Functional Perspective Research Articles

Linguistic analysis of teacher trainees’ reflective journals

Since the year 2000, there has been an increasingly noteworthy emphasis on fostering reflective thinking among teacher trainees in Hungary as well. One instrumental approach for enhancing reflective thinking is through the use of reflective journals. These reflective journals encompass idiomatic representations of metacognitive processes that not only ponder over actions but also consider linguistic usage. Metacognitive-reflexive procedures and facets of metapragmatic awareness become linguistically explicit within the confines of reflective journals. The research inquiries in this study are as follows: how can we ascertain the reflective nature of examined texts, how can sentences in the journals be linked to various levels of reflectivity, and what types of linguistic components serve as illustrative markers of reflexive discourse. The present investigation scrutinises the reflective journals of 20 university students from a pedagogical and functional cognitive pragmatics perspective, employing both quantitative and qualitative methods for content and text analysis. Identifying linguistic elements that convey reflexivity has the potential to heighten the consciousness of teacher trainees regarding their use of reflexive language and deepen their reflective thinking processes.

Biological timekeeping in polar environments: lessons from terrestrial vertebrates.

The polar regions receive less solar energy than anywhere else on Earth, with the greatest year-round variation in daily light exposure; this produces highly seasonal environments, with short summers and long, cold winters. Polar environments are also characterised by a reduced daily amplitude of solar illumination. This is obvious around the solstices, when the Sun remains continuously above (polar 'day') or below (polar 'night') the horizon. Even at the solstices, however, light levels and spectral composition vary on a diel basis. These features raise interesting questions about polar biological timekeeping from the perspectives of function and causal mechanism. Functionally, to what extent are evolutionary drivers for circadian timekeeping maintained in polar environments, and how does this depend on physiology and life history? Mechanistically, how does polar solar illumination affect core daily or seasonal timekeeping and light entrainment? In birds and mammals, answers to these questions diverge widely between species, depending on physiology and bioenergetic constraints. In the high Arctic, photic cues can maintain circadian synchrony in some species, even in the polar summer. Under these conditions, timer systems may be refined to exploit polar cues. In other instances, temporal organisation may cease to be dominated by the circadian clock. Although the drive for seasonal synchronisation is strong in polar species, reliance on innate long-term (circannual) timer mechanisms varies. This variation reflects differing year-round access to photic cues. Polar chronobiology is a productive area for exploring the adaptive evolution of daily and seasonal timekeeping, with many outstanding areas for further investigation.

Recommendations regarding technology for making an well-grounded choice of enterprise development strategy

Introduction. Recently, more and more theorists and practitioners of management emphasize the importance of strategic planning, in particular, the formation of a development strategy, the main purpose of which is to determine directions for increasing competitiveness, which would ensure the long-term perspective of the successful functioning of the enterprise. The purpose of the paper is to study the process of making strategic management decisions; analyzing the criteria for choosing development strategies; development of the technology for the justified choice of a development strategy based on the parameters of demand and profit on the basis of the identification of selection criteria and the systematization of potentially possible types of strategies. Results. The recommended technology for the justified choice of a development strategy based on the parameters of demand and profit involves the implementation of certain stages: preparation of information support for further development of the development strategy; definition of strategic goals and tasks of development; strategic research and analysis of the competitive environment and development potential; formation of a justified set of criteria for choosing a development strategy based on demand and profit parameters; reasoned choice of strategic tools for developing a development strategy; formation of strategic development alternatives; formation of a justified development strategy and corresponding functional strategies; assessment of the level of implementation of the development strategy and strategic decisions according to performance criteria. Conclusion. The technology of formation of the development strategy is a priority element of the strategic planning system. Particular importance is attached to the methodological base, which ensures the processes of formation and implementation of planning technology, allows to achieve the goal of strategic planning in the formation of a sequence of defined justified actions, aimed at the implementation of effective functioning and long-term perspective of development.

