bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Gelatin hydrolysate in freeze–thawed shrimp model system: cryoprotective and antioxidative effects
Authors: Kittiphattanabawon Phanat , Maqsood Sajid , Visessanguan Wonnop , Benjakul Soottawat
Published: May 2023

The gelatin hydrolysate from Nile tilapia skin (TGH) produced by the hydrolysis of papaya latex enzymes for 0.5 (TGH‐0.5), 1 (TGH‐1), 2 (TGH‐2), 3 (TGH‐3) and 6 h (TGH‐6) was used for determination of the degree of hydrolysis (DH), molecular weight distribution, and cryoprotective and antioxidative activities. The DH of gelatin hydrolysate ranged from 11.16 to 19.44%. TGH‐0.5, TGH‐1, TGH‐2, TGH‐3 and TGH‐6 had the dominant peptides with MW of 3127 Da; 2325 and 2830 Da; 1658 and 1754 Da; 1206 and 1361 Da; 898, 1206, and 1361 Da, respectively. TGH‐3 and TGH‐6 showed the highest cryoprotective effect (P < 0.05). TGH showed an increase in DPPH and ABTS radical scavenging activities, FRAP, and chelating activity as the hydrolysis time increased (P < 0.05). The selected gelatin hydrolysate (TGH‐3) could maintain the enthalpy of actin and myosin in the freeze–thawed shrimp more than the control and comparable to the mixed phosphate. Treating TGH‐3 and the mixed phosphate could slow the lipid oxidation rate at the fifth freeze–thaw cycle and showed inhibition efficiency equivalent to the mixed phosphate. Therefore, gelatin hydrolysate could be an alternative additive substitute for mixed phosphate to inhibit the shrimp quality loss from ice formation, ice recrystallisation and lipid oxidation during frozen storage.
Use of psyllium husk powder: Effects on emulsion stabilised by fish muscle proteins and gel characteristics of fish tofu
Authors: Singh Avtar , Sharma Kartik , Nuthong Pornpot , Benjakul Soottawat
Published: May 2023

In‐vitro studies on emulsifying properties of psyllium (Plantago ovata) husk (PSY) powder at various concentrations using natural actomyosin (NAM) extracted from threadfin bream (Nemipterus sp.) mince were investigated. Emulsion activity and stability indexes were increased with the addition of PSY at 1.25 g/100 mL (PSY‐E1) and 2.50 g/100 mL(PSY‐E2) (P < 0.05). Overall, PSY‐E1 and PSY‐E2 emulsions had the highest turbidity and lower particle size. Moreover, gel properties and consumer acceptability of fish tofu added without and with PSY powder at varying concentrations were also elucidated. No difference in breaking force (Br‐F) was observed between all samples, except tofu added with PSY at 5.00 g/100 g, which had the highest Br‐F (P < 0.05). However, the lowest deformation (De‐F) was also attained for PSY‐T3 (P < 0.05). Colour of fish tofu decreased with augmenting levels of PSY. Microstructure of fish tofu revealed the formation of an unordered network with thicker strands as PSY levels upsurged. Fish tofu containing PSY at 1.25–2.5 g/100 g showed a similar overall likeness score to that of control fish tofu. Therefore, PSY at the optimum level enhanced the emulsion stability. Moreover, PSY at 1.25–2.5 g/100 g could improve gel properties without a negative impact on the consumer acceptability of fish tofu.
Bacillus siamensis FVP1 as a potential probiotic for enhancing nutritional aspects of soybean meal
Authors: Homsuwan Nalinee , Pruksasri Suwattana , Ngampanya Budsaraporn
Published: May 2023

Microbial fermentation is an effective approach for enhancing the nutritional value of soybean products. In this work, Bacillus siamensis FVP1, isolated from fermented vegetables, was used for the solid‐state fermentation of soybean meal. After 48 h fermentation, the amounts of allergenic proteins (glycinin and β‐conglycinin) and non‐digestible oligosaccharides (stachyose) were significantly reduced. In addition, the ratio between essential and non‐essential free amino acids increased 3.05‐fold. The total phenolic, total flavonoid content, and antioxidative properties were significantly enhanced after fermentation. After fractionation, the <10 kDa fraction had high peptide content as well as antioxidant activities. However, the peptide yield was relatively low (34.04%). This strain exhibited antibacterial activity against Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus as well as a lack of antibiotic resistance. Together with its ability to survive in gastric juice (82.8%) and bile salt (80.4%), the strain FVP1 could be considered a potential probiotic and applied to functional food supplements.
Real‐world effectiveness of nivolumab and subsequent therapy in Japanese patients with metastatic renal cell carcinoma (POST‐NIVO study): 36‐month follow‐up results of a clinical chart review
Authors: Yonese Junji , Hinata Nobuyuki , Masui Satoru , Nakai Yasutomo , Shirotake Suguru , Takeuchi Ario , Inamoto Teruo , Nozawa Masahiro , Ueda Kosuke , Etsunaga Toru , Osawa Takahiro , Uemura Motohide , Kimura Go , Numakura Kazuyuki , Yamana Kazutoshi , Miyake Hideaki , Fukasawa Satoshi , Morishima Naoto , Ito Hiroaki , Uemura Hirotsugu
Published: May 2023

Objectives

To examine the long‐term effectiveness of nivolumab monotherapy and following subsequent therapies for metastatic renal cell carcinoma (mRCC) in Japanese real‐world settings.

