bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The amputee dancer: A conversation (and more) with Lawrence Shapiro
Authors: Shapiro Lawrence , Miller Lee
Published: August 2023

This piece of writing started life as reflection by Lawrence Shapiro on his Canada Council for the Arts sponsored trip to Berlin, Germany in 2022 to work with ‘The Initiative for More Physical Diversity in Contemporary Dance’ and their ensemble Tanzfaehig. While the initial piece of writing that Lawrence offered to Choreographic Practices remains a central element of what is presented here, it is supplemented by the text of a conversation Lee Miller and Lawrence had on Friday, 7 April 2023.
Supplementation with protected kapok seed oil and choline chloride to improve the performance and lipid status of thin-tailed sheep
Authors: Widiyanto Widiyanto , Mulyono Mulyono , Prasetiyono Bambang Waluyo Hadi Eko
Published: August 2023

Background and Aim: Healthy meat production is an important aspect of increasing sheep productivity. This study aimed to examine the influence of protected kapok seed oil (KSO) in combination with choline chloride (CC) on the feed utilization, lipid status, and performance of thin-tailed sheep.

Materials and Methods: Thirty male thin-tailed sheep (approximately 6 months old, with an average body weight of 12.59 ± 1.48 kg) were divided into six treatment groups (five heads/treatment). Factor 1 consisted of two treatments: K1 (KSO supplementation at 10% supplementation and 75% protection level) and K0 (without KSO supplementation). Factor 2 consisted of three levels of CC: (C0: 0%; C1: 1.5% and C2: 3% feed dry matter (DM) basis supplementation levels). The variables measured were the DM consumption, DM digestibility, organic matter digestibility, nitrogen retention, daily body weight gain (DBWG), and blood and meat lipid status. The data were analyzed using analysis of variance in a completely randomized design in a factorial pattern of 2 × 3 × 5.

Results: Choline chloride supplementation (up to 3%) increased DM consumption in the K0C2 group. The CC and protected KSO (K1C2) supplementation combination resulted in the highest DM consumption level (p < 0.05). The protected KSO supplementation increased DBWG (the DBWG in the K1C0 group was higher than that in the K0C0 group, and the highest DBWG was found in the K1C2 group) (p < 0.05). Protected KSO and CC supplementation decreased cholesterol levels and increased the relative proportion of linoleic acid in meat (p < 0.05).

Conclusion: Combined supplementation with protected KSO and CC improved the feed utilization and performance of male thin-tailed sheep. There were increases in DBWG, decreases in intramuscular fat and cholesterol levels, and increases in meat linoleic acid levels.

Keywords: cholesterol, linoleic acid, male thin-tailed sheep, meat, performance.
Antibacterial efficacy of essential oil spray formulation for post-milking disinfection in dairy cows
Authors: Aiemsaard Jareerat , Borlace Glenn Neville , Thongkham Eakachai , Jarassaeng Chaiwat
Published: August 2023

Background and Aim: Mastitis is an essential issue in dairy cows. Post-milking teat dips can help reduce this problem, but they employ harsh disinfectants, and many bacteria are becoming increasingly tolerant. This study aimed to investigate the antibacterial activity of clove, citronella, and sweet basil essential oils against the common bovine mastitis causative agents Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus agalactiae, and Escherichia coli and to develop an antiseptic post-milking teat spray for use in dairy cows. Materials and Methods: The in vitro antimicrobial activity of the essential oils was determined by broth microdilution and time-kill assays. Essential oil-based post-milking teat sprays were developed. The bacterial eradication efficacy of the formulations was determined by time-kill assays and their stability was tested by repeated freeze-thaw cycles. The most effective formulation was tested in dairy cows. Results: The minimum inhibitory concentrations and minimum bactericidal concentrations of the tested essential oils against S. aureus, S. agalactiae, and E. coli were in the range of 0.78–6.25 µL/mL. The time-kill tests indicated that the essential oils’ antibacterial activity depended on concentration and contact time. All three essential oil-based post-milking teat spray preparations showed good stability. The citronella spray formulation showed the highest antibacterial potency. In in vivo testing, the citronella spray eradicated aerobic bacteria on the teat skin of cows (99.9% or 3-log10 reduction) within 1 min, which was non-inferior to a standard 0.54% iodine solution teat dip. Conclusion: Clove, citronella, and sweet basil essential oils were effective against S. aureus, S. agalactiae, and E. coli in vitro. Of these, citronella essential oil is the most promising to be developed as a post-milking teat spray with high antibacterial activity and excellent bacterial eradication properties in vivo. Keywords: antibacterial activity, essential oils, post-milking disinfection, spray formulation.
Analysis of Writing Characteristics in Young Children's Writing Activities
Authors:   Center For Educational Research, Kim Kyung-Chul , Lee Min-Young
Published: August 2023

