Broad Background Research Articles

Femto-Laser Processed Metasurface With Fano Response: Applications to a High Performance Refractometric Sensor

The practical development of compact modern nanophotonic devices relies on the availability of fast and low-cost fabrication techniques applicable to a wide variety of materials and designs. We have engraved a split grating geometry on stainless steel using femtosecond laser processing. This structure serves as a template to fabricate efficient plasmonic sensors, where a thick gold layer is grown conformally on it. The scanning electron microscope (SEM) images confirm the generation of the split laser-induced periodic spatial structures. The optical reflectance of our sensors shows two dips corresponding to the excitation of surface plasmon resonances (SPRs) at two different wavelengths. Furthermore, the asymmetric shape of these spectral responses reveals a strong and narrow Fano resonance. Our computational electromagnetism models accurately reproduce the reflectivity of the fabricated structure. The spectral responses of both the simulated and fabricated structures are fitted to the Fano model that coherently combines the narrow SPRs with the broad continuum background caused by diffraction. The parameters extracted from the fitting, such as the resonance wavelengths and line widths, are used to evaluate the performance of our device as a refractometric sensor for liquids. The maximum sensitivity and figure of merit are 880 nm/RIU and 80 RIU−1, respectively. Besides the compact design of our sensing device, its performance exceeds the theoretical maximum sensitivity of a classical Kretschmann setup.

Evolution of the Concept of Traumatic Experience: Cultural Aspect

The purpose of the article is to conduct a cultural reflection to clarify the peculiarities of the evolution of the concept of traumatic experience, to outline the specifics of its conceptual and semantic deployment in the European socio-cultural space. The research methodology includes general scientific principles of systematisation and generalisation of the problem under study, which allowed to identify and scientifically substantiate existing theories, conceptual approaches to understanding the content of the concepts of ‘trauma’, ‘traumatic experience’, ‘trauma of modernisation’, ‘trauma of social change’. The purpose and objectives of the article led to the use of an axiological approach, which allowed identifying the interdisciplinary nature of the theories under consideration, revealing personalised scientific positions and their cultural context. The use of the analytical method allowed us to identify conceptual foundations for further scientific perspectives on the problematisation of traumatic experience, namely, to clarify the role and significance of cultural/creative practices in processing traumatic experience by studying the evolution of this concept within the framework of the formation of trauma studies as an independent field of scientific knowledge and to make an attempt to develop algorithms for their practical implementation in the discourse of applied cultural studies. The scientific novelty lies in the cultural analysis of personalised scientific positions on the evolution of the concept of ‘traumatic experience’, in view of the specifics of its conceptual and semantic deployment in the European socio-cultural space. Conclusions. The conceptual and semantic development of the concept of traumatic experience unfolds against the dynamic change in the European general socio-cultural context caused by the outbreak and course of the First World War. Already during the war and after its end, on the basis of the empirical experience gained in the treatment of numerous traumas and mental disorders, scientific understanding of their nature, the specifics of traumatic experience manifestations began, and practicing military doctors, psychiatrists and psychologists developed recommendations for its experience, overcoming, and processing/working through. The evolution of the concept of traumatic experience in the discourse of classical psychoanalysis developed in the unity of epistemological and hermeneutical theory of experience, playing a leading role in explicating trauma and traumatic experience in the sphere of interest of various social sciences and humanities, from art history and cultural studies to sociology and political science. By expanding the subject field of studying trauma and traumatic experience, Freud laid the foundation for a methodological principle that is called interdisciplinary and becomes one of the basic ones for further studying trauma and traumatic experience against the broad background of a holistic picture of human existence in society and the world of culture.

Open-source software integration: A tutorial on species distribution mapping and ecological niche modelling

Over the last decade, access to global data has become increasingly critical for research, allowing insights into diverse biological, environmental and societal questions at a macro scale. Digitisation has greatly enhanced the use of herbarium data in the analysis of species distributions and ecological niche modelling. Yet, sources on modelling and mapping methodology using open-source software is greatly lacking for beginners. We have created a replicable and thorough tutorial to visualise species occurrence data and exploratory analysis that was developed by undergraduates with broad backgrounds and levels of experience. This tutorial integrates the open-source programmes QGIS, MaxEnt and R to develop distribution maps, using bryophytes as a case study, to promote the accessibility of open-source software and remote access learning. This tutorial has already set the foundation for further research into distribution modelling of rare Illinois bryophytes to better understand the potential impact of climate change.

