bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Covering random graphs with monochromatic trees
Authors: Bradač Domagoj , Bucić Matija
Published: November 2022

Given an ‐edge‐colored complete graph , how many monochromatic connected components does one need in order to cover its vertex set? This natural question is a well‐known essentially equivalent formulation of the classical Ryser's conjecture which, despite a lot of attention over the last 50 years, still remains open. A number of recent papers consider a sparse random analogue of this question, asking for the minimum number of monochromatic components needed to cover the vertex set of an ‐edge‐colored random graph . Recently, Bucić, Korándi, and Sudakov established a connection between this problem and a certain Helly‐type local to global question for hypergraphs raised about 30 years ago by Erdős, Hajnal, and Tuza. We identify a modified version of the hypergraph problem which controls the answer to the problem of covering random graphs with monochromatic components more precisely. To showcase the power of our approach, we essentially resolve the 3‐color case by showing that is a threshold at which point three monochromatic components are needed to cover all vertices of a 3‐edge‐colored random graph, answering a question posed by Kohayakawa, Mendonça, Mota, and Schülke. Our approach also allows us to determine the answer in the general ‐edge colored instance of the problem, up to lower order terms, around the point when it first becomes bounded, answering a question of Bucić, Korándi, and Sudakov.
Green hydrogen partnerships with the Global South. Advancing an energy justice perspective on “tomorrow's oil”
Authors: Lindner Robert
Published: November 2022

Fuel cells and other hydrogen‐based technologies are increasingly seen as a key pillar of global decarbonization efforts. A major challenge to be overcome is the future availability of large quantities of affordable green hydrogen to supply the envisioned hydrogen economy. Several industrialized countries have formulated ambitious national hydrogen strategies that rely heavily on importing green hydrogen from other countries, including countries in the Global South that are rich in renewable energy. This paper is based on an extensive literature review and policy analysis. It provides the first structured overview of existing and emerging North–South green hydrogen partnerships and analyzes them through the lens of energy justice theory. The findings show that international collaboration has increased significantly in recent years, with a clear focus on Brazil, Egypt, India, and Morocco. Partnerships are led by both government and private sector actors and mainly take the form of pilot projects, feasibility studies, and scientific collaboration. The paper also points out that existing partnerships have several shortcomings, such as the lack of sociopolitical considerations and the dominance of donor economic priorities over sustainable development in partner countries. Finally, the paper discusses how an energy justice perspective could help improve future partnership approaches to achieve the twin goals of global climate change mitigation and sustainable development in the Global South.
A Density Functional Theory Study on Rechargeable Mg‐ion Batteries: C20 Fullerene as a Promising Anode Material
Authors: Kose Ahmet , Yuksel Numan , Ferdi Fellah Mehmet
Published: November 2022

In this study, the applicability of C20 fullerene as anode material in Mg‐ion batteries was investigated by Density Functional Theory (DFT). The interaction energy of the Mg2+ ion on C20 structure was found as −147.3 kcal/mol. The HOMO‐LUMO gap value decreased during Mg interaction on C20 structure while it increased during Mg2+ interaction. The charge distributions obtained after the interactions of Mg atoms on C20 show that charge transfer has taken place. The storage capacity value of C20 structure was calculated to be 893 mAhg−1. The diffusion barrier was calculated as 1.9 kcal/mol. In addition, the diffusion coefficient for Mg and Mg2+ on C20 structure were computed as 1.5×10−25 and 4.61×10−4, respectively. Consequently, the high storage capacity, high conductivity and low diffusion barrier for discharge/charge process and the suitability of the diffusion coefficient suggest that C20 fullerene structure can be used as a potential anode material in rechargeable Mg‐ion batteries.
The dynamics of related diversification: Evidence from the health insurance industry following the Affordable Care Act
Authors: Zhou Yue Maggie , Yang Weikun , Ethiraj Sendil
Published: November 2022

Research Summary

We provide a theory of when relatedness will encourage both diversifying entry and post‐entry exit. Our formal model reveals two channels through which resource sharing in combination with firm capabilities affects diversifying entry and post‐entry exit. Facing business opportunities in a new segment, low capability firms from a more related segment expect to benefit from more synergies and are therefore more likely to enter than firms with similar capability but from less related segments. Post entry, unfavorable shocks in the new segment tighten the survival criteria and drive some more related but low capability firms out. These predictions are supported using data on U.S. health insurance firms' entry into and exit from the Affordable Care Act market from 2013 to 2017.

Managerial Summary

When would factors that favor related diversifiers' entry into a new business segment also encourage their exit post‐entry? Using data on U.S. health insurance firms' entry into and exit from the Affordable Care Act (ACA) market from 2013 to 2017, we find that more related diversifiers (i.e., insurers offering Medicaid), especially the low capability ones, are more likely to enter ACA. However, facing cost shocks in the new segment, more related diversifiers, especially the low capability ones, are more likely to exit than less related diversifiers (i.e., insurers offering no Medicaid). This is consistent with our formal model that predicts a selection at entry that favors related diversifiers due to expected synergies and an adverse selection post‐entry against low capability related diversifiers.
Apigenin attenuates inflammatory response in allergic rhinitis mice by inhibiting the TLR4/MyD88/NF‐κB signaling pathway
Authors: Li Huajing , Zhang Hongmei , Zhao Hua
Published: November 2022

Background

Allergic rhinitis (AR) is an immunoglobulin E (IgE)‐mediated immune inflammatory response that mainly affects the nasal mucosa. Currently, there is evidence that apigenin, as a flavonoid, has anti‐allergic potential.

