bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Enhancing the adaptability of a mining complex in a dynamic environment by utilizing the technology for the development of a man-made deposit with a mobile ore preparation complex
Authors: Hryhoriev Yulian , Shvets Yehor , Joukov Serhii , Smirnov Oleksandr , Hryhoriev Ihor
Published: June 2024

The paper deals with the issue of the development of man-made deposits of the bulk type, especially that formed during the development of iron ore deposits. An analysis of the actual state of man-made deposits was performed. Based on analysis the technology of man-made deposits mining was proposed. It involves the extraction of technogenic raw materials from the bulk and their separation according to quality characteristics using a mobile ore preparation complex. According to the proposed technology, the conditioned raw materials are sent to the processing place, and the empty rock is laid in layers in the created space. The parameters of the mining system were studied in the paper: the width of the excavator’s cut step is limited on the one hand by the unloading radius of the dragline, and on the other by the turning radius of the dump truck. A significant role is played by the raw material utilization ratio: the larger it is, the narrower the excavator cut step will be. The results of the research can be useful for design organizations and mining enterprises which implement resource-saving technologies.
Forecasting the risks of man-made and ecological disasters
Authors: Dychko Alina , Remez Natalya , Yeremeyev Igor , Borovyk Maksym
Published: June 2024

The paper provides the SWOT analysis procedure for forecasting and assessing the possibility of man-made and ecological disasters, the technology and intellect-card of the catastrophe risk assessment process. An expert system for operational assessment and forecasting of the scale of a radiation accident at the nuclear power plant is developed. An expert system, created considering a base of relevant knowledge, as well as current data (facts) from dosimeter monitoring posts located around the nuclear power plant, and meteorological information, is considered. It is concluded that such an expert system for assessing and forecasting the situation at a nuclear power plant in the event of an accident should be a standard tool at any nuclear power plant: its use allows to assess the environmental state and decision making quickly and with a high degree of reliability.
Mineral composition of the processed forming mixture of the Kryvyi Rih Mechanical Repair Plant
Authors: Tikhlivets Svitlana , Hrytsay Olena , Filenko Valentyna
Published: June 2024

Currently, Ukraine and developed countries have developed and are constantly updating national waste management programs. Industrial waste as a raw material potential can replace primary sources of natural resources, significantly reduce resource consumption and help ensure the raw material independence of territories and individual countries. The spent molding compound of the Kryvyi Rih Mechanical Repair Plant is a multi-ton solid waste from foundry production. A part of the spent molding mixture is reused as a recyclable material, but the bulk of it is disposed of at municipal solid waste landfills. In this paper, the mineral composition of the spent molding compound is studied in detail, which reveals the possibilities of its reuse. Based on the results obtained, the mineral composition of the spent molding mixture was determined, and mineralogical recommendations were given for the technology of processing the spent mixture. Its involvement in reuse will make it possible to obtain conditioned reconstituted molding sands, free up part of the solid waste landfills, and reduce the negative technogenic load.
Risk-forming areas of mine hoisting equipment and directions for reducing contact loads on shaft reinforcement
Authors: Ilin Sergey , Adorska Larisa , Babets Dmytro , Ilina Inna , Kruzhnova Svetlana , Fursina Anna
Published: June 2024

The paper considers the influence of diagram of peripheral rotational speed of the rope-driving body (pulley, drum) of a mine hoist on dynamic processes in the system “hoisting vessel - reinforcement” of a vertical mine shaft. It is shown that areas of abrupt speed changes (acceleration or deceleration, override in case of smooth motion disturbances, accidental rubbing, vessel catching on ledges in the guides, etc.) create a peripheral acceleration or deceleration of the pulley or drum rims, which causes longitudinal excitation of the upper ends of the main ropes. These and other factors lead to a sharp increase in the contact loads of shaft guides and braces, and an increased risk of their sudden failure, especially when the safety margins are reduced due to significant wear and tear of metal structures. The ways to adjust and optimize the actual hoisting speed diagram in order to reduce the contact loads on the shaft reinforcement and the associated risks of accidental hazards of mine hoisting equipment (MHE) are determined.
Analysis of stress-strain state changes in railway tracks during transition to European gauge
Authors: Fischer Szabolcs , Kurhan Dmytro , Kurhan Mykola , Hmelevska Nelya
Published: June 2024

The geographical location of Ukraine facilitates its integration into the transportation network connecting European countries. Various options exist for transitioning from the gauge of 1 520 mm to the European standard gauge of 1 435 mm. This paper aims to analyze the changes in the stress-strain state of railway track elements during the reconstruction of existing sections from the 1 520 mm gauge to the 1 435 mm European gauge or to a dual gauge of 1 435/1 520 mm. To perform these calculations, a spatial model of dynamic deformations in the railway track is employed, based on the principles of elasticity theory. The implementation of a combined railway track complicates the stress state of the ballast layer, leading to asymmetric stresses along the length of the sleepers, which vary depending on the track on which trains operate. There is also a redistribution of stresses acting on the ground structure, which has been in operation for many years. The research results identify changes in the stress-strain state of the railway track and can be used to justify measures for the appropriate reinforcement of the ballast layer and the ground structure.
Substantiating the expedient route parameters for the location of the site outgassing wells in the Western Donbas conditions
Authors: Bondarenko Volodymyr , Salieiev Ildar , Kovalevska Iryna , Symanovych Hennadii , Shyshov Maksym
Published: June 2024

