bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Purse, Soul and Intellectual Poverty: A Self-Infested Cause in Ben Tomoloju’s ‘Jankariwo’
Authors: James Itsewah Steve
Published: November 2017

Nigeria is a nation blessed beyond the borders of lack, yet Nigeria may be described from the planes as an impoverished state. A cross section of the dissection of the problems anchored within reveals that poverty and lack are the sole conditions upon which evident incongruities rest. Poverty of the soul, purse and of the mind or intellectual rationality are the major tripartite wheel upon which the glitches of the nation is foregrounded. This is manifested in the application of followership and leadership traits, the ways and manners that issues and concerns are treated are evidences of capricious leadership. It is believed that when leaders dothe needful and are sensitive enough to the provision of basic amenities to the citizenry, Nigeria state would have been one of the world powers. But the insensitivity and venality of our supposed leaders are unforgiveable and unforgettable, which has afflicted and infested on many families’ purse, soul and their intellectual deficiency. Evidences of aforementioned are captured in the play “Jankariwo”. This paper intends to chronicle the manners in which our leaders perpetrate their nefarious, callous, and ferocious acts with impunity, which has brought the country and many Nigerians to their knees via poverty affliction. However, the paper shall harvest the sociological theory and analytical methodology in dilating the level of these leaders’ ungodly act infested on those who voted them into power through Ben Tomoloju’s ‘Jankariwo’, (Cobwebs).
Assessing Cultural Management of Abuja Carnival
Authors: Unegbu Christopher Elochukwu
Published: November 2017

Culture is a major instrument for identifying a people. Over time, Nigeria’s diverse cultures have been celebrated with fun-fare and pageantry for tourism carnivals. The management process of such cultural celebrations becomes worthy of study. The concept of Cultural management is basically out to examine the influence of administration on a culturally-based festival like the Abuja carnival. The idea is to examine the past visions of the Carnival in comparison with the present challenges with the view of clearly solving such problems to ensure a more globally accepted product. The study employs the deductive and analytical methods of research to investigate the concept of Cultural management in Abuja Carnival. In the deductive method, we derive some vital information relevant to the study through interviews with some Artistic directors of the Abuja carnival. For the analytical method, we assess the cultural management through the review of related literatures, magazines and performance brochures. Among others, the study reveals that Abuja Carnival suffers serious funding challenge from its major sponsor which is the federal government of Nigeria. Also, despite having the same preparatory process, the approaches of the studied directors vary according to their perception of what a carnival should be which does not maintain the overall vision of the carnival. It also came to the fore that certain external factors such as national security challenge contribute to the factors militating against the targeted increase in foreign troupe participation in the Carnival. The study concludes that Abuja carnival have increased private sector sponsorship which will lessen the bureaucratic challenge from the major sponsor. Furthermore, private-sector driven sponsorship will accommodate healthy competition and encourage better result in revenue generation among others.
INFLUENCE OF SOCIAL NORMS AND SPIRITUAL TENDENCIES TO MORAL CONSIDERATIONS IN RELIGIOUS SCHOOL STUDENTS
Authors: Yusoff Mohd Zailani Mohd , Othman Mohamad Khairi
Published: October 2017

The main purpose of this study is to trace information related to the influence of social norms and spiritual tendencies to moral considerations in religious school students. This study aims to identify the influence of the dimensions of Islamic spiritual tendencies and the dimension of social customs to moral considerations based on established schemes. Three measuring tools were used in this study, namely Ujian Skema taakulan Akhlak (UPSTA), Kuesioner Kecenderungan Kerohanian Islam (ISDQ) dan Tes Sikap dan Pegangan Terhadap Standar Prevalensi Sosial (USPSK). The subjects of the study consisted of 500 students who were divided into gender according to the type of religious high school in the state of Kelantan which were randomly selected from Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan Agama (SMKA), Maahad Muhammadi (MM), Maahad Tahfiz Al-Quran / Sains (MTAQ / MTS), Sekolah Agama Rakyat (SAR) dan Sekolah Agama Swasta (SAS). This review review uses a quantitative method based on cross-sectional research approach (Cross Sectional). Data were collected from the above three tests and analyzed by using statistical analysis of stepwise multiple regression at significant degree p <0.05. The results of the study show that dimensions of faith and faith play a powerful role in the moral consideration of high school religious students. The findings also show the dimensions of faith, intrinsic dimensions and extrinsic dimensions in the aspect of Islamic spiritual tendency to have significant influence (R² = .465, sig.) On the moral considerations of religious school students. However, the dimensions of human rights within social norms varied only (R² = .017, sig .003) on moral considerations among religious school students in Kelantan. This review provides a fresh understanding of the moral issues of religious secondary school students. The tendency of religious school students on Islamic spiritual aspects plays an important role in determining the quality of their moral considerations.
A DISCOURSE ON DIFFERENCES AND SIMILARITIES BETWEEN THE QUR’ĀN AND THE BIBLE
Authors: Suraju Suraju , Badmus Saheed
Published: October 2017