Implikasi Teori Konflik Fungsional: Tinjauan Pemikiran Tokoh Lewis A Coser di MIS Al-Azhar Jember

This research discusses the implications of functional conflict theory reviewing the thoughts of Lewis A. Coser in MIS Al-Azhar Jember. The functional conflict theory perspective in schools does not always have a negative impact, but also has a positive function for students socially. The method used in this research is a qualitative method with data sources obtained through in-depth interviews, documentation and literature study. The observations made by the researcher involve implications for handling strategies based on functional conflict theory. This research aims to find out the implications of functional conflict theory regarding the thoughts of Lewis A. Coser in MIS Al-Azhar Jember. The research results show that there are sources and strategies for handling conflict as well as the implications of functional theory. The results of the collaboration strategy service carried out by the school show that there is cooperation involving both parties participating in resolving the conflict.

4-Methylbenzylidene camphor induced neurobehavioral toxicity in zebrafish (Danio rerio) embryos

4-Methylbenzylidene camphor (4-MBC) is a widely used organic UV filter in personal care products. Extensive use of 4-MBC and its frequent detection in aquatic ecosystems defile the biota with muscular and neuronal impairments. This study investigates the neurobehavioral toxicity of 4-MBC using Danio rerio as a model organism. Embryos were exposed semi-statically to 4-MBC at 5, 50, and 500 μg/L concentrations for 10-day post fertilization (dpf). Embryos exhibited a significant thigmotaxis and decreased startle touch response with altered expression of nervous system mRNA transcripts on 5 & 10 dpf. Compared to the sham-exposed group, 4-MBC treated larvae exhibited changes in the expression of shha, ngn1, mbp, elavl3, α1-tubulin, syn2a, and gap43 genes. Since ngn1 induction is mediated by shh signaling during sensory neuron specification, the elevated protein expression of NGN1 indicates 4-MBC interference in the sonic hedgehog signaling pathway. This leads to sensory neuron impairment and function such as ‘sense’ as evident from reduced touch response. In addition, larval brain histology with a reduced number of cells in the Purkinje layer emblazing the defunct motor coordination. Predictive toxicity study also showed a higher affinity of 4-MBC to modeled Shh protein. Thus, the findings of the present work highlighted that 4-MBC is potential to induce developmental neurotoxicity at both behavioral and molecular functional perspectives, and developing D. rerio larvae could be considered as a suitable alternate animal model to assess the neurological dysfunction of organic UV filters.

Implementasi kurikulum merdeka pada sekolah penggerak dalam perspektif fungsi manajemen di sekolah dasar

<em>The Merdeka Curriculum is the latest curriculum initiated by the Ministry of Education, Culture, Research, and Technology (Kemendikbudristek). The curriculum is an important guideline in the learning process, especially the Merdeka Curriculum is a curriculum designed for post-pandemic learning recovery. The Merdeka Curriculum expects students to develop according to their abilities. Therefore, in the implementation of the Merdeka Curriculum, teachers are expected to be able to compile teaching modules that are in accordance with the needs and characteristics of students. The purpose of this research is to describe in detail the implementation of the merdeka curriculum in sekolah penggerak based on the perspective of the management function at SDN Kleco II. This study used a descriptive qualitative approach. The data source came from the principal and grade I and IV teachers of SDN Kleco II. Data collection techniques used in research are using questionnaires, observations, document analysis, and interviews. Data analysis using the Miles and Huberman model. The implementation of the merdeka curriculum in sekolah penggerak at SDN Kleco II from the perspective of the management function has gone through the stages of planning, organizing, actuating, and controlling properly</em><em>.</em>

Evolutionary game analysis of forestry carbon sink trading model under blockchain technology