The paper deals with the issues of substantiating the parameters of location outgassing wells, determining their expedient routes in the mining-geological and mining-technical Western Donbas conditions. Based on the conducted multifactorial computer experiment, the patterns have been obtained of influence of the coal-overlaying formation texture on the parameters of its shear into the mined-out area. When determining the patterns of influence of mechanical properties of the coal-overlaying formation lithotypes, they are divided into three generalized groups: low, averaged, high. At the same time, the influence of the height and distance parameters the strongest and hardest lithotype occurrence, such as sandstone, has been studied. It is noted that with low mechanical characteristics, the gradient angle of the line of changing curvature sign of the rock layers bending in the direction of the coal seam dip is steadily decreasing. Conditions have been identified and criteria have been developed for the most effective routes for the location of site outgassing wells. The developed criteria, in combination with the dependences of the coal seam shear parameters, make it possible to create a methodology for determining the expedient coordinates for drilling outgassing wells based on the results of modeling by the finite element method.
Regularities of rocks zonal disintegration and methane emissions periodicity in mine roadways
Authors: Slashchov Ihor , Bielikov Anatolii , Slashchova Olena , Yalanskyi Oleksii
Published: June 2024

The article presents the results of studies on the establishment of stable relationships between methane emissions into degassing wells and their spatial location, stress-strain state of rock massif and mining operations process. Vibroacoustic and electrometric of mine control methods have been used to establish zoning and alternation of fractured zones in the rock massif during mining operations. Using the finite element method, zones of different permeability in the roof above the longwall face were determined, and a qualitative transition from compressive deformations to tensile deformations was revealed. Based on data from mine experiments at 157 degassing wells, patterns of repeatability of rocks zonal disintegration and periodicity of gas emissions into mine roadways depending on the distance to the moving longwall face have been determined for the first time. It has been established that the concentration of methane gas in a wells with distance from the longwall face changes according to a damped quasi-periodic dependence with recombinant changes in stress-strain states. For wells aimed at the goafs, the period of the quasi-periodic function increases by 40%, the amplitude decreases to 30%. The obtained dependencies make it possible to increase the efficiency of degassing.
Application of remote sensing techniques for estimation and mapping of iron oxides and iron-containing minerals in open pits of the Kryvyi Rih iron ore basin
Authors: Novikov Leonid , Serdiuk Svitlana , Dovhanenko Denys , Okhotnyk Kateryna , Ishchenko Kostiantyn
Published: June 2024

The purpose of this study is to use remote sensing data to map the deposits of the Kryvyi Rih iron ore basin. Several methods for estimating iron oxide content have been applied and tested. Using image processing techniques, color composites, band ratios and supervised classification, a map of rocks with different iron oxide contents in the Inhulets and Skeliuvats-Magnetite deposits was create. The proposed method uses six Landsat 9 bands to map iron-bearing minerals and rocks (spectra 1, 3, 4 and 5) and hydroxyl (spectra 1, 5 and 7), which are easily visible in the pictures of the operation land images. The final identification of iron deposition was based on the difference in reflectivity of iron oxide content. The Kryvyi Rih iron ore basin is an excellent environment for remote sensing experiments for iron ore identification. Quite large-scale outcrops of ore bodies with pronounced reflection spectra are observe at the deposits. The large extent of development of ferruginous horizons makes them easy to diagnose using Landsat series satellites.
Analysis of rock grinding results in centrifugal-vibrational disintegrating module
Authors: Shevchenko Heorhii , Greshta Viktor , Tytov Oleksandr , Sukhariev Vitaliy
Published: June 2024

This scientific study is devoted to analysis of the results of grinding materials such as marble, sandstone and granite in a disintegrating module. This module combines grinding of particles in the countercurrent centrifugal mill with simultaneous vibrational screening of the finished product. The essence of the study is that two-factor experiments have been carried out according to the full factor scheme. Here, the achieved degree of crushing is used as the response function. The valuable factors have the initial size and the ultimate strength of the material. As a result of two-factor analysis of variance, it has been found that the compressive strength and the initial size of the material, regardless of the sieve vibration amplitude, have a significant and comparable scale effect on the material crushing ratio. At the same time, the interaction of factors has no statistical significance. Also, approximation of experimental data by the first- and the second-order regression equations has been performed. For simplified calculations, it is recommended to use the linear regression equation, while for more accurate ones, the second-order equation is more suitable.
Composition and treatment of wear resistant steel for application in mining industry
Authors: Brykov Michail , Shalomeev Vadim , Matveev Vadim , Parahnevich Evgen , Tabunshchyk Galyna , Ruban Valentyna
Published: June 2024

