bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
IMPLEMENTATION OF CONTINUOUS ASSESSMENT IN THE NIGERIAN EDUCATIONAL SYSTEM: CHALLENGES AND PROSPECTS
Authors: Chukwu Ohiri Solomon
Published: January 2024

This paper has explored continuous assessment as an essential tool in evaluation procedure at all levels of education. Continuous assessment takes into consideration everything done by the child in the school through tests, assignments, interviews, observations, projects and other educational activities. Characteristics of continuous assessment, advantages and the challenges that could be encountered in its practical application were reviewed. There is no doubt that these challenges have caused so much obstructions to the successful implementation of this lofty evaluation method in the Nigerian educational system. Hence, recommendations which can be very useful in finding solutions to the problems were madewith a view of ensuring a successful implementation of the continuous assessment programme.
TRAPROB: An Innovative Traffic Police Robot with Arduino Intelligence
Authors: Jain Kratika
Published: January 2024

In an era of ever-increasing urbanization and traffic congestion, the development of innovative solutions for traffic management is imperative. This research paper presents the design, fabrication, and implementation of a humanoid traffic police robot, lovingly named “TRAPROB”, which is equipped with a variety of functionalities to enhance traffic control and safety. TRAPROB's hardware foundation includes an Arduino Mega microcontroller, multiple servo motors for live gestures, and an ESP32 cam for real-time monitoring. This research involves both the physical construction of the robot's iron sheet body and the complex programming required to organize its movements and traffic management functions. Robot activities range from cordial interactions like waving and shaking hands to critical traffic management tasks. TRAPROB specializes in directing the flow of vehicles, acknowledging right of way, signaling, and accurately enforcing traffic rules. It can manage intersections efficiently, ensuring a smooth and safe traffic environment. Its unique ability to seamlessly communicate with oncoming vehicles, stop traffic from different directions and give synchronized commands promotes a holistic approach to traffic control. This research paper emphasizes the practicality and simplicity of building a humanoid traffic police robot from scratch. TRAPROB represents an innovative step forward in the field of autonomous traffic management, offering a customizable, cost-effective, and adaptable solution to the challenges posed by modern urban traffic. As traffic congestion continues to increase, TRAPROB's ability to reduce congestion and increase road safety is becoming increasingly important. This paper explores the design, construction, and functionality of TRAPROB, providing information about its real-world applicability and the prospects of this DIY traffic management solution.
EVALUATION OF PILE TENSION LOADS USING PULL-OUT AND PUSH-OUT METHODS
Authors: Cherian Anil
Published: January 2024

Strain gauge instrumented static tension load testing in bored piles can give the designers a variety of useful information based on the geotechnical conditions. Traditional tension or uplift tests are performed using the pull-out method, which is sometimes inappropriate economically and technically. For the past few decades, Bidirectional Static Load Testing method (BDSLT, commonly known as the O-cell method) has been proven advantageous over the conventional pile load testing method for compression piles. However, the application of BDSLT in tension load tests (push-out), an alternative to the traditional method (pull-out), is seeking wide acceptance in the construction industry. This push-out method provides the facility to install sacrificial jacks within the toe level of the pile and extend an additional reaction pile below the design toe level. In this article, a comparison of the upward behavior of the shaft using instrumented pull-out and push-out methods is studied. The piles of 900mm diameter, 6.0m length were instrumented with 4 levels of vibrating wire strain gauges and tested up to 5000kN for a high-rise building project in Qatar. The maximum settlement observed was 4.60 mm for the pull-out test and 4.20 mm for the push-out test, respectively. The unit shaft friction shows a maximum of 312 kPa for the pull-out test and 395 kPa for the push-out test, indicating that the outcomes are fairly similar. The results of this study suggest that push-out tests can be used as an innovative alternative to conventional technique to bring economic and project executional benefits.
Exposición de menores a la publicidad móvil
Authors: Feijoo Beatriz , Fernández-Gómez Erika , Segarra-Saavedra Jesús
Published: January 2024

Atraída por la cobertura y potencialidad del binomio menores de edad y telefonía móvil, la comunicación comercial se suma como aliado, generando un debate en torno a la ética y la responsabilidad de las empresas, pero también de centros educativos, padres y madres, entre otros colectivos sociales, que tratamos de descubrir desde el ámbito científico. Este artículo analiza, desde la perspectiva etaria y por género, la disposición de telefonía y la exposición y actitud hacia la publicidad recibida por parte de menores de edad desde los dispositivos móviles. Para ello se realizaron 1070 encuestas online entre menores de 10 y 14 años residentes en España. Se detecta la posesión, especialmente de las menores, de teléfonos móviles frente a otros dispositivos como tablets, portátiles y de sobremesa. Se exponen principalmente a juegos, WhatsApp y YouTube y, salvo en WhatsApp y Netflix, suelen recibir publicidad del resto de plataformas. Se trata de mensajes comerciales que tienden a ignorar, un rechazo que se incrementa a medida que aumenta la edad de las personas encuestadas. Y cuando reciben publicidad desde sus móviles, les genera apatía, desinterés, aburrimiento y saturación, independientemente del género. En este sentido, se apela a que la publicidad sea más interactiva con los menores para mejorar su percepción y actitud.
CSR and Organizational Reputation: Nurturing a Fulfilling Workplace Environment
Authors: Ismail Mudsir , Bilal Muddassar , Akbar Umbrin
Published: January 2024

Purpose- This research paper explores the joint impact of internal and external CSR initiatives on job satisfaction and the mediating role of organizational reputation in the relationship between CSR and job satisfaction. The research paper provides insights into the benefits of CSR initiatives for organizations and their employees. This research paper provides empirical insights about CSR initiatives and their impact on organizational reputation and job satisfaction.

