bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A multi-instrumental and modelling analysis of the ionospheric responses to the solar eclipse of December 14, 2020, over the Brazilian region
Authors: Resende Laysa Cristina Araujo , Zhu Yajun , Denardini Clezio Marcos , Chen Sony Su , Chagas Ronan Arraes Jardim , Da Silva Lígia Alves , Carmo Carolina S. , Moro Juliano , Barros Diego , Nogueira Paulo Alexandre Bronzato , Marchezi José Paulo , Picanço Giorgio A. S. , Jauer Paulo , Silva Régia Pereira , Silva Douglas , Carrasco José Alexander , Wang Chi , Liu Zhengkuan
Published: October 2021

Abstract. This work presents an analysis of the ionospheric responses to the solar eclipse that occurred on December 14, 2020, over the Brazilian sector. This event partially covers the south of Brazil, providing an excellent opportunity to study the modifications in the peculiarities that occur in this sector, as the Equatorial Ionization Anomaly (EIA). Therefore, we used the Digisonde data available in this period for two sites, Campo Grande (CG, 20.47° S, 54.60° W, dip ∼23° S) and Cachoeira Paulista (CXP, 22.70° S, 45.01° W, dip ∼35° S), assessing the E, and F regions, and Es layer behaviors. Additionally, a numerical model (MIRE, Portuguese acronym for E Region Ionospheric Model) is used to analyze the E layer dynamics modification around these times. The results show the F1 region disappearance and an apparent electronic density reduction in the E region during the solar eclipse. We also analyzed the total electron content (TEC) maps from the Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) that indicate a weakness in the EIA. On the other hand, we observe the rise of the Es layer electron density, which is related to the gravity waves strengthened during solar eclipse events. Finally, our results lead to a better understanding of the restructuring mechanisms in the ionosphere at low latitudes during the solar eclipse events, even though they only partially reached the studied regions.
Parallel gridded simulation framework for DSSAT-CSM (version 4.7.5.21) using MPI and NetCDF
Authors: Alderman Phillip D.
Published: October 2021

Abstract. The Decision Support System for Agrotechnology Transfer Cropping Systems
Model (DSSAT-CSM) is a widely used crop modeling system that has been
integrated into large-scale modeling frameworks. Existing frameworks
generate spatially explicit simulated outputs at grid points through an
inefficient process of translation from binary spatially referenced
inputs to point-specific text input files, followed by translation and
aggregation back from point-specific text output files to binary
spatially referenced outputs. The main objective of this paper was to
document the design and implementation of a parallel gridded simulation
framework for DSSAT-CSM. A secondary objective was to provide
preliminary analysis of execution time and scaling of the new parallel
gridded framework. The parallel gridded framework includes improved code
for model-internal data transfer, gridded input–output with the Network
Common Data Form (NetCDF) library, and parallelization of simulations
using the Message Passing Interface (MPI). Validation simulations with
the DSSAT-CSM-CROPSIM-CERES-Wheat model revealed subtle discrepancies in
simulated yield due to the rounding of soil parameters in the input
routines of the standard DSSAT-CSM. Utilizing NetCDF for direct
input–output produced a 3.7- to 4-fold reduction in execution time
compared to R- and text-based input–output. Parallelization improved
execution time for both versions with between 12.2- (standard version)
and 13.4-fold (parallel gridded version) speed-up when comparing 1 to 16
compute cores. Estimates of parallelization of computation ranged
between 99.2 % (standard version) and 97.3 % (parallel gridded version), indicating potential for scaling to higher numbers of compute cores.
Comparing an exponential respiration model to alternative models for soil respiration components in a Canadian wildfire chronosequence (FireResp v1.0)
Authors: Zobitz John , Aaltonen Heidi , Zhou Xuan , Berninger Frank , Pumpanen Jukka , Köster Kajar
Published: October 2021