Methods

This was a multicenter, retrospective, observational study, with a 36‐month follow‐up, and conducted in Japanese patients with mRCC who initiated nivolumab monotherapy between 1 Feb 2017 and 31 Oct 2017. Endpoints included overall survival (OS), progression‐free survival (PFS), and objective response rate (ORR).

Results

Of the 208 patients, 36.5% received nivolumab monotherapy as second‐line, 30.8% as third‐line, and 31.7% as fourth‐ or later‐line therapy. By 36 months, 12.0% of patients continued nivolumab monotherapy; 88.0% discontinued, mainly because of disease progression (66.7%). The median (m) OS was not reached irrespective of treatment line, with a 36‐month OS rate of 54.3% (second‐line, 57.4%; third‐line, 52.6%; fourth‐ or later‐line, 52.9%). The ORR was 24.2% and five patients achieved complete response. The OS from first‐line therapy was 8.9 years. In the 95 patients receiving therapy after nivolumab, 87.4% received vascular endothelial growth factor receptor‐tyrosine kinase inhibitors, with mOS and mPFS of 27.4 and 8.1 months, respectively. Irrespective of treatment line, the mOS was not reached in patients with International Metastatic RCC Database Consortium (IMDC) favorable or intermediate risk at mRCC diagnosis.

Conclusions

This 36‐month real‐world follow‐up analysis showed a survival benefit of nivolumab monotherapy for patients with mRCC. The long‐term effectiveness of sequential therapy from first‐line therapy to therapy after nivolumab was also demonstrated. Additionally, nivolumab monotherapy was beneficial for patients with favorable IMDC risk at the time of mRCC diagnosis.
Understanding Co‐Design Practice as a Process of “Welldoing”
Authors: Davis Aaron , Tuckey Michelle , Gwilt Ian , Wallace Niki
Published: May 2023

Co‐design and other associated design approaches often deploy creative and making approaches in facilitating collaborative practices. In a therapeutic setting, engagement in creative and making activities have been associated with improvements in people's well‐being, yet when deploying these as part of co‐design practices, these outcomes are often overlooked. This paper presents the results from a series of workshops that focused on the well‐being benefits of participating in co‐design practices. The research uses Max‐Neef's (1991). Theory of Needs to explore how innate human needs might be satisfied through participation in co‐design practices, and demonstrates how this framework might be used for planning and evaluating co‐design practices through a wellbeing lens. Finally, it suggests that future generations of design practitioners would benefit from exposure to the consideration of co‐design as a process of “welldoing.”
Revisiting postponement: The importance of cross‐functional integration to understand tax implications in global supply chains
Authors: Norrman Andreas , Prataviera Lorenzo Bruno
Published: May 2023

As products and supply chains (SCs) evolve, logisticians must revisit their understanding of postponement. The postponement boundary problem acknowledges that value‐adding operations' timing and location in global SCs are critical decisions, impacted by taxes and government regulations in different jurisdictions. However, when combining hardware and software objects, software's increasing importance heightens the implications of when and where value is added. Until now, postponement scholars mostly have overlooked fiscal/legal implications, and current research tied to the postponement boundary decision‐making phenomenon has not considered hardware and software combination. Moreover, we lack understanding about how to make cross‐functional decisions when interrelatedness between the logistics and fiscal/legal domains increases. We used an abductive approach to elaborate and contextualize postponement decision making for global SCs of product offerings that combine hardware and software objects. A single‐case study (with four subcases) was used to explore postponement decisions (and related fiscal and legal implications) and cross‐functional integration (CFI) at a global high‐tech enterprise. We also elaborated on the contextual drivers of increased postponement boundary complexity to illustrate changes in its decision making. We also emphasized formalized boundary objects' importance in enhancing CFI by developing formal steering documents, creating interdependent organizational structures, and aligning trade‐offs and outcomes.
Moving beyond the mother–child dyad: a commentary on Oppenheim et al. (2023)
Authors: Siller Michael
Published: May 2023

The research presented by Oppenheim et al. (J Child Psychol Psychiatry, 2023) breaks important new ground by moving beyond the mother–child dyad and investigating the coparenting alliance between mothers and fathers of young children with autism. By integrating family systems thinking, developmental science, and research on autism spectrum disorder, this line of research is bound to improve our understanding of how family systems influence the social emotional development of young children with autism, how children's development and learning can be optimized, and how parents' marital relationship and mental health can be strengthened. Future research should investigate the coparenting alliance across a range of family functions aside from triadic play (e.g. caregiving, teaching, attachment, and behavior management) and move beyond nuclear family structures to capture the lived experiences of families within industrialized countries more adequately and embrace cultural differences across the globe.
“A prized Pacific shark”: the rise and fall (and rise again…?) of the world's first ecolabel certified sustainable shark fishery
Authors: Shiffman David , Bangley Charles , Macdonald Catherine
Published: May 2023

