bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Structuring cooperative learning methods in Ancient Greek classrooms
Authors: Markoglou Angeliki 
Published: September 2021

AbstractConsidering the concept of critical teaching, teachers should seek to ensure the active participation of students, emphasisng the adoption of student-centred and group-centred teaching methods, which will provide students with relevant motivation for learning. From this perspective the current article focuses on a teaching proposal for the course of Ancient Greek Language in Greece and Cyprus, presenting the method of jigsaw-based cooperative learning as a teaching practice which promotes both active student participation and group cooperation. According to this teaching practice, the teacher actively involves the students in the learning process, promoting higher-level cognitive, metacognitive and emotional functions. Not only is this method compatible with the broader contemporary pedagogical and didactic principles, which aim to provoke students' interest, cultivate their social skills and relationships, develop their personal self-perception, and create autonomous and fulfilled personalities, but also it is harmonised with the main aims of the Ancient Greek Language Curriculum in these countries, which are fully aligned with both their education policy and their societal needs.
An Alternative Approach for Improving Prediction of Integrated Hydrologic‐Hydraulic Models by Assessing the Impact of Intrinsic Spatial Scales
Authors: Saksena Siddharth , Merwade Venkatesh , Singhofen Peter J. 
Published: September 2021

AbstractThe effect of spatial scale and resolution has been quantified individually for different hydrologic and hydraulic processes. However, the model structure and intrinsic resolution are seldom modified to accurately capture scale‐dependent physical processes. Although automated calibration methods exist for computationally expensive integrated models, an alternate approach reliant on improving the model structure is proposed here. This study advocates for a better representation of the intrinsic spatial scales of physical processes and their submodels by quantifying the impact of different types of spatial scaling on the overall watershed response. First, the effect of spatial extent scaling is quantified by evaluating the change in the basin response (e.g., streamflow and inundation extent) across a small and large subwatershed for the same region. Second, the effect of modifying the relative intrinsic spatial scales of surface‐groundwater (SW‐GW) submodels is quantified. Finally, the results are used to implement a better model structure for improving prediction across two watersheds with distinct physical characteristics. The findings suggest that the relative intrinsic scales of SW‐GW submodels may be different for different hydrogeological systems depending on the ratio of the characteristic length scales of hydrologic‐hydraulic processes. Conducting a scaling analysis can help identify how different physical processes can be best represented in integrated models for a range of climatological and physiographic conditions which can potentially serve as an alternative to extensive calibration in distributed models. Therefore, it is recommended that this analysis should be included as a prerequisite to extensive parameter calibration for large‐scale‐integrated models.
Distribution and Mobility of Platinum‐Group Elements in the Late Cretaceous Ni‐Laterite in the Northern Oman Mountains
Authors: Al‐Khirbash Salah A. , Ahmed Ahmed H. 
Published: September 2021

AbstractLow‐grade Ni‐laterite deposits are irregularly developed overlying mafic/ultramafic protoliths in the northern Oman Mountains. Concentrations, distribution patterns, and mobility of platinum‐group elements (PGEs) are investigated in some Ni‐laterite profiles from the Oman ophiolite as potential unconventional PGE resource. The ultramafic protoliths display the lowest PGE contents (average total = 35 ppb) that are similar to the PGE contents in the overlying saprolite zones. The PGE content increased upward in the laterite profile, where the highest total PGE contents (∼253 ppb) are recorded in the oxide and ferricrete/clay‐rich zones. The highest PGE content corresponds to Pt > Ru > Pd, while the lowest PGE content mostly corresponds to Os < Rh < Ir. The general positive correlation between PGE contents and both Cr2O3 and Fe2O3 contents and the positive trend of the chondrite‐normalized PGE patterns in the Ni‐laterite profiles reflect the formation of PGE‐Fe nanoparticle alloys that are hosted by Fe‐rich oxyhydroxides or due to the residual accumulation of chromite in the oxide/clay‐rich zone during the lateritization process. The PGE distribution patterns and positive correlation of total PGE content with the ultramafic index of alteration indicate that PGE can be mobilized in different proportions in the surficial environment upon progressive lateritization processes. The high content of total PGE in the Oman Ni‐laterite is in good agreement with PGE‐rich laterite deposits worldwide. Consequently, the Oman deposits can be considered as an unconventional PGE resource if adequate extraction and refining processes are applied for their recovery from the possible upcoming Ni production.
Universal activation function for machine learning
Authors: Yuen Brosnan , Hoang Minh Tu , Dong Xiaodai , Lu Tao 
Published: September 2021