Purpose: This study aims to understand the characteristics of general writing found by observingand analyzing the processes and results of young children's participation in writing activities. Theeducational value of writing derived from this can be applied to everyday situations, including youngchildren's play and daily life, and is expected to be the basic data for field teachers to establisheducational plans.
Methods: In this study, seven homeroom teachers working at public kindergartens located in S Cityand a total of 90 young children aged three, four, and five in each class participated. From December1 to December 23, 2022, teachers in each class provided one pre-selected common writing activityand one free writing activity, and then observed and recorded the writing process and results of youngchildren. The data collected in this study were young children observation records, writing results,interview data with teachers. And a circular and iterative data analysis was conducted through thetriangular verification method.
Results: As a result of analyzing the writing activity process and results of young children, a totalof four writing characteristics were derived. The first was ‘totality’ containing characteristics otherthan the young children's writing skills, the second was ‘performance’ in which young childrendemonstrate other abilities for writing, the third was ‘contextuality’ in which they practiced writingin the background, and the fourth was ‘learning possibility’ that can be used 'well' in the processof learning and mastering educational areas.
Conclusion: Based on the four writing characteristics derived through the analysis of writing processesand results, this study sought ways to educate and guide field teachers. In addition, by proposingthe concept of 'writing competency' based on the context consistent with the concept and characteristicsof competency, it suggests that it is necessary to look at young children’s writing from a morecomprehensive and multifaceted aspect.
A Latent Grow th Model Analysis on the Effect of Teacher Enthusiasm on Academic Self-Concept Mediated by Achievement Pressure
Authors:   Center For Educational Research, Jang Jin-Won , Lee Jae-Duck
Published: August 2023

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to analyze the longitudinaleffect of teacher's enthusiasmon academic self-concept through achievement pressure using a latent growth model.
Methods: The data from 5,537 students who completed the responses in all years from the 3rd to7th (2015 to 2019) data of the Korean Education Longitudinal Study2013 was analyzed. A latentgrowth model was then applied using SPSS 26 and AMOS 23.
Results: First, teacher enthusiasm, achievement pressure, and academic self-concept tended to decreaseover time. Second, the initial value of teacher fever had a positive effect on the initial value of academicself-concept, and the initial value of achievement pressure had a negative effect on the initial valueof academic self-concept. Third, the initial value of teacher enthusiasm had a positive effect on therate of change of academic self-concept, and the initial value of achievement pressure had a negativeeffect on the rate of change of academic self-concept. Fourth, it was found that the rate of changeof teacher enthusiasm and achievement pressure had a positive effect on the rate of change of academicself-concept. Fifth, a significant mediating effect was found in the paths of 'initial value of teacherenthusiasm - initial value of achievement pressure - initial value of academic self-concept' and 'initialvalue of teacher enthusiasm - change rate of achievement pressure the change rate of academic-self-concept'.
Conclusion: The results of the study indicated the importance of teacher enthusiasm and achievementpressure on students' academic self-concept. Based on the results, policy implications for improvingteacher enthusiasm and achievement pressure were suggested.
Edge Detection Method for High-Resolution Remote Sensing Imagery by Combining Superpixels with Dual-Threshold Edge Tracking
Authors: Liu Yanxiong , Dong Zhipeng , Feng Yikai , Chen Yilan , Yang Long
Published: August 2023

Edge detection in high-spatial-resolution remote sensing images (HSRIs ) is a key technology for automatic extraction, analysis, and understanding of image information. With respect to the problem of fake edges in image edge detection caused by image noise and the phenomenon of the
same class objects reflecting different spectra, this article proposes a novel edge detection method for HSRIs by combin- ing superpixels with dual-threshold edge tracking. First, the image is smoothed using the simple linear iterative clustering algorithm to eliminate the influence of image
noise and the phenomenon of the same class objects reflecting different spectra on image edge detec - tion. Second, initial edge detection results of the image are obtained using the dual-threshold edge tracking algorithm. Finally, the initial image edge detection results are post-processed
by removing the burrs and extracting skeleton lines to obtain accurate edge detection results. The experimental results confirm that the proposed method outperforms the others and can obtain smooth, continuous, and single-pixel response edge detection results for HSRIs .
Application of Improved YOLO V5s Model for Regional Poverty Assessment Using Remote Sensing Image Target Detection
Authors: Chenguang Zhang , Guifa Teng
Published: August 2023

This study aims at applying the improved You Only Look Once V5s model for the assessment of regional poverty using remote sensing image target detection. The model was improved from structure, algorithm, and components. Objects in the remote sensing images were used to identify poverty,
and the poverty alleviation situation could be predicted according to the existing detection results. The results showed that the values of Precision, Recall, mean Average Precision (mAP)@0.5, and mAP@0.5:0.95 of the model increased 7.3%, 0.7%, 1%, and 7.2%, respectively on the Common Objects
in Context data set in the detection stage; the four values increased 3.1%, 2.2%, 1.3%, and 5.7%, respectively on the custom remote sensing image data set in the verification stage. The loss values decreased 2.6% and 37.4%, respectively, on the two data sets. Hence, the application of the
improved model led to the more accurate detection of the targets. Compared with the other papers, the improved model in this paper proved to be better. Artificial poverty alleviation can be replaced by remote sensing image processing because it is inexpensive, efficient, accurate, objective,
does not require data, and has the same evaluation effect. The proposed model can be considered as a promising approach in the assessment of regional poverty.
The Influence of Land Use and Land Cover on Surface Temperature in a Water Catchment Sub-Basin
Authors: Santos Arthur Pereira dos , Simionatto Henzo Henrique , Arantes Letícia Tondato , Simonetti Vanessa Cezar , Oliveira Renan Angrizani de , Sales Jomil Costa Abreu , Silva Darllan Collins da Cunha e
Published: August 2023