There is intense public interest surrounding the conservation and management of sharks, including a debate over whether sustainable shark fisheries are possible or fishing bans on sharks are needed to conserve these animals. An important but rarely discussed data point in discussions of global shark fisheries is the case of British Columbia's fishery for Pacific spiny dogfish, Squalus suckleyi, which in 2011 became the first Marine Stewardship Council−certified shark fishery anywhere in the world. A few years later, despite reportedly healthy local stocks and thriving global markets for this shark, the fishery voluntarily withdrew its MSC certification, and in recent years more than 95% of the quota for Pacific spiny dogfish has been left in the water. This study provides insight into what happened to this fishery through a review of grey literature and a series of stakeholder interviews with British Columbian fishermen, fish processors, managers and environmentalists. It is a rare case study of a fishery that largely ceased operations without a clear mechanistic explanation like a stock collapse, a government mandate to limit fishing or a clear shift in market demand. This fishery appears to have been affected by the combination of several factors, including a temporary reduction in biomass due to oceanographic effects, potential blowback from overly broad environmental messaging that did not distinguish between sustainable and unsustainable shark fisheries, management changes resulting in altered fishing incentives and changes to processing capacity associated with consolidating the fishing industry into ownership by relatively few large companies.
Influence of water‐level variability on fish assemblage and natural reproduction following connectivity enhancement in a Typha‐dominated coastal wetland, USA
Authors: Leblanc John Paul , Farrell John M.
Published: May 2023

We evaluated a wetland habitat modification strategy to contrast fish assemblage structure and the production of young‐of‐the‐year (YOY) fish between different engineered habitats (i.e., spawning pool complexes and connectivity channels) relative to unmodified lateral channels in a large drowned river mouth tributary of the St Lawrence River. Prior to habitat modifications, the coastal wetland was impaired by water level regulations and dominance of the invasive hybrid cattail, Typha × glauca, which collectively replaced or created barriers to seasonally flooded spawning habitats important to fish. Connectivity enhancements provided fish access along a wetland habitat gradient from sedge‐meadows to the deeper water robust emergent main channel. Across an 8‐year fish emigration dataset (2012, 2013, 2016–2021) more than 90% of all captured fish (Ntotal = 218,086 fish) were YOY and modified habitats outperformed the unmodified channels in total fish catch‐per‐unit‐effort (CPUE) per year (both YOY and non‐YOY). Spawning pool complexes had higher YOY species richness than unmodified channel habitats. Fish assemblage structure differed between the modified habitats, where connectivity channels and unmodified channels shared a more similar fish assemblage than spawning pool complexes. Modified habitats, however, supported warmer water and higher dissolved oxygen than the unmodified channels. Redundancy analysis and linear mixed‐effect modelling with abiotic variables (hydrology, temperature and dissolved oxygen) showed significant effects on fish assemblage structure, species richness and CPUE of fish emigrating from the modified and unmodified habitats. Historic flooding in 2017 and 2019 was a primary driver of YOY fish production and fish assemblage structure, but also appeared to be associated with near anoxic conditions systemwide. YOY fish for several species was inversely affected by floods at spawning pool complexes, but CPUE of YOY fish for these species appeared unaffected at the connectivity channels despite low dissolved oxygen. Diversified habitat structure (i.e., connectivity channels and spawning pool complexes) offers a management option to enhance habitat for fish that allowed compensatory effects on the capture of YOY fish of several species during floods. This multifaceted outcome from the habitat modifications resulted in unique fish assemblages between the channelized and spawning pool habitat. A connectivity‐based habitat enhancement strategy provides adaptability for an uncertain climatic and regulatory future for the Laurentian Great Lakes and St Lawrence River.
State diagrams and water sorption isotherms of pitanga, ciriguela araza, mango, and guava
Authors: Sviech Fernanda , Cardoso Patrícia , Oliveira Rafael A. , Ubbink Job , Prata Ana S.
Published: May 2023

State diagrams for araza, ciriguela, guava, mango, and pitanga were built as a function of concentration and temperature. These state diagrams include the dependence of the glass transition temperature (Tg) on the water content, the glass transition temperature (Tg′) and concentration (Cg′) of the maximally freeze‐concentrated state and the ice melting (Tm) line. Tg′ was determined to be −57.6 to −48.94°C and Cg′ was determined to be 70 and 83% wt/wt for pitanga and ciriguela, respectively. The Tg and Tm lines were fitted with the Gordon–Taylor and Chen models, respectively. Correlations between the phase and state transitions and composition of the fruit samples were obtained. Water vapor sorption isotherms were determined, which, in combination with the state diagram, allow determining optimal processing and storage conditions for the five fruits.

Practical Applications

This paper presents the state diagrams and water vapor sorption isotherms for five fruits as tools for determining optimal processing and storage conditions. In this way, it is possible to establish which conditions of temperature and humidity of the process are the most suitable for the fruit storage or processing ensuring product quality and security.
Contramedidas en Cabo Pulmo: La ciencia y la judicialización de conflictos ambientales en México
Authors: Richard Analiese M.
Published: May 2023

