Structural Analysis Techniques Research Articles

Plant type II arabinogalactan: Structural features and modification to increase functionality

Type II arabinogalactans (AGs) are a highly diverse class of plant polysaccharides generally encountered as the carbohydrate moieties of certain extracellular proteoglycans, the so-called arabinogalactan-proteins (AGPs), which are found on plasma membranes and in cell walls. The basic structure of type II AG is a 1,3-β-D-galactan main chain with 1,6-β-D-galactan side chains. The side chains are further decorated with other sugars such as α-l-arabinose and β-d-glucuronic acid. In addition, AGs with 1,6-β-D-galactan as the main chain, which are designated as ‘type II related AG’ in this review, can also be found in several plants. Due to their diverse and heterogenous features, the determination of carbohydrate structures of type II and type II related AGs is not easy. On the other hand, these complex AGs are scientifically and commercially attractive materials whose structures can be modified by chemical and biochemical approaches for specific purposes. In the current review, what is known about the chemical structures of type II and type II related AGs from different plant sources is outlined. After that, structural analysis techniques are considered and compared. Finally, structural modifications that enhance or alter functionality are highlighted.

A structural magnetic resonance imaging review of clinical motor outcomes from deep brain stimulation in movement disorders.

Patients with movement disorders treated by deep brain stimulation do not always achieve successful therapeutic alleviation of motor symptoms, even in cases where surgery is without complications. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) offers methods to investigate structural brain-related factors that may be predictive of clinical motor outcomes. This review aimed to identify features which have been associated with variability in clinical post-operative motor outcomes in patients with Parkinson's disease, dystonia, and essential tremor from structural MRI modalities. We performed a literature search for articles published between 1 January 2000 and 1 April 2022 and identified 5197 articles. Following screening through our inclusion criteria, we identified 60 total studies (39 = Parkinson's disease, 11 = dystonia syndromes and 10 = essential tremor). The review captured a range of structural MRI methods and analysis techniques used to identify factors related to clinical post-operative motor outcomes from deep brain stimulation. Morphometric markers, including volume and cortical thickness were commonly identified in studies focused on patients with Parkinson's disease and dystonia syndromes. Reduced metrics in basal ganglia, sensorimotor and frontal regions showed frequent associations with reduced motor outcomes. Increased structural connectivity to subcortical nuclei, sensorimotor and frontal regions was also associated with greater motor outcomes. In patients with tremor, increased structural connectivity to the cerebellum and cortical motor regions showed high prevalence across studies for greater clinical motor outcomes. In addition, we highlight conceptual issues for studies assessing clinical response with structural MRI and discuss future approaches towards optimizing individualized therapeutic benefits. Although quantitative MRI markers are in their infancy for clinical purposes in movement disorder treatments, structural features obtained from MRI offer the powerful potential to identify candidates who are more likely to benefit from deep brain stimulation and provide insight into the complexity of disorder pathophysiology.

Resorbable membrane design: In vitro characterization of silver doped-hydroxyapatite-reinforced XG/PEI semi-IPN composite

In this study, the production and characterization of silver-doped hydroxyapatite (AgHA) reinforced Xanthan gum (XG) and Polyethyleneimine (PEI) reinforced semi-interpenetrating polymer network (IPN) biocomposite, known to be used as bone cover material for therapeutic purposes in bone tissue, were performed. XG/PEI IPN films containing 2AgHA nanoparticles were produced by simultaneous condensation and ionic gelation. Characteristics of 2AgHA-XG/PEI nanocomposite film were evaluated by structural, morphological (SEM, XRD, FT-IR, TGA, TM, and Raman) and biological activity analysis (degradation, MTT, genotoxicity, and antimicrobial activity) techniques. In the physicochemical characterization, it was determined that 2AgHA nanoparticles were homogeneously dispersed in the XG/PEI-IPN membrane at high concentration and the thermal and mechanical stability of the formed film were high. The nanocomposites showed high antibacterial activity against Acinetobacter Baumannii (A.Baumannii), Staphylococcus aureus (S.aureus), and Streptococcus mutans (S.mutans). L929 exhibited good biocompatibility for fibroblast cells and was determined to support the formation of MCC cells. It was shown that a resorbable 2AgHA-XG/PEI composite material was obtained with a high degradation rate and 64% loss of mass at the end of the 7th day. Physico-chemically developed biocompatible and biodegradable XG-2AgHA/PEI nanocomposite semi-IPN films possessed an important potential for the treatment of defects in bone tissue as an easily applicable bone cover. Besides, it was noted that 2AgHA-XG/PEI biocomposite could increase cell viability, especially in dental-bone treatments for coating, filling, and occlusion.

