bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Perlindungan Hukum Pemegang Saham Perseroan Terbatas Terbuka Pada Rapat Umum Pemegang Saham Secara Elektronik
Authors: Sutiono Marvel Romi , Sajogo Kenneth Bradley
Published: January 2025

The organs of a Limited Liability Company are the GMS, Board of Directors, and Commissioners, each of which has its own function. Under normal conditions, the GMS of a Public Limited Company is carried out conventionally with a direct meeting, but now it is carried out electronically based on POJK 16/2020. The electronic GMS regulations have been regulated in Article 77 of the Limited Liability Company Law, which requires the signatures of all GMS participants on the minutes, while Article 12 of POJK 16/2020 stipulates that it does not require the signatures of GMS participants and must be made with a notary deed. This study uses a normative legal research type using a statutory approach, a conceptual approach, and a historical approach. The conclusions of the discussion are as follows. First, the meaning of the electronic GMS of a Public Limited Company is part of a public limited company that is born from a group of shareholders and has its own authority and its implementation using electronic media. GMS which used to be conventional can now be carried out using electronic media. Second, the nature of electronic signing of the minutes of the GMS of Public Limited Companies in Article 12 of POJK 16/2020 has not provided legal protection for shareholders and there is disharmony with Article 77 paragraph (4) of the Limited Liability Company Law and the Notary Law. The minutes of the GMS of a Limited Liability Company are a form of internal legal protection and laws and regulations are external legal protection.
Keywords: Shareholders; GMS; Electronic; Legal Protection
Justice on Trial: Colonial Morality and Existential Rebellion in Albert Camus’ The Stranger
Authors: Demba Momodou Lamin
Published: January 2025

Albert Camus’ The Stranger unfolds within thecontested terrain of colonial Algeria, a space where the ethicsof empire and the hallmark of absurdity intersect. This paperexplores how the novel’s articulation of estrangement isinscribed within the violent architectures of colonial life inAlgeria. We argue that the protagonist’s refusal to performthe rituals of societal belonging and his ultimate sentencingfunction as both a rupture within and an exposure of imperialjustice. The trial of Meursault, apparently about the murderof an Arab, who was rendered silent and nameless, becomesa theatre of colonial power, where the imperial justice systemenforces “moral conformity” while maintaining racial violence.Meursault’s refusal to feign remorse or align himself with thevalues of the settler society position him as a figure of defiancewhose authenticity unsettles the colonial order. This paper arguesthat The Stranger stages a confrontation not merely between anindividual and the absurd, but between the philosophical projectof existential rebellion and the dehumanizing project of empire,critiquing the entanglements of absurdism with colonial power.This qualitative research applies an interdisciplinary approachthat combines postcolonial theory and existential philosophy tooffer a novel approach to The Stranger as a text that interrogatesthe moral and political logics of empire while remaining deeplyattuned to the absurdities of the human condition.
Upaya Pembentukan Karakter Religius Siswa melalui Pembiasaan Membaca Asmaul Husna di MTs Hasyimiyah
Authors: Rustyawati Dian , Anam Khoirul
Published: January 2025

Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk mengetahui pelaksanaan pembiasaan membaca Asmaul Husna sebelum pembelajaran di MTs Hasyimiyah Bancar dan untuk mengetahui karakter religius yang dibentuk melalui pembiasaan membaca Asmaul Husna sebelum pembelajaran di MTs Hasyimiyah Bancar. Metode penelitian yang digunakan dalam penelitian ini adalah kualitatif deskriptif melalui wawancara, observasi dan dokumentasi serta validasi temuan penelitian menggunakan triangulasi. Hasil penelitian yaitu pelaksanaan pembiasaan membaca asmaul husna dilaksanakan dengan sistem apel dihalaman dalam pembacaanya dipandu satu siswa, diawasi guru pelaksana dan ditutup do’a oleh kepala madrasah setiap harinya sebelum pembelajaran dimulai. Karakter religius di MTs Hasyimiyah yang ingin dibentuk melalui pembiasaan membaca asmaul husna diantaranya menjadikan siswa rajin, dan taat beribadah, mengetahui dan mengaplikasikan ilmu agama, menjadikan insan beriman, bertaqwa kepada Allah,  dan berakhlakul karimah sesuai visi misi MTs Hasyimiyah.
Les instances participatives des élèves au Québec : actrices, acteurs et pratiques démocratiques des écoles membres de Vox populi
Authors: Fortier-Chouinard Alexandre , Lemieux Olivier , Delobbe Anne-Michèle
Published: January 2025

Le programme d’Élections Québec Vox populi : ta démocratie à l’école! vise à initier les élèves aux institutions démocratiques représentatives québécoises en fournissant aux écoles primaires et secondaires inscrites des ressources pédagogiques et des séances de formation concernant leurs instances participatives. Ce programme est présent dans environ 10 % des écoles québécoises, mais n’a fait l’objet d’aucune étude scientifique. La présente étude répond à ce besoin et s’efforce de dresser un portrait des perceptions des actrices et des acteurs impliqués dans les instances participatives des écoles francophones primaires et secondaires québécoises participant à Vox populi quant aux pratiques démocratiques de ces instances. Elle se base sur des sondages réalisés auprès de directions d’établissement, de responsables d’instances et d’élèves oeuvrant au sein d’écoles secondaires membres du programme Vox populi. Les analyses montrent notamment que les élèves, le personnel enseignant et les directions d’école ont généralement une perception positive de l’encadrement offert aux élèves délégués par les responsables d’instances, et de la capacité des élèves à exprimer leurs points de vue, mais jugent que la direction d’école est parfois trop peu impliquée dans le fonctionnement de l’instance.
Une formation fondée sur l’expérience pour soutenir les directions d’école primaire françaises dans la transformation de leur organisation du travail
Authors: Buffet Natacha , Dionne Patricia , Moussay Sylvie
Published: January 2025