Stylized Representation of Guangzhou Cantonese Opera Characters in Animation within the Context of Cultural and Tourism Integration

Under the broad background of cultural and tourism integration, Guangzhou Cantonese Opera, as a vital part of Chinese traditional culture, has become crucial in its inheritance and innovation. This paper aims to explore the stylized representation and innovative application of Guangzhou Cantonese Opera characters in animation within the context of cultural and tourism integration. By reviewing the history and current status of Cantonese Opera culture, and analyzing the concept and trends of cultural and tourism integration, the unique role of Cantonese Opera in this integration is examined. The study focuses on the definition of stylized representation and its unique position in Cantonese Opera art, and explores strategies for incorporating traditional stylized features into the design of Guangzhou Cantonese Opera animated characters. Additionally, this paper proposes strategies for combining tradition and modernity, developing and promoting cultural and tourism products, and innovative approaches to education and inheritance, providing new perspectives for the inheritance and development of Cantonese Opera culture in modern society.

Etnolingwistyka historyczna – Słownik mitologii polskiej Jana Karłowicza

The article discusses the ethnolinguistic aspect of the work of Jan Karłowicz. Karłowicz is known primarily as an editor and author of three dictionaries and editor of the monthly Wisła. Karłowicz’s strictly ethnolinguistic work is Słownik mitologii polskiej [Dictionary of Polish Mythology], discovered in 2017, which belongs to historical ethnolinguistics. The author relies largely on: 1) cultural relics; 2) the belief that rural communities are a more primitive evolutionary stage in the development of a nation than the nobility and bourgeoisie; 3) comparative research aimed at identifying what is ancient in Polish mythology; 4) an understanding of the term mythology that is different from its contemporary meaning. The aim of such research is to show the complexity of the Polish view of the world and of humans against the general Slavic and even much broader background.

Influence of Substrate-Induced Charge Doping on Defect-Related Excitonic Emission in Monolayer MoS2.

Many applications of transition metal dichalcogenides (TMDs) involve transfer to functional substrates that can strongly impact their optical and electronic properties. We investigate the impact that substrate interactions have on free carrier densities and defect-related excitonic (XD) emission from MoS2 monolayers grown by metal-organic chemical vapor deposition. C-plane sapphire substrates mimic common hydroxyl-terminated substrates. We demonstrate that transferring MoS2 monolayers to pristine c-plane sapphire dramatically increases the free electron density within MoS2 layers, quenches XD emission, and accelerates exciton recombination at the optical band edge. In contrast, transferring MoS2 monolayers onto inert hexagonal boron nitride (h-BN) has no measurable influence on these properties. Our findings demonstrate the promise of utilizing substrate engineering to control charge doping interactions and to quench broad XD background emission features that can influence the purity of single photon emitters in TMDs being developed for quantum photonic applications.

Київська лінгвістична славістика першої чверті ХХІ ст.: загальний огляд

Ahead of the 17th International Congress of Slavists in Paris in 2025, this article offers a general overview of the directions of scientific research in the first quarter of the 21st century by linguists-slavists of Kyiv, where leading academic and university Slavic centers are concentrated. From the perspective of terminology, linguistic Slavistics includes studies of the languages of Western and Southern Slavs, both separately and in a comparative plan, as well as against the broad background of Slavic linguistics. A brief overview of key works, mainly monographic, lexicographic, and linguistic didactic, is proposed. It is noted that linguists-slavists continue to research Slavic languages in comparative-historical, taxonomic, and communicative-functional paradigms, developing the ideas of leading Ukrainian Slavists of the 20th century and the first quarter of the 21st century — O. S. Melnychuk, V. M. Rusanivskyi, V. G. Sklyarenko, G. P. Pivtorak, O. B. Tkachenko, T. B. Lukinova, A. P. Nepokupny and others. The works of scholars are dedicated to theoretical and practical problems of semantics, etymology, dialectology, onomastics, ethnolinguistics, etc. Among the latest directions within which current issues of Western and Southern Slavic languages are researched are studies in linguocognitology, linguistic pragmatics, and linguofuturology. Attention is drawn to the prospects of Ukrainian linguistic Slavistics, which at the present stage is the work of enthusiasts devoted to their domain. The problem, among other things, is related to the training of personnel in universities, where study hours in the main linguistic and literary disciplines are reduced, interest in postgraduate studies diminishes, and economic difficulties have a negative impact.

Polymer-Based Nanoparticles for Inner Ear Targeted Trans Differentiation Gene Therapy.

