Integral Theory Research Articles

The causal arrows from genotype, environment and management to plant phenotype are double headed.

Cause-and-effect arrows are drawn from genotype (G), environment (E), and agronomic management (M) to the plant phenotype in crop stands in a useful but incomplete framework that informs research questions, experimental design, statistical analysis, data interpretation, modelling, and breeding and agronomic applications. Here we focus on the overlooked bidirectionality of these arrows. The phenotype-to-genotype arrow includes increased mutation rates in stressed phenotypes, relative to basal rates. From a developmental viewpoint, the phenotype modulates gene expression returning multiple cellular phenotypes with a common genome. The phenotype-to-environment arrow is captured in the process of niche construction, which spans from persistent and global to transient and local. Research on crop rotations recognises the influence of the phenotype on the environment but is divorced of niche construction theory. The phenotype-to-management arrow involves, for example, a diseased crop that may trigger fungicide treatment. Making explicit the bidirectionality of the arrows in the G × E × M framework contributes to narrowing the gap between data-driven technologies and integrative theory and is an invitation to cautiously think of the internal teleonomy of plants in contrast to the view of the phenotype as the passive end of the arrows in the current framework.

Solvent-Controlled Separation of Integratively Self-Sorted Pd2LA 2LB 2 Coordination Cages.

The integrative implementation of multiple different components into metallosupramolecular self-assemblies requires sophisticated strategies to avoid the formation of statistical mixtures. Previously, the key focus was set on thermodynamically driven reactions of simple homoleptic into complex heteroleptic structures. Using Pd2LA 2LB 2-type coordination cages, we herein show that integrative self-sorting can be reversed by a change of solvent (from DMSO to MeCN) to favor narcissistic re-segregation into coexisting homoleptic species Pd2LA 4 and Pd3LB 6. Full separation ("unsorting") back to a mixture of the homoleptic precursors was finally achieved by selective precipitation of Pd3LB 6 with anionic guest G1 from MeCN, keeping pure Pd2LA 4 in solution. When a mixture of homoleptic Pd3LB 6 and heteroleptic Pd2LA 2LB 2 is exposed to a combination of two different di-anions (G1 and G2) in DMSO, selective guest uptake gives rise to two defined coexisting host-guest complexes. A joint experimental and deep theoretical investigation via liquid-state integral equation theory of the reaction thermodynamics on a molecular level accompanied by solvent distribution analysis hints at solvent expulsion from Pd2LA 4 to favor the formation of Pd2LA 2LB 2 in DMSO as the key entropic factor for determining the solvent-specific modulation of the cage conversion equilibrium.

Deep learning of structural MRI predicts fluid, crystallized, and general intelligence.

Can brain structure predict human intelligence? T1-weighted structural brain magnetic resonance images (sMRI) have been correlated with intelligence. However, the population-level association does not fully account for individual variability in intelligence. To address this, studies have emerged recently to predict individual subject's intelligence or neurocognitive scores. However, they are mostly on predicting fluid intelligence (the ability to solve new problems). Studies are lacking to predict crystallized intelligence (the ability to accumulate knowledge) or general intelligence (fluid and crystallized intelligence combined). This study tests whether deep learning of sMRI can predict an individual subject's verbal, comprehensive, and full-scale intelligence quotients (VIQ, PIQ, and FSIQ), which reflect fluid and crystallized intelligence. We performed a comprehensive set of 432 experiments, using different input image channels, six deep learning models, and two outcome settings, in 850 healthy and autistic subjects 6-64 years of age. Our findings indicate a statistically significant potential of T1-weighted sMRI in predicting intelligence, with a Pearson correlation exceeding 0.21 (p < 0.001). Interestingly, we observed that an increase in the complexity of deep learning models does not necessarily translate to higher accuracy in intelligence prediction. The interpretations of our 2D and 3D CNNs, based on GradCAM, align well with the Parieto-Frontal Integration Theory (P-FIT), reinforcing the theory's suggestion that human intelligence is a result of interactions among various brain regions, including the occipital, temporal, parietal, and frontal lobes. These promising results invite further studies and open new questions in the field.