Design/methodology/Approach-The data were collected from 142 employees from the service sector through a self-administrated questionnaire. The analysis was conducted through Smart PLS-3, for validity Cronbach alpha and composite reliability were tested, and the structural equation modeling was used to assess the hypothesis for testing of direct and indirect relationship between variables.

Finding-the research findings unveiled significant positive effects of internal and external CSR on job reputation and employees' job satisfaction. Results also showed the positive mediating role of organizational reputation among internal and external CSR and employee job satisfaction.

Originality-This study examines the internal and external CSR initiatives and their joint impact on job satisfaction. While previous research has explored the impact of individual internal and external CSR initiatives on organizational reputation and job satisfaction, few studies have examined the relationship between these two types of initiatives and their joint impact. This research paper aims to fill this gap by exploring the combined effect of internal and external CSR initiatives on these outcomes. The research paper will also consider the mediating role of organizational reputation in the relationship between CSR and job satisfaction.

Implications-Corporate social responsibility (CSR) initiatives can have a significant impact on both organizational reputation and employee job satisfaction. External CSR involves activities that benefit society, such as supporting local communities or engaging in sustainable business practices. By publicly demonstrating their commitment to these values, organizations can improve their reputation with customers, investors, and other stakeholders
Impact of Paternalistic Leadership on Knowledge Sharing Behavior with the Mediating Role of Affective Commitment and Power Distance as Moderator
Authors: Muhammad Usman Malik  , Ali Shah Syed Zulfiqar
Published: January 2024

Purpose – This paper aims at examining the impact of paternalistic leadership on knowledge-sharing behavior with the mediating role of affective commitment and power distance as moderators. 

Design/Methodology/Approach – A quantitative research design was employed. For collecting data 300 structured questionnaires comprising of a 5-point Likert scale (strongly disagree to strongly agree) were distributed out of which 146 were received and used. Cronbach alpha, correlation, multiple regression analysis, and mediator analysis were tested on the collected information.

Findings – The results showed that PL (AL) has a positive impact while PL (BL) and PL (ML) have a significant positive impact on KSB; moreover, PD fully moderates the PL and KSB relationship when the mediating role of AC is contrary to developed hypothesis.

Research limitations/implications – Since this research was conducted among a particular group of construction, manufacturing industry, project-based, and other business professionals, further research should investigate such related relation in some other context with different moderating and mediating variables.

Practical implications – Finding of this research can be implemented in different organizations for checking the authenticity and further betterment.

Originality/Value – The paper has first-hand primary research data of which results, and conclusions are drawn by following all necessary ethical and scientific research methods.
Peran Kepemimpinan TNI dalam Mencapai Tujuan Organisasi di Lanud Suryadarma
Authors: Asri Nurwardah  , Ira Hamidatul Apiah  , Ahmad Farihin  , Muhammad Jali Rokhani
Published: January 2024

TNI AU Suryadarma Air Force Base is one of the operational bases under the command of Koopsau I. Its main task is to ensure the operational readiness of helicopter aircraft and provide guidance to its subordinate units. Logistic components, including facilities and installations, play a crucial role in the success of aviation operations. The vision of Lanud Suryadarma is to become a professional, militant, innovative, and respected unit, with a focus on producing skilled helicopter pilots. This research utilizes a qualitative descriptive approach with a case study as the research method. Data is collected through interviews, observation, and documentation. The practical work unit is conducted at TNI AU Lanud Suryadarma, involving various tasks such as filing, manuscript delivery, and document management. Lanud Suryadarma has functions in unit development, equipment maintenance, aerospace potential development, and coordination with relevant agencies. Leadership also plays an important role in the organization, including Lanud Suryadarma. This research provides an understanding of the factors that contribute to operational success and offers insights for future improvements.
Penerapan Model Pembelajaran Peer Tutoring Terhadap Peningkatan Kemampuan Pemahaman Konsep Matematik Siswa SMP
Authors: Fadilah Malik Rena , Riafadilah Anggi
Published: January 2024

