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Previous research provides evidence that developing a growth mindset—believing that one's capabilities can improve—promotes academic achievement. Although this phenomenon has undergone prior study in a representative sample of ninth graders in the United States, it has not been studied in representative samples of other grade levels or with standardized assessment measures of achievement rather than more subjective grades. Using a rich longitudinal data set of more than 200,000 students in Grades 4 through 7 in California who we followed for a year until they were in Grades 5 through 8, this article describes growth mindset gaps across student groups and confirms, at a large scale, the predictive power of growth mindset for achievement gains. We estimate that a student with growth mindset who is in the same school and grade level and has the same background and achievement characteristics as a student with a fixed mindset learns 0.066 SD more annually in English language arts, approximately 18% of the average annual growth or 33 days of learning if we assume learning growth as uniform across the 180 days of the academic year. For mathematics, the corresponding estimates are 0.039 SD, approximately 17% of average annual growth or 31 days of learning. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Information on the geological structure of the Velykogadomynetske deposit of eluvial kaolins, zonation and material composition of the weathering crust is presented. Data on the mineral composition and physical and chemical characteristics of eluvial kaolins are presented. On the basis of the data of coordinates, description, results of well sampling drilled in different years by production geological organizations, chemical analysis of rocks and determination of their whiteness index, a target attributive electronic database was created (coordinates, description and data of well sampling, results of laboratory studies of rocks) on the basis of which structural (absolute elevations of the top and bottom of sediments, relief of the top and of the bottom and thickness of sediments) and material (material composition, content of iron and titanium oxides, whiteness) rock parameters of different weathering crustal zones and redeposited kaolins were studied. Cartographic constructions were made that visualize the structural (isohypses of the surface of the top and bottom, isopachites of the thickness of the disintegration and leaching zone, kaolinite-hydro-mica zone, pelicanite zone, alkaline kaolin zone, normal kaolin zone) and qualitative parameters (content of iron and titanium oxides and their lateral distribution) of the deposit rocks. The direction and strength of correlations between the surface of the top and the bottom of sediments and between their thickness, between the content of Fe2O3 and TiO2 were studied and between the whiteness index and the content of iron and titanium oxides. It was found that the kaolin deposit has a complex occurrence and complex morphology, which are expressed in significant fluctuations in the absolute elevations of its top and bottom, changes in thickness, in the presence of substandard kaolin and are due to the geological and tectonic features of the deposit and the erosion section. The created structural-lithological model of the Velykogadomynetske deposit of eluvial kaolin reveals the cause-and-effect relationships between the geological and tectonic structure of the territory; structure, material composition, zonation and thickness of the weathering crust and its individual zones in particular; conditions of occurrence, material composition, thickness and spatial and vertical variability of qualitative indicators (whiteness indicator, content of harmful impurities of iron and titanium oxides) of the kaolin deposit. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study examines the extent to which students obtain postsecondary credentials in the c areer technical education (CTE) fields of focus they choose in high school. Using school fixed-effects models, we find that focusing on a particular CTE field in high school is associated with an increased probability of enrolling and obtaining a postsecondary credential in that field. The secondary–postsecondary relationship varies across focus areas, and it is strongest in health (increase of 12.5 percentage points), which is disproportionately chosen by females. Across all fields of focus, however, most students enroll and obtain a postsecondary credential in fields that are different from what they focused on in high school. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Information on the geological structure of the Velykogadomynetske deposit of eluvial kaolins, zonation and material composition of the weathering crust is presented. Data on the mineral composition and physical and chemical characteristics of eluvial kaolins are presented. On the basis of the data of coordinates, description, results of well sampling drilled in different years by production geological organizations, chemical analysis of rocks and determination of their whiteness index, a target attributive electronic database was created (coordinates, description and data of well sampling, results of laboratory studies of rocks) on the basis of which structural (absolute elevations of the top and bottom of sediments, relief of the top and of the bottom and thickness of sediments) and material (material composition, content of iron and titanium oxides, whiteness) rock parameters of different weathering crustal zones and redeposited kaolins were studied. Cartographic constructions were made that visualize the structural (isohypses of the surface of the top and bottom, isopachites of the thickness of the disintegration and leaching zone, kaolinite-hydro-mica zone, pelicanite zone, alkaline kaolin zone, normal kaolin zone) and qualitative parameters (content of iron and titanium oxides and their lateral distribution) of the deposit rocks. The direction and strength of correlations between the surface of the top and the bottom of sediments and between their thickness, between the content of Fe₂O₃ and TiO₂ were studied and between the whiteness index and the content of iron and titanium oxides. It was found that the kaolin deposit has a complex occurrence and complex morphology, which are expressed in significant fluctuations in the absolute elevations of its top and bottom, changes in thickness, in the presence of substandard kaolin and are due to the geological and tectonic features of the deposit and the erosion section. The created structural-lithological model of the Velykogadomynetske deposit of eluvial kaolin reveals the cause-and-effect relationships between the geological and tectonic structure of the territory; structure, material composition, zonation and thickness of the weathering crust and its individual zones in particular; conditions of occurrence, material composition, thickness and spatial and vertical variability of qualitative indicators (whiteness indicator, content of harmful impurities of iron and titanium oxides) of the kaolin deposit.

