Converse Implication Research Articles

The anti-DEI agenda: navigating the impact of Trump’s second term on diversity, equity and inclusion

PurposeThis article aims to critically analyse and critique the impact of President Donald Trump’s second term on Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) initiatives in the United States of America and beyond. It aims to document the policy changes enacted under Trump, explore the resulting consequences for various sectors (government, higher education and private sectors) and assess the broader implications for social justice and global conversations around equity. The article also serves as a call to action, urging continued advocacy and resistance against the rollback of DEI progress.Design/methodology/approachThis viewpoint article offers a range of perspectives on the impact of the anti-DEI agenda from several DEI scholars who edit the journal. This critical approach draws from multiple sources of information to enrich and provide a more nuanced understanding on the impact of Trump’s policies on DEI.FindingsPresident Trump’s anti-DEI agenda had a profound and far-reaching impact on DEI efforts, creating a climate of fear, exacerbating existing inequalities, intensifying political polarization and having ramifications beyond the borders of the United States of America. The paper also highlights the indirect and unintended consequences, such as the chilling effect on private sector DEI initiatives and the rise of “shadow” DEI programs.Research limitations/implicationsThe article draws from secondary sources (news articles, policy documents and existing research). The authors’ scholarships on DEI and the Trump administration’s negative stance towards DEI might influence their perspectives and conclusions.Practical implicationsThe authors close with a strong call to action, encouraging continued advocacy and resistance to the erosion of DEI progress. This pragmatic approach moves beyond simple criticism and offers concrete steps for future action. They suggest that the current anti-DEI sentiment represents a temporary setback in the long-term progress towards equity and inclusion.Social implicationsPresident Trump’s anti-DEI policies have global implications, influencing policy and practice in other countries and impacting international conversations around fairness and equity.Originality/valueThe article provides a valuable record of the significant shift in DEI policy and practice under the second Trump administration. This account will be a crucial resource for future researchers studying this period and its impact. This critical analysis also provides valuable insights for both scholars and activists working to advance DEI.

Possession in Multiperspective

This paper explores the phenomenon of possession (kesurupan) from multiple perspectives, including theological, psychological, and cultural viewpoints. The study highlights how possession is understood and interpreted differently across various traditions, particularly within Indonesian culture. It examines the relationship between possession and spiritual beliefs, addressing both the communal and individual dimensions of the experience. The paper also delves into the psychological implications of possession, analyzing how mental health professionals approach cases of possession in contrast to religious practitioners. From a theological perspective, it is often interpreted as a demonic phenomenon, while empirical studies generally categorize it as a form of dissociative experience. By synthesizing these diverse perspectives, the paper aims to provide a synthetic understanding of possession, offering insights into its complex nature and the various factors that contribute to its manifestation. The study concludes with reflections on the implications for conversation between religious and psychological perspectives for Christian ministry in Indonesia.

Changes in Soil Organic Carbon and Enzyme Activity After Land Use Change in Northeast China

In Northeast China, the establishment of irrigated paddy fields manifests on soil characterized as upland soils. However, the implications of soil conversion from upland soil to paddy soil for soil aggregates, soil organic carbon (SOC), and enzyme activity within soil aggregates remain poorly understood. Exploring the repercussions of soil conversion on SOC is paramount in delineating enhanced strategies for ameliorating soil structure and bolstering organic carbon sequestration within terrestrial ecosystems. Therefore, this study aimed to quantify the impact of land use modifications on SOC content and enzyme activity within soil aggregates. In this study, paddy (rice field) and upland (maize field) plots were selected from Mollisols in Northeast China, which is characterized by akin soil type, level topography, and climatic conditions. The results indicated that microaggregates represented the predominant fraction in both land use types, ranging from 36.96% to 48.99%, with a notably higher proportion in paddy soil compared to upland soil. After 40 years of rice cultivation, a significant decrease of 9.90% and 2.97% was observed in mean weight diameter and geometric mean diameter, respectively. In paddy soils, the SOC content in aggregates of varying sizes had the following order: macroaggregates (26.41 g kg−1) < microaggregates (21.91 g kg−1) < silt + clay (15.55 g kg−1) fractions. Similarly, in upland soil, the highest SOC content was found in macroaggregates, with the following sequence: macroaggregates (21.67 g kg−1) < microaggregates (17.44 g kg−1) < silt + clay (15.03 g kg−1) fractions. β-glucosidase (BG) displayed the highest enzyme activities, with average values of 95.99 nmol h−1 g−1 in paddy soil and 85.34 nmol h−1 g−1 in upland soil. Macroaggregate fractions exhibited the highest BG activity in both soil types (paddy: 112.49 nmol h−1 g−1, upland: 96.71 nmol h−1 g−1). In conclusion, the conversion from upland fields to paddy fields changes the occurrence mechanism of SOC in the aggregate, which is an important way of sustainable C sequestration in cropland ecosystems.

