (i.e., counseling complements authentication); however, when the platform’s counseling capability is high, counseling and authentication become substitutes, because narrowing the search to only high-value candidates based on authentication can exclude some compatible candidates. Our analysis and results provide valuable insights for platform operators on the relative value of counseling and authentication, and for researchers studying matching platforms for vertically and horizontally differentiated markets.

This paper was accepted by Hemant Bhargava, information systems.

Supplemental Material: The online appendix and data files are available at https://doi.org/10.1287/mnsc.2021.03807 .
A Continuous Time Framework for Sequential Goal-Based Wealth Management
Authors: Capponi Agostino , Zhang Yuchong
Published: January 2024

We develop a continuous time framework for sequential goals-based wealth management. A stochastic factor process drives asset price dynamics and the client’s goal amount and income. We prove the weak dynamic programming principle for the value function of our control problem, which we show to be the unique viscosity solution of the corresponding Hamilton-Jacobi-Bellman equation. We develop an equivalent and computationally efficient representation of the Hamiltonian, which yields the optimal portfolio within a factor-dependent opportunity set defined by the maximum and minimum variance hypersurfaces. Our analysis shows that it is optimal to fund an expiring goal up to the level where the marginal benefit of additional fundedness is exceeded by the opportunity cost of diverting wealth from future goals. An all-or-nothing investor is more risk averse toward an approaching goal deadline if well funded, but more risk seeking if not on track with upcoming goals, compared with an investor with flexible goals.

This paper was accepted by David Simchi-Levi, finance.

Funding: This work was supported by the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada [Discovery Grant RGPIN-2020-06290] and Fi-Tek.
Groundwater Assessment in Udham Singh Nagar, Uttarakhand, India Using Multivariate Statistical Techniques, WQI, and HPI
Authors: Kotlia Bahadur Singh , Bakshi Shahditta
Published: January 2024

We conducted a study to assess the variations in groundwater quality and metal pollution and identify the sources in the U S Nagar district of Uttarakhand state of India using multivariate statistical techniques. The two essential indicators of any developed society are Safe drinking water and decontamination. This research aims to undertake drinking water quality analyses of the groundwater and the sources of contamination in Udham Singh Nagar district, Uttarakhand. We produced results of 250 samples collected from hand pumps (Govt. and Private) and artesian wells. We measured 19 parameters which nine physicochemical parameters (pH, electrical conductivity, total dissolved solids, dissolved oxygen, oxidation and reduction potential, salinity, fluoride, chloride, nitrate), 7 Heavy metals (Lead, nickel, chromium, copper, iron, manganese, zinc) along with three metals (potassium, magnesium, sodium). Water quality index, Heavy metal pollution index, PCA (Principal component analysis)/FA (factor analysis), and CA (Cluster analysis) methods were applied. WQI index shows five samples (2 %) comes under the excellent, 211 samples (84.4 %) fall under good quality, and 34 samples (13.6 %) have poor water quality wqi status as per Yadav index. Further, referring to the Ramakrishnaiah index, 216 samples (86.4 %) fall under excellent quality and only 13 samples (13.6 %) come under good water quality. For HPI, as per Indian Standard, nearly 40.4% of samples show a low degree of pollution, 33.2% of samples show a medium degree of pollution, and 26.4% show a High degree of pollution. According to the International HPI standard, 46% of samples show a low degree of pollution, 38% have a medium degree, and 16% show a high-grade degree of pollution. The results of PCA show that groundwater has mainly geogenic (geochemical alteration and weathering of source rock like carbonate, dolomite, quartzite, etc.) followed by anthropogenic sources (agrogenic, domestic sewage and industrial wastes etc.). The results obtained through the PCA are also moderately supported by Cluster analysis. The cations which were over the limit in groundwater samples are presented in chronological order Fe > Pb > Ni > Mg > Mn > Zn > Cu, and significant anions were over the limit F¯ > Cl¯, and the rest was under the limit. The highly heavy metal-contaminated drinking groundwater sample, being used for drinking purpose, is deteriorating and need a proper treatment strategy before domestic water supply.
Locational Suitability of Paschim Boragaon Landfill Adjacent to Deepor Beel Wetland, Assam
Authors: Hazarika Roopjyoti
Published: January 2024

Deepor Beel, situated in the lower Assam region of Brahmaputra Valley, is a significant wetland that holds immense importance and is classified within the biogeographical region of the Burma monsoon forest. The beel acts as a crucial reservoir for storing water in Guwahati, aiding in mitigating the effects of flash flooding. The beel is endowed with luxuriant aquatic flora and fauna and maintains a well-balanced ecosystem. Nevertheless, the presence of the Paschim Boragaon Landfill in close proximity to the beel has raised concerns about the fragility of the biodiversity and ecosystem. The study was conducted to evaluate the appropriateness of placing a waste disposal site near a wetland and also how effectively did the Paschim Boragaon landfill adhere to the criteria specified in the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) and Central Public Health and Environment Engineering Organisation (CPHEEO). The landfill's establishment has disregarded the prescribed regulations imposed by the relevant governing body, posing a significant threat to the soil, water, and environment. This situation flagrantly violates the Wetland Rules of 2010, leading to detrimental effects on the diverse features and biodiversity of the beel. The landfill's close proximity has directly or indirectly disrupted the beel's heterogeneous characteristics. Hence, an urgent relocation of the entire landfill is imperative to protect the beel and uphold the internationally renowned Ramsar wetland's biodiversity.
Modification and Performance of a Rotating Biological Contactor for the Rectification of Synthetic Auramine O dye Wastewater
Authors: Modi Khyati Kishorchandra , Nath Kaushik krishnakumar
Published: January 2024