From Theory to Practice: Virtual Reality Technology Facilitates Efficient Transformation of Preschool Teacher Education

This paper explores the application of Virtual Reality (VR) technology in the efficient transformation of preschool teacher education, from theory to practice. The research background highlights the importance of preschool education, the crucial role of teacher training in enhancing its quality, and the potential of VR technology in education. The study aims to investigate how VR technology can facilitate the efficient transformation of preschool teacher education, analyze its specific applications and effects, and propose strategies and recommendations for teacher training based on VR technology. The literature review summarizes current research on VR technology in education, progress in preschool teacher training models, and preliminary explorations of VR in teacher training. The theoretical foundation is based on learning theories such as constructivism and situational learning, technology acceptance and use theory, and theories of educational innovation and technology integration. An analysis of the current situation in preschool teacher training reveals limitations in traditional models, such as the disconnection between theory and practice, the lack of immersive learning experiences, and inadequate personalized training. The paper then discusses the advantages of VR technology, including immersive learning, flexible teaching scenarios, and personalized learning paths. The conclusion summarizes the value of VR technology in preschool teacher training, successful experiences, and existing problems, and provides future directions for the deep integration of technology and education, continuous innovation in teacher training models, and implications for educational policy and practice.

Ion-Specific Surface Tension of Aqueous Electrolyte Solutions: Analytical Insights from a Restricted Primitive Model.

The ion-specific surface tension of aqueous electrolyte solutions is of fundamental importance in physical chemistry, solution chemistry, electrochemistry, and biochemistry, yet it remains a challenge to be qualitatively predicted. In this work, an analytical theory of ion-specific surface tension is developed. By modeling the solution to a restricted primitive model (RPM), the surface tension increment of the electrolyte solution reduces to the surface tension of the RPM, which is further determined analytically by using the integral equation theory and the morphological thermodynamics theory. According to our formula, the surface tension increment of the electrolyte solution consists of a dominant and positive hard sphere contribution, which depends on the salt concentration, and a secondary electrostatic contribution, which depends on the inverse Debye length and the salt concentration. Our theory is applied to 1:1, 2:2, 1:2, 2:1, 3:1, and 3:2 electrolyte solutions with typical salt concentrations up to several mol/L and compared with experimental data. Without introducing any adjustable parameters, our theory leads to a good prediction of the surface tension increment of more than 50 kinds of aqueous solutions. Such a good agreement demonstrates the great potential of our theory for a fundamental understanding of specific ion effects in a variety of electrolyte solutions.

The sequential Henstock-Kurzweil delta integral on time scales

Abstract In this study, the basic theory of the sequential Henstock-Kurzweil delta integral on time scales will be discussed. First, we give the notion and the elementary properties of this integral; then we show the equivalence of the Henstock-Kurzweil delta integral and the sequential Henstock-Kurzweil delta integral on time scales. In addition, we consider the Cauchy criterion and the Fundamental Theorems of Calculus. Finally, we prove Henstock’s lemma and give some convergence theorems. As an application, we consider the existence theorem of a kind of functional dynamic equations.

Evaluation method of progressive failure of loess slope under shallow coal seam mining

Abstract When mining coal under loess gully, the surface slopes may exhibit significant discontinuous failure characteristics such as local failure and landslides. These characteristics, composed of failure and non-failure regions, form an essentially unstable mechanical system. This makes it difficult to obtain a true solution using continuous medium mechanics, greatly increasing the complexity of slope failure evaluation and management. To accurately evaluate the degree of slope failure during mining, clarify its mechanism, and propose appropriate management measures, the Ningtiaota Coal Mine in northern Shanxi was selected as the study area. Based on the unbalanced thrust method and the probability integral settlement prediction theory, and utilizing numerical calculations, we proposed a method for evaluating and managing slope failure in coal mining under loess gully. This method describes the changes in slope failure during mining through the deformation failure ratio of the slip surface and quantifies the degree of slope failure at different mining times, revealing the full process stability evolution characteristics of points and surfaces as the critical state of the slope progresses. When the deformation failure ratio of the slip surface is ≥1, it indicates overall slope failure and the beginning of slope sliding instability; when the deformation failure ratio of the slip surface is &amp;lt;1, it indicates local slope failure. Based on this, corresponding management methods were proposed according to the mechanical distribution characteristics of the slope slip surface in different stress areas. The research results were applied in the Ningtiaota Coal Mine in northern Shanxi, yielding positive outcomes.

Beyond Human and Machine: An Architecture and Methodology Guideline for Centaurian Design

The concept of the centaur, symbolizing the fusion of human and machine intelligence, has intrigued visionaries for decades. Recent advancements in artificial intelligence have made this concept not only realizable but also actionable. This synergistic partnership between natural and artificial intelligence promises superior outcomes by leveraging the strengths of both entities. Tracing its origins back to early pioneers of human–computer interaction in the 1960s, such as J.C.R. Licklider and Douglas Engelbart, the idea initially manifested in centaur chess but faced challenges as technological advances began to overshadow human contributions. However, the resurgence of generative AI in the late 2010s, exemplified by conversational agents and text-to-image chatbots, has rekindled interest in the profound potential of human–AI collaboration. This article formalizes the centaurian model, detailing properties associated with various centaurian designs, evaluating their feasibility, and proposing a design methodology that integrates human creativity with artificial intelligence. Additionally, it compares this model with other integrative theories, such as the Theory of Extended Mind and Intellectology, providing a comprehensive analysis of its place in the landscape of human–machine interaction.