Hearing loss is a significant disability that often goes under recognised, largely due to poor identification, prevention, and treatment. Steps are being made to amend these pitfalls in the investigation of hearing loss, however, the development of a cure to reverse advanced forms remains distant. This review details some current advances in the treatment of hearing loss, with a particular focus on genetic-based nanotechnology and how it may provide a useful avenue for further research. This review presents a broad background on the pathophysiology of hearing loss and some current interventions. We also highlight some potential genes that may be useful in the amelioration of hearing loss. Pathways of cellular differentiation from stem or supporting cell to functional hair cell are covered in detail, as this mechanism represents a key means of regenerating these cell types. Overall, we believe that polymer-based nanotechnology coupled with novel excipients represents a useful area of further research in the treatment of hearing loss, although further studies in this area are required.

Exploring Interdisciplinary Integration Strategies for Animation Studies in the Context of 'New Engineering and New Humanities'

This paper explores the future development trends, strategic recommendations, and the promotion and application of interdisciplinary integration in animation education. It highlights that with technological advancements and innovations, the animation industry is experiencing unprecedented opportunities characterized by the deep integration of technology and art, coexistence of diversity and personalization, strengthened interdisciplinary cooperation and communication, and a blend of international and local elements. Emphasizing the importance of interdisciplinary integration in animation education, the article proposes several strategic recommendations and measures. These include strengthening interdisciplinary course development, establishing interdisciplinary research teams, focusing on practical teaching components, and promoting interdisciplinary integration outcomes. The goal of these recommendations is to cultivate animation talents with broad knowledge backgrounds and high comprehensive qualities, providing robust support for the innovative development of the industry. Additionally, the paper envisions the future development of interdisciplinary integration in animation education, aiming to promote knowledge sharing and innovation across different fields, expand the application areas of animation technology, and drive technological innovation and development in animation. These visions are intended to foster the continuous and healthy development of the animation industry, enhancing its overall level and competitiveness. In summary, this paper aims to support the innovative development of the animation industry through a comprehensive exploration of interdisciplinary integration in animation education, providing valuable references and insights for educators and practitioners, and promoting the reform and development of animation education.

A comprehensive bibliometric review of gamified learning in higher education

This article has crafted a detailed bibliometric review of gamified learning in higher education which provides the reader a broad scientific background and an overview of relevant publications and their up-to-date status in this growing domain. The study examines the spread of publications over the time, revealing a development of a dynamic curve from minor to peak in 2021, and then leveled-off of activity in the rest of the years. There is special focus on high-achieving authors and institutions that are praised by the work for their key contributions to the field of gamified learning research. The aspect of global geographical distribution of gamified learning studies in the literature is expounded. While the USA and Turkey rank first in this regard, they also head the discourse. The role of key journals and a citation analysis provide the evidence of the highly reputable and established place the gamified leaning has in higher education. This bibliometric review offers important information about the multifaceted aspects of gamified learning and subsequently may be used by future researchers to dig deeper and contribute to the literature.

Analysis of the characteristics and condition of folk songs of the north of Shaanxi province and their translations into Russian

The aim is to substantiate and analyse the features of folk songs of the north of Shaanxi Province (China) within the framework of the concepts of linguistic picture of the world and linguistic realities and to identify the qualitative indicators of their translation into Russian. In order to achieve this goal, the main task was to find a translation way to convey the content of linguistic realities within the framework of understanding the linguistic picture of the world and thus ensure the quality of their translation into Russian. In addition, we had to solve a number of specific tasks, including the following: to select theoretical and linguistic material; to analyse and develop the general state of Shaanxi Northern folk songs and their translation; to identify the current state of research on the theory of linguistic picture of the world; to identify the relationship between linguistic realities, linguistic picture of the world and translation activities; to conduct inductive analysis of selected translations of Shaanxi Northern folk songs and analyse the manifestation of linguistic realities in them. Thus, the material for the study was songs from the north of Shaanxi Province. The subject of the study is to analyse the translations of these songs. The novelty of this work lies not only in the choice of original material, but also in the fact that by analysing the poetic and aesthetic characteristics of the folk songs of the north of Shaanxi province, at the same time we have tried to prove for the first time that the translator's ability to interpret this artistic phenomenon requires a broad background knowledge and poetic taste. We attribute the practical significance of our present study to its results, which may be useful in the dissemination of Chinese folk culture, particularly Chinese Shanbei songs among Russian-speaking peoples.

