bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Impact of cost sharing on quality improvement and profits under uncertain demand: The case of a textile and garment supply chain
Authors: Lang Qigui , Hu Jianfeng , Liu Jinjin
Published: May 2024

The study explores the strategic pricing and quality improvement decisions under uncertain demand in a three-layer textile and garment supply chain. According to whether the fabric manufacturer (FM) invests in quality or not and whether the garment manufacturer (GM) or garment retailer (GR) is willing to share the costs or not, five game models are constructed to investigate the impact of different members’ cost sharing on the optimal decisions and profits. By conducting a theoretical and numerical analysis, we find that: (1) The GM’s or GR’s cost sharing plays a positive effect on the quality improvement, as for whose cost sharing performs better in improving the quality depending on the proportion of cost sharing, and the quality improvement is highest with both members share the costs simultaneously. (2) The FM receives the highest profit when both members share the costs simultaneously, however, whose cost sharing is more profitable for the FM is also related to the proportion of cost sharing; in short, the FM always benefits from the cost sharing, no matter one member does this or two members do this. (3) The GM (GR) gains the highest profit when only the GR (GM) shares the costs, and the results indicate that if one member has shared the costs, whether the other member engaging in cost sharing could benefit the former depending on their proportions. Specifically, when the GM (GR) chooses to share the costs and the proportion is relatively low, the GR(GM) joining in cost sharing is beneficial to the former; otherwise, is harmful.
Nanoparticle-mediated enhancement of plant cryopreservation: Cultivar-specific insights into morphogenesis and biochemical responses in Lamprocapnos spectabilis (L.) Fukuhara ’Gold Heart’ and ’Valentine’
Authors: Kulus Dariusz , Tymoszuk Alicja , Kulpińska Alicja , Wojnarowicz Jacek , Szałaj Urszula
Published: May 2024

The integration of nanoparticles (NPs) holds promising potential to bring substantial advancements to plant cryopreservation, a crucial technique in biodiversity conservation. To date, little attention has been focused on using nanoparticles in cryobiology research. This study aimed to assess the effectiveness of NPs in enhancing the efficiency of plant cryopreservation. In-vitro-derived shoot tips of bleeding heart (Lamprocapnos spectabilis (L.) Fukuhara) ‘Gold Heart’ and ‘Valentine’ were used as the plant material. The encapsulation-vitrification cryopreservation protocol included preculture, encapsulation, dehydration, storage in liquid nitrogen, rewarming, and recovery steps. Gold (AuNPs), silver (AgNPs), or zinc oxide (ZnONPs) nanoparticles were added at various concentrations either into the preculture medium or the protective bead matrix during encapsulation. The explant survival and further morphogenic and biochemical events were studied. Results showed that the impact of NPs on cryopreservation outcomes was cultivar-specific. In the ’Valentine’ cultivar, incorporating 5 ppm AgNPs within the alginate bead matrix significantly improved cryopreservation efficiency by up to 12%. On the other hand, the ’Gold Heart’ cultivar benefited from alginate supplementation with 5 ppm AgNPs and 5–15 ppm ZnONPs, leading to an over 28% increase in the survival rate of shoot tips. Interestingly, adding NPs to the preculture medium was less effective and sometimes counterproductive, despite promoting greater shoot proliferation and elongation in ‘Valentine’ explants compared to the control. Moreover, nanoparticles often induced oxidative stress (and enhanced the activity of APX, GPOX, and SOD enzymes), which in turn affected the biosynthesis of plant primary and secondary metabolites. It was found that supplementation of preculture medium with higher concentration (15 ppm) of gold, silver and zinc oxide nanoparticles stimulated the production of plant pigments, but in a cultivar-dependent matter. Our study confirmed the beneficial action of nanoparticles during cryopreservation of plant tissues.
Factor structure and measurement invariance of the Patient Health Questionnaire-4 among the Chilean population
Authors: Moreno Ximena , Moreno Francisco
Published: May 2024

Background

The PHQ-4 is an ultrabrief screening test for depression and anxiety symptoms. The psychometric properties of this test among the population in Chile are unknown. This study was aimed to determine the factor structure of the PHQ-4 in the adult population in Chile, and to assess its measurement invariance across different groups.

Methods

The study considered a nationally representative sample of 10921 people aged 18 and above, in Chile in 2021. Exploratory and confirmatory factor analysis were conducted, and configural, metric, scalar, and strict measurement invariance were assessed.

Results

The two-factor structure of the PHQ-4 supported the two underlying constructs of depression and anxiety. This model explained 67% of the variance and had excellent fit (CFI: 0.9999; TLI: 0.9994; RMSEA: 0.0107; SRMR: 0.0022). Strict measurement invariance held across gender, age, area of residence, household income quintile, immigrant or host population, and indigenous or non-indigenous population (ΔCFI<0.01).

Conclusion

The PHQ-4 can be used to assess depressive and anxiety symptoms in population studies, and as a screening test for depression and anxiety in public mental health programs in Chile.
Impact of Skills for Change Program on metabolic control, diet and physical activity levels in adults with type 2 diabetes: A cluster randomized trial
Authors: Ali Habiba I. , Al Ketbi Latifa Baynouna , Platat Carine , Abdl El Baki Hanan , Elmi Fadima , Ibrahim Wissam , Zoubeidi Taoufik , Al Dhaheri Ayesha S. , Cheikh Ismail Leila , Tariq Maryam N. M. , Souka Usama , Yasin Javed , Stojanovska Lily
Published: May 2024

Background

Type 2 diabetes mellitus is highly prevalent in the Arab Gulf countries. Despite this, limited culturally-adapted lifestyle intervention studies have been conducted in this region.