The judicialization of environmental conflicts in Mexico has generated a growing demand for legal evidence of environmental damages and risks to ecosystems and communities. When conflicts arise over large development projects, one opposition strategy consists of denouncing errors in a project's Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) or procedural errors in its evaluation by federal authorities. Volunteer scientists collaborate with local communities and nonprofit organizations to diagnose technical errors in the EIS and develop “countermeasures” of risks that can be used to contest projects in court. This article analyzes a paradigmatic case of independent EIS review that occurred to oppose a tourism megadevelopment project adjoining the Cabo Pulmo National Marine Park in Baja California Sur. Confronted with the contraction of the political sphere in Mexico, this administrative tactic of political struggle appears as a viable alternative to directly challenging powerful elites. The Cabo Pulmo case highlights evolving relationships between science, environmental governance, and emergent forms of political mobilization in Latin America.
The assessment of moderate acne vulgaris face skin using blood perfusion and hyperspectral imaging–A pilot study
Authors: Zdrada‐Nowak Julita , Stolecka‐Warzecha Anna , Odrzywołek Wiktoria , Rusztowicz Monika , Błońska‐Fajfrowska Barbara , Wilczyński Sławomir
Published: May 2023

Background

Microcirculation is the flow of blood through the smallest vessels in the circulatory system. Capillaries respond to various pathologies much earlier than arteries and veins, the changes which indicate that the disease is already developing. Careful monitoring of the functioning of the capillary system often allows the detection of in vivo disorders at an early stage.

Aims

The aim of the study was to evaluate the microcirculation within acne lesions. A noninvasive method of semi‐quantitative blood perfusion measurement based on laser speckle contrast analysis (LASCA) and a quantitative assessment of the acne severity using the hyperspectral imaging method supported by image analysis and processing methods were used.

Patients/Method

The acne lesion perfusion was compared to the healthy skin perfusion of the control group. The reflectance in the range from 400 to 1000 nm was also compared for acne lesions and healthy skin. A dedicated version of the algorithm based on the gray‐level co‐occurrence matrix was used to compare differences between acne lesions and healthy skin.

Results

Blood perfusion in acne lesions is on average 117% higher than in healthy skin. The reflectance of acne lesions was lower in the range of 400–600 nm compared to the healthy skin. A statistically significant decrease in the reflectance of acne lesions was demonstrated for wavelengths: 434, 549, and 588 nm.

Conclusions

Increased blood perfusion in acne lesions compared to healthy skin suggests increased chemotaxis of inflammatory cells and wound healing. Decrease points in skin reflectance resemble the absorption peaks for hemoglobin and coproporphyrin III produced by Cutibacterium acnes. Thus, the proposed methods may serve not only for the early detection of acne lesions, before they manifest themselves clinically for the naked eye, but may also be a tool for quantifying the effectiveness of acne treatment.
Identification of Epicoccum sorghinum as the agent of Hydrangea leaf spot and its sensitivity to fungicides
Authors: Yao Qiuyu , Liu Yu , Liang Shuang , Li Cheng , Li Zhong
Published: May 2023

Hydrangea macrophylla is an important ornamental plant with a high market value and is widely planted in Guizhou, China. Leaf spot disease in H. macrophylla is common in Shibing County, Guizhou Province, where the estimated disease incidence is 70%–80%, seriously affecting its ornamental value. In this study, we isolated the pathogen from diseased samples of H. macrophylla in Shibing, Guizhou, verified the pathogenicity by Koch's postulates and identified the pathogen by combining the morphological characters with molecular systematics based on DNA sequences of the internal transcribed spacer regions (ITS), partial regions of RNA polymerase II second largest subunit (RPB2), β‐tubulin (TUB), and partial 28S large subunit of the nrRNA gene (LSU). The pathogen causing leaf spot disease was identified as Epicoccum sorghinum. The inhibitory effects of six synthetic fungicides on the pathogen were measured using the poison food technique. In this analysis, 25% pyraclostrobin SC exhibited the strongest inhibitory effect, with an EC50 (concentration producing 50% of the maximal effect) of 0.0208 mg/L, followed by 10% difenoconazole WDG, with an EC50 of 0.0995 mg/L. The results of this study provide a theoretical reference for the prevention and control of leaf spot disease.
Strong seasonal patterns of DOC release by a temperate seaweed community: Implications for the coastal ocean carbon cycle
Authors: Paine Ellie R. , Brewer Elizabeth A. , Schmid Matthias , Diaz‐Pulido Guillermo , Boyd Philip W. , Hurd Catriona L.
Published: May 2023

Release of dissolved organic carbon (DOC) by seaweed underpins the microbial food web and is crucial for the coastal ocean carbon cycle. However, we know relatively little of seasonal DOC release patterns in temperate regions of the southern hemisphere. Strong seasonal changes in inorganic nitrogen availability, irradiance, and temperature regulate the growth of seaweeds on temperate reefs and influence DOC release. We seasonally surveyed and sampled seaweed at Coal Point, Tasmania, over 1 year. Dominant species with or without carbon dioxide (CO2) concentrating mechanisms (CCMs) were collected for laboratory experiments to determine seasonal rates of DOC release. During spring and summer, substantial DOC release (10.06–33.54 μmol C · g DW−1 · h−1) was observed for all species, between 3 and 27 times greater than during autumn and winter. Our results suggest that inorganic carbon (Ci) uptake strategy does not regulate DOC release. Seasonal patterns of DOC release were likely a result of photosynthetic overflow during periods of high gross photosynthesis indicated by variations in tissue C:N ratios. For each season, we calculated a reef‐scale net DOC release for seaweed at Coal Point of 7.84–12.9 g C · m−2 · d−1 in spring and summer, which was ~16 times greater than in autumn and winter (0.2–1.0 g C · m−2 · d−1). Phyllospora comosa, which dominated the biomass, contributed the most DOC to the coastal ocean, up to ~14 times more than Ecklonia radiata and the understory assemblage combined. Reef‐scale DOC release was driven by seasonal changes in seaweed physiology rather than seaweed biomass.
Short‐term effects of wildfire on high elevation stream‐riparian food webs
Authors: Preston Daniel L. , Trujillo Jordan L. , Fairchild Matthew P. , Morrison Ryan R. , Fausch Kurt D. , Kanno Yoichiro
Published: May 2023

