bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The Confessional Poetry of Robert Lowell:
Authors: Boksh Shanjida Khatun
Published: June 2023

The “grace of accuracy” (“Epilogue” Day by Day 127) serves as a credo for Robert Lowell’s art and for confessional poetry in general; it is the art of describing experiences in words, it is the artist’s reward of love, both to the art and to the fact. The cardinal force behind this artistic intention in writing even the most confessional of poems of Life Studies is Lowell’s formal mastery of New criticism stimulated by T.S. Eliot. Tellingly, Lowell broke away from the culpability of making confessional poetry a by-word for limp infatuation, and hence restored his position as an avant-garde poet of the twentieth century American poetry. Poetry, for him, serves simultaneously as a snapshot of life and an interpretation of that picture – a record of fact and a figurative design laden with significance. This paper deals with Lowell’s encountering the paradoxical dilemma of self and self-representation in his confessional poems through which he created his poetic identity and wheedlingly added a feather in the artistry of poetry per se.
Using Graphic Novels to Teach English Majors in Bangladeshi Universities
Authors: Huq ATM Sajedul
Published: June 2023

The paper examines the existing misconceptions about graphic novels and explains how this medium of art can be used to teach graduate students majoring in English Literature. Graphic novels can be a great aid for students who ate pursuing degrees in English, yet struggling with language acquisition. The lack of vocabulary is one stumbling block which can be averted by the illustrations of a graphic novel that both exemplify the context and contextualize the narrative. The inclusion of graphic novels in syllabi across the globe, the paper argues, can be replicated in our local universities.
Strategic Madness:
Authors: Akter Ms. Sharifa
Published: June 2023

To deconstruct the cultural perversion of the African-American ethnicity, Toni Morrison deploys “madness” as grand metaphor in The Bluest Eye. The “mad-self” metaphorically liberates the hidden oppressed self to be expressed which can be explained as a resistance. In comparison to black male characters in The Bluest Eye, the ideologically problematic stereotyping of female characters ‘triple nonentities – that is, “being black,”“being woman,” and “being mad” will be criticized in this study. Toni Morrison’s strategy in using madness to argue if and how female madness questions or strengthens patriarchal and racial representational politics is also examined. In The Madwoman in the Attic, Sandra M. Gilbert and Susan Gubar imply that a woman writer must examine, assimilate, and transcend the images of male authors generated for her. Women must deconstruct the aesthetic ideal that patriarchy has trapped them in art. From this perspective, despite the use of madness as a liberating agent,“madness” in The Bluest Eye appears to be an extension of the female characters’ marginality, patriarchal domination, intra-racial status, and being the “other” among the others.
Anxiety and Willingness to Communicate in Language Learning:
Authors: Mahmudul Haque Mohammad
Published: June 2023

This case study attempts to find out the role of individual differences (IDs) in language learning of an advanced Bangladeshi EFL learner who aims to study at a graduate level program in Education at a North American university. A two-phase structured questionnaire interview has been conducted in which phase one comprises 40 openended questions with a general structure that attempts to find out the various personal characteristics of the interviewee, namely ‘personal profile,’ ‘learning history,’ linguistic background, etc. In phase two, there are two sub-phases, and the questionnaire in the first sub-phase focuses on four IDs namely ‘personality,’ ‘learning style,’ ‘anxiety,’ and ‘willingness to communicate,’ with a general research question concerning the effects of these IDs on the interviewee. In the second sub-phase, the researcher narrows down the focus of the research question to the two most important IDs influencing the interviewee’s learning of English, namely ‘anxiety’ and ‘willingness to communicate.’ For the second sub-phase of phase two, the researcher uses four quantitative measurement scales, two measuring the interviewee’s anxiety (adapted from Horwitz and Horwitz, 1986) and the other two measuring her willingness to communicate (adapted from Macintyre, 2001) both inside and outside of classrooms. The results show that the interviewee feels very anxious and addled in the classroom whereas she feels quite the opposite outside the classroom. Naturally, her willingness to communicate in the classroom is very low as she does not enjoy the teacher-centered deductive presentations of grammar rules. Also, the interviewee’s personality has a decisive effect on her language learning. Being an extrovert outside class and quiet in the class, she does not enjoy her academic success per se. Finally, there is a comparison between the researcher and the interviewee’s language learning experience revealing a number of similarities and differences between them.
Testing English at Tertiary Level:
Authors: Kabir Md. Shahjahan
Published: June 2023

The universities in Bangladesh, with their autonomous academic systems, formulate, design, and introduce their own course curricula and syllabi for teaching English. Here, the testing methods are crucial-for the success or failure of teaching or learning is determined by testing the students on their acquired knowledge of language. Unfortunately, the proficiency that the learners achieve at graduate and postgraduate levels is painfully disappointing. Students can hardly write a discourse in acceptable English, nor can they speak the language fluently and correctly. This failure is due not only to inefficient teaching methods but also to outdated and century-old testing systems. For language courses, the learners are usually tested on their typical knowledge of some set items of language, especially; they are tested on reading and writing abilities rather than listening and speaking skills. For literature courses, no skill-based test is taken. So, the present research is an endeavor on the existing testing methods to find out the drawbacks and failures of testing English at the tertiary level in Bangladesh. The researcher proposes some new and effective methods of testing which, if considered and introduced, can substantially contribute to upgrading the teaching and testing standards of these higher education institutes.
Text and Context:
Authors: Huq A. B. M. Monirul , Ahsan Md. Firoz Mahmud
Published: June 2023