Colleges identify prospective students by purchasing "student lists." Student list products are selection devices that use search filters to select students. Drawing from the sociology of race, we conceptualize some filters as "racialized inputs," defined as inputs that are correlated with race because disadvantaged racial groups have historically been excluded from the input. Using a national sample of high school students, we explore the relationship between racialized search filters and the racial composition of included versus excluded students. Using data about actual lists purchased by public universities, we investigate how college administrators utilize racialized search filters. We discuss implications for federal and state policy. We motivate policy research about structural racism embedded in selection devices that allocate students to opportunities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

After George Floyd was murdered by police, teachers, alongside the leaders of their unions and professional associations, confronted urgent calls to address racism in their communities, schools, and classrooms, just as they were concluding an academic year rendered chaotic by COVID-19. This article leverages four waves of semistructured interviews with teachers' union and association leaders embedded in 14 states and 45 school districts to investigate how and why teachers' unions responded to those calls during 2020 and 2021. Local leaders were more likely to have taken concrete steps if they were serving urban or suburban and predominantly Democratic communities. Most commonly, unions offered symbolic gestures of support or sought to develop their capacity to recognize and understand bias. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Previous studies in higher education have found that a considerable number of students do not access feedback. Here, we use assessment system data on nearly 300,000 assignment submissions to statistically analyze demographic and timing factors leading to lower likelihood of feedback collection. The most significant factors were student performance, gender, course level, assignment number, and timeliness relative to the next assessment date. Deprivation was not found to be significant once other factors were accounted for. The insights gained from this study suggest dedicated time for reviewing feedback in course design and consideration of demographics in engagement interventions are needed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pentacyclic triterpenes show potential as oleogelators, but their combination with various vegetable oils has limited research. This study selected linseed, rapeseed, sunflower, coconut, and palm oils to combine with the triterpenoid compound β-amyrin for the preparation of oleogels. The stability, crystal network structure, and other properties of each oleogel were evaluated. The correlation between different oil types and the properties of corresponding oleogels was explored. The results showed that β-amyrin formed stable oleogels with five vegetable oils under suitable temperature conditions, wherein especially the LO-based oleogel not only exhibited higher oil-binding capacity and hardness, but also demonstrated excellent stability at the microscopic level and notable rheological properties. Further analysis revealed a close correlation between the physicochemical properties of the oleogels and lipid characteristics, indicating that oleogels prepared from long-chain highly unsaturated fatty acids exhibit high stability. The above results indicate that β-amyrin can be a novel candidate oleogelator and that the oil type can modify the properties of β-amyrin-based oleogels. This study provides the latest reference for the application of pentacyclic triterpenoids in food. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Journal of Food Science & Biotechnology is the property of Journal of Food Science & Biotechnology Editorial Office and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Studies of food preferences in captive primates have so far mainly been restricted to frugivorous species. It was therefore the aim of the present study to assess the occurrence of spontaneous food preferences in a mainly folivorous primate, the captive Southern brown howler monkey, and to analyze whether these preferences correlate with nutrient composition. Using a two-alternative choice test, we presented ten male and five female adult Alouatta guariba clamitans with all possible binary combinations of ten types of food that are part of their diet in captivity and recorded their choice behavior. We found the howler monkeys to display the following rank order of preference: banana > mango > watermelon > papaya > beetroot > apple > pear > orange > cucumber > tomato. This preference ranking significantly and positively correlated with the total carbohydrate content and with the sucrose content of the food items. We also found significant positive correlations between the food preference ranking and the content of the minerals copper and magnesium. Male and female howler monkeys did not differ significantly in their food preference rankings. These results suggest this howler monkeys under human care are not opportunistic, but selective feeders with regard to maximizing their net gain of energy as only the content of carbohydrates, but not the contents of total energy, proteins, or lipids significantly correlated with the displayed food preferences. Thus, the food preferences of this primate are similar to those reported in several species of frugivorous primates tested with cultivated fruits and vegetables. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The number of functional genes coding for olfactory receptors differs markedly between species and has repeatedly been suggested to be predictive of a species' olfactory capabilities. To test this assumption, we compiled a database of all published olfactory detection threshold values in mammals and used three sets of data on olfactory discrimination performance that employed the same structurally related monomolecular odour pairs with different mammal species. We extracted the number of functional olfactory receptor genes of the 20 mammal species for which we found data on olfactory sensitivity and/or olfactory discrimination performance from the Chordata Olfactory Receptor Database. We found that the overall olfactory detection thresholds significantly correlate with the number of functional olfactory receptor genes. Similarly, the overall proportion of successfully discriminated monomolecular odour pairs significantly correlates with the number of functional olfactory receptor genes. These results provide the first statistically robust evidence for the relationship between olfactory capabilities and their genomics correlates. However, when analysed individually, of the 44 monomolecular odourants for which data on olfactory sensitivity from at least five mammal species are available, only five yielded a significant correlation between olfactory detection thresholds and the number of functional olfactory receptors genes. Also, for the olfactory discrimination performance, no significant correlation was found for any of the 74 relationships between the proportion of successfully discriminated monomolecular odour pairs and the number of functional olfactory receptor genes. While only a rather limited amount of data on olfactory detection thresholds and olfactory discrimination scores in a rather limited number of mammal species is available so far, we conclude that the number of functional olfactory receptor genes may be a predictor of olfactory sensitivity and discrimination performance in mammals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: The goal was to test the validity of the dual filial piety model in Austria and examine how the reciprocal and authoritarian filial piety interplay with familial factors and one's tobacco and alcohol use. Background: Familial influences on substance use have been identified. Being conceptualized as a Chinese construct, research on filial piety and its interplay with substance use is insufficient in Western populations. Method: Using a cross‐sectional survey including filial piety, familial variables, psychopathy traits, and alcohol use, we collected data from 201 Austrian community members (63.0% female; Mage = 35.15 years). Another age‐stratified random sample with 202 Austrians was also subsequently recruited to replicate the original findings. Multiple correlational analyses and confirmatory structural equation modeling were utilized on both samples, separately. Results: The dual filial piety model was found as a robust construct in both samples, with an acceptable scalability (Cronbach's α >.70). Although filial piety was unassociated with substance use, earlier experiences and psychopathy traits both showed consistent correlations with substance use. Un‐directional network analysis among variables further revealed an association between ever smoking experience and adverse childhood experiences, which was replicated in the second sample. Conclusions: This study highlights the utility of filial piety in non‐Eastern populations. Filial piety was associated with substance use in one sample, but more research from family and developmental psychology is needed given its close relationships with childhood aversive experiences and remembered parental support. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: In general, the identification of cholesterol-depleted lipid particles can be inferred from non-high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (non-HDL-C) concentration to apolipoprotein B (apoB) concentration ratio, which serves as a reliable indicator for assessing the risk of cardiovascular disease. However, the ability of non-HDL-C/apoB ratio to predict the risk of long-term mortality among the general population remains uncertain. The aim of this study is to explore the association of non-HDL-C/apoB ratio with long-term all-cause and cardiovascular mortality in adults of the United States. Methods: This retrospective cohort study was a further analysis of existing information from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES). In the ultimate analysis, 12,697 participants from 2005 to 2014 were included. Kaplan-Meier (K-M) curves and the log-rank test were applied to visualize survival differences between groups. Multivariate Cox regression and restricted cubic spline (RCS) models were applied to evaluate the association of non-HDL-C/apoB ratio with all-cause and cardiovascular mortality. Subgroup analysis was conducted for the variables of age, sex, presence of coronary artery disease, diabetes and hypertriglyceridemia and usage of lipid-lowering drugs. Results: The average age of the cohort was 46.8 ± 18.6 years, with 6215 (48.9%) participants being male. During a median follow-up lasting 68.0 months, 891 (7.0%) deaths were documented and 156 (1.2%) patients died of cardiovascular disease. Individuals who experienced all-cause and cardiovascular deaths had a lower non-HDL-C/apoB ratio compared with those without events (1.45 ± 0.16 vs. 1.50 ± 0.17 and 1.43 ± 0.17 vs. 1.50 ± 0.17, both P values