Abstract. Forest fires modify soil organic carbon and suppress soil respiration
for many decades after the initial disturbance. The associated changes
in soil autotrophic and heterotrophic respiration from the time of the
forest fire, however, are less well characterized. The FireResp model
predicts soil autotrophic and heterotrophic respiration parameterized
with a novel dataset across a fire chronosequence in the Yukon and
Northwest Territories of Canada. The dataset consisted of soil
incubation experiments and field measurements of soil respiration and
soil carbon stocks. The FireResp model contains submodels that consider
a Q10 (exponential) model of respiration compared to models of
heterotrophic respiration using Michaelis–Menten kinetics parameterized
with soil microbial carbon. For model evaluation we applied the Akaike
information criterion and compared predicted patterns in components of
soil respiration across the chronosequence. Parameters estimated with
data from the 5 cm soil depth had better model–data comparisons than
parameters estimated with data from the 10 cm soil depth. The model–data
fit was improved by including parameters estimated from soil incubation
experiments. Models that incorporated microbial carbon with
Michaelis–Menten kinetics reproduced patterns in autotrophic and
heterotrophic soil respiration components across the chronosequence.
Autotrophic respiration was associated with aboveground tree biomass at
more recently burned sites, but this association was less robust at
older sites in the chronosequence. Our results provide support for more
structured soil respiration models than standard Q10 exponential
models.
Vegetation greening weakened the capacity of water supply to China's South-to-North Water Diversion Project
Authors: Zhang Jiehao , Zhang Yulong , Sun Ge , Song Conghe , Dannenberg Matthew P. , Li Jiangfeng , Liu Ning , Zhang Kerong , Zhang Quanfa , Hao Lu
Published: October 2021

Abstract. Recent climate change and vegetation greening have important implications for global terrestrial hydrological cycles and other
ecosystem functions, raising concerns about the watershed water supply
capacity for large water diversion projects. To address this
emerging concern, we built a hybrid model based on the Coupled Carbon and
Water (CCW) and Water Supply Stress Index (WaSSI) models and conducted a
case study on the upper Han River basin (UHRB) in Central China that serves as the water source area to the middle route of the South-to-North Water Diversion Project (SNWDP). Significant vegetation greening occurred in the
UHRB during 2001–2018, largely driven by the widespread afforestation in the
region, with the normalized difference vegetation index increasing at a rate
of 0.5±0.1 % yr−1 (p<0.05) but with no significant trends in climate during the same period (albeit with large interannual
variability). Annual water yield greatly decreased, and vegetation greening
alone induced a significant decrease in water yield of 3.2±1.0 mm yr−1 (p<0.05). Vegetation greening could potentially reduce
the annual water supply by 7.3 km3 on average, accounting for 77 % of
the intended annual water diversion volume of the SNWDP. Although vegetation greening can bring enormous ecosystem goods and services (e.g., carbon
sequestration and water quality improvement), it could aggravate the
severity of hydrological drought. Our analysis indicated that vegetation
greening in the UHRB reduced about a quarter of water yield on average during drought periods. Given the future warming and drying climate is likely to
continue to raise evaporative demand and exert stress on water availability,
the potential water yield decline induced by vegetation greening revealed by
our study needs to be taken into account in the water resources management over the UHRB while reaping other benefits of forest protection and
ecological restoration.
Winter observations alter the seasonal perspectives of the nutrient transport pathways into the lower St. Lawrence Estuary
Authors: Bluteau Cynthia Evelyn , Galbraith Peter S. , Bourgault Daniel , Villeneuve Vincent , Tremblay Jean-Éric
Published: October 2021

Abstract. The St. Lawrence Estuary connects the Great Lakes with the Atlantic Ocean.
The accepted view, based on summer conditions, is that the estuary's surface layer receives its nutrient supply from vertical mixing processes. This mixing is caused by the estuarine circulation and tides interacting with the topography at the head of the Laurentian Channel. During winter when ice forms, historical process-based studies have been limited in scope. Winter monitoring has been typically confined to vertical profiles of salinity and temperature as well as near-surface water samples collected from a helicopter for nutrient analysis. In 2018, however, the Canadian Coast Guard approved a science team to sample in tandem with its ice-breaking and ship escorting operations. This opportunistic sampling provided the first winter turbulence observations, which covered the largest spatial extent ever measured during any season within the St. Lawrence Estuary and the Gulf of St. Lawrence. The nitrate enrichment from tidal mixing resulted in an upward nitrate flux of about 30 nmol m−2 s−1, comparable to summer values obtained at the same tidal phase. Further downstream, deep nutrient-rich water from the gulf was mixed into the subsurface nutrient-poor layer at a rate more than an order of magnitude smaller than at the head. These fluxes were compared to the nutrient load of the upstream St. Lawrence River. Contrary to previous assumptions, fluvial nitrate inputs are the most significant source of nitrate in the estuary. Nitrate loads from vertical mixing processes would only exceed those from fluvial sources at the end of summer when fluvial inputs reach their annual minimum.
Writing disorder: the harmful and healing effects of writing in Hornbacher’s Wasted and other anorexia memoirs
Authors: Grange Huw
Published: October 2021