Faced with the recent crises of water capture and distribution, managing water resources is a practice that has been gaining prominence in discussions and debates about environmental issues. Thus, this article aims to analyze, in a spatio-temporal way, the Changes in Land Use and Occupation (LULC) and Surface Temperature (LST) in the water catchment sub-basin of Ribeirão Santa Isabel, located in the municipality of Paracatu, Minas Gerais (MG), between the years 1990 and 2020. The choice of the area is justified by the conflicts of use that encompass the sub-basin and by the fact that this is the only source of capture in the municipality, which has already carried out the alteration of the water resource responsible for the capture of water due to the intensity of agricultural practices in the region in the previous area. Through geoprocessing and Remote Sensing (RS) techniques, images from the Landsat-5 and Landsat-8 satellites were used to perform the LST calculations. Regarding usage and occupancy data, the images provided by the Mapbiomas platform were used. It was verified, through the increase in the percentage of the water class and vegetation and the decrease in the agricultural class, that the practices implemented in the study area, in order to conserve the remnants of the biome and maintain a good water availability to the municipality, are having an effect. It was also possible to conclude that LST is affected by LULC, and that the greatest variations occur in non-vegetated areas.
Societal Impacts of Open Government Data Use
Authors: Emigawaty Emigawaty , Adi Kusworo , Rochim Adian Fatchur
Published: August 2023

The purpose of this research is to investigate the impacts of Open Government Data (OGD) use on the societal-economic sphere and to identify possible gaps in the literature between its several categories. Therefore, this paper led to a deliberate literature study of the OGD research that primarily collected on empirical earlier papers. We systematically reviewed 88 reputable articles connected with the societal impacts of OGD use utilising Scopus Gateway from 2012 to 2022. We followed the Prefered Reporting Items for Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis (PRISMA) Protocol, and several software tools such as Mendeley, Publish or Perish, and VOSViewer to support the literature review process. This research provides several essential statistical views related to the social impact in the OGD field using Altmetric. The result shows that there were 26 categories of the OGD used for the societal consequences, with 8 main keywords most frequently used by the authors. Additionally, the highest number of authors who contributed to the discussion of social impact data, especially on the issue of open government, was 19, recorded in 2012. A number of topics overwhelmed the discussion of social impacts, namely, open government, citizen engagement, socio-economic value, and transparency in the period of 2015 and 2017.
Mapping Research Contributions on Agricultural Extension in India
Authors: Sinha Aditya , Nag Arindam
Published: August 2023

Agricultural Extension is vital for sustainable farming development and food systems. During the past decades, several agricultural extension modelshave been implemented in India. The present study emphasises on the scientific contribution of agricultural extension researchduring the last decade (2011-2020). Bibliometric techniques have been employed to the secondary data for analysing 145 articles to identify relevant themes, collaboration patterns, topics under study and major journals for publication. It was observed that the research on agricultural extension has been increasing in recent years. The journals that have published the articles have highlighted multi-disciplinary research to address the challenges of the discipline. The central thematic area of research in the domain was new extension methodologies for technology transfer,applying information and communication technologies (ICTs) in farming and climate-change based research in extension. Probably, this might be the first bibliometric study to offer exhaustive information on extension research in India. The findings of the study will aid academics and decision-makers in formulating plans and strategies for better extension approaches for agricultural development. Agricultural extension practitioners may also use those findings for reorienting advisory services at the grassroots level.
Estética da fala
Authors: Seixas Máyra Reis , Câmara Carlos Alexandre
Published: August 2023

OBJETIVO: O presente artigo destaca a importância da avaliação dinâmica da estética no diagnóstico e planejamento ortodôntico. DISCUSSÃO: A exposição dentária durante a fala tornou-se um parâmetro estético importantíssimo quando avaliamos resultados de tratamentos sob a óptica da dimensão do tempo. CONCLUSÃO: A manutenção dos aspectos joviais ou mesmo o rejuvenescimento da aparência dos pacientes precisam ser considerados como objetivos do tratamento, especialmente para que a atenção e os esforços destinados à obtenção de sorrisos belos não aconteçam em detrimento desses aspectos, tanto em curto prazo quanto em longo prazo.
Correção da inclinação transversal do plano oclusal por intrusão superior unilateral e melhora do sorriso em um paciente adulto
Authors: Pacheco Ariel Adriano Reyes , Mota Júnior Sergio Luiz , Tanaka Orlando Motohiro
Published: August 2023

OBJETIVO: O presente relato de caso descreve uma abordagem ortodôntica e protética para reabilitação completa da má oclusão de um paciente adulto do sexo masculino que havia sido submetido a dois tratamentos anteriores e estava em tratamento ativo há cinco anos. Sua queixa principal era a inclinação dos dentes superiores do lado direito ao sorrir. O paciente apresentava perfil côncavo, relação esquelética de Classe III, sobremordida e sobressaliência corretas e relação de caninos em Classe I, com ambas as linhas médias desviadas para a direita. CASO CLÍNICO: O paciente foi tratado com aparelho ortodôntico fixo e foi utilizado dispositivo de ancoragem temporária (DAT). RESULTADOS: Os resultados mostraram melhora no sorriso, com a correção da inclinação oclusal, e manutenção da relação de caninos em Classe I. CONCLUSÕES: Obteve-se uma boa oclusão com o fechamento do espaço entre o segundo pré-molar inferior e o segundo molar inferior esquerdos, e, no acompanhamento de 18 meses, a reabilitação do espaço com duas próteses fixas sobre implantes nos molares superiores direitos apresentou boa estabilidade pós-tratamento.
Avaliação das mudanças tridimensionais após tratamento ortodôntico em casos de baixa complexidade, usando braquetes autoligáveis, braquetes convencionais ou sistema fixo sem braquetes
Authors: Plaza Sonia Patricia , Tamara Juan Carlos , Ariza Joaquin Tiberio , Vergara Sara Ermida
Published: August 2023