Methods

In this culturally adapted 12-month cluster randomized trial, 382 patients with type 2 diabetes, aged 20–70 years were recruited from 6 public healthcare centers (3 interventions and 3 controls) in Al Ain, United Arab Emirates. The primary outcome of this study was a change in hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c). The secondary outcomes were Body Mass Index (BMI), low-density lipoprotein (LDL), high-density lipoprotein (HDL), triglycerides, total cholesterol, dietary intake, and physical activity levels. A diet and physical activity intervention, guided by the social cognitive theory, was delivered individually and in group format to the intervention group. The control group continued receiving only their usual diabetes management care. The data were collected at baseline and 1 year after participation.

Results

The mean baseline HbA1c levels of the control and the intervention groups were 7.45 ± 0.11% and 7.81 ± 0.11%, respectively. At the end of the 12-month intervention, there was no significant difference in the changes of mean HbA1c between the intervention and the control groups. On the other hand, BMI and daily caloric intake were significantly decreased in the intervention compared to the control group by 1.18 kg/m2 (95% CI: -1.78 − -0.60) and 246 kcal (95% CI: -419.52 − -77.21), respectively, after controlling for age, gender, education, marital status, duration since diabetes diagnosis, diabetes treatment, treatment clinic, and baseline values. Sitting time during the week-end was significantly lower, difference 52.53 minutes (95% CI: 93.93 − -11.14).

Conclusions

This community-based lifestyle intervention for patients with baseline HbA1c <8% did not result in a significant decrease of HbA1c but reduced caloric intake, body weight, and weekend inactivity after controlling for the covariates.

Trial registration

This trial was registered on February 11, 2020 with Clinicaltrials.gov (NCT04264793).
The associations of physical activity and sedentary behavior with self-rated health in Chinese children and adolescents
Authors: Liang Yahan , Ke Youzhi , Liu Yang
Published: May 2024

Objective

The study aimed to analyze the independent and joint associations of physical activity (PA) and sedentary behavior (SB) with self-rated health (SRH) among Chinese children and adolescents.

Methods

Cross-sectional data on moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA), school-based PA, extracurricular physical activity (EPA), screen time (ST), homework time, and SRH were assessed through a self-report questionnaire in the sample of 4227 Chinese children and adolescents aged 13.04 ± 2.62 years. Binary logistic regression was used to compare gender differences in PA, SB, and SRH among children and adolescents, and analyses were adjusted for age and ethnicity.

Results

In independent associations, boys and girls engaging in ≥60 min/day of MVPA and >1 hour/day of EPA reported optimal SRH. Only boys who participated in >1 hour/day of school-based PA were significantly more likely to have optimal SRH (OR = 1.49, 95%CI = 1.19–1.86). Only girls who had ≤2 hours/day of ST were significantly associated with optimal SRH (weekdays: OR = 1.38, 95%CI = 1.10–1.74; weekends: OR = 1.40, 95%CI = 1.14–1.71; whole week: OR = 1.42, 95%CI = 1.16–1.73). In joint associations, regardless of SB recommendation, meeting PA recommendation was significantly associated with optimal SRH in both boys (meet PA and SB recommendations, OR = 1.61, 95%CI = 1.03–2.50; meet PA but not SB recommendations, OR = 2.40, 95%CI = 1.57–3.65) and girls (meet PA and SB recommendations, OR = 3.72, 95%CI = 2.08–6.65; meet PA but not SB recommendation, OR = 4.27, 95%CI = 2.09–8.75).

Conclusion

Increased PA and reduced SB were positively associated with optimal SRH in Chinese children and adolescents. Notably, lower ST positively influenced only girls’ SRH. Meeting PA recommendation is more impactful than meeting SB recommendation for improving SRH in Chinese children and adolescents. Future studies could explore these associations using objective measures of PA and SB in China.
Differences in urine creatinine and osmolality between black and white Americans after accounting for age, moisture intake, urine volume, and socioeconomic status
Authors: Wilson Patrick B. , Winter Ian P. , Burdin Josie
Published: May 2024

Urine osmolality is used throughout research to determine hydration levels. Prior studies have found black individuals to have elevated urine creatinine and osmolality, but it remains unclear which factors explain these findings. This cross-sectional, observational study sought to understand the relationship of self-reported race to urine creatinine and urine osmolality after accounting for age, socioeconomic status, and fluid intake. Data from 1,386 participants of the 2009–2012 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey were utilized. Age, poverty-to-income ratio (PIR), urine flow rate (UFR), fluid intake, estimated lean body mass (LBM), urine creatinine, and urine osmolality were measured. In a sex-specific manner, black and white participants were matched on age, dietary moisture, UFR, and PIR. Urine creatinine was greater in black men (171 mg/dL) than white men (150 mg/dL) and greater in black women (147 mg/dL) than white women (108 mg/dL) (p < .001). Similarly, urine osmolality was greater in black women than white women (723 vs. 656 mOsm/kg, p = .001), but no difference was observed between white and black men (737 vs. 731 mOsm/kg, p = .417). Estimated LBM was greater in black men (61.8 kg) and women (45.5 kg) than in white men (58.9 kg) and women (42.2 kg) (p≤.001). The strongest correlate of urine osmolality in all race-sex groups was urine creatinine (Spearman ρ = .68-.75). These results affirm that individuals identifying as black produce higher urine creatinine concentrations and, in women, higher urine osmolality after matching for age, fluid intake, and socioeconomic status. The findings suggest caution when comparing urine hydration markers between racial groups.
Informal caregiving among people supporting a person with type 2 diabetes in rural communities of Northern Vietnam: A cross-sectional study of caregiver burdens
Authors: Thi Bui Dieu Huyen , Nguyen Bai Xuan , Søndergaard Jens , Gammeltoft Tine M. , Bygbjerg Ib Christian , Nielsen Jannie , Meyrowitsch Dan Wolf
Published: May 2024