Period integrals of smooth projective complete intersections as exponential periods

Let X be a smooth projective complete intersection over Q of dimension n−k in the projective space PQn defined by the zero locus of f_(x_)=(f1(x_),⋯,fk(x_)), for given positive integers n and k. For a given primitive homology cycle [γ]∈Hn−k(X(C),Z)0, the period integral is defined to be a linear map from the primitive de Rham cohomology group HdR,primn−k(X(C);Q) to C given by [ω]↦∫γω. The goal of this article is to interpret this period integral as Feynman's path integral of 0-dimensional quantum field theory with the action functional S=∑ℓ=1kyℓfℓ(x_) (in other words, the exponential period with the action functional S) and use this interpretation to develop a formal deformation theory of period integrals of X, which can be viewed as a modern deformation theoretic treatment of the period integrals based on the Maurer-Cartan equation of a dgla (differential graded Lie algebra).

Exploring Type 2 Diabetes Self-Management Practices Among African Americans in Rural Counties: A Qualitative Study.

The purpose of the study was to understand diabetes self-management practices among African American individuals living with type 2 diabetes (T2D) in rural communities. This qualitative descriptive study, undergirded by the theory of integration, purposively sampled African Americans (N = 34) diagnosed with T2D living in rural communities. Thematic analysis employed both a priori and inductive coding to identify salient themes. Participants' mean age was 65.9 (SD 12.3) years, with an average T2D diagnosis duration of 14 (SE 11.2) years. Two major themes emerged: deciphering the cues and body sensing, which the participants used to monitor their glucose level using a personalized feedback loop. Those with longer diabetes duration demonstrated an ability to recognize hypoglycemic or hyperglycemic symptoms (deciphering the cues), informing their decision-making and self-management strategies (body sensing). The decision-making involved in glycemic level management emerges as a complex developmental process influenced by disease trajectory and cultural and environmental factors. These findings may inform a conceptual framework to guide future inquiries and provide insights for primary care clinicians and diabetes educators to better understand the complexities of T2D management among African American individuals in rural settings.

Comparison of integral equation theories of the liquid state

Comparison of integral equation theories of the liquid state

Interface-packing analysis of F1-ATPase using integral equation theory and manifold learning

It has been shown that the translational entropy of water plays a key role in biological processes such as protein folding and ligand binding. Under the physiological condition, tightly packed protein conformations like native structures are achieved so that the translational entropy of water is maximized. In this study, we investigate the rotation mechanism of a rotary protein motor, F1-ATPase, by analyzing the packing at the interfaces between the subunits. The packing at the interface between a subunit pair is analyzed using the change in the solvent entropy upon forming subunit pair, ∆S. It is found that as the γ subunit rotates, the ∆S value of a α-β subunit pair decrease because the interface packing becomes loose. However, because the interface packing of another α-β subunit pair becomes tighter upon the rotation, ∆S of this α-β subunit pair increases, leading to a compensation of the decrease in ∆S. Such compensation would be necessary to maximize the solvent entropy of F1-ATPase. In this study, packing at the interfaces between the subunits is also analyzed using a manifold-learning technique, and it is suggested a possibility that a qualitative estimation of the ∆S values of some α-β subunit pairs can be predicted using a manifold-learning technique.

The Journey Starts Now: Infusing Peace Education into LO Teaching in South African Secondary Schools

Peace education as part of the school curriculum can transform school functioning by equipping learners with conflict resolution skills. Currently peace education is not part of the existing curriculum in South Africa. Literature indicates that peace education can be appropriately integrated into the compulsory subject, Life Orientation (LO), in South African secondary schools. Informed by Danesh’s integrative peace theory and the extant literature on peace education, a qualitative study explored the possible integration of peace education into LO to assist learners develop conflict resolution skills. Six teachers who teach LO in two secondary schools in the Western Cape, South Africa, which have implemented an extramural peace education programme through the agency of a non-governmental organisation, were purposefully selected. Data were gathered in focus group interviews with the teachers and thematic analysis carried out. Findings of the study highlight the significance of integrating peace education in LO in order to foster a more peaceful schooling environment. Furthermore, aspects of peace education already overlap or complement topics taught in LO, such as respect and tolerance for diversity. Barriers to effective integration of peace education in the LO curriculum are lack of targeted teacher training, rigid curriculum design, teachers’ workload and poor resource allocation. It was recommended that the integration of peace education in LO be prioritised and that the LO curriculum should be expanded to accommodate more explicit themes of peace education. Implementation should be supported through targeted teacher training, attention to teachers’ work schedules, additional teaching time and allocation of appropriate resources.

