Scientific Research Research Articles

Genetic diversity and population structure analysis of 418 tomato cultivars based on single nucleotide polymorphism markers

IntroductionTomato (Solanum lycopersicum) is a highly valuable fruit crop. However, due to the lack of scientific and accurate variety identification methods and unified national standards, production management is scattered and non-standard, resulting in mixed varieties. This poses considerable difficulties for the cataloging and preservation of germplasm resources as well as the identification, promotion, and application of new tomato varieties.MethodsTo better understand the genetic diversity and population structure of representative tomato varieties, we collected 418 tomato varieties from the past 20 years and analyzed them using genome-wide single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) markers. We initially assessed the population structure, genetic relationships, and genetic profiles of the 418 tomato germplasm resources utilizing simplified genome sequencing techniques. A total of 3,374,929 filtered SNPs were obtained and distributed across 12 chromosomes. Based on these SNP loci, the 418 tomatoes samples were divided into six subgroups.ResultsThe population structure and genetic relationships among existing tomato germplasm resources were determined using principal component analysis, population structure analysis, and phylogenetic tree analysis. Rigorous selection criteria identified 15 additional high-quality DNA fingerprints from 50 validated SNP loci, effectively enabling the identification of the 418 tomato varieties, which were successfully converted into KASP (Kompetitive Allele Specific PCR) markers.DiscussionThis study represents the first comprehensive investigation assessing the diversity and population structure of a large collection of tomato varieties. Overall, it marks a considerable advancement in understanding the genetic makeup of tomato populations. The results broadened our understanding of the diversity, phylogeny, and population structure of tomato germplasm resources. Furthermore, this study provides a scientific basis and reference data for future analysis of genetic diversity, species identification, property rights disputes, and molecular breeding in tomatoes.

How to create accessible research summaries for the developmental language disorder community.

Eighty-five percent of medical research goes to waste, partly because it is not appropriately communicated to stakeholders. This represents a critical issue for the research community, especially because individuals who are impacted by research should be able to readily access that research. Making research findings accessible to key stakeholders is an important step in implementation science and in enabling research to have meaningful impacts. Plain language summaries are a tool to make research more accessible to individuals with communication disorders. While guidelines exist to support researchers to develop plain language summaries for some populations, no such guidelines exist for the developmental language disorder (DLD) community. We aimed to develop evidence-informed guidelines to support researchers to create plain language summaries that are accessible for individuals with DLD, their families, and the broader community. This discussion paper describes the development of these guidelines and how they may be implemented by researchers who conduct research on the topic of DLD. We drew from existing plain language summary guidelines for other populations and knowledge of various barriers that may impact the DLD community's ability to access scientific research. We used this knowledge to create guidelines for researchers to develop plain language summaries of their research relating to the DLD population. This includes guidelines for creating written, visual, audio and video summaries. We consulted with an adult with DLD, an implementation scientist, and a speech-language pathologist regarding the suitability of the guidelines. The plain language summary guidelines are publicly available via https://osf.io/ydkw9. They include templates and examples, as well as suggestions for writing and visual styles. We encourage strengths-based language, seeking feedback from non-experts, and sharing the summaries on social media. We have also developed an online repository for researchers to disseminate their plain language summaries via DLD advocacy groups. The written, audio and video plain language summaries that researchers create using our guidelines can be used to disseminate research to the DLD community. This can facilitate science implementation and maximise the impact of DLD research. The plain language summaries may also help individuals with DLD better understand the research that has been conducted about them. This may in turn support their engagement with services and empower them to make evidence-informed choices for themselves and partner in co-designing new research. Future research could explore the perspectives of the DLD community and researchers regarding the implementation of these guidelines. A lot of research goes to waste. This is partly because researchers rarely share their results with the non-scientific community. People with communication disorders might find it hard to understand research papers. We made guidelines to help researchers explain their research to people with developmental language disorder (DLD. We brought together existing advice on how to explain research in a clear way. We sought advice from people with different experiences and perspectives, including an adult with DLD. The guidelines are at https://osf.io/ydkw9. The guidelines include advice on how to add pictures to research summaries. We also explain how to make a video or podcast summarising research. We encourage researchers to share their research summaries on social media. This means their research can reach more people and can make a difference. It is important that people with DLD understand DLD research. This might help them to understand their diagnosis and take part in future research. What is already known on the subject For research to make a difference, it must be appropriately communicated to its stakeholders; however, only 1.5% of academic journals require authors to write plain language summaries. What this paper adds to existing knowledge This paper presents publicly available guidelines for researchers to create written, visual, audio and video plain language summaries aimed to be accessible for individuals with developmental language disorder (DLD) and their families. What are the potential or actual clinical implications of this work? Researchers can use plain language summaries to disseminate research to the wider community. This can help individuals with DLD better understand the research that has been conducted about them and may empower them to meaningfully partner in co-designing new research.