Exploring the circular prospects of cashew nutshells and avocado seeds as potential adsorbents for onboard natural gas storage

Natural gas (NG), known for its eco-friendly energy attributes, faces challenges such as low volumetric density, leakage susceptibility, and explosion risks during storage and transport. To narrow this gap, this study reports on the potential of bio-based adsorbents from cashew nut shells (CNS) and avocado seeds (AVS) as an alternative approach for the onboard storage of NG. CNS and AVS were characterized to determine moisture content, volatile matter content, ash content, and fixed carbon content. Additionally, the study determined the optimal loading of activating agents to produce activated carbons (ACs). ACs were produced through a dual process involving simultaneous chemical activation and carbonization. In the chemical activation phase, a sample of either cashew nut shells (CNS) or avocado seeds (AVS) was impregnated with phosphoric acid at various ratios. Subsequently, the properties of the ACs, including surface area, pore volume, and X-ray diffraction (XRD), were evaluated. The NG adsorption capacity of the ACs was assessed, and Freundlich and Langmuir isotherm adsorption equations were derived to elucidate the NG adsorption behavior on the ACs. The results revealed that the proximate analysis of CNS and AVS showed low moisture content (6.48% and 8.91%), high volatile matter (80.21% and 73.09%), low ash content (1.48% and 4.71%), and high fixed carbon (13.65% and 15.59%), indicating suitability for AC formulations. During synthesis, adding phosphoric acid to AVS or CNS in a 1:1 ratio resulted in significantly larger surface areas and pore volumes in the produced ACs. X-ray diffraction analysis of the ACs produced from CNS or AVS with phosphoric acid added at a 1:1 ratio indicated a broad diffraction background and a predominantly amorphous structure. The performance of the ACs in the adsorption of NG demonstrated that ACs produced from 1:1 mixtures of CNS with phosphoric acid and AVS with phosphoric acid exhibited higher adsorption capacities, 0.038 g/g and 0.031 g/g, respectively, at a low pressure of 5 bar, showcasing a novelty of this study. Furthermore, the Freundlich equation test yielded a constant R² exceeding 0.9, with positive adsorption intensity and adsorption capacity values, indicating a favorable fit for the model. In contrast, the Langmuir equation test resulted in a constant R² exceeding 0.9, but the adsorption capacity exhibited negative values, leading to inconclusive explanations. These findings affirm that bio-wastes can be an effective source of adsorbents for onboard natural gas storage , suggesting a means to reduce the take-dispose model and promote a circular economy in the energy sector.

Foresights of Nikolai Roslavets

The article is dedicated to Nikolai Roslavets, one of the brightest and most advanced representatives of the Association of Contemporary Music of the 1920s. This August marks the 80th anniversary of his death. The paper examines the compositional principles of his synth chord technique from the perspective of anticipating the main trends in the music of the twentieth century, as well as evaluates his system of sound organization against a broad historical and evolutionary background. The author does not limit herself to purely technical analysis, but also touches on aesthetic aspects. At the end of the article, the late period of Roslavets’s work is examined, where it may seem that he turns back to romanticism, which in essence is moving forward, to the future. The materials of the article can be used in the educational process within the disciplines “Cultural Studies”, “Music Theory”, “History of Musical Culture”, and “Fundamentals of Musical Composition”.

Kościół katolicki na Białorusi na przełomie XX i XXI wieku

The article discusses the issues surrounding the revival of the Catholic Church at the turn of the 21st century against a broad historical background.

Enhancing Single Photon Emission Purity via Design of van der Waals Heterostructures.

Quantum emitters are essential components of quantum photonic circuitry envisioned beyond the current optoelectronic state-of-the-art. Two dimensional materials are attractive hosts for such emitters. However, the high single photon purity required is rarely realized due to the presence of spectrally degenerate classical light originating from defects. Here, we show that design of a van der Waals heterostructure effectively eliminates this spurious light, resulting in purities suitable for a variety of quantum technological applications. Single photon purity from emitters in monolayer WSe2 increases from 60% to 92% by incorporating this monolayer in a simple graphite/WSe2 heterostructure. Fast interlayer charge transfer quenches a broad photoluminescence background by preventing radiative recombination through long-lived defect bound exciton states. This approach is generally applicable to other 2D emitter materials, circumvents issues of material quality, and offers a path forward to achieve the ultrahigh single photon purities ultimately required for photon-based quantum technologies.

Small molecules dominate organic phosphorus in NaOH-EDTA extracts of soils as determined by 31P NMR

Understanding the composition of organic phosphorus (P) in soils is relevant to various disciplines, from agricultural sciences to ecology. Despite past efforts, the precise nature of soil organic P remains an enigma, especially that of the orthophosphate monoesters, which dominate 31P NMR spectra of NaOH-EDTA extracts of soils worldwide. The monoester region often exhibits an unidentified, broad background believed to represent high molecular weight (MW) P. We investigated this monoester background using 1D 31P NMR and 2D 1H31P NMR, as well as 31P transverse relaxation (T2) measurements to calculate its intrinsic linewidth and relate it to MW. Analyzing seven soils from different ecosystems, we observed linewidths of 0.5 to 3 Hz for resolved monoester signals and the background, indicating that it consists of many, possibly >100, sharp signals associated with small (<1.5 kDa) organic P molecules. This result was further supported by 2D 1H31P NMR spectra revealing signals not resolved in the 1D spectra. Our findings align with 31P NMR studies detecting background signals in soil-free samples and modern evidence that alkali-soluble soil organic matter consists of self-assemblies of small organic compounds mimicking large molecules.