Cet article présente les retombées d’une intervention-recherche mettant en place un cadre de discussion sur les situations de travail vécues par les directions d’école primaire. Ancrée dans une perspective culturelle et historique du développement humain, l’intervention accompagne 16 directions d’école primaire françaises dans l’expression de leur expérience du travail en prenant appui sur la technique de l’instruction au sosie. Les données d’étude concernent un cycle d’instruction au sosie conduit avec ces directions d’école et une réunion en présence de leurs supérieurs hiérarchiques. Les situations de travail analysées lors du cycle d’instruction au sosie se rapportent au travail avec les familles et les partenaires (personnel des mairies, parents d’élèves, personnes inspectrices) jugé problématique par ces directions. Les résultats montrent que l’expression de l’expérience du travail permet aux directions d’école de redéfinir l’activité de travail aux prises avec des questions éducatives; ils mettent également en avant la manière dont les discussions sur les situations de travail problématiques sont développées avec les personnes supérieures hiérarchiques pour ouvrir des pistes de transformation des organisations éducatives.
Rapid rebalancing of co-tuned ensemble activity in the auditory cortex
Authors: Kang HiJee , Babola Travis A , Kanold Patrick O
Published: January 2025

Sensory information is represented by small varying neuronal ensembles in sensory cortices. In the auditory cortex (AC) repeated presentations of the same sound activate differing ensembles indicating high trial-by trial variability in activity even though the sounds activate the same percept. Efficient processing of complex acoustic signals requires that these sparsely distributed neuronal ensembles actively interact in order to provide a constant percept. Thus, the differing ensembles might interact to process the incoming sound inputs. Here, we probe interactions within and across ensembles by combining
in vivo
2-photon Ca
2+
imaging and holographic optogenetic stimulation to study how increased activity of single cells level affects the cortical network. We stimulated a small number of neurons sharing the same frequency preference alongside the presentation of a target pure tone, further increasing their tone-evoked activity. We found that other non-stimulated co-tuned neurons decreased their tone-evoked activity when the frequency of the presented pure tone matched to their tuning property, while non co-tuned neurons were unaffected. Activity decrease was greater for non-stimulated co-tuned neurons with higher frequency selectivity. Co-tuned and non co-tuned neurons were spatially intermingled. Our results shows that co-tuned ensembles communicated and balanced their total activity across the larger network. The rebalanced network activity due to external stimulation remained constant. These effects suggest that co-tuned ensembles in AC interact and rapidly rebalance their activity to maintain encoding homeostasis, and that the rebalanced network is persistent.
MagIC beads for scarce macromolecules
Authors: Moreno-Yruela Carlos , Fierz Beat
Published: January 2025

Specialized magnetic beads that bind target proteins to a cryogenic electron microscopy grid make it possible to study the structure of protein complexes from dilute samples.
Photogrammetric determination of movement speed of invasive Indo-Pacific lionfish in the Florida Keys
Authors: Kolonay Neal , Glaspie Cassandra N.
Published: January 2025

As a key determinant of how efficiently lionfish (Pterois sp.) locate and capture prey, swimming speed plays a crucial role in shaping the predator-prey interactions and broader ecological dynamics within the invaded ecosystems. Swimming speed on a small temporal and spatial scale is difficult to measure because of the need for precise measurements of both distance and duration of the behavior. Using photogrammetry by way of stereo-camera setups is ideal for analyzing the minutiae of lionfish behaviors because it can include the benefits of remote video traps coupled with precise measurements of movements in three-dimensional space and time. The primary objective of this study was to identify and characterize lionfish behavior associated with different movement speeds, and then to quantify small-scale swimming speeds of lionfish associated with those behaviors. Swimming speeds were classified under three different observed behaviors: relaxed swimming, traverse swimming, and striking at prey. The differences between these behaviors were primarily distinguished based on body and fin positioning, as well as the apparent intent of the motion if any was evident. The mean lionfish swimming speed from stereoscopic camera footage was 44.75 mm s−1 for relaxed swimming, 138.99 mm s−1 for traverse swimming, and 625.44 mm s−1 for striking at prey. Swimming speed can be used to quantify how much habitat area a lionfish may cover in a day, and therefore the amount of prey that may be encountered by a predator. Lionfish feeding success under different environmental conditions could be an important factor in understanding their survival and growth in areas where they are found.
Targeted correction of megabase-scale CNTN6 duplication in induced pluripotent stem cells and impacts on gene expression
Authors: Gridina Maria , Orlova Polina , Serov Oleg
Published: January 2025

