bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Evaluation of Thiol/Disulfide Homeostasis in Bronchiectasis
Authors: Ozyurt Songul , Ozcelik Neslihan , Kara Bilge Yilmaz , Arpa Medeni , Metin Yavuz , Erel Ozcan , Neselioglu Salim
Published: January 2022

Purpose. Thiols are sulfhydryl-containing organic compounds that have an important role in preventing cellular oxidative stress. This study compares the blood oxidative stress marker levels in bronchiectasis cases during their stable periods with healthy controls. Materials and Methods. Seventy-seven patients (49 patients with stable bronchiectasis/28 healthy controls), followed up by the chest disease clinic, were included in the study. Peripheral blood thiol-disulfide parameters (NT: native thiol (−SH); TT: total thiol (−SH + SS); SS: disulfide (−SS); SS-SH: disulfide/native thiol index; SS-TT: disulphide/total thiol index; SH-TT: native thiol/total thiol index), and ischemia-modified albumin (IMA) levels were examined in the stable bronchiectasis group and the control group. Thiol-disulfide homeostasis was evaluated using a novel and automated assay. Findings and Result. Blood native thiol levels in patients with stable bronchiectasis were found to be significantly higher compared with healthy controls. A positive correlation between the total airway disease score and IMA levels was present. Our findings revealed that native thiol levels, which constitute a part of the antioxidant defense system, are increased in patients with stable bronchiectasis.
A Heavy-Haul Railway Corrugation Diagnosis Method Based on WPD-ASTFT and SVM
Authors: Xiao Binghuan , Liu Jinzhao , Zhang Ziyuan
Published: January 2022

Rail corrugation in heavy-haul railway increases the contact forces between the wheel and the rail and deteriorates the rail condition. Severe corrugation affects railway operational safety. Fast diagnosis techniques allow technical personnel to perform timely maintenance and repair, preventing the quick deterioration of rail corrugation. This paper presents a heavy-haul railway corrugation diagnosis method incorporating the time-frequency analysis with machine learning methods. First, the signal is decomposed into several subsignals by wavelet packet decomposition (WPD). The paper proposes an adaptive short-time Fourier transform (ASTFT) and performs the ASTFT on the subsignals to obtain the optimal resolution time-frequency distribution and compute the corresponding entropy. The dimensionality reduction based on mean entropy is then performed for the high-dimensional data. The training and testing samples are classified using Support Vector Machine (SVM). The adaptive short-time Fourier transform (ASTFT) is incorporated with the Renyi entropy and the particle swarm optimization algorithm, which achieves a better aggregation of the time-frequency distribution and reduces the computation cost. Finally, to assist the repair work and estimate the severity of the corrugation section, the corrugation index is proposed. The corrugation indices for the determined corrugation sections are calculated to measure the severity of the corrugation. Experimental studies performed on the axle-box vertical acceleration data collected from the heavy-haul comprehensive inspection train show that the method presented by this paper achieves higher accuracy when compared with conventional feature classification methods for time-frequency analysis. The accuracy of corrugation recognition for the presented method is 93%.
Propofol Anesthesia Depth Monitoring Based on Self-Attention and Residual Structure Convolutional Neural Network
Authors: Wang Yachao , Zhang Hui , Fan Ying , Ying Peng , Li Jun , Xie Chenyao , Zhao Tingting
Published: January 2022

Background and Objective. To study the new method of selecting CNN+EEG index values, based on self-attention and residual structure of convolutional neural network, to deeply monitor propofol anesthesia. Methods. We compare nine index values, select CNN+EEG, which has good correlation with BIS index, as an anesthesia state observation index to identify the parameters of the model, and establish a model based on self-attention and dual resistructure convolutional neural network. The data of 93 groups of patients were selected and randomly grouped into three parts: training set, validation set, and test set, and compared the best and worst results predicted by BIS. Result. The best result is that the model’s accuracy of predicting BLS on the test set has an overall upward trend, eventually reaching more than 90%. The overall error shows a gradual decrease and eventually approaches zero. The worst result is that the model’s accuracy of predicting BIS on the test set has an overall upward trend. The accuracy rate is relatively stable without major fluctuations, but the final accuracy rate is above 70%. Conclusion. The prediction of BIS indicators by the deep learning method CNN algorithm shows good results in statistics.
A Novel UAV Path Planning Algorithm Based on Double-Dynamic Biogeography-Based Learning Particle Swarm Optimization
Authors: Ji Yisheng , Zhao Xinchao , Hao Junling
Published: January 2022

