bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
RETRACTED ARTICLE: Effectiveness of ultrasound guided dry needling in management of jumper’s knee: a randomized controlled trial
Authors: Sharif Faiza , Ahmad Ashfaq , Gilani Syed Amir
Published: March 2023

Jumper’s knee is highly prevalent condition in athletes. Very limited evidence is available on clinical effects of tendon dry needling. Therefore, the objective of this study is to compare the effects of ultrasound-guided dry needling (UG-DN) combined with conventional physical therapy and conventional physical therapy alone in patients with jumper’s knee. A total of 96 patients with pre-diagnosed jumper’s knee were randomly assigned to experimental group (UG-DN + CPT) and conventional group (CPT alone) with 48 participants each. Pain intensity and functional disability were recorded using visual Analogue Scale (VAS), Victorian Institute of Sports Assessment-Patellar Tendinopathy (VISA-P) questionnaire, Lysholm Scale, Knee Injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score (KOOS) respectively at baseline, at 1st, 2nd, and 4th week. Whereas ultrasonographic features of patellar tendon were measured through musculoskeletal ultrasound (MSKUS) at baseline and 4th week. Total 8 sessions of treatment were provided. Mann Whitney U test and Friedman test were used to compute between and within group differences respectively. P value was significant at 0.05. Results showed that patients in both groups had improvement in signs of jumper’s knee but the improvement in UG-DN + CPT group was more significant (p ≤ 0.05). Significant difference was seen after 4 weeks of intervention in UG-DN + CPT group in VAS (Median ± I.Q.R = 3 ± 1, p = 0.000), VISA-P (Median ± I.Q.R = 83.5 ± 7, p = 0.000), KOOS (Median ± I.Q.R = 83.5 ± 8, p = 0.000), , Lysholm (Median ± I.Q.R = 84 ± 5, p = 0.000) than CPT group VAS (Median ± I.Q.R = 1.5 ± 1, p = 0.000), VISA-P (Median ± I.Q.R = 92 ± 2, p = 0.000), KOOS (Median ± I.Q.R = 92 ± 3, p = 0.000), Lysholm (Median ± I.Q.R = 92 ± 4, p = 0.000) and ultrasonographic features of jumper’s knee were more significant in experimental group(p-value ≤ 0.05). The Ultrasound guided dry needling with conventional physical therapy of patellar tendon had been found an effective treatment for jumper’s knee and helps in reducing pain intensity, improving function and ultrasonographic features in patients with jumper’s knee. UG-DN + CPT group showed more significant results as compared to CPT.

Trial registration: (IRCT20210409050913N1). Dated: 17.04.2021.
Deciphering timing and rates of Central German Chernozem/Phaeozem formation through high resolution single-grain luminescence dating
Authors: von Suchodoletz Hans , van Meer Mike , Kühn Peter , Wiedner Katja , Schunke Torsten , Reimann Tony
Published: March 2023

Chernozems/Phaeozems are important agricultural resources and have been intensively used for millennia. However, their origin and age are still controversial. In Europe, the westernmost widespread Chernozem/Phaeozem area is located in Central Germany. In contrast to other German regions with anthropogenic Chernozems/Phaeozems, their natural origin is suggested in connection with intensive bioturbation. Yet, radiocarbon is unsuitable for decoding Chernozem/Phaeozem formation so this hypothesis remains untested, whereas single-grain luminescence dating allows to discriminate between different soil sub-processes and formation phases. We applied single-grain feldspar luminescence to a Central German Chernozem that was buried during the Bronze Age and subsequently protected from pedogenic processes. For the first time, we could directly determine timing and rate of Chernozem/Phaeozem formation in Central Europe by dating bioturbation as the dominant soil forming process. Accordingly, Chernozem/Phaeozem formation started at the latest in the Early Holocene prior to Neolithic settlement indicating a natural origin of Central German Chernozems/Phaeozems, and Chernozem/Phaeozem formation ceased around 6–5 ka when the regional climate became more humid. Our effective soil reworking rates show that earthworm bioturbation in Chernozems/Phaeozems is more intense than ant-dominated bioturbation, but significantly less intense than bioturbation by lugworms or ploughing. The latter effect allows to identify prehistoric ploughing in paleosols.
An innovative destressing technology and key parameters determination in both sides of a deep roadway
Authors: Jiang Zaisheng , Chen Dongdong , Xie Shengrong
Published: March 2023

The general or single supporting theory and technology of the shallow surrounding rock of the roadway are not suitable for solving the problem of continuous large deformation of the both sides under the continuous migration of coal mass in the deep domain of the roadway side. Furthermore, the general destressing technology of dense drilling in the roadway destroys the shallow anchorage domain while releasing the stress. Therefore, this study proposes the “shallow supporting and deep destressing” synergism technology. This technology provides puissant supporting in the shallow domain of roadway sides, and at the same time, large destressing holes are excavated at the coal mass migration channel in deep stress peak domain far from the anchorage domain, conducting destressing regulation of roadway sides. This technology can shift stress peak domain of the roadway side to solid coal side of destressing hole without destroying the shallow anchorage domain, and at the same time, provide a buffer space for that coal mass in the deep domain of the roadway side continuously migrates to the anchorage surrounding rock, creating a beneficial stress circumstances for the roadway stability. The “shallow supporting and deep destressing” synergism technology can solve the contradiction between the shallow surrounding rock supporting and the continuous migration of coal mass in deep domain. The field application results show that the innovative destressing technology can effectively solve the problem of surrounding rock control in deep roadway.
An improved hyperparameter optimization framework for AutoML systems using evolutionary algorithms
Authors: Vincent Amala Mary , Jidesh P.
Published: March 2023

