bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A gradual separation from the world: commentary on a qualitative exploration of existential loneliness in old age
Authors: Carr Sam
Published: November 2023

Aims and methods:

Loneliness is a prevalent and significant issue. It has been identified as a particularly important physical and mental health risk for older people. This article critically explores and discusses a recent study that sought to qualitatively explore the lived experiences of existential loneliness in a large sample of older people living in retirement community contexts.

Findings:

The data pointed to complex, multilayered challenges, often brought about by ageing, that give rise to unique experiences of existential loneliness for many older people.

Conclusions:

For clinical practitioners, understanding how older people experience existential loneliness is essential if we are to develop support mechanisms that compassionately and empathically respond to them.
Wrapping it up
Authors: Hatchard Joan
Published: November 2023

Joan Hatchard reviews a great year for the British Association of Dental Nurses (BADN).
Harnessing Geek Culture for Mental Health Transformation: A Proposed Theory in Psychology
Authors: Bean Anthony
Published: November 2023

This paper presents a revolutionary theory in psychology, delving into the transformative possibilities of utilizing geek culture as a potent catalyst for behavioral change. In contemporary society, geek culture, defined by fervent interests in video games, comics, science fiction, and technology, has emerged as a prominent and influential force. The theory advanced here contends that the captivating and immersive qualities inherent in geek culture can serve as a compelling tool to shape and redirect behaviors. By leveraging the passion and engagement fostered within geek communities, this theory proposes a distinctive avenue for psychological intervention. It explores the prospect of channeling the intrinsic motivation and communal dynamics prevalent in geek culture to enact meaningful and positive changes in individuals' behaviors. This innovative approach signifies a departure from conventional psychological interventions, positioning geek culture as an untapped resource with the potential to redefine the landscape of behavioral change strategies.
How can you check your business is on the right track to social and environmental sustainability
Authors: Worden Kenneth , Lonie Karis
Published: November 2023

Assessing the sustainability of independent cafés can be challenging as there is currently no effective framework for doing so. Having been tasked with assessing the sustainability of Zest, a specialty café in St Andrews, Scotland, that focuses on providing opportunities for people with barriers to employment to develop personally and professionally, we designed a self-audit to determine the sustainability of the cafés business practices and provide future suggestions. The audit was inspired by Lean, an anti-waste business philosophy and the B- Corp impact assessment. By using this audit, we were able to analyze Zest’s business practices and provide suggestions regarding where it needs improvement. The following article will explore our development of the audit, how we used it and what we found.
Attitudes of international non-governmental employees towards working from home in Jordan
Authors: Alkhawaldeh Khleef A. , Al-Oran Ala’a
Published: November 2023

This research aimed to identify the perceptions of employees working in international non-governmental organisations in Jordan regarding working from home and the support they need from their organisations and management in order to be productive while working from home. It also examined the relationship between their perceptions of working from home and productivity. Employee perceptions were measured by distributing a questionnaire based on self-reported measures of perceptions. The results indicate a positive, statistically significant relationship between working from home and productivity. Organisations are encouraged to seriously consider switching to working from home, not only in times of crisis, disaster and disease, but on a permanent, gradual and possibly partial basis.
Too Much Is Too Much? Κόρος in Ancient Criticism and the Poetics of Scale
Authors: Grethlein Jonas
Published: November 2023

abstract: The article explores the uses of κόρος (satiety, surfeit) in ancient criticism as part of a poetics of scale. It first shows that κόρος was applied to a wide range of different scales and used for an equally large array of phenomena. Then it suggests that Pindar's references to κόρος in Abbruchformeln (break-off formulas) may have been the origin of its later deployment by critics. Underneath the poetics of scale encapsulated in κόρος, it is finally argued, there is an entanglement of aesthetics with ethics that invites further inquiries.
Origin Stories: Plundered Libraries and Theories of Appropriation in Greek and Roman Imperial Literature
Authors: Schultz Alexandra Leewon
Published: November 2023

abstract: This article argues that anecdotes about Roman generals plundering foreign libraries were a type of Roman origin story that gained traction among imperial authors writing about the republican past. Scholars have traditionally treated these anecdotes as historical sources that document not only the beginnings of Roman literary, scientific, and book history, but also Rome's ability to transform military victory into cultural and intellectual conquest. Adopting a different approach, I argue that anecdotes about plundered libraries were a means by which imperial authors contested the extent and nature of foreign cultural influence on Rome and hence the makeup of Romanness itself.
Immigrant Muse: Sapphic Fragmentation in Theresa Hak Kyung Cha's Dictée , Hoa Nguyen's "After Sappho," and Vi Khi Nao's "Sapphở"
Authors: Waldo Christopher
Published: November 2023

abstract: This article explores three receptions of Sappho by Asian American writers, arguing that Sappho's fragmentation has made her a fellow immigrant in the eyes of these diasporic authors. Divorced from her social and cultural contexts on archaic Lesbos, Sappho signifies primarily as fragmentation itself, the loss of an originary whole. Theresa Hak Kyung Cha uses the corporeal fragmentation of fr. 31 LP in Dictée to interrogate the violence endured by the Korean people throughout the twentieth century, Hoa Nguyen ventriloquizes an always already fragmentary Sappho in "After Sappho," and Vi Khi Nao melds an array of fragmentary discourses in "Sapphở."
The Evolution of the Post-Quantum Cyber Environment
Authors: Vermeer Michael J. D.
Published: November 2023