The service life of machines in the mining industry is in the most cases determined by wear rate of parts in contact with the rock and soil. This work demonstrates the results of investigation on wear resistance of high-carbon low-alloy steel under abrasive wear. Steel samples containing 1.2 wt.% of carbon, 3 wt.% of manganese and 2 wt.% of silicon were hardened from 900 °C and 1000 °C and subjected to two-body and three-body abrasion tests. It has been established that after heat treatment this steel has increased abrasive wear resistance due to the phase transformation of unstable austenite into deformation-induced martensite. The results of study of near-surface region microstructure of samples after wear are presented. X-ray diffraction analysis and measurement of the microhardness of the worn surface were also carried out. It has been established that during abrasive wear a continuous layer of deformation martensite with a microhardness of 1300-1400 HV 0.05 is formed at a depth of up to 10 μm. Such a microhardness significantly exceeds the microhardness of quenching martensite. The results of the work can be used to increase the service life of wear parts of mining equipment.
Numerical modeling of the wind regime on the beaches of the wash of the artificial storage facilities for mineral processing waste
Authors: Lapshyn Yevhen , Biliaiev Mykola , Biliaieva Viktoriia , Halchenko Zariana , Medianyk Volodymyr , Buketov Valentyn
Published: June 2024

A 2D numerical model has been developed to estimate the airflow velocity field when flowing around the dam of an artificial storage facility for mineral processing waste. To solve the aerodynamic problem of determining the air flow velocity field when flowing around such hydraulic structures with a complex geometric shape, a potential motion model was applied. The numerical integration of the equation for the velocity potential is carried out using the Liebman method. The geometric shape of the tailings storage facility is formed in a discrete model using the marking method. A computer program was created to implement the developed numerical aerodynamics model. Based on the processing of the results of computational experiments, coefficients were obtained that allow us to quickly determine the value of the air flow velocity at the beginning and end of the tailing pond beach, i.e. in the area of the most intense dust emission. This allows for a quick prediction of the risk of dust air pollution at different tailing pile heights.
Prediction of the mineral components spatial distribution in tailings ferruginous quartzite enrichments
Authors: Babii Kateryna , Kratkovskyi Igor , Kuantay Aidana
Published: June 2024

In Ukraine, a significant mass of potential man-made deposits is represented by waste from ferruginous quartzite enrichment. The mineral mass of such deposits is mixture of iron-containing minerals (magnetite, ilmenite) and quartz. The M.S. Poliakov Institute of Geotechnical Mechanics has developed a new methodology for the mineral components spatial distribution predicting in tailings of ferruginous quartzite enrichment. It includes the fractional and mineralogical composition of the samples study by optical method, and spatial useful components distribution of prognostication in waste and predictive plans construction for the useful components spatial placement. A previously unknown pattern of changes in mineral composition of wastes from mining ore production was revealed which caused by the turbulent transportation mode and waste deposition on the tailing (potential man-made deposit) area. This regularity arises from the fact that with decrease in the size of the mineral components particles with size of 0-200 microns, the share of the magnetic mineral magnetite increases linearly and, accordingly, the share of the non-magnetic mineral quartz decreases. The obtained new properties of man-made deposits from the waste (tailings) can be used in creation of resource-saving technology for the iron ore man-made raw materials processing and to determine their suitability for mining.
Morphogenetic types of amber traps in the Pripyat amber basin
Authors: Komliev Oleksandr , Remezova Olena , Naumenko Uliana , Krynitska Mariia
Published: June 2024

The amber industry in Ukraine requires the expansion of its mineral resource base. This requires a scientifically sound, modern methodological basis for the “amber forecasting and prospecting system”, which will allow the amber industry to develop systematically, addressing environmental, socio-economic, scientific, educational, and educational issues in a comprehensive manner. It takes into account all known theories of amber formation and uses the main scientific and methodological approaches to prospecting for various minerals. The Prypyat Amber Basin is the most important of all amber basins in Ukraine, which will provide the main increase in amber production in Ukraine. The geological, paleogeographic, geomorphosystemic, and paleogeomorphological factors of the development of its territory and the formation of alluvial amber deposits here are well studied. This makes it possible to introduce the concept of “amber-bearing formation” and “amber-bearing object”, to create a classification of types of amber placer deposits, confirmed and predicted. According to it, structurally-tectonic, geomorphological, paleogeomorphological, morpholithogenetic and combined types of traps of amber can be distinguished. The article discusses morphogenetic types of traps that belong to their combined type and are studied by geological and geomorphological methods.
Parametric evolutions of explosive fracture zones in the explosion of series of blasthole charges with a complex structure
Authors: Malykh Dmytro , Eremenko Genady , Titov Danyl
Published: June 2024