Principals can affect several consequential schooling processes and outcomes. However, their effectiveness varies substantially and is distributed across schools inequitably, underscoring the importance of effective principal professional development (PPD), which begins by using needs assessments to inform PPD content. A researcher-practitioner partnership assessed principal needs via monthly teacher surveys about specific teacher evaluation skills. While internal consistencies were high, test-rest reliabilities were low, implying that reports regarding the quality of specific principal practices may fluctuate substantially over short periods, potentially hampering the design of effective PPD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Novitas-ROYAL is the property of Novitas Royal and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Huan Wang,1 Cody Abbey,1 Thomas Kennedy,1 Erik Feng,1 Robin Li,1 Finley Liu,1 Annli Zhu,1 Sharon Shen,1 Prateek Wadhavkar,1 Scott Rozelle,1 Manpreet K Singh2 1Stanford Center on China’s Economy and Institutions, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA; 2Stanford School of Medicine, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USACorrespondence: Cody Abbey, Stanford Center on China’s Economy and Institutions, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA, Tel +1 650-723-4581, Email cjabbey@stanford.eduPurpose: We examine how adolescent free time allocation—namely, screen time and outdoor time—is associated with mental health and academic performance in rural China.Methods: This paper used a large random sample of rural junior high school students in Ningxia (n = 20,375; age=13.22), with data collected from self-reported demographic questionnaires (to assess free time allocation), the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (to assess mental health), and a standardized math test (to measure academic performance). We utilized a multivariate OLS regression model to examine associations between free time allocation and adolescent outcomes, controlling for individual and family characteristics.Results: Our sample’s screen time and outdoor time both averaged around 1 hour. About 10% of the sample adolescents reported behavioral difficulties, while a similar percentage (11%) reported abnormal prosocial behaviors. Adolescents with higher levels of screen time (> 2 hours) were 3 percentage points more likely to have higher levels of behavioral difficulties (p< 0.001), indicating that excessive screen time was associated with worse mental health. Meanwhile, outdoor time was associated with better mental health, and positive correlations were observed at all levels of outdoor time (compared to no outdoor time, decreasing the likelihood of higher levels of behavioral difficulties by between 3 and 4 percentage points and of lower prosocial scores by between 6 and 8 percentage points; all p’s< 0.001). For academic performance, average daily screen times of up to 1 hour and 1– 2 hours were both positively associated with standardized math scores (0.08 SD, p< 0.001; 0.07 SD, p< 0.01, respectively), whereas there were no significant associations between outdoor time and academic performance.Conclusion: Using a large sample size, this study was the first to examine the association between adolescent free time allocation with mental health and academic performance, providing initial insights into how rural Chinese adolescents can optimize their free time.Keywords: adolescent outcome, free time allocation, correlational analysis, developing countries

Pentacyclic triterpenes show potential as oleogelators, but their combination with various vegetable oils has limited research. This study selected linseed, rapeseed, sunflower, coconut, and palm oils to combine with the triterpenoid compound β-amyrin for the preparation of oleogels. The stability, crystal network structure, and other properties of each oleogel were evaluated. The correlation between different oil types and the properties of corresponding oleogels was explored. The results showed that β-amyrin formed stable oleogels with five vegetable oils under suitable temperature conditions, wherein especially the LO-based oleogel not only exhibited higher oil-binding capacity and hardness, but also demonstrated excellent stability at the microscopic level and notable rheological properties. Further analysis revealed a close correlation between the physicochemical properties of the oleogels and lipid characteristics, indicating that oleogels prepared from long-chain highly unsaturated fatty acids exhibit high stability. The above results indicate that β-amyrin can be a novel candidate oleogelator and that the oil type can modify the properties of β-amyrin-based oleogels. This study provides the latest reference for the application of pentacyclic triterpenoids in food.