The guidance of Allah for mankind is contained in the scriptures se t down by Him through the Prophets and Messengers. These scriptures are numerous due to the number of the Prophets. But, the mentioned and prominent ones include Zabur which was given to Prophet Dāwūd, Suhuf which was given to Prophet Ibrahim, Tawrāh which was given to Prophet Musa, Injil which was given to Prophet Isā and the Qur'ān which was given to Prophet Muhammad. However, the most circulated ones in the contemporary world are the Qur’ān and Bible. These two contain direct and indirect information about different issues and concepts. In spite of the similarities in few areas, the points of divergence are substantial. Hence this paper is aimed at examining five out the areas of convergence as well as the areas of divergence of both the Qur’ān and Bible with empirical examples from both scriptures. Conclusion is made to juxtapose their similarities which are due to their divine qualities and their differences which are as a result of the abrogation and interpolation by the people. Thus, the people are encouraged to show due respect to these heavenly scriptures.
CREATION – FROM PRE-ETERNITY TO PROBABILITY (AL-JADID TAHAFUT AL-FALASIFAH) A CONTRIBUTION TO THE HISTORY OF MUSLIM PHILOSOPHY
Authors: Siddiqui Naseeb Ahmed
Published: October 2017

It is not the physical world consist in itself as to what reality is, but proof of ultimate reality. Reality does not change by changing the process rather attributable quality named from A to B or This to that but essence remains the same. Process in metaphysics has two inseparable parts according to philosophers, cause and effect, which in any case intrinsic to every event coming into being. Denying either one makes impossibility of event. Once cause with all necessary condition fulfilled, cannot delay its effect by necessity, which is the sole premise with philosophers to assume worlds pre-eternity. On the contrary, according to Islamic theologians, it is not necessary and condition for event to have causal connection and it is possible to delay effect in presence of cause also and this is possible in conventional as well as rational and reasoning level. The central issue rose by Imam Al-Gazali (rahmatullahali) in his `Tahafut Al-falasifa concerning the world’s pre-eternity rotate around the cause and effect. He showed the incoherence of arguments posed by philosophers and proposed that it’s possible to delay the effect. Now, after 800 years, creation already unveiled mysteries in the form, which both the parties (Philosophers and theologians) did not know. However, who won the debate over world’s pre-eternity is still open. This paper will try to fill that gap by attempting direct discussion of Tahafut Al-falasifa on the issue of world pre-eternity, considering cause and effect as central debate and will show that what Imam Al-Gazali (rahmatullahali) proposed was correct: The delay in effect with cause is possible. This will be a contribution to the Islamic theology collecting physical facts from science, which anyhow reached to the same level where it meets metaphysics. This will be the latest debate on the issue, and provide new insights on some of core results of scientific theories, which are not considered yet.
BITCOIN DALAM KACAMATA HUKUM ISLAM
Authors: Nurhisam Luqman
Published: October 2017

Di Indonesia, bitcoin merupakan bentuk mata uang digital (e-money) dan alat transaksi pembayaran yang sudah digunakan oleh sebagian masyarakat. Hal tersebut perlu mendapatkan perhatian, khususnya dari Bank Indonesia. Lain dari pada itu, pengawasan yang dulu sepenuhnya dilakukan oleh bank sentral yaitu Bank Indonesia, sekarang diambil alih oleh OJK (Otoritas Jasa Keuangan). Sehingga Bank Indonesia pun hanya memiliki wewenang untuk mengatur dan mengontrol peredaran mata uang saja. Sejak sebagian tugas dan wewenang Bank Indonesia diambil alih oleh OJK (Otoritas Jasa Keuangan), banyak hal yang belum tercover seperti adanya fenomena baru dalam bidang keuangan dalam hal permodalan, investasi, peredaran mata uang, dan lain-lain. Selain belum ada payung hukum terhadap bitcoin, yaitu semakin merebaknya transaksi yang menggunakan bitcoin yang dilakukan dalam transaksi e-commerce. Sehingga dari segi keamananannya juga perlu dipertanyakan, maka dari itu perlu ada regulasi dan pengawasan secara khusus terhadap bitcoin, dan masyarakat tidak akan merasa dirugikan. Jika dilihat dalam perspektif hukum Islam, bahwa yang berkaitan dengan penerbitan uang sebagai alat transaksi di suatu negara, merupakan masalah yang dilindungi oleh kaidah-kaidah umum dalam syari’at Islam. Oleh sebab itu, penerbitan uang dan penentuan jumlahnya merupakan hal-hal yang berkaitan dengan kemaslahatan umat. Aspek lain yang menjadi pertimbangan dalam penggunaan bitcoin yaitu apakah dari sisi kemadharatannya yang lebih besar ataukah manfaatnya yang diambil jika digunakan sebagai mata uang dan alat transaksi, bahkan sebagai komoditas sekalipun. Sehingga yang menjadi fokus dalam penelitian ini adalah penggunaan bitcoin sebagai mata uang (currency) dan alat transaksi dengan menggunakan pendekatan dan pengkajian hukum Islam.
El piropo: artefacto de reproducción socio-cultural de modos de ser a través de las experiencias de hombres y mujeres en Santa Cruz de la Sierra – Bolivia
Authors: Lino Maldonado Paula Fernanda
Published: October 2017

El presente artículo es la síntesis de una propuesta de estudios socioculturales través de la narrativa de experiencias cotidianas en la sociedad cruceña, en donde se lo sitúa como un artefacto socio – cultural que expresa modos de ser. Es además un aporte al debate relacionado al piropo y la desmitificación del mismo como un hecho artístico o poético.
Cameron, Conservatives and a Christian Britain: A Critical Exploration of Political Discourses about Religion in the Contemporary United Kingdom
Authors: Allen Chris
Published: November 2017