Abstract: Quantum computers are expected to one day be capable of breaking public key cryptography, enabling a step change in cyberwarfare capabilities. Risk can be mitigated using new quantum-resistant cryptography algorithms, but the international migration to a new cryptography standard will be time-consuming, costly, and dependent on the work of international standards-developing organizations. Technical standards are increasingly a focus of geopolitical competition, as China has attempted to manipulate standards organizations to tilt standards in their favor. Contrasting national approaches to this competition could significantly impact the evolution of the post-quantum cyber environment. The United States should continue its domestic efforts to migrate to a new cryptography standard, pursue international standardization, and maintain a measured strategy to counter interference from China in open standardization processes.
“Intellectual Evasion” or “The Spirit of Tragedy”?: Re-thinking Race in Hemingway’s The Sun Also Rises
Authors: Lehofer Morgan
Published: November 2023

Abstract: In his 1946 essay “Twentieth-Century Fiction and the Black Mask of Humanity,” Ralph Ellison accuses Hemingway of “intellectual evasion” on the topic of race, claiming that Hemingway affirms the position of the white American by either misrepresenting African Americans in his fiction, or by excluding them entirely. This paper expands upon readings of The Sun Also Rises to illuminate moments of racial acknowledgment, particularly where they converge with themes of sexuality. In doing so, I aim to bring to light race as a noteworthy and nuanced theme in a text that otherwise feels merely reductive with respect to race.
Hemingway’s Boys Are
Authors: Wilson L. Lamar
Published: November 2023

Abstract: Poet L. Lamar Wilson responds creatively to Hemingway’s work, using “The Battler,” “The Porter,” and “A Matter of Colour” as his inspiration. “Hemingway’s Boys” is a “son-not” for the black men who were created through Hemingway’s pen.
The Consecration of Widows in CCCC 163
Authors: Falardeau Kate R.
Published: November 2023

Abstract: Cambridge, Corpus Christi College, MS 163 is one of three extant eleventh-century English examples of the so-called Romano-German Pontifical tradition. This article argues that the compilation of ordines within MS 163 and the text of its ordo for the consecration of widows support provenance at Nunnaminster, Winchester. The placement of this ordo within the manuscript reveals a performative and historicized understanding of the liturgical and social role of widows themselves in eleventh-century England. In MS 163, tenth- and eleventh-century liturgical practice intersects with a liturgical discourse of widowhood. This discourse relies upon the performative signification of chastity, through the veil and vestments of consecration, to assuage contemporary anxieties surrounding the agency of widows. The performativity and temporality of the consecration of widows within the manuscript, combined with its gendered redaction of the Romano-German Pontifical tradition, raises possibilities for the intersection of liturgy, history, and gender at Nunnaminster.
Morality, The Monarch, and the Metropolis in Kyng Alisaunder
Authors: Clifton Nicole
Published: November 2023

Abstract: The Middle English romance Kyng Alisaunder , often considered a positive exemplum of kingship, criticizes the conqueror's brutal treatment of conquered cities, incorporating references to the Aeneid and to Troy to heighten the horror of war and to connect Alexander clearly to Britain's foundation myth. Alexander's interactions with Queen Candace and her family also present him as an anti-Aeneas. Cities including Troy frame considerations of morality and justice, for Alexander as well as for his parents. The romance's date, language, and descriptive details all associate the romance with London, such that its late thirteenth-century urban audience would likely read the critique of Alexander as indirect censure of Edward I, who was identified with Alexander and had a contentious relationship with London. At the same time, the romance's concern with right rule continues to speak to readers in later decades, when the text was copied into three significant manuscripts, annotated, and printed.
Dante's Sacramental Poetics: Confession in the Commedia
Authors: Matukhin Max
Published: November 2023

Abstract: This article seeks to investigate Dante's intertwining of two confessional models, the sacramental and the Augustinian, throughout the first two cantiche of the Commedia . It shows how the poem repeatedly stages confessions that are either ineffective or unorthodox, in a bid to redefine the forms of truthfulness and authority that accompany the first person, allowing the poet to engage in confessional and prophetic forms of discourse. To do so, the article considers contemporary developments in theology and ecclesiastical practice so as to understand how Dante positions both his poem and himself as author vis-à-vis the important changes that occurred in the Latin Church in the wake of the Fourth Lateran Council of 1215.
Virgil's Mission: Dante and the Salvation of the Pagan World
Authors: Herzman Ronald B. , Moran Cruz Jo Ann Hoeppner
Published: November 2023