The poor living conditions of the internally displaced people of Bangladesh at the Indian refugee camps during the months of the war of liberation in 1971 struck a deep chord with the philanthropic western minds, a handful of whom came in person to visit these camps. One of these people was the poet Allen Ginsberg, who, unlike a typical social worker, felt compelled within to address the global consciousness in an idiosyncratic way. Ginsberg’s “September on Jessore Road” was recited and sung by the poet himself in the tradition of the blues; but it counts more for its detailed account of the shocking ailment of the scared mob haunted by the atrocities of the Pakistani army. This paper is intent on assaying how the backdrop of the war-ridden Bangladesh affected Ginsberg’s poetic mind, resulting in a text dipped in a humanitarian appeal, which potently sketches the images of the sufferings of the distressed evacuees.
Madness and Lack of Autonomy:
Authors: Islam Sonika
Published: June 2023

Madness in woman is explored in this article through a close reading of Doris Lessing’s The Grass is Singing (1950). The protagonist of the text, Mary, longs for an autonomous identity. Failing to achieve autonomy makes her vulnerable in conforming to the social expectation and destroys her self-esteem. This article has explored three phases of Mary’s life—spinsterhood, unhappy married life, and her journey to sexual awakening which only gets repressed again by the racial oppression she faces as a white woman being in love with a colored man. This article has discussed the destructive influence of racism and class distinction on a woman’s sexuality, as a way to oppress the psyche of a woman. I have come to the conclusion that a woman’s failure to gain autonomous sexual identity is one of the main reasons behind her neurosis.
Representation of the Voiceless:
Authors: Shafiqul Islam Mohammad
Published: June 2023

Nissim Ezekiel (1924-2004), a major figure in the history of Indian English poetry, deals with a wide range of themes including the representation of the voiceless in his vast oeuvre of poetry. His poetic world is suffused with a variety of images, both urban and sylvan, and his poetry presents readers with people of different backgrounds from around the whole country. The poet depicts individuals from different strata of society who represent a great part of India. Some of his poems highlight distresses of the underprivileged people in various communities of India. Ezekiel shows that these people go through difficult times without having attention or empathy of the elites. Treated as the “other,” the poverty-stricken people cannot raise their voice though their struggle for survival continues. Ezekiel, a leading post-independence poet, represents his locale – many of his poems portray the actualities of Indian life. This article is an attempt to explore a selection of Ezekiel’s poems in order to find out how the marginalized people in India are exploited and oppressed, how they are deprived of their basic rights, how they suffer psychologically, how they are silenced, and how the poet strives to give voice to the voiceless.
Motivation in Digital Learning:
Authors: Chowdhury Nusrat Zahan , Rashid Mohammed Mizanur
Published: June 2023

The arrival of digital tools has the potential to profoundly influence learners of English as a foreign language in our country and this paper offers an account of how these proceedings may work. The focus of the study is to recognize how, in terms of English language learning, the teaching-learning environment can be created in cyberspace and how it could function with special emphasis on serendipitous learning. The paper then aims to explore the role of motivation in learning the English language from the perspective of Bangladeshi EFL learners. Later, the paper introduces a mechanism of inspiring the less motivated learners by concentrating on unconscious and semiconscious learning through utilizing tools in cyberspace. The study is based on data collected from a number of students from five public and private universities of Bangladesh. The research employs both qualitative and quantitative approaches by analyzing both questionnaire responses and one-on-one interviews.
Fiction into Film 7
Authors: Roy Anjali Gera
Published: June 2023

R. K. Narayan’s The Guide, considered a masterpiece, was made into an equally successful film. Guide was made in two versions — an English version in collaboration with Pearl S. Buck and directed by Ted Danielewski to introduce Dev Anand to Western audiences and the Hindi version directed by Dev Anand’s younger brother, Vijay Anand. Despite being warned by all and sundry not to touch the project and his brother’s strong reluctance to direct, Anand persisted with the film, which went on to fetch awards in almost all categories and remains a landmark in Indian Cinema. R. K. Narayan was most unhappy with the final film as he felt it deviated too much from his novel, particularly in Anand’s change of setting from Malgudi to Udaipur and the film’s ending, and disowned the film. The author’s disappointment with the cinematic translation of his text is understandable. But it overlooks the difference between fiction and film, the main issue being that the novel is a verbal medium whereas film is primarily a visual genre. What is the process through which the filmmaker translates the verbal into the visual mode? How did Vijay Anand translate Narayan’s complex fictional narrative that weaves in modernization, social reform, and development with spiritual quest in a cinematic code? How did he weave in the emboxed narrative of the unhappy dancer Rosie into the frame story about the Hindu concepts of the power of faith and renunciation? How did he handle descriptions of characters: “complexion not white, but dusky, which made her only half visible, as if you saw her through a film of tender coconut juice” and mood: “‘I’m prepared to spend the whole night here,’ she said. ‘He will, of course, be glad to be left alone. Here at least we have silence and darkness, welcome things, and something to wait for out of that darkness’”; interior monologue; the passage of time; the switch from the frame to the emboxed tale and so on? Through examining The Guide, this paper will engage with the handling of narrative in fiction and film.
Great Kazakh thinker Abai and Azerbaijan
Authors: Habibbayli Isa
Published: June 2023