Antioxidant Nutraceuticals: Their Adjunct Role in the Management of COVID-19 Infections and Post-COVID Syndrome.

The COVID-19 epidemic in recent years has been produced by various coronavirus strains that nearly destroyed world health policies and economics. Emerging viral strains exac-erbated the pandemic. Huge investments have been made in preventative vaccines to combat the disease, but the genetic instability of these viruses has hampered their usefulness. However, in addition to traditional therapeutic approaches, nutraceuticals have been considered effica-cious in preventing and or treating COVID-19 and post-COVID syndrome. In this context, nutraceuticals such as vitamins or dietary supplements including multiple vitamins and miner-als and propolis have been widely studied for their significant impact on viral respiratory dis-eases like SARS-CoV-2 and COVID-19. Some of these nutraceuticals having antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and immune-modulatory properties have been highly recommended for use as an adjunct option to moderate the adverse effects associated with the COVID-19 pandemic. In this review, we intend to present the recent understanding and converse scientific implications for the use of nutraceutical antioxidants such as vitamins, minerals, probiotics, and polyphenols like bee propolis, in the management of viral respiratory diseases and post-COVID-19 syn-drome. Future challenges and limitations regarding the use and bioavailability of these ingre-dients, and dose-response studies are further emphasized.

Hilbert 17th property and central cones

Hilbert 17th property and central cones

Oxidative Catalytic Depolymerization of Lignin into Value-Added Monophenols by Carbon Nanotube-Supported Cu-Based Catalysts

Lignin valorisation into chemicals and fuels is of great importance in addressing energy challenges and advancing biorefining in a sustainable manner. In this study, on the basis of the high microwave absorption performance of carbon nanotubes (CNTs), a series of copper-oxide-loaded CNT catalysts (CuO/CNT) were developed to facilitate the oxidative depolymerization of lignin under microwave heating. This catalyst can promote the activation of hydrogen peroxide and air, effectively generating a range of reactive oxygen species (ROS). Through the application of electron paramagnetic resonance techniques, these ROS generated under different oxidation conditions were detected to elucidate the oxidation mechanism. The results demonstrate that the •OH and O2•− play a crucial role in the formation of aldehyde and ketone products through the cleavage of lignin Cβ-O and Cα-Cβ bonds. We further evaluated the catalytic performance of the CuO/CNT catalysts with three typical lignin feedstocks to determine their applicability for lignin biorefinery. The bio-enzymatic lignin produced a 13.9% monophenol yield at 200 °C for 20 min under microwave heating, which was higher than the 7% yield via hydrothermal heating conversion. The selectivity of G-/H-/S-type products was slightly affected, while lignin substrate had a noticeable effect on the selective production. Overall, this study explored the structural characteristics of CuO/CNT catalysts and their implications for lignin conversion and offered an efficient oxidation approach that holds promise for sustainable biorefining practices.

Ex vivo disease modelling of Rett syndrome: the transcriptomic and metabolomic implications of direct neuronal conversion.

Rett syndrome (RTT) is a rare neurodevelopmental disorder that primarily affects females and is characterized by a period of normal development followed by severe cognitive, motor, and communication impairment. The syndrome is predominantly caused by mutations in the MECP2. This study aimed to use comprehensive multi-omic analysis to identify the molecular and metabolic alterations associated with Rett syndrome. Transcriptomic and metabolomic profiling was performed using neuron-like cells derived from the fibroblasts of 3 Rett syndrome patients with different MECP2 mutations (R168X, P152R, and R133C) and 1 healthy control. Differential gene expression, alternative splicing events, and metabolite changes were analyzed to identify the key pathways and processes affected in patients with Rett syndrome. Transcriptomic analysis showed there was significant down-regulation of genes associated with the extracellular matrix (ECM) and cytoskeletal components, which was particularly notable in patient P3 (R133C mutation), who had non-random X chromosome inactivation. Additionally, significant changes in microtubule-related gene expression and alternative splicing events were observed, especially in patient P2 (P152R mutation). Metabolomic profiling showed that there were alterations in metabolic pathways, particularly up-regulation of ketone body synthesis and degradation pathways, in addition to an increase in free fatty acid levels. Integrated analysis highlighted the interplay between structural gene down-regulation and metabolic shifts, underscoring the adaptive responses to cellular stress in Rett neurons. The present findings provide valuable insights into the molecular and metabolic landscape of Rett syndrome, emphasizing the importance of combining omic data to enlighten the molecular pathophysiology of this syndrome.