OBJETIVO: O objetivo do presente estudo foi comparar as mudanças na angulação e inclinação da coroa e nas dimensões da arcada após tratamento ortodôntico usando: braquetes autoligáveis, braquetes convencionais ou sistema fixo sem braquetes. MÉTODOS: Modelos digitais pré e pós-tratamento de 114 pacientes com idades entre 16 e 44 anos, classificados como casos de baixa complexidade, que apresentavam parâmetros esqueléticos e dentários semelhantes no pré-tratamento, submetidos a tratamento ortodôntico, foram divididos em três grupos: Grupo 1 (n = 40) – tratados com braquetes convencionais; Grupo 2 (n = 40) – tratados com braquetes autoligáveis; Grupo 3 (n = 34) – tratados com um sistema fixo sem braquetes. A angulação e a inclinação (torque) finais das coroas dos dentes superiores e inferiores, e as dimensões das arcadas foram medidas usando o software Dolphin (Dolphin Imaging and Management Solutions, Chatsworth, CA, EUA) por um operador calibrado. A análise estatística foi realizada com o teste do qui-quadrado, teste ANOVA/Kruskal-Wallis, teste t para amostras pareadas/teste de postos com sinais de Wilcoxon e um modelo de regressão multinomial. RESULTADOS: Não foram encontradas diferenças estatisticamente significativas entre os grupos após o tratamento ortodôntico. No entanto, nas comparações intragrupos das alterações entre pré e pós-tratamento, foram encontradas diferenças estatisticamente significativas (p < 0,0014) em algumas das variáveis estudadas. O modelo de regressão multinomial mostrou uma associação estatisticamente significativa (p < 0,05) entre braquetes autoligáveis e a distância entre primeiros pré-molares superiores (OR = 1,58, IC 95% = 1,09-2,30) e o perímetro da arcada inferior (OR = 0,77, IC 95% = 0,61-0,98) após tratamento ortodôntico, em comparação aos braquetes convencionais. CONCLUSÕES: Os valores de angulação e inclinação da coroa e dimensões da arcada no pré e pós-tratamento com os três tipos de aparelhos ortodônticos não apresentaram diferenças estatisticamente significativas nessa amostra de casos ortodônticos de baixa complexidade.
Movimento ortodôntico não promove pulpites e nem envelhecimento pulpar precoce
Authors: Consolaro Alberto , Miranda Dario Augusto Oliveira , Consolaro Renata Bianco
Published: August 2023

INTRODUÇÃO: Em numerosos trabalhos experimentais e clínicos, estudando as variáveis clínicas locais e sistêmicas do movimento osteodentário induzido, observamos que as polpas dentárias não apresentavam metamorfose cálcica da polpa ou necrose pulpar. Nesses trabalhos, a estrutura organizacional da polpa se apresentava normal. No entanto, recentemente, muitos questionamentos surgiram quanto à indução de pulpites e envelhecimento pulpar precoce em dentes submetidos à movimentação osteodentária induzida, pois não havia trabalhos específicos sobre isso. CONCLUSÃO: Após refletir, concluímos que, em nossos trabalhos sobre movimentação ortodôntica, não destacávamos, especialmente nas conclusões, que as pulpites e o envelhecimento pulpar também estavam ausentes — tal como fazíamos para a necrose asséptica e a metamorfose cálcica da polpa — porque talvez tivéssemos a perigosa ideia de que isso era óbvio. Mas não era! Agora reconhecemos isso, pois essa ausência não era tão óbvia assim.
Ranunculo traunfellneri - Paederotetum luteae: new rock crevices association from the Julian Alps (South - Eastern Calcareous Alps)
Authors: Surina Boštjan
Published: August 2023

Vegetation of rock crevices in the Krn Mts. (the Julian Alps) isbriefly presented. The association Ranunculo traunfellneri-Paederotetum luteaeass. nova was newly described. It was classified into the alliance Cystopteridion fragilis. Other confirmed or identified associations are Valeriano elongataeAsplenietum viridis var. geogr. Campanula zoysii (Cystopteridion), Potentillo clusianae-Campanuletum zoysii, Campanulo carnicae-Moehringietum villosae, Paederoto luteae-Minuartietum rupestris, Saxifragetum squarroso-crustataeand Potentilletum nitidae (Androsaci-Drabion tomentosae).
Vrsta Geum allepicum Jacq. v Sloveniji
Authors: Vreš Branko
Published: August 2023