Objective

The prevalence of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) in Vietnam has doubled from 3% to 6% over the last decades, with potential consequences for persons with diabetes and their caregivers. This study aimed to assess caregiver burdens and factors associated with caregiver burden.

Method

A cross-sectional study was conducted in 2019, using data from 1,241 informal caregivers (ICGs). Caregiver burden was scored from 0–32 using 8 questions from the Zarit Burden Interview (ZBI). Quantile regression analysis was used to identify factors associated with caregiver burden.

Results

The median score of the ZBI was 7.0 (Q1-Q3: 2.0–10.0), indicating that the burden among caregiver of persons with T2DM is not high. Quantile regression showed that the higher the monthly income, the lower the burden among caregivers (50% quantile and 75% quantile of burden: -0.004). Lower educational level (25%Q: 4.0, 50%Q; 3.0, 75%Q: 2.16), being a farmer (25%Q: 2.0) and providing care to other people besides the person with T2DM (25%Q: 2.0, 50%Q; 2.54, 75%Q: 1.66) were associated with higher burden on caregivers.

Conclusion

The study found that caregivers facing additional life stressors, such as low income or other caregiving responsibilities, reported higher levels of burden. These findings could inform the development of interventions targeted at supporting informal caregivers in rural areas in low- and middle-income countries.
Intrapreneurial behavior and intrapreneurial organizational culture: An analysis of the influence on project success
Authors: Elias Tatiana Carneiro da Cunha de , Martens Cristina Dai Prá , Bizarrias Flávio Santino
Published: May 2024

Objectives: Despite the great academic and practical interest in intrapreneurship, there are few studies that relate it to project success. The objective of this study is to determine the moderating influence of intrapreneurial organizational culture on intrapreneurial behavior and its relationships with project success. The study also aims to establish the heterogeneous profiles of intrapreneurship, and their different effects on the success of projects. Method: A survey approach was used, with data analysis by structural equation modeling, linear regression for moderation tests, and latent class analysis for the heterogeneous classification of the sample of 284 project participants in terms of intrapreneurship. Main results: The results show that there is influence of intrapreneurship of professionals on project success. On the other hand, a weak or average intrapreneurial organizational culture reduces the strength of the relationship between intrapreneurship and project success. Theoretical contributions: The study also identifies three heterogeneous profiles of intrapreneurs, and that organizational culture increases the possibility of project success, even for individuals with a low profile for intrapreneurship. Originality: This study pioneerly analyzes the relationship between individual and organizational intrapreneurship, as culture, for project success, directly and indirectly, with a diversified methodology. Contributions to management: The study suggests for practice the importance of intrapreneurial behavior for the success of projects, and the relevance of stimulating an intrapreneurial organizational culture, capable of mobilizing even less entrepreneurial individuals, to the extent that naturally intrapreneurial individuals are scarce.
Synthesis and Physico-Chemical Studies of Mixed-Ligand Fluoro Complexes of Some Transition Metals: A Review
Authors: Bhowmik K.R. Nath
Published: May 2024

The chemistry of mixed ligand fluoro complexes of transition metals is an intriguing subject that has not yet been thoroughly investigated. Over the past three to four decades, there have been numerous reports of such complexes along with their synthesis, characterization, physico-chemical properties and in some cases crystallographic studies. This review summarizes the progress of some first row transition metal complexes consisting of fluoro as primary ligand and carboxylic, hydroxyl carboxylic, amino acids and nitrogen donor molecules such as pyridine, ethylene diamine, imidazole, 2,2'-bypyridine or 1,10-phenantholine etc. as co-ligands with their synthesis, probable structures and physico-chemical properties.
Synergistic Effect of PVA/PVP/CuO Polymer Nanocomposites: Flexible Solid-State Asymmetric Supercapacitors
Authors: Muthumari P. , Murugan A. , Siva V. , Shameem A. , Bahadur S. Asath , Thangarasu S.
Published: May 2024