Abstract: This article revisits the question of Virgil's salvation in Dante's Commedia . It does so by following Virgil's rather than Dante's experiences as they descend into Hell and ascend Purgatory. A close reading of the text suggests that Dante is opening up to the reader the possibility of an extended mission for Virgil. Just as Virgil leaves Limbo to guide Dante's conversion, so does his expected return to Limbo carry with it the potential for Christian conversion of the virtuous pagans awaiting him.
Politics, Power, and Prestige in Female Conventual Communities of Medieval Latium: The Exemplary Case of Santa Maria in Viano (Frosinone)
Authors: Federici Angelica
Published: November 2023

Abstract: The renewed academic interest in religious women has not resulted in any overarching or detailed study of Latium. A thorough historiography is still lacking for the region's late medieval convents. This is surprising as the region was densely populated by female monastic settlements between the thirteenth and fourteenth centuries. An emblematic case in this regard is the convent of Santa Maria in Viano in Sgurgola (Frosinone). By the fourteenth century, almost half of the Conti family estate in Sgurgola was owned by the nunnery of Santa Maria in Viano. The convent played a pivotal role in shifting the delicate power balance between feudal lords in the region. What emerges is the prominent and strategic role of female monastic communities whose political agency casts a new light on an overlooked but historically dynamic period. Rural monastic settlements functioned as strategic frontiers, which were crucial to regional baronial land interests during the earlier period. Unsurprisingly, the presence of innovative architectural and artistic elements inside the church of Santa Maria in Viano also showcases the synthesis of Cistercian architectural models and local building traditions.
’Arry and ’Arriet Beyond Punch : Tourism and Class Tension in Popular Fiction
Authors: Brecke Anna
Published: November 2023

ABSTRACT: Rising lower- and middle-class Victorians benefited from affordable opportunities for travel, with the hospitality industry newly opened to travelers of all socioeconomic backgrounds. Travel destinations, domestic and international, became spaces of contention, shared by the wealthy—accustomed to privilege—and the lower classes—who aimed to share in that privilege. Popular periodicals satirized these developments, as in the Punch character ’Arry, a Cockney man known for following the latest trends, including travel. Symbolizing the generic lower-class tourist, ’Arry also appears in newspapers and other periodicals, and in works of fiction by Mary Elizabeth Braddon, Marie Corelli, and Florence Marryat. ’Arry and his companion ’Arriet highlight class and race tensions, at home and abroad, in unique and unprecedented ways.
Semi-analytical finite ray-tracing through the quadratic symmetric GRIN lens
Authors: Flynn Conor , Goncharov Alexander V.
Published: November 2023

The propagation of light within a gradient index (GRIN) media can be analyzed with the use of differential equations for a given non-homogenous refractive index profile. Numerical methods are often necessary to perform ray-tracing in GRIN media; however, analytical solutions exist for several types of GRIN lenses. In this paper, paraxial and non-paraxial differential equations are derived to calculate the ray path in a GRIN lens. It is shown that the paraxial equation has an analytical solution for a GRIN media with a quadratic profile within the paraxial region. The analytical solution can be obtained by using Legendre polynomials or by the Frobenius method involving a power series. Using the Legendre or Frobenius solution, one can calculate the refractive indices along the ray path. A new recursive relationship is proposed to map the trajectory of light at finite heights. To illustrate the finite ray-tracing method utilizing a non-paraxial differential equation, two lenses (with spherical and elliptical iso-indicial contours) are considered. The lenses’ back focal distances, for rays entering the lenses at varying finite heights, are calculated. For each lens, its spherical aberration is estimated. The effective focal length and the shape of the principal surface are also obtained. The accuracy of the results is then compared to the numerical ray-tracing using an optical design software, Zemax OpticStudio. The predicted spherical aberration for the spherical lens differs from numerical ray-tracing by less than λ14 at the marginal zone, while the error for the effective focal length is less than λ100.
High-resolution terrain imager development and performance evaluation for lunar exploration
Authors: Youk Youngchun , Ryu Dongok , Yoon Jeeyeon
Published: November 2023

The Lunar Terrain Imager (LUTI) is a crucial scientific instrument aboard the Korea Pathfinder Lunar Orbiter. We present an analysis of the optical design, assembly, and performance of the LUTI camera system. We outline the key components and technical specifications of the cameras and detail the assembly and alignment process, including collimator calibration and the knife-edge scanning technique for modulation transfer function measurements. Furthermore, the thermal vacuum optical performance of the LUTI is evaluated by simulating space conditions. The optical design, assembly, and thermal vacuum performance testing make the system valuable for high-resolution lunar surface imaging and future space exploration missions.
Comparing transmission- and epi-BCARS: a round robin on solid-state materials
Authors: Hempel Franz , Vernuccio Federico , König Lukas , Buschbeck Robin , Rüsing Michael , Cerullo Giulio , Polli Dario , Eng Lukas M.
Published: November 2023

Broadband coherent anti-Stokes Raman scattering (BCARS) is a powerful spectroscopy method combining high signal intensity with spectral sensitivity, enabling rapid imaging of heterogeneous samples in biomedical research and, more recently, in crystalline materials. However, BCARS encounters spectral distortion due to a setup-dependent non-resonant background (NRB). This study assesses BCARS reproducibility through a round robin experiment using two distinct BCARS setups and crystalline materials with varying structural complexity, including diamond, 6H-SiC, KDP, and KTP. The analysis compares setup-specific NRB correction procedures, detected and NRB-removed spectra, and mode assignment. We determine the influence of BCARS setup parameters like pump wavelength, pulse width, and detection geometry and provide a practical guide for optimizing BCARS setups for solid-state applications.
The scientific chaos phase of the great pandemic: A longitudinal analysis and systematic review of the first surge of clinical research concerning COVID-19
Authors: Adami Till , Ries Markus
Published: November 2023