Prispevek obravnava prvo (subspontano) pojavljanje alepske sretene Geum allepicum Jacq. v Sloveniji, njene morfološke znake, opis rastišča in določevalni ključ.Vrsta je bila najdena maja leta 2000 na parkovni trati v središču Ljubljane (9953/1–UTM 33TVM60) skupaj z navadno sreteno (Geum urbanumL.) in njunim kri`žancem Geum x spurium Fisch. & Mey.
Survey of the Lynx distribution in the French Alps: 2000–2004 population status analysis
Authors: Marbountin E. , Duchamp C. , Rouland P. , Léonard Y. , Boyer J. , Michallet D. , Catusse M. , Migot P. , Vandel J. M. , Stahl P.
Published: August 2023

Within the SCALP framework, the status of the pan-alpine population of Eurasian Lynx is assessed every 5 years, based on the compilation of national reports and standardized classiﬁcation of lynx presence signs according to data conﬁdence levels (C1, C2, C3). From2000 to 2004, the French national network of lynx experts collected N= 393 data, out of which 224 (compared to only 69 in 1995–1999) were considered as robust enough to evidence the presence of lynx (C1 = 1%; C2 = 42%; C3 = 57%) and were used for further analysis. A majority of the signs concerned the northern part of the Alps, however, in mostly two regions (Chartreuse/Epine: 34% of the signs; Maurienne: 21%). Other data were more scattered over space, from the Cha- blais region close to Switzerland down to the Haut-Verdon close to the Mercantour mountains. A negative trend was noticed from north to south in proportions of best quality signs(C1+C2), and a positive one in low quality ones – C3 – (c² = 3.56, 1 df, p = 0.06), which could point at some methodological artefacts. Discarding C3 may however be too conservative a strategy to assess the species range and status. Using spatial recurrence and trend over time of all signs available (C1+C2+C3) could, therefore, provide the right balance between being too much versus not enough conservative. – When doing so, the area with lynx signs regularly detected sharply increased between 1996–1998 (100 km²), 1999–2001(250 km²), and 2002–2004 (1195 km²). The latter area is still quite small regarding what is required for a viable large carnivore population.A simple demographic model suggested that even a quite moderate proportion of immigrants (e.g. dispersal inﬂow from neighbouring coreareas – French Jura or Swiss Alps) could considerably decrease the theoretical demographic extinction risk of such a small population, but stilldepending upon adult survival rates, which also strongly inﬂuenced the extinction risk. The factors that may inﬂuence this sensitivity analysis(such as habitat connectivity and management of wooded corridors) should be evaluated within the Scalp framework.
RepFIIA replicon of the natural Escherichia coli plasmid pRK100
Authors: Starčič Erjavec Marjanca , Žgur-Bertok Darja
Published: August 2023

The aim of the presented study was to identify the similarity of the plasmid pRK100 RepFIIA replicon (replication region) with similar replicons of other known plasmids of Enterobacteriaceae. For this purpose, within the determined nucleotide sequence of pRK100, theRepFIIA replicon rep genes/regions were identiﬁed. The nucleotide sequences of the pRK100 determined rep genes/regions were subsequently compared with the nucleotide sequences of other RepFIIA replicon rep genes/regions deposited in GenBank. Further, the nucleotide divergence between them was calculated. The obtained results clearly demonstrated, that the individual pRK100 rep regions are the same/most similar to rep regions from different plasmids. RepA2 of pRK100 is most similar to repA2 of pCP301, pINV_F6_M1382, pWR501 and R1, copA is the same as copA of plasmids pC15-1a and R100, repA6 of pRK100 is the same as repA6 in plasmids pC15-1a, pCP301, pINV_F6_M1382, pWR501, R1 and R100, repA1 is most similar to repA1 of the plasmid p1658/79, and repA4 of pRK100 is most similar to repA4 of pC15-1a. Hence, the composition of the pRK100 RepFIIA replicon is mosaic and unique among the plasmids.
Anion-exchange chromatography using CIM® DEAE disks as a method of choice for DNA isolation from lecithin
Authors: Höfferle Špela , Kramar Ana , Smrekar Franc , Štebih Dejan , Vojvoda Jana , Žel Jana , Raspor Peter
Published: August 2023

The most important prerequisite for the application of PCR-based methods, among them the detection and quantifi cation of genetically modifi ed organisms (GMOs) is the ability to extract significant amounts of DNA of adequate quality from the sample under investigation. The sample of interest in our work was soybean lecithin with expected low DNA content. The aim of this study was to set up a fast and effective HPLC (High Performance Liquid Chromatography) method using CIM® (Convective Interaction Media, BIA Separations d.o.o., Ljubljana, Slovenia) DEAE (DiEthylAminoEthyl) anion-exchange disk monolithic columns (disks) for the isolation of DNA from soybean lecithin samples. As the reference isolation procedure we used CTAB (CethylTrimethylAmmonium Bromide) method, which is widely used in GMO detection. It was demonstrated, that CIM® DEAE disks allow effi cient isolation of DNA from soybean lecithin. Furthermore, in comparison with the CTAB method, the method was less time-consuming and reduced the use of some aggressive chemicals. The quality of isolated DNA was tested with spectrophotometric analysis, agarose gel electrophoresis and by amplification of soybean specifi c lectin gene with qualitative and real-time PCR. The isolated soybean DNA was of adequate quantity and quality for PCR analysis, even though mostly degraded, present in small amounts and contaminated with some impurities, among them potential PCR inhibitors. The study expanded the applicability of monolithic columns in the isolation of biomolecules from highly processed food materials and their potential use for nucleic acids detection.
The dynamics of light adaptation in Ascalaphus (Libelloides macaronius; Neuroptera)
Authors: Meglič Andrej , Škorjanc Aleš , Zupančič Gregor
Published: August 2023