Implications of depth conversion on fault geometries and fault-risk assessment in the Smeaheia CO 2 storage site, northern North Sea

Assessments of fault geometries and fault-risk parameters are crucial when evaluating the integrity of a structurally controlled CO 2 storage site. To perform these assessments, seismic data, recorded in time, must be converted to depth. The velocity models used for this time to depth conversion influence the final depth image and, consequently, the geometry of the interpreted faults. Against this background, we created four velocity models for depth conversion, assessed the impact on fault throw, dip and thickness of the primary seal, and, subsequently, a fault-risk assessment of the Vette Fault Zone in the Smeaheia CO 2 storage site. We found that depth conversion had a larger influence on fault throw and thickness of the primary seal than on fault dip. In contrast, the overall assessment of the presence of a membrane seal and geomechanical integrity showed less sensitivity to the depth conversion process. Consequently, we suggest that a relatively robust fault-risk assessment can be made with a variety of velocity model designs and data input. Nevertheless, we found a mean difference of 2% in the shale gouge ratio, 4% in the slip tendency and 9% in the dilation tendency for the Vette Fault Zone, emphasizing the importance of accounting for the influence of depth conversion in optimizing structural assessments in potential CO 2 storage sites.

Tasmanian forests and their people: Self-narrative, forests and temporalities

This paper explores the role of forests in the formation and maintenance of self-identity, drawing on the experiences of 27 people from Tasmania, Australia. Specifically, I argue that forest experiences play an important role shaping some people's ‘self-narrative’ – the biography of their personal experience of the familiar past and anticipated future – framed through three temporal forms: ‘personal’ time, ‘external’ time and ‘ontological’ time. Participants’ recollections show how forest help make time ‘knowable’, in terms of one's own self-trajectory, and time scales which far exceed individual human lives. This link between forests, time and narrative has important implications for the ongoing conversation about temporality in the social sciences, contextualising the reciprocal, subjunctive relationship between humans and nonhumans. This article closes with an invitation to further the ongoing conversation about temporality in the social sciences, particularly in the field of qualitative environmental sociology.

Sustainable methanol production from carbon dioxide: advances, challenges, and future prospects.

The urgent need to address global carbon emissions and promote sustainable energy solutions has led to a growing interest in carbon dioxide (CO2) conversion technologies. Among these, the transformation of CO2 into methanol (MeOH) has gained prominence as an effective mitigation strategy. This review paper provides a comprehensive exploration of recent advances and applications in the direct utilization of CO2 for the synthesis of MeOH, encompassing various aspects from catalysts to market analysis, environmental impact, and future prospects. We begin by introducing the current state of CO2 mitigation strategies, highlighting the significance of carbon recycling through MeOH production. The paper delves into the chemistry and technology behind the conversion of CO2 into MeOH, encompassing key themes such as feedstock selection, material and energy supply, and the various conversion processes, including chemical, electrochemical, photochemical, and photoelectrochemical pathways. An in-depth analysis of heterogeneous and homogeneous catalysts for MeOH synthesis is provided, shedding light on the advantages and drawbacks of each. Furthermore, we explore diverse routes for CO2 hydrogenation into MeOH, emphasizing the technological advances and production processes associated with this sustainable transformation. As MeOH holds a pivotal role in a wide range of chemical applications and emerges as a promising transportation fuel, the paper explores its various chemical uses, transportation, storage, and distribution, as well as the evolving MeOH market. The environmental and energy implications of CO2 conversion to MeOH are discussed, including a thermodynamic analysis of the process and cost and energy evaluations for large-scale catalytic hydrogenation.

Acceleration-induced spectral beats in strongly driven harmonic oscillators

The harmonic modulation of coherent systems gives rise to a wealth of physical phenomena, e.g., the AC-Stark effect and Mollow triplets, with important implications for coherent control and frequency conversion. Here, we demonstrate a novel regime of temporal coherence in oscillators harmonically driven at extreme energy modulation amplitudes relative to the modulation quantum. The studies were carried out by modulating a confined exciton-polariton Bose-Einstein condensate (BEC) by an acoustic wave. Features of the new regime are the appearance, in the spectral domain, of a comb of resonances termed acceleration beats with energy spacing tunable by the modulation amplitude and, in the time domain, of temporal correlations at time scales much shorter than the acoustic period, which also depend on the modulation amplitude. These features are quantitatively accounted for by a theoretical framework, which associates the beats with accelerated energy-change rates during the harmonic cycle. These observations are underpinned by the high sensitivity of the BEC energy to the acoustic driving, which simultaneously preserves the BEC’s temporal coherence. The acceleration beats are a general feature associated with accelerated energy changes: analogous features are thus also expected to appear under highly accelerated motion e.g., in connection with Cherenkov and Hawking radiation.