Copy number variations of the human CNTN6 gene, resulting from megabase-scale microdeletions or microduplications in the 3p26.3 region, are frequently implicated in neurodevelopmental disorders such as intellectual disability and developmental delay. However, duplication of the full-length human CNTN6 gene presents with variable penetrance, resulting in phenotypes that range from neurodevelopmental disorders to no visible pathologies, even within the same family. Previously, we obtained a set of induced pluripotent stem cell lines derived from a patient with a CNTN6 gene duplication and from two healthy donors. Our findings demonstrated that CNTN6 expression in neurons carrying the duplication was significantly reduced. Additionally, the expression from the CNTN6 duplicated allele was markedly lower compared to the wild-type allele. Here, we first introduce a system for correcting megabase-scale duplications in induced pluripotent stem cells and secondly analyze the impact of this correction on CNTN6 gene expression. We showed that the deletion of one copy of the CNTN6 duplication did not affect the expression levels of the remaining allele in the neuronal cells.
Assessment of physical education teachers’ use of distance teaching behavior under the influence of the COVID-19 pandemic
Authors: Huang Hsiu-Chin , Kung Ya-Tzu , Huang Ruey-Rong , Mui Wui-Chiu , Su Yu-Chien
Published: January 2025

Background

For many physical education teachers, being suddenly forced to switch from traditional face-to-face teaching to online teaching without adequate mental preparation posed numerous challenges and difficulties. Therefore, the purpose of this study is to validate the use of distance teaching behavior models for physical education teachers under the influence of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Method

The unified theory of acceptance and use of technology (UTAUT) model was employed to explore the use intention and use behavior of distance teaching. The model contains four independent variables: performance expectancy (PE), effort expectancy (EE), social influence (SI), and facilitating conditions (FC), two dependent variables: behavioral intention (BI) and use behavior (UB) and three moderating variables: gender, age, and experience. A total of 400 questionnaires were distributed to elementary and junior high school physical education teachers with 364 valid responses. Partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM) was used to test the relationships among variables.

Results

The results found PE, EE and SI had significant influences on BI and FC and BI had significant influences on UB. Experience had moderating effects among SI and BI.

Conclusions

Based on the results, recommendations for physical education teachers and schools are proposed. Furthermore, research limitations and future directions are discussed.
Examining ozone effects on the tropical C4 crop Sorghum bicolor
Authors: Farha Mst Nahid , Brown Flossie , Cernusak Lucas A. , Sitch Stephen , Cheesman Alexander W.
Published: January 2025

Ozone (O3), a major air pollutant, can negatively impact plant growth and yield. While O3 impacts have been widely documented in crops such as wheat and soybean, few studies have looked at the effects of O3 on sorghum, a C4 plant and the fifth most important cereal crop worldwide. We exposed grain sorghum (Sorghum bicolor cv. HAT150843) to a range of O3 concentrations (daytime mean O3 concentrations ranged between 20 and 97 ppb) in open-top chambers, and examined how whole plant and leaf morphological traits varied in response to O3 exposure. Results showed no significant impact of realistic O3 exposure on whole plant biomass and its partitioning in sorghum. These findings suggest that sorghum is generally resistant to O3 and should be considered as a favourable crop in O3 polluted regions, while acknowledging further research is needed to understand the mechanistic basis of O3 tolerance in sorghum.
Hacia el rezago cero: estrategias para lograr que 200.000 estudiantes lean a la edad adecuada: propuesta de iniciativas para disminuir el rezago lector en Chile
Authors:   , Iacobelli Delpiano Bernardita
Published: January 2025

La deficiencia en la comprensión lectora, tanto en escolares como en adultos, tiene profundas repercusiones en el desarrollo social, la economía de los países y el ejercicio efectivo de la democracia. La falta de habilidades lectoras precursoras, esenciales para el desarrollo de la comprensión, genera impactos irreparables al no consolidarse las conexiones neuronales necesarias en etapas tempranas. Esto afecta el neurodesarrollo infantil, condiciona el aprendizaje de contenidos futuros y persiste hasta la adultez. Asimismo, se observa un impacto significativo en la salud mental de los jóvenes, quienes, al carecer de habilidades lectoras adecuadas, son más propensos a experimentar ansiedad, depresión, baja autoestima, comportamientos agresivos y consumo de sustancias.En Chile, más del 50% de los estudiantes de 4º básico presenta niveles insuficientes de comprensión lectora, según el SIMCE 2023. Este estancamiento, sostenido por más de una década, refleja una preocupante normalización de la problemática. En 2º básico, los resultados existentes no son más alentadores, revelando que no solo se carece de comprensión lectora, sino también de habilidades fundamentales para el aprendizaje lector. Este analfabetismo se posiciona como una silenciosa tragedia que exige una respuesta contundente de las políticas públicas.Con el propósito de contribuir a la meta del Ministerio de Educación de “rezago cero en lectura al 2034 para 4º básico”, este trabajo revisa las principales iniciativas lectoras en Chile, los análisis y opiniones de expertos en el tema e identifica casos de alfabetización e incidencia política exitosos que han demostrado ser replicables en diversos contextos. A partir de este trabajo, se proponen medidas estratégicas para los próximos cinco años que apunten a que todos los niños puedan leer fluidamente antes de terminar 2º básico, ya que es la única manera de poder mejorar los resultados de comprensión lectora para 4º básico de forma sostenida.El documento presenta una propuesta para que 200.000 niños chilenos logren leer a la edad adecuada. Aunque el país cuenta con diversas iniciativas en curso, éstas no están dando resultados. Por ello, la estrategia propuesta se fundamenta en articular un compromiso político sólido con un foco claro en aprendizaje lector a la edad adecuada, y la cultura de corresponsabilidad en el proceso de aprendizaje por parte de las comunidades educativas y líderes políticos locales. Al avanzar en el compromiso político se proponen cuatro ejes de intervenciones integrales: i) Cultura de la lectura, ii) Docentes y líderes pedagógicos preparados y motivados, iii) Propuesta pedagógica y didáctica, y iv) Evaluación y monitoreo.
La Influencia del Diagnóstico de Trastorno Límite de la Personalidad en la Construcción de Caso: Las Percepciones de Psicoanalistas
Authors:   , Guiñez Torres Mariela Beatriz
Published: January 2025

