Large Degree Research Articles

Exploring digital use, happiness, and loneliness in Japan with the experience sampling method

Smartphones have become an integral part of modern life, raising concerns about their impact on mental health, especially among young people. However, previous studies yielded inconsistent results, possibly due to neglecting the possibility of interactions between offline and online communications. To explore potential interactions among different communication modes (online vs. offline) and communication types (private vs. public), we adopted the experience sampling method to track 418 Japanese individuals over 21 days and analyzed the data using multilevel models and psychometric network models. The findings revealed that digital use has only small direct effects on happiness and loneliness, especially through public (one-to-many) online communication. The increased digital use reduced offline communication time, indirectly influencing loneliness to a large degree. Overall, this study highlights the indirect effects of decreased face-to-face communication and the significant role of one-to-many online communication, which may explain a part of the diverse findings on this issue.

An Examination of the Influence of Soviet Educational Policies on the Evolution of Nationalism in the USSR

The role nationalism played in the collapse of the USSR always attracted much heated debate among historians and its importance ranged from irrelevant to contributory. This essay includes not only the importance of nationalism in the fall of the USSR but also the influence of Soviet education on the evolution of nationalism. The essay systematically scrutinizes the educational policies, institutions, and major reforms from 1917 to 1991 and analyzes the effectiveness of education, including history (the major social science subject) and the use of language, in controlling the development of nationalism. The Soviet education was to a large degree failing in controlling the development of nationalist sentiment, because of that the effort to build a transnational proletarian union was upset by the rhetoric of Russian chauvinism and nationalism and volatile policies about the language used in education from Koreniztsiya to Russification sent a warning signal to national minorities in the Soviet Union from Baltic states to Central Asian republics. The nationalism contributed to significant separatism in Georgia and the Baltic states, but its role was insignificant in the deterioration of allegiance to the Union in key republics, such as Ukraine and Russia.

Factorization and irreducibility of composed products

AbstractBrawley and Carlitz introduced diamond products of elements of finite fields and associated composed products of polynomials in 1987. Composed products yield a method to construct irreducible polynomials of large composite degrees from irreducible polynomials of lower degrees. We show that the composed product of two irreducible polynomials of degrees m and n is again irreducible if and only if m and n are coprime and the involved diamond product satisfies a special cancellation property, the so-called conjugate cancellation. This completes the characterization of irreducible composed products, considered in several previous papers. More generally, we give precise criteria when a diamond product satisfies conjugate cancellation. For diamond products defined via bivariate polynomials, we prove simple criteria that characterize when conjugate cancellation holds. We also provide efficient algorithms to check these criteria. We achieve stronger results as well as more efficient algorithms in the case that the polynomials are bilinear. Lastly, we consider possible constructions of normal elements using composed products and the methods we developed.

Complexity is not enough for randomness

We study the dynamical generation of randomness in Brownian systems as a function of the degree of locality of the Hamiltonian. We first express the trace distance to a unitary design for these systems in terms of an effective equilibrium thermal partition function, and provide a set of conditions that guarantee a linear time to design. We relate the trace distance to design to spectral properties of the time-evolution operator. We apply these considerations to the Brownian pp-SYK model as a function of the degree of locality pp. We show that the time to design is linear, with a slope proportional to 1/p1/p. We corroborate that when pp is of order the system size this reproduces the behavior of a completely non-local Brownian model of random matrices. For the random matrix model, we reinterpret these results from the point of view of classical Brownian motion in the unitary manifold. Therefore, we find that the generation of randomness typically persists for exponentially long times in the system size, even for systems governed by highly non-local time-dependent Hamiltonians. We conjecture this to be a general property: there is no efficient way to generate approximate Haar random unitaries dynamically, unless a large degree of fine-tuning is present in the ensemble of time-dependent Hamiltonians. We contrast the slow generation of randomness to the growth of quantum complexity of the time-evolution operator. Using known bounds on circuit complexity for unitary designs, we obtain a lower bound determining that complexity grows at least linearly in time for Brownian systems. We argue that these bounds on circuit complexity are far from tight and that complexity grows at a much faster rate, at least for non-local systems.