Particle swarm optimization (PSO), one of the classical path planning algorithms, has been considered for unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) path planning more frequently in recent years. A large amount of studies on UAV path planning based on modified PSO have been reported. However, most UAV path planning algorithms still optimize only one kind terrain problem which is mountain terrain. At the same time, many modified PSO algorithms also have some problems, such as insufficient convergence and unsatisfactory efficiency. In this paper, six kinds of terrain functions of UAV path planning are proposed to simulate real-world application. The terrain functions contain city, village without houses, village with houses, mountainous area without houses, mountainous area with houses, and mountainous area with a huge building. Inspired by CLPSO and BLPSO, we proposed a new double-dynamic biogeography-based learning particle swarm optimization (DDBLPSO) algorithm to solve these problems. The double-dynamic biogeography-based learning strategy replacing the traditional learning mechanism from the personal and global best particles is used to select the learning particles. In this strategy, each particle will learn from the better one of two selected particles which are not worse than itself. However, one random component of particle will replaced by corresponding component of other particle if all components of the particle only learn from itself. In this way, particles sufficiently learn from better objects and maintain the ability of jumping out of local optimality. The superiority of our algorithm is verified with four relevant algorithms, a PSO variant, and a BBO variant on the benchmark suite of CEC2015. Real-world application demonstrates that the algorithm we proposed outperforms four relevant algorithms, a PSO variant, and a BBO variant both in small-scale problems and large-scale problems. This paper shows a good application of our novel algorithm.
Application of 3D Printing Reconstruction Algorithm in Ancient Ceramic Restoration
Authors: Wu Hongchang , Ma Yamin
Published: January 2022

The study of the ancient ceramic is of great significance to the identification of authenticity, value recognition, cultural types, and dissemination channels of the ceramic. In this study, a series of technical problems such as ceramic contour extraction, image distortion correction, and nonlinear contour modeling for 3D printing of rotating body under complex background were solved and a restoration algorithm for the shape of ancient ceramics was proposed. Then, an accurate contour model is established by using the two-dimensional images of the rotating ancient ceramics to reconstruct the three-dimensional model of the ceramic shape. The experimental results show that the modeling algorithm for three-dimensional printed ceramics can accurately obtain the three-dimensional model of rotating ancient ceramics, which is of certain significance to explore a new direction of the research and development of three-dimensional printed ancient ceramics.
Effect of Statins on Serum level of hs-CRP and CRP in Patients with Cardiovascular Diseases: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials
Authors: Kandelouei Tahmineh , Abbasifard Mitra , Imani Danyal , Aslani Saeed , Razi Bahman , Fasihi Mahdieh , Shafiekhani Sajad , Mohammadi Keyhan , Jamialahmadi Tannaz , Reiner Željko , Sahebkar Amirhossein
Published: January 2022

Background. Several studies have reported that statins have anti-inflammatory effects. Nevertheless, results of clinical trials concerning the effect of statins on the levels of C-reactive protein (CRP) and high-sensitivity CRP (hs-CRP) have been inconsistent. Therefore, we performed a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized clinical trials (RCTs) evaluating the effect of statins on CRP and hs-CRP levels in patients with cardiovascular diseases (CVDs). Methods. Literature search of the major databases was performed to find eligible RCTs assessing the effect of statins on serum levels of CRP and hs-CRP from the inception until the last week of April 2021. The effect sizes were determined for weighted mean difference (WMD) and 95% confidence intervals (CI). Results. 26 studies were identified (3010 patients and 2968 controls) for hs-CRP and 20 studies (3026 patients and 2968 controls) for CRP. Statins reduced the serum levels of hs-CRP (

WMD
=
−
0.97
 
mg
/
L

; 95% CI: -1.26 to -0.68 mg/L;

P
<
0.001

) and CRP (

WMD
=
−
3.05
 
mg
/
L

; 95% CI: -4.86 to -1.25 mg/L;

P
<
0.001

) in patients with CVDs. Statins decreased the serum levels of hs-CRP in patients receiving both high-intensity and moderate/low-intensity treatments with these drugs. In addition, the duration of treatment longer than 10 weeks decreased hs-CRP levels. Only high-intensity statin treatment could marginally decrease serum levels of CRP in CVDs patients. Conclusions. This meta-analysis showed the efficacy of statins to reduce the concentrations of CRP and hs-CRP in patients with different types of CVDs.
On a Class of Discrete Max‐Type Difference Equation Model of Order Four
Authors: Alotaibi A. M. , Khaliq Abdul , Ali Muhammad , Sadiq Stephen
Published: January 2022

Discrete models are versatile and effective tools for assessing and addressing a wide range of scientific and practical problems. As a type of discrete model, the difference equation model has been widely employed in domains such as algorithm analysis, signal processing, biology, economics, and computer science. The global dynamical behavior of a class of discrete models known as the max‐type difference equation model is the subject of the research. The purpose of this work is to look into the behavior of the solution of the following four‐order max‐type difference equation: zi+1 = max{Ai/zi, zi−3},  i = 0,1,2, ….
Mitochondrial DNA and Epigenetics: Investigating Interactions with the One-Carbon Metabolism in Obesity
Authors: Bordoni Laura , Petracci Irene , Mlodzik-Czyzewska Monika , Malinowska Anna M. , Szwengiel Artur , Sadowski Marcin , Gabbianelli Rosita , Chmurzynska Agata
Published: January 2022