The electrochemical capacitors that use polymer nanocomposite electrode are the most efficient electrical energy storage devices due to their superior power density, quick charge/discharge, long cycle life and high degree of safety. The electrochemical performance of transitional metal oxide-based polymer nanocomposites electrode has been synthesized by solution casting method. The prepared polymer nanocomposites (PNCs) physical and electrochemical properties such as structural, morphology, cyclic voltammetry (CV), galvanostatic charge/discharge (GCD) and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) were investigated. Subsequently, the solid-state asymmetric supercapacitor was assembled with (PVP/PVA/CuO X wt.%)//activated carbon in 6 M KOH electrolyte. Benefiting from the efficient pseudocapacitive properties of the flexible polymer nanocomposite positive electrode and activated carbon as a negative electrode. The PVP/PVA/5 wt.% CuO polymer nanocomposite electrode demonstrates a superior specific capacitance of 7.90 F g-1 at a current density of 2 A/g. The device has examined to life time application for cycling retention study and charge/discharge stability for 5 wt.% of PNCs electrode exhibited 88% capacity retention after 5000 GCD cycles at current density of 5 A g-1. The assembled flexible solid-state asymmetric supercapacitor exhibits a high energy density of 6.34 Wh kg–1 and power density of 566.06 W kg–1. These electrochemical results showed that the polymer nanocomposite exposed the strong synergistic effect between CuO nanoparticles and PVP/PVA blend polymer matrix and being facilitated by fast charge transfer, charge transfer resistance and the improved capacitance performances. Moreover, the fabricated asymmetric supercapacitors (ASCs) device also shows an excellent stability of electrochemical performance and hence finds a promising candidate for energy storage in supercapacitor as a flexible power source for wearable and portable electronics.
Metabolite Profiling and Inhibitory Effects of Nitric Oxide on Andrographis paniculata Burm. F Nees Extract using Different Solvents as a Potential Candidate in COVID-19 Therapy
Authors: Lukito Evul Winoto , Iswantini Dyah , Antariksa Budhi , Rafi Mohamad , Wahyudi Setyanto Tri
Published: May 2024

Andrographis paniculata Burm. F Nees used to treat COVID-19 in several Asian countries because it has metabolites with pharmacological activity that may decrease the pathogenesis features of COVID-19. The extraction solvent significantly affected the composition and concentration of the metabolites. Therefore, the inhibitory effects of nitric oxide of A. paniculata extract based on differences in extraction solvent concentrations were investigare and also identified its metabolite profile. The leaves of A. paniculata were extracted with three different solvents like water solvent, 50% ethanol and pure ethanol. Nitrite oxide (NO) inhibitory activity on LPS-activated RAW 264.7 macrophage cells was used to evaluate the anti-inflammatory activity of the extract, the identification of metabolite profile using LC-MS/MS. Extract pure ethanol had the highest inhibition potential against NO at 91.02%, whereas water and 50% ethanol solvents had inhibitory potentials of 21.35% and -8.13%, respectively. The metabolites 14-deoxyandrographoside and 14-deoxy-17-hydroxyandrographolid were only identified in the pure ethanol extract. This study shows that differences in solvent concentrations play an essential role in enhancing the pharmacological potential of A. paniculata as an anti-inflammatory candidate for COVID-19 treatment.
Iron-Catalyzed Annulation of 2-Aminobenzaldehydes with Iodonium Ylides: A Mild and General Route for the Synthesis of Acridinone Derivatives
Authors: Joshi Om Prakash , Dash Ankit Kumar , Thirumoorthi Ramalingam , Dash Chandrakanta
Published: May 2024

An inexpensive iron-catalyzed annulation of 2-aminobenzaldehydes with iodonium ylides for the synthesis of acridinone derivatives was reported. A library of biologically relevant 3,4-dihydropyridine-1-one scaffold was synthesized by the reaction of corresponding 2-amino benzaldehyde and iodonium ylides under mild reaction conditions in a green solvent. The reaction tolerates various alkyl, aryl and halogenated substrates and affords the desired product in moderate to good yields. The reported reaction has an inexpensive catalytic system, mild reaction conditions, easily accessible substrates and the use of green solvents.
Synthesis, Characterization and Pharmacological Screening of 1,3,4-Oxadiazoles
Authors: Sonawane Ganesh , Sharma Shweta , Gilhotra Ritu
Published: May 2024

Two series of 1,3,4-oxadiazole scaffolds (10a-j & 12a-j) were synthesized and comprehensively characterized using IR, NMR and mass spectra. Subsequently, the synthesized compounds underwent screening for anticancer activity against HepG2 and MCF-7 cell lines. All the 20 compounds exhibited substantial anticancer activity with compounds 10b and 10e demonstrating particularly significant activity surpassing that of the standard 5-fluorouracil. Significantly, compound 10b displayed superior efficacy compared to compound 10e, prompting its selection for further in vivo assessment against diethylnitrosamine-induced hepatocellular carcinoma. In in vivo evaluation, compound 10b significantly reduced levels of AST, ALT, ALP and bilirubin in comparison to the positive control group. It also exhibited significant hepatoprotective effects, albeit marginally less potent than standard 5-fluorouracil. These findings underscore the considerable potential of compound 10b as an anticancer agent within the series, suggesting its candidacy for further development and clinical exploration in cancer therapeutics.
La Vita Sallustii de Asconio (frg. 3 GRFM): un fantasma literario
Authors: Magallón García Ana Isabel , Uría Javier
Published: May 2024

Esta contribución revisa un fragmento del escolio pseudoacroniano sobre Horacio. El autor afirma que en una biografía de Salustio, Asconio, el renombrado comentarista de Cicerón, menciona el episodio –conocido por otras fuentes– de los azotes que el historiador recibió de Milón después de ser sorprendido en adulterio con Fausta, la esposa de Milón. Ninguna otra fuente cita dicha biografía de Salustio y varios autores han cuestionado su existencia, aunque otros críticos la aceptan sin reservas. Gracias a una posible modificación del texto podemos descartar definitivamente que Asconio escribiera una Vita Sallustii.
La importancia de la fijación cronológica en la atribución de fragmentos gramaticales: el caso de Asconio Pediano
Authors: Gutiérrez González Ramón , Pérez Alonso Marco Antonio
Published: May 2024