AbstractThis article proposes a universal activation function (UAF) that achieves near optimal performance in quantification, classification, and reinforcement learning (RL) problems. For any given problem, the gradient descent algorithms are able to evolve the UAF to a suitable activation function by tuning the UAF’s parameters. For the CIFAR-10 classification using the VGG-8 neural network, the UAF converges to the Mish like activation function, which has near optimal performance$$F_{1}=0.902\pm 0.004$$F1=0.902±0.004when compared to other activation functions. In the graph convolutional neural network on the CORA dataset, the UAF evolves to the identity function and obtains$$F_1=0.835\pm 0.008$$F1=0.835±0.008. For the quantification of simulated 9-gas mixtures in 30 dB signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) environments, the UAF converges to the identity function, which has near optimal root mean square error of$$0.489\pm 0.003~\mu {\mathrm{M}}$$0.489±0.003μM. In the ZINC molecular solubility quantification using graph neural networks, the UAF morphs to a LeakyReLU/Sigmoid hybrid and achieves RMSE=$$0.47\pm 0.04$$0.47±0.04. For the BipedalWalker-v2 RL dataset, the UAF achieves the 250 reward in$${961\pm 193}$$961±193epochs with a brand new activation function, which gives the fastest convergence rate among the activation functions.
The choice of a thermodynamic formulation dramatically affects modelled chemical zoning in minerals
Authors: Tajčmanová L. , Podladchikov Y. , Moulas E. , Khakimova L. 
Published: September 2021

AbstractQuantifying natural processes that shape our planet is a key to understanding the geological observations. Many phenomena in the Earth are not in thermodynamic equilibrium. Cooling of the Earth, mantle convection, mountain building are examples of dynamic processes that evolve in time and space and are driven by gradients. During those irreversible processes, entropy is produced. In petrology, several thermodynamic approaches have been suggested to quantify systems under chemical and mechanical gradients. Yet, their thermodynamic admissibility has not been investigated in detail. Here, we focus on a fundamental, though not yet unequivocally answered, question: which thermodynamic formulation for petrological systems under gradients is appropriate—mass or molar? We provide a comparison of both thermodynamic formulations for chemical diffusion flux, applying the positive entropy production principle as a necessary admissibility condition. Furthermore, we show that the inappropriate solution has dramatic consequences for understanding the key processes in petrology, such as chemical diffusion in the presence of pressure gradients.
The dynamics of cooperation, power, and inequality in a group-structured society
Authors: Tverskoi Denis , Senthilnathan Athmanathan , Gavrilets Sergey 
Published: September 2021

AbstractMost human societies are characterized by the presence of different identity groups which cooperate but also compete for resources and power. To deepen our understanding of the underlying social dynamics, we model a society subdivided into groups with constant sizes and dynamically changing powers. Both individuals within groups and groups themselves participate in collective actions. The groups are also engaged in political contests over power which determines how jointly produced resources are divided. Using analytical approximations and agent-based simulations, we show that the model exhibits rich behavior characterized by multiple stable equilibria and, under some conditions, non-equilibrium dynamics. We demonstrate that societies in which individuals act independently are more stable than those in which actions of individuals are completely synchronized. We show that mechanisms preventing politically powerful groups from bending the rules of competition in their favor play a key role in promoting between-group cooperation and reducing inequality between groups. We also show that small groups can be more successful in competition than large groups if the jointly-produced goods are rivalrous and the potential benefit of cooperation is relatively small. Otherwise large groups dominate. Overall our model contributes towards a better understanding of the causes of variation between societies in terms of the economic and political inequality within them.
Antioxidant system response, mineral element uptake and safe utilization of Polygonatum sibiricum in cadmium-contaminated soil
Authors: Kang Yuchen , Yang Li , Dai Haibo , Xie Mengdi , Wang Yuhao , Peng Jie , Sun Hui , Ao Tianqi , Chen Wenqing 
Published: September 2021