Penelitian ini berjudul Penerapan Model Pembelajaran Peer Tutoring Terhadap Peningkatan Kemampuan Pemahaman Konsep Matematik Siswa SMP. Menurut metodenya, penelitian ini adalah penelitian eksperimen. Subjek penelitian adalah siswa SMP karena secara umum siswa SMP sudah termasuk pada tahap operasi formal. Adapun sampel penelitiannya adalah siswa kelas VII-A dengan VII-D SMP Negeri 2 Rancaekek yang dipilih secara acak menurut kelas. Instrumen yang digunakan dalam penelitian berupa tes kemampuan pemahaman konsep dan skala sikap. Tes yang digunakan adalah tes tipe uraian. Skala sikap berisikan pernyataan-pernyataan mengenai pelajaran matematika, pembelajaran matematika menggunakan model peer tutoring, dan soal pemahaman konsepmatematik. Tes diujicobakan terlebih dahulu di kelas VIII. Dari analisis hasil uji coba, soal tes layak untuk dipakai penelitian. Berdasarkan analisis data hasil penelitian, diperoleh kesimpulan: kemampuan pemahaman konsep matematiksiswa yang memperoleh penerapan model pembelajaran peer tutoring lebih baik daripada siswa yang memperoleh model pembelajaran konvensional; kualitas peningkatan kemampuan pemahaman konsep matematik siswa yang memperoleh penerapan model pembelajaran peer tutoring sedang, sedangkan yang memperoleh model pembelajaran model konvensional rendah; sikap siswa positif terhadap penerapan model pembelajaran peer tutoring dalam pembelajaran matematika.
Chemical constituents of the essential oil isolated from seed of black pepper, Piper nigrum L., (Piperaceae)
Authors: Asadi Mohammad
Published: January 2024

Black pepper (Piper nigrum L.) is a flowering plant from family Piperaceae. In this research, chemical analysis of the essential oil isolated from this important tropical medicinal plant was performed. For this, seed of this plant was provided, dried under shadow (25 °C), powdered, it’s essential oil isolated by Clevenger apparatus, and analyzed by Gas Chromatography related to Mass Spectroscopy device (Agilent 7890). The results showed that there were valuable compounds in its essential oil, total numbers of them reach to 89. Total identification time was estimated to be 38.143 min. Also, nineteen compounds contained more than 1% of total volume; among them, trans-caryophyllene bicyclo (peak 44, 19.512 min, 36.43%), L-limonene cyclohexene (peak 13, 7.193 min, 6.75%), 3-carene (peak 9, 6.838 min, 4.97%), cyclohexene, 1-methyl-4-(5-methyl) (peak 60, 22.081 min, 4.93%), and 2-beta-pinene bicyclo (peak 5, 6.220 min, 4.18%) were five dominant constituents, respectively. Moreover, thirty-seven compounds contained lower and equal with 0.1% of total volume and named as the least constituents. In conclusion, this medicinal plant has important secondary compounds which could seriously be focused on them in medical, pharmacology, and toxicology.
Effect of genotype and extraction method on polyphenols content, phenolic acids, and flavonoids of olive leaves (Olea europaea L. subsp. europaea)
Authors: Guebebia Salma , Othman Khadija Ben , Yahia Yassine , Romdhane Mehrez , Elfalleh Walid , Hannachi Hédia
Published: January 2024

Polyphenol’s extraction varied according to various factors. In this study, the effect of genotype and method of polyphenols extraction were investigated using leaves of two cultivated and two wild olive varieties and four hydromethanolic extraction methods. Quantitatively, significant differences were observed according to the extraction method, the genotype, and the interaction genotype-method of extraction. The heat reflux extraction showed the highest polyphenols content in wild olive leaves having an amount of 841.17 mg GAE/100 g DM. The qualitative phytochemical examination using high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) of olive leaves showed some significant differences of phenolic compounds between genotypes. For the same oleaster genotype, the extraction method seemed to influence qualitatively the polyphenols profiles. The quinic acid was the dominant phenolic acid and the luteolin-7-O-glucoside was the major flavonoid observed in wild olive leaves having, respectively, 618.24 and 3211.44 mg/kg DM. The quinic acid has an amount of 400.15 and 275.39 mg/kg and the luteolin-7-O-glucoside has an amount of 2059.62 and 1214.49 mg/kg in cultivars leaves. The extraction by Soxhlet of wild olive leaves showed the highest quinic acid (1085.80 mg/kg DM) and luteolin-7-O-glucoside (3720.15 mg/kg DM) amounts. The hydromethanolic extraction assisted by Soxhlet of wild olive leaves constituted the optimal method to obtain high polyphenols contents enriched with phenolic acids and flavonoids.
Impacto de las restricciones del tráfico vehicular en el número de contagios/fallecimientos por COVID-19: Caso de estudio Loja-Ecuador
Authors: García Ramírez Yasmany Damián , Segarra Morales María Soledad , Cobos Ramón Marlon Augusto
Published: January 2024

El COVID-19 ha llevado a muchas naciones a implementar restricciones de movilidad y distanciamiento social como medidas para evitar la propagación de la enfermedad. En Ecuador, ante la necesidad de reactivar la economía de forma paulatina se implementó la semaforización epidemiológica que permitió establecer restricciones por colores de rojo,amarillo a verde, en base al número de contagios, de hospitalizaciones y fallecimientos por COVID-19. En este escenario, el presente estudio tuvo por objetivo analizar el impacto de las restricciones de tráfico vehicular, los contagios y fallecimientos por el COVID-19 en cantones con color amarillo. Para ello, se utilizaron los datos de tránsito vehicular de cuatro vías ingreso a la ciudad de Loja y las estadísticas estatales de contagios y fallecimientos por COVID-19. El análisis se realizó durante los meses de junio a agosto del 2020. Como resultado, se encontró una relación positiva entre el tránsito promedio semanal y el número de contagios y fallecimientos semanales, obteniendo tres ecuaciones predictivas. Esta investigación permite comprender el impacto positivo que las restricciones de movilidad tienen en el número de contagios y fallecimientos por COVID-19 en durante el proceso de alivio de las restricciones de movilidad y además permitirá predecir valores en esta o futuras pandemias en este cantón o en los cuales se tengan similares características.
Bienestar psicológico en estudiantes universitarios durante el confinamiento por COVID-19
Authors: Mogrovejo Gualpa Javier Oscar , Guamán León Camila Virginia
Published: January 2024