For any machine learning model, finding the optimal hyperparameter setting has a direct and significant impact on the model’s performance. In this paper, we discuss different types of hyperparameter optimization techniques. We compare the performance of some of the hyperparameter optimization techniques on image classification datasets with the help of AutoML models. In particular, the paper studies Bayesian optimization in depth and proposes the use of genetic algorithm, differential evolution and covariance matrix adaptation—evolutionary strategy for acquisition function optimization. Moreover, we compare these variants of Bayesian optimization with conventional Bayesian optimization and observe that the use of covariance matrix adaptation—evolutionary strategy and differential evolution improves the performance of standard Bayesian optimization. We also notice that Bayesian optimization tends to perform poorly when genetic algorithm is used for acquisition function optimization.
Sustainable routes to alkenes: applications of homogeneous catalysis to the dehydration of alcohols to alkenes
Authors: Ward Daniel J. , Saccomando Daniel J. , Walker Gary , Mansell Stephen M.
Published: March 2023

Homogeneous catalysis applied to alcohol dehydration.
On-line pre-column FRAP-based antioxidant reaction coupled with HPLC-DAD-TOF/MS for rapid screening of natural antioxidants from different parts of Polygonum viviparum
Authors: Qian Zheng-ming , Cheng Xin-jie , Wang Qiao , Huang Qi , Jin Li-ling , Ma Ya-fei , Xie Jia-sheng , Li De-qiang
Published: March 2023

Polygonum viviparum L. (PV) is a widely used resource plant with high medicinal, feeding and ecological values.
Tuning symmetry and magnetic blocking of an exchange-coupled lanthanide ion in isomeric, tetrametallic complexes: [LnCl6(TiCp2)3]
Authors: Jiang Ningxin , Nakritskaia Daria D. , Xie Jiaze , Ramanathan Arun , Varganov Sergey A. , La Pierre Henry S.
Published: March 2023

The synthesis and magnetic properties of two pairs of isomeric, exchange-coupled complexes, [LnCl6(TiCp2)3] (Ln = Gd, Tb), are reported. Magnetic exchange interactions and high local symmetry at the lanthanide ion are used to improve SMM behavior.
Effect of temperature on the structure and drug-release behaviour of inclusion complex of β-cyclodextrin with cyclophosphamide: a molecular dynamics study
Authors: Sakai Seiga , Hirano Yoshinori , Kobayashi Yusei , Arai Noriyoshi
Published: March 2023

Temperature dependency of the release behaviour of cyclophosphamide and structural changes of β-cyclodextrin in an aqueous solution.
Catalytic Oppenauer oxidation of secondary alcohols over post-synthesized Sn-Beta
Authors: You Xianfeng , Xu Yongming , Lu Tianliang , Tang Nanfang , Luo Wenhao , Yang Xiaomei , Liu Zhongyi
Published: March 2023

We have developed post-synthesized Sn-Beta for Oppenauer oxidation. Quantitative structure–performance correlation reveals that open framework Sn sites are the intrinsic active sites, affording a much higher efficiency than other Sn counterparts.
Aerosol-assisted synthesis of mesoporous Cu/ZnO–ZrO2 catalyst with highly selective photothermal CO2 reduction to methanol
Authors: Wang Jian , Meng Qingrun , Zhang Qijian
Published: March 2023

Mesoporous photothermal Cu/ZnO–ZrO2 catalyst stimulates an LPSR effect under visible light irradiation for efficient CO2 reduction.
Recent advances in in situ and operando characterization techniques for Li7La3Zr2O12-based solid-state lithium batteries
Authors: Zhang Lei , Fan Huilin , Dang Yuzhen , Zhuang Quanchao , Arandiyan Hamidreza , Wang Yuan , Cheng Ningyan , Sun Hongyu , Pérez Garza H. Hugo , Zheng Runguo , Wang Zhiyuan , S. Mofarah Sajjad , Koshy Pramod , Bhargava Suresh K. , Cui Yanhua , Shao Zongping , Liu Yanguo
Published: March 2023

Various in situ/operando characterization techniques provide a comprehensive understanding of LLZO-based solid-state lithium batteries.
Non-covalent interaction, adsorption characteristics and solvent effect of procainamide anti-arrhythmias drug on silver and gold loaded silica surfaces: SERS spectroscopy, density functional theory and molecular docking investigations
Authors: Vetrivelan V. , Sakthivel S. , Muthu S. , Al-Saadi Abdulaziz A.
Published: March 2023

The structural and electronic properties of the non-covalent interaction of procainamide (PA) anti-arrhythmias drug molecules on silver-loaded and gold-loaded silica nanostructures were explored using first-principle calculations.
From liquid to solid-state, solvent-free oxidative ammonolysis of lignins – an easy, alternative approach to generate “N-lignins”
Authors: Wurzer Gerhild K. , Bacher Markus , Musl Oliver , Kohlhuber Nadine , Sulaeva Irina , Kelz Theres , Fackler Karin , Bischof Robert H. , Hettegger Hubert , Potthast Antje , Rosenau Thomas
Published: March 2023