Tunable broadband absorbers with ultra-high thermal emissivity for the mxene/ti-based metamaterial

Tunable broadband absorbers with ultra-high thermal emissivity for the mxene/ti-based metamaterial

Implikatur Percakapan pada Novel Oriana’s Wedding Diary Karya Ayana Kamila dan Implementasinya terhadap Pembelajaran Bahasa Indonesia

This research aims to describe the types of conversational implicatures found in the novel Oriana's Wedding Diary by Ayana Kamila, as well as their implementation in Indonesian language learning in high school. The method used in this research is a qualitative descriptive method. The subject of this research is the novel Oriana's Wedding Diary by Ayana Kamila. Data collection techniques in this research used note-reading and literature study techniques. The results of this research were that several types of conversational implicatures were found in the novel, including: 1) General conversational implicatures, 6 data were found containing general conversational implications in the novel. 2) Specific conversational implicatures, 4 data were found containing general conversational implications in the novel. 3) Scale conversational implicatures, 3 data were found containing general conversational implications in the novel. The results of this conversational implicature research can also be implemented in high school in several materials, such as anecdote text material, fiction and non-fiction book material, and finally in historical story (novel) text material. In learning materials there are often sentences that can be interpreted in various ways. By understanding implicature, it is hoped that it can reduce confusion in interpreting the meaning that students have regarding these sentences.

Prognostic significance of postoperative serological incomplete conversion of AFP and PIVKA-II after hepatic resection for hepatocellular carcinoma: a multicenter analysis of 1755 patients.

The value of serum biomarkers, particularly alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) and protein induced by vitamin K absence or antagonist-II (PIVKA-II), gains increasing attention in prognostic evaluation and recurrence monitoring for patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). This study investigated the implications of serological incomplete conversion (SIC) of these 2 biomarkers as prognostic indicators for long-term outcomes after HCC resection. A multicenter observational study was conducted on a cohort of HCC patients presenting with AFP (>20 ng/mL) or PIVKA-II (>40 mAU/mL) positivity who underwent curative-intent resection. Based on their postoperative AFP and PIVKA-II levels at first postoperative follow-up (4~8 weeks after surgery), these patients were stratified into the serological incomplete conversion (SIC) and serological complete conversion (SCC) groups. The study endpoints were recurrence and overall survival (OS). Among 1755 patients, 379 and 1376 were categorized as having SIC and SCC, respectively. The SIC group exhibited 1- and 5-year OS rates of 67.5% and 26.3%, with the corresponding recurrence rates of 53.2% and 79.0%, respectively; while the SCC group displayed 1- and 5-year OS rates of 95.8% and 62.5%, with the corresponding recurrence rates of 16.8% and 48.8%, respectively (both P < .001). Multivariate Cox regression analysis demonstrated that postoperative SIC was an independent risk factor for both increased recurrence (HR: 2.40, 95% CI, 2.04-2.81, P < .001) and decreased OS (HR: 2.69, 95% CI, 2.24-3.24, P < .001). The results emphasize that postoperative incomplete conversion of either AFP or PIVKA-II is a significant prognostic marker, indicating a higher risk for adverse oncologic outcomes following HCC resection. This revelation has crucial implications for refining postoperative adjuvant therapy and surveillance strategies for HCC patients.

Gender agreement in Italian compounds with capo-

Abstract Gender inflection for animated nouns in Italian presents challenges influenced by societal pressures and linguistic structure, especially in morphologically complex words like compounds. The study investigates gender inflection distribution in compounds with capo- compared to other nouns (i.e., occupations traditionally performed by women, by men, and the word capo in isolation), exploring the interplay of social, etymological and morphological factors. 192 native Italian speakers inflected masculine nouns to feminine forms after hearing the stimulus. Results reveal that respondents’ attitudes towards gender-fair language significantly determine the use of feminine, indicating a complex interplay between linguistic structures and social perceptions. Despite historical resistance, the word capa in isolation shows increasing acceptance, challenging entrenched norms. In compounds, capo- element’s gender inflection appears more resistant due to morphological complexity, with an interaction with number. This study advances our understanding of gender inflection, with implications for broader conversations about gender representation and language inclusivity.