A growing body of evidence points to the potential of life writing about anorexia to foster “disordered reading” practices in certain readers (Seaber, 2016), with particular concerns raised about the breakthrough eating disorder memoir, Marya Hornbacher’s Wasted (1998). With this article, I shift the focus from readers to authors, exploring the positive and negative health consequences of writing as depicted in Wasted and three anorexia memoirs by British authors, selected on the basis of their meta-literary reflections.

On the one hand, these memoirists describe various forms of what I term “disordered writing”, or writing that is implicated in the perpetuation of illness. On the other, these memoirists accord writing a role in recovery: affording metacognitive insights, it allows them to challenge the “anorexic voice” and nurture a voice of their own. I suggest that in texts that ascribe both harmful and healing effects to writing, the co-ordination of narrative voice has consequences for narrators’ reliability. Where the three British memoirists clearly differentiate between experiencing and narrating “I”s, and structure their texts to perform recovery, Hornbacher’s highly ambiguous project to “translate” her body leaves ample scope, I argue, for “disordered reading”.
Breaking borders: Launching a regional literary journal in times of arts funding uncertainty
Authors: Grimmer Raelke , Sefton-Rowston Adelle , Morrison Glenn
Published: October 2021

A new literary journal of the Northern Territory, Borderlands, launched an online pilot edition in 2019 and an online print edition in 2020. The publication comes twenty years after its predecessor, Northern Perspectives, ceased publishing due to losing its Australia Council funding and support from Northern Territory University (now Charles Darwin University). As the editors of the journal, in this article we analyse how we funded and published the journal’s pilot editions against the backdrop of precarious arts funding and a ravaged arts sector, due in part to the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. We provide a cost breakdown of publishing the journal and analyse our approach and processes in order to offer some insight and transparency to stakeholders, patrons and others contemplating literary journal publishing. Despite the challenging landscape of arts funding in Australia, ultimately the benefits of pursuing literary publishing in the regions to foster regional writing as part of Australian literature are worth the obstacles encountered on the path to publication. Our research suggests there are four key pillars integral to a journal’s success and sustainability in an underfunded sector: a flexible approach, community support and engagement, early stakeholder consultation, and transparency surrounding the costs of literary journal publishing.
Otro tipo de recompensa narrativa: el concepto de “prolongación temporal” como superación de la serialidad televisiva
Authors: García Martínez Alberto Nahum , Nannicelli Ted
Published: October 2021

Este artículo explora las características de la temporalidad en la televisión; en concreto, las capacidades estéticas propias que la pequeña pantalla tiene a su disposición en virtud de su temporalidad distintiva. Partiendo de una metodología que combina los estudios sobre serialidad que han proliferado tanto en los Television Studies como en la Filosofía de la Estética, este texto apunta, en primer lugar, cómo las nociones existentes de “serialidad” no ofrecen una descripción completamente adecuada del particular carácter temporal de la televisión y de sus capacidades estéticas. Por esta razón, se propone un nuevo concepto: la “prolongación temporal”. Esta abarca, a diferencia del concepto de serialidad, tanto la manera específica en la que el medio televisivo emplea la temporalidad, así como los efectos estéticos que este manejo genera en formatos y géneros tan diversos como interminables soap-operas, dramas seriales con arcos argumentales horizontales, procedimentales episódicos, comedias de situación, telediarios, emisiones deportivas, concursos semanales, telerrealidad e, incluso, documentales. Para respaldar nuestra argumentación, el artículo profundiza en tres casos de estudio que apuntalan la validez de nuestra teoría. En primer lugar, se abordan las series de ficción autoconclusivas, de las que se espiga el funcionamiento de la prolongación temporal en los gags recurrentes, en la estructura del monstruo de la semana y en la ruptura que suponen los “episodios especiales”. El segundo caso de estudio es la figura del presentador de televisión informativa, donde el concepto de familiaridad establece unas recompensas estéticas privativas gracias al paso del tiempo. El último caso que se examina es el de programas de telerrealidad, con Kitchen Nightmares como botón de muestra, donde las variaciones en las expectativas son esenciales para establecer una comparación fructífera con episodios anteriores.
La estética del género ciberpunk como filosofía de la historia: un recorrido por las arquitecturas fílmicas de Alphaville, Blade Runner y Matrix y su ruptura del espacio-tiempo
Authors: Pérez Manzanares Julio , Zufiaur Ruiz de Eguino Amaia
Published: October 2021