The purpose of the paper is to specify calculations of a rock mass fracture zone in the explosion of series of blasthole charges with a complex structure under mathematical modelling of their interaction if parts of the blasting agent are spaced along the well length by means of an inert material. The parts are blasted sequentially. Therefore, dynamic load of exploded rock mass has been analyzed depending upon a blasting order of the charges and their parts. Originality is to define more exactly the regularities of interaction between explosive energy of blasthole charges with the specific design and rock mass enclosing them. The developed methods help identify usability of the explosives, designed by the authors, and simplify calculations of drilling-and-blasting description. It has been proved that selection of charge mass with different ratios of their parts in the sequential wells, and variation in lag intervals between the explosions make it possible to control a process of rock mass loading depending upon the specific mining and geological conditions if features of a force field are known. The findings expand methodological basis as for design of open pits while favouring implementation of explosive charges which structure is proposed by the authors.
Determining the directions of dangerous ecogeochemical impact of surface reservoirs of highly mineralized mine and open pit waters using a complex of geological and geophysical data
Authors: Tiapkin Oleh , Anisimova Larysa , Frolova Liliya , Yemelianenko Tamara
Published: June 2024

The issues of effective use of geological and geophysical methods for spatial assessment of dangerous ecogeochemical impact of storage ponds of highly mineralized mine and open pit waters are considered. An example of such an object is the Svystunovo gully (volume – 12 million m3), into which water is pumped out from all working open pits and mines of Southern and partially Central Kryvbas. To solve ecogeochemical problems associated with dangerous influence of such storage ponds, a well-known method for restoring Precambrian fault systems using a complex of geological, geophysical and geomorphological data was taken. At all research scales, based on the results of calculations of the significance of “weights” of fault signs, a clear trend was revealed for predominance of diagonal fault systems with strike azimuths: 35° - 305° and 45° - 315°. The spatial combination of tectonic information with results of detailed electrical exploration work made it possible to identify local directions of propagation of dangerous ecogeochemical influence of the studied storage pond of highly mineralized waters by anomalies of decrease / increase in geoelectric resistance in the emerging geochemical block of local system of integrated environmental monitoring of Southern Kryvbas.
Design and implementation of a polarization-encoding system for quantum key distribution
Authors: Mantey Sara , Silva Nuno , Pinto Armando , Muga Nelson
Published: June 2024

We present the design and implementation of a state-of-polarization (SOP) management technique and two efficient synchronizing methods for quantum key distribution (QKD) systems. This is achieved following a wavelength-division multiplexing approach, where the classical synchronization signal and the quantum states are propagated in the same optical fiber. The employed frame synchronization method is based on the monitoring of the quantum bit error ratio (QBER) of the quantum channel, thus avoiding additional hardware and high computational resources. We evaluate the operation of SOP generation method through the assessment of the individual response of the waveplates that comprise the employed electronic polarization controller. Finally, the performance was assessed by computing the overall QBER and the QBER contributions of each of the four polarization states associated with the different qubits. The measurements, obtained during six hours, show a slight variation of the QBER values associated with the individual contributions, reaching an overall QBER of 0.75%. This demonstrates the capability of the presented methods to operate, stably, with very low QBER values, making its application in practical QKD systems reliable.
Investigation on corrosion resistance of electroless Ni-W-P coatings co-deposited with SiO2 nanoparticles
Authors: Li Tao , Lv Yue , Zhou Haojie , Suo Xinkun , Ruan Dianbo , Jian Wei , He Jie , Ren Lu
Published: June 2024

The corrosion of materials in sea environment are generally caused by salt spray, tidal action and adhesion of marine organisms. It is necessary to ensure the materials possess the required strength and good corrosion resistance during operation. Although the existing Ni-W-P electroless plating can provide a certain degree of corrosion protection, its corrosion resistance is still limited under harsh marine condition. SiO2 nanoparticles have received extensive concern due to their excellent corrosion resistance, which has been considered as potential candidates for enhancing corrosion resistance in multicomponent electroless coatings. In this study, the electroless Ni-W-P coatings with SiO2 nanoparticles co-deposition on the Q235 substrate was prepared. The coating was characterized through scanning electron microscopy (SEM), x-ray diffraction (XRD), polarization techniques, and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS). As a result, the Ni-W-P coating co-deposited with SiO2 nanoparticles demonstrates superior corrosion resistance compared to the pure Ni-W-P coating. The surface of SiO2 nanoparticles contain three distinct bonded hydroxyl functional groups, which can influence the ionic reaction in the plating solution and the deposition of elements in the coating. After modified by PVA, it can be uniformly dispersed in the coating, and the composite coating with SiO2 nanoparticles co-deposited is transformed into a nanocrystalline structure. The even distribution of SiO2 nanoparticles fill the defects within the coating, leading to a reduction in porosity, permeability, and susceptibility to penetration of corrosive media. Concurrently, the nanoparticles facilitate surface passivation, forming a stable interface with substrate and coating that inhibits electrochemical reactions and diminishes the rate of self-corrosion reactions. The good and stable corrosion resistance is achieved at the SiO2 concentration of 9 g l−1 and PVA concentration of 1.08 g l−1. These findings offer valuable insights for addressing corrosion challenges in the field of marine engineering.
Damage behavior of cold-rolled sintered fiber felts
Authors: Tychsen J , Lück J M , Rösler J
Published: June 2024