El bienestar psicológico es un indicador adaptativo de salud que se afectó por la pandemia de SARS-CoV-2. El objetivo del presente estudio fue explicar las repercusiones que se dieron en el bienestar psicológico de los estudiantes de la Carrera de Psicología de la Universidad de Guayaquil en el confinamiento por COVID-19 para la realización de ulteriores acciones preventivas. La metodología usada fue cualitativa con enfoque fenomenológico, los participantes fueron tres mujeres y tres hombres, activamente matriculados, a quienes se le aplicó una entrevista a profundidad. Los indicadores de bienestar psicológico que se afectaron negativamente por el confinamiento a causa del COVID-19 fueron: autoaceptación y relaciones positivas, el indicador de bienestar psicológico que se afectó positivamente fue el desarrollo personal. Es necesario que las instituciones de educación superior implementen acciones de prevención para el fortalecimiento del bienestar psicológico para la obtención de salud en sus estudiantes.
Agenda mediática y divulgación científica en contextos de crisis. Tratamiento del Covid-19 en la prensa digital de Chile, Colombia y Ecuador
Authors: Mila Maldonado Juan Arturo , Lara Aguiar Jhonatan Andrés , Pineda Canabal Aníbal
Published: January 2024

El presente artículo recopila los resultados de una estancia de investigación predoctoral, convenio Erasmus+ICM_KA107, entre la Universidad de Santiago de Compostela (España) y la Universidad Antonio Nariño (Colombia) y tiene como objetivo caracterizar la agenda de los medios digitales de Chile (El Mercurio y La Tercera), Colombia (El Tiempo y La República) y Ecuador (El Comercio y El Telégrafo) en torno al tratamiento informativo del COVID-19. Se establece en la divulgación de datos científicos, el comportamiento de los principales actores y sus atributos (confianza y fortaleza) y otros elementos como la polarización, el negativismo político y el grado de cientificidad de las noticias. Se tomó como temporalidad de análisis los tres primeros meses del año 2021, con un corpus total de 1349 unidades de análisis. Para lograr los objetivos planteados se empleó, con base en criterios cuantitativos, el análisis de contenido como método. Como principales hallazgos destacan que existe un tratamiento disparejo del COVID-19 en los medios, como por ejemplo El Telégrafo y La Tercera con menor cantidad de noticias, en contraposición a El Comercio, cuyo corpus tiene la mayor proporción. Además, se identificaron ciertos grados de negativismo y polarización en el tratamiento de noticias que muestran las consecuencias negativas de la pandemia. Los principales actores representados de forma positiva son los organismos de salud de cada país y el personal sanitario, mientras que de manera negativa se representan a la población en general y a la OMS. Del mismo modo, pese a que existan estos elementos propios del sesgo mediático, en noticias de divulgación de los avances de la pandemia existen criterios de cientificidad; aunque en los mensajes de concientización puedan carecer de este principio.
Estrategias dinámicas para la ventaja competitiva en la era digital: Un modelo conceptual
Authors: Ordoñez Iturralde Darwin Daniel , Proaño Piedra Christian Xavier , Morales Castro Arturo
Published: January 2024

Este estudio de cinco años (2018-2022), explora la ventaja competitiva sostenible en la era digital, centrando su atención en la adopción de tecnologías emergentes y la transformación digital. El objetivo principal es comprender cómo las empresas nativas digitales, mediante su adaptabilidad y gestión del conocimiento, están redefiniendo la competitividad en el mercado contemporáneo. Metodológicamente, el estudio adopta un enfoque bibliográfico y documental, analizando datos y tendencias actuales en bases de datos académicas relevantes. La integración del Gartner Hype Cycle® for Emerging Technologies proporciona una perspectiva única sobre la relevancia temporal y el impacto real de las innovaciones tecnológicas, permitiendo diferenciar entre modas pasajeras y tecnologías genuinamente competitivas. Los resultados clave muestran que las empresas digitales nativas, con su enfoque en la gestión del conocimiento y la adaptabilidad, están estableciendo nuevos estándares en eficiencia y respuesta al mercado. Además, se resalta que la ventaja competitiva sostenible se logra no solo a través de capacidades tecnológicas sino también mediante unacultura organizacional enfocada en la innovación y estrategias que prioricen la sostenibilidad y la agilidad. Las conclusiones enfatizan la importancia de una cultura de innovación y una estrategia que abrace la sostenibilidad y la agilidad organizativa para alcanzar una ventaja competitiva sostenible en un mercado en constante evolución.
MEDIA PEMBELAJARAN BERBASIS ICT MENGGUNAKAN SOFTWARE SCRATCHPADA MATERI PELUANG DI SMPN 2 PORTIBI
Authors: Siregar Torang , Ardian Riski , Harahap Suci Ramadany , Nasution Ahmad Arisman
Published: January 2024