As a new balanced economy, the green economy guides the upgrade and transformation of industrial structures based on the original concept of sustainable development. Reducing carbon emissions is indispensable for achieving better and faster green economic development. From a functional perspective, forestry carbon sinks have good carbon sequestration potential and have positive attributes, such as climate regulation and biodiversity maintenance, for the entire ecosystem. To promote the continuous development of forestry carbon sink trading in China, blockchain, a new technology with several advantages such as traceability, supervision, and tamper-proofness, has emerged, which creates a good market trading environment and has made a breakthrough in the trading mode. If forestry carbon sink trading is effectively supported, organic combinations and simultaneous synergistic development can be conducted, which will open new avenues for the carbon sink economy. In this study, a game model of the forest carbon sink trading mode under blockchain technology was constructed from the perspective of traders, and influential factors, such as the carbon sink available for sale by the supply side and the demand side's perspective towards emission reduction, were considered. Subsequently, the MATLAB R2020b software was used to conduct a simulation analysis of the transactions, thereby showing the evolutionary path of the game between the two sides and the influence mechanism of the addition of blockchain technology on the evolution trajectory of the demand-side decision. The findings indicate that, from the perspective of participating traders, the inclusion of blockchain technology in forestry carbon sink trading resulted in positive effects. Moreover, the greater the probability that the carbon sinks available for sale in the market can meet the demand, the more likely the demand side is to participate in the transaction.

Effects of polyethylene microplastics and heavy metals on soil-plant microbial dynamics

Polyethylene (PE) microplastics are emerging pollutants that pose a significant threat to the environment and human health. However, little is known about the effects of PEs on soil‒plant interactions, especially in heavy metal (HM)-contaminated soil. In this study, the effects of PE on rhizosphere soil enzyme activities, microbial interactions and nutrient cycling processes were analyzed from ecological network and functional gene perspectives for the first time. The results indicated that PE-MP addition significantly reduced the biomass of Bidens pilosa L. In addition, the partial increase in carbon, nitrogen, and phosphorus enzyme activities suggested that the effects of PE as a carbon source on microbial functions in HM-contaminated soil should not be ignored. The average path length of bacterial network nodes was found to be higher than that of fungal network nodes, demonstrating that the bacterial ecological network in PE-MP and HM cocontaminated environments has good buffering capacity against changes in external environmental conditions. Furthermore, structural equation modeling demonstrated that particle size and dosage affect soil nutrient cycling processes and that cycling processes are acutely aware of changes in any factor, such as soil moisture, soil pH and soil nitrogen nutrients. Hence, PE-MP addition in HM-contaminated soil has the potential to alter soil ecological functions and nutrient cycles.

Permacrisis, Conspiracy Stories and Metaphors

Conspiracy stories (also known as ‘conspiracy theories’) pretend to provide truthful and unambiguous responses to crisis experiences and thrive in conjunction with the latter: the more crises, the more conspiracies! Hence, it is no surprise that the recent, extended and multi-level crises have been accompanied by a cacophony of ‘trending’ stories that see conspiracies behind, e.g. COVID-19, climate change, migration, economic stagnation and military conflicts. These conspiracy stories link up with global master-conspiracies (e.g. Great Reset, QAnon) as well as with localised violent protests based on conspiracy stories at national or regional levels. Despite their oft-lamented factual and logical deficiencies, conspiracy stories have two important assets. One asset is their narrative structure that presents a ‘solution’ to the narrative ‘problem’, which is identified with the topical crisis. They tell a supposedly secret back-story that ‘explains’ the current crisis and, based on it, provide a glimpse of an innovative solution. Their second asset is their figurative, non-literal formulation in terms of metaphor scenarios and metonymies, which enables users to mentally cancel part of their stories when they are exposed as untrue, and thus to maintain the story as a whole. The article provides a corpus-based analysis of metaphor use in conspiracy stories about COVID-19 in the UK, America and Germany. It explains their function and sketches perspectives for further research. It also discusses the chances of “reframing” metaphor-enhanced conspiracy stories during (perma-)crises and argues that such an endeavour must not restrict itself to fact-checks and -corrections. Instead, the narrative appeal of conspiracy stories, based on their figurative structure, needs to be taken into account, in order to expose their potentially disastrous political and social consequences

The Effect of Personalized Shoe Insoles on Parkinson’s Disease Subjects: A Triple-Blind Randomized Controlled Trial