Mitochondrial DNA copy number (mtDNAcn) has been proposed for use as a surrogate biomarker of mitochondrial health, and evidence suggests that mtDNA might be methylated. Intermediates of the one-carbon cycle (1CC), which is duplicated in the cytoplasm and mitochondria, have a major role in modulating the impact of diet on the epigenome. Moreover, epigenetic pathways and the redox system are linked by the metabolism of glutathione (GSH). In a cohort of 101 normal-weight and 97 overweight/obese subjects, we evaluated mtDNAcn and methylation levels in both mitochondrial and nuclear areas to test the association of these marks with body weight, metabolic profile, and availability of 1CC intermediates associated with diet. Body composition was associated with 1CC intermediate availability. Reduced levels of GSH were measured in the overweight/obese group (p=1.3∗10−5). A high BMI was associated with lower LINE-1 (p=0.004) and nominally lower methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) gene methylation (p=0.047). mtDNAcn was lower in overweight/obese subjects (p=0.004) and independently correlated with MTHFR methylation levels (p=0.005) but not to LINE-1 methylation levels (p=0.086). DNA methylation has been detected in the light strand but not in the heavy strand of the mtDNA. Although mtDNA methylation in the light strand did not differ between overweight/obese and normal-weight subjects, it was nominally correlated with homocysteine levels (p=0.035) and MTHFR methylation (p=0.033). This evidence suggests that increased body weight might perturb mitochondrial-nuclear homeostasis affecting the availability of nutrients acting as intermediates of the one-carbon cycle.
The Investigation of Adsorption Behavior of Gas Molecules on FeN3-Doped Graphene
Authors: Xie Tingyue , Wang Ping , Tian Cuifeng , Zhao Guozheng , Jia Jianfeng , He Chaozheng , Zhao Chenxu , Wu Haishun
Published: January 2022

Herein, we have investigated the adsorption behavior of gas molecules, including C2H2, H2S, SO2, SO3, and O2, on FeN3-doped graphene (FeN3-gra). The change of geometric stability, electric structure, and magnetic properties is discussed comprehensively. The results have demonstrated that the stability of the substrate is enhanced by the hybridization between Fe and N atoms in FeN3-gra. Besides, the Fe dopant can enhance the adsorption ability of gases on graphene. The gas molecules all exhibit high binding strength on FeN3-gra especially for SO3 with the adsorption energy of -3.30 eV. The mechanism of interaction between gases and substrate is investigated based on the charge density difference and density of states, which can clarify the distribution of electrons and magnetic moments. Moreover, the high stability and sensitivity of FeN3-gra are promising characters for gas detection. Our research has paved the way for the application of the graphene-based material in gas sensor and electronic instrument.
Intelligent Algorithm-Based Quantitative Electroencephalography in Evaluating Cerebral Small Vessel Disease Complicated by Cognitive Impairment
Authors: Zhu Hengya , Qiu Jingjing , Sun Xiaoyan , Yang Xiangyan , Zhang Bin , Tan Ying
Published: January 2022

To analyze the application value of artificial intelligence model based on Visual Geometry Group- (VGG-) 16 combined with quantitative electroencephalography (QEEG) in cerebral small vessel disease (CSVD) with cognitive impairment, 72 patients with CSVD complicated by cognitive impairment were selected as the research subjects. As per Diagnostic and Statistical Manual (5th Edition), they were divided into the vascular dementia (VD) group of 34 cases and vascular cognitive impairment with no dementia (VCIND) group of 38 cases. The two groups were analyzed for the clinical information, neuropsychological test results, and monitoring results of QEEG based on intelligent algorithms for more than 2 hours. The accuracy rate of VGG was 84.27% and Kappa value was 0.7, while that of modified VGG (nVGG) was 88.76% and Kappa value was 0.78. The improved VGG algorithm obviously had higher accuracy. The test results found that the QEEG identified 8 normal, 19 mild, 10 moderate, and 0 severe cases in the VCIND group, while in the VD group, the corresponding numbers were 4, 13, 11, and 7; in the VCIND group, 7 cases had the normal QEEG, 11 cases had background changes, 9 cases had abnormal waves, and 11 cases had in both background changes and abnormal waves, and in the VD group, the corresponding numbers were 5, 2, 5, and 22, respectively; in the VCIND group, QEEG of 18 patients had no abnormal waves, QEEG of 11 patients had a few abnormal waves, and QEEG of 9 patients had many abnormal waves, and QEEG of 0 people had a large number of abnormal waves, and in the VD group, the corresponding numbers were 7, 6, 12, and 9. The above data were statistically different between the two groups (

P
<
0.05

). Hence, QEEG based on intelligent algorithms can make a good assessment of CSVD with cognitive impairment, which had good clinical application value.
Age of Rats Affects the Degree of Retinal Neuroinflammatory Response Induced by High Acute Intraocular Pressure
Authors: Meng Shuhan , Wen Dan , Xiao Jingge , Zhang Qianyue , Fang Weizhou , Xue Xiao , Hu Tu , Xia Xiaobo
Published: January 2022