El presente trabajo busca investigar acerca de las posibles influencias que puede tener un diagnóstico de Trastorno Límite de Personalidad (TLP) en la construcción de casos, desde la perspectiva de psicoanalistas. A partir de la literatura se ve que el diagnóstico de TLP tiene efectos particulares en tratantes y pacientes, lo cual influye en el abordaje y tratamiento. De este modo, y considerando que el psicoanálisis tiene un enfoque propio de trabajo, se pretende dilucidar cómo se da este fenómeno y qué se hace con este almomento de construir un caso. La construcción de caso es una herramienta que resulta fundamental al momento de entender, comprender, abordar e hipotetizar en torno a un caso para el posterior abordaje y tratamiento de pacientes. De ahí la relevancia de su consideración. Para lograr el objetivo propuesto, se realizó un estudio cualitativo desde la teoría fundamentada donde se analizó 8 entrevistas a psicoanalistas que hayan trabajado con pacientes que llegaran a su atención con un diagnóstico de TLP, esto a modo de recoger sus percepciones acerca de la temática.Dentro de lo investigado, se pudo ver que sí existen influencias del diagnóstico de TLP en la construcción de caso, abarcando distintas aristas que pueden resultar influyentes. Además, surgen nuevos elementos importantes a considerar para investigaciones futuras y expandir el conocimiento sobre el campo del psicoanálisis y Trastorno Límite de la Personalidad.
Dexmedetomidine versus Dexamethasone as an Adjuvant to Ropivacaine in Transversus Abdominis Plane Block in Infraumbilical Surgeries for Postoperative Analgesia: A Randomised Clinical Study
Authors: Kumari Anupama , Patel Aarjvi , Berawala Payal , Thomas Sara Mary
Published: January 2025

Introduction: Postoperative pain due to abdominal wall incision in infraumbilical surgeries can negatively impact surgical outcomes and increase the risk of complications. Effective postoperative analgesia facilitates rehabilitation and recovery. The Transversus Abdominis Plane (TAP) block is a regional analgesic technique that blocks the nerves supplying the anterolateral abdominal wall (T7-L1). Adjuvants like dexamethasone and dexmedetomidine added to local anaesthetics can prolong the duration of the block.

Aim: To compare the duration of analgesia (the time of first rescue analgesia) and the quality of pain relief, as assessed by the Visual Analogue Scale (VAS), between dexmedetomidine and dexamethasone as adjuvants to ropivacaine in the TAP block for infraumbilical surgeries. The secondary objective was to compare postoperative haemodynamic changes and side effects.

Materials and Methods: In this randomised double-blinded prospective clinical study, conducted in the Department of Anaesthesia, Shrimati Bhikhiben Kanjibhai Shah Medical Institute and Research Centre (SBKS MIRC), Piparia, Vadodara, Gujarat, India from March 2023 to September 2024. 80 patients of American Society of Anaesthesiologists (ASA) I and II, aged 18-60 years, undergoing elective infraumbilical surgeries (open abdominal hysterectomy and open bilateral inguinal hernia repair) under spinal anaesthesia were randomly allocated into two groups of 40 patients each. Group-R1 received 0.2% ropivacaine 3 mg/kg plus dexamethasone 0.1 mg/kg, while Group-R2 received 0.2% ropivacaine 3 mg/kg plus dexmedetomidine 1 μg/kg in a bilateral TAP block. The total volume was made up to 50 mL with normal saline. Postoperative pain was assessed using VAS scores. The time to first rescue analgesia demand and haemodynamic parameters were recorded.

Results: The mean age of the study participants was 40.15±7.46 years (Group-R1) and 39.5±5.59 years (Group-R2). Demographic data, type of surgery, and duration of surgery were comparable between the two groups. VAS scores were significantly lower in Group-R2 compared to Group-R1 at all time points up to six hours postoperatively (p<0.0001). The mean duration of analgesia was significantly longer in Group-R2 (308.18±12.3 minutes) compared to Group-R1 (239.78±14.23 minutes) (p<0.0001). Haemodynamic parameters were comparable between the groups, with no significant side effects observed.

Conclusion: Dexmedetomidine 1 μg/kg as an adjuvant to 0.2% ropivacaine in the TAP block provided a longer duration of analgesia and better quality of pain relief compared to dexamethasone 0.1 mg/kg for postoperative analgesia in infraumbilical surgeries.
Advancements in the Use of Bayer Red Mud as a Sustainable Cementitious Material in Concrete: Challenges and Opportunities
Authors: Liu Qian
Published: January 2025

Bayer red mud is an industrial waste residue formed in the alumina process produced by the Bayer process in the alumina plant. At present, the main disposal method of red mud is to send it to red mud dam for storage. Due to its high alkali content, it causes serious pollution to the surrounding environment and becomes an ecological problem to be solved urgently. In this paper, the application progress of Bayer red mud in concrete is summarized. This paper focuses on the possibility of red mud as a cementitious material and deeply discusses the influence of red mud on the working performance and mechanical properties of concrete. Finally, the shortcomings in the current research of red mud concrete are pointed out, to provide a reference for the research direction of Bayer red mud in concrete.
Assessment of Knowledge and Adaptation Strategies of Farmers on Climate Change Regarding Turmeric Cultivation
Authors: Amulya R , Devi M. Deepa , Prasad Angad , Sharma M. M.
Published: January 2025