Porous Materials, such as sintered fiber felts (SFFs), can contribute to the reduction of aircraft noise by acting as a low-noise trailing edge (TE). A rolling process with a time-varying rolling gap was sucessfully used to tailor the aeroacoustic properties of SFFs. To ensure the suitability of rolled porous materials for application, the mechanical properties after rolling must be investigated. The objective of this study was to clarify the effect of the rolling process on the damage evolution during tensile loading. A SFF consisting of a functional layer and a support grid made of alloy 1.4404 was used for rolling. Interrupted tensile tests in combination with computed tomography (CT) were used to investigate the damage evolution of as-received material, uniformly rolled material and material rolled with a gradient in thickness reduction. Metallographic examination and fracture surface analysis using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) complemented the CT analysis. Uniformly rolled material with a low degree of deformation (−0.74 ≤ φ < 0) failed identically to the as-received material. The functional layer failed first, starting from the center. The support grid subsequently failed due to the incremental failure of individual wires. The material rolled with a gradient in thickness reduction failed accordingly. A significant change in damage evolution occured for material rolled at high degrees of deformation φ ≤ −1.53, where the support grid fails first and the functional layer second. The rolling process using a time-varying rolling gap does not result in a detrimental mechanical behavior under tensile load. The results improve the general understanding of the effects of rolling processes on the properties of porous materials and allow the damage behavior to be taken into account with regard to its application as a TE.
Introduction
Authors: Miller-McLemore Bonnie J
Published: June 2024

This introduction describes ambivalence about the terms calling and vocation; their neglect and superficial rendering among religious communities; and the need for their retrieval and reclamation from reductive exploitation by popular psychology, corporate business, and self-help literature. It also reveals the importance of talking openly about the complications, limitations, and satisfactions in following callings as they evolve across life. The chapter briefly introduces the book’s content, defines its basic terms, and invites the reader to engage the book as it was written, beginning with the chapter that most draws the reader in. Telling the difficult truths about calling, which involves bliss and sacrifice, is a revolutionary way to approach it: as a complicated, ambiguous, and even painful reality that deserves to be understood in all its complexity and glory. Discussing the ups and downs of calling may lead to further conversation and help pave the way for living more meaningful and purposeful lives.
Blocked Callings: A Raisin in the Sun
Authors: Miller-McLemore Bonnie J
Published: June 2024

This chapter addresses blocked callings, when hopes or aspirations are indefinitely deferred, ambushed, or denied because of circumstances outside one’s control. Drawing on Langston Hughes’s poem “Harlem,” best known as “A Dream Deferred,” the chapter looks at callings that “explode” or are horribly thwarted as well as less dramatic instances when callings simply “dry up.” Social obstacles and insidious biases damage callings in profound ways, but banal obstructions also abound. The chapter explores the rage, discouragement, self-hatred, depression, and despair as well as viable responses: survival, visibility, radical self-love, affirmation, recompense, and hope across time and generations. As the chapter underscores, calling is not an autonomous choice so much as a communal and political matter, supported or destroyed by religion, prejudice, and the market. Yet, popular treatments of calling seldom acknowledge how much social location and economic power shape calling, thereby turning it into a luxury reserved for the elite.
Relinquished Callings: Riding Off into the Sunset?
Authors: Miller-McLemore Bonnie J
Published: June 2024

Whereas other chapters are about finding, following, and managing callings amid difficulties, the book concludes by focusing on how to give callings up. With relinquished callings, people have found a calling and committed themselves to it, whether briefly or for years, and now must give it up. The chapter explores the difficulties of relinquishing callings in retirement and other times of life such as stepmothering, illness, and lost pregnancies. The chapter is organized around the movement from relinquishment and renunciation to reorientation and relief. It considers the necessary and frequently overlooked place of lament, the role of humility, and the dynamics of refashioning one’s life (“falling upward”) and discovering fresh callings ahead.
Discussing Illocution
Authors: Sbisà Marina
Published: June 2024

This chapter expounds and discusses five challenges that have been levelled at Austin’s conception of illocution: (i) Austin’s theory holds for oral speech alone; (ii) Austin neglects the so-called ‘not serious’ uses of language; (iii) Austin is wrong in assuming that performative utterances are neither true nor false and giving priority to the felicity–infelicity assessment over the truth–falsity assessment; (iv) Austin does not succeed in providing a locutionary/illocutionary distinction; (v) Austin takes all illocutionary acts to be conventional, but this is not the case. It sketches out some replies to challenges (i)–(iv) arguing that Austin’s speech act theory is not tied to orality or personal presence, that it does not rely upon the speaker’s intention and sets ‘not serious’ uses apart merely in order to avoid considering them as kinds of illocutionary act, that Austin’s attitude towards truth-value gaps should be rediscussed in the light of his notion of the assessment of the accomplished utterance, and that the conviction that locutionary acts cannot be distinguished from illocutionary ones relies upon a misunderstanding of illocution. It discusses at length challenge (v), concerning the conventionality of illocution and introduces the distinction between the conventionality of the means of an act and that of its effect, arguing that the latter kind of conventionality amounts to the fact that the effect is brought about thanks to interpersonal agreement and is defeasible. It eventually offers some positive support to Austin’s view of illocution by considering the descriptive and explanatory powers of the illocutionary/perlocutionary distinction and of Austin’s illocutionary acts classification.
Perception and Knowledge
Authors: Sbisà Marina
Published: June 2024