Purpose. To investigate whether retinal neuroinflammatory response was affected by aging in a rat model of acute glaucoma. Methods. Young adult and aged rats were randomly assigned into normal control, 45 mmHg, 60 mmHg, and 90 mmHg groups. Intraocular pressure (IOP) of rats was acutely elevated to 45 mmHg, 60 mmHg, and 90 mmHg, respectively. Three days after high IOP treatment, loss of retinal ganglion cells (RGCs), formation of proinflammatory microglia/macrophages and neurotoxic astrocytes, and deposition of complement C3 in the retina were detected by immunofluorescence. ELISA was used to assess the protein levels of proinflammatory cytokines TNF and IL-1β in the retina. Results. Compared with young adult retinae, (1) loss of RGCs was more severe in aged retinae under the same IOP treatment, (2) microglia/macrophages were more prone to adopt proinflammatory phenotype in aged retinae in response to elevated IOP, (3) high IOP treatment induced astrogliosis, formation of neurotoxic astrocytes, and deposition of complement C3 more easily in aged retinae, and (4) aged retinae induced higher levels of proinflammatory cytokines TNF and IL-1β under the same IOP treatment. Conclusion. Our data indicated that aging affects the degree of retinal neuroinflammatory response initiated by ocular hypertension, which may contribute to the age-related susceptibility of RGCs to elevated IOP.
Integrative Multiomics Evaluation of IIDH1 Metabolic Enzyme as a Candidate Oncogene That is Correlated with Poor Prognosis and Immune Infiltration in Prostate Adenocarcinoma
Authors: Wen Chen-Yueh , Tsui Kuan-Hao , Chang Chiung-Hung , Chiu Yi-Han , Lin Shu-Chuan Amy , Chu Ching-Yu , Li Chia-Jung
Published: January 2022

Mutations in the isocitrate dehydrogenase gene (IDH1) are involved in the progression of tumors. Although IDH1 has a role in various tumors, its clinical relevance and its expression in response to the immune response have not been investigated in prostate adenocarcinoma (PRAD). In the present study, we investigated the utility of IDH1 as a prognostic biomarker for PRAD by analyzing IDH1 mRNA expression and its association with patient survival and immune cell infiltration. IDH1 mRNA expression was significantly higher in PRAD tissue than in normal tissue, and Kaplan–Meier survival analysis showed that IDH1 expression was significantly associated with poor prognosis in PRAD patients. To elucidate the mechanisms involved, the correlation between IDH1 expression and the level of immune cell infiltration, in particular of immunosuppressive cells such as CD8+ T-cells, CD4+ T-cells, and macrophages, was further analyzed by single-cell RNA sequencing. We also screened a pharmacogenetic database for IDH1-specific drugs that inhibited high expression in PRAD. In the present study, we used a combination of databases to identify a significant correlation between IDH1 expression and cellular infiltration and to explain the mechanism by which IDH1 confers poor prognosis in PRAD, thus demonstrating the relevance of IDH1 expression as a prognostic biomarker with clinical utility in PRAD patients.
Serum-Based lncRNA ANRIL, TUG1, UCA1, and HIT Expressions in Breast Cancer Patients
Authors: Alkhathami Ali G. , Hadi Abdul , Alfaifi Mohammed , Alshahrani Mohammad Yahya , Verma Amit Kumar , Beg Mirza Masroor Ali
Published: January 2022

Breast cancer is a heterogeneous disease and is the most common and prevalent form of malignancy diagnosed in women. lncRNAs are found to be frequently dysregulated in cancer, and its expression plays a critical role in tumorigenesis. The study included 100 histopathologically confirmed, newly diagnosed untreated patients of invasive ductal carcinoma (IDC) of breast cancer patients and 100 healthy subjects. After blood collection, the serum was separated and total RNA was extracted, cDNA was synthesized using 100 ng of total RNA, and lncRNA (ANRIL, TUG1, UCA1, and HIT) expression was analyzed. Increased ANRIL (3.83-fold), TUG1 (7.64-fold), UCA1 (7.82-fold), and HIT (3.31-fold) expressions were observed in breast cancer patients compared to healthy controls. Relative expression of lncRNAs UCA-1 (

p
=
0.010

) and HIT-1 (

p
<
0.0001

) was significantly elevated in patients with advanced breast cancer stage compared to those with early-stage disease. While lncRNA TUG-1 expression was found to be higher in patients with early-stage tumors than those with advanced-stage tumors (

p
=
0.06

), lncRNA ANRIL showed increased expression in patients with PR positive status (

p
=
0.04

). However, we found a significant difference in lncRNA HIT expression in HER-2 positive breast cancer patients compared to HER-2 negative breast cancer patients (

p
=
0.005

). An increase in the expression of serum lncRNAs ANRIL (

p
<
0.0001

), UCA-1 (

p
=
0.004

), and HIT (

p
<
0.0001

) was observed in the distant organ metastatic breast cancer patients. In the ROC curve concerning lymph node involvement, the sensitivity and specificity of lncRNA HIT were 68% and 58%, respectively (

p

value = 0.007). In the ROC curve w.r.t. stages of disease, the sensitivity and specificity of lncRNA HIT were 80% and 50%, respectively (

p

value < 0.0001). Better sensitivity and specificity were observed for lncRNA HIT (sensitivity 91% and specificity 78%;

p

value < 0.0001) and ANRIL (sensitivity 70% and specificity 60%;

p

value < 0.0001) w.r.t distant organ metastases.
Women’s Leadership Trends in Tribal Enterprises-A Study in Cooperatives Based Tribal Enterprises in Jharkhand, India
Authors: Bhaskar Prem , Kaushik Madhulika
Published: January 2022