An alarming global phenomenon that refers to the long-term shifts in temperature and weather patterns on earth is climate change. It has recently been widely discussed in all spheres of society. Climate change has a huge impact on turmeric cultivation which prefers rich and wet soils in a protected and shady location. At the same time, climate change has become major concern for turmeric growing cultivars in Manipur as its contribution in the production of the turmeric is decreasing. Adaptation strategies to cope up with climate change and the related impacts have drawn a considerable attention. This paper was carried out to study the socio-economic profile of the turmeric farmers and how it affects the farmers’ knowledge and adaptation strategies on climate change in turmeric cultivation in Thoubal District of Manipur. Data for the study were collected from 111 turmeric growing farmers through personal interview. The ex-post-facto research deign was used and the respondents were selected purposively. The study found that only 88 farmers were using adaptation strategies and 23 farmers were not adopting anything in accordance with the climate change. Correlation was calculated in order to find out the relationship of the socio-economic characteristics with the farmers knowledge and adaptation strategies. The study has shown that occupational engagement, level of education and mass media exposure had more positive correlation with the farmers’ knowledge on climate change. Similarly, mass media exposure, level of education and social participation had shown more positive correlation with the farmers’ adaptation strategies respectively than other variables.
Comparative Study of the Ichthyological Production between Two Hydrosystems under Protection and Open Access in Aby Lagoon, Côte d'Ivoire
Authors: AHOULOU Elie Jonathan , SORO Yaya , DIAHA Constance N’Guessan , YAO Ahou Nindo Astrile Nerie , N'DA Konan
Published: January 2025

The main objective of this study is to highlight the role of fisheries management in the productivity and sustainability of fisheries-related activities. The study ran from December 2020 to May 2021 and from December 2021 to May 2022. Sampling was carried out on catches from an artisanal fishery using purse seines in both fishing environments. The results for the reserves showed a reduction in fishing effort in year 2 compared with year 1. In terms of profit per fishing trip in the reserves. The highest Catch Per Unit Effort (CPUE) was recorded in Ehoussou (3,526.87 kg) and Abiaty (2,624 kg) during the first year, and in Bèdoubegnin/Mauricekro (1,774 kg), Abiaty (1,288.88 kg), Aby (1,283.57 kg) and Eplemlan (1,240 kg) during the second year. The largest quantities of fish caught per reserve were observed at Ehoussou (56,430 Kg) and Abiaty (39,360 Kg) during year 1, and at Aby (17,970 Kg) and Bèdoubegnin/Mauricekro (17,740 Kg) during year 2. On the portion of the Aby lagoon to which access is free, the fishing effort amounted to 2,315 trips (year 1), compared with 1,812 trips in year 2. In this free-fishing zone, the CPUE was 291.12 kg in year 1, compared with 193.17 kg in year 2. The quantity of fish produced annually in this unprotected portion was 673,935 kg in year 1, and 350,029 kg in year 2. These results showed that for the small amount of fishing effort made in the reserves (250 trips) over the sampling period, the average profit from one fishing trip was as high as possible (1,177.31 kg). The opposite was observed in the lagoon portion with free access, since with an effort of 4,127 fishing trips over the entire survey period, the average gain from one fishing trip was only 248.11 kg. This study serves to alert fisheries managers to the fact that productivity is not correlated with the increase in fishing pressure, and that the profit per fishing team in terms of biomass is higher in reserves under protection. This experiment needs to be replicated in other hydro-systems of bio-ecological interest, to better safeguard fishing in a sustainable manner.
Phytochemical Composition, Medicinal Applications, and Pharmacological Insights: A Comparative Review of Rauvolfia serpentina and Rauvolfia tetraphylla
Authors: Shenya Sapugaskandage , Sendanayake Dinara , Medis Sohani , Dlirukshi Niluka
Published: January 2025

Aims: This review article aims to compare the phytochemical profile, therapeutic potential and pharmacological activities of Rauvolfia serpentina and Rauvolfia tetraphylla.
Scope of Review: Review data from published literature and assess about phytochemicals, therapeutic applications and efficacy of Rauvolfia serpentina and Rauvolfia tetraphylla against microorganisms and inflammation comparatively.
Methodology: Research papers and review articles on Rauvolfia serpentina and Rauvolfia tetraphylla were collected and analyzed about phytochemicals, medicinal uses, antibacterial and inflammatory properties.
Summary of Findings: Rauvolfia serpentina and Rauvolfia tetraphylla have many similarities in its phytochemistry such as alkaloids like Reserpine, Ajmaline. They have been used to treat similar diseases and illness conditions like hypertension, psychotic disorders and snake bites.
Conclusion: According to the findings, due to endangered status of Rauvolfia serpentina, Rauvolfia tetraphylla can be used as an ideal substitute and can be used for developing novel antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory drugs with mild side effects. Further investigations are necessary to determine their efficacy.
Correlation Studies in Early Clonal Generation under Water Logging Condition in Sugarcane for Yield and Its Attributing Traits
Authors: Varija G. Sai , Kumar Balwant , Vennela M.
Published: January 2025