This chapter deals with Austin’s philosophy of perception as it emerges from his volume Sense & Sensibilia over and beyond its aim of criticizing sense-data theories. It states that Austin was influenced by Oxford Realism and discusses to what extent Austin should be considered as a realist. It illustrates Austin’s willingness to recognize a great deal of diverse things as objects of perception (overcoming the dichotomy of ‘sense-data’ and ‘material objects’) and his analysis of the notion of reality, conducted by observing how the adjective ‘real’ is used (in phrases such as ‘a real x’ or ‘not a real x’). It comments upon Austin’s refusal to adopt an inferential view of perception and claims that he views perception not as a sort of representation, but as presentational. It concludes with a note about the relation of Austin’s opposition to inferentialism in the philosophy of perception with his anti-scepticism.
The United States
Authors: Krotoszynski, Jr. Ronald J
Published: June 2024

Not unlike the Greek god Proteus, a famous shape-shifter, the First Amendment seems to change its form and shape over time, through a process of dynamic judicial construction, to promote and safeguard the ongoing project of democratic deliberation. In fact, the First Amendment’s text plays virtually no meaningful role in protecting expressive freedom in the contemporary United States. Despite containing four distinct clauses (the Speech, Press, Assembly, and Petition Clauses), only the Free Speech Clause seems to do any meaningful jurisprudential work. The Press, Assembly, and Petition Clauses have fallen into desuetude; they generate little constitutional litigation and very few Supreme Court decisions. Textualist jurists, including Justices Neil Gorsuch, Clarence Thomas, Antonin Scalia, and Hugo Black, routinely claim that they must strictly follow the text as written when interpreting the Constitution. Curiously, however, these self-described textualist and originalist jurists do not follow this interpretative approach when applying the First Amendment. Instead, First Amendment interpretation is invariably purposive, dynamic, and of the “living tree” stripe. This phenomenon raises important and interesting questions about the relevance and efficacy of constitutional text in securing both expressive freedom and fundamental rights more generally. In the United States, and abroad as well, expressive freedom depends much more on social, cultural, and political norms and traditions than on constitutional text. The protean First Amendment strongly suggests that—notwithstanding the vociferousness with which conservative judges, legal scholars, and lawyers advance textualist claims—the process of constitutional adjudication is, in its essence, a common law enterprise.
The United Kingdom
Authors: Krotoszynski, Jr. Ronald J
Published: June 2024

For generations, it was both commonplace and legally correct to observe that the United Kingdom lacked any legally enforceable bill of rights. Although once true, it is no longer so. Since October 2, 2000, the date that the Human Rights Act 1998 (HRA 98) came into effect, the domestic law of the United Kingdom has included a codified bill of rights that includes an express guarantee of freedom of expression. The standard narrative posits that, with respect to the rights codified in the European Convention, the HRA 98 worked a sea change in both the ability and willingness of the British domestic courts to protect fundamental human rights, which, under the European Convention, include freedom of expression. As it turns out, however, the emergence of judicial solicitude for expressive freedom as a human rights value in the United Kingdom significantly predates the HRA 98. This process of judicial recognition of speech as a legal value also shows how courts will respond—and respond directly—to a clear constitutional expectation that the government will respect, at least to some degree, the people’s right to speak their minds without fear of government censorship. Judges recognized and responded to the British people’s expectation that the courts would vindicate some sort of right to freedom of expression; they did so by reading down statutes restricting speech and modifying the common law to take account of free expression. This judicial recognition and protection of freedom of expression in the United Kingdom demonstrates common law constitutionalism in action.
Time-efficient filtering of imaging polarimetric data by checking physical realizability of experimental Mueller matrices
Authors: Novikova Tatiana , Ovchinnikov Alexey , Pogudin Gleb , Ramella-Roman Jessica C
Published: June 2024

Motivation

Imaging Mueller polarimetry has already proved its potential for biomedicine, remote sensing, and metrology. The real-time applications of this modality require both video rate image acquisition and fast data post-processing algorithms. First, one must check the physical realizability of the experimental Mueller matrices in order to filter out non-physical data, i.e. to test the positive semi-definiteness of the 4 × 4 Hermitian coherency matrix calculated from the elements of corresponding Mueller matrix pixel-wise. For this purpose, we compared the execution time for the calculations of (i) eigenvalues, (ii) Cholesky decomposition, (iii) Sylvester’s criterion, and (iv) coefficients of the characteristic polynomial (two different approaches) of the Hermitian coherency matrix, all calculated for the experimental Mueller matrix images (600 pixels × 700 pixels) of mouse uterine cervix. The calculations were performed using C++ and Julia programming languages.