La aparición del género ciberpunk coincide con los inicios de la denominada posmodernidad. En el presente artículo, y siguiendo las críticas que se han venido realizando de la misma como momento de cambio de paradigma histórico, proponemos el análisis de los espacios profílmicos de la ficción como campo de investigación en el que se sintetizan las preocupaciones de una fenomenología propia del “fin de los tiempos”. Observando los ejemplos que han ido configurando el género cinematográfico hasta darle entidad propia, trataremos de explicar algunas de sus características estéticas —como las distopías temporales, la combinación de tiempos históricos o la tendencia a la cita y el pastiche— como reflejo e investigación de preocupaciones propias del momento relacionadas con discusiones propias de la filosofía de la historia y de los medios, así como de la importancia actual de la ficción como método para pensar la historia y analizar las categorías temporales.
Nación y masculinidades: reflexiones desde la historia
Authors: Andreu-Miralles Xavier
Published: October 2021

El texto analiza la relación entre nación y masculinidad en el mundo contemporáneo a partir del diálogo con una serie de debates teóricos recientes. En primer lugar, reflexiona sobre la conexión entre nación, masculinidad y “modernidad”. Seguidamente, se interroga sobre el concepto de “masculinidad nacional”. En tercer lugar, plantea la necesidad de rehuir una interpretación rígida de la relación entre ambas categorías. Finalmente, el texto concluye que para estudiar de forma compleja la relación que se establece en el mundo contemporáneo entre la nación y la masculinidad es necesario introducir la perspectiva histórica y atender a la acción de los sujetos históricos.
A Review on Municipal Solid Waste Disposal by Sanitary Landfilling Method
Authors: Kumar M. Vijaya
Published: October 2021

Over the years, the generation of municipal waste in India has increased significantly. Solid waste management has become an important issue due to poor waste management practices affect public health and urban services. Municipal waste generation increases with increasing population, urbanization and industrialization. Municipal solid wastes disposal is a stinging and widespread problem in many developed and developing countries, in both urban and rural areas. Municipal waste management solutions must be economically sustainable, technically feasible, social, legally acceptable and environmentally friendly. Sanitary landfilling is popular in most countries because of the due to its relatively low cost and low technical requirements This paper mainly review on need to dispose of municipal waste, sanitary land filling method of disposal of MSW, Evaluation of the impact of landfills on the environment such leachate, land fill gases (LFG), land fill fires (LFF), strategies for effective management of sanitary landfills and sustainable measures (reduce, reuse and recycle) to minimize the amount of waste that ends up in landfills.

Keywords: Municipal solid waste, Sanitary landfill, leachate, land fill gases (LFG) and land fill fires (LFF).
Characterization of Alpha Bismuth Trioxide Nanoparticles and their Application for Catalytic Degradation of Xylene Cyanol FF Dye in Aqueous Solution
Authors: F Akbar Jan F Akbar Jan , Rahat Ullah Rahat Ullah , Umar Shah Umar Shah , Muhammad Saleem Muhammad Saleem , Naimat Ullah Naimat Ullah , Muhammad Usman Muhammad Usman
Published: October 2021

Bismuth oxide (Bi2O3) nanoparticles were synthesized using chemical reduction method. The prepared nanoparticles were characterized by Ultra violet – Visible (UV-Vis) spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier Transform Infra-red (FTIR) spectroscopy , Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and Energy dispersive X-ray (EDX) techniques The characterized nanoparticles were applied as photo catalyst for the degradation of hazardous dye Xylene Cyanol FF in aqueous medium. The effects of different parameters such as irradiation time, initial dye concentration, catalyst dosage, pH of the medium and temperature were studied on the photo catalytic degradation of the dye. It was found that with increase in irradiation time and catalyst dosage the degradation exponentially increased and decreased with increase in initial concentration of the dye. The temperature was found to have no appreciable effect on the dye degradation in open atmosphere.
Stereoselective Synthesis, Spectral Characterization, Docking and Biological Screening of Coumarin Derivatives
Authors: Zakia Afzal Zakia Afzal , Naghmana Rashid and Humaira Nadeem Naghmana Rashid and Humaira Nadeem
Published: October 2021