Material/Methods

In vitro, compound 48/80 and lipopolysaccharide (LPS) were used to induce mast cell activation and inflammation in HMC‐1 cells. In vivo, ovalbumin (OVA) induced and stimulated AR in BALB/c mice. ELISA was used to detect the contents of β‐hexosaminidase, histamine, eosinophil cationic protein (ECP), OVA‐specific IgE, IgG1, and IgG2a, inflammatory factors in cells and mouse serum. Cell viability and apoptosis were measured with MTT and flow cytometry. Toll like receptor 4 (TLR4)/myeloid differentiation factor88 (MyD88)/Nuclear transcription factor‐κB (NF‐κB) pathway‐related proteins in cells and mouse nasal mucosa tissues were analyzed with Western blotting. The levels of Th1 (IFN‐γ) and Th2 (IL‐4, IL‐5, and IL‐13) cytokines and Th1 (T‐bet) and Th2 (GATA‐3) specific transcription factors were also assessed. The ratio of Th1 (CD4+IFN‐γ+) / Th2 (CD4+IL‐4+) cells in mouse peripheral blood mononuclear cells was evaluated by flow cytometry.

Results

Apigenin significantly inhibited compound 48/80‐induced secretion of β‐hexosaminidase and histamine. Apigenin blocked LPS‐induced decrease in cell viability and increase in cell apoptosis and inflammatory cytokine secretion by suppressing the activity of the TLR4/MyD88/NF‐κB pathway. Apigenin treatment reduced the levels of OVA‐specific IgE, IgG1 and IgG2a as well as β‐hexosaminidase, histamine and ECP levels in mouse serum. Moreover, administration with apigenin decreased Th2 cytokine and transcription factor levels and increased Th1 cytokine and transcription factor levels, and promoted the ratio of Th1/Th2 cells in AR mice. Additionally, apigenin significantly alleviated nasal symptoms and nasal eosinophil infiltration in AR mice.

Conclusions

Apigenin alleviates the inflammatory response of allergic rhinitis by inhibiting the activity of the TLR4/MyD88/NF‐κB signaling pathway.
Genomic selection strategies to increase genetic gain in tea breeding programs
Authors: Lubanga Nelson , Massawe Festo , Mayes Sean , Gorjanc Gregor , Bančič Jon
Published: November 2022

Tea [Camellia sinensis (L.) O. Kuntze] is mainly grown in low‐ to middle‐income countries (LMIC) and is a global commodity. Breeding programs in these countries face the challenge of increasing genetic gain because the accuracy of selecting superior genotypes is low and resources are limited. Phenotypic selection (PS) is traditionally the primary method of developing improved tea varieties and can take over 16 yr. Genomic selection (GS) can be used to improve the efficiency of tea breeding by increasing selection accuracy and shortening the generation interval and breeding cycle. Our main objective was to investigate the potential of implementing GS in tea‐breeding programs to speed up genetic progress despite the low cost of PS in LMIC. We used stochastic simulations to compare three GS‐breeding programs with a Pedigree and PS program. The PS program mimicked a practical commercial tea‐breeding program over a 40‐yr breeding period. All the GS programs achieved at least 1.65 times higher genetic gains than the PS program and 1.4 times compared with Seed‐Ped program. Seed‐GSc was the most cost‐effective strategy of implementing GS in tea‐breeding programs. It introduces GS at the seedlings stage to increase selection accuracy early in the program and reduced the generation interval to 2 yr. The Seed‐Ped program outperformed PS by 1.2 times and could be implemented where it is not possible to use GS. Our results indicate that GS could be used to improve genetic gain per unit time and cost even in cost‐constrained tea‐breeding programs.
Migration patterns and habitat use by molt migrant temperate‐breeding Canada geese in James Bay, Canada
Authors: Sorais Manon , Patenaude‐Monette Martin , Sharp Christopher , Askren Ryan , LaRocque Armand , Leblon Brigitte , Giroux Jean‐François
Published: November 2022

Numbers of temperate‐breeding Atlantic and Mississippi Flyway Canada geese have greatly increased since the 1980s. Consequently, numbers of yearlings, sub‐adults and failed breeders undertaking pre‐molt migration to northern latitudes has also increased, potentially providing additional hunting opportunities for Cree hunters living near James Bay, Canada. We described movement patterns and habitat use of molt migrant Canada geese Brenta canadensis maxima along the east coast of James Bay based on nine geese fitted with GSM–GPS devices during 11 northward and eight southward migrations between 2015 and 2019. Geese staged for 2.8 ± 0.6 days (mean ± standard error of the mean) at 3.2 ± 0.6 staging sites (mostly tidal flats and salt marshes) from the first week of June in spring and 3.8 ± 1.8 days at 2.0 ± 0.5 staging sites (mostly inland freshwater wetlands, peatlands and tidal flats) from the first week of September when returning south. Shallow and deep water habitats were used as resting sites during both migrations. In spring, molt migrants were mostly harvested in June well after the migration of sub‐arctic breeding geese whereas in autumn, both subspecies were harvested in September. Molt migrant temperate‐breeding geese can increase harvest opportunities and represent supplementary wildlife food for Cree communities. However, the current number of molt migrant geese harvested by Cree hunters is not sufficient to significantly impact populations of temperate‐breeding geese.
Taking a step towards understanding interactions between teacher efficacy in behavior management and the social learning environment: a two-level multilevel analysis
Authors: Bapst M. S. , Genoud P. A. , Hascoët M.
Published: November 2022