The article deals with hard and honourable way of life of an outstanding classic of the Kazakh literature, great Kazakh poet and thinker Abai Kunanbay (1845-1904) who reflected national-spiritual values of Kazakh people. It is mentioned that the years of study in Semipalatinsk were of special importance in the formation of Abai Kunanbayev's outlook. Abay, who studied at a madrasa on his father’s advice, learnt Arabic and Persian, but later dropped out and got an opportunity to study the rich Russian literature and culture at a Russian school in Semipalatinsk. Writing poems that glorify the people’s spirit caused him to be persecuted by the authorities.However, in spite of all this, he sought the way of prosperity of the people only in enlightenment, in national-spiritual self-awareness. Abai's first poem, written when he was 10 years old – "Chasing a camel" – tells about his great talent. The social themes reflected in his poems are similar to the problems expressed in 19th century Azerbaijani literature from Abbasgulu agha Bakikhanov to Gasim bey Zakir and Seyid Azim Shirvani. The peak point of Abai Kunanbayev's creative work was considered his novel “Agliyya” (“Black Words”). This novel reflects the whole evolution processes from Abai's moral theory to enlightened realism.The article also touches on the points that connect the life and work of Abai Kunanbayev with Azerbaijan. It is also noted that Nizami Ganjavi and Mahammad Fuzuli has an important role in forming his worldview. Translation work in Abai Kunanbayev’s activity who has a wide range of other creative activities also has a special place. He liked Alexander Pushkin's novel “Eugene Onegin” and popularized many parts of this work among the Kazakh people by repeating. Books and  articles published in Azerbaijan are essential contributions of Azerbaijani science and literary and social thought to Abai studies.
 
References
Heydər Əliyev. Ədəbiyyatın böyük borcu və amalı. (tərtib edəni V.Quliyev). Bakı: Ozan, 1999.
Abay. Əsərləri (tərtib edəni Fatimə Dursunova). Bakı: Mütərcim, 2017.
Anar. “Ağaclar quruyub qocalar kimi”… “Ədəbiyyat qəzeti”.
Xəlil Rza. Bədii söz nəhəngi. “Kommunist” qəzeti, 28 sentyabr, 1977.
Pənah Xəlilov. Ön söz. Bax: Abay. Əsərləri. Bakı: Mütərcim, 2017.
Turan Teymur. Muxtar Auezovun “Abay” romanında sənətkarlıq məsələləri. Qazaxıstan: Nur-Sultan, BTA, 2020.
Investigating dietary recommendations, particularly tart cherries, in gout and cardiovascular disease management
Authors:   , Lamb Kirstie Louise
Published: June 2023

Gout is a painful form of inflammatory arthritis that affects approximately 3% of adults in the United Kingdom (UK). It is associated with several comorbidities including cardiovascular disease (CVD). Diet can contribute to the prevention and management of gout and several evidence-based dietary guidelines for gout have consequently been published. Nevertheless, gout patients may use alternative sources for dietary recommendations, for example YouTube® videos. One dietary recommendation that has received considerable attention in the prevention and management of gout is the consumption of cherries, but evidence supporting this is limited to observational research and studies without appropriate controls. Therefore, over three studies, this thesis aimed to explore the role of dietary modification in the prevention and management of gout and CVD, with a particular focus on tart cherries. In Study 1, the accuracy, reliability, quality, and understandability of dietary information for gout provided on the YouTube® platform was assessed. This study highlighted that dietary recommendations for gout on YouTube® often fail to align with evidence-based guidelines in the UK, are inconsistent, and are not always suitable for patients. Almost 30% of videos analysed included advice to consume cherries. Study 2 compared the acute effects of tart cherry juice with a neutral water control on uric acid levels, inflammation, and CVD risk markers in healthy individuals. A single serving of juice was not found to exert any acute health benefits. However, diurnal fluctuations in markers were detected. The effects of 12 months of daily tart cherry supplementation on gout flares, uric acid levels, inflammation, and CVD risk in gout patients were evaluated in Study 3. Compared with a placebo drink, long-term tart cherry supplementation did not present any health-promoting benefits for gout or CVD. This study was limited by low sample size. Nevertheless, long-term cherry juice supplementation was shown to be feasible and accepted by individuals with gout. Overall, this thesis is unable to support a direct role of tart cherry juice in the prevention and management of gout and CVD, despite the prevalence of this recommendation. However, it appears to be an appropriate alternative to drinks that are known to exacerbate risk marker of gout and CVD. Placebo-controlled studies with larger sample sizes are required to confirm these findings.
ИСТРАЖИВАЊИМА КА УНАПРЕЂЕЊУ ПРЕДШКОЛСКЕ И ШКОЛСКЕ ПРАКСЕ
Authors: Живановић Сања , Владичић Слађана
Published: June 2023