In the British setting, the deployment of the phrase ‘doing god’ has become increasingly common to refer to an emerging trend whereby religion has acquired an increasingly prominent role in political spaces and discourses. This was particularly prominent while David Cameron was Prime Minister and leader of the Conservative Party. While historically, religion has not had a prominent place in either the former Prime Minister David Cameron. Here, the findings from critical analyzing a series of Cameron’s public pronouncements about religion—and Christianity in particular—is set out to try and better understand his own adherence to Christianity (the personal) how this intersected with his politics and role as Prime Minister (the political), and more importantly how this shaped his views about Britain being a Christian country (the national). Contextualised within the embryonic scholarly literature relating to the phenomenon of ‘doing god’ in the contemporary British setting, this article concludes by considering alternative and analogous frames through which greater elucidation of the true motivations of his pronouncements might be understood.
LC-MS/MS Tandem Mass Spectrometry for Analysis of Phenolic Compounds and Pentacyclic Triterpenes in Antifungal Extracts of Terminalia brownii (Fresen)
Authors: Salih Enass Y. A. , Fyhrquist Pia , Abdalla Ashraf M. A. , Abdelgadir Abdelazim Y. , Kanninen Markku , Sipi Marketta , Luukkanen Olavi , Fahmi Mustafa K. M. , Elamin Mai H. , Ali Hiba A.
Published: November 2017

Decoctions, macerations and fumigations of the stem bark and wood of Terminalia brownii Fresen. are used in traditional medicine for fungal infections and as pesticides on field crops and in traditional granaries in Sudan. In addition, T. brownii is commonly used for protecting wooden houses and furniture. Therefore, using agar disc diffusion and macrodilution methods, eight extracts of various polarities from the stem wood and bark were screened for their growth inhibitory effects against filamentous fungi commonly causing fruit, vegetable and grain decay, as well as infections in the immunocompromised host. Ethyl acetate extracts of the stem wood and bark gave the best antifungal activities, with MIC values of 250 µg/ml against Nattrassia mangiferae and Fusarium verticillioides, and 500 µg/ml against Aspergillus niger and Aspergillus flavus. Aqueous extracts gave almost as potent effects as the ethyl acetate extracts against the Aspergillus and Fusarium strains, and were slightly more active than the ethyl acetate extracts against Nattrassia mangiferae. Thin layer chromatography, RP-HPLC-DAD and tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS), were employed to identify the chemical constituents in the ethyl acetate fractions of the stem bark and wood. The stem bark and wood were found to have a similar qualitative composition of polyphenols and triterpenoids, but differed quantitatively from each other. The stilbene derivatives, cis- (3) and trans- (4) resveratrol-3-O-β-galloylglucoside, were identified for the first time in T. brownii. Moreover, methyl-(S)-flavogallonate (5), quercetin-7-β-O-di-glucoside (8), quercetin-7-O-galloyl-glucoside (10), naringenin-4`-methoxy-7-pyranoside (7), 5,6-dihydroxy-3`,4`,7-tri-methoxy flavone (12), gallagic acid dilactone (terminalin) (6), a corilagin derivative (9) and two oleanane type triterpenoids (1) and (2) were characterized. Our results justify the traditional uses of macerations and decoctions of T. brownii stem wood and bark for crop and wood protection and demonstrate that standardized extracts could have uses for the eco-friendly control of plant pathogenic fungi in African agroforestry systems. Likewise, our results justify the traditional uses of these preparations for the treatment of skin infections caused by filamentous fungi.
AGRO-ECOLOGICAL AND SOCIO-ECONOMIC ASPECTS OF CROP PROTECTION IN CHILI-BASED AGRIBUSINESS IN CENTRAL JAVA
Authors: Mariyono Joko
Published: November 2017

Chili is an important cash crop in Indonesia. This study is to analyze socio-economic aspect of chili production in three selected communities of three districts —Magelang, Brebes, and Rembang— that represent distinct agroecosystems of chili cultivation within Central Java province. This study uses quantitative descriptive methods. Data were compiled from a series of surveys in 2010-2011. The results of analyses were presented in table and graphical forms to compare and contrast selected relevant variables associated with crop protection. The results show that yield loss due to pests and diseases was considerable, and some of these problems were becoming difficult to control. The economic losses varied, which depended on many factors. The potential yield loss could reach 100 percent. Among the eight major insect pests reported by farmers during the dry season, thrips, mites, and whitefly infestations were most severe. Likewise, among five diseases noted by farmers, the three most important—anthracnose (Colletotrichum capsici), gemini-viruses, and Phytophthora—were more serious than the others. During the wet season, risk of anthracnose was very high; in the dry season, risk of yield lost to gemini-viruses and Phytophthora was high. Within a province, the severe outbreaks of insect pests and diseases varied across locations and seasons. Farmers applied control measure using pesticides and other alternative controls. However, the problem still persisted. There is a crucial need to solve the problems by enhancing farmers’ knowledge and involving research institutions focusing on crop protection strategy.
Nuclear-Magnetic-Resonance Study on Mechanisms of Oil Mobilization in Tight Sandstone Reservoir Exposed to Carbon Dioxide
Authors: Wang Haitao , Lun Zengmin , Lv Chengyuan , Lang Dongjiang , Pan Weiyi , Luo Ming , Wang Rui , Chen Shaohua
Published: November 2017

Nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) was used to investigate the exposure between carbon dioxide (CO2) and the sandstone matrix with a permeability of 0.218 md and a porosity of 9.5% at 40°C and 12 MPa (immiscible condition). Minimum miscibility pressure (MMP) between oil and CO2 was 17.8 MPa, determined by slimtube test at 40°C. The exposure process between CO2 and the sandstone matrix included first, second, third, and fourth exposure experiments. Before each exposure experiment started, there was a CO2-injection stage with a CO2 injection under a constant pressure of 12 MPa and at a constant rate to keep fresh CO2 (concentration of CO2 is 100% in gas phase) in the system. Each exposure experiment ended when the obtained T2 spectrum was unchanged (total amount of oil in tight matrix remains constant). These processes were similar to CO2 huff ’n’ puff. The results showed that (1) oil in all pores could mobilize as exposure time increases in the first exposure experiment. (2) The total original-oil-in-place (OOIP) recovery is 46.6% for oil in big pores (29 ms < T2 ≤ 645 ms)—this result is higher than the recovery (12.8%) for oil in small pores (T2 ≤ 29 ms). (3) Oil is mobilized fast in the initial exposure hours, and then the rate drops gradually until no more oil is produced. (4) Initially, the oil exists in pores with maximum relaxation times of 645 ms in the originally saturated core. After the CO2 injection, oil flows to pores with relaxation times slower than 645 ms, suggesting that oil in tight matrix is mobilized to the surface of core by swelling caused by CO2 diffusion. (5) The final OOIP recoveries of first, second, third, and fourth exposure experiments are 23.7, 7.2, 2.6, and 1.5%, respectively, and they decline exponentially. Oil mobilization in a tight-sandstone reservoir exposed to CO2 was observed by NMR T2 spectra under multiple exposure experiments. Mechanisms of oil mobilization were investigated (i.e., oil swelling, concentration-driven diffusion of hydrocarbons, and extraction of light components). The CO2 enhanced oil recovery (EOR) with multiple injections under immiscible conditions is acceptable and satisfactory in a tight-sandstone reservoir. CO2 huff ’n’ puff with optimized injection, soaking, and production process is an economic development method in a tight sandstone reservoir.
CURRENT TREATMENT OF PATIENTS WITH GIANT TROPHIC ULCERS
Authors: Orel Yuri , Verkhola Markiian
Published: November 2017

The prevalence of venous ulceration in legs among the population is 0.1-1.5%, in 24% of patients and the duration of their treatment is more than a year. As a result, 45% of patients suffer from limited mobility, and many patients move only within the home. Wound healing rate in specialized centers for 6 months is 70% and 45% - in non-specialized hospitals. The aim of the study: Reduce the length of hospital stay and the duration of treatment for patients with giant trophic ulcers. The therapeutic tactics of 13 patients with giant trophic ulcers who were treated during the 2016 in the clinic of the Department of Surgery No. 2 of Danylo Halytsky LNMU were analyzed. Patients had an area of ulcers greater than 150 cm2 without tendency to heal. One-time treatment was carried out, consisting of surgery debridement, removal of fibrous tissue (shave-therapy), autodermoplastics with the use of negative pressure wound therapy (NPWT). The intervention was performed under i.v. or regional nerve blockade. With the use of the NPWT, a patient can be mobilized rather quickly, there is no need for constant bed rest, and with the possibility of adequate and supervision care is transferred to outpatient treatment on the first days. The total term of patients staying in a hospital was from 1 to 6 days. This technique has allowed to achieve a significant improvement in the quality of treatment and reduction of its terms.
ROLE OF PSYCHOLOGICAL PARAMETERS AND ART-DIAGNOSTICS OF ANXIOUS DISORDERS IN CHILDREN AT CHOOSING A TACTICS OF THERAPEUTIC INTERVENTION
Authors: Mykhailova Iemiliia , Proskurina Tetyana
Published: November 2017

The article presents the new method of art-therapeutic psychodiagnostics of anxious disorders in children. There are separated formal elements that have a diagnostic importance in differentiation of anxiety and depression in children in the age aspect. There are presented the features of the course of anxious disorders in the age aspect: in children – comorbidity of anxiety with cognitive disorders (neurocognition) and phobias, in teenagers – anxiety with emotional (depression) and behavior disorders (avoiding behavior). It was established, that the constitutional-neuropathic variant of an anxious disorder prevails in children of 7 – 11 years old, and in teenagers – the thymopatic variant of it. There are the separated informative signs of phobic formations that provide the reliable psychopathological differentiation of anxious disorders: dominating type, determining a clinical picture, accessory type, participating in pathoplasty of complicated syndrome complexes and isolated type. There are separated the psychological predictors of the anxiety disorder development in children: infantilism, personal anxiety, poly-accentuation of a character. It was established, that the formation of anxious disorders, regardless of age, is influenced by the pathological type of family relations (disconnected, separated and rigid). In a projective figure of a family a disorder of emotional family connections was diagnosed in most children with anxious disorders. There are established the factors of prediction of an anxious-phobic disorders in children: genetic predisposition and external conditions of this state residual-organic, family (disorders of a family interaction with forming symbiotic relations between a child and an anxious parent) and environmental)). The analysis of the information, obtained in projective figural tests, allowed to differentiate and to systematize graphic signs of anxiety, phobias and depression. It was shown, that the method of art-diagnostics widens possibilities of early detection of disorders of social and cognitive functioning of children with anxious disorders
PRIMARY MITRAL REGURGITATION AND RESULTS OF SURGICAL MANAGEMENT IN A PROSPECTIVE STUDY
Authors: Myshakivskyy Оleksiy
Published: November 2017