Behavior management in the classroom is well known for being a challenge and a source of stress for preservice and experienced teachers alike. This means it may not only impact teachers’ self-efficacy beliefs, but teachers’ efficacy perceived by their students too, engendering effects on the social learning environment and vice-versa. This article aims at taking a step towards a better understanding of which aspects of the social learning environment preservice teachers and their students take into account when positioning themselves on behavior management efficacy. It then goes onto exploring how students’ perception of teacher efficacy in behavior management varies across classes and how it interacts with the social learning environment through a two-level model analysis. Results showed that the social learning environment’s dimensions are associated with the perception of teacher efficacy by students. On one hand, students perceive that efficacy in behavior management is linked to the social learning environment and therefore expect that an efficient teacher in this area will be able to create a healthy relationship with appropriate rules and class organization. On the other, when it comes to preservice teachers, findings seem to show the importance of the training program and how it supports self-efficacy beliefs throughout first teaching experiences as results go in the direction of confirming that these beliefs stabilize fairly early on, because unlike the students, the preservice teachers seem to take other aspects than the learning environment into account while evaluating their self-efficacy regarding behavior management. Finally, this research adds yet another element to the observation that effective behavior management within the classroom requires a positive relationship between teachers and their students. In addition, the way rules and organization are taken into account by students demonstrates the need for a proactive approach in which teachers’ expectations are clear.
Morphometric and physiological development confirm skull ossification level as a reliable indicator of age in a passerine bird, the Noisy Miner
Authors: Etezadifar Farzaneh , Major Richard , McDonald Paul G.
Published: November 2022

In birds, several physiological characters have been proposed and tested as possible criteria of age. Among them, skull development is likely to provide a valuable reflection of other physiological developments, however the relationship between skull ossification and other physiological and morphometric traits has rarely been quantified within species. Here, we investigated suitability of skull ossification as an indicator of age in Noisy Miners (Manorina melanocephala), an Australian passerine bird. We compared skull ossification with other age indicators including the bursa of Fabricius, gonadal development, and a range of commonly used body size measures that included wing length and tarsus length. We carried out morphological measurements on 1251 individual Noisy Miner carcasses that had been collected during a culling experiment in November, December and May 2015–2016 from north-eastern NSW, Australia. The probability of a bursa of Fabricius being present in an individual bird changed with skull ossification level, with a significant reduction in the size of the bursa of Fabricius correlating with the degree of skull ossification. In male Noisy Miners, birds that were at a later stage of skull ossification had significantly larger testis size than those with a lower stages of skull ossification. In females, ovary size increased significantly as skull ossification progressed. In both sexes, skull ossification level was also correlated with body mass and skeletal measures. Given this, the level of skull ossification in Noisy Miners accurately correlates with other age indicators, and can justifiably be used as a non-invasive aging method in the field for live birds.
Size matters: biochemical mineralization and microbial incorporation of dicarboxylic acids in soil
Authors: Kashi Hamed , Loeppmann Sebastian , Herschbach Jennifer , Schink Carina , Imhof Wolfgang , Kouchaksaraee Reza Mohsenian , Dippold Michaela A. , Spielvogel Sandra
Published: November 2022

The transformation and turnover time of medium- to long-chain dicarboxylic acids (DCA) in soil is regulated by microbial uptake and mineralization. However, the chain length of n-alkyl lipids may have a remarkable influence on its microbial utilization and mineralization and therefore on the formation of stable soil organic carbon from e.g. leave- needle- and root-derived organic matter during decomposition. To investigate their size dependent mineralization and microbial incorporation, four DCA of different chain lengths (12–30 carbon atoms), that were 13C labeled at each of their terminal carboxylic groups, were applied to the Ah horizon of a Fluvic Gleysol. Incorporation of 13C into CO2 and in distinct microbial groups classified by phospholipid fatty acid (PLFA) analysis was investigated. Mineralization of DCA and incorporation into PLFA decreased with increasing chain length, and the mineralization rate was highest during the first days of incubation. Half-life time of DCA carbon in soil increased from 7.6 days for C12 DCA to 86.6 days for C18 DCA and decreased again to 46.2 days for C22 DCA, whereas C30 DCA had the longest half-life time. Rapid and efficient uptake of C12 DCA as an intact molecule was observable. Gram-negative bacteria incorporated higher amounts of DCA-derived 13C compared to other microbial groups, especially compared to actinomycetes and fungi during the first phase of incubation. However, the incorporation of C12 DCA derived 13C into the PLFA of actinomycetes, and fungi increased steadily during the entire incubation time, suggesting that those groups take up the 13C label from necromass of bacteria that used the C12 DCA for formation of their lipids before.
Insights into product design students’ perception of, and engagement with, creativity in design education
Authors: McInerney Dermot
Published: November 2022