Understanding how wildfires affect food web structure and function remains an important challenge, especially at high elevations that historically have burned infrequently. In particular, fires may alter the magnitude of reciprocal cross‐ecosystem subsidies, leading to indirect effects on aquatic and terrestrial consumers. We quantified characteristics of high‐elevation (2500–3000 m) stream‐riparian food webs at 10 locations in the southern Rocky Mountains less than one year following high‐intensity, stand‐replacing wildfires. Using a paired ‘burned−unburned' stream survey design, we assessed benthic periphyton, aquatic macroinvertebrate community structure, trout population characteristics, trout stomach contents, inputs and emergence of insects to and from streams, and abundance of predatory riparian spiders that consume aquatic insects. Benthic macroinvertebrate density, flux of emerging aquatic insects, and riparian spider abundances were lower at burned sites. Fluxes of insect inputs entering the stream did not differ with burn status, despite the loss of riparian vegetation due to fire. Trout were somewhat less abundant, but larger on average at burned sites and did not differ in body condition. These results suggest mortality of smaller trout from fire disturbance and/or recolonization of burned sites by larger individuals. Trout showed subtle changes in diet composition with burn status, but no change in biomass or number of prey consumed. In general, burned sites showed greater variation in community characteristics than unburned sites, which may reflect differences in the timing and magnitude of post‐fire flooding, erosion, and scouring of the stream bed. Taken together, our results suggest that short‐term effects of fire disturbance strongly altered some food web responses, but others appeared relatively resilient, which is notable given the high severity of the wildfires in the study area.
Unpacking hybridity: Development and first validation of a multidimensional instrument to profile hybrid professionals
Authors: Compagni Amelia , Boscolo Paola Roberta , Giacomelli Giorgio , Sartirana Marco
Published: May 2023

Hybrid professionals, that is, professionals who have transitioned to managerial roles, have emerged in numerous public settings. Through in‐depth qualitative methodologies, the literature has shown a good degree of heterogeneity in the way hybrid professionals perceive and manage their hybridity. In this study, we aim to develop a theory‐based, multidimensional instrument able to capture such heterogeneity in a lean but sensitive way. In this instrument, we combine consolidated scales of identity centrality and integration and vignettes, on the one hand, to measure the perception of hybrid professionals of the relationship between their professional and managerial identities and, on the other hand, to elicit the practices they use to deal with the demands of the professional and managerial logics. We first validate the instrument on a sample of school principals in the Italian context and then describe the six profiles of hybrid professionals derived from the analysis. We suggest three avenues for applying such an instrument.
Breeding of Lotus japonicus that can overcome adverse seasonal environment by coupling flowering time and abiotic stresses
Authors: Li Meiru , Li Hongqing
Published: May 2023

Manipulation of floral transition may allow for a free change in the duration of plant vegetative and reproductive growth, thus rendering them to avoid adverse seasonal environmental conditions. In this report, we investigated the effect of the stress‐inducible promoter RD29A on driving the rice FT ortholog Hd3a expression in Lotus japonicus ‘MG20’ in response to environmental changes. Constitutive overexpression of Hd3a (HOE) in ‘MG20’ hastened its flowering in contrast to non‐transformed control (wild type; WT), which did not flower in winter hampered by long days and low temperatures. RD29A promoter had low activity under non‐stress conditions and was induced by cold, drought and salinity in transgenic ‘MG20’. Transgenic plants of Hd3a driven by the RD29A promoter (RH) could flower under unfavourable weather conditions that prohibited the flowering of WT plants. In addition, RH transgenic plants exhibited thriving clumps of branching, inflorescence, and pods because of the low temperature‐induced expression of Hd3a. These results demonstrate that inducible expression of florigen has the potential to tackle unfavourable weather conditions and boost plant production.
Becoming bamboo: Reassessing Su Shi's painting theory from Deleuze's angle
Authors: Ahn Kanghun
Published: May 2023

This article aims to elucidate the Chinese literatus Su Shi's painting theory using French philosopher Gilles Deleuze's concepts of “capturing forces” and “becoming.” In the relevant scholarship, Su Shi's esthetic thought has been illustrated as going beyond the truthful representation of forms, thereby capturing the underlying vitality of the targeted objects, which paved the way for what came to be known as “literati painting.” This artistic approach has been thought to express the artist's lofty and virtuous personality through the liveliness of the objects. I fully embrace the “capturing vitality” part of the literature, further fleshing it out not just by closely analyzing some of Su Shi's extant writings on painting but also by assessing them side by side with such European painters as Paul Cézanne and Francis Bacon. However, I find the “expressing personality” counterpart to be rather limited for interpreting Su Shi's esthetic thought and instead suggest the artistic effect of “becoming” as central to his ultimate esthetic aims.
The effects of a magic‐based intervention on self‐esteem, depressive symptoms, and quality of life among community‐dwelling older adults: a randomised controlled trial
Authors: Wang Wei‐Li , Lee Kuan‐Ting , Lin Wen‐Chin , Yang Yi‐Ching , Tsai Chia‐Liang
Published: May 2023

Background

Magic‐based programs have been utilised to enhance well‐being across various health aspects. However, there is a lack of studies on whether performing magic tricks can provide mental health benefits for older adults living in the community. Therefore, this study aims to investigate the effects of a magic‐based intervention program on self‐esteem, depressive symptoms, and quality of life (QOL), and to examine the relationship between these factors in older adults.