This paper attempts to analyse the status of women entrepreneurship initiatives through cooperatives in Jharkhand, India and highlights the impact on tribal women empowerment, and their leadership competencies on this economic contribution. Bargaining for women leadership positions in all spheres of Asian societies has emerged as an important concern in quest of equity, whereas tribal women’s development has mostly remained limited to their participation in various programmes run by the government as well as non-government agencies. Recognition of women leaders from a tribal community in the 21st century is still a distant dream. Yet economic empowerment and group activities in the tribal regions of Jharkhand have revealed the potential and are seen as instrumental in transforming leadership capabilities of tribal women leaders in the tribal geography of Jharkhand. The paper shares the outcomes of the author’s study based on case studies in the region, secondary data and, literature review, related to the trends in tribal women’s leadership. The study reveals that women from tribal communities of Jharkhand have traditionally been disempowered socially and treated as less capable to lead and mostly refrained from societal leadership positions. It is also revealed that with facilitation and support, they demonstrate excellent leadership competencies to manage successful collective enterprises. The study also raises prominent questions of assessing the impact and influence of such empowerment and collective entrepreneurship on socioeconomic aspects.
The Extension Services and the Level of Productivity of Sugarcane Farmers in the Visayas, Philippines
Authors: Oñal, Jr. Paulino A , Jinon Rex J. , Martinez Lloyd B.
Published: January 2022

Agricultural extension has been an essential strength in agricultural development and social innovation factor.  The word “extension” in the modern meaning was first used which refers to informal public education in England in the second half of the 19th century (Demiryurek, 2014).

This descriptive method of research aid at determining the effectivity of extension services and the productivity of sugarcane farmers in the Visayas, Philippines. The 400 sugarcane farmers randomly identified at the 10 locations in the Visayas area of the Philippines. An instrument used was the agency Extension Program Guidelines that measures productivity of the farmers, farm profile and extent of services, among others.

The result shows that the level of productivity of sugarcane farms in the Visayas area was high and a significant difference indicates on the level of productivity of sugarcane farms when grouped as to location. The level of productivity of sugarcane farming in the Visayas in terms of indicators such as size of farm, type of soil, land topography, average rainfall received, distance of the farm to the sugar mill, farming innovations, workers’ availability and expenses per hectare was at low productivity. Significant difference in the productivity of sugarcane farming at the different locations in the Visayas area in terms of size of farm, land topography, distance of the farm to the sugar mill, farming innovations, workers’ availability, and expenses per hectare except for the type of soil and average rainfall. The extent of services does not significantly related to the productivity. Relatively, there is no significant relationship existed between the extent of services and farm profile. Farm profile does not influence the level of productivity, too.
Management of School-Community Partnership: Basis for Teacher Enhancement Program
Authors: Codilla Leo, Jr.
Published: January 2022

This study aimed to determine the practices and challenges in managing school-community partnerships in East Butuan District II elementary schools.  The participants of the study were the Elementary School Teachers and School heads of East Butuan District II. Complete Enumeration is used in the study. The tested variables were practices of elementary schools, challenges in forging a school-community partnership, and the extent of school-community partnership.

The findings reveal that the practices of elementary schools in the district showed a moderate level of manifestation except for participation in the athletic meet and preparation for the national achievement test (3.80), indicating a high level of manifestation. Similarly, the challenges forging school-community partnerships have moderate manifestation.

On the other hand, the majority revealed either a moderate or low extent of school-community partnerships. This suggests that elementary schools in the East Butuan District II still want to manage school-community partnerships. It is interesting to note that practices and challenges significantly influence the extent of school-community partnership; a higher manifestation of practices but a lower manifestation of challenges implies a greater extent of school-community partnership.
Remote Victimisation and the Proximate Cause. Transgenerational Harms before the International Criminal Court
Authors: Gacka Patryk
Published: January 2022

Victims of international crimes suffer from various harms, losses and injuries sustained by them personally during or after acts of victimisation. While most harms take an immediate and easily identifiable form, some of them become visible only years later. Transgenerational harms belong to the latter category since they denote negative consequences of victimisation that are transmitted across generations. Those who sustain such harms, that is future victims, are not yet born when the crime is committed against their next of kin. Reflecting on the complex nature of transgenerational harms, this study examines two theories of transgenerational victimisation and asks whether future victims should receive reparations under Article 75 of the Rome Statute.
Executive Powers During the covid-19 Epidemic
Authors: von Samsonow Wladimir
Published: January 2022

This article aims to explore the consequences of covid-19 related laws upon democracy, concentrating on the separation of powers and the system of checks and balances. To analyse the effectiveness of measures, a comparison between England-Wales and Germany is made, in order to compare how two countries with similar demographic and economy, but different constitutional and political systems, have dealt with the epidemic. The main question that is being asked and answered is whether a constitutional crisis has taken place. And finally, the analysis how the judiciary has been the most helpful branch in the separation of powers to uphold a system of checks and balances during the epidemic in both England-Wales and Germany.
Somatic embryogenesis mediated micropropagation of polyembryonic cultivars of mango Vellaikolumban and Olour using nucellus tissue
Authors: Sajana S. , Thomas Pious , Nandeesha P. , Kurian Reju M. , Bindu Hima
Published: January 2022