The owl-fl y or Ascalaphus (Libelloides macaronius; Neuroptera) is an insect with a UV-sensitive superposition eye. Although optical superposition is mainly a feature of dusk/dark active animals, this is a predator living and hunting in bright sunlight. In such conditions the process of light adaptation is believed to be very important, yet it has so far only been partially explored in the owl-fly. Here we present physiological evidence for the migration of the screening pigment, which functions as a light control mechanism. The process of light adaptation was studied optically by dynamic imaging and optical refl ection spectroscopy of the eye-glow. Weestablished that the eye-glow is reduced uniformly upon illumination and that its diameter doesn’t get smaller, which is indicative of pigment migration in the primary pigment cells. The change in spectral absorbance of the dorso-frontal eye is very similar to the absorbance spectrum of the primary pigment cell screening pigment. We found that the change in the light screening due toadaptation is rather small – no more than 10 fold for a 10000 fold change in light intensity. We also found that the rate of adaptation is light-sensitive. We propose that a signifi cant part of this light sensitivity is due to indirect heating of the eye and to the very steep temperature dependency of the rate of adaptation between 30 and 35°C.
The influence of direct experience on students’ attitudes to, and knowledge about amphibians
Authors: Tomažič Iztok
Published: August 2023

In the present study, we investigated how direct experience of certain amphibian species may affect a change in 7th grade science students’ attitude to, and knowledge about them. For this purpose, we devised a 45-minute lesson in which we used live amphibian species, and one lesson in which lifeless animals were used. The results show that students with prior direct experiences of amphibians generally report a more positive attitude toward them and, on average, achieve higher pre-test scores. Using live animals in the classroom had a major effect on the students’ attitudes to individual species, regardless of whether they had any previous experience with them. Students who have done both practical work with live animals in the classroom and had previous direct experience with them showed the highest level of knowledge and knowledge retention. Implications of the findings are discussed.
Biology Teachers’ Conceptions about Nature and Environment - Two Fundamental Concepts of Education for Sustainable Development
Authors: Torkar Gregor
Published: August 2023

Education for Sustainable development (ESD) is an important strategy in achieving environmental improvement. Educators, such us biology teachers, have an important role to play. This article explores biology teachers’ conceptions and ideas about nature and environment, two basic conceptions in ESD. The study involved 105 biology teachers working in primary schools in Slovenia. The participating biology teachers completed a word association questionnaire. The analyses of the data show that the dominant conception of biology teachers concerning nature is biophysical. Nature is seen as non-human environment used by humans only as place of sport, recreation, beauty, quietness and rest. Dominant dimensions of environment are biophysical dimension, dimension of destruction and technostructure dimension. Environment is seen as place more dominated by human activities, infrastructure and consequences of pollution and degradation. Some similarities in teachers’ conception of nature and environment indicate conceptual confusion. Some teachers obviously think that the concept of environment is identical with that of nature.
Gender Power Dynamics: Male Marginalization in the Works of John Nkemngong Nkengasong
Authors: Lum Mary Louisa , Labang Oscar C.
Published: August 2023

Contrary to the general tendency in critical literary circles which, since the rise of feminism and gender studies, has interrogated the female condition under the yoke of patriarchy, this paper examines the extent to which the female gender dominates and marginalizes the male gender (in patriarchal societies) thereby creating the necessity to (re)exam­ine feminine power and the way it operates socially and sexually. Using ideas from Chinweizu (1990) as theoretical positions for the analysis of selected works by the Cameroonian scholar, novelist, playwright and poet, John Nkemngong Nkengasong, this paper investigates the power dynamics amongst female and male gender from two perspectives: the manipulation of male instinct and the exploitation of male inadequacies. It shows that in the selected works of Nkengsaong the females control power that formally belong men to the extent that power becomes not just a mechanism for getting what they want but also for making males to feel insignificant, irrelevant, and helpless.
The New Frontier of Antisemitism: Racial Discourse and Oromo Extremism in Ethiopia
Authors: Berhanu Girma
Published: August 2023

Ethiopia is in dire straits due to a peculiarly malignant state system called Ethnic Federalism. In existence since the early 1990s, it has been sold as a brave attempt at empowering subjugated nationalities and, to borrow the Marxist parlance of the government that introduced it, ‘to let nations, nationalities and people’s blossom’.
A new approach to prostate cancer screening
Authors: Filella Xavier , González Álvaro , Augé Josep Maria , Barco Antonio , Carbonell Rosa , Gaspar María Jesús , Martínez-Peinado Antonio , Barrios Clara Pérez , Sánchez-Carbayo Marta , Santotoribio José Diego , Trapé Jaume
Published: August 2023