The compounds being synthesized in present research are chiral in nature so for getting enantiopure compounds, stereoselective synthesis was carried out by organocatalysis. The importance of enantiopure compounds can not be overstated because the living systems are chiral in nature and response of enantiomers can be very different in living systems. The organocatalysed synthesis was accumplished using 4-hydroxycoumarin and variously substituted dibenzylideneacetones as reactants and the organocatalyst being used was 9-amino-9-deoxyepiquinine. The range of enantioselectivity achieved was 24-95%. The synthesized compounds were characterized by UV, IR, 1H NMR, 13C NMR, EIMS, UVCD, VCD and Chiral HPLC. The major focus of this research was to develop anticoagulant compounds and therefore the molecular docking studies were carried out with crystal structure of vitamin k epoxide reductase (3kp9) and then screened for in-vitro anticoagulant activity by using warfarin as positive control. Out of six synthesized compounds, four compounds (1,2,5,6) have shown greater binding affinity with 3kp9 than warfarin. In in-vitro anticoagulant studies, all compounds showed improved IC50 values than warfarin. Besides anticoagulant activity, antimocrobial activities were also carried out with six different strains of bacteria and fungi. Compound (5) showed 79% inhibition against Bacillus subtillis and 62 % inhibition against Staphylococcus aureus.
A Novel Magnetic Nanocatalyst Fe3O4@TiO2-H5IO6 for the Green Synthesis of 4-Substituted-1,5-benzodiazepine Derivatives
Authors: Fatemeh Ahmadzadeh Fatemeh Ahmadzadeh , Bahador Karami Bahador Karami , Mahnaz Farahi and Jamileh Etemad Mahnaz Farahi and Jamileh Etemad
Published: October 2021

In this study, periodic acid-functionalized magnetic support (Fe3O4@TiO2-H5IO6) as a new, benign and recyclable nanocatalyst was prepared by anchoring / periodic acid onto TiO2-coated nano-Fe3O4. This catalyst was applied to achieve a high-efficiency, low-cost and eco-friendly approach for synthesizing 4-substituted-1,5-benzodiazepines with the multicomponent reactions of aromatic aldehydes, o-phenylenediamine, and dimedone. The / periodic acid group on Fe3O4@TiO2 possesses both Lewis and Brand#248;nsted acidity, which is responsible for the high catalyst activity. The obtained results show that the catalyst performance has been acceptable in the presented research. / The catalyst could be recovered and reused up to six times without any notable decrease in its activity.
Las vertientes del derecho internacional humanitario en la jurisprudencia constitucional colombiana: a treinta años de la Constitución Política de 1991
Authors: Palencia Osorio José David
Published: October 2021

En el marco de los treinta años de la promulgación de la Constitución Política de Colombia de 1991, el artículo se sirve de las vertientes tradicionales sobre las cuales se desarrolló el derecho internacional humanitario, con el denominado derecho de Ginebra para protección de las personas, y del denominado derecho de La Haya, sobre conducción de hostilidades, para analizar algunas disposiciones jurisprudenciales de la Corte Constitucional, con ocasión del control de constitucionalidad a instrumentos internacionales de derecho internacional humanitario o que contienen elementos de este, en el marco del proceso de perfeccionamiento y adecuación en el ordenamiento interno. En su desarrollo jurisprudencial, la Corte Constitucional se adentra en un debate sobre el carácter imperativo de las disposiciones del derecho internacional humanitario en el que aborda temas como la supra constitucionalidad, la equivalencia normativa y el bloque de constitucionalidad, en el que se presentan nociones como el monismo-dualismo, consideraciones sobre la fuerza vinculante del derecho internacional humanitario y su interacción con el derecho internacional de los derechos humanos, y la vigencia de la Cláusula Martens como piedra fundamental en el desarrollo del derecho internacional humanitario.
Are Commercial Agent Banking Services Worthwhile For Financial Inclusion?
Authors: Hossain Md. Imran , Al-Amin Md. , Toha Md Abu
Published: October 2021