Atomic structure and optical properties of color centers of silver in AgAu/glass irradiated by UV laser

A study of the structural states of silver in glass after Ag+↔Na+ ion-exchange and further irradiation with different numbers of UV laser pulses has been performed using Ag K-edge XANES combined with DFT simulations and the processing of Ag K-EXAFS. Theoretical Ag K-edge XANES, calculated for DFT-generated structural models, showed high sensitivity to the number of nearest oxygen neighbors of the absorbing Ag+ ion, to changes in the corresponding interatomic distances RAg-O (changes ≳ 0.05 Å) and bond angles (changes ≳ 10° at apical Ag in atomic chain O–Ag–O), and to the presence of Ag+ ions among the second neighbors of Ag. The effect of more distant O and Si neighbors can be considered negligible. The applied combination of complementary techniques for structural analysis of the color centers of silver in glass has revealed that, after ion-exchange, Ag+ ions are predominantly present in glass in the form of dimers, in which the two Ag+ ions are separated by an interatomic distance, RAg-Ag, of 3.4 Å. Other interatomic distances RAg-O in the dimers have also been obtained. It has been determined that, under laser irradiation with the number of pulses up to 1000, only a small proportion (up to 10%) of Ag+ ions in glass samples is reduced from the states of isolated ions and the revealed Ag dimers present after Ag+↔Na+ ion-exchange. The reduced Ag atoms form monometallic Ag NPs and are also deposited on the surface of Au NPs, forming bimetallic AgAu NPs with a solid solution structure. The processes of the formation, growth, and dissolution of monometallic Ag NPs and bimetallic AgAu NPs with increasing number of laser pulses are discussed. Analysis of the blue shifts of ca. 20 nm of localized surface plasmon resonances (LSPRs) of Ag NPs with increasing number of UV laser pulses up to 1000 revealed that these shifts occurred due to a decrease in the average size of optically visible Ag NPs caused by the growth of initially less visible small Ag NPs (≲5 nm) and partial dissolution of the largest particles.

Modified denoising method of Raman spectra-based deep learning for Raman semi-quantitative analysis and imaging

Raman spectroscopic technique is a sensitive and non-destructive technique for structural analysis. However, Raman scattering is an unfavorable process, and the signals are weak, resulting in a low signal-to-noise ratio of spectra, making Raman spectroscopy challenging to gain popularity and implement. As a simple and practical approach, denoising techniques could improve the signal-to-noise ratio, which can help researchers extract information more effectively to reflect the configuration, content, and changes of test samples. However, addressing this issue with traditional algorithms is often challenging due to increased complexity and requirements in Raman spectra denoising. While some deep learning–based approaches enhance the signal-to-noise ratio, obtaining excellent performance models with good generalization is not easy when dealing with real-world tasks. This paper proposes a method of good generalization, robust, and denoising performance by using a convolutional neural network based on a new augmented method and a multi-scale feature extraction fusion block called the multi-scale feature extraction denoising (MFED) model. Specifically, first, we addressed insufficient training data using a new augmented approach through simulation of the Raman data acquisition and, in turn, improved generalization of the MFED model. Subsequently, the mixed Poisson-Gaussian noise model showed commendable robustness when dealing with synthetic and real noise data. Finally, a feature extraction block based on a multi-scale fusion significantly improved denoising effects. The comparison results of different denoising methods demonstrated the good applicability and superiority of the proposed approach. More importantly, the main advantage of the proposed MFED model is that it is easily applicable. We demonstrate that applying MFED as a pre-processing technique for Raman spectra can enhance the prediction accuracy of soybean oil concentration in olive oil. Furthermore, despite the integration time dropping from 3 to 1 s, we still yielded good quality images following MFED model denoising processing on point-scan Raman spectral imaging of cervical cancer cells. The proposed MFED model provides an excellent candidate for increasing the Raman SNR, which can contribute substantially to the application of Raman analytics in research and practices.