Савремено друштво 21. вијека намеће потребу цјелокупном васпитно-образов- ном систему за промјенама, свакодневним преиспитивањима, унапређењем и цјеложивотним образовањем оних који у оквиру њега дјелују и учествују у раз- воју, васпитању и образовању дјеце и младих. Истраживање васпитно-обра- зовне праксе један је од начина унапређења исте, али и стручног усавршавања, било да су у питању стручни сарадници, васпитачи у предшколским установама или учитељи и наставници у школама. Сигурни смо да је велики број просвјетних радника који уоче одређени проблем или постављају различита питања у сва- кодневној пракси. Поуздане одговоре на иста могу добити управо реализацијом одређених врста истраживања, а специфичности предшколске и школске сре- дине погодна су изворишта истраживачких питања и проблема. Стога је циљ овог рада приказати везу између професионалог развоја и истраживачког рада који се може примијенити у предшколској и школској средини, а посредством добијених резултата утицати на адекватне промјене и унапређење праксе, али и промјене личне филозофије васпитања и образовања. Методом теоријске ана- лизе представљене су поједине врсте истраживања и њихове специфичности, предметно-истраживачке идеје, а вриједност рада највише се огледа у мотива- цији и упознавању васпитача, учитеља, наставника и других актера предшкол- ске и школске праксе са истраживачким подручјем рада, које вишеструко утиче на унапређење свих осталих подручја рада практичара.
Expositional discourse and its narrative function in the short prose of I.S. Turgenev
Authors: Sun Yao
Published: June 2023

The author explores the expositional discourse and its narrative function in the prose of I.S. Turgenev. The analysis of the lyrical beginning is given as the reason for the special Turgenev exposition, which is a manifestation of the horizons and value consciousness of the author-narrator. It is noticed that it is in lyrical descriptions that the subjective space of the narrator is formed. In Turgenev's prose, there are stories in which the exposition is based on similarities with poems in prose. In such texts, the exposition is only indirectly related to the further development of the plot. It often represents a closed system and functions at the level of metatext and meta-discourse. At this level, the lyrical introduction is designed to affect the spiritual space of the reader. The novelty of the study is given by the conclusions made regarding the cycle "Notes of the hunter". According to them, I.S. Turgenev also has such introductions to the main narrative that do not fit into the "canon". In the stories "Bezhin Meadow", "Date" and others, the exposition implements a specific strategy of the author's narrative. It is as if it is not provided for by the further development of the plot and is a pure product of lyrical and philosophical contemplation of nature. It is a reflection of the subjective perception of the hero-narrator. On its basis, an idea of the world and space belonging to the innermost side of the spiritual personality of the writer is formed. The natural images in the exposition part of the stories are artistically comprehended in the categories of "eternity", opposing the "temporary" plan of human existence.
The Existential Prophecy of Fyodor Tyutchev's Historiosophical Thought
Authors: Mysovskikh Lev Olegovich
Published: June 2023

The article examines the historiosophical reflections of F. I. Tyutchev, presented in his treatises, letters, poems, and substantiates the idea that Tyutchev does not proclaim slogans of either Slavophil or Westernist doctrines, but creates an original imperial ideology. Tyutchev views Russia as an equal and integral part of Europe, linking the existence of the empire with the development of the European spirit in Russia. The main criterion for the existence of the empire is unity. If it does not exist, then the state as an empire cannot exist. Tyutchev treated Orthodoxy as a historiosophical category. He bases his concept of the historical process on the traditions of Eastern Christianity and the legacy of the Byzantine Empire. In the idea of an empire based on Christian principles, Tyutchev sees the best system of statehood. For Tyutchev, the Russian people and Orthodoxy play a major role in the transformation of the world.   In the concept of state and power, the categories of Christian ethics are especially important for Tyutchev, which, in his opinion, were not really relevant for the upper strata of society and representatives of the Russian government. The poet calls power "godless", claiming that it does not come from God, but is based on its material power, without recognizing a higher Divine authority over itself. The reason for the "godlessness" of the authorities was the separation from the Russian people and their national traditions and the departure from the historical past of "Holy Russia". This, from Tyutchev's point of view, is the main existential problem of Russia. Tyutchev's concept of empire was not a reproduction of the realities of the political life of Russia in the XIX century, but was an attempt to answer how the state should be built. Tyutchev's ideal of the Russian state is based on a society united by a single Christian faith.
Analysis of Intercultural Education Policies in Italy and Spain: A Comparative Perspective
Authors: León Sánchez Mario , Fiorucci Massimiliano , Catarci Marco , González Monteagudo José
Published: June 2023

This article focuses on the evolution of intercultural education in the educational policies of Italy and Spain. The evolution of school regulations and educational practices in both countries presents similar characteristics, including the shift from the paradigm of integration to that of inclusion of students with migrant backgrounds. At the same time, historical and political differences between the two countries have led to the implementation of very different practices, which it is interesting to compare, with a particular interest in those processes of hidden exclusion that are still present in the two educational systems, despite the progress of official regulations. We will present the critical points and strengths of both countries’ systems, identifying, on the one hand, the inclusion factors (development of inclusive practices, development of resources and programmes for foreign students) and, on the other hand, the exclusion practices that persist despite legislation (school segregation and school concentration). In the conclusions, we will suggest possible strategies to contribute to the development of intra-European measures and policies to foster the reception of people with a migrant background in national school systems.
What AlphaFold tells us about cohesin’s retention on and release from chromosomes
Authors: Nasmyth Kim A , Lee Byung-Gil , Roig Maurici Brunet , Löwe Jan
Published: June 2023