Results

Our results showed the superiority of the algorithm (iv) based on the simplification via Pauli matrices over other algorithms for our dataset. The sequential implementation of latter algorithm on a single core already satisfies the requirements of real-time polarimetric imaging. This can be further amplified by the proposed parallelization (e.g. we achieve a 5-fold speed up on six cores).

Availability and implementation

The source codes of the algorithms and experimental data are available at https://github.com/pogudingleb/mueller_matrices.
KRAGEN: a knowledge graph-enhanced RAG framework for biomedical problem solving using large language models
Authors: Matsumoto Nicholas , Moran Jay , Choi Hyunjun , Hernandez Miguel E , Venkatesan Mythreye , Wang Paul , Moore Jason H
Published: June 2024

Motivation

Answering and solving complex problems using a large language model (LLM) given a certain domain such as biomedicine is a challenging task that requires both factual consistency and logic, and LLMs often suffer from some major limitations, such as hallucinating false or irrelevant information, or being influenced by noisy data. These issues can compromise the trustworthiness, accuracy, and compliance of LLM-generated text and insights.

Results

Knowledge Retrieval Augmented Generation ENgine (KRAGEN) is a new tool that combines knowledge graphs, Retrieval Augmented Generation (RAG), and advanced prompting techniques to solve complex problems with natural language. KRAGEN converts knowledge graphs into a vector database and uses RAG to retrieve relevant facts from it. KRAGEN uses advanced prompting techniques: namely graph-of-thoughts (GoT), to dynamically break down a complex problem into smaller subproblems, and proceeds to solve each subproblem by using the relevant knowledge through the RAG framework, which limits the hallucinations, and finally, consolidates the subproblems and provides a solution. KRAGEN’s graph visualization allows the user to interact with and evaluate the quality of the solution’s GoT structure and logic.

Availability and implementation

KRAGEN is deployed by running its custom Docker containers. KRAGEN is available as open-source from GitHub at: https://github.com/EpistasisLab/KRAGEN.
FishTEDB 2.0: an update fish transposable element (TE) database with new functions to facilitate TE research
Authors: Shao Feng , Zeng Minzhi , Xu Xiaofei , Zhang Huahao , Peng Zuogang
Published: June 2024

We launched the initial version of FishTEDB in 2018, which aimed to establish an open-source, user-friendly, data-rich transposable element (TE) database. Over the past 5 years, FishTEDB 1.0 has gained approximately 10 000 users, accumulating more than 450 000 interactions. With the unveiling of extensive fish genome data and the increasing emphasis on TE research, FishTEDB needs to extend the richness of data and functions. To achieve the above goals, we introduced 33 new fish species to FishTEDB 2.0, encompassing a wide array of fish belonging to 48 orders. To make the updated database more functional, we added a genome browser to visualize the positional relationship between TEs and genes and the estimated TE insertion time in different species. In conclusion, we released a new version of the fish TE database, FishTEDB 2.0, designed to assist researchers in the future study of TE functions and promote the progress of biological theories related to TEs.

Database URL: https://www.fishtedb.com/
Cash Versus Kind: Benchmarking a Child Nutrition Program Against Unconditional Cash Transfers in Rwanda
Authors: McIntosh Craig , Zeitlin Andrew
Published: June 2024

We develop a methodology to benchmark in-kind programs against cost-equivalent cash transfers. Our application compares a multi-dimensional child nutrition intervention to unconditional cash transfers, using randomised variation in transfer amounts and regression adjustment of expenditures to estimate impacts of cash transfers at identical cost as well as to estimate the return to increasing cash transfer amounts. While neither the in-kind program nor a cost-equivalent transfer costing $124 per household moves core child outcomes within a year, cash transfers create significantly greater consumption and asset accumulation. A larger cash transfer costing $517 substantially improves consumption and investment outcomes and drives modest improvements in dietary diversity and child growth.
Critical language pedagogues in Japan: enhancing student receptivity
Authors: Jackson Lachlan , Kennett Belinda
Published: June 2024

This paper reports on part of a larger study of critical language pedagogy (CLP) in university EFL classes in Japan. Through in-depth semi-structured interviews, we examined the philosophies, approaches, pedagogic choices, and adaptations of nineteen self-identifying critical pedagogues. Here, we focus on the theme of student receptivity to the use of critical practices. We report that the majority of teachers thought that CLP was viable in their situations and we show the strategies that they have used to make it work. We particularly focus on the ways in which teachers have created classroom environments conducive to communication about challenging issues. The results may inform and guide teachers in their own explorations of CLP as they make decisions relevant to their own educational contexts.
Opportunity begets opportunity to drive macroevolutionary dynamics of a diverse lizard radiation
Authors: Alencar Laura R V , Schwery Orlando , Gade Meaghan R , Domínguez-Guerrero Saúl F , Tarimo Eliza , Bodensteiner Brooke L , Uyeda Josef C , Muñoz Martha M
Published: June 2024