An experiment was carried out during 2021-22 at Sugarcane Research Institute, Dr. RPCAU, Bihar using 24 clones that were planted in augmented design along with two checks. Data was recorded for the nine characters. There was a positively significant correlation found among cane yield and the following characteristics: cane diameter at harvest, number of millable canes at harvest, germination percentage at 45 days after planting, and number of shoots at 120 days after planting. Whereas, the number of aerial roots per node showed a negative correlation with cane yield. Traits viz., germination % at 45 days after planting, number of shoots at 120 days after planting, cane diameter at harvest, single cane weight, number of millable canes at harvest, HR Brix in November had direct and positive effect on cane yield, among these, number of millable canes at harvest showed highest direct and positive effect followed by single cane weight on cane yield, whereas, plant height at harvest, number of aerial roots per node, HR Brix in December and January showed negative direct effect on cane yield. The characters that showed significant correlation and positive direct effect can be selected further to obtain higher cane yields in sugarcane.
Biology and Management of Spodoptera litura on Cabbage in Laboratory Conditions
Authors: Afroz Aaliya
Published: January 2025

Spodoptera litura, commonly known as the tobacco cutworm, is a significant polyphagous pest of cabbage and other cruciferous crops. This study investigated the biology and evaluated the efficacy of different management strategies against Spodoptera litura on cabbage under laboratory conditions. Observations on the life cycle parameters, including incubation period (3.0±0.0 days), larval duration (29.60 days), pupal duration (8.80±1.48 days), and adult longevity (8.20±0.92 days, female, and 5.90±1.10 days, male), were recorded. Different management strategies, such as neem kernel extract (NSKE) containing 0.15% azadirachtin, Beauveria bassiana (Green Beauveria @ 1 ×  CFU/ml and Multiplex Baba 2 ×  CFU/ml), and newer insecticides (Novaluron, 10% EC, and Spinosad, 2.5% SC), were evaluated for their efficacy in controlling larval populations. Spinosad  (0.025 %) and novaluron (0.01 %) when treated on I, II, III and IV instar larva resulted in 100% mortality in only 3 DAT while Green Beauveria (2% and 4%) was able to kill only 43.33% of I and II instar larvae in 3 DAT and Multiplex Baba (4%) 10% and 16.67% on III and IV instar larvae, respectively. The application of NSKE (0.2%) was only effective on I and III instar larvae with a mortality rate of 33.33 and 11.11% respectively. Thus, the results revealed that chemical insecticides were highly effective than Beauveria bassiana and NSKE. This information can be utilized to develop sustainable and eco-friendly pest management programs for Spodoptera litura on cabbage in field conditions.
ChatGPT and Critical Pedagogy in American Education Systems: Should There Be a Reason to Get Worried?
Authors: Seje Nuru T , Seje Martha A , Tindi Maureen A
Published: January 2025

It is astounding to imagine that the concept of ChatGPT is less than half a decade old. Yet, it is steadily becoming a household name in almost all organizations, corporations, and schools. ChatGPT is undoubtedly transforming educational systems with its ability to streamline educators’ workloads, accelerate the engagement of students, and reimagine the teaching-learning process which could potentially result in improved academic outcomes as its adoption becomes widespread. This study sought to test a null hypothesis of no significant relationship between the use of ChatGPT and educators' deployment of critical pedagogy. With a sample size of 74 educators selected both purposively and through convenience strategy, the study used the Pearson linear correlation coefficient to analyze data. With the level of significance set at 0.05, the study found r=0.031, and sig.= 0.114, hence the rejection of the null hypothesis and the acceptance of its alternate, leading to the conclusion that ChatGPT impacts the deployment of critical pedagogy positively. Even as debates rage on its adoption and usage in educational settings, some educational institutions and even regulatory agencies are yet to fully appreciate the extent to which ChatGPT could impact critical pedagogy. This paper recommends that educational institutions should put policies and procedures in place to ensure ethical and purposeful usage of ChatGPT in educational settings.
UNESCO Geopark Designation Lake Toba, North Sumatra, Indonesia: Econometric Descriptive Analysis Before and After
Authors: Pardede Frengky , Nasution Zulkifli , Slamet Bejo
Published: January 2025

This study analyzes land-use changes in the lakeside area of Lake Toba in Toba Regency before and after its designation as a UNESCO Global Geopark in 2020. Using satellite imagery, drone-assisted surveys, and field observations, the study quantifies specific changes in land cover and evaluates the impact of Geopark designation on environmental, social, and economic sustainability. Between 2015 and 2023, natural vegetation increased by 8%, erosion-prone areas reduced by 12%, and compliance with zoning regulations improved by 15%. Environmental indicators such as phosphate concentrations dropped from 0.5 mg/L to 0.2 mg/L, while dissolved oxygen levels rose from 4.5 mg/L to 6.0 mg/L, signaling better water quality. However, challenges remain, including uneven community participation and gaps in zoning enforcement. Socially, community income from ecotourism activities increased by 25%, based on surveys and interviews conducted with local residents and stakeholders. The study highlights the importance of collaborative management frameworks involving governments, communities, and private sectors to ensure sustainable development. The findings provide strategic policy recommendations for adaptive environmental management, offering a replicable model for other tourism regions in Indonesia and beyond.
Guiding Risk Adjustment Models Toward Machine Learning Methods
Authors: Weissman Gary E. , Joynt Maddox Karen E.
Published: August 2023

This Viewpoint reviews the history of administrative risk adjustment models used in health care and provides recommendations for modernizing these models to promote their safe, transparent, equitable, and efficient use.
Identification of Compounds Protecting Pancreatic Islets against Oxidative Stress using a 3D Pseudoislet Screening Platform
Authors: Rademakers Timo , Sthijns Mireille M. J. P. E. , Paulino da Silva Filho Omar , Joris Virginie , Oosterveer Jolien , Lam Tsang Wai , van Doornmalen Els , van Helden Steven , LaPointe Vanessa L. S.
Published: August 2023