On 13-crossing-critical graphs with arbitrarily large degrees

A recent result of Bokal et al. (2022) [3] proved that the exact minimum value of c such that c-crossing-critical graphs do not have bounded maximum degree is c=13. The key to that result is an inductive construction of a family of 13-crossing-critical graphs with many vertices of arbitrarily high degrees. While the inductive part of the construction is rather easy, it all relies on the fact that a certain 17-vertex base graph has the crossing number 13, which was originally verified only by a machine-readable computer proof. We provide a relatively short self-contained computer-free proof of the latter fact. Furthermore, we subsequently generalize the critical construction in order to provide a definitive answer to another long-standing question of this research area; we prove that for every c≥13 and integers d,q, there exists a c-crossing-critical graph with more than q vertices of each of the degrees 3,4,…,d.

On random sampling of supersingular elliptic curves

AbstractWe consider the problem of sampling random supersingular elliptic curves over finite fields of cryptographic size (SRS problem). The currently best-known method combines the reduction of a suitable complex multiplication (CM) elliptic curve and a random walk over some supersingular isogeny graph. Unfortunately, this method is not suitable when the endomorphism ring of the generated curve needs to be hidden, like in some cryptographic applications. This motivates a stricter version of the SRS problem, requiring that the sampling algorithm gives no information about the endomorphism ring of the output curve (cSRS problem). In this work we formally define the SRS and cSRS problems, which are both of theoretical interest. We discuss the relevance of the two problems for cryptographic applications, and we provide a self-contained survey of the known approaches to solve them. Those for the cSRS problem have exponential complexity in the characteristic of the base finite field (since they require computing and finding roots of polynomials of large degree), leaving the problem open. In the second part of the paper, we propose and analyse some alternative techniques—based either on the Hasse invariant or division polynomials—and we explain the reasons why they do not readily lead to efficient cSRS algorithms, but they may open promising research directions.

A survey of degree-boundedness

Suppose a graph has no large balanced bicliques, but has large minimum degree. Then what can we say about its induced subgraphs? This question motivates the study of degree-boundedness, which is like χ-boundedness but for minimum degree instead of chromatic number. We survey this area with an eye towards open problems.

Government response, individual decision-making, and disease spreading: Insights from a game-epidemic dynamics model

During pandemic events, prompt government responses play an indispensable role in controlling the infection situation. Individual decision-making about whether to support government control is crucial for the thorough and effective implementation of policies. To characterise this mechanism, we construct a networked SIR model that introduces an evolutionary game framework. Behavioural effects that significantly influence disease dynamics within the coupled disease-behaviour system are captured through sensitivity analysis. Our results show that the heterogeneity of individual contact is also strongly reflected in their decision-making mechanisms. Groups with larger degrees are more sensitive to changes in the government response strength, while conversely, those with smaller degrees are more likely to be affected by the ratio between the costs of the two strategies. Irrational decision-making by individuals is identified as a central driver in inducing the recurrence of multiple waves of outbreaks. In addition, taking the social dilemma phenomenon as an entry point, we prove from a game-theoretic perspective that individuals with greater degrees in heterogeneous populations have more possibility for interest conflicts with the government and are potential crisis makers during an epidemic. The interaction between government response, individual decision-making, and disease transmission is more comprehensively revealed through our study. Our results are expected to provide theoretical support for public health policymaking in the future.

Isaiah Berlin and the Aesthetics of Judgment

Of the various topics that have occupied readers of Isaiah Berlin—liberty, pluralism, nationalism, Marxism, romanticism, to name just a few—very few have focused on the role of judgment in his philosophy.1 One possible reason for this is that the concept of judgment, unlike other concepts in the political-theory lexicon, seems too indistinct to permit careful analysis.2 Judgment often seems too circumstantial, too contextual, to have a theory of. What is good judgment in one situation will not be so in another. It consists, to a large degree, in our capacity to read the times, and I do not mean the New York Times. The concept of judgment is invariably connected to character, but good character seems as elusive as good judgment. Do certain kinds of people simply have good judgment and, if so, what are the characteristics that produce it? We seem to be caught in a vicious—or, should I say, virtuous—circle.