An alternative ammonoxidation protocol was developed. With this new approach in “solid-state” mode, one single solid reagent is sufficient to equip lignin with different N-functionalities.
Carbon dot incorporated mesoporous silica nanoparticles for targeted cancer therapy and fluorescence imaging
Authors: Kajani Abolghasem Abbasi , Rafiee Laleh , Javanmard Shaghayegh Haghjooy , Dana Nasim , Jandaghian Setareh
Published: March 2023

Efficient cancer therapy and fluorescence imaging was obtained by aptamer targeted mesoporous silica nanoparticles incorporating carbon dots.
Correction: A graphite-modified natural stibnite mineral as a high-performance anode material for sodium-ion storage
Authors: Li Hongliang , Deng Mingxiang
Published: March 2023

Correction for ‘A graphite-modified natural stibnite mineral as a high-performance anode material for sodium-ion storage’ by Hongliang Li et al., RSC Adv., 2019, 9, 28953–28960, https://doi.org/10.1039/C9RA02663K.
Antimony doped tin(iv) hybrid metal halides with high-efficiency tunable emission, WLED and information encryption
Authors: Lin Wenchao , Wei Qilin , Huang Tao , Meng Xianfu , Tian Ye , Peng Hui , Zou Bingsuo
Published: March 2023

Efficient tunable emission in (C13H30N)2SnCl6:Sb can be applied in WLEDs, information encryption, etc., which originates from DAP transitions, and SbCl6, and SbCl5 clusters in crystals.
Radar signal waveform based on Costas and Walsh‐Hadamard codes as electronic counter‐countermeasure
Authors: Matousek Z. , Perdoch J. , Pacek M. , Gazovova S. , Ochodnicky J.
Published: March 2023

Belligerent sides of current military conflicts are first and foremost counting on intelligence, air supremacy, and electromagnetic spectrum dominance. Actual concepts of conducting military operations can be characterised by the massive employment of air defence systems, radars, and electronic warfare systems. An approach is aimed to strengthen air‐defence potential by improving the resilience of pulse radar against electronic warfare threats, such as an electronic attack. To cope with the above‐mentioned situation, a radar intrapulse modulation was designed, where a combination of Costas codes and Walsh‐Hadamard codes is applied. Using a particular waveform together with the proposed model for radar signal processing results in increased resilience against an electronic attack, especially against repeater jamming methods. Furthermore, it is also possible to process radar echoes at low levels of Signal‐to‐Noise Ratio (SNR), which enhances radar electronic counter–countermeasure capability. The main scientific contribution of the paper is in the unique design of the Pulse Compression Filter for Combined Intrapulse Modulation (PCF‐CIM) and in its modelling. Based on the statistical evaluation of results, using the proposed radar waveform together with PCF‐CIM, it is possible to detect radar signals with combined intrapulse modulation in the case of SNR ≥ −14 dB with TPR ≥0.9999 and FPR ≤10−6, where SNR stands for Signal‐to‐Noise Ratio, TPR stands for True Positive Rate, and FPR stands for False Positive Rate.
Convolutional neural network optimisation to enhance ESPI fringe visibility
Authors: Crespo José Manuel , Moreno Vicente
Published: March 2023

The use of convolutional neuronal networks (CNN) for the treatment of interferometric fringes has been introduced in recent years. In this paper, we optimize and build a CNN model, based U-NET architecture, to maximize its performance processing electronic speckle interferometry fringes (ESPI). The proposed approach is based on quick and light trainings to select the architecture parameters (network depth and kernel sizes) to maximize the performance of the neural network improving the visibility of ESPI images. To measure the performance, the structural similarity index (SSMI) will be the lead indicator, and the need for large datasets to train neural networks, unavailable for ESPI images, forces the use of a simulated ESPI image dataset along the process. This dataset is computed using Zernike polynomials to simulate local surface deformations in the specimen under test and simulated true speckle fields for the reference and object field involved in ESPI techniques.
Co-creation design thinking process: Learning with demola approach
Authors: Picoito Célia , Caria Helena , Angelino Fernando , Dourado Alcina , Pereira Nuno , Serralha Fátima , Ruivo Alice , Vinagre João , Ramos Bernardo , Pires José
Published: March 2023

Nowadays we witness numerous partnerships and projects of national and international scope around active training, using digital tools and based on co-creation processes between different partners, to obtain more creative and appropriate processes to respond to current and future scientific, academic and professional challenges. This article presents the participation of a group of professors from Instituto Politécnico de Setúbal (IPS) in the DEMOLA® approach to be trained as facilitators. We present the objectives, the formation of the teams and the established work methodology, and the application of this methodology adapted to the curricular unit of Process Optimization of the Master of Biological and Chemical Engineering.

We briefly describe the main phases that constitute the development of the project within the scope of IPS and the obtained results from the analysis of all components (student training, professors, challenges with companies/organizations and perceptions of the whole team).