Creativity is acknowledged as an essential component of the design process and considered a key design graduate attribute. Despite this assertion, several studies have highlighted that the teaching of creativity in design education is often implicit rather than explicit. Moreover, there is a paucity of research on product design students’ experience of creativity in design education, leaving a gap in knowledge relevant to how creativity may be better fostered in design education. In this study, reflexive thematic analysis was used to analyse the data from online focus groups conducted with product design students. The three themes constructed provide insights into how students perceive and engage with creativity. Theme 1,the influence of social factors on creativity, uncovers the diametric effect students’ social eco-system can have on their creativity. These include an aversion to being associated with it due to weight of expectation and negative perceptions around creativity, as well as the ‘invisible support system’ created by peers. Theme 2,sanctuary seeking tendencies of novice design students, reveals behaviours that oppose essential creative attributes: a freedom from risk and ambiguity and desire for certainty and achievability. Theme 3,tension between passion for and pursuit of creativity, outlines the conflict between participants’ ideologies and actions when pursuing creativity highlighting a reluctance to utilise structured creativity tools while gravitating towards unstructured methods such as ‘relaxed attention’. Together, the three themes form a picture of product design students’ complex relationship with creativity and importance of self-efficacy. The findings of this study make an important contribution to our understanding of design students’ perception of, and engagement with, creativity in design education. As such these findings are relevant for both design education and future creativity tool development.
A conversational agent for emotion expression stimulation in persons with neurodevelopmental disorders
Authors: Catania Fabio , Garzotto Franca
Published: November 2022

Difficulty in emotion expression and recognition is typical of the personality trait known as alexithymia, which is often observed in persons with neurodevelopmental disorders (NDD). Past research has investigated various forms of conversational technology for people with NDD, but only a few studies have explored the use of conversational agents to reduce alexithymia. This paper presents Emoty, a speech-based conversational agent designed for people with NDD to train emotional communication skills. An original characteristic of this agent is that it exploits the emotional expression power of the voice. Emoty engages users in small conversations during which they are asked to repeat sentences and express specific emotions using the appropriate vocal tone. We ran an empirical study to evaluate the usability and effectiveness of our conversational agent. The study involved 19 Italian individuals with NDD and alexithymia aged from 29 to 45 (10 women and 9 men). They used Emoty in five individual sessions over two and a half months. The results showed that two subjects encountered problems using the system because they had difficulty verbalizing the sentences and were not understood by Emoty. The others performed the assigned tasks with the agent. Their capability to express emotions with the voice consistently improved, and other benefits were observed in other social and communication skills.
Prosecuting Crimes Against Humanity: Complementarity, Victims’ Rights and Domestic Courts
Authors: Maguire Ruairi
Published: November 2022

In this paper I argue that when states commit, assist, or culpably fail to prevent crimes against humanity against their own people, they should, subsequently, have primacy in prosecuting those crimes. They have a presumptive right (and duty) to punish perpetrators, and so a claim against third parties not to do so. In contrast to those who emphasise the importance of national sovereignty, I set out a victim-centred justification for this claim. I argue that victims of crimes against humanity, and members of groups that have been targeted for these crimes, have a special interest in having their status as members of their political community re-affirmed. Punishment by their state of war-related crimes against them has the expressive function of re-affirming their status as equal members of their national community, and the state’s commitment to protecting their rights. I set out some reasons to think that this is valuable for victims and members of targeted groups. These interests, I argue, are weighty enough to ground the primacy of states in prosecution.
Welche Auswirkungen haben größere Wahlkreise auf das politische Verhalten? Ein empirischer Beitrag zur Wahlrechtsreform
Authors: Sohnius Marie-Lou , Gschwend Thomas , Rittmann Oliver
Published: November 2022

Welche Veränderungen bringt eine Vergrößerung einzelner Wahlkreise für das Verhältnis von Wählenden und Gewählten mit sich? Der Bundestag wächst mit jeder Wahl weiter an, doch dem soll, unter anderem, durch die Arbeit der „Kommission zur Reform des Wahlrechts und zur Modernisierung der Parlamentsarbeit“ entgegengewirkt werden. Eine der meistdiskutierten Empfehlungen zur Eindämmung der Bundestagsgröße ist die Verringerung der Anzahl der Wahlkreise. Jene Maßnahme wird jedoch oft kritisiert, da eine damit einhergehende Vergrößerung einzelner Wahlkreise nicht nur praktisch, sondern auch politisch zu weniger Nähe zwischen Abgeordneten und Bürger*innen führen könnte. Mithilfe von Daten akademischer Nachwahlstudien für alle Bundestagswahlen von 2002–2021 in Kombination mit Strukturdaten aller Wahlkreise des Bundeswahlleiters untersuchen wir, welche möglichen Konsequenzen es für Wähler*innen hätte, wenn die Anzahl der deutschen Bundestagswahlkreise von bisher 299 verkleinert würde. Die Ergebnisse zeigen, dass größere Wahlkreise weder hinsichtlich der Zunahme der Bevölkerung noch der Fläche des Wahlkreisgebietes mit geringerer Demokratiezufriedenheit oder Bürgerkompetenz („political efficacy“) von Wähler*innen in Deutschland einhergehen. Wenn also die Zusammenlegung von Wahlkreisen dazu beiträgt, die Größe des Bundestags zu verkleinern, so gibt es in Hinsicht auf die von uns untersuchten Faktoren keine erkennbaren Gründe seitens der Wählenden gegen eine jene Reform.
Neurorehabilitation of Offenders, Consent and Consequentialist Ethics
Authors: Lara Francisco
Published: November 2022