We provide novel evidence on the broader impacts of school choice systems by quantifying disparities in peer continuity from middle to high school in New York City. We find that Black and Hispanic students and those in high-poverty neighborhoods attend high school with a much smaller fraction of their middle school or neighborhood peers than their White, Asian, and low-poverty neighborhood counterparts. Disparities also emerge in peer isolation: 27% and 20% of Black and Hispanic students transitioned with no other student from their middle school, while only 7% to 8% of White and Asian students did. Group differences in choice similarity, which in part reflects systematic variation in the number of local school options, drive this result. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study aimed to update the state of knowledge and attitudes of teachers concerning gifted students and their educational needs in theNetherlands. Additionally, this study aimed to gain insights into teachers' professional development (PD) needs regarding giftedness, taking teachers' knowledge and attitudes concerning this topic into account. Aquestionnaire was filled out by 116 teachers from thirteen elementary schools in the Netherlands. Teachers seemed to have little knowledgeabout how to identify and support gifted students. Their overall attitude was positive, however, teachers held negative or ambivalent attitudestowards ability grouping and acceleration. All teachers were interested in receiving PD, although teachers who had the most knowledge and most positive attitude were most interested. Teachers reported the most need for PD activities that do not require too much time and take place at their workplace. However, teachers' knowledge and attitude related positively to PD activities that require a greater time investment. The findings of the present study underline the importance of PD for teachers concerning giftedness. Future research is needed to effectively design and incorporate PD activities for teachers which meet their knowledge,attitudes, and PD needs. This eventually contributes to better education for gifted students. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Philanthropic initiatives incorporating prescriptive practices have become prominent in K–12 education. This study provides evidence on the reach, character, and impact of the Broad Superintendents Academy, a controversial initiative designed to transform district leadership. A novel data set on Broad trainees linked to data on large districts over 20 years shows that Broad superintendents have had extensive reach, serving nearly 3 million students at their peak, and that, for districts that hired Broad trainees, Broad superintendents were 40% more likely to be Black than non-Broad superintendents, although they had significantly shorter tenures. Estimates provide evidence that Broad-trained leaders had little effect on several district outcomes including enrollment, spending, and student completion. However, they initiated a trend toward increased charter school enrollment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

National policies have targeted widespread exclusionary discipline in schools which is associated with negative academic outcomes. Principals play an important role in making disciplinary decisions, yet little is understood about how their mindsets might impact these decisions. We hypothesized that principals' mindsets regarding the purpose of discipline (exclusion vs. prevention) would predict their responses to misbehavior. In a random, nationwide sample (N = 234), principals responded to misbehavior by a hypothetical Black or White student. Exclusion beliefs predicted more severe discipline, whereas prevention beliefs predicted greater endorsement of referring the student to a school counselor. Principal mindsets also predicted exclusionary discipline in real-world contexts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Given that a national superintendent dataset has never existed, claims about superintendent turnover and gender gaps have traditionally been based on conjecture or data from a single year and small sample of superintendents. Utilizing a new dataset of all K–12 public school district superintendents in the United States across four school years, this study explores how the superintendent gender gap and turnover have changed over time and across states and district types. Analyses reveal that superintendent turnover has increased, particularly among men, and the superintendent gender gap has marginally narrowed. Although men are increasingly turning over, women are seldom filling those positions—a necessity if the superintendent gender gap is to narrow. State and district analyses are presented, as well as discussion of the implications of the findings and the power of a longitudinal superintendent dataset. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article deals with an actual task of developing engineering methods for predicting the durability of modern long-life machines should be based on the methodology for determining the degree of fatigue damage to materials and structural elements. In the development of such a methodology, the work proposes to use modern optical and computer tools that allow analyzing the parameters of the deformed surface of metal structure samples and, on this basis, to estimate the residual resource of the metal structure. The purpose of the article was to substantiate a methodical approach for determining the limit state of damage using photometric analysis of the topography of the micro-deformed surface of cyclically loaded metal structure samples. To analyze the fatigue damage characteristics of metals and alloys, an experimental information system was developed based on the method of coherent optical scanning of the deformed surface of metal structure samples with a resolution of 0.2 μm/px. The obtained specklograms of the photodiode matrix, corresponding to the two-dimensional image of the micro-deformed surface of the sample in shades of gray 0-255, were computer analyzed. This made it possible to construct diagrams of the kinetics of the process of accumulation of the amplitude of the deformation microrelief of the surface of the laboratory samples for the studied steels St 45 and St 20. It is shown that the kinetics of speckle brightness obtained in the work by the correlation method, which corresponds to the evolution of the accumulation of fatigue damage on the surface of the studied structural steel samples, is characterized by a nonlinear function, which is consistent with the results of deformation microrelief studies obtained by other methods. The proposed methodology for analyzing the discrete distribution of specklogram brightness can be used to predict the onset of the limit state of a metal structure before failure due to fatigue

Introduction. Patients with diabetes are exposed to various cardiovascular risk factors, which lead to an increased risk of cardiac complications. Therefore, the development of a diagnostic system for diabetes and cardiovascular disease (CVD) is a relevant research task. In addition, the identification of the most significant indicators of both diseases may help physicians improve treatment, speed the diagnosis, and decrease its computational costs.Aim. To classify subjects with different diabetes types, predict the risk of cardiovascular diseases in diabetic patients using machine learning methods by finding the correlational indicators.Materials and methods. The NHANES database was used following preprocessing and balancing its data. Machine learning methods were used to classify diabetes based on physical examination data and laboratory data. Feature selection methods were used to derive the most significant indicators for predicting CVD risk in diabetic patients. Performance optimization of the developed classification and prediction models was carried out based on different evaluation metrics.Results. The developed model (Random Forest) achieved the accuracy of 93.1 % (based on laboratory data) and 88 % (based on pysicical examination plus laboratory data). The top five most common predictors in diabetes and prediabetes were found to be glycohemoglobin, basophil count, triglyceride level, waist size, and body mass index (BMI). These results seem logical, since glycohemoglobin is commonly used to check the amount of glucose (sugar) bound to the hemoglobin in the red blood cells. For CVD patients, the most common predictors inlcude eosinophil count (indicative of blood diseases), gamma-glutamyl transferase (GGT), glycohemoglobin, overall oral health, and hand stiffness.Conclusion. Balancing the dataset and deleting NaN values improved the performance of the developed models. The RFC and XGBoost models achieved higher accuracy using gradient descending order to minimize the loss function. The final prediction is made using a weighted majority vote of all the decisions. The result was an automated system for predicting CVD risk in diabetic patients.