We emphasize the development of instrumental skills (Canva, Miro, PESTLE, Portfolio); scientific/ pedagogical skills (Teamwork, Multiprofessional Approach, Co-creation Processes, Design Thinking, Research, Facilitation, Disruptive Thinking and Co-construction, among others); and “win-win” situations, or rather “learn-learn” between facilitators and students, innovation, intergenerational, sustainability and freedom of thought.
The economic consequences of the war in the 21st century at the regional and global levels
Authors: Kasych Alla
Published: March 2023

The article examines the theoretical and practical effects of wars in the 21st century on the economy. The concept of “military economy” is highlighted. The dynamics of military expenditures are analyzed. The reasons behind and types of wars that have occurred in the past and are currently occurring are made clear. Emphasis is placed on studying the economic consequences of Russia’s war in Ukraine. The assessment of the potential of countries before the war testified and confirmed the aggressive goals of a large country that attacked a much smaller one. The war against Ukraine put the issue of preserving the independence of small countries on the agenda. The main focus of the essay is on examining the economic effects of the conflict, not just on the economies of the participating nations but also on the world economy. The instability of individual commodity markets, inflation, and migration became the main mechanisms of the war’s influence. As a result, the indicators of economic growth of many countries of the world are deteriorating. The raised questions actualize the task before the world community of finding new methods of solving the problems of wars.
Using artificial intelligence as business opportunities on the market: An overview
Authors: Horák Jakub , Turková Martina
Published: March 2023

The usage of artificial intelligence as business opportunities on the markets has a wide potential for many fields. Due to the rapid development of technology, artificial intelligence is quite expensive but useful. The research is done by making basic SWOT analysis (analysis Strenghts-Weaknesses-Opportunities-Threats) of the R&D (Research and Development) stage in the Czech Republic and by document analysis from articles on Web of Science and Scopus. The results shows, that the AI is beneficial for large number of fields and that the AI (Artificial Intelligence) has a great potential for implicating this in business, healthcare, economics and many more. The AI has potential to improve people’s life and work.
Using social networks in business
Authors: Kalinová Eva , Kovaříková Hana
Published: March 2023

Social media platforms and channels are being increasingly used nowadays, influencing almost all types of businesses. Social media are mainly used as a source of information and means of dissemination of knowledge that may change the opinions of people. They can be considered very important business marketing strategies since they participate significantly in creating new business opportunities, building a stronger position in the market, or in the transformation of consumer behaviour. The main goal of the paper is to determine which social networks are most commonly used in business and their purpose. To achieve the goal, the method of questionnaire survey was used, in which a total of 237 respondents participated. The results of the survey show that business entities mostly use Instagram in their business activities, mainly for promoting their company, which was followed by Facebook, through which they sell their products or attract new employees. In addition, companies also use social networks as a communication channel with employees or customers.
A Comparison of Femoropopliteal Block versus Spinal Anesthesia for Malleolar Surgeries
Authors: Sugathan Reshma , Mathews Reeba Mariya , PG Venugopalan
Published: March 2023

Objectives

Surgery for malleolar fractures is associated with severe pain. Ultrasonography-guided nerve blocks have quality, precision, and drug dose reduction but are not preferred over spinal anesthesia. We have conducted a study to compare the effectiveness of femoropopliteal block with spinal anesthesia.

The aim of this study was to compare onset, duration, and hemodynamic variability and total analgesic requirement of femoropopliteal block with spinal anesthesia.

Material and Methods

Preoperatively patients were divided into two groups (30 in each): Group 1—patients receiving spinal anesthesia with 0.5% hyperbaric bupivacaine; Group 2—patients receiving 15 mL in popliteal block and 5 mL in femoral block of 20 mL 0.5% bupivacaine with 8 mg dexamethasone. Onset, duration, hemodynamic changes, and postoperative analgesia requirements were monitored.

Results

Mean onset of sensory blockade in group 1 and 2 was 3.83 ± 0.92 and 12.68 ± 3.03 minutes (p-value <0.001.) and motor blockade in group 1 and 2 was 5.36 ± 1.7 and 12.68 ± 3.03 minutes (p-value <0.01), respectively. Mean duration of analgesia in group 1 and 2 was 3 ± 1.31 and 20.2 ± 4.7 hours, respectively. None of the patients in group 2 and 3% in group 1 had hypotension and bradycardia (p-value > 0.05). The mean dose of morphine required in group 1 and 2 was 20.3 ± 2.1 and 3.56 ± 0.02 mg in 24 hours (p-value < 0.001), respectively.

Conclusion

Femoropopliteal block was slower in onset but produced longer postoperative analgesia with markedly reduced opioid consumption.
Adapting infrared spectroscopy for protein amyloid mixtures
Authors: Thompson Avery
Published: March 2023

Diffusion ordering separates overlapping spectra in protein mixtures of different molecular size.
Cholesteric liquid crystals enable polarization switching for photonic application
Authors: Piccone Ashley
Published: March 2023

Dual-frequency field assembly technique creates well-aligned, extraordinarily thick cholesteric liquid crystals.
A quantitative study on the turbulent kinetic energy redistribution in the near free-water-surface region of open channel flows
Authors: Jing Siyu , Duan Yanchong , Li Danxun
Published: March 2023

Open channel flows (OCFs) exhibit unique characteristics compared with other wall-bounded flows due to the presence of a free water surface. One of the well-known features is the turbulence kinetic energy (TKE) redistribution phenomenon in the near free-water-surface region. Unlike previous qualitative demonstrations, the present study aims providing a quantitative investigation of this phenomenon. Specifically designed super long domain direct numerical simulations (DNSs) of OCFs and closed channel flows (CCFs) are performed at three low-to-moderate friction Reynolds numbers (Reτ = 180–1000). The numerical configurations of the two flows (i.e., temporal and spatial resolution, domain size, Reynolds number, etc.) at identical Reτ are set to be the same, with the upper boundary being the only difference between them, to allow meaningful comparisons while super long domain sizes are adopted to facilitate fully spectral comparisons of the TKE features between the two flows. With such specifically designed DNS datasets, quantitative investigations of the TKE redistribution phenomenon in OCFs have been made. It is revealed that, as Reτ increases from 180 to 1000, the streamwise and spanwise TKE components of OCFs are higher than those of CCFs by 12%–23% and 28%–17%, respectively, while in the vertical direction OCFs are lower in TKE by 44%–31%. Overall, the TKE of OCFs is higher than that of CCFs by 3%–9% as Reτ increases from 180 to 1000. The comparison of OCFs and CCFs in pre-multiplied energy spectra reveals that VLSMs play a dominant role in the TKE redistribution phenomenon in OCFs.
Cumin oil as a natural preservative for prolonging shelf-life of chicken meat emulsion at refrigeration temperature
Authors: Verma Shardanand , Verma Akhilesh K. , Umaraw Pramila , Singh V. P. , Vihan Varsha , Singh Chirag
Published: March 2023