The new biotechnology raises expectations for modifying human behaviour through its use. This article focuses on the ethical analysis of the not so remote possibility of rehabilitating criminals by means of neurotechnological techniques. The analysis is carried out from a synthetic position of, on the one hand, the consequentialist conception of what is right and, on the other hand, the emphasis on individual liberties. As a result, firstly, the ethical appropriateness of adopting a general predisposition for allowing the neurorehabilitation of prisoners only if it is safe and if they give their consent will be defended. But, at the same time, reasons will be given for requiring, in certain circumstances, the exceptional use of neurotechnology to rehabilitate severely psychopathic prisoners, even against their will, from the same ethical perspective.
Effectiveness of a Brief Mindfulness-Based Intervention of “STOP touching your face” During the COVID-19 Pandemic: a Randomized Controlled Trial
Authors: Tang Jinsong , Wang Ling , Luo Tao , Wu Shiyou , Wu Zhenzhen , Chen Jianhua , Pan Chen , Wang Yunfei , Liu Yueheng , Luo Qinghua , Guo Xin , Xie Liqin , Zhou Jun , Sun Yunkai , Chen Wei , Liao Yanhui
Published: November 2022

Objectives

Avoiding touching the eyes, nose, and mouth (T-zone) is a strategy to reduce the spread of COVID-19. This study evaluated the effectiveness of a brief mindfulness-based intervention (MBI) named “STOP (Stop, Take a Breath, Observe, Proceed) touching your face” for reducing face-touching behavior.

Methods

In this online-based, two-arm, wait-list, randomized controlled trial, eligible participants were randomly assigned to the intervention (n = 545) or control group (n = 545). The results of 60-min self-monitoring of face-touching behavior were reported before and after the intervention. Reduction of the percentage of T-zone touching was the primary outcome, and reduction of face-touching frequency was a key secondary outcome. Outcomes were analyzed on an intention-to-treat (ITT) basis with a complete case analysis (CCA).

Results

ITT analysis revealed that the percentage of T-zone touching was significantly reduced by 8.1% in the intervention group (from 81.1 to 73.0%, RR = 0.901, OR = 0.631, RD =  − 0.081, p = 0.002), and insignificantly reduced by 0.6% in the control group (from 80.0 to 79.4%, p = 0.821). Fewer participants performed T-zone touching in the intervention group than in the control group (73.0% vs. 79.4%, RR = 0.919, OR = 0.700, RD =  − 0.064, p = 0.015) after the intervention, and there was a greater reduction of T-zone touching frequency in the intervention group than in the control group [mean ± SD: 1.7 ± 5.13 vs. 0.7 ± 3.98, mean difference (95% CI): 1.03 (0.48 to 1.58), p < 0.001, Cohen’s d =  − 0.218]. The above results were further confirmed by CCA.

Conclusions

This brief mindfulness-based intervention was potentially effective at reducing the spread of COVID-19 and could be further investigated as an intervention for preventing other infectious diseases spread by hand-to-face touching.

Trial Registration

ClinicalTrials.gov NCT04330352.
Phytochemical and pharmacological studies on Solanum lyratum: a review
Authors: Zhao Yue , Gao Wen-Ke , Wang Xiang-Dong , Zhang Li-Hua , Yu Hai-Yang , Wu Hong-Hua
Published: November 2022

Solanum lyratum is one of the temperate plants, broadly distributed in Korea, China, Japan, India, and South-East Asia and well-documented in those oriental ethnic medicine systems for curing cancers, jaundice, edema, gonorrhea, cholecystitis, phlogosis, rheumatoid arthritis, etc. This review systematically summarized the research progress on S. lyratum respecting the botany, traditional uses, phytochemistry, pharmacology, and toxicology to increase people's in-depth understanding of this plant, by data retrieval in a series of online or off-line electronic databases as far as we can reach. Steroidal saponins and alkaloids, terpenoids, nitrogenous compounds, and flavonoid compounds are the main chemical constituents in S. lyratum. Among them, steroidal alkaloids and saponins are the major active ingredients ever found in S. lyratum, exerting activities of anti-cancer, anti-inflammation, anti-microbial, anti-allergy, and anti-oxidation in vivo or in vitro. As a result, S. lyratum has been frequently prescribed for the abovementioned therapeutic purposes, and there are substantial traditional and modern shreds of evidence of its use.