AbstractChinese herbal medicine is widely cultivated in Southwest China, where the soil cadmium (Cd) contamination of farmland is more serious than that in China as a whole. In this study, Polygonatum sibiricum was exposed to Cd at concentrations of e−1, e0, e2, and e4 mg/kg for 30, 60, and 90 days, and the physiological stress responses, Cd and mineral element uptake, antioxidant enzyme activities, and content changes of pharmaceutical ingredients (polysaccharides) were analyzed to decipher the feasibility of safe utilization in Cd-contaminated soil. The results show that the activity of antioxidant enzymes (SOD and CAT) in the aboveground part was always higher than that in the underground part. The underground part of Polygonatum sibiricum mobilizes nonenzymatic systems to facilitate the synthesis of polysaccharides (PCP1, PCP2) with antioxidant properties to cope with Cd stress. Mineral elements (P, K, Ca, Mg, Fe, Cu, and Zn) significantly (p < 0.05) changed after 90 d of cultivation. In particular, the changes in the iron and zinc content were significantly correlated (p < 0.05) with the activities of SOD and POD. Soil Cd at e0 mg/kg can guarantee the safe production and utilization of Polygonatum sibiricum, and the stimulation of Cd promotes polysaccharide synthesis and biomass growth.
Dispensable roles of Gsdmd and Ripk3 in sustaining IL-1β production and chronic inflammation in Th17-mediated autoimmune arthritis
Authors: Takeuchi Yusuke , Ohara Daiya , Watanabe Hitomi , Sakaguchi Noriko , Sakaguchi Shimon , Kondoh Gen , Morinobu Akio , Mimori Tsuneyo , Hirota Keiji 
Published: September 2021

AbstractProgrammed necrosis, such as necroptosis and pyroptosis, is a highly pro-inflammatory cellular event that is associated with chronic inflammation. Although there are various triggers of pyroptosis and necroptosis in autoimmune tissue inflammation and subsequent lytic forms of cell death release abundant inflammatory mediators, including damage-associated molecular patterns and IL-1β, capable of amplifying autoimmune Th17 effector functions, it remains largely unclear whether the programs play a crucial role in the pathogenesis of autoimmune arthritis. We herein report that Gasdermin D (Gsdmd) and receptor interacting serine/threonine kinase 3 (Ripk3)—key molecules of pyroptosis and necroptosis, respectively—are upregulated in inflamed synovial tissues, but dispensable for IL-1β production and the development of IL-17-producing T helper (Th17) cell-mediated autoimmune arthritis in SKG mice. Gsdmd−/−, Ripk3−/−, or Gsdmd−/−Ripk3−/− SKG mice showed severe arthritis with expansion of arthritogenic Th17 cells in the draining LNs and inflamed joints, which was comparable to that in wild-type SKG mice. Despite the marked reduction of IL-1β secretion from Gsdmd−/− or Ripk3−/− bone marrow-derived DCs by canonical stimuli, IL-1β levels in the inflamed synovium were not affected in the absence of Gsdmd or Ripk3. Our results revealed that T cell-mediated autoimmune arthritis proceeds independently of the pyroptosis and necroptosis pathways.
Association between smoking cessation and obstructive spirometry pattern among Korean adults aged 40–79 years
Authors: Yoon Yeo Jun , Lee Myung Soo , Jang Kyu Won , Ahn Jae Bum , Hurh Kyungduk , Park Eun-Cheol 
Published: September 2021

AbstractSmoking cessation aids in restoring lung function. However, whether long-term cessation can fully restore lung function has not been studied thoroughly, especially in Asian countries. This study aimed to evaluate the association between smoking cessation status and obstructive spirometry pattern among Koreans aged 40–79 years. In total, 6298 men and 8088 women aged 40–79 years from the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (2015–2019) were analyzed for smoking cessation status, including the duration after quitting. Current-smokers showed a higher likelihood of having an obstructive spirometry pattern than never-smokers among both men (odds ratio [OR]: 3.15, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 2.32–4.29) and women (OR: 2.60, 95% CI: 1.59–4.23). In men, the effect tended to decrease with longer duration after cessation, but male ex-smokers who had quit smoking ≥ 20 years ago still showed a higher likelihood of having an obstructive spirometry pattern than male never-smokers (OR: 1.40, 95% CI: 1.05–1.89). In female ex-smokers, there was no significant association with the obstructive spirometry pattern, compared to that in female never-smokers. This study emphasizes the benefits of smoking cessation, possibility of long-lasting harm to lung function due to tobacco smoking, and importance of smoking prevention.
Projection of key meteorological hazard factors in Xiongan new area of Hebei Province, China
Authors: Huang Dapeng , Liao Yaoming , Han Zhenyu 
Published: September 2021