Exploring the Role of Female Empowerment in Sustainable Rural Tourism Development: an Exploratory Sequential Mixed-Method Study

Purpose: The purpose of this study is to evaluate the empowerment of rural women in the context of sustainable tourism development, identify the factors that influence their empowerment, examine the impact of women's empowerment on sustainable tourism development, and explore innovative approaches to empower rural women. Theoretical Framework: This study combines four factors that influence women's empowerment, namely women's entrepreneurship, education, social capital, and human capital, to form a theoretical framework based on empowerment theory, and uses the empowerment of women as a mediator to explore the elements that impact the sustainable growth of rural tourism. Design/Methodology/Approach: A mixed research method was employed, starting with qualitative research, where 11 relevant interviews were conducted to gain a preliminary understanding of the factors affecting women's empowerment and the sustainability of rural tourism. Subsequently, a 68-item survey questionnaire was used in the quantitative research stage. A total of 340 responses were collected. The reliability of the questionnaire was tested using Cronbach's alpha, and validation factor analysis was used to assess its validity. Structural analysis and equation modeling (SEM) techniques were used to test the hypotheses of the study. Findings: The study shows that women's entrepreneurship, education, human and social capital have a positive impact on women's empowerment and sustainable growth of rural tourism. Women's empowerment mediates the relationship between these factors and sustainable development of rural tourism, which also positively impacts sustainable community, economic, environmental, and cultural development. Therefore, promoting women's empowerment and enhancing their access to education and resources are essential for achieving sustainable growth of rural tourism and community development. Research, Practical & Social implications: This study proposes a new theoretical framework that includes female entrepreneurship, education, social capital, and human capital to fill the gap in knowledge. The development of women in rural tourism is also crucial for society's progress towards civilization, and policies and incentives should be implemented to encourage their participation and ensure their effective involvement. This will contribute to the growth and sustainable development of China's rural tourism industry. Originality/value: This research provides valuable insights into the role of women's empowerment, education, human capital, and social capital in driving sustainable rural tourism development.Furthermore, this research has a significant impact on how Chinese farmers participate in rural tourism in the future, providing insights into rural revitalization efforts. This study underscores the importance of innovative research in driving perspectives on rural tourism and empowering women, which are essential elements for the sustainable development of rural communities.

UNDERSTANDING TOURIST INERTIA BASED ON DESTINATION SERVICE QUALITY: ROLE OF PERCEIVED VALUE AND PERCEIVED RISK

The growth of tourism has occurred all over the world, including in big cities in Indonesia. It is interesting to discuss that destination service providers are currently competing to retain their tourists. This study examines the relationship between destination service quality and tourist inertia through perceived value and perceived risk. A study on tourist destinations in the cities of Bandung, Yogyakarta and Bali using a survey method with the Structural Equation Modeling analysis technique revealed that destination service quality has a positive effect on perceived value and a negative effect on perceived risk. Perceived value has a positive effect on tourist inertia, but perceived risk is not proven to have an effect on tourist inertia. Thus, these findings expand the role of intervention from the theory of planned behaviour, especially from the aspect of perceived behavioural control. Implications, limitations, and future study directions are included at the end of the article.