Mitral regurgitation (MR) remains the second dominant defect in the structure of valvular cardiac diseases [1]. It affects more than 2 million people in the USA. Basic causes are classified as degenerative (with valve prolapse) and ischemic (due to ischemic heart disease) in advanced countries or rheumatic ones (in developing countries) [2, 3]. Alone radical method of MR treatment is surgical correction through mitral valve repair (MVRe) or replacement (MVR) yielding definitely higher survival percentage and improvement of heart failure (HF) class comparing to pharmacotherapy [4]. Evolution of approaches to the management of non-ischemic MR passed through some stages, starting from predominantly MVR to organ-preserving approaches like plastic repair [5]. In the prospective single-center study the results of treatment of 72 patients with primary MR (PMR) who were subjected to mitral valve replacement (MVR) or plastic mitral valve repair (MVRe) performed in the Department of cardiac surgery affiliated with Lviv regional clinical hospital (Ukraine) since October, 2013 till February, 2016 were analyzed. The conclusions of performed study are the following: 1) Key direct cause of MR is the chordal rupture of MV cusps, etiological factor in the majority of advanced countries is degenerative changes in contrast to rheumatic changes in the developing countries. 2) Principal method of MR surgical correction in out center is MVR, though the preferable global trend is MVRe. 3) Complications and lethality percentages in this study were higher among the patients from MVR group. Improvement of HF class according to NYHA was more evident in the MVRe group. This corresponds to results of other studies and guidelines that recommend MVRe as optional method for MR correction
CILOSTAZOL FOR TREATMENT OF PATIENTS WITH DIABETIC LEG ULCERS
Authors: Kobza Ihor , Terletskyi Ivan
Published: November 2017

Aim. The research was conducted for the purpose of improving treatment outcomes, reducing time on treatment, declining in disability, improving life quality of patient with diabetic ulcers. Methods. In this research two groups of patients with diabetic leg ulcers were used: I group (51 patients) – treated with a standard procedure (control group) and second group (52 patients) – whether treatment was supplemented cytostazol (100 mg twice a day). For the evaluation the life quality of patients a questionnaire «SF - 36 Health Status Survey» was used during the treatment, the rate of the wound healing was calculated by the formula and 120 histological preparations were analyzed (20 patients of each group). Results. After analysing the questionnaire results, significant differences were observed between groups of patients, manifested by de-emphasized role of physical problems, improved viability and psycho-emotional state with less manifestation of the differences in the control group. The reliable increase in the rate of wound healing was found in patients who took cilostazol. It was observed appearance of carbohydrate determinants in the endothelium of newly formed blood vessels after two weeks of treatment while in the most of the patients’ drugs of the control group there were no such obvious manifestations of regeneration. Discussion. Regarding the results of the research, cilostazol is worth to be examined as perspective means for treatment of patients with diabetic ulcers. In turn, the results of lectinohistochemicals researches can be one of the objective tests of violation of balance of restorative-reparatory and destructively-necrotizing processes for patients with leg ulcers.
Soil Nitrogen and Phosphorus Dynamics and Uptake by Wheat Grown in Drained Prairie Soils under Three Moisture Scenarios
Authors: Brown Robin L. , Hangs Ryan , Schoenau Jeff , Bedard-Haughn Angela
Published: November 2017

Core Ideas

Nutrient fate and form was investigated in drained soils under various moisture scenarios.

Drained soils had greater aboveground biomass and N and P uptake than undrained soils.

Mineralization and water holding capacity appeared to affect nutrient losses.

In semiarid and sub‐humid Saskatchewan, Canada, there is growing interest in draining depressional areas within the landscape (prairie potholes) despite a clear understanding of the potential nutrient loss to nearby water sources. Nutrient fate and form can vary greatly depending on soil moisture regime; the aim of this study was to determine how drainage duration affects the nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) availability and mobility under varying moisture levels. A greenhouse experiment was conducted using four depressional soils from south‐eastern Saskatchewan, which had been drained for 0, 14, 20, and 42 yr, and one undrained midslope soil for comparison. The potted soils were seeded with wheat (Triticum aestivum L.), three different moisture scenarios applied, and leachate was collected weekly. Drained soils had greater aboveground biomass and N and P plant uptake compared with undrained soil. These differences were most pronounced in the 20 yr drained soil, which had a 30% increase in growth, 45% greater N uptake, and 62% greater P uptake than the undrained soil. Nitrogen mineralization and water holding capacity appeared to affect nutrient losses. The soil that contributed the most to nutrient losses varied under different moisture scenarios; low water holding capacity contributed to nutrient leaching under lower moisture scenarios, whereas enhanced mineralization increased losses under above‐average moisture.
Pedotransfer Functions of Soil Thermal Conductivity for the Textural Classes Sand, Silt, and Loam
Authors: Markert A. , Bohne K. , Facklam M. , Wessolek G.
Published: November 2017

Core Ideas

The work describes the estimation of soil thermal conductivity (λ) from easily available soil data.

Measured high‐resolution λ(θ) data were used to improve the accuracy of the model of Lu et al. (2014).

Reliable pedotransfer functions estimated soil thermal conductivity of classes Sand, Silt and Loam.