Media pembelajaran ialah salah satu per angkat yang digunakan dalam proses pembelajaran yang berfungsi sebagai alat bantu untuk menyampaikan pesan atau informasi kepada siswa guna memahami konsep-konsep matematika yang bersifat abstrak. Sehingga, media pembelajaran sangat penting digunakan dan dirancang sedemikian rupa agar menghasilkan media yang menarik dan mudah digunakan. Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk menghasilkan media pembelajaran berbasis ICT dengan menggunakan software scratch yang valid dan mengetahui respon siswa terhadap media pembelajaran berbasis ICT dengan menggunakan software scratch pada materi peluang. Subjek penelitian ini adalah kelas VIII SMP Negeri 2 Portibi. Prosedur pengembangan yang digunakan adalah menggunakan langkah-langkah model pengembangan dari ADDIE yakni 1) tahap analisis; 2) tahap perencanaan; 3) tahap pengembangan; 4) tahap implementasi; 5) tahap penilaian. Pengembangan produk ini telah melalui proses validasi yaitu validasi ahli materi sebanyak dua orang, validasi ahli media sebanyak 2 orang danuji coba skala kecil yang menunjukkan bahwa produk ini dinyatakan valid/layak digunakan berdasarkan saran yang diberikan. Hasil penelitian ini menujukkan bahwa 1) media pembelajaran berbasis ICT menggunakan software scratch pada materi peluang yang telah melalui tahap validasi menghasilkan produk yang valid/layak digunakan; 2) respon siswa terhadap media pembelajaran berbasis ICT menggunakan software scratch pada materi peluang mendapat respon baik.
Enacting communication cycles after prediabetes: Mothers’ stories of diabetes risk and seeking support
Authors: Cafferty Lauren A. , Fisher Carla L. , Ledford Christy J. W.
Published: January 2024

Background: Diabetes is a family systems experience of multiple intergenerational relationships. Communicating about diabetes as a familial risk helps individuals perceive greater control over preventing diabetes. Aim: The present study investigates how mothers disclose their prediabetes to their family and the precipitating family communication, with the goal to interrupt the multigenerational legacy of diabetes. Method: Data were collected from a Family Medicine outpatient clinic. Semi-structured interviews were conducted to illicit information about mother-child communication about diabetes. Sort and Sift, Think and Shift analysis provided rich descriptions of mothers’ experiences. Results: The sample consisted of 9 women with prediabetes, aged 42-70, who had at least one child. Eight participants described at least 2 generations of family members with a diabetes-related diagnosis (prediabetes, type 2 diabetes mellitus, and gestational diabetes). First, we present two contextual factors that preexisted the prediabetes diagnosis, which influenced the disclosure decision: general health communication approach and personal evaluation of diabetes. Second, we present the communication cycles that supported self-management. Discussion: Continual communication cycles with family and clinicians can support mothers with prediabetes to enact self-management behaviors and delay the onset of type 2 diabetes mellitus. Conclusion: Mothers need family members to respond favorably to complete a positive communication cycle that can generate continuous emotional, social, and instrumental support.
The spatial dimension of the war effects in Ukraine: An agenda for country recovery
Authors: Maruniak Eugenia , Lisovskyi Sergiy , Rudenko Leonid
Published: January 2024

In the pre-war period, Ukraine faced significant development gaps, and a large part of its territory was in unfavourable social and environmental conditions. Despite some reforms, the overall imbalances of the spatial framework remained unchanged, and the processes of European integration were de facto rather slow. At the same time, Russia's geopolitical influence and the geo-economic impact of various global actors remained prominent. The outbreak of the war in 2022 led to large-scale changes in the structure of regional centres, significant social shifts, and further policy transformation at all levels. Communities and territories affected by the war consequences to varying degrees now demonstrate different patterns of development capacity and resilience, as well as its vision, which obviously leads to functional changes. The article aims to analyze the transformation processes caused by the hostilities, to reassess the guidelines for regional development, and to identify the priorities of post-war recovery.
Linking the evolution of two prefrontal brain regions to social and foraging challenges in primates
Authors: Bouret Sebastien , Paradis Emmanuel , Prat Sandrine , Castro Laurie , Perez Pauline , Gilissen Emmanuel , Garcia Cécile
Published: January 2024

The diversity of cognitive skills across primates remains both a fascinating and a controversial issue. Recent comparative studies provided conflicting results regarding the contribution of social vs ecological constraints to the evolution of cognition. Here, we used an interdisciplinary approach combining comparative cognitive neurosciences and behavioral ecology. Using brain imaging data from 16 primate species, we measured the size of two prefrontal brain regions, the frontal pole (FP) and the dorso-lateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC), respectively involved in metacognition and working memory, and examined their relation to a combination of socio-ecological variables. The size of these prefrontal regions, as well as the whole brain, was best explained by three variables: body mass, daily traveled distance (an index of ecological constraints) and population density (an index of social constraints). The strong influence of ecological constraints on FP and DLPFC volumes suggests that both metacognition and working memory are critical for foraging in primates. Interestingly, FP volume was much more sensitive to social constraints than DLPFC volume, in line with laboratory studies showing an implication of FP in complex social interactions. Thus, our data highlights the relative weight of social vs ecological constraints on the evolution of specific prefrontal brain regions and their associated cognitive operations in primates.
Covert Regime Change
Authors: O'Rourke Lindsey A.
Published: January 2024