Methods

Thirty‐eight participants, aged 60–90 years, were randomly assigned to either a magic intervention group or a control group. The magic intervention program, tailored for older adults, was conducted for 90 min, twice weekly, over 6 weeks. The Rosenberg Self‐Esteem Scale (RSE), the 15‐item Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS‐15), and the World Health Organization Quality of Life‐BREF scores were measured and analyzed in both groups before and after the intervention.

Results

The magic‐based intervention significantly increased self‐esteem and reduced depressive symptoms in older adults, with large effect sizes. However, no significant impact on QOL was observed. Additionally, no significant correlation was found between the improvement in self‐esteem and the reduction in depressive levels. Despite this, a moderate but significant negative correlation was detected between the post‐intervention scores of RSE and GDS‐15 in the magic intervention group.

Conclusions

The study demonstrated that the magic intervention program was beneficial in promoting mental health in community‐dwelling older adults. Implementing magic programs in communities appears to be an effective approach to enhance self‐esteem and alleviate depressive symptoms in the older population.
The role of unit labor costs in African manufacturing investment and export performance
Authors: Naidoo Karmen , Ndikumana Léonce
Published: May 2023

Several studies have pointed out that manufacturing wages are relatively higher in African countries than in other countries at similar levels of development, and that this contributes to the continent's lower levels of manufacturing competitiveness. This paper derives unit labor costs (ULCs)—average wages relative to productivity—for two‐digit manufacturing sectors across a sample of 79 developed and developing countries, including 13 African countries, over the 1990–2015 period. We benchmark the ULCs to China and estimate the relationship between relative ULCs and manufacturing sector investment rates and export performance. We find that relative ULCs have a smaller association with exports in Africa relative to other developing regions. There is some evidence that investment responds to changes in relative ULCs in Africa; however, the estimated effects are smaller than in the full sample. Further, we find that for Africa, the level of labor productivity has a quantitatively stronger and more robust association with manufacturing performance than the level of real wages. The results have important implications for industrial policy in African countries.
Sociological contributions to the study of social innovation: A critical review
Authors: Grant Don
Published: May 2023

Sociology has long been interested in innovating solutions to social problems. However, this desire has also been a source of controversy as it can conflict with the discipline's ambition also to be recognized as a hard science. This paper critically reviews sociological contributions to the study of social innovation. It first contextualizes these contributions by discussing the origins of sociology's interest in transforming society, the growing tension between that interest and sociology's other aspiration to create objective knowledge about the social world, and how more sociologists have relocated to business schools where most research on social innovation is now being conducted. Next, it summarizes sociologists' contributions, which emphasize how social innovation is organized by institutions, networks, social movements, and organizations themselves. It then discusses criticisms of this work and responses to these critiques. It concludes by asking whether sociologists' research on social innovation has advanced their discipline's dual mission of reforming and explaining society and what additional studies are needed.
Carbon and nutrient budgets of the Chagga home garden system in the Kilimanjaro highlands, Tanzania
Authors: Ichinose Yuri , Nishigaki Tomohiro , Shibata Makoto , Kilasara Method , Shinjo Hitoshi , Funakawa Shinya
Published: May 2023

Sustainable land management of smallholder farms is crucial for ensuring food security in sub‐Saharan Africa. However, little is known about the nutrient dynamics of smallholder farming systems at the farm level based on primary data. In this study, carbon (C) and nutrient budgets of the home garden system in the Kilimanjaro highlands, where Andosols predominate, were quantified at the farmer's field. We evaluated (1) the soil C and nutrient flow in the main three land‐use blocks (banana (Musa spp.) garden, maize (Zea mays L.) field and grassland) in one representative home garden and (2) the internal flow between farmland and livestock and the external nutrient flow across the inside and outside of the six home gardens. Intensive applications of livestock dung to the banana trees resulted in a positive C budget (7.2 Mg C ha−1 year−1) in the banana garden. Nitrogen loss through the harvesting of feed and crops was almost balanced with the livestock dung application, while nitrogen loss through leaching only accounted for 3% of that applied. Banana productivity has been maintained despite a negative potassium budget (−241 kg K ha−1 year−1), probably owing to the replenished exchangeable potassium from Andosols. In the maize field, the C budget was negative (−1.7 Mg C ha−1 year−1) owing to high organic matter decomposition. Carbon and nutrient budgets in the grassland were all negative. Our results revealed that the village average livestock density (4.4 TLU ha−1: TLU means tropical livestock unit) was sufficient for P, Ca and Mg balance in the home garden, whereas it was not sufficient for N and K balance. Increasing livestock density improved the nutrient balance of the system. However, it is noteworthy that 33%–47% of the feed supplied as C and nutrients was collected from outside the home gardens, suggesting a high reliance on external inflow to fulfil feed demands. In conclusion, intensive livestock dung application to banana cultivation was fundamental for maintaining agricultural productivity to replenish the nutrients lost from the system. At the same time, this system was sustained not only by C and nutrient cycling within the system, but also by transporting resources from the external environment into the system.
Associations between canine hookworm infection and dog owners' awareness, perception, and behaviour: A cross‐sectional study in Brisbane, Queensland, 2019–2020
Authors: Owada Kei , Abdullah Swaid , Clark Nicholas , Nguyen Tu , Soares Magalhães Ricardo J.
Published: May 2023