Background

Early stages of catastrophes like COVID-19 are often led by chaos and panic. To characterize the initial chaos phase of clinical research in such situations, we analyzed the first surge of more than 1000 clinical trials about the new disease at baseline and after two years follow-up. Our 3 main objectives were: (1) Assessment of spatial and temporal evolution of clinical research of COVID-19 across the globe, (2) Assessment of transparency and quality—trial registration, (3) Assessment of research waste and redundancies.

Methods

By entering the keyword “COVID-19” we screened the International Clinical Trials Registry Platform of the WHO and downloaded the search output when our goal of 1000 trials was reached on the 1st of April 2020. Additionally, we verified the integrity of the downloaded data from the meta registry by comparing the data with each individual registration record on their source register. Also, we conducted a follow-up after two years to track their progress.

Results

(1) The spatial evolution followed the geographical spread of the disease as expected, however, the temporal development suggested that panic was the main driver for clinical research activities. (2) Trial registrations and registers showed a huge lack of transparency by allowing retrospective registrations and not keeping their registration records up to date. Quality of trial registration seems to have improved over the last decade, yet crucial information still was missing. (3) Research waste and redundancies were present as suggested by discontinuation of trials, preventable flaws in study design, and similar but uncoordinated research topics operationally fragmented in isolated silo-structures.

Conclusion

The scientific response mechanism across the globe was intact during the chaos phase. However, supervision, leadership, and accountability are urgently needed to prevent research waste, to ensure effective structure, quality, and validity to ultimately break the “panic-then-forget” cycle in future catastrophes.
Are values stable throughout adulthood? Evidence from two German long-term panel studies
Authors: Smallenbroek Oscar , Stanciu Adrian , Arant Regina , Boehnke Klaus
Published: November 2023

Previous studies have used cross-sectional or short-term longitudinal data, resulting in a truncated view of a phenomenon unfolding across the lifespan. We find that, contrary to the consensus in the literature, people’s values continue developing in adulthood, albeit at a slower pace than in previous developmental stages. We use longitudinal data sources with two measurement instruments. We show their comparability using confirmatory MDS in Study 1 (N = 1,027). We examined value development using latent growth models in a convenience sample of highly educated German peace activists (Study 2, N = 1,209) and corroborated these with evidence from a representative sample from the German population (Study 3, N = 19,566). We find that all values change up to age 40 consistent with theoretical expectations. We observe that with age, self-transcendence and conservation values increase while self-enhancement values decrease. At the same time, we find a curvilinear pattern for openness to change in Study 2 and an overall decrease in Study 3. Moreover, the developmental trajectory of conservation and of self-enhancement in the German general population differ between those with tertiary and without tertiary education. We discuss the implication of the present findings for research on value development and for interventions.
Empowering leadership: A conflict resolver and a performance booster for organizations
Authors: Wang Yi
Published: November 2023

Organizational sustainability has become a critical challenge in the current era. This research purpose is to determine the impact of empowering leadership on conflict management and employees’ performance for organizational sustainability. Furthermore, it also investigates the moderating impact of emotional stability on the relationship between empowering leadership, conflict management, and employee performance. Quantitative data for this research was collected from 512 middle-management-level employees from manufacturing firms in China. The partial least squares structural equation modelling results highlighted that empowering leadership positively impacts conflict management and employees’ performance. Furthermore, the study showed that the organization’s sustainability is possible with conflict management and employee performance when there is emotional stability. The theoretical grounding of this research closed a loop in the literature, and the findings are reliable for practice for organization sustainability.
A multi-dimensional incomplete stepped-wedge trial design to estimate the impact of standards-based audit
Authors: White Sarah Ann , Mgawadere Florence
Published: November 2023

A clinical audit is a low-cost process used for quality improvement in healthcare. Such audits are however infrequently used in resource poor countries, where the need for and potential impact of quality improvement is higher. Sets of standards for use in maternal and newborn care have been established based on internal guidelines and evidence. The before-after design of a clinical audit is prone to bias in the estimation of the impact of conducting a clinical audit. A trial design that would provide an unbiased estimate of the impact of implementing a clinical audit process on the attainment of standards selected (a standards-based audit) was needed. The aim of this paper is to introduce and describe the design of trials we developed to meet this need. A novel randomised stepped-wedge trial design to estimate the impact of conducting standards-based audits is presented. A multi-dimensional incomplete stepped-wedge cluster randomised trial design suitable for estimation of the impact of Standards-based audits on compliance with standard is proposed; two variants are described in detail. A method for sample size estimation is described. Analyses can be performed for the binary outcome using a generalised linear mixed model framework to estimate the impact of the approach on compliance with standards subjected to a standards-based audit; additional terms to consider including in sensitivity analyses are considered. The design presented has the potential to estimate the impact of introducing the standards-based audit process on compliance with standard, while providing participating healthcare providers opportunity to gain experience of implementing the standards-based audit process. The design may be applicable in other areas in which multiple processes are to be studied.
Interaction of insecticidal proteins from Pseudomonas spp. and Bacillus thuringiensis for boll weevil management
Authors: Barbosa Rodrigues Jardel Diego , Moreira Raquel Oliveira , de Souza Jackson Antônio Marcondes , Desidério Janete Apparecida
Published: November 2023