States seldom resort to war to overthrow their adversaries. They are more likely to attempt to covertly change the opposing regime, by assassinating a foreign leader, sponsoring a coup d'état, meddling in a democratic election, or secretly aiding foreign dissident groups. This book shows us how states really act when trying to overthrow another state. The book argues that conventional focus on overt cases misses the basic causes of regime change. It provides substantive evidence of types of security interests that drive states to intervene. Offensive operations aim to overthrow a current military rival or break up a rival alliance. Preventive operations seek to stop a state from taking certain actions, such as joining a rival alliance, that may make them a future security threat. Hegemonic operations try to maintain a hierarchical relationship between the intervening state and the target government. Despite the prevalence of covert attempts at regime change, most operations fail to remain covert and spark blowback in unanticipated ways. The book assembles an original dataset of all American regime change operations during the Cold War. This fund of information shows the United States was ten times more likely to try covert rather than overt regime change during the Cold War. The dataset allows the book to address three foundational questions: What motivates states to attempt foreign regime change? Why do states prefer to conduct these operations covertly rather than overtly? How successful are such missions in achieving their foreign policy goals?
Lightweight transformer image feature extraction network
Authors: Zheng Wenfeng , Lu Siyu , Yang Youshuai , Yin Zhengtong , Yin Lirong
Published: January 2024

In recent years, the image feature extraction method based on Transformer has become a research hotspot. However, when using Transformer for image feature extraction, the model’s complexity increases quadratically with the number of tokens entered. The quadratic complexity prevents vision transformer-based backbone networks from modelling high-resolution images and is computationally expensive. To address this issue, this study proposes two approaches to speed up Transformer models. Firstly, the self-attention mechanism’s quadratic complexity is reduced to linear, enhancing the model’s internal processing speed. Next, a parameter-less lightweight pruning method is introduced, which adaptively samples input images to filter out unimportant tokens, effectively reducing irrelevant input. Finally, these two methods are combined to create an efficient attention mechanism. Experimental results demonstrate that the combined methods can reduce the computation of the original Transformer model by 30%–50%, while the efficient attention mechanism achieves an impressive 60%–70% reduction in computation.
Caries risk assessment by Caries Management by Risk Assessment (CAMBRA) Protocol among the general population of Pakistan–a multicenter analytical study
Authors: Iqbal Azhar , Siddiqui Yasir Dilshad , Chaudhary Farooq Ahmad , Abideen Malik Zain ul , Hussain Talib , Arjumand Bilal , Almuhaiza Mohammed , Mustafa Mohammed , Khattak Osama , Attia Reham Mohammed , Rashed Asma Abubaker , Sultan Sherif Elsayed
Published: January 2024

Background

Caries risk (CR) assessment tools are used to properly identify individuals with caries risk and to improve preventive procedures and programs. A tool such as CAMBRA determines the precise protective factors of caries and identifies an individual’s specific therapeutic intervention. The purpose of this study was to assess the caries risk using the CAMBRA protocol among the general population of Pakistan.

Methods

This multicentre analytical study was conducted in ten dental hospitals in different provinces of Pakistan and the caries risk assessment was carried out using a questionnaire that was designed using the Caries Management by Risk Assessment (CAMBRA) protocol. All 521 participants were intra-orally examined to assess oral hygiene status and the presence of disease. Multiple logistic regression test was performed for analysis.

Results

A higher number of participants (61.2%) were found to be in the moderate risk category of caries risk assessment. The males are 51% less likely to have caries compared to the females (AOR = 0.49, P = 0.081). The majority of participants (71.3%) had one or more disease indicators, with white spots and visible cavities. Those with visible, heavy plaque were 13.9 times more likely to have caries compared to those without (AOR = 13.92, P < 0.001). Those using calcium and phosphate during the last 6 months were 90% less likely to have caries compared to those not using them (AOR = 0.10, P < 0.001). There was no significant interaction between all eight risk factors retained in the final model (P > 0.05), the Hosmer and Lemeshow Test P < 0.001, classification accuracy = 87.1%, and AUC = 91.2%.

Conclusion

The caries risk among the general population of Pakistan is moderate, with significant variation among age groups, education levels, and socioeconomic status.
Relationship Analysis of Phenology, Stress Tolerance, and Mean Productivity in Wilt and Cold Stressed Chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) Following Synthetic PGRs Application
Authors: Thakur Satyendra , Tiwari Gyanendra , Samaiya R. K. , Babbar Anita , Pandey Vibha , Upadhyay Anubha , Kumawat Rohit Kumar , Singh Richa , Tiwari Prakash N. , Tripathi Niraj
Published: January 2024