Role of MSMEs in India

In the current business environment, micro, small, and medium-sized businesses are acknowledged as the main force behind economic growth and the advancement of equitable development. Additionally, MSMEs are essential to the growth of industries and the creation of job opportunities. When compared to India's entire industrial sector, the MSMEs sector has continuously shown a greater growth rate. Due to factors including raw material shortages, ignorance or a lack of entrepreneurial skill development, and a lack of funding and technical support from relevant local authorities at the district, state, and federal levels, the distribution of MSME's throughout India is unequal. The primary issues facing MSME's are the absence of contemporary technology, the high cost of credit, the lack of research and developments, the lack of training and skill development, the complexity of labour laws, and the lack of an adequate and timely credit facility. Nevertheless, there are a number of chances for MSME development. Additionally, the MSME sector might draw in international technology and investment. The growth of MSME's increases the likelihood of employment. After taking into account the customers' expectations first, the MSME's will be able to meet their wants to a large degree. Allowing young people to work in rural regions can stop them from migrating there. The development of MSME would be aided by the exchange of technology among the various MSME kinds, financial and technical support, lenient labour regulations, and training and skill development. The Indian government provided numerous opportunities for the slogans "Made in India" and "Vocal for local" to succeed.

Time-varying Macro-Financial Linkages across Developed Countries

The paper examines time-varying linkages between the financial and macroeconomic sectors across 13 developed countries. To do so, the paper studies whether the financial sector is an important source of shock to the macroeconomic sectors across countries. The paper finds evidence of time-varying impacts of the financial shocks on the macroeconomic sectors across countries. There are evidence of time variation in both the transmission and the size of the shocks. Different financial shocks play important roles in different financial shocks. For instance, The US house-price shock plays an important role in the Global Financial Crisis. The model also captures the large degree of heterogeneity in the effect of a financial shock across countries.

Study to Evaluate the Effectiveness of Structured Teaching Programme in Knowledge Regarding Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS) among 1st Year B.Sc. Nursing Student of Smt. Nagarathnamma College of Nursing

Background of Study: Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome or disease (PCOS/PCOD), originally described in 1935 by Stein and Leventhal, is a complex, heterogeneous disorder of uncertain etiology, with a large degree can be classified as a genetic disease. It is thought to be the most frequent endocrine problem of women in reproductive age. In India nearly 40% of the women are affected by polycystic ovarian syndrome or disease (PCOD). But among then only 60% come to hospital for treatment, when they recognize that they have got infertility. Method: Evaluative approach is adopted to study as its aim is to test hypothesis that establishes relationship between polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) and reduction in conditions. Pilot study was conducted with six samples in selected college to refine methodology and to find feasibility of study. Result: There was significant improvement in the knowledge of students following the administration of structured teaching program on Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome. Conclusion: The present study attempted to assess knowledge regarding polycystic ovarian syndrome. The study findings showed that the post test score was higher than the pre-test score and was concluded that structure teaching program on polycystic ovarian syndrome was effective.

Uncovering multiscale structure in the variability of larval zebrafish navigation

Animals chain movements into long-lived motor strategies, exhibiting variability across scales that reflects the interplay between internal states and environmental cues. To reveal structure in such variability, we build Markov models of movement sequences that bridge across timescales and enable a quantitative comparison of behavioral phenotypes among individuals. Applied to larval zebrafish responding to diverse sensory cues, we uncover a hierarchy of long-lived motor strategies, dominated by changes in orientation distinguishing cruising versus wandering strategies. Environmental cues induce preferences along these modes at the population level: while fish cruise in the light, they wander in response to aversive stimuli, or in search for appetitive prey. As our method encodes the behavioral dynamics of each individual fish in the transitions among coarse-grained motor strategies, we use it to uncover a hierarchical structure in the phenotypic variability that reflects exploration-exploitation trade-offs. Across a wide range of sensory cues, a major source of variation among fish is driven by prior and/or immediate exposure to prey that induces exploitation phenotypes. A large degree of variability that is not explained by environmental cues unravels hidden states that override the sensory context to induce contrasting exploration-exploitation phenotypes. Altogether, by extracting the timescales of motor strategies deployed during navigation, our approach exposes structure among individuals and reveals internal states tuned by prior experience.