Smooth hard shrinkage operator for tensor completion based on self-adaptive transforms

The tensor completion(TC) problem has attracted wide attention due to its significant practical significance and broad application background. Various approaches have been used to solve this problem, including approximating the rank function through its convex envelope, the tensor nuclear norm. However, due to the gap between the rank function and its convex envelope, this approach often fails to achieve satisfactory recovery. Recent developments have highlighted that non-explicit non-convex functions, especially the one induced by the Smooth Hard(SH) shrinkage operator, can approximate the l0 norm more effectively compared to other methods, and this function facilitates the reconstruction of noisy MRI data with minimal sampling rate requirements. In our paper, we implement the SH shrinkage operator within the TC framework, achieving accurate tensor data recovery at lower sampling rates. Moreover, we adopt a method that adaptively generates transformation matrices based on specific features of the data, which, compared to traditional TC models, can better exploit the inherent low-rank properties of tensor data. Additionally, our approach integrates a reweighting strategy to efficiently merge tensors recovered from various dimensions. Finally, a feasible minimization algorithm is proposed, which combines the non-explicit non-convex regularizer and self-adaptive transforms. It is proven that the constructed sequence of the proposed algorithm is a Cauchy sequence and can converge to a stable point. Extensive experimental results demonstrate that our proposed approach can achieve accurate tensor recovery at lower sampling rates compared to other methods.

Board gender diversity and corporate social responsibility

Based on a total of 1,590 listed non-financial firms on the Taiwan Stock Exchange and the Taipei Exchange (formerly the Over The Counter securities market) covering the period of 2007~2020, this study examines whether firm's performance on Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) is affected by corporate board gender diversity. Based on the Upper Echelons Theory, the Agency Theory and the Resource Dependence Theory, increasing the number of female director to achieve higher level of gender diversity brings forth traits such as compassion, kindness, helpfulness, empathy, interpersonal sensitivity, a willingness to nurture, and a greater concern for others' well-being. These traits help firms form policies that prioritize stakeholders' welfare. Moreover, board gender diversity corresponds to a more diverse and broad background, understanding and experience of business operations, enabling firms to better understand where the key interest groups they face are and what they value. This allows firms to make more effective and better-performing decision in CSR. Through correlation analysis and multiple regression estimation, the principal outcome shows that greater degree of board gender diversity is associated with better CSR performance, confirming the hypothesis that a more gender diversified board enhances the efficiency of monitoring and advising function of board and then forming corporate strategies and implementations toward a better stakeholders’ management.

Customs Tariff Classification and the Use of Assistive Technologies

This paper aims to help inform discussions about customs tariff classification and the use of assistive technologies, especially those found online. It offers a broad background overview of classification practices and requirements by reference to the World Customs Organization’s (WCO) Harmonized System (HS), incurred challenges and costs, and the types of technologies deployed to assist users in their classification endeavours. Reviewed assistive technologies and solutions range from information tools that make it easier for users to find classification-relevant information (such as rulings and guidance notes) to Artificial Intelligence (AI) approaches that aim to suggest the most appropriate codes – with varying levels of success. Suggestions with examples about how to evaluate assistive classification technologies are provided. It is argued that there is considerable potential for such technologies, however, this inevitably depends on how well they can understand HS-relevant characteristics, the quality of data that supports them, and how well they have been developed or trained. The prize includes better compliance outcomes and improved trade facilitation by reducing classification-related costs. However, it is essential that policy makers and users understand the opportunities and limits of assistive classification technologies.

Effective Identification Through Multiple Criteria

Finding all the “gifted” students who would benefit from a gifted and talented service is a perpetual concern. In this article, we focus on how to effectively implement multiple criteria in identification. First, we provide some broad background before introducing three different ways to combine multiple data points (AND, OR, and MEAN) when identifying students for gifted services. Next, we discuss how effective use of combining multiple criteria—including using two-phase identification systems—contributes to schools saving time and money while also better identifying students. To do this, we use newly introduced criteria for evaluating gifted and talented identification systems. Finally, we provide several keys for success that can help schools accomplish their identification goals effectively.