Context Cumin is a common spice used for enhancement of flavour. Its preservative potential as a natural antioxidant and antimicrobial agent in meat model system might extend its use as an alternative to synthetic/chemical preservatives, which are widely used in meat products. Aims The present study aims at exploring cumin essential oil as a natural preservative in meat model system. Methods Four groups consisting of a control (C) and treatments (T0.5, T0.75 and T1.0) with added cumin essential oil were prepared as C, control without cumin oil, T0.5 with 0.50% cumin oil w/w; T0.75 with 0.75% cumin oil w/w and T1.0 with 1.0% cumin oil w/w and were stored at refrigeration for 12 days in aerobic packaging. The effect of cumin oil on physicochemical, antioxidant, lipid oxidation, microbial and sensory quality of meat emulsions were analysed on every third day. Key results The results showed that pH, titratable acidity, emulsion stability and extract release volume values were higher (P < 0.05) in oil-treated groups. Total phenolic content (TPC), 2,2′-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging activity (DPPH) and 2,2′-azino-bis (3-ethylbenzthiazoline-6-sulphonic acid) (ABTS+) radical scavenging activity (ABTS) % inhibition value were also higher in meat emulsion with added cumin oil treated groups than in control, and free-radical scavenging efficacy increased in dose–dependent manner. The meat emulsions added with cumin oil evinced a lower peroxide value, and thiobarbituric acid reactive substance (TBARS) and free fatty acid (FFA) concentrations than in control. The T1.0 of all showed (P < 0.05) a lower rate of microbial proliferation standard plate count (SPC), psychrophilic count, coliform count and yeast and mould (Y and M) than did other groups. Sensory panelists rated T0.75 comparatively higher for colour and appearance and flavour than they did T1.0, T0.5 and control. Conclusions It could be concluded that with inclusion of cumin oil at 0.75% level in meat emulsion, the physicochemical quality and antioxidant capacity improved significantly, while lipid oxidation and microbial proliferation decreased together with acceptable sensory attributes. Implications Increasing harmful effects of chemical preservatives and growing consumer-health concerns have boosted the demand for clean label or natural preservatives. With growing market of ‘ready to cook’ meat products, good preservation with cumin essential oil would enhance its consumer appeal and marketability.
Exogenous myo-inositol increases salt tolerance and accelerates CAM induction in the early juvenile stage of the facultative halophyte Mesembryanthemum crystallinum but not in the late juvenile stage
Authors: Li Cheng-Hsun , Tu Yun-Cheng , Wen Meng-Fang , Tien Hsing-Jung , Yen Hungchen Emilie
Published: March 2023

Mesembryanthemum crystallinum L. (ice plant) develops salt tolerance during the transition from the juvenile to the adult stage through progressive morphological, physiological, biochemical, and molecular changes. Myo-inositol is the precursor for the synthesis of compatible solute D-pinitol and promotes Na+ transport in ice plants. We previously showed that supplying myo-inositol to 9-day-old seedlings alleviates salt damage by coordinating the expression of genes involved in inositol synthesis and transport, affecting osmotic adjustment and the Na/K balance. In this study, we examined the effects of myo-inositol on physiological parameters and inositol-related gene expression in early- and late-stage juvenile plants. The addition of myo-inositol to salt-treated, hydroponically grown late juvenile plants had no significant effects on growth or photosynthesis. In contrast, supplying exogenous myo-inositol to salt-treated early juvenile plants increased leaf biomass, relative water content, and chlorophyll content and improved PSII activity and CO2 assimilation. The treatment combining high salt and myo-inositol synergistically induced the expression of myo-inositol phosphate synthase (INPS), myo-inositol O-methyltransferase (IMT), and inositol transporters (INTs), which modulated root-to-shoot Na/K ratio and increased leaf D-pinitol content. The results indicate that sufficient myo-inositol is a prerequisite for high salt tolerance in ice plant.
As if, as though, and like in Canadian English
Authors: Brook Marisa
Published: March 2023

This article traces the history of the minor complementisers as if, as though,
and like (when they follow evidential verbs such as seem and look) in Canadian
English. By the 21st century, both as if and as though were rare in Canada, while
like appeared to have become popular (López-Couso and Méndez-Naya
2012b). The Victoria English Archive (D’Arcy 2011–2014,
2015; Roeder, Onosson, and D’Arcy 2018)
is used to map out the change in a combination of synchronic and diachronic spoken data. Results show that as if
and as though are unusual even in the earliest speakers, which puts spoken Canadian English at odds with
contemporaneous writing (Brook 2014). However, this unexpected register difference may
explain why the complementiser like caught on in North American dialects of English sooner and more readily than
in the United Kingdom – where a robust as if and as though in speech would have remained
barriers.
The pragmatics of alternative futures in political discourses
Authors: Basarati Ali , Rezaei Hadaegh , Amouzadeh Mohammad
Published: March 2023