Subjects with Parkinson’s Disease (PD) display different motor and non-motor symptoms. Different therapies have been shown to be effective, such as plantar foot stimulation, which has proved to be effective for motor symptoms. Different stimulation methods were proposed and tested through specific devices, or insoles. Our aim was to assess the effect of a newly designed custom-made insole called PRO-STEP compared with a flat sham insole on subjects with PD. Subjects were randomized 1:1 into two arms and were asked to wear PRO-STEP or sham insoles for at least 6 h per day for 10 weeks. Participants were evaluated at four timepoints. Forty-two subjects were randomly assigned to the PRO-STEP (EG) or sham group (SG). The comparison of the EG and SG without and with insoles (T0–T1) did not show significant differences in the TUG time and in the 10MWT gait parameters. At T1, T2, and T3 TUG time, BBS, SF12-MC, and SF12-PC did not show significant differences. The satisfaction level with the PRO-STEP or sham insoles was high in both groups. PD patients were satisfied with PRO-STEP insoles; however, plantar foot stimulation is not effective from a functional perspective. Future studies should consider possible modifications to the proposed stimulation to improve its effectiveness in patients with PD.

Plastein reaction augments the metal chelating capabilities of silver carp (Hypophthalmichthys molitrix) hydrolysates: Unlocking the chemical modification mechanism

Plastein reaction mechanisms and the alteration of its product properties have been studied for decades. This study investigated the plastein-mediated modifications in silver carp protein hydrolysate (SCPH) from both mechanistic and functional perspectives. Unlike prior research, this investigation uncovered that hydrogen bonding supplemented the dominant hydrophobic interactions in plastein's mechanism for the first time, as supported by peptide concentrations, molecular weight, amino acids, chemical forces, and peptide sequence by LC-MS/MS. This innovative reaction mechanism cascaded into the enhancement of SCPH functional attributes. Plastein induced increased COOH in SCPH’s side-chain groups significantly enhanced Fe2+ (from 4.49 to 14.12 %) and Zn2+ (from 53.53 to 64.47 %) chelation. Moreover, the elevated DPPH (17.56 %–23.97 %) and hydroxyl radical (68.49 %–79.32 %) scavenging power indicated a broader improvement in SCPH with plastein. In SCPH, plastein elucidated reaction intricacies and enhanced its utility, propelling SCPH into a realm of extended potential.

Biosynthesis, functional perspectives, and agricultural applications of strigolactones

Biosynthesis, functional perspectives, and agricultural applications of strigolactones

Exploring the effect of region on diversity and composition of weed seedbanks in herbicide-resistant crop systems in the United States.

Soil seedbanks have been recognized as one of the crucial components of agricultural ecosystems. However, studies on the shift in structure and biodiversity of soil seedbanks in herbicide-resistant crop systems are limited, and a functional trait perspective of the soil seedbank is often overlooked. A 6 years experiment was conducted to investigate the roles of region, crop system, and weed management strategy on species richness, functional trait diversity, and composition of the weed seedbank. Species richness was different across the interaction of region and crop system, while functional trait diversity only showed difference across regions. Species and functional trait compositions were affected by the interaction of region and crop system. Specifically, the compositional difference among crop systems was mainly determined by the significant heterogeneity of group dispersion. Growers and practitioners should consider weed functional traits in developing lasting agricultural management strategies. Long-term weed research should draw attention to the impact of transgenic crop systems and specific management tactics on weed dispersal, functional composition, and resistance evolution of weed species in such agroecosystems. © 2023 The Authors. Pest Management Science published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Society of Chemical Industry.

Kohn–Sham computation and the bivariate view of density functional theory

Informed by an abstraction of Kohn–Sham (KS) computation called a KS machine, a functional analytic perspective is developed on mathematical aspects of density functional theory. A natural semantics for the machine is bivariate, consisting of a sequence of potentials paired with a ground density. Although the question of when the KS machine can converge to a solution (where the potential component matches a designated target) is not resolved here, a number of related ones are. For instance: can the machine progress toward a solution? Barring presumably exceptional circumstances, yes in an energetic sense, but using a potential-mixing scheme rather than the usual density-mixing variety. Are energetic and function space distance notions of proximity-to-solution commensurate? Yes, to a significant degree. If the potential components of a sequence of ground pairs converges to a target density, do the density components cluster on ground densities thereof? Yes, barring particle number drifting to infinity.