Modeling barriers to a circular economy for construction demolition waste in the Aysén region of Chile

An increasing rate of urbanization, lack of knowledge, low willingness to pay for sustainable waste management, and absence of legal landfills inhibit the rate at which Circular Economy (CE) is implemented. The successful CE adoption for construction and demolition waste (CE-CDW) involves navigating a complex tapestry of interconnected factors that enable or inhibit CE-CDW success. We used a participatory system thinking and modeling approach to analyze the interaction of inhibiting factors that impact CE-CDW in Aysén, Chile. Barriers to CE-CDW were identified in the literature and modeled in a workshop with experts from different areas of construction industry, policy, and academia. The emerging CE-CDW system model was analyzed using structural factor and network analysis techniques to identify leverage points for policy and practice. Findings pointed to limited strategic vision of policy and regulation as a key barrier impacting the necessary financial and technical elements needed to implement and scale-up CE-CDW.

Риск-ориентированный и процессный подходы — основа актуальной системы управления охраной труда в организации

Information is provided on the legislative documents of the Russian Federation regulating the activities of organizations in the field of occupational safety. The relevance and expediency of the application of risk-oriented and process approaches at the stage of the development and implementation of the occupational safety management system on the basis of the legislative documents containing mandatory requirements, compliance with which is mandatory in the development of the occupational safety management system. The methodological substantiation of the process approach to the development of an occupational health and safety management system in an organization, based on a systematic approach using the well-known PDCA principle, is given, the basic issues of its applicability are considered. A matrix of processes and sub-processes was compiled in accordance with the typology of processes according to ISO (ISO/TC 176/SC 2/N 544R3), the organization management processes, the processes of measurement, analysis and improvement, the main processes and processes of resource management are given, the processes are ranked by levels. The model was developed for creating an occupational health and safety management system based on risk-oriented and process approaches, the technique of structural analysis and design SADT (Structured Analysis and Design Technique), and functional modeling methodology IDEF0. The development was carried out concerning the main context diagram of the process of creating an occupational health and safety management system in the IDEF0 notation. The decomposition of processes of the second and third levels is presented, and all their functional relationships are described. It is demonstrated that the risk-oriented and process approaches used in the design of the occupational health and safety management system make it possible to structure the composition of processes, clearly define the input and output parameters of processes, process participants, resources, and ensure control and adjustment of processes.

The Missing Gender: Examining the Barriers to Women’s Participation in Sports in India

The advent of modernity has changed the sports landscape of the world, wherein all barriers, especially gender discrimination, have been broken, with men and women competing shoulder to shoulder in the sports arena. However, the sports landscape in India is completely different, as all the major sports activities are dominated by men. The aim of this study is to classify and rank the barriers that deter women’s participation in sports in India. For achieving this objective, a multi-criteria decision-making technique of Interpretive Structural Modelling (ISM) and MICMAC analysis has been used for relative ranking and classification of barriers that lead to gender discrimination in sports in India. The study encapsulates significant barriers that hinder women from actively participating in sports in India. The findings of our study suggest that economic barriers, lack of sporting infrastructure and culture, lack of potential career opportunities, knowledge barriers, and socio-cultural barriers are vital reasons that have implications for limiting women’s participation in sports and society alike. From a policy perspective, the proposed model will help identify the key barriers that ought to be addressed to bridge the gap between men and women in the sports sector in India.

CircularSTAR3D: a stack-based RNA 3D structural alignment tool for circular matching.