Evolution proceeds unevenly across the tree of life, with some lineages accumulating diversity more rapidly than others. Explaining this disparity is challenging as similar evolutionary triggers often do not result in analogous shifts across the tree, and similar shifts may reflect different evolutionary triggers. We used a combination of approaches to directly consider such context-dependency and untangle the complex network of processes that shape macroevolutionary dynamics, focusing on Pleurodonta, a diverse radiation of lizards. Our approach shows that some lineage-wide signatures are lost when conditioned on sublineages: while viviparity appears to accelerate diversification, its effect size is overestimated by its association with the Andean mountains. Conversely, some signals that erode at broader phylogenetic scales emerge at shallower ones. Mountains, in general, do not affect speciation rates; rather, the occurrence in the Andean mountains specifically promotes diversification. Likewise, the evolution of larger sizes catalyzes diversification rates, but only within certain ecological and geographical settings. We caution that conventional methods of fitting models to entire trees may mistakenly assign diversification heterogeneity to specific factors despite evidence against their plausibility. Our study takes a significant stride toward disentangling confounding factors and identifying plausible sources of ecological opportunities in the diversification of large evolutionary radiations.
Leadership Matters: Investigating the Association Between Nursing Home Administrator Turnover and Quality
Authors: Pradhan Rohit , Ghiasi Akbar , Weech-Maldonado Robert
Published: June 2024

Background and Objectives

Existing research has associated nursing home (NH) staff turnover with poor performance, yet the impact of nursing home administrator (NHA) turnover remains relatively understudied. This study aimed to explore the relationship between NHA turnover and NH quality, and to determine if this relationship was mediated by registered nurse (RN) turnover.

Research Design and Methods

Utilizing data from multiple secondary sources, including the Care Compare: Skilled Nursing Facility Quality Reporting Program (SNF QRP) and LTCFocus.org, this study employed a longitudinal analysis covering the period 2021–2022 (n = 19,645). The dependent variable was quality star ratings from SNF QRP, whereas the independent variable was NHA turnover, reflecting the number of administrators who left each facility annually. We used Baron and Kenny’s mediation testing method, incorporating 2-way fixed effects (state and year level) with appropriate organizational and market level control variables.

Results

The results affirmed that NHA turnover negatively affected quality, decreasing the likelihood of a higher star rating by 14% with one departure and 25% with multiple departures (p = .001). Additionally, NHA turnover correlated with an increase in RN turnover by 7% and 11%, respectively, for one and multiple departures (p = .001). RN turnover fully mediated the impact of NHA turnover on quality, nullifying the direct effect of NHA turnover.

Discussion and Implications

The results of this study highlight the synergistic relationship between administrators and caregivers in NHs. To enhance NHA retention, NHs should improve compensation and benefits. Nonetheless, broader governmental support and interventions might be necessary to sustain these improvements.
The phosphorylation of a WD40-repeat protein negatively regulates flavonoid biosynthesis in Camellia sinensis under drought stress
Authors: Li Zhu , Han Yunyun , Li Xin , Zhao Jingjuan , Wang Nana , Wen Yangyang , Li Tongtong , Su Huangqiang , Gao Liping , Xia Tao , Liu Yajun
Published: June 2024

Flavonoids constitute the main nutraceuticals in the leaves of tea plants (Camellia sinensis). To date, although it is known that drought stress can negatively impact the biosynthesis of flavonoids in tea leaves, the mechanism behind this phenomenon is unclear. Herein, we report a protein phosphorylation mechanism that negatively regulates the biosynthesis of flavonoids in tea leaves in drought conditions. Transcriptional analysis revealed the downregulation of gene expression of flavonoid biosynthesis and the upregulation of CsMPK4a encoding a mitogen-activated protein kinase in leaves. Luciferase complementation and yeast two-hybrid assays disclosed that CsMPK4a interacted with CsWD40. Phosphorylation assay in vitro, specific protein immunity, and analysis of protein mass spectrometry indicated that Ser-216, Thr-221, and Ser-253 of CsWD40 were potential phosphorylation sites of CsMPK4a. Besides, the protein immunity analysis uncovered an increased phosphorylation level of CsWD40 in tea leaves under drought conditions. Mutation of the three phosphorylation sites generated dephosphorylated CsWD403A and phosphorylated CsWD403D variants, which were introduced into the Arabidopsis ttg1 mutant. Metabolic analysis showed that the anthocyanin and proanthocyanidin content was lower in ttg1:CsWD403D transgenic plants than ttg1::CsWD403A transgenic and wild type plants. The transient overexpression of CsWD403D downregulated the anthocyanidin biosynthesis in tea leaves. The dual-fluorescein protein complementation experiment showed that CsWD403D did not interact with CsMYB5a and CsAN2, two key transcription factors of procyanidins and anthocyanidins biosynthesis in tea plant. These findings indicate that the phosphorylation of CsWD40 by CsMPK4a downregulates the flavonoid biosynthesis in tea plants in drought stresses.