Somatic embryogenesis mediated micropropagation from nucellus tissue was attempted in polyembryonic mango at the ICAR-Indian Institute of Horticultural Research, Bengaluru during 2016–2019. Studies were conducted to optimize the different stages of somatic embryogenesis namely induction, proliferation, conversion, maturation, germination of somatic embryos and ex vitro establishment of plantlets using nucellus tissue. For culture initiation, various developmental stages of fruits ranging from less than 20 days post-pollination to more than 60 days-post pollination of cultivars Vellaikolumban and Olour were utilized. Fruits of 30–40 days post-pollination in Vellaikolumban and 40–50 days post-pollination in Olour gave better percentage callusing with fewer days for callus initiation and callus formation. Embryonic calli developed on induction medium containing Rugini olive (RO) constituents, 6% sucrose, and 5 ppm each of 2, 4-Dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2, 4-D) and Giberellic acid (GA3). Upon shifting to proliferation medium (RO with 6% sucrose, 5 ppm each of 2, 4-D and GA3, 400 mgL−1of glutamine and 20% v/v coconut water) pro-globular and globular embryos were formed within 4–5 weeks. Further development of somatic embryos through early heart, late heart and cotyledonary stages occurred in conversion medium (half strength B5 salts, full RO organics, 5 ppm of Indole-3-Acetic Acid (IAA), 20% coconut water and 200 mgL−1 of casein hydrolysate). Maturation of embryos was obtained by using 0.01 mg L−1of Abscisic acid (ABA) and 100 mg L−1of Polyethylene glycol (PEG). Germination of embryos with shoot and root initiation was observed in the presence of 5 ppm of zeatin. Our results show that somatic embryogenesis can be used as an alternative method to conventional propagation methods for rapid multiplication of uniform planting material in polyembryonic mango cultivars.
The Significance of the Philosophy of the Law Idea for the Theory of Human Society
Authors: van Haeften Chris
Published: January 2022

Introduction to the translation of “De beteekenis van de wijsbegeerte der wetsidee voor de theorie der menschelijke samenleving” by Herman Dooyeweerd (1937), Philosophia Reformata 2 (2), pp. 99–116.
Tearing Down to Take Up Space: Dismantling White Spaces in the United States
Authors: Embrick David G. , Moore Wendy Leo , Ramirez Manuel A.
Published: January 2022

With this concluding article, we build off the scholarship from this two-part special issue on white space to recommend meaningful interventions that seek to challenge and dismantle white spaces at the organizational, institutional, and structural levels of U.S. society. We focus on two broad arenas of social space, one geographical (residential neighborhoods) and one institutional (education), in the hopes of generating more engagement from scholars of race and racism in conversations about policies that can meaningfully transform white space. We share experiences from the Systemic Justice Seminar and student activism at Harvard to highlight some innovative ideas about challenging, disrupting, and resisting white space. We suggest ways to think about policies and actions that make visible the tacitly exclusionary mechanisms within white spaces and create ways for BIPOC people and communities to take up space. Lastly, we encourage academic and public communities to continue exploring the best methods for deconstructing white space on the way to creating a more racially equitable society.
Religion, Psychological Strain, and Suicidality in China: A Preliminary Study
Authors: Zhang Jie , Lew Bob , Liu Yanzheng , Chistopolskaya Ksenia , Zhao Sibo
Published: January 2022

Background

There is a lack of religiosity studies in China especially in relation to mental health and suicidality. In this research, we focus our studies on medical workers of which some studies reported to have higher stress, and to pilot our studies in this adult age-group.

Data and Methodology

Data were obtained by a questionnaire survey in a large public hospital in a big metropolitan city of China. The final sample consisted of 1012 respondents with 237 (23.4%) being male and 775 (76.6%) being female. The respondents were of three groups: (1) Believers ( n = 34; 3.5%); (2) Non-Believers or Atheists ( n = 547; 55.8%); and (3) Agnostics or Fence-Sitters ( n = 400; 40.8%). Suicidality was measured by the NCS-Suicidality Scale, and standard measures were employed for other major variables.

Findings

In line with other recent studies in China, the religion rate among the urban adults remained low (3.5%). However, about 40.8% of the respondents chose “don’t know” and could be fence-sitters on the issue of religious belief. Many of them are involved in various folk beliefs which may not be considered as religious. The religious believers were at higher risk of suicidality and depression than the atheists and the fence-sitters. However, the fence-sitters were higher than the believers and atheists on psychological strains, and they were higher on depression compared to the atheists.