Realization of partially transmitted titanium/glass windows using a nanosecond pulsed laser

Titanium has been widely used in aerospace, ocean exploration, and other extreme fields because of its superior physical and chemical properties. In some specific fields, it is necessary to process titanium films to control the optical properties. In this study, we designed and fabricated four kinds of titanium-coated BK7 glass windows by using a weak 532 nm nanosecond pulsed laser and then analyzed their effective transmittance with a digital image processing approach. Finally, the actual effective transmittances of all processed samples were measured by utilizing a well-designed optical system. The results show that the total transmittance of the titanium-coated glass windows is from 5.70% to 48.72%. The processed four types of samples might be applied in different application scenes for the resistance of cosmic radiation. Such special windows we obtained in the study are thought to effectively shield cosmic rays and transmit some visible light at the same time. Our works may open up a new path for the realization of special windows used in some fields such as airline, outer space, scientific research stations at high altitude, etc.

The Role of Experiential Learning in Science Education through Arts

Experiential learning offers a dynamic, hands-on approach to science education, aligning well with constructivist theories and emphasizing active student engagement. This paper examines how integrating the arts into science education enhances experiential learning, fostering creativity, critical thinking, and long-term knowledge retention. By engaging students through diverse artistic mediums—such as visual arts, performance, and music—educators can enhance student motivation and facilitate deeper connections with scientific concepts. This study examines strategies and case studies demonstrating effective arts integration within science curricula, discusses barriers to experiential learning, and highlights best practices that enable a creative and interdisciplinary approach to science education. Ultimately, this research suggests that the arts play a pivotal role in making science accessible and engaging, encouraging students to apply scientific principles creatively and think critically in real-world scenarios. Keywords: Experiential learning, science education, arts integration, constructivism, creativity, interdisciplinary.

Legal Individualisation of Criminal Punishments for Drug Trafficking in the Criminal Legislation of the Republic of Moldova

This study addresses the issue of the legal individualisation of criminal punishments for drug trafficking offences provided for in the criminal legislation of the Republic of Moldova. The rationale of the scientific approach lies in the need for a perpetual harmonisation of criminal legislation to the new trends of manifestation of drug trafficking, in order to make the applicable deterrent arsenal more efficient in relation to the various practical situations of committing these crimes. The aim is to re-evaluate the legal criteria for the individualisation of criminal punishments for drug trafficking offences and to assess the degree to which these criteria correspond to the deterrent purpose of the criminal punishments applicable to drug traffickers. Some solutions for a reference law on the harmonization of the punitive regime established for drug trafficking offences in strict accordance with their seriousness were substantiated. Based on the national specificity existing in the Criminal Code of the Republic of Moldova (Republic of Moldova Criminal Code, 2002), it was proposed to create a separate incriminatory framework for trafficking in narcotic substances with narcotic effect, which are new generation drugs not provided for by the 1961 UN Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs (United Nations, 1961) and the 1971 UN Convention on Psychotropic Substances. The ineffectiveness of the quantitative criterion for individualising penalties for trafficking in ethnobotanicals, represented by their quantitative proportions, has also been demonstrated. In this context, the idea of individualisation of criminal punishments for trafficking in ethnobotanicals based on qualitative criteria, which are represented by the risks that these substances pose to the health of consumers, was promoted.