Good quality λ data need precise, quantitative measurements and accurate, model‐based estimations.

Data of soil thermal conductivity (λ) covering the whole range of soil water content (θ) are needed in many environmental disciplines. However, laboratory measurements of λ(θ) are time consuming and costly. Therefore the use of pedotransfer functions is promising. In this study, we describe the procedure of deriving such λ(θ) pedotransfer functions for the FAO texture groups (TG) of Sand, Silt and Loam. First, high‐resolution λ(θ) measurements from saturation to dryness of 43 soils were conducted by two laboratory methods: the evaporation approach and single‐point measurements of λ at distinct water contents. Measurements were obtained for a set of sandy, silty, loamy, and clayey soils, and for two urban soils and two peat soils. The slope and magnitude of the λ(θ) curves show typical dependencies on bulk density (ρb) and soil texture. In a second step, the λ(θ) data were used to evaluate the λ(θ) model as suggested by Lu et al. (2014). Fitting this model to the complete data set yielded a poor agreement with RMSE = 0.53 W m‐1 K‐1. However, satisfying results were obtained by dividing the data into TGs Sand, Silt and Loam resulting in RMSEs of 0.18, 0.11 and 0.24 W m‐1 K‐1, respectively. Estimated λ values at low soil moisture (wilting point) were hardly different among texture classes, but λ differences become highly relevant when soil moisture increased to field capacity. The derived pedotransfer functions are an easy‐to‐use approach providing reliable λ(θ) curves for sandy, silty and loamy soils, when only basic soil information (texture and bulk density) are available.
Dissipation-driven integrable fermionic systems: from graded Yangians to exact nonequilibrium steady states
Authors: Ilievski Enej
Published: October 2017

Using the Lindblad master equation approach, we investigate the
structure of steady-state solutions of open integrable quantum lattice
models, driven far from equilibrium by incoherent particle reservoirs
attached at the boundaries. We identify a class of boundary dissipation
processes which permits to derive exact steady-state density matrices in
the form of graded matrix-product operators. All the solutions factorize
in terms of vacuum analogues of Baxter’s Q-operators which are realized
in terms of non-unitary representations of certain finite dimensional
subalgebras of graded Yangians. We present a unifying framework which
allows to solve fermionic models and naturally incorporates higher-rank
symmetries. This enables to explain underlying algebraic content behind
most of the previously-found solutions.
Asymmetric effects of rainfall on food crop prices: evidence from Rwanda
Authors: Nsabimana Aimable , Habimana Olivier
Published: November 2017

This study examined the effects of the likely change in rainfall on food crop prices in Rwanda, a landlocked country where agriculture is mainly rain-fed. The empirical investigation is based on nonlinear autoregressive distributed lag cointegration framework, which incorporates an error correction mechanism and allows estimation of asymmetric long-run and short-run dynamic coefficients. The results suggest that food crop prices are vulnerable to rainfall shocks and that the effect is asymmetric in both the short and long run. Moreover, there was evidence of seasonal differences, with prices falling during harvest season and rising thereafter. Considering the ongoing threat of global climate change, and in order to cope with rainfall shortage and uncertainty, increase food affordability and ultimately ensure food security throughout the year, there is a need to develop and distribute food crop varieties and crop technologies that reduce the vulnerability of farming to rainfall shocks.
Technological challenges influencing the implementation of green energy in the SME sector in KwaZulu-Natal (KZN)
Authors: Memka Dabululwandle , Mpele Lekhanya Lawrence
Published: November 2017

Electricity is an essential basic need that the South African government needs to pay special attention. A continuous or uninterrupted supply of electricity is essential for industrial production and economic growth and development. Since South Africa is overly reliant on coal fired electricity generating technologies which are environmentally damaging, the move towards green energy technologies to form part of the electricity generating matrix is highly desirable not only to reduce environmental pollution, but also to increase the supply of electricity to meet rising demand. However, the adoption and implementation of green energy projects has not been that easy and progress has been far from satisfactory. This study was therefore consummated to assess the effectiveness of installed green technology in the area of Pinetown in Kwazulu-Natal. The study also investigated the technological challenges affecting the implementation of green energy projects in SME sector in Pinetown Kwazulu-Natal. Furthermore, the study also examined as to what extent technological challenges are affecting the use of installed green technology in the selected area of Pinetown in Kwazulu-Natal. This was followed by exploring strategies that could be implemented to improve effectiveness of installed green technology in Pinetown. A quantitative research approach was adopted. Data collection for this study was performed by distributing and collecting a structured survey questionnaire to respondents. Data analysis for this research was performed using SPSS.
Paracoccidioidomycosis: Current Perspectives from Brazil
Authors: Mendes Rinaldo Poncio , Cavalcante Ricardo de Souza , Marques Sílvio Alencar , Marques Mariângela Esther Alencar , Venturini James , Sylvestre Tatiane Fernanda , Paniago Anamaria Mello Miranda , Pereira Ana Carla , da Silva Julhiany de Fátima , Fabro Alexandre Todorovic , Bosco Sandra de Moraes Gimenes , Bagagli Eduardo , Hahn Rosane Christine , Levorato Adriele Dandara
Published: November 2017

Background:

This review article summarizes and updates the knowledge on paracoccidioidomycosis.P lutziiand the cryptic species ofP. brasiliensisand their geographical distribution in Latin America, explaining the difficulties observed in the serological diagnosis.