Cohesin is a trimeric complex containing a pair of SMC proteins (Smc1 and Smc3) whose ATPase domains at the end of long coiled coils (CC) are interconnected by Scc1. During interphase, it organizes chromosomal DNA topology by extruding loops in a manner dependent on Scc1’s association with two large hook-shaped proteins called SA (yeast: Scc3) and Nipbl (Scc2). The latter’s replacement by Pds5 recruits Wapl, which induces release from chromatin via a process requiring dissociation of Scc1’s N-terminal domain (NTD) from Smc3. If blocked by Esco (Eco)-mediated Smc3 acetylation, cohesin containing Pds5 merely maintains pre-existing loops, but a third fate occurs during DNA replication, when Pds5-containing cohesin associates with Sororin and forms structures that hold sister DNAs together. How Wapl induces and Sororin blocks release has hitherto remained mysterious. In the 20 years since their discovery, not a single testable hypothesis has been proposed as to their role. Here, AlphaFold 2 (AF) three-dimensional protein structure predictions lead us to propose formation of a quarternary complex between Wapl, SA, Pds5, and Scc1’s NTD, in which the latter is juxtaposed with (and subsequently sequestered by) a highly conserved cleft within Wapl’s C-terminal domain. AF also reveals how Scc1’s dissociation from Smc3 arises from a distortion of Smc3’s CC induced by engagement of SMC ATPase domains, how Esco acetyl transferases are recruited to Smc3 by Pds5, and how Sororin prevents release by binding to the Smc3/Scc1 interface. Our hypotheses explain the phenotypes of numerous existing mutations and are highly testable.
Development of the first high-density linkage map in the maize weevil, Sitophilus zeamais
Authors: Baltzegar Jennifer Fountain , Gould Fred
Published: June 2023

The maize weevil, Sitophilus zeamais, is a worldwide pest that disproportionately affects subsistence farmers in developing countries. Damage from this pest threatens food security in these communities as widely available and effective control methods are lacking. With advances over the last decade in the development of genetic pest management techniques, addressing pest issues at the ecosystem level as opposed to the farm level may be a possibility. However, pest species selected for genetic management techniques require a well-characterized genome and few genomic tools have been developed for S. zeamais. Here, we have measured the genome size and developed the first genetic linkage map for this species. The genome size was determined using flow cytometry as 682 Mb and 674 Mb for females and males, respectively. The linkage map contains 11 linkage groups, which correspond to the 10 autosomes and 1 X-chromosome found in the species and it contains 1,121 SNPs. This linkage map will be useful for assembling a complete genome for S. zeamais.
Habitat-use of the vulnerable Atlantic Nurse Shark: a review
Authors: Bettcher Vanessa Brito , Franco Ana Clara Sampaio , Santos Luciano Neves dos
Published: June 2023

Human activities have led to the loss of critical habitats for aquatic species at such an accelerated rate that habitat modification is considered a leading threat to biodiversity. Sharks and rays are considered the second most threatened group of vertebrates that have also suffered from habitat loss, especially in nursery grounds and reef-associated species. In this sense, actions toward the conservation of critical grounds for species survival are urgently needed, especially for those threatened with extinction. This study aimed to gather and provide information on the worldwide distribution and habitat association of the ‘vulnerable’ Atlantic Nurse Shark Ginglymostoma cirratum through a literature review performed at the Dimensions research database. A total of 30 studies published between 1950 and 2021 were retained since they defined at least the type of habitat in which G. cirratum was associated. Most studies covered the Floridian ecoregion, where G. cirratum is more common and abundant. Reefs, seagrass, sandy, rocky, mangrove, and macroalgae accounted for the majority of habitat associations, with a higher diversity of habitats detected within marine protected areas (MPAs). Ginglymostoma cirratum was recorded at a maximum depth of 75 m, temperatures ranging from 25 °C to 34 °C, and salinities between 31 and 38 ppt. Neonates were associated with shallower habitats (<20 m), mostly reefs, rocks, macroalgae, sandy shores, and seagrass, in an average temperature of 26 °C and salinity of 36 ppt. Breeding events and habitats were reported by 11 studies, 72.7% of them in shallow waters, mostly inside MPAs (90.9%). Our findings highlighted the key role played by MPAs in protecting essential grounds for threatened species, such as the Atlantic Nurse Shark. Major ecoregions (e.g., the Eastern Atlantic) are still underrepresented in the scientific literature as long as studies aim specifically to assess G. cirratum habitat association. Thus, further insights into the essential habitats needed to conserve the Atlantic Nurse Shark can still emerge from future studies. Considering the recent IUCN extinction risk status change in G. cirratum (i.e., Data Deficient to ‘Vulnerable’), new conservation measures that integrate habitat protection and management are urgently needed and should consider the data collected herein.
Desestruturação da produção de soja na fronteira amazônica: o caso do estado do Amapá
Authors: Pires Max Ataliba Ferreira , Chelala Cláudia Maria do Socorro Cruz Fernandes , Chelala Charles Achcar
Published: June 2023