The Use of Computer Technologies in Special Education Teacher Training Programs in East Jerusalem: Students' Perspectives and Its Impact on Practical Applications"

Abstract: This research aims to explore the degree of use of computerized technologies in the special education teacher qualification program in East Jerusalem, and the extent of its impact on their performance in practical applications from the students’ point of view, explore students’ opinions about the effectiveness of computerized technologies in improving their educational experience and teaching skills, and reveal the differences in the use of computerized technologies. In qualifying special education teachers and its impact on their performance according to the variables of gender, number of years of experience, and experience in using computerized technologies, the descriptive approach was used, and the questionnaire was used as a tool for collecting data after ensuring its validity and reliability. The study population consisted of all students in special education teacher training colleges, numbering (680) teachers, distributed among 3 main colleges. The study sample consisted of (245) students selected by the available method, and the results were based on the reality of using computerized techniques in rehabilitation programs as a whole (3.80) and to a large degree, and the absence of statistically significant differences ( = 0.05) due to the effect of variables (gender, age, or experience in The use of computerized techniques) for the impact of the use of computerized techniques in the special education teacher qualification program in East Jerusalem on performance in practical applications from the point of view of students in all fields and the overall grade. Based on the results of the study, the researcher recommends strengthening the training of special education teachers within education teacher qualification programs. Specialize in the use of computerized technologies to ensure their effectiveness.

Long-Run Volatility Memory Dynamics and Inter-Market Linkages in GCC Equity Markets: Application of DCC-FIGARCH Models

Abstract The study investigates volatility persistence, long-term memory and time-varying conditional correlations among the stock markets of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries. Daily equity index data between 2012 and 2024 were analyzed using univariate fractionally integrated generalized autoregressive conditional heteroskedasticity (FIGARCH) models to examine long-memory behavior and multivariate dynamic conditional correlation (DCC) models to assess conditional correlations between these markets. For each of the GCC equity markets, the analysis highlighted large degrees of long-memory and volatility persistence. Finally, the DCC model shows that strong and dynamic Intermarket links among the GCC, especially between KSA and UAE, exist and reflect significant volatility spillover from good economic ties. This study fills the gap in the literature by providing a comprehensive understanding of long-run volatility memory and inter-market associations in the GCC stock markets.

Efficacy of Self-Natural Posture Exercise (SNPE) programs on chronic low back pain: A randomized controlled feasibility trial with waitlist control.

Low back pain (LBP) is a significant source of disability and decreased quality of life. The Self-Natural Posture Exercise (SNPE) intervention can be used effectively in many cases, but feasibility and impact has not been fully explored. The current study explores the feasibility and efficacy of face-to-face (FtF) and virtual (Vir) SNPE programs on chronic low back pain. This is a randomized single-blinded waitlist control study with 10participants in the FtF group (age 45.8 ± 2.89) and 9 in the Vir group (age 52.2 ± 2.3). Participants had low to moderate low back pain for > 3months. Those who would eventually become the Vir group served initially as a waitlist control (Con) group. The FtF group received 12weeks of in-person exercise training sessions conducted and the Vir group received weekly recorded training videos created by and featuring the same instructor. Measured outcomes included feasibility assessed by rate of retention and rate of attendance, level of low back pain (Oswestry Disability Index, Visual Analogue Scale), quality of life (36-Item Short Form Health Survey 1.0), muscular pressure pain threshold, and muscle tone. Analysis was done via repeated measures ANOVA and Wilcoxon tests. Rates of retention were 80% in the FtF group and 78% in the Vir group. Attendance rates were 88% in the FtF group and 60% in the Vir group. ODI, VAS, and some SF-36 domains improved in both the FtF and Vir groups. Overall, the FtF group improved in more domains and by a larger degree than the Vir group and both groups improved relative to Con. A 12-week SNPE program, done virtually or in person, shows promise in improving ODI, VAS, and some SF-36 domains. FtF appears to be more effective. Future studies would benefit from sampling a larger and more diverse population.

Effect of non-additive mixing on entropic bonding strength and phase behavior of binary nanocrystal superlattices.

Non-additive mixing plays a key role in the properties of molecular fluids and solids. In this work, the potential for athermal order-disorder phase transitions is explored in non-additive binary colloidal nanoparticles that form substitutionally ordered compounds, namely, for equimolar mixtures of octahedra + spheres, which form a CsCl lattice compound, and cubes + spheres, which form a NaCl crystal. Monte Carlo simulations that target phase coexistence conditions were used to examine the effect on compound formation of varying degrees of negative non-additivity created by component size asymmetry and by size-tunable indentations in the polyhedra's facets, intended to allow the nestling of neighboring spheres. Our results indicate that the stabilization of the compound crystal requires a relatively large degree of negative non-additivity, which depends on particle geometry and the packing of the relevant phases. It is found that negative non-additivity can be achieved in mixtures of large spheres and small cubes having no indentations and lead to the athermal crystallization of the NaCl lattice. For similarly sized components, athermal congruent transitions are attainable and non-additivity can be generated through indentations, especially for the cubes + spheres system. Increasing indentation leads to lower phase coexistence free energy and pressure in the cubes + spheres system but has the opposite effect in the octahedra + spheres system. These results indicate a stronger stabilizing effect on the athermal compound phase by the cubes' indentations, where a deeper nestling of the spheres leads to a denser compound phase and a larger reduction in the associated pressure-volume free-energy term.