The functions of non-coding RNAs usually depend on their 3D structures. Therefore, comparing RNA 3D structures is critical in analyzing their functions. We noticed an interesting phenomenon that two non-coding RNAs may share similar substructures when rotating their sequence order. To the best of our knowledge, no existing RNA 3D structural alignment tools can detect this type of matching. In this article, we defined the RNA 3D structure circular matching problem and developed a software tool named CircularSTAR3D to solve this problem. CircularSTAR3D first uses the conserved stacks (consecutive base pairs with similar 3D structures) in the input RNAs to identify the circular matched internal loops and multiloops. Then it performs a local extension iteratively to obtain the whole circular matched substructures. The computational experiments conducted on a non-redundant RNA structure dataset show that circular matching is ubiquitous. Furthermore, we demonstrated the utility of CircularSTAR3D by detecting the conserved substructures missed by regular alignment tools, including structural motifs and conserved structures between riboswitches and ribozymes from different classes. We anticipate CircularSTAR3D to be a valuable supplement to the existing RNA 3D structural analysis techniques.

Ultra-Small YPO4 -YAG:Ce Composite Nanophosphors with a Photoluminescence Quantum Yield Exceeding 50.

Synthesis of high quality colloidal Cerium(III) doped yttrium aluminum garnet (Y3 Al5 O12 :Ce3+ , "YAG:Ce") nanoparticles (NPs) meeting simultaneously both ultra-small size and high photoluminescence (PL) performance is challenging, as generally a particle size/PL trade-off has been observed for this type of nanomaterials. The glycothermal route is capable to yield ultra-fine crystalline colloidal YAG:Ce nanoparticles with a particle size as small as 10nm but with quantum yield (QY) no more than 20%. In this paper, the first ultra-small YPO4 -YAG:Ce nanocomposite phosphor particles having an exceptional QY-to-size performance with an QY up to 53% while maintaining the particle size ≈10nm is reported. The NPs are produced via a phosphoric acid- and extra yttrium acetate-assisted glycothermal synthesis route. Localization of phosphate and extra yttrium entities with respect to cerium centers in the YAG host has been determined by fine structural analysis techniques such as X-ray diffration (XRD), solid state nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), and high resolution scanning transmission electron microscopy (HR-STEM), and shows distinct YPO4 and YAG phases. Finally, a correlation between the additive-induced physico-chemical environment change around cerium centers and the increasing PL performance has been suggested based on electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR), X-ray photoelectronspectrometry (XPS) data, and crystallographic simulation studies.

Finite element analysis of functionally graded magneto-electro-elastic porous cylindrical shells subjected to thermal loads

Functionally graded materials with porosity have received increased application in satellites, space vehicles, aircraft, and other transportation systems. The multi-physics coupled modeling technique for structural response analysis remains a big challenge. This paper develops a finite element formulation based on the first-order shear deformation (FOSD) hypothesis for evaluation of the static and dynamic behavior of functionally graded magneto-electro-elastic porous (FG-MEEP) cylindrical shells under thermal loads. Four types of thermal loads such as uniform, linear, sinusoidal, and heat conduction temperature rise are included in the FE model. Furthermore, FG-U, FG-V, FG-O, and FG-X distributions of porosity is considered. The material parameters of FG-MEEP are obtained by modified power law. Two forms of material gradation in the framework of ‘B’-rich bottom and ‘F’-rich bottom are used. The correctness of the present model is verified by comparing with the results of literature. Finally, parametric studies are adopted to analyze the static and dynamic response of FG-MEEP cylindrical shell by varying functionally graded pattern, gradient index, porosity volume, temperature, porosity distribution, etc. These numerical results can serve as benchmarks for the future study of porous structures in thermal environment.