A expansão da produção de soja na fronteira amazônica constitui experiências peculiares relacionadas à grande diversidade da formação socioeconômica das unidades regionais. A soja passou a ser produzida comercialmente, no Amapá no ano de 2013. O Amapá é uma das menores unidades da federação, a única que não possui ligação rodoviária com o restante do país. Situa-se na foz do rio Amazonas, o que representa uma localização privilegiada para escoamento da produção. Destaca-se que o Estado não tem tradição agrícola e abriga uma estrutura institucional frágil, com reduzida capacidade de dar suporte à agricultura empresarial de grande escala. Entretanto, a produção veio se consolidando no decorrer dos anos, até que a apuração policial e judicial de uma sucessão de equívocos legais e ilicitudes administrativas resultou no cancelamento das licenças ambientais e, consequentemente, na redução vertiginosa da produção, a partir de 2021. Este artigo analisa as consequências da desestruturação da produção de soja no cerrado amapaense. A pesquisa revela que mesmo ante ao cenário adverso, a maioria dos produtores rurais decidiu permanecer no Amapá à espera da resolução dos problemas fundiários e a liberação de novas licenças, em virtude dos excepcionais fatores locacionais que do Estado. Neste ínterim, parcela desses produtores rurais diversificou a produção como alternativa de sobrevivência e manutenção de suas propriedades. A produção de soja deverá ser retomada nos próximos anos, entretanto, o cerrado amapaense já apresentará uma configuração produtiva diversa que, em certa medida, está fortalecendo outros segmentos da agropecuária amapaense e expandindo a matriz econômica estadual.
Aportes desde la planta física de una institución educativa para el diseño de políticas con respecto al calentamiento global
Authors: Rivas Laura Talina Rivera , Rodríguez Verónica Melisa Contreras , Cárdenas Cesar Rafael Gómez , Montes Irma Leticia Contreras , Cárdenas Juan Francisco Gómez , López Francisco Javier Ocegueda , Narváez Ana Carolina Arvizu , Cuevas Tania Nadiezdha Plascencia
Published: June 2023

Con relación al problema del cambio climático, la humanidad enfrenta hoy un reto muy grande: alcanzar un equilibrio razonable entre emisiones de CO2 producidas por el consumo de energía, y la capacidad de secuestro de los sumideros de carbono del planeta. Este reto, también concierne a las instituciones educativas, las cuales, además de generar conocimiento, deben predicar con el ejemplo ante la sociedad. Sin embargo, las acciones desde el aspecto ambiental se han omitido o cuando mucho, se han quedado en letra muerta; ya que, en la planta física de las instituciones educativas es escasa la evidencia de acciones concretas que hablen de un verdadero compromiso de Responsabilidad social universitaria. El presente trabajo de investigación tiene la finalidad de evaluar la planta física de una institución de educación superior, respecto al problema del calentamiento global por medio del análisis de las emisiones de CO2 del consumo eléctrico y la consideración del potencial de secuestro de los árboles de limón, para aportar al diseño de políticas que contribuyan a la conformación de una planta física ambientalmente más responsable. Se determinó que, por cada 1 M2 de área útil, deben existir 0.9 M2 de áreas verdes forestadas con árboles de limón; de igual forma, debe existir una compensación mínima del CO2 emitido en la siguiente proporción: por cada 1 M2 de área útil, deben existir como mínimo, 0.13 M2 de áreas verdes reforestadas con limón.
Exploring the Influence of Parental Literacy Status on the Implementation of Dance Movement Therapy for Motor Skill Development in Children with Intellectual Disability in India
Authors: Nanda Anita , Rizwaan Mohammad , Mohapatra Bibhuti Bhusan , Das Pranakrushna , Padhy Archana Kumari
Published: June 2023

This paper focuses on examining the influence of parental literacy status in the implementation of Dance Movement Therapy (DMT) for the development of motor skills in children with intellectual disabilities in India. The study aims to explore the potential impact of parental literacy on engagement, participation, and outcomes of DMT interventions, ultimately informing strategies to optimize therapy effectiveness. The research incorporates the use of the Behavioral Assessment Scales for Indian Children with Mental Retardation (Basic-MR, Part A) to assess the impact of parental literacy on the outcomes of DMT interventions.

Literacy status of parents, particularly in low- and middle-income countries like India, can significantly affect various aspects of a child's development, including their access to education, healthcare, and therapies. However, there is limited research exploring the specific role of parental literacy in the context of DMT interventions for children with intellectual disabilities in India.

This study adopts a mixed-methods research design, combining quantitative measurements and qualitative insights. A sample of children with intellectual disabilities, aged between 7 and 15 years, will be recruited from special education schools from Odisha, India.  The DMT intervention will be carried out over a designated period, with trained dance movement therapists tailoring the sessions to meet the individual needs and abilities of the children. The impact of the intervention will be evaluated using the Behavioral Assessment Scales for Indian Children with Mental Retardation (Basic-MR, Part A), which provides a comprehensive assessment of motor skills including locomotor and object control skills. Quantitative data, including pre- and post-intervention assessments, will be analyzed to determine the influence of parental literacy on motor skill development outcomes.

This study aims to enhance our understanding of how parental literacy status influences the implementation of DMT and motor skill development in children with intellectual disabilities in India. By recognizing the impact of parental literacy and addressing potential challenges, the study aims to optimize the effectiveness of DMT interventions for children with intellectual disabilities. The findings will have practical implications for therapists, educators, policymakers, and other stakeholders involved in culturally sensitive intervention programs, promoting comprehensive motor skill development in children with intellectual disabilities in India.
Evaluation of Results of Separate Vertical Wirings for the Treatment of Extra-articular Fractures of the Distal Pole of the Patella
Authors: Uddin Mohammad Shah Kamal , Talukder Tutul , Hussain Muhammad Amzad , Marma Ushahla , Harun-Ar-Rashid A. K. M. , Tareen Mohammad Ridowan , Ali Md. Ayub
Published: June 2023

Background: Patella connects quadriceps ligament and tendon. Base peak. proximal non-articular distal patella. Common subcutaneous patella injurie. Patella focuses Quadriceps forces and facilitates arm extension. It rotates the knee extensor. At maximum extension, the patella raises the quadriceps moment arm by 30%. Patellar avulsion fractures are classified independently. 9.3% to 22.4% of patellar fractures are thus. AO 34-A1 extra-articular lower pole fractures. Rapid flexion against quadriceps contraction causes this fracture. After bone removal, the patellar tendon is frequently sutured transosseously. Long fixation and sluggish recovery cause quadriceps weakness. Two of 25 patients had problems with poor vertical wirings. We examined 2 vertical wiring procedures for extra-articular distal patella fractures.