The selection of base liquor plays a crucial role in the flavor of soaked greengage wine. This study aimed to investigate the effects of different base liquor treatments on the physicochemical characteristics and aroma composition of greengage wine. We carried out a comprehensive analysis using HPLC for the determination of organic acids and GC-MS for the determination of volatile aroma compounds, combined with sensory evaluation. The results showed that the red and yellow colors were the darkest in the high-alcohol group, while the citric acid content was the highest in the sake group (21.95 ± 2.19 g/L). In addition, the greengage wine steeped in 50% edible alcohol had more terpenes, a significantly higher concentration of acid–lipid compounds, and a more intense aroma compared to that of the low-alcohol group, whose typical aroma compounds were greatly reduced. The sensory results showed that the greengage wine treated with baijiu had a distinct alcoholic flavor, while almond flavors were more intense in the greengage wine treated with 15% edible alcohol. In this study, base liquor was used as the main influencing factor to provide new research ideas for the flavor optimization of soaked greengage wine. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As children with refugee backgrounds continue to enroll in schools worldwide, attention to their educational needs and experiences has increased. In this study, we analyze the extent that schools and classrooms provide refugee students with equitable educational opportunities compared to students who are not refugees, and whether their teachers feel prepared for and engaged in culturally responsive instructional practices. Using survey data on 130,803 teachers and 8,054 schools sampled from 41 predominantly distant resettlement host countries in the 2018 Teaching and Learning International Survey, we find lower levels of resources, safety, and social inclusion for refugee students but higher levels of preparation and instructional practices in multicultural education among their teachers. The results have policy implications for supporting students with refugee backgrounds in different school contexts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The role that single nutrients may play for food choices in nonhuman primates is not fully understood. White-faced sakis (Pithecia pithecia) are unusual among frugivorous primates as they do not serve as seed dispersers but rather exploit the seeds they consume, presumably for their high contents of lipids and proteins. Therefore, we assessed the occurrence of spontaneous food preferences in zoo-housed white-faced sakis and analyzed whether these preferences correlate with nutrient composition. Using a two-alternative choice test, we repeatedly presented three female and two male sakis with all possible binary combinations of 15 types of food that are part of their diet under human care, and found them to display the following rank order of preference: peanut > hazelnut > avocado > melon > egg > apple > mealworms > beetroot > carrot > cucumber > cabbage > tomato > sweet potato > broccoli > eggplant. This preference ranking significantly and positively correlated with the total energy content of the food items. However, we found the strongest positive correlation among the three macronutrients providing metabolic energy between the sakis' food preferences and lipid content. This is remarkable as all other primate species tested so far using this method displayed the strongest correlation with carbohydrates instead. Together with our finding that the sakis significantly preferred foods high in mono-unsaturated fatty acids, the building blocks of lipids, these results support the notion that white-faced sakis exploit the lipids contained in seeds to meet their requirements of metabolic energy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose. To evaluate the quality indicators of spring barley seeds grown under different soil and climatic conditions. Methods. Laboratory, calculation and statistical methods were used during the research, analysis and synthesis methods were used to draw conclusions. Results. As a result of research, the dependence of spring barley quality indicators, namely: grain uniformity and protein content, on soil and climatic zones and growing conditions was revealed. Thus, grain uniformity ranged from 86.7% (high, Polissia) to 95.1% (very high, Forest Steppe) in the different test years. In 2021, thanks to favorable meteorological conditions during the growing season, its indicators increased by 4.3% in the Steppe, 4.6% in the Forest Steppe and almost 6.0% in Polissia compared to 2020. On average, the uniformity of grain grown in different branches of UIPVE increased by 5.6%. The maximum values were obtained for the varieties 'Avus' - 93.9% (Steppe), 'Novyi Svitanok' - 94.5-96.6% (Polissia, Forest Steppe). Depending on the soil and climate zone and the year of the experiment, the protein content in the grain varied from 10.9 (low, Steppe) to 13.4% (medium, Forest Steppe). On average, this indicator decreased by 2.5% in 2021 compared to 2020, and only in the Polissia zone it increased by 2.6%. The highest protein content was found in the varieties 'Istr' - 13.5-13.9% (Steppe and Forest Steppe) and 'Hercules' - 13.4% (Polissia). The varieties 'Amadei', 'Istr' and 'Novyi Svitanok' combined both economic and valuable traits. Optimum air temperature and high grain uniformity contribute to increasing the yield of spring barley. At the same time, during the formation of a high yield in the culture, the protein content in the grain decreases. Conclusions. It was revealed that, on average, in 2020-2021, the uniformity of spring barley grain was 92.3% (Steppe), 95.4% (Forest Steppe) and 93.2% (Polissia); the protein content in the grains was 11.8% (Steppe), 12.4% (Forest Steppe) and 11.6% (Polissia). The formation of quality indicators of spring barley seeds was influenced by the growing conditions in the relevant soil and climatic zone. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nighttime light (NTL) imagery provides valuable information for monitoring urban development, human activity, and, consequently, urban thermal environments. However, only a few studies have attempted to directly draw linkages between NTL and urban heat island (UHI) formation. Establishing associations between NTL and UHI indicators could potentially ease the process of identifying heightened thermal environments and thus pinpointing urban hotspots in need of policy interventions and strategic mitigation measures. In the present study, through clustering and correlation analysis, we study ties between NTL, surface urban heat island intensity (SUHII) and atmospheric urban heat island intensity (AUHII) in Seoul. NTL data was derived from the Suomi National Polar-Orbiting Partnership-Visible and Infrared imager/Radiometer Suite (SNPP-VIIRS), while SUHII data was obtained from the moderate resolution imaging spectroradiometer (MODIS) satellite instrument. Additionally, AUHII was computed from archived weather data collected from multiple automatic weather stations (AWSs) in Seoul. Our results show that NTL is highly positively correlated with SUHII (R > 0.86, p < 0.05) and AUHII (R > 0.68, p < 0.05). The findings highlight the potential usage of NTL as a proxy for UHI formation, simplifying the process of identifying heightened thermal areas in Seoul that may require rapid policy intervention. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Despite various attempts during the last few decades to establish a natural system for the Myxomycetes, researchers have not yet reached a consensus. One of the most drastic recent proposals is the movement of the genus Lamproderma, an almost a trans-subclass transfer. The traditional subclasses are not supported by current molecular phylogenies, and various higher classifications have been proposed during the last decade. However, the taxonomic characteristics on which the traditional higher classifications were based have not been reinvestigated. In the present study, the key species involved in this transfer, Lamproderma columbinum (the type species of the genus Lamproderma), was assessed using correlational morphological analysis of stereo, light, and electron microscopic images. Correlational analysis of the plasmodium, fruiting body formation, and the mature fruiting bodies revealed that several concepts of taxonomic characteristics that have been used to distinguish higher classifications are questionable. The results of this study indicate that caution is required when interpreting the evolution of morphological traits in Myxomycetes, as the current concepts are vague. The definitions of the taxonomic characteristics need a detailed research, and attention should be paid to the lifecycle timing of observations, before discussing a natural system for Myxomycetes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Snow persistence (SP) is a widely available remotely-sensed measure of snowpack accumulation and ablation, reflecting the duration of snow presence on the ground in a given year. Available local-scale studies showed that SP is associated with the average magnitude of streamflow. However, despite the intuitive relationship between SP and catchment storage/release functioning, the spatial and temporal links between the persistence of snow on the ground and the shape and functionality of streamflow hydrographs were not studied empirically and were not generalized to diverse climatic settings. This study empirically explores the spatial and temporal links that SP has with measures of hydrograph shape and variability during low-flow and high-flow conditions across continent-wide gradients of aridity and seasonality. In arid in-phase and wet out-of-phase climates, higher SP is spatially associated with a damper (i.e., less flashy) streamflow hydrograph during low-flow and high-flow conditions. This is shown by a larger ratio of baseflow to average flow, a larger ratio of extreme low-flow to average flow, lower low-flow variability, and lower high-flow variability. While SP is spatially associated with a damped hydrograph in both arid/in-phase and wet/out-of-phase climates, this effect is stronger in the former region. For example, the size of the nonlinear impact of SP on reducing low-flow and high-flow variabilities is larger in arid in-phase climates (−7.64, −3.44, respectively) than in wet out-of-phase climates (−4.34, −2.02, respectively). Temporal analyses for “typical snow-rich” catchments show that years with relatively higher SP may lead to relatively flashier streamflow hydrographs, with lower baseflow indices, lower ratios of extreme low-flow to average flow, higher ratios of extreme high-flow to average flow and higher high-flow variability. Such results 1) demonstrate the utility of SP as a globally available descriptor of streamflow hydrograph shape and variability in a wide diversity of climatic conditions, 2) highlight that climate-driven snow loss may lead to substantial changes to hydrograph form and functionality, and 3) indicate that space-time symmetry may not be a valid assumption in hydrology.