Graphical Abstract
Fully adaptive recommendation paradigm: top-enhanced recommender distillation for intelligent education systems
Authors: Ren Yimeng , Liang Kun , Shang Yuhu , Zhang Xiankun
Published: November 2022

Top-N recommendation has received great attention in assisting students in providing personalized learning guidance on the required subject/domain. Generally, existing approaches mainly aim to maximize the overall accuracy of the recommendation list while ignoring the accuracy of highly ranked recommended exercises, which seriously affects the students’ learning enthusiasm. Motivated by the Knowledge Distillation (KD) technique, we skillfully design a fully adaptive recommendation paradigm named Top-enhanced Recommender Distillation framework (TERD) to improve the recommendation effect of the top positions. Specifically, the proposed TERD transfers the knowledge of an arbitrary recommender (teacher network), and injects it into a well-designed student network. The prior knowledge provided by the teacher network, including student-exercise embeddings, and candidate exercise subsets, are further utilized to define the state and action space of the student network (i.e., DDQN). In addition, the student network introduces a well-designed state representation scheme and an effective individual ability tracing model to enhance the recommendation accuracy of top positions. The developed TERD follows a flexible model-agnostic paradigm that not only simplifies the action space of the student network, but also promotes the recommendation accuracy of the top position, thus enhancing the students’ motivation and engagement in e-learning environment. We implement our proposed approach on three well-established datasets and evaluate its Top-enhanced performance. The experimental evaluation on three publicly available datasets shows that our proposed TERD scheme effectively resolves the Top-enhanced recommendation issue.
Boundary Transitions Within, Across, and Beyond a Set of Digital Resources: Brokering in College Algebra
Authors: Johnson Heather Lynn , Olson Gary , Tsinnajinnie Belin , Bechtold Livvia
Published: November 2022

We address a problem of promoting instructional transformation in early undergraduate mathematics courses, via an intervention incorporating novel digital resources (“techtivities”), in conjunction with a faculty learning community (FLC). The techtivities can serve as boundary objects, in order to bridge different communities to which instructors belong. Appealing to Etienne Wenger’s Communities of Practice theory, we theorise a role of the instructor as a broker, facilitating “boundary transitions” within, across, and beyond a set of digital resources. By “boundary transition”, we mean a transition that is also a brokering move; instructors connect different communities as they draw links between items in their instruction. To ground our argument, we provide empirical evidence from an instructor, Rachel, whose boundary transitions served three functions: (1) to position the techtivities as something that count in the classroom community and connect to topics valued by the broader mathematics community; (2) to communicate to students that their reasoning matters more than whether they provide a correct answer, a practice promoted in the FLC; (3) to connect students’ responses to mathematical ideas discussed in the FLC, in which graphs represent a relationship between variables. Instructors’ boundary transitions can serve to legitimise novel digital resources within an existing course and thereby challenge the status quo in courses where skills and procedures may take precedence over reasoning and sense-making.
Development and actualization of brownfields database with the use of unmanned aerial vehicles - the case of Upper Silesia, Poland
Authors: Zgórska Aleksandra , Hamerla Adam , Bondaruk Jan , Zawartka Paweł
Published: November 2022

This paper presents the assumptions and the preliminary results of the project entitled “Extension of the system for management of post-mining areas in the Silesian province - OPI TPP 2.0”. The overall objective of the project is to develop and implement a new e-service in the form of an open-access information system on post-mining areas in the Silesia Voivodeship. The range of information and tools planned to be made available is dedicated to assessing the possibilities and potential for economic and social reuse of these areas. The basic and extremely important stage of the project was to identify and collect data on post-industrial sites located in the Silesia Province. The information contained in this article illustrates the activities that were carried out in the initial phase of the project in which unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV) were used to identify and acquire information on brownfields (including post-mining sites) entered into the developed common database. The article assesses the possibility of using drones in an enterprise of such a large scale and also points out the advantages of using this method. The article describes the methodology and scope of work related to the acquisition of data that can be collected using unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) covering surface infrastructure and land use of brownfields, allowing for the identification of negative phenomena on their site as well as monitoring of naturally occurring processes. Based on fieldworks experience and the results of numerous analyses carried out for different types of brownfields (e.g. post-mining areas, former transport bases, settling ponds, etc.), paper presents the advantages and benefits of drones (UAN) over other data sources used to monitor changes in an area. The article is based on the results of an inventory of over 600 brownfields located in Upper Silesia region (Silesia Voivodeship, Poland).
Enforcement of a Formal Conception of the Rule of Law as a Potential Way Forward to Address Backsliding: Hungary as a Case Study
Authors: Bárd Petra , Kazai Viktor Zoltán
Published: November 2022