Money Growth and Inflation—How to Account for the Differences in Empirical Results

ABSTRACTEmpirical analyses have presented different results on the long‐run relationship between money growth and inflation with some pointing to a stable relationship with a slope coefficient of close to one and others suggesting instability or a weakening of the relationship over time. Using the example case of the United States and nearly 150 years of data, we provide a systematic investigation into and comparison of the results from time series‐based empirical evidence on the relationship between money growth and inflation. We use the results from a wavelet analysis as a benchmark as it offers a flexible framework that provides information on the relationship both across different frequencies and different points in time. We relate these results to those in the literature obtained from other empirical approaches and investigate the underlying causes of differences in the results. We argue that it is possible to arrive at a consistent conclusion of a stable correlation between money growth and inflation in the United States at cycles of 30 to 60 years with a declining trend in the slope relationship even though the empirical results in the literature appear to be at odds. We show that in some analyses, the evidence on the “long‐run” relationship is distorted by unintentionally including higher frequencies or that results are dominated by outliers at very low frequencies for which the data do not contain much information. Furthermore, the way in which different analyses account for time variation also can influence the results.

Corrigendum: Ethnobotanical survey and scientific validation of liver-healing plants in northeastern Morocco

Corrigendum: Ethnobotanical survey and scientific validation of liver-healing plants in northeastern Morocco

Proposed hydrogen kagome metal with charge density wave state and enhanced superconductivity

The d-transition kagome metals provide a novel platform for exploring correlated superconducting state intertwined with charge ordering. However, the force of charge-density-wave (CDW) and superconductivity (SC) formation, and the mechanism underlying electron pairing remain elusive. Here, utilizing our newly developed methodology based on electride states as fingerprints, we propose a novel class of hydrogen-kagome superconductors AH3Li5 (A = C, Si, P) with ideal kagome band characteristics and elucidate the electron-phonon coupling (EPC) mechanism responsible for electron pairing. The representative compressed PH3Li5 and CH3Li5 demonstrates impressive superconducting transition temperatures (Tcs) of 120.09 K and 57.18 K, respectively. Importantly, the CDW competes with SC thus resulting in a pressure-driven dome-shaped SC in CH3Li5, where the CDW order was induced by both EPC and Fermi surface nesting. Our study presents a scientific method for identifying high-Tc hydrogen-kagome metals and provides new avenues to fundamentally understand the underlying mechanism of CDW and SC, thereby guiding future experimental investigations.

Filsafat Francis Bacon Dalam Konteks Pendidikan Seni

Francis Bacon, as the father of the modern scientific method, emphasized the importance of experience, experimentation, and observation in the acquisition of knowledge. His empirical philosophy, outlined in Novum Organum, has significant relevance in the context of arts education. This study aims to explore how Bacon's principles particularly those related to experimentation, observation, and the elimination of biases can be applied in arts education to enrich the teaching and learning process. The research employs a qualitative approach with descriptive analysis of Bacon's works and literature related to arts education. The findings suggest that arts education based on direct experience and experimentation allows students to develop practical skills, as well as critical and innovative thinking. This approach encourages students to view art as a continuous process, where exploration and new discoveries are always possible, in line with Bacon's view that knowledge is an endless journey. Therefore, Bacon's philosophy provides a strong foundation for creating a more dynamic, open, and creativity-focused approach to arts education.

Effect of heavy metals contamination due to leachate migration from uncontrolled dumpsites: A comprehensive analysis on soil and groundwater

In the contemporary era, the widespread practice of open dumping persists as a major method for municipal solid waste (MSW) disposal, contributing significantly to global environmental degradation and posing severe health risks. Deficient waste management systems result in over 90% of waste being openly discarded or burned at numerous unregulated dumpsites, particularly in developing nations like India. This research focuses on the active waste dumping site, Bhandewadi Dumpsite in Nagpur, Maharashtra, India, aiming to assess soil and groundwater contamination caused by the release of toxic elements into the surrounding region. Various parameters, such as the index of geoaccumulation, contamination factor, potential ecological risk, heavy metal pollution index, and water metal index were employed to evaluate the impact of the dumpsite. Results indicated heavy contamination in soil and groundwater samples, particularly from Bidgoan Road and Pardi, with elevated levels of metals, such as Cr, Ni, and Pb within 2 km radius of Bhandewadi dumpsite, Nagpur (India). The principal component analysis confirmed these locations as highly polluted, emphasizing the influence of leachate migration from the uncontrolled dumpsite. The findings underscore the urgent need to improve waste management strategies at municipal landfills and highlight the importance of policy measures to control environmental pollution and the introduction of scientific methods to curb the migration of metals into the environment.