Low teacher salaries have been prevalent since the mid-1900s, and teacher strikes, like the one that occurred in Chicago in 2019, have resulted in attempts to raise these salaries. This study analyzes whether raising teacher salaries could have benefits to other groups besides teachers themselves. Through a correlational analysis, the relationship between average teacher salaries and student performance on standardized tests (measured with SAT scores, math proficiency rates, and ELA proficiency rates) was examined among thirty randomly selected high schools in eight northern New Jersey counties. The findings show that average teacher salaries were positively correlated with all three metrics, but only those with SAT scores and ELA proficiency rates were significant correlations. These results do not suggest that raising teacher salaries will increase these metrics of student performance; they are solely an acknowledgment that such causation should be explored in order to properly inform policy on this issue.

I investigate longitudinal preferences for schools revealed by families' applications to middle and high schools within a large urban school district's universal enrollment system. I find that preferences for schools' racial/ethnic composition are more stable than preferences for quality and proximity to home, even after concurrently controlling for all characteristics. White and Hispanic families' preferences for composition are more durable than those of Black families, though stability overall attenuates when focusing on subgroups. Because preferences are not rigid over time, research and policy might continue exploring whether families can be guided toward options that improve academic outcomes and/or address segregation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We synthesize and critique federal fiscal policy during the Great Recession and COVID-19 pandemic. First, the amount of aid during both crises was inadequate to meet policy goals. Second, the mechanisms used to distribute funds were disconnected from policy goals and provided different levels of aid to districts with equivalent levels of economic disadvantage. Third, data tools are missing, making it difficult to understand whether funds were used to meet policy goals. Details for these results are provided along with policy recommendations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Studies indicate that muscle strength is associated with good mental health. However, it remains unclear whether muscle strength is directly correlated with psychological symptoms in Chinese adolescents. Given the declining muscle strength and worrying mental health status of Chinese adolescents, the present study aimed to estimate the correlation between muscle strength and psychological symptoms as well as explore the gender differences in those correlations in Chinese adolescents. Method: From April to July 2018, a total of 14,344 Chinese adolescents from eight provinces were selected using a stratified clustered sampling method. Psychological symptoms were evaluated using the Multidimensional Sub-health Questionnaire of Adolescents (MSQA), a verified and validated questionnaire that assesses three psychological areas: emotional symptoms, behavioral symptoms, and social adaptation difficulties. Muscle strength was assessed using grip strength, sit-ups, and standing long jump. The Chi-square test was used to compare the detection rates of the different categories of psychological symptoms. A logistic regression analysis was used to analyze the correlations between muscle strength and psychological symptoms and explore the gender differences in those correlations in Chinese adolescents. Results: In general, the detection rate of psychological symptoms for Chinese adolescents was 21.39%. Males had a higher detection rate of psychological symptoms (22.12%) than females (20.66%, p < 0.05). Psychological symptoms were present in significantly fewer Chinese adolescents with a muscle strength index >P75 (19.26%) than among Chinese adolescents with a muscle strength index ≤P25 (23.00%) (χ² = 23.417, p < 0.01). Compared with females, the OR values for males in most groups were over one (OR = 1.04-1.43), indicating that males have a higher risk of psychological symptoms than females. Conclusions: The psychological symptom detection rate of Chinese adolescents is correlated with muscle strength. Psychological symptoms were more correlated to muscle strength in males than in females. The significance of the present study lies in the important insights for integrated mental and physical fitness intervention strategies that promote muscle strength and psychological symptoms simultaneously. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article deals with an actual task of developing engineering methods for predicting the durability of modern long-life machines should be based on the methodology for determining the degree of fatigue damage to materials and structural elements. In the development of such a methodology, the work proposes to use modern optical and computer tools that allow analyzing the parameters of the deformed surface of metal structure samples and, on this basis, to estimate the residual resource of the metal structure. The purpose of the article was to substantiate a methodical approach for determining the limit state of damage using photometric analysis of the topography of the micro-deformed surface of cyclically loaded metal structure samples. To analyze the fatigue damage characteristics of metals and alloys, an experimental information system was developed based on the method of coherent optical scanning of the deformed surface of metal structure samples with a resolution of 0.2 μm/px. The obtained specklograms of the photodiode matrix, corresponding to the two-dimensional image of the micro-deformed surface of the sample in shades of gray 0-255, were computer analyzed. This made it possible to construct diagrams of the kinetics of the process of accumulation of the amplitude of the deformation microrelief of the surface of the laboratory samples for the studied steels St 45 and St 20. It is shown that the kinetics of speckle brightness obtained in the work by the correlation method, which corresponds to the evolution of the accumulation of fatigue damage on the surface of the studied structural steel samples, is characterized by a nonlinear function, which is consistent with the results of deformation microrelief studies obtained by other methods. The proposed methodology for analyzing the discrete distribution of specklogram brightness can be used to predict the onset of the limit state of a metal structure before failure due to fatigue. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study investigated the precipitation variability over Myanmar at the annual and seasonal scales by comparing 12 model outputs from the Coupled Model Intercomparison Project Phase 6 (CMIP6) with gridded observational data provided by the Global Precipitation Climatology Centre (GPCC) from 1970 to 2014. Using Mann–Kendall and Sen’s slope estimator, the trend analysis was assessed. Correlation analysis was also used to investigate the relationship of observational and Ensemble means precipitation with sea surface temperature (SST) anomalies. Results show a better correlation pattern of ENS with observation precipitation than that of individual selected models during the May-October season than that of the annual scale. Meanwhile, UKESM1-0-LL, NESM3, and HadGEM3-CC31-LL show high correlation with a relatively low root-mean-square difference. A few models roughly capture the spatiotemporal patterns of precipitation during MJJASO over Myanmar. The root mean square errors (RMSEs) of MIROC6, CNRM-ESM2-1, CNRM-CM6, and NESM3 are lower than that of ENS, whereas the RMSEs of CESM2, GFDL-CM4, HadGEM3-CC31-LL, GFDL-ESM4, UKESM1-0-LL, MPI-ESM1-2-HR, MRI-ESM2-0, and IPSL-CM6A-LR are higher than that of ENS, for annual precipitation. Heterogeneous correlation coefficients and slope changes are evident within the country at both annual and seasonal periods. Overall, the ENS showed a long-term increasing annual trend. Most of the model exhibited increasing annual trends while some showed decreasing annual trends. The correlation between the annual series and SST anomalies shows stronger correlation coefficient than that of seasonal. Overall, the correlation analysis of the SST anomalies reveals significant positive and negative relationships with the ENS precipitation. We recommend considering future projections of precipitation changes over Myanmar in future work.

Studying how gaming experiences are encoded is important to understand the effects of gaming on the brain. Although studies have investigated neural correlates of gaming experiences, the brain patterns related to the full range of subjective experiences across different types of games are yet to be identified. The present study used three custom-made, immersive driving games with different input dynamics (controlling a car, a boat, or a spaceship) and different mechanics to assess subjective gaming experiences in a magnetic resonance imaging scanner. A correlational analysis identified several brain networks associated with different subjective gaming experiences, including visual and attentional processing networks. The contributions of these networks were further validated using meta-analysis-based functional term decoding. The results of the present study point to a range of perceptual, motivational, and control networks that are engaged during active gameplay.

BackgroundGenetic, observational, and clinical intervention studies indicate that circulating levels of remnant cholesterol (RC) are associated with cardiovascular diseases. However, the predictive value of RC for cardiovascular mortality in the general population remains unclear.MethodsOur study population comprised 19,650 adults in the United States from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) (1999–2014). RC was calculated from non-high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (non-HDL-C) minus low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) determined by the Sampson formula. Multivariate Cox regression, restricted cubic spline analysis, and subgroup analysis were applied to explore the relationship of RC with cardiovascular mortality.ResultsThe mean age of the study cohort was 46.4 ± 19.2 years, and 48.7% of participants were male. During a median follow-up of 93 months, 382 (1.9%) cardiovascular deaths occurred. In a fully adjusted Cox regression model, log RC was significantly associated with cardiovascular mortality [hazard ratio (HR) 2.82; 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.17–6.81]. The restricted cubic spline curve indicated that log RC had a linear association with cardiovascular mortality (p for non-linearity = 0.899). People with higher LDL-C (≥130 mg/dL), higher RC [≥25.7/23.7 mg/dL in males/females corresponding to the LDL-C clinical cutoff point (130 mg/dL)] and abnormal HDL-C (