Canine hookworms are found globally, and infections have been recorded in domestic dogs visiting dog parks in Queensland, Australia. Some canine hookworms also present a risk of zoonotic transmission to humans. Potential transmission of hookworms can occur in the household and at public places because of lack of owner awareness and poor coverage of canine deworming. Between April 2019 and March 2020, faecal samples from owned dogs were collected from 39 dog parks in metropolitan Brisbane, Queensland, and tested for the presence of hookworm eggs using faecal floatation technique. Dog owners who provided samples were requested to complete a survey on their awareness, perceptions and behaviour regarding the risks and consequences of canine parasitic infection. Associations between dog owner demographics and responses to the survey were measured using Goodman and Kruskal's gamma. Statistical associations between canine hookworm infection in dogs and their owner's responses were quantified using a two‐sample Wilcoxon rank‐sum test. A total of five canine faecal samples from 175 respondents were found positive for hookworm eggs, corresponding to a sample‐ and park‐level prevalence of 2.86% and 12.82%, respectively. Female dog owners were found to be more aware of the importance of regular deworming of their dogs (|γ| = 0.405). Our results indicate that hookworm infection was associated with a lower awareness of the importance of deworming (p = 0.007), less diligence in administration of deworming (p = 0.004), lower awareness of the risk of acquiring parasites from raw meat (p = 0.010), less likelihood of cooking meat before feeding it to their dogs (p = 0.028), and less likelihood to properly dispose their dog's faeces (p = 0.027). This study not only indicates a need for improving owner education towards the importance of deworming but also a need for changing owner's behaviours to reduce potential environmental contamination with infective hookworms. The latter in particular indicates a broader public health risk of disease transmission in public places due to improper disposal of dog faeces, especially in areas with higher canine hookworm infections.
Hybrid of Supervised Learning and Optimization Algorithm for Optimal Detection of IoT Distributed Denial of Service Attacks
Authors: Farid Talha , Sirat Maheyzah
Published: May 2023

The high-speed internet has led to the development of Internet of Things (IoT) with a fundamental Three-Layer IoT architecture. However, small amount of un-indicative data captured at the end level of IoT network makes the edge IoT devices susceptible to cyber-security attacks aimed at its transport layer. The Distributed Denial of Service (DDoS) poses significant cyber-security threat to the heterogenous IoT devices which are rendered vulnerable by ineffectiveness of conventional cybersecurity softwares. The literature reveals numerous studies that employed machine learning for the mitigation of IoT DDoS attacks but they lack in terms of an extensive investigation on optimization of machine learning classifiers. Therefore, this study first evaluates the prediction performance of machine learning classification algorithms trained on an authenticated/validated real-time IoT traffic dataset. The results reveal Logistic Regression (LR) as the most effective supervised machine learning classifier for detecting IoT DDoS attacks with a prediction accuracy of 97%. Following this, another investigation on the hybridization of LR with optimization algorithms yields Grasshopper Optimizer Algorithms (GOA) as the most effective optimizer in improving its prediction accuracy to 99%. Hence, the LR hybridized by GOA is developed as the optimal IoT DDoS Attack detection solution. Thus, the study serves to lay the foundation of a data-driven approach for the mitigation of the emerging variants of malicious IoT DDoS attacks such as zero-day attacks.
Elucidating Cryptocurrency with Trading Dashboard
Authors: Ghazali Masitah , Wong Alison Kuan Rong
Published: May 2023

With the rise of interest in cryptocurrency in the recent decade, an ocean of financial news data has surfaced in articles, tweets, and even Reddit posts. Due to the sheer volume, it is not practical for the casual trader to read through all these news sources manually. However, only going through one or two sources alone may result in receiving biased information, or no useful information at all. With the current rise in cryptocurrency, accurately predicting market trends becomes highly beneficial to the user, providing a major opportunity for lower-income households to have a higher chance of profiting and living a substantially more comfortable lifestyle. In this study, a developer's API key was obtained for three news sources to scrape financial news from. Then, the TensorFlow Keras model and Gensim model's doc2vec NLP tool were utilized to process the data scraped online. The data is then saved as a .model and .sav file, and a website was constructed using the Flask framework. The website is now deployed and is available for all users. However, because the data obtained was too small to be utilized well, only a weak linear model that could give us a correlation between price and news sentiment was able to be constructed. The dashboard passed its functional and UAT tests with 100%, and via the usability test with SUS, the dashboard is considered to be easy to use. In all, the website summarizes the main details and sentiment of the coins and will benefit users who are just being introduced to the cryptocurrency space.
O Neoliberalismo e o Crescente Mercado Informal de Trabalho
Authors: Fraga Juliana Machado , Emmel Adélia Marilene
Published: May 2023