PENGARUH PENGETAHUAN INVESTASI DAN PERSEPSI RISIKO TERHADAP MINAT MAHASISWA DALAM INVESTASI SAHAM DI PASAR MODAL

Stock investment is the most interested investment in Indonesia, which is dominated by generation Z or millennials. However, millennials are synonymous with having a hedonistic lifestyle and a higher level of consumption so they must be wise in managing finances and require qualified knowledge and risk perception if they want to enter the capital market. The purpose of this study is to find out how influential investment knowledge and risk perception are on students' interest in investing in stocks in the capital market. This study used a non probability sampling technique with purposive sampling to determine the minimum respondents with the help of the Slovin formula with an error precision of 5%. The method used is a quantitative approach with the Partial Least Square – Structural Equational Modeling data analysis technique with the help of SmartPLS software. The results of the test hypothesis indicate that the investment knowledge variable (X1) has an influence with a significant T-Statistical result of 8,651 on the buying interest variable (Y) with a p-value of 0.000 meaning that increasing students' knowledge of investment is one way to arouse their interest in investing. Then the second hypothesis of the test results indicates that the risk perception variable (X2) has an influence with a significant T-Statistical result of 3,596 on the buying interest variable (Y) with a p-value of 0.000.

Work Stress As Mediation of Influence Work Family Conflict on Cyberloafing Behavior of Employees

This research analyzes the effect of work family conflict on cyberloafing behavior through work stress on employees at PT. Telkom Indonesia Witel, West Sumatra. This research is a type of quantitative research and is a causal research. The population in this study were all employees at PT. Telkom Indonesia Witel West Sumatra, with a total of 58 people. The sampling technique was taken using total sampling where the number of samples is the same as the population, namely 58 people. Collecting data using a survey with a questionnaire. The analysis technique used is PLS (Partial Least Square), which is a structural equation analysis technique (SEM) using SmartPLS 4 software. The results of data processing in this study indicate that work stress mediates the influence between work family conflict and cyberloafing behavior among employees at PT. Telkom Indonesia Witel West Sumatra.

Determinants of customer loyalty in Islamic banking: the role of religiosity

PurposeThe purpose of this study is to investigate the moderation effects of religiosity in the relationship between service quality (SQ), customer satisfaction (CS), relationship quality (RQ) and Islamic banking (IB) loyalty in a non-Islamic country.Design/methodology/approachThis study used a quantitative approach and a cross-sectional research design. The data was collected by a closed-ended questionnaire from a systematic sample of 267 customers of full-fledged Islamic banks in Tanzania. Structural equation modeling and regression analysis techniques were used to analyze the data.FindingsResults indicate that religiosity is a significant (p < 0.05) moderator of the relationship between SQ and loyalty (β = 0.176), and between CS and loyalty (β = 0.263). However, religiosity sharpens the impact of CS on loyalty (β increases from 0.170 to 0.263, p < 0.05) and does not sharpen the impact of SQ on loyalty (β decreases from 0.338 to 0.176, p < 0.05). The results further indicate that religiosity is not a significant moderator (p > 0.05) in the link between RQ and loyalty (β = −0.112).Research limitations/implicationsThis study used only full-fledged Islamic banks in Tanzania. Therefore, future research could be undertaken by including conventional banks that have introduced an IB window.Practical implicationsTo build and maintain a loyal customer base, Islamic banks should take advantage of religiosity by providing a wide range of Sharia-based products and services that truly distinguish them from conventional banks. Accordingly, policymakers should establish an appropriate legal framework to enable Islamic banks to leverage religiosity to sharpen the impact of CS on loyalty and hence maintain loyalty in non-Islamic countries like Tanzania.Originality/valueThis study proposes and validates the theoretical model of loyalty in IB by showing the role of religiosity as a moderator in a non-Islamic country. This knowledge strengthens the overall understanding of loyalty in IB. To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this study is the first to examine the moderation effects of religiosity in the link between RQ and loyalty, and thus between SQ, CS, RQ and loyalty in a single study.

A Dynamic Response Analysis of Vehicle Suspension System

Automotive engineering is a very important branch of design and development in mechanical engineering devoted to vehicle manufacturing. It demands solid knowledge focusing on the kinematics and dynamics of mechanical systems, either using structural analysis or modelling techniques. In this manuscript, a model based on the application of the fundamentals of the static and dynamic behaviour of the suspension system of a bus vehicle is developed. Therefore, a set of mathematical equations is expanded following the structural dynamic formulations to obtain an analytical solution on natural frequencies and the displacement under an external load. The problem is also solved using the Finite Element Method (FEM) to confirm the analytical results. Equivalent material parameters and boundary conditions were used for the FEM simulation. This work aims to propose a methodology based on modal analysis with a simplified model to predict the dynamic response of an automotive structure.