The rule of law as a foundational value of European integration has been taken for granted in the Member States, along the presumption that “once a democracy, always a democracy”. This optimistic presumption proved to be wrong, when in the 2010s a top-down and systemic decline in the rule of law started, first in Hungary, then in Poland. Even though EU action against rule of law backsliding in the Member States is of existential importance for the whole European project, EU institutions seem to be either silent or too slow and inefficient when tackling the problem. In this paper we are focusing on the Court of Justice of the EU, which was emphasizing violations of a substantive understanding of the rule of law. Against this background we argue that adherence to a formal understanding or at the minimum incorporating arguments related to a formal concept of the rule of law would have been beneficial both in terms of speed and desired effect. Taking Hungary as an example we show that the lack of preliminary consultations and impact assessments during lawmaking, the enactment of significant legislative reforms in accelerated procedures without any adequate justification, the adoption of ad hominem laws, or the unclarity and unpredictability of legislation are all manifest violations of the formal understanding of the rule of law. There is significant potential in this approach that we believe the EU institutions have not exploited fully.
Electron-optical in-situ crack monitoring during electron beam powder bed fusion of the Ni-Base superalloy CMSX-4
Authors: Bäreis Johannes , Semjatov Nick , Renner Jakob , Ye Jihui , Zongwen Fu , Körner Carolin
Published: November 2022

Electron beam powder bed fusion (PBF-EB) of Ni-base superalloys such as CMSX-4 is a demanding process. Using conventional PBF-EB machines, process observation is done by mounting optical camera systems on viewing windows at the top of the build chamber. However, the concomitant metallization blocks optical observation methods with increasing build time. Therefore, build quality evaluation is normally done after the process utilizing visual inspection or subsequent metallurgical analysis. In this work, CMSX-4 is processed using a freely programmable PBF-EB machine with an electron optical (ELO) imaging system. It consists of a four-segment ELO detector and in-house developed imaging software. The ELO system works reliably for almost 30 h of build time and allows a layerwise monitoring of the build area. A comparison of in-situ ELO monitoring and the sample surfaces shows remarkable accordance. Furthermore, ELO imaging is applied to exemplarily document surface cracking over long build times. Therefore, the present study successfully demonstrates the application of ELO imaging for improved process control under the demanding test conditions of Ni-base superalloys.
Investigating factors for using insurance apps by customers: a study of a developing country
Authors: Pham Quoc Trung , Nguyen Huynh Ngoc Diem , Misra Sanjay , Misra Abhavya
Published: November 2022

With the fast development of insurtech, many researchers are doing research in understanding customer behavior regarding the adoption of insurance applications. However, there is a lack of research on the subject in developing countries such as Vietnam. The primary purpose of this article is to develop a predictive model for the intention to use the insurance application of individual customers in Vietnam. In this research, the quantitative research method is conducted based on survey data collected in Ho Chi Minh City. Data are tested using various methods, such as Cronbach’s Alpha, EFA, Pearson correlation test, and multiple linear regression. From the analysis results, some factors positively influencing the intention to use insurance applications are identified, including Trust, Ease of Use, and Usefulness. However, the impact of Risk on Usefulness is not confirmed based on the sample data. From the analysis results, some managerial implications are made to improve the intention to use insurance applications of customers in Vietnam.
The Potential Protective Role of GS-441524, a Metabolite of the Prodrug Remdesivir, in Vaccine Breakthrough SARS-CoV-2 Infections
Authors: Zhu JiaYi , Li Yuchong , Liang Jady , Mubareka Samira , Slutsky Arthur S. , Zhang Haibo
Published: November 2022

Cases of vaccine breakthrough, especially in variants of concern (VOCs) infections, are emerging in coronavirus disease (COVID-19). Due to mutations of structural proteins (SPs) (e.g., Spike proteins), increased transmissibility and risk of escaping from vaccine-induced immunity have been reported amongst the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). Remdesivir was the first to be granted emergency use authorization but showed little impact on survival in patients with severe COVID-19. Remdesivir is a prodrug of the nucleoside analogue GS-441524 which is converted into the active nucleotide triphosphate to disrupt viral genome of the conserved non-structural proteins (NSPs) and thus block viral replication. GS-441524 exerts a number of pharmacological advantages over Remdesivir: (1) it needs fewer conversions for bioactivation to nucleotide triphosphate; (2) it requires only nucleoside kinase, while Remdesivir requires several hepato-renal enzymes, for bioactivation; (3) it is a smaller molecule and has a potency for aerosol and oral administration; (4) it is less toxic allowing higher pulmonary concentrations; (5) it is easier to be synthesized. The current article will focus on the discussion of interactions between GS-441524 and NSPs of VOCs to suggest potential application of GS-441524 in breakthrough SARS-CoV-2 infections.
A Photogrammetry-Assisted Methodology for the Documentation of Complex Stratigraphic Relationships
Authors: Whitford Brent , Boyadzhiev Kamen , Ivanov Miroslav , Tyufekchiev Konstantin , Boyadzhiev Yavor
Published: November 2022

At Tell Yunatsite, a prehistoric settlement mound located in the Upper Thracian plain of Bulgaria, stratigraphic relationships between archaeological deposits are incredibly complex. Such complexity then prompted our exploration into developing a new methodology for the documentation of complex stratigraphic relationships. Here, we present the results of a new photogrammetry-assisted methodology that was developed to compensate for the shortcomings of currently utilized stratigraphic documentation methods, such as the Wheeler-Kenyon box grid and the Harris Matrix. First, using a UAV drone, we produce a high-resolution photogrammetric model of the entire site. Second, with structure from motion photogrammetry, we produce 2.5D models of excavation units in stratigraphic succession. Finally, utilizing GIS and Blender (a 3D computer graphics software application), we digitize the horizontal extents of each archaeological deposit and “fill” the space between their successive surfaces (from top to bottom) until a faithful 3D model of each deposit is generated. These deposit models are then combined and rendered simultaneously to form 3D block models of the excavation units that may, in turn, be cross-sectioned in any direction to view stratigraphic relationships in virtual profile.
Impact of gut permeability on the breast microbiome using a non-human primate model
Authors: Bawaneh Alaa , Shively Carol A. , Tooze Janet Austin , Cook Katherine Loree
Published: November 2022