Oxidative stress leads to a lower success rate of clinical islet transplantation. Here, FDA‐approved compounds are screened for their potential to decrease oxidative stress and to protect or enhance pancreatic islet viability and function. Studies are performed on in vitro “pseudoislet” spheroids, which are pre‐incubated with 1280 different compounds and subjected to oxidative stress. Cell viability and oxidative stress levels are determined using a high‐throughput fluorescence microscopy pipeline. Initial screening on cell viability results in 59 candidates. The top ten candidates are subsequently screened for their potential to decrease induced oxidative stress, and eight compounds efficient reduction of induced oxidative stress in both alpha and beta cells by 25–50%. After further characterization, the compound sulfisoxazole is found to be the most capable of reducing oxidative stress, also at short pre‐incubation times, which is validated in primary human islets, where low oxidative stress levels and islet function are maintained. This study shows an effective screening strategy with 3D cell aggregates based on cell viability and oxidative stress, which leads to the discovery of several compounds with antioxidant capacity. The top candidate, sulfisoxazole is effective after a 30 min pre‐incubation, maintains baseline islet function, and may help alleviate oxidative stress in pancreatic islets.
Novel Spinel Multicomponent High‐Entropy Oxide as Anode for Lithium‐Ion Batteries with Excellent Electrochemical Performance
Authors: An Qingbin , Li Song , Zhou Jingjiao , Ji Shijun , Wen Zhongsheng , Sun Juncai
Published: August 2023

High‐entropy spinel oxides (HESOs) are a promising anode material for lithium‐ion batteries (LIBs) due to their high structural stability and theoretical capacity. However, the development of HESOs is mainly limited to five‐component equimolar systems, and the lithium‐storage mechanism is still controversial. A nonequimolar six‐component oxide, (CoMnZnNiMg)2CrO4, is synthesized using a solution combustion method. The prepared material is a HESOs, consisting of homogeneous nanoparticles with a mesoporous structure. (CoMnZnNiMg)2CrO4 exhibits high rate performance (371 mAh g−1 at 2000 mA g−1) and long cycling stability (608 mAh g−1 after 200 cycles at 200 mA g−1). A variety of constituent elements exist uniformly and stably in a spinel phase due to the high‐configuration entropy‐induced phase‐stabilization effect, and the synergistic effect of the various valence elements in the material results in the excellent electrochemical performance. The outstanding electrochemical kinetic properties of the HESOs are mainly attributed to the high‐ionic‐diffusion coefficients and pseudocapacitance contributions. In addition, the HESOs electrodes undergo an amorphous conversion during the initial charge/discharge process. It is shown that the rational design and modulation of the active component is an effective way to obtain high‐performance HESOs for LIBs.
Mixed Oxide Aerogels with High‐Performance Insulating Properties for High‐Temperature Space Application
Authors: Heyer Markus , Esser Burkard , Guelhan Ali , Milow Barbara , Voepel Pascal
Published: August 2023

Herein, a direct comparison of the thermal conductivity and stability of different silica‐fiber‐reinforced silica aerogels is presented. The thermal performance under high‐temperature exposure within an arc‐heated facility is evaluated by means of thermal propagation and stability. All aerogel materials, tested within this study, outperform the high‐temperature fiber‐based insulation mat in terms of thermal protection. Modification of the aerogels in the composition and opacification leads to an improvement of thermal insulation properties as well as of thermal stability against the high temperature. All materials are prepared in the form of cylindrical disks of 100 mm diameter having a thickness of 20 mm. Based on classic silica aerogel, an opacified silica aerogel and an aerogel in mullite composition, inorganic fiber‐reinforce composites have been prepared and tested, and their performance is discussed comparatively. The specimens with mullite composition are intended to form mullite in situ during application to avoid energy‐costly pretreatment.
Tailoring the Mechanical Properties of High‐Fidelity, Beetle‐Inspired, 3D‐Printed Wings Improves Their Aerodynamic Performance
Authors: Filc Or , Gilon Hagit , Gershon Shmuel , Ribak Gal , Pinchasik Bat-El
Published: August 2023

Miniature flapping drones can potentially operate in small spaces, using lightweight membranous wings. Designing these flexible wings appropriately is crucial for effective flight performance. 3D printing allows not only to fabricate high‐fidelity, insect‐inspired wings but also to further improve their design and shorten the development period for miniature flapping drones. Herein, a bioinspired approach is used to develop 3D‐printed wings based on the rose chafer beetle wings. By modulating the wing structure, 12 different wing models are designed that differ in the shape of the veins’ cross‐section, tapering geometry, and membrane thickness. The mechanical and aerodynamic properties of these models are compared, to establish guidelines linking wing form to function. It is shown that 1) the geometry of the veins’ cross‐section offers a powerful tool for engineering in‐plane and out‐of‐plane deformations; 2) tapering veins improve the wings’ mechanical stability, and 2) the membrane merges the mechanics of the individual veins into an integrated aerodynamically favorable structure. These result in 16% higher lift and 27% improvement in lift production efficiency (N/Watts) in a revolving wing setup. Designing light, flexible, robust, and aerodynamically efficient wings presents a formidable engineering challenge that insects have solved. Reverse engineering these intricate structures is empirically described herein.
A Boron‐Based Probe Driven Theranostic Hydrogel Dressing for Visual Monitoring and Matching Chronic Wound Healing
Authors: Zhang Hongyan , Li Wei‐Xiong , Tang Shipeng , Chen Yu , Lan Ling‐Min , Li Shanshan , Xiong Mingxin , Hu Xiaolong , Liu Ya‐Hong , Sun Jian , Jiang Gang‐Biao
Published: August 2023