The Preservation of Cultural Heritage in the City of Durrës as a Challenge for Local and Central Institutions, with a Focus on the Recognition and Practical Implementation of Legal Procedures and Normative Acts in Order to Preserve and Develop Cultural He

The damage done to the archaeological property of the city of Durrës is one of the major damages caused to our cultural heritage after the 90s. The reconstruction projects of buildings destroyed by the earthquake in Durrës, financed by the Albanian Development Fund, are being carried out without archaeological monitoring, destroying traces of ancient monuments. According to the law on cultural heritage, constructions that are carried out in areas with high archaeological intensity, such as the "Dyrrah" boulevard in Durrës, must be monitored by archaeologists, but in the case of the 6-story building, this control was missing. The creation of genuine scientific studies about all the archaeological materials and the very rich cultural heritage of the city of Durres, organizing publications, monographs, articles, inside and outside the country, of the cultural values that the city of Durres carries, the organization of joint workshops with universities different in the Balkans and wider, where the University of Durrës in cooperation with the relevant Departments to promote these studies, through the cooperation of pedagogues - specialists in the field of archeology and Cultural Heritage, in cooperation with the Institute of Albanian Albanology, to enrich the library of the city with studies Durrës and the National Library. According to the law on cultural heritage, constructions that are carried out in areas with high archaeological intensity, such as the "Dyrrah" boulevard in Durrës, must be monitored by archaeologists, but in the case of the 6-story building, this control was missing. Received: 12 August 2024 / Accepted: 30 October 2024 / Published: 3 December 2024

Integrating FUCA, SRP, and OPARA Methods to Assess Faculty's Scientific Research Capacity

Faculty's scientific research activities are not only a primary task besides teaching but also play a crucial role in knowledge development and enhancing education quality. Evaluating the scientific research capacity of the faculty in a department helps identify capabilities and promote a competitive spirit, thereby improving the effectiveness and reputation of the educational institution. This study evaluates the scientific research capacity of outstanding faculty members in a Vietnamese university department by integrating three methods: FUCA (Faire Un Choix Adéquat), SRP (Simple Ranking Process), and OPARA (Objective Pairwise Adjusted Ratio Analysis). The evaluation data are based on the number of Scopus-indexed scientific articles published in an academic year. Q1, Q2, Q3, and Q4 ranked articles are used as evaluation criteria for each faculty member. The weights of the criteria are calculated with the use of ROC (Rank Order Centroid) and RS (Rank Sum) weight methods. For both methods, two faculty members with outstanding scientific research achievements were identified.

Language Representation of the Concept of "Wealth" and "Poverty" in Kazakh, Chinese and English

The article is devoted to the study of the features of the verbalization of the concept of "wealth" and "poverty" in Kazakh, Chinese, and English. The relevance of the study lies in the fact that by revealing the semantic load of these concepts, the main economic categories that are important for every person, it is possible to fully reveal the historical, spiritual, and cultural traditions of the speakers of these languages, the ways they perceive reality, and, thanks to this, to determine the peculiarities of the mentality of a particular people. The purpose of the article was a scientific review of linguists' research in this area, as well as an analysis of the results of the lexical-associative experiment conducted by the authors of the article. To achieve the task of the study, general scientific methods were used, as well as special research methods, such as experiments, modeling, and forecasting. The main result of the study was the conclusion that the linguistic representation of the concept of "wealth" and "poverty" in the Kazakh, Chinese, and English languages in the collective consciousness of native speakers of this language is represented by lexical units with a variety of semantics, which is due to the cultural, historical and spiritual traditions of a particular people. The study concludes that its results confirm the fact that the components of the concept of "wealth" and "poverty" in Kazakh, Chinese, and English are interconnected, mobile, and dynamic, which change with the evolution of the social world. The study also noted that the concept itself contains not only a linguistic but also a cultural and philosophical aspect. Prospects for further scientific research are related to the study of the concepts of "wealth" and "poverty" in various linguistic cultures, taking into account the motivating features of native speakers. The results of the conducted lexical-associative experiment and the conclusions made on its basis are essential for further scientific research in linguistics, sociology, psychology, cultural studies, and other branches of science related to linguistics.