The disposal of domestic and industrial wastewater into the drainage/atmosphere without treatment is a major source of pollution that endangers the health of the population and needs to be controlled. Despite long been used as a secondary treatment strategy for wastewater, conventional rotating biological contactor (RBC) suffers from the drawbacks of limited surface area for the growth of biofilms. There are persistent problems of less oxygenation capacity, and inefficient mixing resulting in inadequate mass transfer. To address these issues conventional RBC has been modified in the present study by replacing a bank of discs using a rotating drum. The use of a rotating drum in RBC enhanced the biofilm attachment surface area up to 2.29 m2 (?108.2% higher than conventional RBC), thereby improving the working performance. To prevent the dissolved oxygen as a limiting factor, four small aerators were placed as supplement aeration system in the wastewater collection tank of modified RBC. To prevent the influence of atmospheric temperature on biological process, a blast-proof aquarium glass heater was placed in the tank. For experimental work, a 700 ppm pretreated synthetic solution of Auramine-O dye as wastewater was utilized. A constant level of percentage variation in biological oxygen demand (BOD) removal efficiency was observed after 15 days of the experiment. After day-15, the MLSS concentration increased to 2960 mg/L, and the BOD concentration reduced to 12.85 mg/L, resulting in a reduction of 89.86% in BOD, indicating the meeting of effluent discharge standards.
Changes in Physicochemical Parameters of Soil Along the Villages in Pendhurti Block of Visakhapatnam District, Andhra Pradesh
Authors: Vardhan Dora1 H. Shanthi , Singh Y.V. , Bharteey Prem Kumar , Latare A. M. , Pradhan Surajyoti , Rai Sumit , Bhagyasri H.
Published: January 2024

Soil represents a critical element of plant existence, ranking prominently among the five essential elements. When soil quality declines, it adversely impacts crop productivity. In the present research, the emphasis was placed on conducting a physicochemical analysis of soils in various villages within the Pendhurti block of Visakhapatnam district. In this research, 30 samples of soil were gathered haphazardly from 0 to 15 cm depth across 15 distinct villages.The soil samples gathered underwent analysis in a laboratory to assess their physicochemical parameters. The results revealed that the soil pH exhibited a neutral to slightly alkaline reaction i.e. 6.9 to 8.2 and EC 0.076 to 0.381. The organic-C content was found to be low i.e. (0.12 to 0.59). The Particle density and bulk density were observed to be 2.05 to 2.8 Mg m-3 and 1.33 to 1.57 Mg m-3. The available N in soil was found lowi.e.75.26 to 137.98 kg ha-1, medium to low for K (78.4 to 389.40), and high for P i.e. (22.38 to 151.98 kg ha-1). The available Ca and Mg were recorded to be adequate and S was low to medium (0.21 to 19.6 mg kg-1) and nutrient index values for N, S, Organic-C found to be low, medium for K and high for P. The available micronutrients were reported sufficient (Cu, Zn) to high (Fe, Mn).This analysis emphasizes the need for a greater emphasis on improving soil quality using enhanced practices such as integrated nutrient management and crop rotations, rather than depending solely on monoculture farming.
Challenges in Implementing Environmental Laws and Policies in India
Authors: Sundar Shyam
Published: January 2024

This study explores the implementation challenges of environmental laws and policies in India. It reveals the difficulties and problems associated with breaking environmental laws and regulations in India. This study's primary goal is to list the several obstacles India must overcome in order to put environmental laws and policies into effect. A review of the literature of this study provides other points and topics that are aimed to be discussed. The importance of maintaining rules, issues for violating the rules, challenges faced during implementation, and strategies that may help mitigate the problems are discussed. Some theories may help to solve the issues. People are surveyed using the primary data collecting approach in order to obtain general data. Primary data is gathered from non-manipulable sources that do not exist. The data was analysed using the primary quantitative research approach. The secondary data were gathered from various books, newspapers, journals, and articles on Google Scholar. Thirteen questions and fifty-five surveys to gather people's opinions have been analysed using the SPSS program. A thorough explanation is dotted with statistical data. The difficulties encountered, parallels and divergences between the findings and the literature study are discussed. Demand for natural resources and food supplies is another effect of overpopulation. Humans must use natural resources in order to satisfy their needs. Amidst all of this, it is also evident that regulations and limits are ineffective because individuals are not abiding by them. Ultimately, it may be said that corruption, overpopulation, ignorance, and poor education are the key reasons for India's difficulties in implementing environmental laws and policies.