Eine hochwertige photoschaltbare Sonde, die selektiv und wirksam den Transkriptionsfaktor RORγ moduliert

AbstractDer Retinsäure‐Rezeptor‐verwandte Waisen‐Rezeptor γ (RORγ) ist ein nuklearer Hormonrezeptor mit vielfältigen biologischen Funktionen in der Regulation der zirkadianen Uhr, bei Entzündungen und in der Immunität. Seine zyklisch‐zeitliche Rolle bei zirkadianen Rhythmen und seine zellspezifische Aktivität im Immunsystem machen ihn zu einer interessanten Zielstruktur für die räumlich und zeitlich lokalisierte Pharmakologie. Um Werkzeuge zu entwickeln, mit denen die RORγ‐Biologie mit angemessener räumlicher und zeitlicher Auflösung untersucht werden kann, haben wir durch Einbau von Azobenzol‐Photoschaltern in Liganden‐Konsensstrukturen lichtabhängige inverse RORγ‐Agonisten entwickelt. Strukturoptimierungen führten zu photoschaltbaren RORγ‐Inhibitoren, die ein hohes Maß an Licht‐kontrollierter Aktivität mit bemerkenswerter On‐Target‐Potenz und hervorragender Selektivität gegenüber verwandten Rezeptoren kombinieren. Diese auf dem Gebiet der Photopharmakologie seltene Qualität zeichnet sie als hochwertige photoschaltbare Sonden aus, die nun als hochpräzise Werkzeuge zur Untersuchung der räumlichen und dynamischen Feinheiten der RORγ‐Wirkung bei der Signalübertragung und bei entzündlichen Erkrankungen dienen können.

A High-Quality Photoswitchable Probe that Selectively and Potently Regulates the Transcription Factor RORγ.

Retinoic acid receptor-related orphan receptor γ (RORγ) is a nuclear hormone receptor with multiple biological functions in circadian clock regulation, inflammation, and immunity. Its cyclic temporal role in circadian rhythms, and cell-specific activity in the immune system, make it an intriguing target for spatially and temporally localised pharmacology. To create tools that can study RORγ biology with appropriate spatiotemporal resolution, we designed light-dependent inverse RORγ agonists by building azobenzene photoswitches into ligand consensus structures. Optimizations gave photoswitchable RORγ inhibitors combining a large degree of potency photocontrol, with remarkable on-target potency, and excellent selectivity over related off-target receptors. This still rare combination of performance features distinguishes them as high quality photopharmaceutical probes, which can now serve as high precision tools to study the spatial and dynamic intricacies of RORγ action in signaling and in inflammatory disorders.

“When you are alone you have a narrow mind, but when you are with others you think broader into the other aspects”. A qualitative study on the role of sense of belonging and mattering in attempted suicide in Uganda

ABSTRACT Introduction Suicide is globally a severe problem with an estimated 700.000 deaths annually. Six of the 10 countries with the highest suicide rates worldwide are in Africa, though, reliable statistics are scarce. Method In this qualitative interview study in Uganda, we analysed the stories of 16 people admitted to hospital following a serious suicide attempt. We focussed especially on each person’s decision process towards their resolution to attempt suicide. Findings Despite the huge heterogeneity of the narratives, we could identify problems regarding the sense of belonging and mattering in all the stories. Both the sense of belonging and mattering have been related to suicidal behaviour in earlier theories, but they were never studied together or under consideration of the influence of this specific cultural context. We found that the participants’ sense of belonging and mattering to a large degree was influenced by their traditional communalistic context with a worldview where the line between the natural and spiritual world was blurry. Conclusion This kind of knowledge could be a valuable source for health professionals in their treatment of suicidal persons; it could direct their approach to the core of each person’s relational problems and meaning-making, which is crucial for their decisions with regard to suicide.