Scientific Validity and Fair Subject Selection: An Empirical Analysis of Recruitment Practices in Clinical Trials

This study investigates the relationship between scientific validity and fair subject selection in clinical trials, focusing on recruitment practices. By analyzing 200 clinical trials across oncology, cardiology, and neurology, this research identifies key barriers to diversity and assesses the effectiveness of institutional policies in promoting equitable recruitment. The findings reveal that despite efforts to improve inclusivity, demographic disparities persist, particularly in terms of racial and ethnic representation. Recruitment barriers, including logistical challenges, mistrust among minority groups, and insufficient outreach resources, are prevalent, with oncology trials exhibiting the most significant issues related to minority participation. Additionally, the study highlights that stronger Institutional Review Board (IRB) policies with enforced diversity guidelines lead to higher minority representation in trials. Through a mixed-methods approach, combining systematic trial reviews, surveys of recruitment personnel, and institutional policy assessments, the study emphasizes the importance of community engagement and culturally competent recruitment strategies. The research suggests that while progress has been made, greater transparency, targeted outreach, and mandatory diversity tracking are necessary to achieve equitable and scientifically valid clinical trial outcomes. The study concludes with recommendations for future research to explore technological innovations and broader therapeutic areas, offering potential solutions for overcoming the barriers to diversity in clinical trials.

Science and Technology Studies and Affect in the Wild

Expanding on comments made at last year’s Society for Social Studies of Science (4S) Meeting on a panel recognizing Donovan Schaefer’s Wild Experiment as the winner of the Fleck Prize, this article explores the book’s adjacencies in order to tell a “wild” story about place, Indigeneity, colonial sciences, messy methods in science and technology studies, and the implications of how affect is composed in words and worlds.

Discussion and Practice on Talent Cultivation Model Based on OBE Concept in Veterinary Medicine Graduate Education

To address the challenges in training veterinary master’s students, it is essential to align with the core objectives of veterinary graduate education. This involves focusing on faculty development, course design, innovative teaching methods, university-industry collaboration, and reforming the evaluation system. By applying the outcome-based education model, new approaches to veterinary graduate training can be developed, particularly for applied talent development in agricultural universities serving local communities. This innovative model emphasizes ideological and political education, aiming to enhance students’ abilities in knowledge and practical innovation, preparing them to be well-rounded professionals. The goal is to cultivate senior veterinary experts who are not only skilled in academic research and scientific inquiry but also committed to advancing agriculture, rural areas, and supporting rural revitalization. This approach provides a valuable framework for fostering highly qualified graduates who are both technically proficient and socially responsible.

A unified understanding of the human mind — a neuroethical perspective

Abstract This article, titled “A Unified Understanding of the Human Mind - A Neuroethical Perspective,” examines the evolution of the concept of the human mind in Western thought and its integration with neuroscience, psychology, psychiatry, and relational dimensions. The author explores how the understanding of the mind has changed over time, influenced by shifts in philosophical paradigms, scientific advancements, and societal perspectives. The article traces the historical development of the mind’s concept, starting from ancient Greece, through influential thinkers like Plato and René Descartes, and progressing to contemporary perspectives. It highlights various philosophical and scientific approaches, including structuralism, functionalism, empiricism, and associationism, which have shaped our understanding of the mind. The article also delves into contemporary integration, where advancements in neuroimaging and the rise of holistic approaches offer a more nuanced understanding of the human mind. The author emphasizes the importance of the relational dimension and the interconnectedness of mental processes, the brain, and the external environment. This integrated perspective can benefit psychiatric treatment and psychological assessments by fostering a holistic approach to mental health. In conclusion, the article advocates for a multidimensional perspective that bridges subjective and objective aspects of human experience, offering promise for theoretical knowledge and practical applications in psychology, psychiatry, and neuroscience.