To understand the phenotypic response to mitigate stress tolerance for achieving maximum mean productivity, a comparative study of four synthetic PGRs—Abscisic Acid (ABA), Naphthyl Acetic Acid (NAA), Salicylic Acid (SA), and Fusaric Acid (FA)—was conducted as a pot experiment against artificially inoculated Fusarium oxysporum (a wilt pathogen) and cold exposure in four chickpea varieties. Additionally, the relationship between traits and PGRS application was looked at to evaluate their role in the stress tolerance mechanism. The results showed that ABA at 5 and 2 ppm was effective in delaying flowering, therefore extending the vegetative development phase in plants. In this way, flowering promotes stress tolerance while evading the damaging impacts of wilting and cold. This resulted in a lower percentage of wilt and a reduced incidence of cold compared to all other treatments, which raised mean productivity. The use of ABA at 5 and 2 ppm has been shown to positively correlate with both the prolongation of vegetative development and the delay of flowering. But fusaric acid (FA), a fungal toxin, is what caused early flowering, which allowed the flower to coincide with the development of wilt and cold. The occurrence of wilt at seedling and cold during flowering accelerated the incidence of wilt and cold, which led to a reduced mean productivity after giving fusaric acid (FA) @ 10 and 20 ppm. According to the investigation, the application of fusaric acid (FA) at 10 and 20 ppm was found to be positively and highly correlated with an increase in the incidence of wilt and cold and consequently negatively correlated with the mechanism possessed by ABA at 5 and 2 ppm.
Retracted: Advancements in Endodontic Restoration: A Comprehensive Review of Pre and Post Treatment Techniques
Authors: Prasad B. S. Keshava , Aishwarya Kuchimanchi Sneha
Published: January 2024

Endodontic treatments are made much more difficult by the fact that teeth that need them frequently have damaged structures. For these teeth, pre-endodontic restoration is therefore an important strategy that dentists should take into account. Compared to a typical tooth restoration, an endodontic treatment necessitates a more sophisticated restoration because of things like significant cavities, post-treatment root canal dentin, and even the patient's financial situation. It is the dentist's responsibility to repair the tooth and return its shape, functionality, and aesthetics. According to reports, restoration failure—rather than the endodontic treatment itself—is the main reason why endodontic treatments fail. Consequently, the effectiveness of endodontic therapy depends critically on a suitable post-endodontic restoration. Thus the aim of the present paper summarizes on different pre and post endodontic restorative techniques based on the requirement of the case.
This article has been retracted
Phytochemical and In-vitro Antioxidant Activity of Guiera senegalensis (Combretaceae) Leaf Extracts
Authors: Hayatou Mas’-ûd , Herve Bayaga , Abongwa Lem Edith , Tembe Estella Achick , Borgia Njinkio Nono , Fokunang Charles Ntungwen.
Published: January 2024

Guiera senegalensis is a plant of the Combretaceae family, found in West Africa and Central Africa. It has many properties such as antibacterial, antifungal, anticancer, antioxidants, which are the subject of this study. The objective of this study was to realize a qualitative and quantitative phytochemical screening, evaluation of the antioxidant activity of the plant leaf extracts. Plant extractions was done in accordance with the methods described by Fonmboh and collaborators on the leaves of the plant; a qualitative phytochemical screening according to the methods described by Shaik and al quantitative phytochemical screening consisting of colorimetric dosage and finally the antioxidant activity was explored in-vitro by the Folin-Ciocalteu method and by the phosphomolybdenum method. This study revealed the presence of primary metabolites such as carbohydrates and proteins but also secondary metabolites such as alkaloids, flavonoids and coumarins. Quantification analysis demonstrated a significant concentration of these metabolites depending on the extract. Carbohydrates, proteins and polyphenols had a higher concentration in the hydro-ehtanolic extract with concentrations of 45,38 ± 1,88, 1172,31 ± 17,59, 310,27 ± 11,83 µg/ml respectively. Flavonoids, flavonols and alkaloids in the Aqueous maceration extract with concentrations of 145,84 ± 8,34, 169,52 ± 10,13, 320,56 ± 67,52 µg/ml. and Tannins in decoction extract with a concentration of 338,55 ± 12,25 µg/ml. The in-vitro antioxidant activity demonstrated an inhibition percentage of the order of 70.96 ± 0.58% in the extract obtained by hydro-ethanolic maceration. This study confirms the use of the plant in category 1 traditional medicine, and results show a promising potential for developing a category 2 phytomedicine. Future studies should explore the use of phytochemical compounds involved in this antioxidant activity as well as its mechanism.
Nanotechnology-driven Solutions: Transforming Agriculture for a Sustainable and Productive Future
Authors: Kansotia Kavita , Naresh Ram , Sharma Yagyavalkya , Sekhar M. , Sachan Prashun , Baral Kirttiranjan , Pandey Shivam Kumar
Published: January 2024

Nanotechnology offers immense potential to revolutionize agriculture and address key challenges of food security, environmental sustainability, and nutritional enhancement. Diverse nanomaterials and nano-enabled innovations are being developed targeting nearly all aspects of the agricultural system. Nanoparticle crop protection products, nano-biosensors, nanofertilizers, and nanobioactives can enhance productivity, crop quality, and resource use efficiency. Smart nanoformulations for controlled nutrient release, nanoparticle plant growth regulators, and nanoencapsulation of agrochemicals allow precise delivery with lower doses than conventional products. Nanopesticides, nanoherbicides, and nanobactericides provide more effective crop protection with reduced environmental impact compared to traditional pesticides. Nanosensors and nanobarcodes enable real-time monitoring of soil conditions, plant health, pest/disease outbreaks, and supply chain tracking. Water-saving nanofiltration techniques support expanded reuse of drained water and wastewater in agriculture. Nanocatalysts, nanozymes, and nanobiotechnology approaches offer new solutions to agricultural pollution and waste issues. Nanotechnology-enabled agriculture can help meet escalating food demands while fostering sustainable intensification, furthering the goals of food and nutrition security. However, potential health and environmental risks of nanomaterials must be rigorously assessed. Overall, nanotechnology presents promising opportunities to enhance productivity, resource efficiency, food quality and safety – vital steps toward productive and sustainable agricultural systems.
Asymmetric Epoxidation of Allylic Alcohols: the Katsuki–Sharpless Epoxidation Reaction
Authors: Katsuki Tsutomu , Martin Victor
Published: April 2004