No se debe desestimar la importancia de un estudio prosopográfico previo para un editor de fragmentos gramaticales, ya que ayuda a situar al autor en un contexto histórico, literario y doctrinal específico, facilitando así la correcta interpretación de los fragmentos a partir de las relaciones con los contemporáneos, las influencias de los predecesores y el impacto en la literatura gramatical posterior. Esta tarea es particularmente difícil cuando se trata de gramáticos de los cuales se conserva información escasa o, a menudo, contradictoria o ambigua. Este trabajo analiza los diversos testimonios sobre el comentarista de Cicerón, Asconio Pediano, con el fin de situar en el tiempo el período de 85 años que le atribuye San Jerónimo en Chronicon.
Hybrid ERC20 Ethereum Blockchain Multisignature Wallet 3of3 with Withdrawal Pattern, External Effects, and Mutex as Single Key and Reentrancy Mitigation.
Authors: Sabda Dewa Jason Al Hilal , Waspada Indra , Sasongko Priyo Sidik
Published: May 2024

In the rapidly evolving era of Decentralized Finance (DeFi), the convergence of Blockchain technology with intermediary-free financial services has forged a revolutionary landscape. However, this progress has been accompanied by critical challenges, notably the Single Key Risk and reentrancy attack threats against ERC20 smart contracts in private Ethereum Blockchain. This research formulated a proactive approach and implemented an innovative solution by embodying Reliable Decentralized Finance through the deployment of a 3-of-3 Hybrid Multisignature Wallet system with Withdrawal Pattern, External Effects, and Mutual Exclusion in the form of a Decentralized Application (DApps). The system not only applied withdrawal patterns but also integrated external effects and the principle of mutual exclusion to enhance the security of smart contracts. The system development methodology was executed comprehensively using Agile Software Engineering, encompassing the development of both smart contracts and external applications (decentralized applications). Testing was conducted using Ganache EVM (Ethereum Virtual Machine) connected to the Hot Wallet Metamask as an Externally Owned Account (EOA) for transaction signing. Valid results were obtained from comprehensive testing against the system's functional requirements, affirming the system's success in managing Single Key Risk and preventing reentrancy attacks, providing a reliable and concrete solution
FlowWalker: A Memory-Efficient and High-Performance GPU-Based Dynamic Graph Random Walk Framework
Authors: Mei Junyi , Sun Shixuan , Li Chao , Xu Cheng , Chen Cheng , Liu Yibo , Wang Jing , Zhao Cheng , Hou Xiaofeng , Guo Minyi , He Bingsheng , Cong Xiaoliang
Published: May 2024

Dynamic graph random walk (DGRW) emerges as a practical tool for capturing structural relations within a graph. Effectively executing DGRW on GPU presents certain challenges. First, existing sampling methods demand a pre-processing buffer, causing substantial space complexity. Moreover, the power-law distribution of graph vertex degrees introduces workload imbalance issues, rendering DGRW embarrassed to parallelize. In this paper, we propose FlowWalker, a GPU-based dynamic graph random walk framework. FlowWalker implements an efficient parallel sampling method to fully exploit the GPU parallelism and reduce space complexity. Moreover, it employs a sampler-centric paradigm alongside a dynamic scheduling strategy to handle the huge amounts of walking queries. FlowWalker stands as a memory-efficient framework that requires no auxiliary data structures in GPU global memory. We examine the performance of FlowWalker extensively on ten datasets, and experiment results show that FlowWalker achieves up to 752.2×, 72.1×, and 16.4× speedup compared with existing CPU, GPU, and FPGA random walk frameworks, respectively. Case study shows that FlowWalker diminishes random walk time from 35% to 3% in a pipeline of ByteDance friend recommendation GNN training.
ReAcTable: Enhancing ReAct for Table Question Answering
Authors: Zhang Yunjia , Henkel Jordan , Floratou Avrilia , Cahoon Joyce , Deep Shaleen , Patel Jignesh M.
Published: May 2024

Table Question Answering (TQA) presents a substantial challenge at the intersection of natural language processing and data analytics. This task involves answering natural language (NL) questions on top of tabular data, demanding proficiency in logical reasoning, understanding of data semantics, and fundamental analytical capabilities. Due to its significance, a substantial volume of research has been dedicated to exploring a wide range of strategies aimed at tackling this challenge including approaches that leverage Large Language Models (LLMs) through in-context learning or Chain-of-Thought (CoT) prompting as well as approaches that train and fine-tune custom models.

Nonetheless, a conspicuous gap exists in the research landscape, where there is limited exploration of how innovative foundational research, which integrates incremental reasoning with external tools in the context of LLMs, as exemplified by the ReAct paradigm, could potentially bring advantages to the TQA task. In this paper, we aim to fill this gap, by introducing ReAcTable (
ReAct
for
Table
Question Answering tasks), a framework inspired by the ReAct paradigm that is carefully enhanced to address the challenges uniquely appearing in TQA tasks such as interpreting complex data semantics, dealing with errors generated by inconsistent data and generating intricate data transformations. ReAcTable relies on external tools such as SQL and Python code executors, to progressively enhance the data by generating intermediate data representations, ultimately transforming it into a more accessible format for answering the user's questions with greater ease. Through extensive empirical evaluations using three popular TQA benchmarks, we demonstrate that ReAcTable achieves remarkable performance even when compared to fine-tuned approaches. In particular, it outperforms the best prior result on the WikiTQ benchmark by 2.1%, achieving an accuracy of 68.0% without requiring training a new model or fine-tuning.
ARGET ATRP of styrene with low catalyst usage in bio-based solvent γ-valerolactone
Authors: Zhu Qianqian , Song Tianchen , Zhao Jiaxin , Gao Gang , Xiang Yixin , Gao Jiangang , Shen Xianrong
Published: May 2024