Religiosity and Scientificity: The Transformation of Missionary Anthropology in the West China Border Research Society (1922–1950)

Religiosity and scientificity have long been intertwined in missionary anthropology. Since the 20th century, there has been a shift from religious missionary anthropology to scientific anthropology worldwide. Reviewing published materials and archives, this paper provides a case study of this transformation. It focuses on how the foreign missionary-founded West China Border Research Society transformed from a relatively closed and fixed local Christian academic research institution into a more open, international, and purely scientific research institution disciplined by Christian rationality. It sheds some new light into the Society’s roles and its transformation process. Contrary to the views of many scholars who assert that the Society “died” in 1937 and subsequently engaged in China’s state service and nation-building efforts, we contend that after 1937, the Society sought greater independence and a more scientific approach. Christianity dominated the Society in the early stages after its inception in 1922 in Chengdu, China, and its research results could not be objective or scientific. Although the Society later became more open and globalized, missionary anthropologists still mainly controlled it. After 1937, missionary anthropologists returned to religious rationality under the pressure of being connected to global academia. The Society eventually adopted “salvage anthropology” and tried to develop into a scientific research institution aimed at objective recording, while this somewhat rigid research approach also disciplined and suppressed the nationalist research orientation of Chinese colleagues and scholars. In response, Chinese researchers established other institutions and journals with stronger nationalism and undertook the “border construction work” that the Society could not accomplish.

Recent Advancements in the Application of Artificial Intelligence in Drug Molecular Generation and Synthesis Planning

AbstractThe design and synthesis of drug molecules is a pivotal stage in drug development that traditionally requires significant investment in time and finances. However, the integration of artificial intelligence (AI) in drug design accelerates the identification of potential drug candidates, optimizes the drug development process, and contributes to more informed decision-making. The application of AI in molecular generation is changing the way researchers explore the chemical space and design novel compounds. It accelerates the process of drug discovery and materials science, enabling rapid exploration of the vast chemical landscapes for the identification of promising candidates for further experimental validation. The application of AI in predicting reaction products accelerates the synthesis planning process, contributes to the automation of synthetic chemistry tasks, and supports chemists in making informed decisions during drug discovery. This paper reviewed the recent advances in two interrelated areas: the application of AI in molecular generation and synthesis routes. It will provide insights into the innovative ways in which AI is transforming traditional approaches in drug development and predict its future progress in these key fields.

Colossal magnetoresistance from spin-polarized polarons in an Ising system

Recent experiments suggest a new paradigm toward novel colossal magnetoresistance (CMR) in a family of materials EuM 2 X 2 (M = Cd, In, Zn; X = P, As), distinct from the traditional avenues involving Kondo–Ruderman–Kittel–Kasuya–Yosida crossovers, magnetic phase transitions with structural distortions, or topological phase transitions. Here, we use angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy and density functional theory calculations to explore their origin, particularly focusing on EuCd 2 P 2 . While the low-energy spectral weight royally tracks that of the resistivity anomaly near the temperature with maximum magnetoresistance ( T MR ) as expected from transport-spectroscopy correspondence, the spectra are completely incoherent and strongly suppressed with no hint of a Landau quasiparticle. Using systematic material and temperature dependence investigation complemented by theory, we attribute this nonquasiparticle caricature to the strong presence of entangled magnetic and lattice interactions, a characteristic enabled by the p - f mixing. Given the known presence of ferromagnetic clusters, this naturally points to the origin of CMR being the scattering of spin-polarized polarons at the boundaries of ferromagnetic clusters. These results are not only illuminating to investigate the strong correlations and topology in EuCd 2 X 2 family, but, in a broader view, exemplify how multiple cooperative interactions can give rise to extraordinary behaviors in condensed matter systems.