Objective: To look at how well separate vertical wirings work for treating fractures outside of the joint at the end of the patella.

Methods: Prospective, observational study. The study was done from July 2015 to June 2017 at NITOR's Department of Orthopedics. Patients with post-traumatic distal patella extra-articular fractures admitted to NITOR comprised the study population. From July 2015 to June 2017, total 52 patients had patellar fractures. At NITOR, 46 people with lower pole patella fractures were wired vertically with surgery. NITOR checked up on 40 people. After 18 weeks, the final functional result was looked at. Bostman knee score measured how the knee worked.

Results: 40 patients with extra-articular distal patella fractures were studied to determine the effectiveness of 2 vertical wirings. 9 (22.5%) of 40 patients were 30 or younger, 10 (25%) were 31-40, and 8 (20%) were 41-50. 7% and 6% of patients were in their 5th and 6th decades. The youngest patient was 18 and the oldest was 70. Out of 40 cases, 31 (or 77.5%) were men and 9 (or 22.5%) were women. The number of men to women is 3.5:1. Most of the 30 broken bones (75%) healed between 6 and 10 weeks. The average time for a radiological union to happen was 82.4 weeks.

Conclusion: According to the study's findings, extra-articular fractures of the distal pole of the patella commonly affect men in early middle age and farmers. Separate vertical wirings cure outside-the-joint distal patella fractures. Most patients can return to their pre-injury activities, but their knees are weaker.
Influence of Spent Lubricating Oil Spiked Compost on Microbial Counts and Hydrocarbon Degradation Rate in Soils
Authors: Ntekpe M. E. , Ekpo M. A. , Ndubuisi-Nnaji U. U. , Mbong E. O. , Ntino E.
Published: June 2023

This study evaluated the influence of organic fertilizers produced from spent lubricating oil (SLO) spiked aerobic composting technique on hydrocarbon degradation rate in soils. The compost windrows (Ft2 and Ft4), consisting of kitchen and agricultural wastes, were spiked with varying concentrations (2% and 4%) of SLO. The resultant organic fertilizers were employed as amendment in pollution simulated potted soils laid out in a complete randomized block design with three replications for 90 days. Results revealed higher counts of hydrocarbon utilizing microbes (HUB: 4.2±0.02×104cfu/g in Ft2, 3.0±0.02×104cfu/g in Ft4; HUF: 3.9±0.2×104cfu/g in Ft2, 2.5±0.02×104cfu/g in Ft4) in spiked compost compared to the control, Ft0 (HUB: 7.9±0.02×103cfu/g; HUF: 6.0±0.2×103cfu/g). Mean count in amended soils reflected a dose-dependent increase which followed the trend: Ft2 ˃ Ft0 ˃ Ft4 for the 5% (3.7×108 cfu/g), 10% (9.2×107 cfu/g) and 15% (6.9×107 cfu/g) levels of fertilizer treatments respectively. There was a significant (P<0.05) reduction in the TPH content of soils after 90days treatment with organic fertilizers. Generally, remediation efficiency followed the order: Ft2 ˃ Ft0 ˃ Ft4, with the highest (11.51%) achieved at 5% Ft2 application. Spiking technique was responsible for the higher counts of hydrocarbon utilizing microbes and enhanced bioremediation associated with the use of fertilizers Ft2.
CARACTERIZAÇÃO DE ESTILOS FLUVIAIS NO ALTO E MÉDIO CURSO DA BACIA HIDROGRÁFICA DO PIANCÓ, AMBIENTE SEMIÁRIDO DA PARAÍBA
Authors: Franco Virna Vieira Franco , Lima Vinicius Ferreira Lima , Souza Jonas Otaviano Praça de Souza
Published: June 2023

A bacia hidrográfica do rio Piancó, inserida em região semiárida no Estado da Paraíba, apresenta questões socioambientais específicas que exigem projetos específicos com relação ao planejamento e gestão ambiental. A pesquisa utiliza a proposta metodológica de Fryirs e Brierley (2000), cujo foco principal é realizar a caracterização de Estilos Fluviais no canal principal da bacia do rio Piancó. A área estudada está delimitada da cabeceira do rio Piancó até a barragem do açude Coremas Mãe-D’água, que vai até o médio curso do rio, no município de Coremas-PB. Desta forma, foram selecionados 4 trechos cuja identificação dos estilos é estabelecida em: trecho 1 Estilo Confinado de Leito Rochoso (ECLR); trecho 2 Estilo Parcialmente Confinado de Leito Arenoso (EPCLA); trecho 3 Estilo Não Confinado de Leito Arenoso com Planície de Inundação Descontínua (ENCLAPID); e trecho 4 Estilo Não Confinado de Leito Arenoso com planície de inundação nas áreas de Extravasamento (ENCLAE).
What Is Bird Flu?
Authors: Saravolatz Louis D. , Malani Preeti N.
Published: January 2025