Principals are the second-largest school-based contributor to K–12 students' academic progress. However, there is little research evaluating whether efforts to develop principals' skills improve school effectiveness. We conducted randomized controlled trial studies of the impacts of a professional development program called the Executive Development Program (EDP) and of the incremental effects of coaching to help principals implement the EDP curriculum. We find that the EDP alone influenced principals' practices, but not student achievement, within 3 years. Coaching had a small positive effect on students' English Language Arts achievement, but no effect on math achievement or on principals' practices. Coaching had the largest effects in disadvantaged schools. We hypothesize that coaching enhanced the quality of implementation of recommended practices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Silkworm pupa protein isolate (SPPI) is rich in amino acids, making it chemically reactive, degradable, and easy to form lysinoalanine (LAL). We investigated how conformational cross-linking, induced by ultrasound-assisted sodium alginate, could inhibit the formation of LAL during the preparation of SPPI. Glycoconjugated SPPI (using 1 % sodium alginate under ultrasonication) showed the lowest LAL content i.e., 7.403 μg·mg−1, representing a 49.58 % decrease, with reference to the control. The ionic, hydrogen, and covalent bonds in the glycoconjugate increased by 171.79 %, 8.48 %, and 35.56 %, respectively. Glycation decreased arginine by 28.92 % and caused the oxidation of tyrosine, methionine and proline to form carbonyl groups. Some precursor amino acids, including lysine, serine, cysteine and threonine were not degraded during the combined treatment. The macromolecular aggregation caused by structural modifications strengthened the steric resistance of LAL cross-linking. The study outcomes provide a novel approach and theoretical basis for inhibition of LAL formation in SPPI. [Display omitted] • Ultrasound-assisted sodium alginate treatment reduced LAL content in SPPI. • SPPI and sodium alginate were polymerized by non-covalent and g-g-g covalent bonds. • Combined treatment destroyed the hydrophobic structures and inhibited amino acid degradation. • Oxidative cross-linking and high stereo-hindrance were detected in conjugates. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The emerging field of interpersonal emotion regulation (IER) is drawing attention to forms of emotion regulation which involve communication and social interaction as part of the regulation process. The availability of instruments to measure IER in different languages represents significant promise for future work in this field. The goal of the present study was to validate an Italian adaptation of a self-report instrument for the assessment of IER, the Interpersonal Emotion Regulation Questionnaire (IERQ; Hofmann et al., 2016). In an Italian sample (N=448), exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses confirmed the original structure comprising four factors (Enhancing Positive Affect, Perspective Taking, Soothing and Social Modelling). Correlations with other measures of emotion regulation showed good convergent validity of the questionnaire.

The selection of base liquor plays a crucial role in the flavor of soaked greengage wine. This study aimed to investigate the effects of different base liquor treatments on the physicochemical characteristics and aroma composition of greengage wine. We carried out a comprehensive analysis using HPLC for the determination of organic acids and GC-MS for the determination of volatile aroma compounds, combined with sensory evaluation. The results showed that the red and yellow colors were the darkest in the high-alcohol group, while the citric acid content was the highest in the sake group (21.95 ± 2.19 g/L). In addition, the greengage wine steeped in 50% edible alcohol had more terpenes, a significantly higher concentration of acid–lipid compounds, and a more intense aroma compared to that of the low-alcohol group, whose typical aroma compounds were greatly reduced. The sensory results showed that the greengage wine treated with baijiu had a distinct alcoholic flavor, while almond flavors were more intense in the greengage wine treated with 15% edible alcohol. In this study, base liquor was used as the main influencing factor to provide new research ideas for the flavor optimization of soaked greengage wine.

Researchers and winemakers have recently paid more attention to biodynamic (BDN) and organic (ORG) vineyard management to produce more healthy and regional wines. However, little attention has been paid to the correlation between agricultural systems, microbiota, and wine quality in biodynamic and organic wines in Ningxia, China. In this study, volatiles of wine and microorganism diversities during the wine fermentation using Cabernet Sauvignon grapes from vineyards of biodynamic, non-dynamics (BNDc, i.e., conventional one which was close to BND, considered to be a control of BND), organic, and non-organic (ORGc, i.e., conventional one which was close to BND, considered to be a control of ORG) in Ningxia, China were investigated. Hanseniaspora uvarum , Cladosporium sp., and Alternaria alternata were the main three fungal species, and Lactobacillus kunkeei , Citrus maxima , and Tatumella ptyseos were the main three bacterial species. Surprisingly, BDNc and ORG showed a significantly higher diversity of fungal communities than BDN and ORGc. The network in BDNc was the most complex, with the highest average degree and density and a higher clustering coefficient. Managing biodynamic and organic vineyards could result in floral, herb, spice, and medium floral aromas with low temperate fruit, tropical fruit, and berry flavors to wines. The correlation between agricultural systems, microbiota, and wine sensory systems showed that lactic acid bacteria (Lactobacillus) played critical roles in ORG and BDN by offering pleasant sensory and nutritional benefits. Moreover, Nowamyces globulus , Hanseniaspora uvarum , Lactobacillus johnsonii , Fusarium sp., Microterricola viridarii , Citrus maxima , Sphingomonas faeni , Cladosporium sp., Cladosporium ramotenellum , Cladosporium cladosporioides , Kodamaea ohmeri and Lactobacillus plantarum were positively correlated with aroma compounds. This study improves our understanding of the influence of vineyard management on microorganism succession and wine characteristics, providing a reference and scientific basis for the development of BDN and ORG wines. [Display omitted] • Organic (ORG) and biodynamic wines (BDN) were made from vineyards in Ningxia. • The microbial diversity, aroma, and their relations to BDN and ORG were studied. • The fermentative and oenological properties of BDN and ORG varied. • The co-occurrence network complexity varied across BDN, ORG, and conventional wines. • Lactobacillus provides a pleasant smell and nutrition in BDN and ORG. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]