Cotton crop yields are largely affected by infestations of Anthonomus grandis, which is its main pest. Although Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) derived proteins can limit insect pest infestations, the diverse use of control methods becomes a viable alternative in order to prolong the use of technology in the field. One of the alternative methods to Bt technology has been the utilization of certain Pseudomonas species highly efficient in controlling coleopteran insects have been used to produce highly toxic insecticidal proteins. This study aimed to evaluate the toxicity of IPD072Aa and PIP-47Aa proteins, isolated from Pseudomonas spp., in interaction with Cry1Ia10, Cry3Aa, and Cry8B proteins isolated from B. thuringiensis, to control A. grandis in cotton crops. The genes IPD072Aa and PIP-47Aa were synthesized and cloned into a pET-SUMO expression vector. Moreover, Cry1Ia10, Cry3Aa, and Cry8B proteins were obtained by inducing recombinant E. coli clones, which were previously acquired by our research group from the Laboratory of Bacteria Genetics and Applied Biotechnology (LGBBA). These proteins were visualized in SDS-PAGE, quantified, and incorporated into an artificial diet to estimate their lethal concentrations (LC) through individual or combined bioassays. The results of individual toxicity revealed that IPD072Aa, PIP-47Aa, Cry1Ia10, Cry3Aa, and Cry8B were efficient in controlling A. grandis, with the latter being the most toxic. Regarding interaction assays, a high synergistic interaction was observed between Cry1Ia10 and Cry3Aa. All interactions involving Cry3Aa and PIP-47Aa, when combined with other proteins, showed a clear synergistic effect. Our findings highlighted that the tested proteins in combination, for the most part, increase toxicity against A. grandis neonate larvae, suggesting possible constructions for pyramiding cotton plants to the manage and the control boll weevils.
Possibility of decryption speed-up by parallel processing in CCA secure hashed ElGamal
Authors: Kim Gyu Chol , Ji Hyon A. , Jong Yong Bok , Kim Gwang Hyok , Kim Hak Su
Published: November 2023

In order to prove the ElGamal CCA(Chosen Ciphertext Attack) security in the random oracle model, it is necessary to use the group where ICDH(Interactive Computational Diffie Hellman) assumption holds. Until now, only bilinear group with complex algebraic structure has been known as the ICDH group. In this paper, we introduce the ICDH group with simple algebraic structure. In other words, we prove that ICDH assumption holds in the integer group with composite modulus. On the basis of this, we propose the CCA secure hashed ElGamal and its fast variant to speed up decryption by parallel processing. Our parallel scheme has the fastest decryption among all CCA secure PKE(Public Key Encryption) schemes implemented in integer group and gives the possibility that ElGamal protocol could be practical when the big modulus numbers are used to resist the quantum attack.
Modeling purple basil, sage, spearmint, and sweet basil responses to daily light integral and mean daily temperature
Authors: Walters Kellie J. , Tarr Sean , Lopez Roberto G.
Published: November 2023

Mean daily temperature (MDT) and daily light integral (DLI) can interact to influence growth and development of plants. Our objectives were to determine 1) the extent DLI and MDT influence growth and development of purple basil ‘Dark Opal’ (Ocimum basilicum), sage ‘Extrakta’ (Salvia officinalis), spearmint ‘Spanish’ (Mentha spicata), and sweet basil ‘Nufar’ (Ocimum basilicum) and 2) the influence on purple basil color. Young plants were transplanted into hydroponic systems in five greenhouse compartments with MDT set points of 23, 26, 29, 32, or 35°C and DLIs from 5 to 19 mol·m‒2·d‒1, respectively. At harvest, growth, development, and leaf color was measured. Branch number of all genera increased as MDT increased from ~23 to 35°C. Sweet basil branch number increased as DLI increased from 5.5 to 13.2 mol·m‒2·d‒1, but the effect of DLI was attenuated as MDT decreased. In contrast, increasing DLI from ~5–6 to ~18–19 mol·m‒2·d‒1 increased sage and spearmint branch number more when MDT was lower (~23°C) compared to ~35°C, while branch number of purple basil was not influenced by DLI. The optimal MDT (MDTopt) for sage and spearmint fresh mass decreased from 27.5 to 23.5°C and from 30.4 to 27.8°C, respectively, as DLI increased from 6 to 18 mol·m‒2·d‒1, while sweet basil fresh mass MDTopt increased from 32.6 to 35.5°C as DLI increased from 6 to 11 mol·m‒2·d‒1. Purple basil was greener [hue angle (h°) = 99° to 138°] when MDT was ~35°C regardless of DLI, but when MDT was lower (~25°C), basil was more purple (h° = 335°) at a DLI of 18.7 compared to 5.0 mol·m‒2·d‒1 (h° = 98°). Taken together, MDT and DLI can have a large impact on plant growth, development, and color and can be manipulated to achieve desired characteristics.
How a “Smart regulatory” platform can improve the property fee adjustment dilemma
Authors: Dong Dekun , Li Shuang
Published: November 2023