Conclusion

The religious believers and religious fence-sitters have higher psychopathologic risks and suicidal risk than the atheist group. Religion as of low prevalence in Chinese societies is a social value deviant from the norm and its practitioners are likely to be marginalized or stigmatized. The Strain Theory of Suicide is used for detailed explanations.
Women’s piety movements in Islam
Authors: Dale Moyra
Published: January 2022

The Muslim women’s piety movement extends in different forms across the Islamic world today. While female scholars and teachers are not new in the history of Islam, the scale of this movement constitutes a significant shift in the place of women within Islam, by bringing discussion of issues of Muslim jurisprudence and Qur’anic interpretation into the framework of women’s lives and questions. The growing presence of female Muslim scholars and teachers is an implicit challenge to the widely quoted hadith that women are lacking in piety and intelligence. This article describes the movement, discusses its impact in Muslim society, and asks what the implications might be for Christian missiology.
Neoliberalism and authoritarian media cultures: a Vietnamese perspective
Authors: Yến-Khanh Nguyễn , Phelan Sean , Gray Elizabeth
Published: January 2022

This study asks how the concept of neoliberalism can be adapted to a critical analysis of authoritarian political and media cultures that cannot be adequately understood through the Western-centric narratives that dominate the literature on neoliberalism. We examine the case of Vietnam, a country where the relationship between the media system and the political system is defined primarily by the power of the party-state autocracy. We explore the extent to which neoliberalism is a useful theoretical category for grasping the relationship between state, market, and civil society actors in Vietnam, especially as it relates to the media system. Supported by an analysis of how Vietnamese news media cover healthcare and education for people with autism, we conclude by extrapolating three theoretical-methodological guidelines that will be useful to researchers examining the relationship between neoliberalism and authoritarian political and media cultures in different countries.
Coping With Parental Pressure to Get Married: Perspectives From Chinese “Leftover Women”
Authors: Gui Tianhan
Published: January 2022

Postponed marriage has become a trend in China’s major cities over the last decade. However, due to persistent traditional gender role expectations, women who remain single in their late 20s and beyond still face significant parental pressure to get married and are the subjects of negative societal discourse. Through semi-structured interviews with 30 never-married Chinese professional women who are white-collar workers based in Beijing, this research explored the parental pressure these women faced, their response to the pressure, and their own perceptions on marriage and romantic relationships. The results demonstrate the two generations’ different viewpoints on marriage, romantic relationships, and gender roles, as well as young women’s aspirations for autonomy and independence.
‘I Have to be the Mum and Dad for 4 Weeks Straight’. Exploring the Experiences and Support Needs of Australian Parents and Partners Engaged in Fly-In/Fly-Out Work Practices
Authors: Dittman Cassandra K. , Rathbone Joanne A.
Published: January 2022

Fly-in/fly-out (FIFO) work practices have become common place in Australia over the past two decades. Research has documented the personal impact of these work practices, but little peer-reviewed research is available on the family impact of this work. The study aimed to better understand (1) the impact of FIFO work arrangements on children, parents and relationships; (2) strategies parents use to manage the home-away cycle; and (3) preferences for parenting support. Interviews were conducted with six FIFO workers and 15 partners of FIFO workers with at least one child aged 2–12 years. Inductive thematic analysis revealed six themes: effects on children; effects on family relationships; effects on parenting; managing transitions; managing separations; and the need for flexible, tailored parenting support. The findings provided important insight into the experiences of working FIFO with a family and can inform the development of parenting support targeted at FIFO families.
Doctoral Education and the Academic Job Market in Planning
Authors: Ganning Joanna
Published: January 2022

This project uses three years (2017–2020) of survey data and job announcements to analyze the alignment between doctoral education and the academic job market in Planning. Graduates are competitive, having teaching experience and published or publishable research. The primary job market (i.e., the Association of Collegiate Schools of Planning [ACSP] Career Center) likely accommodates 50 to 60 percent of graduates finding academic employment (or about 25% of graduating cohorts), with a large share navigating the secondary job market. Survey data from program directors suggest approximately one-third of graduates do not aspire to academic careers. This paper illustrates realities of academic employment for recent graduates and includes recommendations for programs.
Missing the Housing for the Trees: Equity in Urban Climate Planning
Authors: Angelo Hillary , MacFarlane Key , Sirigotis James , Millard-Ball Adam
Published: January 2022

This paper examines equity’s incorporation into Climate Action Plans (CAPs), an increasingly important part of the urban sustainability planning landscape. We conduct a content analysis of 170 California CAPs and compare the plans’ treatment of equity to city characteristics such as size and income inequality. We find that equity language correlates with an increased presence of more systemic policy interventions, such as dense and/or affordable housing, in CAPs. However, the majority of CAPs “miss the housing for the trees,” with green policy agendas, such as trees and open space, remaining more dominant. We also find little association between local inequalities and how CAPs incorporate equity goals.
Breaking the Structural Reinforcement: An Agent-Based Model on Cultural Consumption and Social Relations
Authors: Zhong Qiankun , Hilbert Martin , Frey Seth
Published: January 2022

Theorists since Marx, Bourdieu, and DiMaggio have asked how individual choices on cultural preference interact with collective social network structure. The rise of social media in today’s communication landscape motivates us to take a closer look at the involved dynamics. We designed an agent-based model to explore how different behavioral principles for cultural choice and communicative affiliation affect (1) collective consumption patterns, (2) social segregation, and (3) resilience of the emergent dynamic during exogenous distributions. We analyze the influence of individual agency on network structure, and vice versa, by simulating agents who pursue elite or popular culture, while communicating with others based on homophily or randomness. Our method allows us to go beyond specific constellations and explore the realm of theoretically possible combinations. We then used an exogenous disturbance on elite culture cost to test the resilience of social network structure. We found that only in societies where economic factors drive cultural consumption, increased access to elite culture can lead to reorganization in the social network and reduce segregation between different social groups. This is because the disturbance on consumption provides agents opportunities to connect with other social groups and opens a window for social mixing. We end by discussing how our model allows us to inform a diverse set of empirical research questions, including the cultural markets of social media, the digital divide, and the split between free misinformation and established news outlets.
Multiple ballistic impacts of thin metallic plates: Numerical simulation
Authors: Qiang Lu-sheng , Zhang Rui , Zhao Chun-zheng , Ren Jian-wei , Ni Chang-ye , Zhao Zhen-yu , Lu Tian Jian
Published: January 2022