A generalisation of Varnavides’s theorem

AbstractA linear equation $E$ is said to be sparse if there is $c\gt 0$ so that every subset of $[n]$ of size $n^{1-c}$ contains a solution of $E$ in distinct integers. The problem of characterising the sparse equations, first raised by Ruzsa in the 90s, is one of the most important open problems in additive combinatorics. We say that $E$ in $k$ variables is abundant if every subset of $[n]$ of size $\varepsilon n$ contains at least $\text{poly}(\varepsilon )\cdot n^{k-1}$ solutions of $E$ . It is clear that every abundant $E$ is sparse, and Girão, Hurley, Illingworth, and Michel asked if the converse implication also holds. In this note, we show that this is the case for every $E$ in four variables. We further discuss a generalisation of this problem which applies to all linear equations.

Electrochemical study characterizations of pyrite weathering in simulated acidic soil: Iron transformation, sulfur conversion and environmental implications

Electrochemical study characterizations of pyrite weathering in simulated acidic soil: Iron transformation, sulfur conversion and environmental implications

Longitudinal Trajectories of Premorbid Social and Academic Adjustment in Youth at Clinical High Risk for Psychosis: Implications for Conversion.

Social and academic adjustment deteriorate in the years preceding a psychotic disorder diagnosis. Analyses of premorbid adjustment have recently been extended into the clinical high risk for psychosis (CHR) syndrome to identify risk factors and developmental pathways toward psychotic disorders. Work so far has been at the between-person level, which has constrained analyses of premorbid adjustment, clinical covariates, and conversion to psychosis. Growth-curve models examined longitudinal trajectories in retrospective reports of premorbid social and academic adjustment from youth at CHR (n = 498). Interaction models tested whether known covariates of premorbid adjustment problems (attenuated negative symptoms, cognition, and childhood trauma) were associated with different premorbid adjustment trajectories in converters vs non-converters (ie, participants who did/did not develop psychotic disorders within 2-year follow-up). Converters reported poorer social adjustment throughout the premorbid period. Converters who developed psychosis with an affective component reported poorer academic adjustment throughout the premorbid period than those who developed non-affective psychosis. Tentatively, baseline attenuated negative symptoms may have been associated with worsening social adjustment in the premorbid period for non-converters only. Childhood trauma impact was associated with fewer academic functioning problems among converters. Cognition effects did not differ based on conversion status. Premorbid social function is an important factor in risk for conversion to psychosis. Negative symptoms and childhood trauma had different relationships to premorbid functioning in converters vs non-converters. Mechanisms linking symptoms and trauma to functional impairment may be different in converters vs non-converters, suggesting possible new avenues for risk assessment.

Bulk and Interface Effects Based on Rashba-like States in Ti and Ru Nanoscale-Thick Films: Implications for Orbital-Charge Conversion in Spintronic Devices

In this work, employing spinpumping techniques driven by both ferromagnetic resonance (SP-FMR) and longitudinal spin Seebeck effect (LSSE) to manipulate and direct observe orbital currents, we investigated the volume conversion of spinorbital currents into charge-current in YIG(100nm)/Pt(2nm)/NM2 structures, where NM2 represents Ti or Ru. While the YIG/Ti bilayer displayed a negligible SP-FMR signal, the YIG/Pt/Ti structure exhibited a significantly stronger signal attributed to the orbital Hall effect of Ti. Substituting the Ti layer with Ru revealed a similar phenomenon, wherein the effect is ascribed to the combined action of both spin and orbital Hall effects. Furthermore, we measured the SP-FMR signal in the YIG/Pt(2)/Ru(6)/Ti(6) and YIG/Pt(2)/Ti(6)/Ru(6) heterostructures by just altering the stack order of Ti and Ru layers, where the peak value of the spin pumping signal is larger for the first sample. To verify the influence on the oxidation of Ti and Ru films, we studied a series of thin films subjected to controlled and natural oxidation. As Cu and CuOx is a system that is already known to be highly influenced by oxidation, this metal was chosen to carry out this study. We investigated these samples using SP-FMR in YIG/Pt(2)/CuOx(tCu) and X-ray absorption spectroscopy and concluded that samples with natural oxidation of Cu exhibit more significant results than those when the CuOx is obtained by reactive sputtering. In particular, samples where the Cu layer is naturally oxidized exhibit a Cu2O-rich phase. Our findings help to elucidate the mechanisms underlying the inverse orbital Hall and inverse orbital Rashba-Edelstein-like effects. These insights indeed contribute to the advancement of devices that rely on orbital-charge conversion.

Roots to roofs: Farmers' perceived socio-ecological impacts of converting mango orchards to urban areas in Multan, Pakistan

Roots to roofs: Farmers' perceived socio-ecological impacts of converting mango orchards to urban areas in Multan, Pakistan