In the current process of social and economic development, the cost of living and property management is continuously increasing. In order to maintain the normal operation of property management and provide high-quality services, it is necessary to adjust the property fees reasonably. If the property fees cannot be adjusted for a long time, it will have a detrimental impact on the development of the community. However, the traditional regulatory model has failed to accurately define the quality of property services, leading to information asymmetry and a lack of trust between the two parties, resulting in a deadlock in property fee adjustments. With the rise of intelligent management, a new direction for property fee adjustments has been provided. This article first analyzes the pricing dilemma under traditional regulation through game theory. Then, based on the theory of “Smart regulatory”, it proposes the idea of constructing a "Smart regulatory" platform and explores the feasibility of this model using game theory and Matlab simulations. The study found that the “Smart regulatory” platform can resolve information asymmetry and encourage both parties to cooperate in the game. After the establishment of the platform, property fee adjustments are influenced by government supervision, government penalties, and the magnitude of property fee increase.
A taxonomic schema of potential pitfalls in clinical variant analysis based on real-world evidence
Authors: Coovadia Adam , Boccuto Luigi , Chang Yenui , DeLuca Jane
Published: November 2023

The classification and interpretation of genetic variants associated with genetic diseases have been shown to vary between clinical genetic laboratories. This can lead to errors introduced in the interpretation and public presentation of genetic findings in the literature and available databases. This qualitative study utilizes real-world evidence to introduce a taxonomic schema of potential pitfalls associated with public and commercial resources commonly used for sequence variant analysis. Databases, articles and other resources continue to evolve over time. A modified and expanded version of Reason’s Model of Human Error with respect to variant analysis is proposed and discussed. This study complements professional standards and published recommendations of interpretive considerations associated with variant analysis and expands the scope of professional competency.
The diagnostic accuracy of mean platelet volume in differentiating immune thrombocytopenic purpura from hypo-productive thrombocytopenia: A systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Walle Muluken , Arkew Mesay , Asmerom Haftu , Tesfaye Addisu , Getu Fasil
Published: November 2023

Background

Thrombocytopenia is defined as a decreased number of platelets in the circulating blood as a result of hypo-proliferation in marrow or peripheral destruction of platelets. Several diagnostic methods have been proposed to discriminate the underline cause of thrombocytopenia. Recent studies showed that mean platelet volume (MPV) could be used for differential diagnosis of immune thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP). Thus, we aimed to investigate the diagnostic accuracy of MPV for differential diagnosis of ITP from hypo-productive thrombocytopenia.

Methods

This study was conducted in accordance with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis guidelines (PRISMA). The study protocol was registered on PROSPERO with the reference number CRD42023447789. Relevant published studies that were published up to April 10, 2023, in peer-reviewed journals were searched on electronic different databases. The methodological quality of the included studies was appraised using the quality assessment of diagnostic accuracy studies 2 (QADAS-2) tool. The pooled weight mean difference (WMD) of MPV between the ITP group and hypo-productive group was analyzed using a random-effects model meta-analysis. Relevant data were extracted using a Microsoft Excel spreadsheet and analyzed using STATA 11.0 and Meta-disc 1.4 software. Publication bias was evaluated using Deek’s funnel plot asymmetry test.

Results

A total of 14 articles were included in this systematic review and meta-analysis. The comparison of MPV between groups revealed that the pooled mean value of MPV increased significantly in ITP patients compared to patients with hypo-productive thrombocytopenia (WMD = 2.03; 95% CI, 1.38–2.69). The pooled sensitivity and specificity of MPV in differentiating ITP from hypo-productive thrombocytopenia were 76.0% (95% CI: 71.0%, 80.0%) and 79.0% (95% CI: 75.0%, 83.0%), respectively. The summary positive likelihood ratio (PLR) and negative likelihood ratio (NLR)using the random effects model were 3.89 (95% CI: 2.49, 6.10) and 0.29 (95% CI: 0.18, 0.46), respectively.