The ballistic performance of protective structures under multiple projectile impacts attracts increasing attention due to its practical importance, and existing studies were seldomly devoted to exploring how the structure would deform and fail when subjected to such loads. This study aimed to characterize the multi-hit ballistic resistance of fully-clamped thin plates made of 304 stainless steel using finite element method, with the equivalent plastic strain employed to define material damage and failure/fracture. The numerical model was validated against existing experimental results of double impacts at the same location, with good agreement achieved. The model was subsequently employed to quantify the effects of impact position, interval time between successive hits, projectile nose shape (e.g., spherical, flat, and conical), and boundary condition of target plate on ballistic limit and deformation/failure modes. Further, ballistic limit boundaries were constructed for both double and triple impacts of projectiles. Obtained results are helpful for designing high-performance protective structures against multiple projectile impacts.
Redefining Emerging Start-ups’ Issues in India During Pandemic Time
Authors: Mahapatra Durga Madhab , Baral Sukanta Kumar
Published: January 2022

As a start-up, as India’s economy grows, so will the contribution of private equity and venture capital to the overall economy. It is also a fair acknowledgment of the unique requirements that these kinds of businesses need in order to maintain their business operations, which require innovation and size. Furthermore, adding that some of the outstanding start-up countries like India are adopting technology to transform areas such as healthcare and wellness, education, agriculture and allied sectors, clean energy, security, financial inclusion and exclusion and water management. The spirit of start-ups boosts the next generation of economies and serves as a one-stop solution to the fortunes of people in rural India and the thieving economy. The Start-up and Stand-up missions can help the youth in upgrading their skills to become entrepreneurs. With gig work gaining ground, deserving candidates can get lucrative offers for their services. The article addresses the issues and problems that start-ups in India confront. The startup eco system is closely watching the Indian business climate and critically assessing how much help is required from the Indian government with their new Digital India initiatives.
Effect of Compelled Body Weight Shift (CBWS) Therapy in Comparison to ProprioceptiveTraining on Functional Balance, Gait, andMuscle Strength Among Acute Stroke Subjects
Authors: Lobo Alisha Austin , Joshua Abraham M. , Nayak Akshatha , Mithra P. Prasanna , Misri Zulkifli , Pai Shivananda
Published: January 2022

Background:

The majority of poststroke individuals tend to exhibit reduced loading over the paretic lower extremity, leading to increased postural sway, and gait asymmetry predisposing to a higher number of falls. Compelled body weight shift (CBWS) therapy is an innovative method aimed to force body weight shift toward the paretic extremity. Proprioceptive training (PT) is another method that improves balance ability contributing to the increase in muscle activity. Both the CBWS and PT have been shown to improve the quality of life in stroke subjects.

Purpose:

The aim of this study is to compare the effects of CBWS therapy and PT in improving balance, kinematic gait parameters, and muscle strength among acute stroke patients.

Methods:

Thirty subjects were nonrandomly divided into two groups where both groups received routine physiotherapy for two weeks in addition to which the CBWS group incorporated a 15 mm platform placed under the unaffected extremity while the PT group included incorporated proprioceptive exercises on the ground and foam mat. Functional balance, functional mobility, videographic analysis of degrees of hip flexion, knee hyperextension, and ankle dorsiflexion along with gait speed and satiotemporal gait parameters were obtained.

Results:

The pre-post analysis within both groups revealed statistically significant improvement in all parameters except for the kinematic parameters of gait. However, no statistically significant difference was observed between the CBWS and PT groups.

Conclusion:

CBWS can be used as an alternative to PT in the rehabilitation of stroke patients concerning balance and gait. CBWS provided during active treatment sessions results as effective as those seen as a result of all-day therapy.
Legal gender recognition in Turkey
Authors: Sunata Ulaş , Makaracı Başak Aslı , Öktem Çevik Seda
Published: January 2022

Despite recent advances in transgender rights in European countries, some legal systems still have barriers such as obligatory diagnosis, sterilization, and medical interventions and incorporating societal acceptance and public order into their discourse. This study dealing with the regime of legal gender recognition in Turkey first reveals critical reciprocating historical developments in national legal regulations for affirming trans identities. Then, the recent conditions laid down by the 2017 Constitutional Court judgments stating that transgender people do not require permanent sterilization any more but require sex reassignment surgery for legal gender change are evaluated. Moreover, this paper explains that while the jurisprudence of the European Court of Human Rights partly reflects the current Turkish legislation, it is not a big step for transgender rights. The findings also underline that the new Turkish regulations appear reformist but are indeed strong measures for legal consistency to solve the dilemma in the previous period in order to maintain the status quo.