We shall concentrate on how the construction and modality system of alternative futures in political discourses are influenced by the construal of past-to-present threats and preemptive politics. UsingDunmire’s (2005)proposed framework and further explorations byCap (2020)on the subject, we approach twenty of Trump’s speeches on Iran, from 2017–2020. Our analyses indicated that the construction of alternative futures is modified by the evaluations of Iran’s past-to-present status and the politics of preemption. This relationship modifies the speaker’s epistemic judgment on the certainty of the privileged future, the cause-effect relation, and the sceptic views on the successful implementation of preemptive measures, resulting in the articulation of the privileged future through probabilistic and dynamic modalities. Moreover, the privileged future is conceptualised as necessary through deontic modality. By contrast, the realisation of the oppositional future is articulated through unmediated modality pinpointing the status that will materialise in light of inaction and negligence.
Approximately stealth black hole in higher-order scalar-tensor theories
Authors: De Felice Antonio , Mukohyama Shinji , Takahashi Kazufumi
Published: March 2023

We investigate a generic quadratic higher-order scalar-tensor theory with a scordatura
term, which is expected to provide a consistent perturbative description of stealth solutions with
a timelike scalar field profile. In the DHOST subclass, exactly stealth solutions are known to
yield perturbations infinitely strongly coupled and thus cannot be trusted. Beyond DHOST theories
with the scordatura term, such as in ghost condensation and U-DHOST, we show that stealth
configurations cannot be realized as exact solutions but those theories instead admit
approximately stealth solutions where the deviation from the exactly stealth configuration is
controlled by the mass scale M of derivative expansion. The approximately stealth solution is
time-dependent, which can be interpreted as the black hole mass growth due to the accretion of the
scalar field. From observed astrophysical black holes, we put an upper bound on M as
 ĉ
D1
1/2
M ≲ 2 × 1011 GeV, where ĉ
D1 is a
dimensionless parameter of order unity that characterizes the scordatura term. As far as M is
sufficiently below the upper bound, the accretion is slow and the approximately stealth solutions
can be considered as stealth at astrophysical scales for all practical purposes while
perturbations are weakly coupled all the way up to the cutoff M and the apparent ghost is as
heavy as or heavier than M.
Rectified transport of a single vibration-driven vehicle in the asymmetric channel
Authors: Hao 郝 Yu-Wen 钰文 , Ai 艾 Bao-Quan 保全 , Tan 谭 Fei 飞 , Yu 余 Xiao-Yuan 孝源 , Li 李 Feng-Guo 丰果
Published: March 2023

The rectification transport of a single vibration-driven self-propelled vehicle in a two-dimensional left–right asymmetric channel was experimentally investigated. The rectification efficiency of the vehicle moving from the center to the exit was statistically obtained for the range of channel widths, inter-channel asymmetry degrees, and platform tilt angles. The trajectory of its movement was also analyzed. It was found that the structure of the channel provides the main influence. Different channel shapes lead to different ranges of unfavorable widths, and transport efficiency decreases when the asymmetry diminishes — the two channels converge. The addition of external gravity does not counteract the structural limitations, but only affects the probability of departure.
Fluctuation-response relation of time-symmetric quantities around general nonequilibrium stationary state
Authors: Shiraishi Naoto
Published: March 2023

A connection between the response and fluctuation in general nonequilibrium stationary states is investigated. We focus on time-symmetric quantities and find that the fluctuation of a kind of empirical measure can be expressed with the response of the empirical measure, current, and the time-symmetric current. This relation is proven by using the fictitious stalling decomposition: we decompose a single observed transition (edge in the state space) between two microscopic states into two transitions such that one of the transitions stalls in this stationary state. Through this trick, relations for stalling stationary states apply to general nonequilibrium stationary states, which leads to the desired relation.
Thermalization in many-fermion quantum systems with one-plus random k-body interactions
Authors: Rao Priyanka , Chavda N D
Published: March 2023

We study the mechanism of thermalization in finite many-fermion systems with random k-body interactions in the presence of a mean-field. The system Hamiltonian H, for m fermions in N single particle states with k-body interactions, is modeled by mean field one-body h(1) and a random k-body interaction V(k) with strength λ. Following the recent application of q-Hermite polynomials to these ensembles, a complete analytical description of parameter q, which describes the change in the shape of state density from Gaussian for q = 1 to semi-circle for q = 0 and intermediate for

0
<
q
<
1

, and variance of the strength function are obtained in terms of model parameters. The latter gives the thermalization marker λ

t
defining the thermodynamic region. For

λ
⩾

λ
t

, the smooth part of the strength functions is very well represented by conditional q-normal distribution (f

CN
), which describes the transition in strength functions from Gaussian to semi-circle as the k-body interaction changes from k = 2 to m in H. In the thermodynamic region, ensemble averaged results for the first four moments of the strength functions and inverse participation ratio are found to be in good agreement with the corresponding smooth forms. For higher body rank of interaction k, the system thermalizes faster.
One-step synthesis of non-equilibrium Pd-Ru alloys from Al-Pd-Ru quasicrystals and approximants
Authors: Fukushima Takeru , Tsukuda Ryota , Ohhashi Satoshi , Fujita Nobuhisa , Kameoka Satoshi
Published: March 2023