The application of bio-based solvents for living radical polymerization has been a hot topic in recent year. In this article, γ-valerolactone (GVL), a bio-based solvent as green media for ARGET atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP) of styrene (St) were investigated. We first conducted polymerization of St in γ-valerolactone using copper(ii) bromide as the catalyst, tris(2-pyridylmethyl) amine as the ligand, and only sodium ascorbate as reducing agent. The polymerization achieved moderate conversion; however, the controllability of polymerization was not very good, providing a polymer with a broad molecular weight distribution (M
w/M
n
> 1.30). When sodium carbonate is introduced, excellent results were obtained providing high yields and low M
w/M
n values under very low catalyst usage (∼5 ppm). 1H NMR spectroscopy, chain extension, and MALDI–MS experiments confirmed the final polymer chains with high fidelity. The use of GVL solvent opens a new route for the easy synthesis of PS through ARGET ATRP with low catalyst usage conditions.
Leitungsstrukturen der katholischen Kirche
Authors: Bräuer Martin
Published: May 2024

Der Artikel leitet zunächst vom theologischen Selbstverständnis der katholischen Kirche ihre Leitungsstrukturen ab. Er beschreibt die Ausübung der Leitung auf weltkirchlicher und nationaler sowie örtlicher Ebene und schaut dann nach Lateinamerika, wo sich neue Leitungsstrukturen ausgebildet haben. Weiter wird ein Blick auf partizipative Leitungsstrukturen in Deutschland geworfen, wie sie auf dem Synodalen Weg beschlossen, anfänglich umgesetzt und auch kritisiert wurden. Schließlich werden neue Leitungsstrukturen, die sich in den letzten Jahren in einzelnen Diözesen entwickelt haben, betrachtet.
Die Synode der EKD
Authors: Schmidt Timo
Published: May 2024

Der Artikel umreißt zunächst das Themengebiet und fragt, ob und unter welchen Bedingungen „Synode“ eine Ressource für den Glauben sein kann. Dem Phänomen „Synode“ nähert sich der Autor weiter mit organisationsentwicklungsspezifischen Blicken. Die EKD-Synode wird aus den sie konstituierenden Rechtstexten heraus beschrieben, und schließlich werden in einem abschließenden Teil die Fragen an und die Beschreibung der Synode reflektiert.
Voces inventadas y jocosas en el Diccionario de autoridades: procesos de creación a partir del sustantivo diablo
Authors: Montero Curiel Marisa
Published: May 2024

El presente estudio intenta reflexionar sobre la presencia de voces recogidas en el Diccionario de autoridades (1726-1739) como inventadas y jocosas, marcas con las que se registran más de doscientos lemas en esta primera obra lexicográfica publicada por la Real Academia Española. Tras una revisión general, en la que se expondrán los mecanismos de formación que han servido para gestar las voces, se intentará analizar más en profundidad el origen de un pequeño grupo de palabras marcadas con los adjetivos inventada y jocosa, en este caso las relacionadas con el sustantivo diablo, que nos permitirá descubrir la motivación, los mecanismos que operan en su formación y el porqué de su inclusión en ese primitivo diccionario. Nos ayudaremos de la consulta de los corpus académicos Corde, Crea, Corpes xxi y, especialmente, del patrimonio léxico reunido en el Ntlle para comprobar su presencia o ausencia posteriores en la lengua española.
Про основні результати діяльності Національної академії наук України у 2023 році та завдання наступного періоду
Authors: Загородній Анатолій Глібович
Published: May 2024

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П'ять основних пріоритетів Міністерства освіти і науки України на шляху трансформації наукової сфери
Authors: Курбатов Денис Ігорович
Published: May 2024

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Нові комплексні рішення для відновлення постраждалих ґрунтів
Authors: Іутинська Галина Олександрівна
Published: May 2024

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Розробки інституту проблем реєстрації інформації НАН України в галузі комп’ютерних технологій і оптоелектроніки для зміцнення обороноздатності країни
Authors: Крючин Андрій Андрійович
Published: May 2024

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Use Diagnosis Coding Conventions to Avoid Denied Claims
Authors:   American Academy of Pediatrics
Published: May 2024

This article discusses how reporting codes in compliance with International Classification of Diseases, 10th Revision, Clinical Modification (ICD-10-CM) guidelines can help physicians and other qualified health care professionals (QHPs) avoid denied claims. This includes the following:

How ICD-10-CM codes affect claims adjudication Coding to the highest level of specificity Compliance with Excludes1 notes Compliance with “code first” notes Appropriately reporting codes for sequela Correct use of codes for external causes Proper linking of diagnosis to procedure codes
ONLINE EXCLUSIVE! Schedule of Code Change Implementation Dates
Authors:   American Academy of Pediatrics
Published: May 2024

This handy chart lists the implentation dates for the CPT, ICD-10-CM, and HCPCS code sets.
Isolation and characterisation of Shiga toxins producing Escherichia coli in dairy cows in the governorate of Blida (Algeria).
Authors: Baazize-Ammi D. , Kechih-Bounar S. , Dechicha A. S. , Kebbal S. , Gharbi I. , Hezil N. , Chebloune Y. , Guetarni D.
Published: May 2024