Este artigo versa sobre o neoliberalismo e o crescente mercado informal de trabalho: os processos de pejotização e uberização como políticas de possível violação dos direitos da mulher. O objetivo central é identificar se tais fenômenos influenciam nas relações de trabalho das mulheres e se impactam nas políticas de gênero. O problema de pesquisa é os fenômenos da pejotização e da uberização influenciam nas relações de trabalho das mulheres e impactam nas políticas de gênero no contexto neoliberal? O texto está estruturado em três tópicos. O primeiro aborda o conceito de pejotização e uberização, o segundo versa sobre a influência desses processos nas relações de trabalho das mulheres e no terceiro analisa-se os impactos desses fenômenos nas políticas de gênero. O método utilizado foi o hipotético-dedutivo, pois se partiu de premissas gerais a fim de alcançar-se respostas para as hipóteses firmadas. Conclui-se que a uberização e a pejotização dão continuidade a uma estrutura histórica de opressão às mulheres e demonstram despreocupação com a proteção constitucional do mercado de trabalho da mulher.
Bayesian, Multifidelity Operator Learning for Complex Engineering Systems–A Position Paper
Authors: Moya Christian , Lin Guang
Published: May 2023

Deep learning has significantly improved the state-of-the-art in computer vision and natural language processing, and holds great potential to design effective tools for predicting and simulating complex engineering systems. In particular, scientific machine learning seeks to apply the power of deep learning to scientific and engineering tasks, with operator learning (OL) emerging as a particularly effective tool. OL can approximate nonlinear operators arising in complex engineering systems, making it useful for simulating, designing, and controlling those systems. In this position paper, we provide a comprehensive overview of OL, including its potential applications to complex engineering domains. We cover three variations of OL approaches: deterministic OL for modeling nonautonomous systems, OL with uncertainty quantification (UQ) capabilities, and multifidelity OL. For each variation, we discuss drawbacks and potential applications to engineering, in addition to providing a detailed explanation. We also highlight how multifidelity OL approaches with UQ capabilities can be used to design, optimize, and control engineering systems. Finally, we outline some potential challenges for OL within the engineering domain.
A Comparative Study of Parameter Identification Fusion Methods With a High-Precision Supercapacitor Model for Electric Vehicles
Authors: Wang Chun , Shen Chao , Tang Aihua , Liu Pu
Published: May 2023

To ensure energy storage system operates reliably for electric vehicles, it is vital to accurately identify supercapacitor model parameters in applications. In recent years, most of the algorithms focus on lithium-ion batteries, but few are reported to be used for supercapacitors. To fill this research gap, many algorithms and corresponding fusion methods for supercapacitors are designed in this study. First, seven popular intelligent optimization algorithms are selected to identify the supercapacitor model parameters, and the identification results are discussed in detail. Then, considering a single algorithm cannot guarantee convergence to all global optimal model parameters over state-of-charge (SOC) intervals, five fusion methods for supercapacitor parameter identification have been developed by combining information fusion technology. Finally, voltage errors are statistically analyzed to validate the effectiveness of the five proposed fusion methods. The results show that the five fusion methods can further enhance the global prediction performance of the supercapacitor model, particularly the reverse search-based parameter identification fusion (PIF-RS) method, which has better accuracy and reliability with respect to the maximum (Max) error, mean error, and root mean square (RMS) error decreasing by at least 10.1191%, 17.0024%, and 17.0989%, respectively.
Evaluation of Early-Stage Fatigue Damage in Metal Plates Using Quasi-Static Components of Low-Frequency Lamb Waves
Authors: Wu Kun , Xu Caibin , Deng Mingxi
Published: May 2023

Nonlinear Lamb waves including second harmonic and acoustic-radiation-induced quasi-static components (QSC) have a potential for accurately evaluating early-stage fatigue damage. Most previous studies focus on second-harmonic-based techniques that require phase velocity matching and are hard to isolate interferences from ultrasonic testing systems. The aforementioned requirement and deficiency limit applications of the second-harmonic-based techniques. In this study, a QSC-based technique of low-frequency Lamb waves is proposed for early-stage fatigue damage evaluation of metal plates, which does not need to require phase velocity matching and can remove interferences from ultrasonic testing systems. Both in simulations and in experiments, the primary Lamb wave mode at a low frequency that meets approximate group velocity matching with the generated QSC is selected. In finite element simulations, different levels of material nonlinearities by changing the third-order elastic constants are used to characterize levels of fatigue damage. Numerical results show that the magnitude of the generated QSC pulse increases with the levels of fatigue damage. Early-stage fatigue damage in aluminum plates with different fatigue cycles is further experimentally evaluated. The generated QSC pulse is extracted from received time-domain signals using the phase-inversion technique and low-pass digital filtering processing. The curve of the normalized relative acoustic nonlinearity parameter versus the cyclic loading number is obtained. Numerical simulations and experimental results show that the early-stage fatigue damage in aluminum plates can effectively be evaluated using the QSC generated by low-frequency Lamb waves.