AbstractIt is of great importance to explore the future spatiotemporal dynamics of key meteorological hazard factors in Xiongan New Area, an area of great strategic significance under construction in China. Based on 6.25 km high-resolution downscaling projection data under RCP4.5 and RCP8.5 scenarios, Mann–Kendall trend and linear trend were analyzed, and then stationary generalized extreme value (GEV) and time-varying GEV methods were determined to calculate the extremes of four key meteorological hazard factors with return periods of 10, 20, 30, 50 and 100 years during the projection period 1991–2050. Results show that extremes of annual maximum daily precipitation and annual maximum amount of consecutive precipitation under two climate scenarios will not increase too much. Extremes of annual maximum temperature will increase by above 1.5 °C under RCP4.5 scenario in most grids and above 1.9 °C under RCP8.5 scenario. Extremes of annual longest consecutive high-temperature days will increase by above 0.9d under RCP4.5 scenario and above 1.6d under RCP8.5 scenario. On the whole, the hazard of flood disaster will hardly show any change up to 2050, but there will be relatively higher flood hazard in Xiongxian county and its adjacent region. All regions in Xiongan New Area will face high hazard of high-temperature disaster.
Development of a hydroxamamide-based bifunctional chelating agent to prepare technetium-99m-labeled bivalent ligand probes
Authors: Shimizu Yoichi , Ando Masato , Iikuni Shimpei , Watanabe Hiroyuki , Ono Masahiro 
Published: September 2021

AbstractHydroxamamide (Ham) is a thiol-free chelating agent that forms technetium-99m (99mTc)-complexes with a metal-to-ligand ratio of 1:2 under moderate reaction conditions. Therefore, Ham-based chelating agents will produce 99mTc-labeled compounds with a bivalent targeting scaffold. For their universal usage, we developed a novel Ham-based bifunctional chelating agent, “Ham-Mal”, with a maleimide group that can easily conjugate with a thiol group, for to preparing 99mTc-labeled bivalent ligand probes. Ham-Mal was synthesized by a four-step reaction, and then reacted with cysteine or c(RGDfC) to produce Ham-Cys or Ham-RGD. These precursors were reacted with 99mTcO4- for 10 min under room temperature to obtain 99mTc-(Ham-Cys)2 and 99mTc -(Ham-RGD)2. The cellular uptake level of 99mTc-(Ham-RGD)2 by U87MG (high Integrin ɑvβ3 expression) cells was significantly higher than that by PC3 (low Integrin ɑvβ3 expression) cells at 60 min after the incubation, and the uptake was significantly suppressed by pre-treatment for 15 min with excess c(RGDfK) peptide. In the in vivo study with U87MG/PC3 dual xenografted BALB/c-nu mice, the radioactivity of U87MG tumor tissue was significantly higher than that of PC3 tumor tissue at 360 min after the administration of 99mTc-(Ham-RGD)2. These results suggest Ham-Mal may have potential as a bifunctional chelating agent for 99mTc-labeled bivalent ligand probes.
Psychological factors shaping public responses to COVID-19 digital contact tracing technologies in Germany
Authors: Kozyreva Anastasia , Lorenz-Spreen Philipp , Lewandowsky Stephan , Garrett Paul M. , Herzog Stefan M. , Pachur Thorsten , Hertwig Ralph 
Published: September 2021