We previously demonstrated in non-human primates (NHP) that Mediterranean diet consumption shifted the proportional abundance of Lactobacillus in the breast and gut. This data highlights a potential link about gut-breast microbiome interconnectivity. To address this question, we compared bacterial populations identified in matched breast and faecal samples from our NHP study. Dietary pattern concurrently shifted two species in both regions; Streptococcus lutetiensis and Ruminococcus torques. While we observe similar trends in Lactobacillus abundances in the breast and gut, the species identified in each region vary; Mediterranean diet increased Lactobacillus_ unspecified species in breast but regulated L. animalis and L. reuteri in the gut. We also investigated the impact of gut permeability on the breast microbiome. Regardless of dietary pattern, subjects that displayed increased physiological measures of gut permeability (elevated plasma lipopolysaccharide, decreased villi length, and decreased goblet cells) displayed a significantly different breast microbiome. Gut barrier dysfunction was associated with increased α-diversity and significant different β-diversity in the breast tissue. Taken together our data supports the presence of a breast microbiome influenced by diet that largely varies from the gut microbiome population but is, however, sensitive to gut permeability.
Revisiting property transfer theory: English law and Chinese law compared
Authors: Wu Zhicheng , Chen Lei
Published: November 2022

The relationship between a conveyance's validity and its underlying contract has been a classic but unsettled topic for comparative private lawyers over the past three decades. This paper attempts to add positivist and normative observations drawn from property transfer theories and practices in English and Chinese law. A jurisdiction adopting an ‘intent plus’ model does not necessarily recognise a separate intent to convey distinct from the intent in the underlying contract, as exemplified by Chinese law, while a jurisdiction adopting the ‘intent alone’ model does not necessarily deny the separate intent to convey, as exemplified by English law. One advantage for a jurisdiction that takes the separatist approach is its flexibility, so that it can still choose between pure causality, pure abstraction, or context-based abstraction at a later stage. Recent developments show that English and Chinese law are moving towards this approach. As to whether flaws in the underlying contract infect the validity of the conveyance, the English position depends on vitiating factors, whereas the mainstream Chinese judgments tend to be pro-causal. Justifications favouring causality provided in the English and Chinese academia are different, though neither can stand up to scrutiny. The detecting opportunity argument submitted in this paper helps to justify abstraction.
A Dramatic Heist of Epic Proportion: Iphigenia among the Taurians in the Acts of the Apostles
Authors: Bilby Mark G. , Lefteratou Anna
Published: November 2022

While scholars have explored the profound influence of Iphigenia among the Taurians (IT) on Greco-Roman fiction, including Christian apocryphal Acts, the play has yet to be considered seriously as a potential inspiration on the canonical Acts of the Apostles. A close comparison of IT with the story of the Ephesian riot (Acts 19:21–20:1) reveals a compelling relationship in matters of plot, setting, characterization, purpose, and themes. The Ephesus saga in Acts achieves a creatively miniaturized and satirized recasting of this famous Euripidean play.
Population-attributable risk of psychiatric disorders for suicide among adolescents and young adults in Taiwan
Authors: Hung Yi-An , Liao Shih-Cheng , Chang Chia-Ming , Chang Shu-Sen , Yang Albert C. , Chien Yi-Ling , Wu Chi-Shin , Gau Susan Shur-Fen
Published: November 2022

Background

Youth suicide rates have increased markedly in some countries. This study aimed to estimate the population-attributable risk of psychiatric disorders associated with suicide among Taiwanese youth aged 10–24 years.

Methods

Data were obtained from the National Death Registry and National Health Insurance (NHI) claims database between 2007 and 2019. Youth who died by suicide were included, and comparisons, 1:10 matched by age and sex, were randomly selected from the Registry for NHI beneficiaries. We used multivariable logistic regression to estimate suicide odds ratios for psychiatric disorders. The population-attributable fractions (PAF) were calculated for each psychiatric disorder.

Results

A total of 2345 youth suicide and 23 450 comparisons were included. Overall, 44.8% of suicides had a psychiatric disorder, while only 7.9% of the comparisons had a psychiatric disorder. The combined PAF for all psychiatric disorders was 55.9%. The top three psychiatric conditions of the largest PAFs were major depressive disorder, dysthymia, and sleep disorder. In the analysis stratified by sex, the combined PAF was 45.5% for males and 69.2% for females. The PAF among young adults aged 20–24 years (57.0%) was higher than among adolescents aged 10–19 years (48.0%).

Conclusions

Our findings of high PAF from major depressive disorder, dysthymia, and sleep disorder to youth suicides suggest that youth suicide prevention that focuses on detecting and treating mental illness may usefully target these disorders.