Supply Chain Integration Capability, Intra-Cluster Co-Opetition Strategy, and Breakthrough Innovation: The Moderating Effect of Environmental Turbulence

Under the frequent occurrence of external environmental risks and in the context of breakthrough innovations driving new quality productivity, this study explores the intrinsic mechanisms by which supply chain integration affects enterprise breakthrough innovation. Grounded in supply chain integration and breakthrough innovation theories, we used statistical methods to analyze data from a sample of 209 valid enterprises. The study systematically interprets these mechanisms from the perspective of competition and examines the moderating effect of external environmental turbulence on competitive strategy. The results demonstrate that supply chain integration capability significantly and positively influences breakthrough innovation, with vertical and horizontal competing strategies acting as mediators. Additionally, environmental turbulence positively moderates the relationship between supply chain integration capability and horizontal competing strategies. The results of the study are of great theoretical and practical significance in promoting the integration of enterprises’ supply chains and enhancing their sustainable innovation capabilities.

No fences, good neighbors: measuring and explaining integration in European cross-border regions

ABSTRACT EU cross-border regions are defined as living laboratories of European integration by scholars and EU institutions. Nonetheless, on the research agenda of EU studies, the study of integration in cross-border regions is not central. Moreover, the dearth of explanatory research has hampered a comprehensive understanding of the determinants of cross-border integration. This article fills these gaps conceptually, theoretically, and empirically. It introduces a new conceptualization anchored in classic integration theories and a new measurement of integration in all 2014–2020 Interreg A programmes. Furthermore, by drawing on a post-functionalist framework and based on multiple linear regression analysis, the study shows that identity pressures, particularly linguistic proximity and a pro-European sentiment, and contextual effects, notably regional authority, are significantly positively correlated with cross-border integration, all other things being equal. The paper thus not only reveals to what extent cross-border regions are integrated but also which explanatory factors are associated with cross-border integration.

Inferences about event outcomes influence text-based memory of event outcomes

Abstract Memory of event outcomes is a topic increasingly discussed in the field of event language and cognition. This study approaches how language influences memory of event outcomes from the under-explored perspective of the verb’s “fulfilment type”, a property formulated in Talmy’s event integration theory. This property indicates the extent to which verbs depict fulfilment of intentions. Through two experiments, we explored how verbs’ fulfilment type properties shape the text-based memory of event outcomes according to their perceived likelihood of intention fulfilment. There are two major findings. First, people tend to have “fulfilment preferences” and infer that intention fulfilment is more likely than intention non-fulfilment. Second, intention-unfulfilled event outcomes tend to be remembered better for event descriptions that trigger no fulfilment perferences. This study contributes to event language and memory research by demonstrating how language-generated inferences can influence established memory of event outcomes.

Interdisciplinary Integration Theory and Practice Paths in Middle School Biology Education

Middle school biology education occupies a vital position within the current educational system. However, the traditional single-subject teaching model fails to fully engage students' interest and limits their overall development of comprehensive qualities. With the continuous evolution of modern educational concepts, interdisciplinary integrated teaching models have gradually emerged as effective strategies to address these challenges. This paper explores the theoretical foundations of interdisciplinary integration and the practical paths within middle school biology education, analyzing the intrinsic connections between biology and other subjects. It proposes specific practical strategies for interdisciplinary integration, including project-based learning, experimental teaching, and technology-assisted instruction. This research aims to provide innovative ideas for middle school biology teaching, enhance students' cognitive abilities and innovative thinking, and promote the overall improvement of biology teaching quality.