Tribochemical synthesis of functionalized covalent organic frameworks for anti-wear and friction reduction

Tribochemistry can be defined as a field dealing with the chemical reactions occurring in the friction zone, capable of catalyzing mechanical and physico-chemical changes in the friction contact area, facilitating the formation of tribo-films, which is also an efficient approach to fabricate novel innovative materials. In this paper, we report the successful synthesis of the silicon oil (SO)-functionalized covalent organic frameworks (COFs) prepared via the tribochemical method when subjected to the reciprocating friction; during the friction process, the rich aldehyde-terminated COFs can bond with amino SO via the Schiff base reaction between aldehyde group and amino group to obtain the desired functionalized COFs (SO@COF-LZU1). The tribochemical reaction progress was tracked through in-situ monitoring of the friction coefficient and the operating conditions during the entire friction process. Noticeably, the friction coefficient continued to decrease until it finally stabilized as the reaction progressed, which revealed the formation of a protective tribo-film. Herein, an approximate tribochemical model was presented, wherein the reaction mechanism was investigated and analyzed by employing structural analysis techniques like magic angle spinning nuclear magnetic resonance (MAS NMR), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). Furthermore, the tribochemical-induced SO@COF-LZU1 exhibited remarkable tribological performance with a low friction coefficient of 0.1 and 95.5% reduction in wear volume when used as additives of 500SN base oil. The prime focus of our research was on the preparation and functionalization of COF materials via tribochemical reactions, unraveling a new avenue for the rational design and preparation of functional materials.

An empirical study of factors influencing primary school teachers' long-term commitment to Realistic Mathematics Education

Realistic Mathematics Education (RME) is a re-emerging teaching and learning pedagogy approach that has gained a lot of momentum since 2016. Prior publications concentrated mostly on curriculum design and student achievement, while little attention was devoted to understanding teachers’ perceptions toward RME. Thus, the purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of factors that influence teachers' perceptions to adopt RME in the long term. Ten hypotheses were proposed and tested employing the Generalized Structured Component Analysis (GSCA) technique. 226 primary school teachers from various regions were recruited to answer the questionnaires via Google Form. The experimental results validated six out of ten expected relationships between the factors in the extended self-determination theory model. That is, perceived competence affected confirmation, confirmation influenced both intrinsic motivation and satisfaction, intrinsic motivation influenced satisfaction, and satisfaction and parental involvement both were considered reliable predictors of realistic math education continuance intention. The remaining hypotheses were not validated, that is, autonomy, relatedness and competence were not found significant on intrinsic motivation, and intrinsic motivation did not influence RME continuance intention. Overall, the model explains 57.9% the amount of variance in the data. Administrators and policymakers are recommended to intervene on validated relationships to increase teachers' retention and long-term commitment to RME, whereas unsupported assumptions must be reexamined in the future.

Enumerating Subtrees of Flower and Sunflower Networks

Symmetry widely exists in many complex and real-world networks, with flower networks and sunflower networks being two richly symmetric networks and having many practical applications due to their special structures. The number of subtrees (the subtree number index) is closely related to the reliable network design. Using a generating function, structural analysis techniques, and auxiliary structure introduction, this paper presents the subtree generating functions of flower networks Fln,m(n≥3,m≥2) and sunflower networks Sfn,m(n≥3,m≥2) and, thus, solves the computation of subtree number indices of Fln,m(n≥3,m≥2) and Sfn,m(n≥3,m≥2). The results provide a fundamental and efficient method for exploring novel features of symmetric complex cyclic networks from the structural subtree number index perspective. For instance, we conclude that under some parameter constraints, the flower networks are more reliable than sunflower networks.