Chronic wound management remains a challenge due to the epithelial barrier loss, drug‐resistant bacterial infections, inflammatory storm, and compromised angiogenesis. Herein, a boron‐based probe driven theranostic hydrogel dressing for visual monitoring and matching chronic wounds healing is developed to encourage chronic wound healing. The boron‐based (BT) probe is synthesized through the dynamic interaction between borax (B) and tannic acid (TA) and serves as a cross‐linker for constructing the guar gum/polyvinyl alcohol/BT (GPBT) hydrogels. Notably, the GPBT hydrogels offer visual monitoring through color change and remote diagnosis via smartphone. Meanwhile, they exhibit the ability to match the different healing stages of chronic wounds. During the early alkaline stage, the controlled release of TA accelerates healing by polarizing M1 macrophages to M2 macrophages and promoting angiogenesis. As the wound progresses into the acidic healing phase, the hydrogels undergo programmed disassembly to facilitate tissue regeneration. Remarkably, the hydrogel dressing demonstrates potent antibacterial activity by disrupting bacterial membrane potential. Furthermore, it has good self‐healing, self‐adaptive, and adhesion properties. This multifunctional theranostic hydrogel dressing, featuring visual monitoring and matching chronic wound healing, lays the foundation for the development of personalized and precise theranostic platforms.
DEBBIE: The Open Access Database of Experimental Scaffolds and Biomaterials Built Using an Automated Text Mining Pipeline
Authors: Corvi Javier O. , McKitrick Austin , Fernández José M. , Fuenteslópez Carla V. , Gelpí Josep L. , Ginebra Maria‐Pau , Capella‐Gutierrez Salvador , Hakimi Osnat
Published: August 2023

Biomaterials research output has experienced an exponential increase over the last three decades. The majority of research is published in the form of scientific articles and is therefore available as unstructured text, making it a challenging input for computational processing. Computational tools are becoming essential to overcome this information overload. Among them, text mining systems present an attractive option for the automated extraction of information from text documents into structured datasets. This work presents the first automated system for biomaterial related information extraction from the National Library of Medicine's premier bibliographic database (MEDLINE) research abstracts into a searchable database. The system is a text mining pipeline that periodically retrieves abstracts from PubMed and identifies research and clinical studies of biomaterials. Thereafter, the pipeline identifies sixteen concept types of interest in the abstract using the Biomaterials Annotator, a tool for biomaterials Named Entity Recognition (NER). These concepts of interest, along with the abstract and relevant metadata are then deposited in DEBBIE, the Database of Experimental Biomaterials and their Biological Effect. DEBBIE is accessible through a web application that provides keyword searches and displays results in an intuitive and meaningful manner, aiming to facilitate an efficient mapping and organization of biomaterials information.
Selective Control of Phases and Electronic Structures of Monolayer TaTe2
Authors: Feng Runfa , Wang Wei , Bao Changhua , Zhang Zichun , Wang Fei , Zhang Hongyun , Yao Junjie , Xu Yong , Yu Pu , Ji Shuai‐Hua , Si Chen , Zhou Shuyun
Published: August 2023

Transition metal dichalcogenide (TMDC) films exhibit rich phases and superstructures, which can be controlled by the growth conditions as well as post‐growth annealing treatment. Here, the selective growth of monolayer TaTe2 films with different phases as well as superstructures using molecular beam epitaxy (MBE) is reported. Monolayer 1H‐TaTe2 and 1T‐TaTe2 films can be selectively controlled by varying the growth temperature, and their different electronic structures are revealed through the combination of angle‐resolved photoemission spectroscopy measurements (ARPES) and first‐principles calculations. Moreover, post‐growth annealing of the 1H‐TaTe2 film further leads to a transition from a superstructure to a new 2 × 2 superstructure, where two gaps are observed in the electronic structure and persist up to room temperature. First‐principles calculations reveal the role of the phonon instability in the formation of superstructures and the effect of local atomic distortions on the modified electronic structures. This work demonstrates the manipulation of the rich phases and superstructures of monolayer TaTe2 films by controlling the growth kinetics and post‐growth annealing.
A New Mars‐van Krevelen Mechanism for CO Oxidation on a Ti‐Decorated MXene
Authors: Zhang Xilin , Peng Qianqian , Chen Lu , Lu Zhansheng , Yang Zongxian , Hermansson Kersti
Published: August 2023

First‐principles computations are performed to investigate the catalytic oxidation of CO on a Ti‐decorated Cr2TiC2O2 MXene monolayer, through comprehensive analysis of charge transfer, electronic density of states, and charge density difference of the interacting systems. By comparing the reaction energy barriers, it is found that, rather than the traditional Langmuir–Hinshelwood, Eley–Rideal, and Mars‐van Krevelen (MvK) mechanisms, the CO oxidation favours a new variant of the MvK mechanism, in which the anchored Ti atom activates the surface oxygen to spill over from the substrate and take part in the CO oxidation. This work highlights the importance of activating the surface oxygen atoms of MXene by foreign metal atoms to improve the catalytic activity, and suggests that further studies into the new MvK mechanism for CO oxidation may prove worthwhile.