Predictive power of psychosocial factors on learning practices among older Japanese adults based on organismic integration theory

ABSTRACT Despite the importance of learning activities for older adults, the proportion of those engaging in such activities remains low. To devise interventions that would increase participation in learning, it is essential to analyze the psychosocial predictors of learning. This study employed a cross-sectional design, with data collected through a self-administrated questionnaire, and proposed two hypotheses: 1) Self-efficacy in learning, interest in learning, recognition of the effectiveness of learning, and social support from family and friends significantly predict the will to engage in learning practices by the older adults (H1); 2) Social support from family and friends predicts the willingness of older adults to engage in learning practices through mediating the significant factors identified in H1 (H2). The research group comprised 516 participants aged 60 years and above from Machida City, Tokyo. The statistical analysis was performed using Mplus version 8. Results supported most aspects of H1. Self-efficacy in learning, interest in learning, and support from family and friends were found to significantly predict learning practices (self-efficacy in learning: β = .242, p < .001; interest in learning: β = .187, p < .01; and support from family and friends: β = .159, p < .05). H2 was also supported as social support from family and friends significantly predicted learning practices via two psychological variables identified in H1. Each indirect prediction was significant as when older adults are supported by their family and friends, their learning practices are predicted through self-efficacy in learning (β = .087, 95% confidence intervals: .042, .145) and interest in learning (β = .082, 95% confidence intervals: .033, .150). These findings provide valuable directions for policymakers, practitioners, and teachers to improve older adults’ engagement in learning.

Progresses on Some Open Problems Related to Infinitely Many Symmetries

The quest to reveal the physical essence of the infinitely many symmetries and/or conservation laws that are intrinsic to integrable systems has historically posed a significant challenge at the confluence of physics and mathematics. This scholarly investigation delves into five open problems related to these boundless symmetries within integrable systems by scrutinizing their multi-wave solutions, employing a fresh analytical methodology. For a specified integrable system, there exist various categories of n-wave solutions, such as the n-soliton solutions, multiple breathers, complexitons, and the n-periodic wave solutions (the algebro-geometric solutions with genus n), wherein n denotes an arbitrary integer that can potentially approach infinity. Each subwave comprising the n-wave solution may possess free parameters, including center parameters ci, width parameters (wave number) ki, and periodic parameters (the Riemann parameters) mi. It is evident that these solutions are translation invariant with respect to all these free parameters. We postulate that the entirety of the recognized infinitely many symmetries merely constitute linear combinations of these finite wave parameter translation symmetries. This conjecture appears to hold true for all integrable systems with n-wave solutions. The conjecture intimates that the currently known infinitely many symmetries is not exhaustive, and an indeterminate number of symmetries remain to be discovered. This conjecture further indicates that by imposing an infinite array of symmetry constraints, it becomes feasible to derive exact multi-wave solutions. By considering the renowned Korteweg–de Vries (KdV) equation and the Burgers equation as simple examples, the conjecture is substantiated for the n-soliton solutions. It is unequivocal that any linear combination of the wave parameter translation symmetries retains its status as a symmetry associated with the particular solution. This observation suggests that by introducing a ren-variable and a ren-symmetric derivative, which serve as generalizations of the Grassmann variable and the super derivative, it may be feasible to unify classical integrable systems, supersymmetric integrable systems, and ren-symmetric integrable systems within a cohesive hierarchical framework. Notably, a ren-symmetric integrable Burgers hierarchy is explicitly derived. Both the supersymmetric and the classical integrable hierarchies are encompassed within the ren-symmetric integrable hierarchy. The results of this paper will make further progresses in nonlinear science: to find more infinitely many symmetries, to establish novel methods to solve nonlinear systems via symmetries, to find more novel exact solutions and new physics, and to open novel integrable theories such as the ren-symmetric integrable systems and the possible relations to fractional integrable systems.

PERSPECTIVES FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF SCIENCE IN THE SOCIETY

The world has never been so open to scientific research and technological development as it is today, nor has human competence evolved so rapidly in directions not previously appreciated. The pace of discoveries is faster, although there are scientific fields in which goals are achieved more slowly and with considerable collective effort. However, we find that the successes achieved in the field of science have had an enormous impact on people's mentality and as a consequence have formed the belief that reflects science as a dominant factor in contemporary society. A philosophical reflection on the process of scientific development reveals that for a long time, the physical sciences have been dominant, and in recent years we are witnessing a fulminating development of biology (genetics), which has not only economic implications but also the ethical implications of a major importance. At the same time, the contemporary society of information and knowledge attests to obvious factors of a unique phenomenon called integrative science. It is projected at the integrative frontier of the astrophysics field that combines the processes of the universe constitution as a quantum system (processes that go beyond the theory of quantum mechanics, but also the theory of super lathes) and the processes of life, mind and consciousness. Integrative science proposes a new understanding of reality, even the one considered today purely structural. We hope that integrative science theories will reflect the reality that includes Consciousness as a fundamental factor of Existence.