Objectives:

Emphasis has been placed on some genetic factors as predisposing condition for paracoccidioidomycosis. Veterinary aspects were focused, showing the wide distribution of infection among animals. The cell-mediated immunity was better characterized, incorporating the recent findings.

Methods:

Serological methods for diagnosis were also compared for their parameters of accuracy, including the analysis of relapse.

Results:

Clinical forms have been better classified in order to include the pictures less frequently observesiod.

Conclusion:

Itraconazole and the trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole combination was compared regarding efficacy, effectiveness and safety, demonstrating that azole should be the first choice in the treatment of paracoccidioidomycosis.
Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi Increase the Phenolic Compounds Concentration in the Bark of the Stem of Libidibia Ferrea in Field Conditions
Authors: Santos Emanuela Lima dos , Alves da Silva Francineyde , Barbosa da Silva Fábio Sérgio
Published: November 2017

Background:

Libidibia ferrea is a species particular to the caatinga presenting medicinal properties for containing bioactive compounds. The use of Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi (AMF) can increase the production of biomolecules in the legume leaves; however, no light has been shed on the role of symbiosis in maximizing metabolites production in the bark of L. ferrea stem.

Objective:

The aim was to select AMF that are efficient at increasing the production of phenolic compounds with medicinal properties in the bark of the L. ferrea stem.

Methods:

The experiment was designed in randomized blocks with four inoculation treatments (plants pre-inoculated with Claroideoglomus etunicatum, with Gigaspora albida, with Acaulospora longula, and non-inoculated plants – control) with six repetitions. Thirteen months after the transplanting, the plants were pruned and the bark of the stem was collected; subsequently, this plant material was dried in a chamber. After the drying process, fractions of the bark of the stem were macerated in methanol. The extracts were further used for analyses of the biomolecules.

Results:

The flavonoids concentration had an increase of, respectively, 236% and 186% in relation to the control for the treatments with A. longula and C. etunicatum; plants inoculated with A. longula had an increase of 47% in total tannins concentration compared with the non-inoculated control – a benefit that the proanthocyanidins did not present.

Conclusion:

Applying inoculation with A. longula may be an alternative to increase the production of biomolecules of the secondary metabolism in the bark of the L. ferrea stem in field conditions.
A Case of Infrapatellar Fat Pad Ganglion of the Knee
Authors: Takahashi Tsuneari , Kimura Masashi , Ohsawa Takashi , Yamaguchi Naoki , Takeshita Katsushi
Published: November 2017

Introduction:

A ganglion cyst can induce symptoms around the knee and should be considered as an intra-articular mass in differential diagnosis.

Case Presentation:

A 22-year-old female presented with a persistent medial knee joint pain in her left knee for 2 years. There was soft tissue swelling on the anteromedial aspect of the infrapatellar region on her left knee. Lachman and McMurray tests were negative. MRI showed a multilobular cyst in the infrapatellar fat pad with T1 low intensity and T2 STIR high intensity. The cyst was not attached to either meniscus. ACL and PCL looked normal.

During surgery, the cyst was found to arise from the intra-patellar fat pad and was not attached to the menisci or synovium. The cyst was completely resected.

Histological findings showed a multilobular cyst with a glassy fibrous tissue wall and clear jelly-like consistency, confirming the diagnosis of a ganglion. The patient recovered asymptomatically and has been without recurrence 7 years postoperatively.

Conclusion:

Differential diagnoses of an infrapatellar swelling are a meniscal cyst, synovial cyst, or ganglion. Most cases of cysts around the knee generate from fluid collection through meniscal tears. A ganglion cyst is a synovium-lined structure and is common around the wrist joint, but rare in the knee joint. A ganglion cyst in the knee joint often arises from ACL or PCL, but rarely arises from the infrapatellar fat pad. A ganglion cyst is one of the differential diagnoses of parameniscal cysts around the knee. We recommended an open resection with arthroscopic examination.
The Dislocated Hip Hemiarthroplasty: Current Concepts of Etiological factors and Management
Authors: Jones Carl , Briffa Nikolai , Jacob Joshua , Hargrove Richard
Published: November 2017

Background:

Hip hemiarthroplasty (HA) following an intracapsular neck of femur fracture is an increasingly common procedure as a result of an ageing population. Patients are often frail and so morbidity and mortality figures are significant. As a result the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) has formulated guidelines and a Best Practice Tariff (BPT) in an attempt to improve the care of such patients. Dislocation following HA is a potentially devastating complication with a reported incidence ranging from 1 to 15%. Multiple causative factors have been cited and studied in an effort to reduce the incidence of this complication which has a high rate of recurrence following the first episode and is associated with a high mortality rate and significant financial burden on the health economy. This paper reviews the available literature in an effort to identify the most pertinent factors affecting dislocation rates and thus reduce the incidence of this serious complication.

Methods:

A comprehensive review of the literature was performed using the search engine PubMed with the keywords ‘hip’, ‘hemiarthroplasty’ and ‘dislocation’. Two hundred and forty three articles were identified and assessed by the 3 authors independently. Data from fifty-two articles pertinent to the review on hemiarthroplasty dislocation epidemiology, risk factors and management were extracted in a standardised fashion.

Results:

Following review of the papers multiple causative factors relating to HA dislocation were identified and grouped into 4 broad categories for analysis. The factors with the strongest correlation with dislocation included patient cognition, previous failed surgery, delay to surgery, surgical approach and femoral offset.