The Shiga toxin producing Escherichia coli (STEC) are considered to be one of the most important groups of emerging public health pathogens with cattle being the main reservoir. The objective of this study was to isolate and characterise Escherichia coli Shiga toxins in dairy cattle farms. A total of 252 faeces samples were collected from healthy cows belonging to 37 farms. PCR screening of samples for the common sequences of stx1/stx2 genes and stx1 and stx2 genes resulted in a STEC faecal excretion prevalence of 59.5% at the farm level and 26.6% at the individual level. Among positive animals, 85.1% carried STEC with a single stx1 gene and 14.9% with the stx1 and stx2 genes. Immunomagnetic separation was performed on 40 PCR-positive samples (10/10 positive for the stx1 and stx2 genes and 30/57 positive only for stx1). Biochemical identification revealed the presence of 66 E. coli strains (27.5%). The search for virulence genes on these strains by PCR showed that only twenty-two (33.33%) were STEC. The presence of the stx1, stx2, ehx and eae genes was characterised in 30.3%, 4.54%, 13.63% and 1.51% of the strains, respectively, indicating that the virulotype with stx alone was dominant. Serological identification showed the absence of O157 sero-groups and the presence of O1(2), O2, O18(2), O128 sero-groups. The susceptibility testing of STEC showed 68.18% resistance to chloramphenicol, 63.64% to neomycin, 59.1% to ampicillin, 22.73% to trimethoprim + sulfamethoxazole and 9.1% to amoxicillin + clavulanic acid and nalidixic acid. Four strains showed multi-resistance. Bovine carriage of STEC constitutes a public health risk by contamination of milk and meat. To protect human health, it is necessary to limit the bovine STEC shedding.
Molecular detection of bovine herpes virus-1 among cattle in Mosul city, Iraq
Authors: Abdulazeez A. M. , Esmaeel S. A.
Published: May 2024

Bovine herpes virus-1 (BoHV-l) infects livestock and causes several forms of disease, the most pro­mi­nent being bovine infectious rhinotracheitis, infectious balanoposthitis, and infectious postural vulvovaginitis. Infection can result in substantial loss, especially in feedlot cattle. The current study aimed to determine BoHV-l in cows by using the conventional polymerase chain reaction. A total of 184 plasma and nasal swab samples were collected from cattle 6 months to 2 years of age of both sexes and of various breeds and from different regions in Mosul city between October 2020 and March 2022. The prevalence of BoHV-1 in cattle was 14/184 (7.6%). Animals infected with BoHV-l had signs of fever, cough, mucoserous eye and nasal secretions, dyspnea, appearance of abnormal respiratory sounds, as well as congestion of the mucous membranes of the eyes. The prevalence of BoHV-1 was significantly higher in males (9.7%) (P≤0.05) than in females, in animals 6–8 months of age – 11/100 (10%) (P≤0.05) compared to those between 9 months and 2 years of age. Moreover, no significant difference between native and imported breeds, as well as between respiratory, ocular, and genital forms was found out. This study concluded that the prevalence of the BoHV-1 virus in Mosul city, Iraq was relatively high, particularly in terms of the age and sex of the animals.
Inger Furseth and Pål Repstad, Modern Sociologists on Society and Religion
Authors: Possamai Adam
Published: May 2024

Inger Furseth and Pål Repstad, Modern Sociologists on Society and Religion. London and New York: Routledge, 2022, pp. 262, ISBN: 9781-032-02007-5 (pbk). £28.79.
Changes in the Religious Practices of Moscow Catholics in Conditions of the Pandemic
Authors: Sergei Trophimov
Published: May 2024

Placed in exceptional conditions, the religious community finds itself forced to develop new practices to satisfy its spiritual needs in the emerging conditions. The research question was to determine changes in the religious practices of Russian Catholics using the example of three Moscow parishes, which occurred as a result of pandemic restrictions, primarily isolation. For these purposes, we used methods of qualitative interviews with believers, observation in parishes, and analysis of social network materials. The study covers three periods - strict restrictions preventing visits to churches (February – June 2020), the time when restrictions on free movement around Moscow were gradually lifted (although, for example, certain restrictions remained for the category of senior citizens), but the risk of infection remained and fear of visiting public places persisted (July 2020 – March 2022), and the period of lifting restrictions (2022 – 2023). An exceptional situation due to restricted access to churches and the inability to participate in Holy Masses influenced the development of new practices, among which we highlight the viewing of broadcasts and recordings of services and events, including Easter services, “spiritual communion,” the daily online blessing of the archbishop, widespread communication and discussion of problems on social networks, as well as “forced” organization of the 2020 Easter celebration by believers at home, without the possibility of coming to churches. Elderly parishioners had to master the unfamiliar environment of broadcasts and social networks, for them isolation was usually the decisive factor in turning to new remote communication skills. After the restrictions had been lifted, believers returned to their parishes for usual services, but some practices acquired during the pandemic remained, although they lost their intensity. By analyzing religious practices in the context of media communication, we can trace changes in the religious practices of Russian Catholics using the example of three Moscow parishes, track them during periods of restrictions associated with the pandemic and recovery, and observe the sustainability of these new practices in conditions that do not require stricter application of on-line practices. The result of the study is the identification of new practices that allow further study of the transformation of the Russian Catholics community.
Integration of traditional Chinese music: an evaluation of the interactive influence between traditional music and aesthetic thought
Authors: Zhou Yi , Yu Feng
Published: May 2024