AbstractThe COVID-19 pandemic has seen one of the first large-scale uses of digital contact tracing to track a chain of infection and contain the spread of a virus. The new technology has posed challenges both for governments aiming at high and effective uptake and for citizens weighing its benefits (e.g., protecting others’ health) against the potential risks (e.g., loss of data privacy). Our cross-sectional survey with repeated measures across four samples in Germany ($$N = 4357$$N=4357) focused on psychological factors contributing to the public adoption of digital contact tracing. We found that public acceptance of privacy-encroaching measures (e.g., granting the government emergency access to people’s medical records or location tracking data) decreased over the course of the pandemic. Intentions to use contact tracing apps—hypothetical ones or the Corona-Warn-App launched in Germany in June 2020—were high. Users and non-users of the Corona-Warn-App differed in their assessment of its risks and benefits, in their knowledge of the underlying technology, and in their reasons to download or not to download the app. Trust in the app’s perceived security and belief in its effectiveness emerged as psychological factors playing a key role in its adoption. We incorporate our findings into a behavioral framework for digital contact tracing and provide policy recommendations.
Ag2CO3 containing magnetic nanocomposite as a powerful and recoverable catalyst for Knoevenagel condensation
Authors: Karimkhah Fatemeh , Elhamifar Dawood , Shaker Masoumeh 
Published: September 2021

AbstractIn this paper, the synthesis, characterization and catalytic application of a novel magnetic silica-supported Ag2CO3 (MS/Ag2CO3) with core–shell structure are developed. The MS/Ag2CO3 nanocomposite was prepared through chemical modification of magnetic MS nanoparticles with AgNO3 under alkaline conditions. The structure, chemical composition and magnetic properties of MS/Ag2CO3 were investigated by using VSM, PXRD, FT-IR, EDX and SEM techniques. The MS/Ag2CO3 nanocomposite was used as an effective catalyst for the Knoevenagel condensation under solvent-free conditions at 60 °C in an ultrasonic bath. The recovery and leaching tests were performed to study the nature of the MS/Ag2CO3 catalyst under applied conditions.
Hierarchy and Reliability of the Preschool Language Scales–Fifth Edition: Mokken Scale Analysis
Authors: Hsiao Yu-Yu , Qi Cathy Huaqing , Hoy Robert , Dale Philip S. , Stump Glenda S. , Davison Megan Dunn , Xia Yinglin 
Published: September 2021

PurposeThis study examined the psychometric properties of the Preschool Language Scales–Fifth Edition (PLS-5 English) among preschool children from low–socioeconomic status (SES) families.MethodThe PLS-5 was administered individually to 169 3- to 4-year-old children enrolled in Head Start programs. We carried out a Mokken scale analysis (MSA), which is a nonparametric item response theory analysis, to examine the hierarchy among items and the reliability of test scores of the PLS-5 Auditory Comprehension (AC) and Expressive Communication (EC) scales.ResultsThe PLS-5 EC items retained a moderate Mokken scale with the inclusion of all the items. On the other hand, the PLS-5 AC items formed a moderate Mokken scale only with the exclusion of five unscalable items. The latent class reliability coefficients for the AC and the EC scale scores were both above .90. Several items that violated the invariant item ordering assumption were found for both scales.ConclusionsMSA can be used to examine the relationship between the latent language ability and the probability of passing an item with ordinal responses. Results indicate that for preschool children from low-SES families, it is appropriate to use the PLS-5 EC scale scores for comparing individuals' expressive language abilities; however, researchers and speech-language pathologists should be cautious when using the PLS-5 AC scale scores to evaluate individuals' receptive language abilities. Other implications of the MSA results are further discussed.
A health condition assessment method of wind turbine generator system based on multiple turbines cooperation
Authors: Hu Yaogang , Shi Pingping , Fang Chao , Wang Yong , Liu Chuanliang , Ding Gang , Sun Meng 
Published: September 2021

AbstractTo improve the reliability and optimize the maintenance strategy of a large‐scale wind farm, a health condition assessment method of wind turbine generator system (WTGS) based on multiple turbines cooperation is presented in this paper. First, a health condition assessment framework is established by analyzing the existing monitoring characteristics of SCADA system. Second, to quantify the health condition of a WTGS, the concept of synthetic degradation factor is introduced and calculated using variable weight of assessment indices. Third, in order to acquire the health level of a WTGS effectively, based on the idea of multiple turbines cooperation, the health condition assessment model is proposed by utilizing the moving average method and quantile algorithm. Finally, by using SCADA monitoring data of a wind farm with 33 × 1.5 MW WTGSs including temperature, pressure, vibration, and so on; the processes of condition assessment are performed, and the effectiveness is also compared to a traditional assessment method with the fixed threshold. The results show that the condition assessment that utilizes the proposed method can acquire the change of health conditions and has a better coherence with real health conditions.