In 1980, Sharpless and Katsuki discovered a system for the asymmetric epoxidation of primary allylic alcohols that utilizes Ti(OPr‐i)4, a dialkyl tartrate as a chiral ligand, andtert‐butyl hydroperoxide as the oxidant. Notably, this reaction exhibits high levels of enantioselectivity (usually > 90% ee). Like other metal‐catalyzed epoxidations, this reaction also proceeds under mild conditions with good chemical yield and with high regio‐ and chemoselectivity. Various aspects of this reaction, including its mechanism, early synthetic applications, and further transformations of the epoxy alcohol product, have been reviewed. In this chapter, the full scope and limitations of this reaction, its synthetic applications, and typical experimental conditions are described.
Radical Cyclization Reactions
Authors: Giese B. , Kopping B. , Göbel T. , Dickhaut J. , Thoma G. , Kulicke K.J. , Trach F.
Published: April 2004

Radical cyclization reactions are among the most powerful and versatile methods for the construction of mono‐ and polycyclic systems. The advantages these reactions offer to the synthetic organic chemist include high functional group tolerance and mild reaction conditions combined with high levels of regio‐ and stereochemistry. Furthermore, the recent progress in radical chemistry has led to the development of a broad range of very useful practical methods to conduct radical cyclization reactions. In general, radical cyclization reactions comprise three basic steps: selective radical generation, radical cyclization, and conversion of the cyclized radical to the product.

For the generation of the initial radical a broad variety of suitable precursors can be employed, such as halides, thio‐ and selenoethers, alcohols, aldehydes and hydrocarbons. The cyclization step usually involves the intramolecular addition of a radical to a multiple bond. Most often carbon–carbon multiple bonds are employed; however, there are also examples known for the addition to carbon–oxygen and carbon–nitrogen bonds. Depending on the method employed, the cyclized radical is converted to the desired product by trapping with a radical scavenger, by a fragmentation reaction, or by an electron transfer reaction.

The section Mechanism, Regio‐ and Stereochemistry provides an introduction to the key features of radical cyclization with a special emphasis on the factors controlling the regio‐ and stereochemistry. The section Scope and Limitations covers the different methods used to conduct radical cyclization. The basic principles of radical chemistry and general practical considerations when conducting radical cyclizations are not discussed in detail. Several excellent review articles and books dealing with these topics are available.
Oxidation of Carbonyl Compounds with Organohypervalent Iodine Reagents
Authors: Moriarty Robert M. , Om Prakash
Published: April 2004

The search for novel oxidizing agents, especially those that not only transform a broad range of diverse functional groups, but also do so with a high degree of selectivity, remains the focus of intense exploration. In recent years, the use of hypervalent iodine compounds as oxidizing agents has gained attention in synthetic organic chemistry. The α‐oxidation of carbonyl compounds by hypervalent iodine oxidants has been most widely investigated and has broad synthetic utility. Although this area has recently been reviewed in various forms and scope, a comprehensive coverage that focuses on synthetic applications is absent and the present chapter addresses this need.

In this chapter the oxidation of carbonyl compounds with hypervalent iodine reagents is discussed. These reagents effect the electrophilic α‐oxidation of large numbers of ketones, β‐diketones, α,β‐unsaturated ketones, and their derivatives such as silyl enol ethers. The discussion is restricted mainly to the reactions of organoiodine(III) reagents; inclusion of other hypervalent iodine reagents such as organoiodine(V) reagents, periodic acid, or purely inorganic iodate reagents is beyond the scope of this chapter. Furthermore, reactions brought about with other oxidizing agents in combination with a catalytic amount of a hypervalent iodine reagent are not considered here. The chapter also excludes discussion of a considerable amount of work based upon the reaction of iodonium ylides, a distinct feature of organoiodine(III) reagents. The common abbreviations and names of the reagents used in this chapter are listed.

A general feature of the reactions of carbonyl compounds described in this chapter is electrophilic attack of the organoiodine(III) reagent at the α‐carbon atom of a carbonyl group to yield a presumed tricoordinate iodine(III) intermediate.

The Intermediate reacts further to yield products via various pathways depending upon the reaction conditions. The major processes that occur are summarized. These include oxidation of ketones under basic conditions leading to α‐hydroxydimethylacetals, oxidation of α,β‐unsaturated ketones leading to α‐hydroxy‐β‐methoxydimethylacetals, oxidation of ketones under neutral conditions, and related oxidation of silyl enol ethers under various conditions leading to α‐functionalization, intramolecular participation reactions leading to oxygen‐containing heterocyclic compounds including cyclic α‐keto ethers and lactones, and rearrangement processes such as 1,2‐aryl shifts in alkyl aryl ketones leading to 2‐arylalkanoates. All of these reactions are driven by the reduction of iodine(III) to iodine(I) (iodobenzene).