This JAMA Patient Page explains the origins and transmissibility of bird flu, along with prevention, diagnosis, symptoms, potential complications, and management in humans.
SAMHSA approves CM incentives of up to $750 a year per patient
Authors: Knopf Alison
Published: January 2025

Last week the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) announced that its grant programs which authorize contingency management (CM) can now provide values of up to $750 a year per patient. Previously, this amount was only $75.
Biomimetic Diselenide‐Sonosensitizer Nanoplatform for Enhanced Sonodynamic Therapy and In Situ Remodeling Immunosuppressive Microenvironment via Activating Innate and Adaptive Immunotherapy
Authors: Xue Yifan , Wang Qingliang , Chen You , Zhang Xiaoge , Tang Junjie , Liu Yadong , Liu Jie
Published: January 2025

Sonodynamic therapy (SDT), which is non‐invasive and controllable has the potential to treat triple‐negative breast cancer (TNBC). However, the hypoxia and immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment (TME) often block the production of reactive oxygen species and the induction of SDT‐activated immunogenic cell death, thus limiting the activation of adaptive immune responses. To alleviate these challenges, we proposed the development of a multifunctional biomimetic nanoplatform (mTSeIR), which was designed with diselenide‐conjugated sonosensitizers and tirapazamine (TPZ), encapsulated within M1 macrophage membrane. This nanoplatform utilized hypoxia‐induced chemotherapy to improve the efficacy of SDT, to further enhance adaptive immunotherapy by activating innate immunity and remodeling the immunosuppressive TME. Firstly, the prodrug TPZ was activated due to the increased oxygen consumption associated with SDT. Subsequently, the mTSeIR enhanced repolarization of M2 macrophages to the M1 phenotype. The diselenide component in mTSeIR effectively activated the natural killer cell‐mediated antitumor innate immune response. Ultimately, in vivo studies indicated that mTSeIR+US with good biosafety achieved over 98% tumor inhibition and enhanced adaptive immunotherapy. This research presents an efficient approach that addressed the limitations of SDT and achieves simultaneous activation of both innate and adaptive immunotherapy, resulting in significant antitumor and anti‐metastatic efficacy in TNBC.
Adaptive Robust Formation Tracking Control for Traffic Cone Robots Under Uncertain Disturbances: With Leakage and Dead Zone Types
Authors: Zhang Jiale , Zhang Chuanwei , Jiao Shengjie , Qin Peilin , Wei Meng , Lian Gaoqi
Published: January 2025

Traffic cones, as indispensable safety facilities for road maintenance, play a crucial role in directing traffic flow and ensuring construction safety. This study addresses the challenge of adaptive robust formation tracking control for uncertain traffic cone robots (TCRs). Based on the Udwadia–Kalaba method, the kinematic constraints of the TCRs are designed by the artificial potential function. Those constraints are considered as the control objectives realized by robust control. The uncertainty of the TCRs in this study includes matching and mismatching components. To address matching uncertainties, adaptive parameters incorporating dead‐zone and leakage terms are introduced, enabling precise real‐time estimation of uncertainty dynamics. For mismatching uncertainties, a geometric decomposition approach is employed, effectively isolating them in a subspace orthogonal to the formation tracking range space. The proposed system is validated through extensive simulations and real‐world experiments, demonstrating its robustness and practical effectiveness in addressing the stated challenges.
Exceptional Uptake, Limited Protein Expression: Liver Macrophages Lost in Translation of Synthetic mRNA
Authors: Lin Cheng , Kuzmanović Adrian , Wang Nan , Liao Liangliang , Ernst Sabrina , Penners Christian , Jans Alexander , Hammoor Thomas , Stach Petra Bumnuri , Peltzer Mona , Volkert Ines , Zechendorf Elisabeth , Hassan Reham , Myllys Maiju , Liedtke Christian , Herrmann Andreas , Chakraborty Gurudas , Trautwein Christian , Hengstler Jan , Müller‐Newen Gerhard , Wang Junqing , Ghallab Ahmed , Bartneck Matthias
Published: January 2025

Most gene therapies exert their actions via manipulation of hepatocytes (parenchymal cells) and the reasons behind the suboptimal performance of synthetic mRNA in non‐parenchymal cells (NPC) such as Kupffer cells (KC), and liver macrophages, remain unclear. Here, the spatio‐temporal distribution of mRNA encoding enhanced green fluorescent protein (Egfp), siRNA, or both co‐encapsulated into lipid nanoparticles (LNP) in the liver in vivo using real‐time intravital imaging is investigated. Although both KC and hepatocytes demonstrate comparable high and rapid uptake of mRNA‐LNP and siRNA‐LNP in vivo, the translation of Egfp mRNA occurs exclusively in hepatocytes during intravital imaging. Despite attempts such as inhibiting intracellular ribonuclease, substituting uridine bases in mRNA with pseudouridine, and using a different ionizable lipid in the LNP mixture, no substantial increase in Egfp translation by NPC is possible. The investigation reveals that hepatocytes, which are distinct from other liver cells due to their polyploidy, exhibit significantly elevated levels of total RNA and protein, along with a higher proportion of ribosomal protein per individual cell. Consequently, fundamental cellular differences account for the low mRNA translation observed in NPC. The findings therefore suggest that cellular biology imposes a natural limitation on synthetic mRNA translation that is strongly influenced by cellular ploidy.