Prostate cancer screening based on prostate-specific antigen (PSA) testing has been a matter of controversy. Although screening for prostate cancer was effective in reducing mortality, it resulted in overdiagnosis, which translated into unnecessary treatments and numerous adverse effects. As a result, recommendations from scientific societies became increasingly restrictive. In the recent years, new approaches to prostate cancer screening have been proposed. These new approaches are aimed at solving the controversy between widespread screening vs. no screening, and reconsidering PSA testing as a screening tool with a good benefit/risk balance. In this context, the European Association of Urology submitted a proposal to the European Commission for prostate cancer screening to be performed as a function of baseline PSA concentrations. The European Commission recently recommended the implementation of organized prostate cancer screening programs for men aged ≤70 years based on PSA values in combination with follow-up magnetic resonance imaging.
Exploiting neighborhood interference with low-order interactions under unit randomized design
Authors: Cortez-Rodriguez Mayleen , Eichhorn Matthew , Yu Christina Lee
Published: August 2023

Network interference, where the outcome of an individual is affected by the treatment assignment of those in their social network, is pervasive in real-world settings. However, it poses a challenge to estimating causal effects. We consider the task of estimating the total treatment effect (TTE), or the difference between the average outcomes of the population when everyone is treated versus when no one is, under network interference. Under a Bernoulli randomized design, we provide an unbiased estimator for the TTE when network interference effects are constrained to low-order interactions among neighbors of an individual. We make no assumptions on the graph other than bounded degree, allowing for well-connected networks that may not be easily clustered. We derive a bound on the variance of our estimator and show in simulated experiments that it performs well compared with standard estimators for the TTE. We also derive a minimax lower bound on the mean squared error of our estimator, which suggests that the difficulty of estimation can be characterized by the degree of interactions in the potential outcomes model. We also prove that our estimator is asymptotically normal under boundedness conditions on the network degree and potential outcomes model. Central to our contribution is a new framework for balancing model flexibility and statistical complexity as captured by this low-order interactions structure.
Analysis of atmospheric attenuation of a FSO–WDM system for long-range communication
Authors: M S Sowmyaa Vathsan , P Kasthuri , Poornachari Prakash , A Sasithradevi
Published: August 2023

An FSO system can provide a solution to the problem of last-mile connectivity while also offering a high degree of security and a large capacity for high-speed information transmission, making it a versatile and powerful option for data communication. Despite the above-mentioned advantages, some factors have to be considered when establishing long-range communication, one such factor is atmospheric turbulence (haze, light fog, moderate fog) which degrades the ideal characteristics of the FSO channel and causes a loss in the signal’s power. This loss of power during transmission can be improved by using suitable amplifiers (hybrid optical amplifier, semiconductor optical amplifier) to provide better performance. The next-generation networks must be capable of supporting a significant amount of backhaul data traffic, accommodating a larger number of users, and increasing channel capacity to meet the demands of modern data communication. By implementing wavelength division multiplexing (WDM) and free space optical (FSO) communication techniques, the capacity of the channel can be increased, and more users can be accommodated. The maximum link length offered by the FSO–WDM system has been investigated with hybrid optical amplifier considering the minimum bit error rate, which can provide reliable and long-distance communication.
Free space optical communication in Indian cities; channel characteristics and link performance
Authors: Rajput Sandeep , Acharya Yashwant
Published: August 2023

Free Space Optical (FSO) communication systems, offering high-speed and high-bandwidth transmission, have emerged as a possible substitute for conventional wired and wireless communication systems. However, FSO links are susceptible to atmospheric deficiencies including attenuation, scintillation, and turbulence, which may severely impact the performance of the communication link. In this research paper, we propose and analyze the performance of a 25 Gbps dual-polarization quadrature phase shift keying (DP-QPSK) coherent optical orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (CO-OFDM)-based FSO communication link with spatial diversity technique under various climatic conditions in four different geographical locations of India, i.e., Delhi, Ahmedabad, Kolkata, and Chennai in the year 2021. The proposed FSO communication system is evaluated through performance analysis and parametric evaluation under various weather conditions such as clear sky, fog, haze, rain, cloud, and thermal gradient. Key performance metrics such as bit error rate (BER), Q-factor, signal-to-noise ratio (SNR), received power, communication range, and reliability are analyzed based on the simulation results. The proposed FSO communication system provides high data rates, improved power efficiency, better resilience to atmospheric impairments, reliable communication links under different weather conditions, and a practical solution for high-speed and high-bandwidth communication in various applications.
Preventing quality improvement drift: evaluation of efforts to sustain the cost savings from implementing best practice guidelines to reduce unnecessary electrocardiograms (ECGs) during the preadmisison testing evaluation
Authors: Ahmad Rabeel , Hauck Ellen , Zhao Huaging , McComb Joseph
Published: August 2023

Context

Medical professionals commonly fail to follow best practice guidelines. Drift, or a return to previous tendencies, is abundant in healthcare even when guidelines are followed initially. This “drift” was found internally at Temple University Hospital with preoperative electrocardiograms (ECGs). Best-practice guidelines were instituted and followed as a first step, but sustaining performance improvement was the ultimate goal.

Objectives

The objectives are to improve and maintain adherence to published guidelines for preoperative ECG testing at Temple University Hospital in a physician-led, nurse practitioner (NP)–staffed preadmission testing (PAT) clinic.

Methods

To start this quality improvement (QI) project, a retrospective chart review was completed to determine the number of ECGs performed in PAT at Temple University Hospital in 2017. New guidelines for ordering preoperative ECGs were then implemented, and Plan-Do-Study-Act (PDSA) cycles were performed over 3 years. A repeat retrospective chart review was completed and looked at ECGs ordered from 2018 through 2020. The number of ECGs completed in PAT before and after implementation of the new guidelines was then compared. In addition, the complexity of our surgical patients was estimated by looking at the yearly average American Society of Anesthesiology Physical Health Status (American Society of Anesthesiology [ASA] status) values assigned. Finally, the cost of performing each ECG was calculated, and the cost savings to the hospital over 4 years was determined.