Conclusion

MPV can be used to discriminate ITP from hypo-productive thrombocytopenia. It can possess large advantages as it is noninvasive, simple, quick, inexpensive, easy to perform, reliable, and routinely generated by automated cell counters.
Phytochemical analysis, antioxidant, and antimicrobial activities of Jordanian Pomegranate peels
Authors: Sweidan Nuha , Abu Rayyan Walid , Mahmoud Iman , Ali Leen
Published: November 2023

Pomegranate (Punica granatum) peels have shown numerous health benefits such as antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and antimicrobial activities. These health activities are owed to the unique phytochemical components present in pomegranate peels. Variations in the pomegranate cultivar, geographical region, and extraction methods significantly affect the phytochemical composition and concentrations of pomegranate fruits and their peels, hence their health outcomes. Therefore, this study aimed to examine the phytochemical contents of pomegranate peels of Jordanian origin and their antioxidant and antimicrobial activities. Among the 6 extracts of pomegranate peels tested, the ethanol extract exhibited the highest total phenolic content (TPC = 297.70 ± 1.73 mg GAE/g DW), highest total flavonoids content (TFC = 116.08 ± 3.46 mg RE/g DW), highest hydrolyzable tannins (HT) contents (688.50 ± 3.54 mg TE/g DW). Whereas the highest condensed tannins (CT) content was found in both the ethanol (13.87 ± 0.58 mg CE/g DW) and methanol (13.84 ± 0.55 mg CE/g DW) extracts. For the antioxidant activities, the water extract of pomegranate peels displayed the highest inhibitory effect on DPPH radicals (9.43 ± 0.06 μmole TE/g DW), while for the ABTS+ assay the methanol and ethanol extracts exhibited the highest activities of 11.09 ± 0.02 and 11.09 ± 0.06 μmole TE/g DW, respectively. For the FRAP assay, the aqueous methanol extract exhibited the highest reducing activity (1.60 ± 0.09 mmole Fe (II)/g DW). As for the antimicrobial activities of various extracts of pomegranate peels, the highest antimicrobial activity against Micrococcus luteus was achieved by the ethanol extract (MIC = 6.25 mg/mL), whereas the lowest antimicrobial activity was observed against Candida krusei using the methanol extract (MIC = 100 mg/mL). These results indicate that pomegranate peels of Jordanian origin are rich in phytochemical content and exhibited strong antioxidant and antimicrobial activities making these agroindustrial by-products potential candidates for various medical applications and possible safe sources for important bioactive components.
NATO-országok katonai képzési rendszereinek áttekintése
Authors: Bátyi Szilvia
Published: November 2023

A tanulmány célja azoknak az alapelveknek és pedagógiai problémaköröknek a bemutatása, amelyek az egyes NATO-országok katonai képzési rendszereiben felbukkannak, és nem országspecifikusak, amiből következik, hogy más kontextusokban is relevánsak. A katonai képzés történetének rövid áttekintése után a tanulmány egy Hollandiában és egy Norvégiában végzett kutatás alapján mutatja be, hogyan valósul vagy valósulhat meg a katonai képzés két alapvető fontosságú alappillérének beépítése a képzésbe: a jellemformálás és a gyakorlatorientáltság. Mindkét jellemző kiemelten szerepel a NATO-országok katonai képzésének retorikájában, mivel a 21. századi kihívásokhoz szükség van az adekvát szociális, erkölcsi és kognitív kompetenciákra, a helyzetek és problémák gyors felismerésére és kezelésére. A bemutatott két vizsgálatból kiderül, hogy a jellemformálás leginkább látensen és homályosan jelenik meg a vizsgált képzésben, aminek komoly következményei vannak a terepre kikerülő tisztek esetében (Jansen, 2019); a gyakorlatorientáltság pedig pozitív hatásokkal lehet a hallgatók teljesítményére és motivációjára, amit a problémaalapú tanítás bevezetése mutatott a norvég példán.
CHEMICAL COMPOSITION OF BIOLOGICAL PREPARATIONS OBTAINED BY BIOCONVERSION OF PEA AND CHICKPEA SERUM
Authors: Ulanova Ruzaliya Vladimirovna , Kolpakova Valentina Vasil'yevna , Kulikov Denis Sergeyevich , Gulakova Valentina Andreyevna , Vasilyeva Lina Vasil'yevna , Berestovskaya Yuliya Yur'yevna , Ashikhmin Aleksandr Aleksandrovich
Published: November 2023

In this work, we studied the chemical composition of preparations obtained by bioconversion of carotenoid yeast Rhodotorula mucilaginosa of pea and chickpea whey, a secondary product of flour processing into food protein concentrate. In the process of growth, yeast assimilate carbohydrate, nitrogenous components and provided the chemical composition of biological products, allowing them to be attributed to the highest group of fodder yeast. The chemical composition of dry biomass from whey: total protein (Nx6.25) – 58.90–61.29%, fat – 1.20–2.31%, ash elements – 3.53–4.53%, soluble and insoluble fibers – 9.33–10.35% and 22.52–26.04%, respectively. The biological effectiveness of lipids based on the study of the fatty acid composition of lipids: the ratio of saturated:monoenoic:polyenoic fatty acids is characterized by the predominance of unsaturated acids – 17 : 62 : 18 in the pea preparation and 18 : 33 : 45 in the chickpea preparation. The pea preparation contains 2.4 times more ω-6 of linoleic acid, the chickpea preparation contains 2.5 times more oleic acid. The biological effectiveness of lipids was also confirmed by chromatographic analysis of the composition of carotenoid components, which is represented by phytoin, torulene, β-carotene, torularodine and phytoin. There is no phytoin in the chickpea biological product, but β-carotene is present in a larger amount (2.8 times). The biological value of biological products with a yield of 0.50–0.54 g/100 cm3 is confirmed by the amount of essential amino acids and their rate (114–278% for pea and 120–242% for chickpea biological products). For both drugs, there is no toxicity in experiments with the ciliate Tetrahymena pyriformis, in the presence of which its active growth is observed. With a pea preparation, the growth factor is 29.1% higher than with distilled water, with a chickpea preparation it is 18.6% higher. In the body of animals, a biologically complete protein with essential amino acids, lipids and carotenoids in the composition of pea and chickpea preparations will actively participate in the metabolism not only as energy materials, but also as biologically active components in the synthesis of hormones, vitamins and other vital compounds.
COMPONENT COMPOSITION OF ESSENTIAL OILS FROM LEAVES, INFLORESCENCES AND STEMS OF PEROVSKIA SCROPHULARIFOLIA GROWN IN UZBEKISTAN
Authors: Dzhumaev Khudaiberdi Kurbandurdyevich , Tkachenko Kirill Gavrilovich
Published: November 2023