In recent times, commercial agent banking services have got considerable attention from academia and the banking industry for accelerating financial inclusion in emerging economies. However, it's incomprehensible to accelerate the economic progression through financial inclusion while ignoring a huge segment of the nonbank people from unprivileged areas. A very few studies have been conducted on the association between agent banking services and financial inclusion in emerging economies such as Bangladesh. The present study aims to investigate the impact of agent banking services provided by commercial banks on financial inclusion. To begin with the investigation, this study was based on agency theory considering the purposive sampling technique. This quantitative study was conducted on 19 commercial banks which are currently providing agent banking services in Bangladesh. An econometric model was proposed whereas the dependent construct has one specific dimension named as financial inclusion proxy by several accounts as a percentage of the adult population, in contrast, the independent construct had three dimensions named as-deposited amount, credited amount, and inward remittance of agent bank. In addition to that, this econometric model was based on secondary data whereas data analysis was conducted by considering panel data statistical method using GRETL (2019) software. This statistical analysis revealed that currently both the deposited amount and credited amount do have a significant impact on financial inclusion.  It has also been inferred that using agent banking for in-warding remittance and new accounts open by clients have a positive significant relationship with financial inclusion. It is argued that agent banking services by comprising unbanked people in financial inclusion will ultimately prompt the opportunity for proper mobilization of resources and funds while maintaining safety and security. Further, it is also claimed that this study would assist to illustrate the present performance of agent banking services in financial inclusion from a multidimensional perspective which will contribute to providing some more innovative and sustainable products and services towards the unbanked people. Finally, this study recommends that commercial banks through agent banking should include a maximum number of nonbank populations into the financial inclusion by ensuring sustainable agent banking services which will accelerate the emerging economics Sustainable Development Goal (SDGs) performance.
Strategi Pengembangan Merek Berorientasi Kearifan Lokal Belitung Timur
Authors: Meliana Vina , Mariah
Published: October 2021

Pengabdian Kepada Masyarakat (PKM) yang dilakukan untuk membantu para pelaku usaha di Belitung Timur dalam mengatasi tantangan Covid-19.PKM ini bertujuan untuk memberikan wawasan berupa strategi pengembangan merek berorientasi kearifan local. Metode yang digunakan berupa observasi kebutuhan, pelatihan dan praktik screening business kepada mitra PKM yaitu para pelaku usaha sejumlah 40 orang. Hasil penyelenggaraan PKM adalah para pelaku usaha memiliki input untuk mengembangkan produknya, memahami merek yang kuat, mengetahui cara merumuskan strategi pengembangan merek dan menentukan tipe e-commerce yang sesuai dengan karakteristik produk dan konsumennya masing-masing.
An overview of the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans and implications for agricultural enterprise recovery from COVID-19
Authors: Demko Iryna , Sant'Anna Ana , Liang Kathleen
Published: October 2021

In this policy and practice brief, we analyze the U.S. Paycheck Protection Program (PPP). The PPP provided loans to support businesses during the COVID-19 pandemic. Some businesses received timely relief from the PPP loans, while some were not able to acquire assistance. Production agricul­ture received 617,128 PPP loans totaling $17 billion.[1] The reach of PPP loans across the country was broad. In 80% of U.S. zip codes, at least one farm received a PPP loan. The average size of the loan in agriculture ($27,744) was substantially smaller than the national average ($74,156). The authors conducted interviews with PPP recipients and present some findings from those. The most recent data reveal challenges and opportunities for agricultural businesses, depending on their scale of operations and regional disparities. Community organizations working with small agriculture-related businesses need to be aware of various impacts while providing future assistance.
Влияние теплового стресса и биологически активных веществ из Linaria genistifolia на прорастание семян кукурузы и содержание в них крахмала
Authors:   Institute of Genetics, Physiology and Plant Protection, Republic of Moldova, Боровская Ала , Иванова Раиса ,   Institute of Genetics, Physiology and Plant Protection, Republic of Moldova, Мащенко Наталия ,   Institute of Genetics, Physiology and Plant Protection, Republic of Moldova
Published: October 2021

The use of reserve substances by maize during germination may depend on various factors, in-cluding genotypic and abiotic ones. The aim of the study was to establish the changes in the germination characteristics, starch content and reserve substances mobilization of various maize hybrids under the in-fluence of supraoptimale temperature and genistifoliosides. The heat stress promoted an increase in the metabolic efficiency of maize germination and led to a decrease in the starch content in the seeds. These changes were mostly dependent on the maize hybrid. The seeds pretreatment with genistifoliosides al-lowed removing the growth inhibition caused by increased temperature.
Efectul utilizării elementelor nutritive pentru germinare și creștere asupra indicilor fotosintetici ai frunzelor de porumb Zea mays L.
Authors:   Institute of Genetics, Physiology and Plant Protection, Republic of Moldova, Caus Maria , Dascaliuc Alexandru ,   Institute of Genetics, Physiology and Plant Protection, Republic of Moldova, Borozan Pantelimon ,   Institute of Crop Science "Porumbeni", Republic of Moldova, Eichler-Lubermann Bettina ,   University of Rostock, Germany
Published: October 2021