Non-equilibrium Pd–Ru alloys were synthesized by leaching quasicrystal (icosahedral quasicrystal, IQC: Al71Pd19Ru10) and approximants (3/2 approximant, P40: Al72Pd16.4Ru11.6, 1/1 approximant, C1: Al70.4Pd14.7Ru14.9) of Al–Pd–Ru alloys with 20 wt% NaOH aqueous solution. The Pd-Ru alloys were investigated using XRD and HAADF-STEM, which showed that Pd and Ru were mixed and formed a non-equilibrium state (atomic ratio: 0.9 < Pd/Ru < 2). The Pd–Ru alloy obtained by leaching of P40 phase was found to exhibit high catalytic performance toward CO oxidation than Pd and Ru catalysts obtained by leaching of Al3Pd (decagonal quasicrystal) and Al13Ru4 (decagonal approximant), respectively (i.e., the alloying effect). Consequently, Al-Pd-Ru quasicrystals and approximant alloys are found to be useful precursors to obtain the non-equilibrium Pd-Ru alloys.
Confined states in the tight-binding model on the hexagonal golden-mean tiling
Authors: Matsubara Toranosuke , Koga Akihisa , Coates Sam
Published: March 2023

We study the tight-binding model with two distinct hoppings (tL, tS
) on the two-dimensional hexagonal golden-mean tiling and examine the confined states with E = 0, where E is the eigenenergy. Some confined states found in the case tL
= tS
are exact eigenstates even for the system with tL
≠ t
S, where their amplitudes are smoothly changed. By contrast, the other states are no longer eigenstates of the system with tL
≠ t
S. This may imply the existence of macroscopically degenerate states which are characteristic of the system with tL
= t
S, and that a discontinuity appears in the number of the confined states in the thermodynamic limit.
Evaluating the phonon-phason coupling strength of an Al-Ni-Co decagonal quasicrystal
Authors: Zhang Jinjia , Bo Ning , Kamimura Yasushi , Tokumoto Yuki , Edagawa Keiichi
Published: March 2023

Recently, a novel method was proposed to probe the phonon-phason coupling effect in quasicrystals, and it was applied to an Al-Pd-Mn icosahedral quasicrystal. In this study, the method was applied to an Al-Ni-Co decagonal quasicrystal with a periodic layered structure of a two-dimensional quasicrystal. We applied elastic phonon strain along a 2-fold (aperiodic) axis in the quasicrystal plane at high temperatures with active phasons. Then, the phason strain was induced to the quasicrystal, which was demonstrated by the phason momentum (G
⊥) dependences of the powder X-ray diffraction peak widths. In contrast, when we applied phonon strain along the 10-fold periodic axis, no appreciable phason strain was observed to be induced. These results present clear evidence on the presence of phonon-phason coupling in a decagonal quasicrystal. The shape and width of the powder X-ray diffraction peaks were calculated based on the generalized elasticity of quasicrystals. The absolute value of the phonon-phason coupling constant was evaluated by quantitatively comparing the calculated results with the measured diffraction peaks.
Effects of Pt substitution on the formation and magnetic behavior of a Ga–Pd–Tb 2/1 approximant
Authors: So Y G , Takagi K , Sato T J
Published: March 2023

A systematic study on the formation and magnetic properties of Tsai-type 2/1 approximants in Ga–(Pd, Pt)–Tb alloys was conducted by replacing Pd with Pt in a previously reported antiferromagnetic Ga–Pd–Tb 2/1 approximant. Tsai-type 2/1 approximants were found to form quaternary Ga–(Pd, Pt)–Tb alloys as well as ternary Ga–Pt–Tb alloys. Magnetic susceptibility measurements indicated that the substitution of Pt for Pd in the 2/1 approximants resulted in a change in the magnetism from antiferromagnetic to spin-glass-like behavior.
Structure of hexagonal ζ´-AlMnCo
Authors: Makino Yuki , Kawamata Toru , Sugiyama Kazumasa
Published: March 2023

The structure of ζ´-Al80Mn16Co4 was analyzed using single-crystal X-ray diffraction. The diffraction pattern indicated that the ζ´-AlMnCo phase has a hexagonal unit cell with a space group P63/m, a = 30.5173(5) Å, c = 12.4742(2) Å, and the a-axis is

3

-times as large as that of the ζ-phases in the Al-Cr-Cu and Al-Cr-Ni systems. Mn atoms prefer icosahedral coordination similar to that of Cr in the ζ-phase, and the Co atoms are located in the interstitial area formed by the connection of the icosahedra. The icosahedral connection of the ζ´-phase is well characterized by the I3 cluster, a fragment of vertices sharing 3 icosahedra. The structural features of the superstructure are associated with the distribution of Co in the interstitial area.
Equivalence between pure point diffractive sets and cut-and-project sets on substitution tilings
Authors: Lee Jeong-Yup
Published: March 2023

Quasicrystals are characterized by the property of pure point diffractive spectrum mathematically. We look at substitution tilings and characterize the pure point diffractive spectrum by regular model sets defined from a cut-and-project scheme. The cut-and-project scheme is built with a physical space ℝ
d
and an internal space which is a product of a Euclidean space and a profinite group. The assumptions we make here are that the expansion map of the substitution is diagonalizable and its eigenvalues are all algebraically conjugate with same multiplicity. We give a precise argument for the proof on a specific example.
Short- and medium-range ordering in Al3Mn amorphous alloy prepared by magnetron sputtering
Authors: Kawamata T , Sugiyama K
Published: March 2023