Why Do Older Adults Feel Negatively about Artificial Intelligence Products? An Empirical Study Based on the Perspectives of Mismatches

Artificial intelligence products (AIPs) for older adults enhance the functions of traditional products and improve the quality of their lives. However, AIPs are not popular among this population, and limited attempts have been made to investigate these users’ negative tendencies regarding AIPs. This study explores the causes of avoidance and exit behaviors toward AIPs among older people from both a functional and socio-emotional mismatch perspective. Data were collected from 1102 older AIP users to verify the research model and hypotheses. The results indicate that perceived control and expectation disconfirmation affect the functional mismatch, while public stigma has the greatest impact on the socio-emotional mismatch. Furthermore, the results highlight a mixed influence of the functional and socio-emotional mismatches on negative behaviors. This study explores older people’s negative tendencies toward AIPs, comprehensively considering the functions of AIPs and the socio-emotions they evoke. Thus, it provides new empirical evidence for the systematic relationship between the functional mismatch and the socio-emotional mismatch and fills the research gap on the influence on the subsequent behaviors of older adults. Additionally, this study sheds light on the specific methods of designing, developing, and promoting AIPs.

Measuring the level of rurality in the Southwestern region of Bangladesh

This research intends to measure and characterize the level of rurality in the southwestern region of Bangladesh using an indexing approach from functional perspective. The findings of the study can be conducive for efficient decision making related to rural development policies and planning. Besides, operational delineation of administrative units, such as Unions and Wards, is essential for the formulation and effective implementation of evidence-based development initiatives. The study has utilized the latest available population census data published by Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics (BBS). The results reveal that Satkhira district exhibits a higher degree of rurality (RI = 4.23) compared to Khulna (RI = 3.58) and Bagerhat (RI = 4.14) districts. This variation among the three districts is ascribed to existing rural–urban disparities. The study underscores the primary influence of socio-economic factors on the rural–urban disparities, with a secondary role for demographic and infrastructural aspects. However, education's impact was notably limited in this context. Insights on intra-district disparities infer that Khulna district exhibits significantly greater rural–urban disparities than the other two. The study also highlights the clustering of non-rural areas along major rivers. This research will assist rural planners and policy makers in understanding the specific rural dynamics of the study area, essential for tailoring fit-to-context development strategies. Moreover, the study provides a basis for classifying the region into clusters to streamline development priorities and resource allocation. Furthermore, the article presents a transferable methodology for evaluating rurality and delineating rural regions in different contexts.

Production–Living–Ecological Spatial Function Identification and Pattern Analysis Based on Multi-Source Geographic Data and Machine Learning

Land use cannot be simply understood as land cover. The same land may carry different functions, such as production, living, and ecological applications; the dominant function of land will affect and restrict other uses. Disorderly urbanization and industrialization have led to an intensification of conflicts among the production, living, and ecological functions of land, which is a major constraint on regional sustainable development. This paper took the perspective of land-use function and used multi-source data such as Sentinel remote-sensing imagery, VIIRS night-time light data, and POIs to classify land-use functions on a large scale in the Beijing–Tianjin–Hebei (BTH) urban agglomeration. The specific research process was as follows. Firstly, the BTH region was multi-scale-segmented based on Sentinel remote-sensing data. Then, the spectral, texture, shape, and socio-economic features of each small area after segmentation were extracted. Moreover, a PLES land-use classification system oriented towards land-use function was established, and a series of representative samples were selected. Subsequently, a random forest model was trained using these samples; then, the trained model was used for the large-scale analysis of land use in the entire BTH region. Finally, the spatial distribution patterns and temporal–spatial evolution characteristics of PLES in the BTH region from 2016 to 2021 were analyzed from the macro level to the micro level.