Conclusion:

Hip hemiarthroplasty remains the gold standard for elderly patients with intracapsular neck of femur fractures. In each individual case the factors most strongly associated with postoperative dislocation should be recognised. Delays to surgery should be minimised and the posterior approach avoided. In addition to good surgical technique, particular attention should be paid to restoring the patient’s native femoral offset and post operatively those with cognitive impairment should be closely monitored.
Marine Streptomyces Sp. VITMK1 Derived Pyrrolo [1, 2-A] Pyrazine-1, 4-Dione, Hexahydro-3-(2-Methylpropyl) and Its Free Radical Scavenging Activity
Authors: Manimaran Manickavelu , Kannabiran Krishnan
Published: November 2017

Background:

Free radical generation has been proved to be responsible for various cellular diseases. It is necessary to combat free radicals using antioxidants derived from natural sources.

Objective:

The objective of this study is to evaluate the antioxidant activity of the diketopiperazine compound extracted from Streptomyces sp. VITMK1 isolated from mangrove sediment soil collected from Pichavaram, Tamil Nadu, India.

Methods:

The antioxidant potential of pyrrolo [1, 2-A] pyrazine-1, 4-dione, hexahydro-3-(2-methylpropyl) (diketopiperazine) extracted from Streptomyces sp. VITMK1 was studied using reducing power assay. The scavenging of 2, 2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical and nitric oxide (NO) radical by the compound was also studied. The cytotoxic activity of the compound on RAW 264.7 macrophage cell line was studied using MTT cell viability assay.

Results:

The compound exhibited strong DPPH radical scavenging activity (72.48±0.32% at 500 µg/mL) and NO radical scavenging activity (73.03±1.02% at 500 µg/mL). MTT cell viability assay revealed that the compound exhibited concentration-dependent cell viability and was observed to be 92% at 125 µg/mL concentration.

Conclusion:

The antioxidant activity of the diketopiperazine compound extracted from Streptomyces sp. VITMK1 can be probed further to establish its radical scavenging activity.
Monochloramine Loss Mechanisms in Tap Water
Authors: Zhang Qianyi , Davies Evan G. R. , Bolton James , Liu Yang
Published: October 2017

Chloramination has been widely applied for drinking water disinfection, with monochloramine (NH2Cl) the dominant chloramine species. However, under neutral pH, NH2Cl can autodecompose and react with chemical components in drinking water, thus decreasing disinfection efficiency. In tap water, the NH2Cl loss rate can be influenced by temperature, pH, Cl/N molar ratio, the initial NH2Cl concentration, and the natural organic matter (NOM) concentration. A good prediction of NH2Cl loss can assist in the operation of drinking water treatment plants. In this research, a kinetic rate constant )and a reactive site fraction (S = 0.43 ± 0.06) for the reaction between free chlorine released from NH2Cl autodecoposition and tap water NOM were derived from a kinetic model to predict the NH2Cl loss under various conditions. A temperature‐dependent model was also developed. The model predictions match well with the experimental results, which demonstrates the validity of the model and provides a convenient and accurate method for NH2Cl loss calculations.
A Nanofiltration Decision Tool for Potable Reuse: A New Rejection Model for Recalcitrant CECs
Authors: Jones Steven M. , Watts Michael J. , Wickramasinghe S. Ranil
Published: October 2017

Effluent samples from three water resource recovery facilities (WRRFs) were individually characterized for presence and concentration of 94 different chemicals of emerging concern (CECs), using analytical methods with reporting limits in the low‐parts‐per‐trillion. Following CEC analysis, each sample was subjected to dead‐end, pressurized membrane filtration with either a nanofiltration (NF) or reverse osmosis (RO) membrane. The majority of the measured CECs were rejected by both membranes by 1‐log removal (90%) or greater. However, nine of the 94 CECs had average rejection rates by the NF membrane less than 90%. A multilevel, multivariable model was developed to predict the probable rejection coefficients of CECs with the studied NF membrane. The resulting Quantitative Molecular Properties Model (QMPM) predicted the NF rejection of CECs based on size, ionic charge, and hydrophobicity. The model parameters that successfully predicted NF rejection in bench testing were log (Kow/Kaw) and the polar surface area of the CEC molecule.
Use of Multiple Data Assimilation Techniques in Groundwater Contaminant Transport Modeling
Authors: Rajib Amirul Islam , Assumaning Godwin Appiah , Chang Shoou‐Yuh , Addai Elvis Boamah
Published: October 2017

Groundwater contamination assessment can be useful in taking proper actions during environmental emergency. A three‐dimensional deterministic model was taken into consideration to simulate the advective‐diffusive transport of non‐conservative contaminant in groundwater. Multiple stochastic data assimilation techniques, such as, ensemble Kalman filter (EnKF), local ensemble transform Kalman filter (LETKF), and the global form of the LETKF, denoted as GETKF were applied to the model. The results show that data assimilation improved contaminant concentration prediction. The EnKF method reduced the root‐mean‐square‐error (RMSE) of the contaminant prediction from 12.5 mg/L to 1.31 mg/L, whereas the LETKF reduced that to 0.46 mg/L and GETKF reduced that to 0.38 mg/L. Approximately 89.48%, 96.30% and 96.82% improvement were made by EnKF, LETKF, and GETKF, respectively. The sensitivity analysis suggest that these data assimilation techniques are very sensitive to the observation noise, process noise, and ensemble size.