The structure of the Al3Mn amorphous alloy synthesized by magnetron sputtering was investigated using a combination of anomalous X-ray scattering and reverse Monte Carlo simulations. The geometrical features in the short- and medium-range regions around Mn were significantly different from those inferred by the dense random packing of the hard-sphere model, suggesting that the environmental structure around Mn is influenced by chemical interactions similar to those realized in the crystalline Al3Mn structure. The present advanced analysis also indicated that the medium-range ordering structure corresponding to a pre-peak signal in the X-ray diffraction profiles was because of the Al-Mn and Mn-Mn correlations accompanied by the modulation of number density and non-Bernal-type coordination geometry.
Profit as a main factor in forecasting agricultural business development
Authors: Bal-Prylypko L , Cherednichenko O , Stepasyuk L , Titenko Z
Published: March 2023

The essence and role of profit in forecasting the development of agricultural production are investigated in the article. The value of profit in modern conditions as an important driving force of the economy is determined and proved. It is revealed that forecasting the development of agricultural business is a set of studies of economic activities of the enterprise using appropriate sources of information, determining available reserves, analysing the results of activities and developing the necessary measures for efficient production. The DuPont model was used to analyse the impact of indicators on return on equity. It was found that the factor analysis of the profitability of own capital makes it possible to determine the impact of key factors on performance. Research has shown that return on equity depends on three factors: return on sales, asset turnover and the structure of advance capital. These factors summarize all aspects of financial and economic activities of the enterprise, their statics and dynamics. Based on the factor model, the possibilities of quantitative and qualitative growth of the basic economic indicators of activity of the agricultural enterprise, which are expressed in underused reserves of production resources, are defined. Possible directions of increasing the company’s profit in modern conditions have been studied, among which the main ones may be: growth of production and sales volumes, optimization of production and sales costs and improvement of its quality.
Financial and economic mechanism of the regulation of sustainable development of economic entities in a circular economy: institutional dominants
Authors: Yukhman Y , Bytiak O , Protsenko A , Slastianykova K
Published: March 2023

The article defines that to create an effective system of financial and economic regulation of the system-vector development of economic quiddity in the conditions of the circular economy it is necessary to define reserves, which contain a system of measures and methods of determining the potential capacity to develop in accordance with the real opportunities of economic entities of the energy sector in conditions of uncertainty, that allows to make well-grounded and well-balanced management decisions. It is determined that the methodical approach to determining the impact of target parameters of financial and economic condition on the level of the system-vector development of economic entities of the energy sector in the conditions of the circular economy, based on the use of financial-economics identification of the system-vector development of economic quiddity, considering the diversity, nonlinearity of target parameters of financial and economic activities and the convergence of their institutional dominants. This allows to determine the weighting of statistical indicators of financial condition, which reflects the parametric data of ranges of factors-indicators of impact on the level of financial-economics support of the system-vector development of economic quiddity in the conditions of the circular economy.
The paradigm of emergent qualities of education management as a scientific and technological platform for sustainable development
Authors: Prokhorova V , Kovalenko O , Bozhanova O , Zakharchyn H
Published: March 2023

In this paper the factors influencing sustainable development were identified. The influence of emergent qualities of education management on stable development is highlighted. The analysis of the rating of countries by the level of education, the human development index was carried out. A cognitive map-review of systematized factors of influence on the development of education in the modern socio-economic environment has been constructed. Economic-mathematical models that describe trends in indicators of the impact of emergent qualities of education management on sustainable development and testify to a fairly stable relationship between the factors influencing the stable development of education management have been constructed. It is proved that the emergent qualities of education management have a direct impact on the creation of a scientific and technological platform in Ukraine as an effective mechanism for partnership and interaction between education, science and business.
The distribution and presence of arbuscular mycorrhiza fungi in the roots and rhizosphere soils of Cucurbitaceae plants grown at Ho Chi Minh City
Authors: Dao D T U , Nguyen T K T , Tran N T , Le P H , Truong H T P
Published: March 2023

The study aims to determine the presence of arbuscular mycorrhiza fungi (AMF) in roots and rhizosphere soils of Cucurbitaceae plants (Luffa cylindrica, Lagenaria siceraria, Benincasa hispida, Cucumis sativus, Momordica charantia) grown at Hoc Mon, Cu Chi, Binh Chanh district, Ho Chi Minh City. Identification of the AMF was made by observation of spore morphology, AMF structures in root tissues and confirmed by sequencing of SSU rDNA. The colonization ratio was 5.1%, and the spore density of AMF in the rhizosphere soil was an average of 63.6 spores/50 g soils and the root symbiotic ratio was 5.1%. The morphological identification of AMF has determined spores of five genera: Glomus, Acaulospora, Gigaspora, Scutellospora and Sclerocystis, demonstrating a morphological variety of AMF spores in rhizosphere soil of Cucurbitaceae plants. Three species were identified based on the sequence analysis of the SSU rDNA gene amplified by the AML1/AML2 primer: Acaulospora cavernata, Acaulospora spinosa, and Rhizophagus intraradices. Cucumis sativus had the highest spore density and root ratio, followed by Lagenaria siceraria and Momordica charantia in the greenhouse trial of AMF re-infection in three plants: Cucumis sativus, Lagenaria siceraria, and Momordica charantia. The AMF identification result revealed five genera: Glomus, Acaulospora, Gigaspora, Scutellospora, and Sclerocystis in the rhizosphere soil, as well as symbiosis in the roots of 3 genera: Glomus, Acaulospora, and Scutellospora.