Essential oils as secondary metabolites, promising sources of biologically active substances with pronounced antimicrobial, antifungal and antiviral effects, are of considerable interest for study and possible use in medicine, pharmaceuticals, and aromatherapy. We have studied the composition of the essential oil of an endemic species for the first time Perovskia scrophularifolia Bunge. (Lamiaceae = Labiatae). This species of plant is of considerable interest as a medicinal plant, which is widely used in folk medicine in Uzbekistan and neighboring countries. Studies of biologically active substances of this species did not concern the essential oil. During the period of mass flowering in the inflorescences of Perovskia scrophularifolia contains 0.65%, in leaves – 0.71% of essential oil. The stems of the plant contain essential oils in small quantities. The composition and content of the components of the studied samples were determined according to the data of gas chromatographic and chromate-mass-spectrometric analysis. 26 substances were identified in essential oils from leaves, 43 from inflorescences and 18 substances from stems. The main components of essential oils from leaves and inflorescences are 1,8-Cineol up to 19.3% and Isobornyl acetate – up to 15.9%. This species is a promising source of biologically active compounds with biological activity (including antibiotic).
ANTIRADICAL ACTIVITY OF EXTRACTIVE SUBSTANCES OF LEDUM POLUSTRE L., GROWING IN THE KRASNOYARSK TERRITORY
Authors: Efremov Aleksandr Alekseevich , Savelyeva Elena Evgenievna , Bulgakova Nadezhda Anatol'yevna , Kunz Roman Konstantinovich , Slashchinin Dmitriy Gennad'yevich , Luneva Tat'yana Anatol'yevna , Zykova Irina Dement'yevna , Volkov Dmitriy Valentinovich
Published: November 2023

In model reactions with a free stable 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl radical, the antiradical activity (ARA) of extractive substances of wild rosemary (Ledum palustre L.) growing in the Krasnoyarsk Territory was studied: aqueous-alcoholic extracts with an alcohol content of 20, 40 and 70%, water and alcohol extracts and essential oil. Whole essential oil obtained by exhaustive hydrosteam distillation for 8 hours. The component composition of the essential oil was determined by chromato-mass spectrometry using a data bank on mass spectra and on the analysis of linear retention indices. At least 35 individual compounds were identified in the essential oil and their quantitative content was determined.

The leaves of wild rosemary collected at the beginning of flowering in early June in the Partizansky district of the Krasnoyarsk Territory were used as raw materials. The extracts were obtained using a sample of air-dry raw materials in the amount of 1.00 grams, the extraction hydromodule was 1:100, the extraction time was 1.0 hours.

The results of the DPPH test showed that the antiradical activity of the obtained extracts changes in the following order: essential oil > 40% extract > 70% extract > 20% extract > aqueous extract. Moreover, the essential oil of wild rosemary has an ARA value of 82.7% even when diluted 1:10.

The obtained extracts were studied by electron spectroscopy in the UV region. It is shown that the extracts contain phenolic compounds represented by phenolcarboxylic acids and flavonoids. In the extracts obtained, the total content of phenolic compounds was determined (by reaction with the Folin-Ciocalteu reagent), which is 0.52–1.05 wt.% in terms of gallic acid. Moreover, this value passes through a maximum in the case of 40% alcohol extract. By reaction with aluminum chloride, the total content of flavonoids in the extracts was determined. It was found that the content of flavonoids in the extracts is 0.73–2.00 wt.% in terms of routine. The maximum content of flavonoids was found in 70% alcohol extract.

It is shown that the ARA value correlates well with the total content of phenolic compounds - the correlation coefficient is 0.9512, and no correlation is observed with the total content of flavonoids.
Neural Pathway of Taste & Its Pathological Conditions
Authors: Vithal D Udagatti  , Dinesh Kumar Rajendran  , Elza Sunny  , S. G. Shreya  , Rama Krishna Bandela  , Abhishek Kumar Singh  , Shreya Prabhu  , Praveen Kumar
Published: November 2023

Nerves like chorda tympani, greater petrosal nerve (facial nerve branch) glossopharyngeal and vagus take part in the taste sensation and innervate the tongue, palate and epiglottis. The neural pathway of taste is presented in detail in physiological and pathological conditions.