Readability of Reading Texts as Authentic Materials Issued by ChatGPT: A Systemic Functional Perspective

Selecting the appropriate texts as the authentic material for English teaching, particularly at the university level, matched with students’ mastery level is still challenging. This study attempts to investigate the readability level of reading texts through the framework of Systemic Functional Linguistics (SFL) issued by ChatGPT, focused on whether the complexity level of the texts matches the standard level of the Common European Framework of Reference (CEFR) by proposed British Council. Through the qualitative design with content analysis, this study examines eighteen texts classified following CEFR levels issued by ChatGPT. It analyzes their lexical density, grammatical intricacy, and lexical variation to know the complexity of the texts. The analysis revealed that the complexity level of the texts issued by ChatGPT has not thoroughly followed the standard level of the texts used by the British Council on the CEFR level, indicating that several texts are inappropriate with their complexity levels. It is found that the complexity level of the texts issued by ChatGPT is determined by the length of the texts that increase from the basic level to the proficient level seen from the number of words in each text, not by their lexical density, grammatical intricacy, and lexical variation indexes. The study provides implications for the lecturer to carefully select the text used as teaching material issued by ChatGPT by relying on the lexico-grammatical analysis of the text to help students achieve the comprehension stage.

The Parts of Speech from the Perspective of the Correlation between Lexicon and Grammar

The purpose of the article is to present an analysis of parts of speech from the point of view of the interference between semantic features and their morphosyntactic behavior. The elucidation of the established relationships between the lexical meaning of words, on the one hand, and their grammatical categories and the syntactic functions with which they are used, on the other, requires the analysis of these entities from a functional perspective. Since the relationships between the mentioned features are revealed when the lexical units function in the structure of the statement, we could say that the research addresses the problem of the correlation between the three components of the statement, namely the lexical, morphological and syntactic components. Revealing the relationships between these components would allow overcoming the artificial separation between the levels of semantic and syntactic description, but also a better understanding of how the utterance is constituted and functions.

The association between an electronic health record (EHR)–embedded frailty index and patient-reported outcomes among patients with metastatic non–small-cell lung cancer on immunotherapy.

335 Background: While frailty is a well-established predictor of overall mortality among patients with metastatic non-small cell lung cancer (mNSCLC), its association with patient-reported outcomes is not well-characterized. We assessed quality of life and symptom burden by frailty status among mNSCLC patients receiving immunotherapy. We used an electronic health record (EHR) frailty index (eFI) as a marker of frailty. In addition, we assessed self-perceived goals of treatment by frailty status. Methods: In a cross-sectional study, patients from a single academic medical center with mNSCLC who were on first or second-line immunotherapy or chemoimmunotherapy completed the European Organization for the Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life Questionnaire Core 30 (EORTC-QLQ-C30) and the National Cancer Institute Patient Reported Outcomes version of the Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events (PRO-CTCAE). In addition completed the Prognosis Treatment and Perceptions Questionnaire. We computed means of EORTC-QLQ-C30 subscales and proportions reporting at least moderate PRO-CTCAE symptoms, and compared results across three levels of frailty status using the eFI (which uses 54 variables from the EHR to calculate a score from 0-1), which categorizes frailty status as either fit (eFI ≤0.10), pre-frail (0.10 < eFI≤0.21), or frail (eFI > 0.21). P-values for comparisons of continuous variables were derived from F-tests from ANOVA models, while those for comparisons of categorical variables were derived from chi-square or Fisher’s exact tests. Results: Sixty patients (mean age 62.5 years, 75% Caucasian, 60% women, 57% receiving single-agent immunotherapy) participated. Most patients were pre-frail (68%), with few categorized as fit (18%) or frail (n=15%). The EORTC-QLQ-C30 global health score was similar among frailty categories (mean 62.6). Among EORTC functional subscales, only physical function differed by frailty status (mean 83.9 fit vs 74.8 pre-frail vs 60.0 frail, p-value 0.04). We found no differences in any of the EORTC-QLQ-C30 symptom subscales across frailty categories. On the PRO-CTCAE measures, only self-reported pain differed among the three groups, with pain being higher among frail patients (75% of frail reporting at least moderate pain, vs 51.5% of pre-frail and 18.2% of fit; p=0.046). No differences in self-perceived goals of treatment or likelihood of cure emerged by frailty status. Conclusions: Frail patients identified by the eFI with mNSCLC have higher rates of pain and physical functional impairments but similar perspectives on likelihood of cure as those without frailty. This highlights the importance of symptom monitoring and frailty screening along with prognostic discussions in those with mNSCLC. Clinical trial information: NCT03741868 .