Abstract: Traditional Chinese music had a long history, with rich and extensive aesthetic concepts. The integration of traditional music and aesthetic ideas has a significant impact on the formation of China’s traditional music system. This article explored the interactive influence of traditional music and aesthetic ideas, and elaborated on the musical ideas in traditional Chinese aesthetics. The content of musical aesthetic ideas of Confucianism, Taoism and Mohism was discussed, and the position of aesthetic ideas in traditional Chinese music was analyzed. By combing and analyzing the relevant literature, ancient books and historical materials, it is possible to understand the historical evolution and mutual influence of traditional music and aesthetic thought. Traditional aesthetic concepts not only played an important role in the development of Chinese music, but also played an undeniable role in promoting the development of Chinese music over thousands of years of history. This article aimed to explore the interaction between traditional music and aesthetic ideas, as well as the impact of traditional aesthetics on music, in order to promote the integration and development of traditional music and aesthetic ideas. In the evaluation of the interaction between traditional music and aesthetic thought, there may be a situation that the concept is too simplified. The relationship between traditional music and aesthetic thought is very complicated, involving many schools, historical periods and regions. It may not be able to fully cover all the influencing factors if it is only summarized by Confucianism, Taoism and Buddhism. It is suggested that the education and inheritance of traditional music and aesthetic ideas should be strengthened in music education. More traditional music artists and aesthetic theorists should be cultivated, so that they can pass on traditional music and aesthetic ideas to future generations and continue to develop and innovate in contemporary society.
Adoption behavior of lemon growers towards essential oil extraction technology in the Pothwar region of Punjab, Pakistan
Authors: Anjum Fouzia , Muhammad Sher , Siddiqui Badar Naseem , Yaseen Muhammad
Published: May 2024

ABSTRACT: This study assessed the adoption level of essential oil extraction practices among lemon growers in the Pothwar region of Punjab, Pakistan. A well-structured questionnaire was used to collect data from 138 smallholders using the interview method by trained remunerators. Descriptive statistics and econometrics; logit and Poisson regression were employed for data analysis. Results of farmers’ perceptions of adopting new practices indicated that 10.1% of the farmers are not adopting any one, 22.5% are adopting any three, and 26.8% are adopting all four practices. Moreover, farmers’ age, farming experience, land holding, skill, training participation, and receptivity proved to be statistically significant determinants in improving the likelihood of adopting all four practices under the logit and Poisson models, respectively. Hence, it is recommended that the provision of an effective package in the form of literature concerning essential oil extraction practices to the doorsteps of smallholders during demonstration sessions, along with adequate professional training, could help in improving farmers’ perceptions toward adoption and strengthening the essential oil sector.
Seaweed extract-based fertilizer and water stress on potato crops
Authors: Nunes Gustavo Fonseca , Moreira Leticia Gonçalves , Diniz Nadia Mendes , Jacinto Ana Carolina Pires , Prado Jair Rocha do , Charlo Hamilton César de Oliveira , Castoldi Renata
Published: May 2024

ABSTRACT Seaweed extract-based fertilizers are applied to mitigate the effects of stress on plants. In this study, we evaluated the effects of different concentrations of seaweed extract-based fertilizer and different irrigation depths on potato crops. The Ágata cultivar and the Markies cultivar were used to conduct two experiments simultaneously. A 4 × 4 experimental design was used, with four doses of seaweed extract-based fertilizer (0, 0.5, 1.0, and 4.0 L ha-1) and four irrigation depths (50%, 75%, 100%, and 125% of crop evapotranspiration); each treatment had three replicates. Leaves were collected 67 days after emergence to analyze macronutrients and micronutrients; additionally, the number of stems per plant and physiological variables were assessed. After harvesting, the number and weight of tubers in different classes were recorded. The differences in parameters among treatment groups were determined by analysis of variance using the F-test, and regression analysis was performed when a significant difference was recorded. The results showed that the contents of potassium, phosphorus, magnesium, and calcium in the leaves of the Ágata cultivar were below the optimal levels for the crop, irrespective of the irrigation level and the dose of seaweed extract-based fertilizer applied. The highest irrigation depths at 100% and 125% of crop evapotranspiration were associated with an increase in the number and weight of the large tubers of the Ágata and Markies cultivars.
Liver function of mares submitted to Bothrops antigen inoculation for the production of anti-ophidian sérum
Authors: Castillo Mariana N. Del , Ferreira Camila S.C. , Balaro Mario F.A. , Castanheira Patrícia , Almosny Nadia R.P. , Pinna Aline E.
Published: May 2024

ABSTRACT: Ophidian accidents have been a medical and veterinary challenge. The only treatment available and recommended by the World Health Organization and the Ministry of Health is serotherapy. This study evaluated the liver function of equines submitted to the immunization protocol currently used by the “Instituto Vital Brazil” to produce anti-Bothrops serum. Five equines were evaluated with Bothrops venom inoculation during three immunization cycles. Blood samples were taken for a biochemical test and a liver assessment due to the damage caused to the liver. The biochemical data that presented significant differences in all animals compared to baseline were AST, ALT, GGT, FA, GLDH and serum protein. Creatinine did not change throughout the experiment. The results obtained suggest that liver alterations may occur throughout the three immunization cycles. There is a great need for new studies aimed at broadening knowledge about venom inoculation protocols in serum producer equines and minimizing the adverse effects of immunization.