Results

The baseline ECG rate for PAT in 2017, 2018, 2019, and 2020 at Temple University Hospital was 54.0 , 20.7, 22.3, and 21.9 %, respectively, which was a statistically significant decrease in ECG performance rate in the years after implementation of the PDSA project. The ASA status average remained constant, demonstrating that while patients’ medical diagnoses remained on average the same, reinforced training had been effective in preventing a return to previous liberal ordering tendencies. Over the course of 4 years, the reduction in unnecessary ECGs led to an estimated direct cost savings of $213,000.

Conclusions

Self-adoption of best-practice guidelines among clinicians is often poor; however, the barriers to adoption can be overcome with education and individual feedback. Sustaining performance improvement gains is challenging, but possible, as shown by example in one urban, academic teaching hospital’s physician-led, NP–staffed outpatient clinic.
Specialization and finiteness (a)symmetry in imperative negation: with a comparison to standard negation
Authors: Van Olmen Daniël
Published: August 2023

This article focuses primarily on the claim in previous research that finiteness asymmetry occurs less often in imperative negation, due to its illocutionary dynamicity, than in standard negation, due to its stativity. Its secondary aim is to identify the languages suitable to test this hypothesis, with specialized imperatives as well as negative imperatives. The findings of this identification process in a balanced 200-language sample confirm the imperative and its negative counterpart as near-universal sentence types while simultaneously providing evidence for specialization asymmetry and thus for a certain mutual independence between the two. The results about finiteness asymmetry challenge the earlier claim: not only is finiteness asymmetry equally frequent in the two domains of negation; an explicit expression of illocutionary dynamicity can even give rise to it in imperative negation. In general, imperative negation’s finiteness asymmetry is found to be relatively unrelated to standard negation’s and not to be attributable to one single principle. The article shows that a variety of processes, such as grammaticalization and insubordination, are at work. They are argued to be motivated by the diachronic instability of negative imperatives, itself likely due to competing factors like politeness and negative reinforcement.
Surface lattice resonances for beaming and outcoupling green
μ
LEDs emission
Authors: Abdelkhalik Mohamed S. , Vaskin Aleksandr , López Toni , Berghuis Anton Matthijs , Abass Aimi , Rivas Jaime Gómez
Published: August 2023

Light-Emitting Diodes (LEDs) exhibit a typical Lambertian emission, raising the need for secondary optics to tailor their emission depending on specific applications. Here, we introduce plasmonic metasurfaces to InGaN green emitting quantum wells for LEDs to control their far-field emission directionality and enhance the collection efficiency. The proposed mechanism is based on surface lattice resonances (SLRs) and relies on the near-field coupling between the InGaN multiple quantum wells (MQWs) and periodic arrays of aluminum (Al) nanodisks. Fourier microscopy measurements reveal that the angular photoluminescence emission pattern depends on the lattice constant of the metasurfaces. We demonstrate that integrating Al metasurfaces in LED wafers can enhance the collected outcoupled light intensity by a factor of 5 compared to the same sample without metasurfaces. We have also performed numerical calculations of the far-field emission based on the reciprocity principle and obtained a very good agreement with the experimental data. The proposed approach controls the emission directionality without the need for secondary optics and it does not require post-etching of the GaN, which makes it a potential candidate to control and enhance the generated light from micro-LEDs.
Effects of stretching on phase transformation of PVDF and its copolymers: A review
Authors: Wang Yang , Lei Dan , Wu Liangke , Ma Rongkun , Ning Huiming , Hu Ning , Lee Alamusi
Published: August 2023

Poly(vinylidene fluoride) (PVDF) and its copolymers are promising candidates for energy-harvesting devices because of their flexibility, environmental friendliness, lightweight, and high halogen and acid resistance. However, the relatively low piezoelectricity limits their applications. The piezoelectricity of PVDF and its copolymers highly depends on the polar β-phase, while the non-polar α-phase is the most common one. As a result, the β-phase formation and α- to β-phase transformation have attracted much attention in recent years. Stretching is a widely used method to induce the α- to β-phase transformation for the improvement of piezoelectricity. In this work, the influences of the parameters during stretching on phase evolution and piezoelectricity are discussed and summarized. Besides, nontraditional stretching methods are also introduced and discussed. This work will provide important information for preparing high-performance piezoelectric polymer films.
Carnap's Geometrical Methodology
Authors: De Benedetto Matteo
Published: August 2023

In this paper, I will offer a novel perspective on Carnapian explication, understanding it as a philosophical analogue of the transfer principle methodology that originated in nineteenth-century projective geometry. Building upon the historical influence that projective geometry exerted on Carnap’s philosophy, I will show how explication can be modeled as a kind of transfer principle that connects, relative to a given task and normatively constrained by the desiderata chosen by the explicators, the functional properties of concepts belonging to different conceptual frameworks. Moreover, I will demonstrate how, in light of this characterization, we can better appreciate the evolution of Carnap’s metaphilosophy.
Review of John Venn: A Life in Logic
Authors: Dunning David
Published: August 2023

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