In this study experiments were conducted on the influence of ½ Hoagland nutrient media (NM), utilized for germination, on the content of chlorophylls, carotenoids and activity of photosystem II (FSII) of two maize hybrids (Porumbeni 180 and Bemo 203). The results showed that contents of chlorophyll a, b, (a + b) and carotenoids were significantly higher in leaves of Bemo 203 that germinated on NM, compared to the control. But in leaves of the Porumbeni 180 hybrid significant differences in the content of chlorophyll pigments in both the control and exper-imental plants were not detected. The FSII level in the leaves of the Porumbeni 180 was higher than in leaves of the Bemo 203, both for the control and experimental plants.
Influența factorilor abiotici asupra capacităților germinative a semințelor de fag (Fagus sylvatica L.)
Authors:   Institute of Genetics, Physiology and Plant Protection, Republic of Moldova, Elisovetcaia Dina , Ivanova Raisa ,   Institute of Genetics, Physiology and Plant Protection, Republic of Moldova, Gumeniuc Iachim ,   State Agrarian University of Moldova, Zayachuk Vasili ,   Ukrainian National Forestry University
Published: October 2021

The diversification of beech genotypes on the territory of the Republic of Moldova could be a so-lution to avoid the risks caused by climate change. The objective of this research was to determine the viability of beech seeds collected from four areas of the Ivano-Frankivsk region (Ukraine) and their modi-fication under the influence of various abiotic factors. The analyzed seeds possessed high viability (77.89 – 96.63%), which under the influence of supra optimal temperature +40°C decreased 1.3-1.4 times de-pending on the applied dose. Seeds exposed to heat treatment used reserve substances for radicle growth 1.4 – 1.6 times more than the control.
Infrastructure and the Impact of Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) on Export Diversification: Evidence from Africa
Authors: Fosu Augustin Kwasi
Published: October 2021

Since independence, most African countries have sought to achieve economic transformation. Export diversification (ED) has been a crucial instrument toward that goal. To attain this ED objective, governments have adopted several strategies, including tax exemptions and the removal of trade restrictions, intended to attract foreign direct investment (FDI). I hypothesize in this article that the impact of FDI on ED is contingent on the complementary infrastructure available in the host country. Greater availability of infrastructure would attract more ED-enhancing FDI. Using a five-year 1971–2010 panel data on 29 African countries, I estimate a dynamic model involving the usual covariates of the ED equation, including infrastructure and additionally FDI. The estimating methodologies are the generalized least squares (GLS) and the two-step System Generalized Methods of Moments (SYS-GMM). The results indicate that the higher the level of infrastructure, as indicated by the usual measure involving telephone availability, the larger is the positive FDI effect on ED. This is in addition to the favorable independent effect of infrastructure. The findings suggest that, in order for African countries to attract the ED-enhancing FDI type, such infrastructure should be appropriately prioritized.
Mark Twain and Estate Planning
Authors: Howe Lawrence
Published: October 2021

A surprising number of Mark Twain's texts include inheritance as a plot point and sometimes as a major premise, such as in The Gilded Age where he converted his family's disappointment about the Tennessee land into the engine of his first major work of fiction. This essay will discuss how a number of these texts project a skeptical attitude, even a satirical perspective, about how intergenerational wealth functions and how it affects the behavior of those who anticipate an inheritance. In so doing, Twain's writings about inheritance show how property rights rely on various discourses as the often-shaky building blocks of hereditary claims.
Changing the Narrative for LGBTQ Adolescents: A Literature Review and Call for Research into Narrative Therapy to Improve Family Acceptance of LGBTQ Teens
Authors: Jordan Felicia
Published: October 2021

A large body of existing research has demonstrated the importance of family acceptance as a protective factor for LGBTQ youth facing increased risks of low self-esteem, depression, suicidal ideation, and other mental-health problems. However, little research has been done on therapeutic interventions for families specifically to address stigma and discrimination against LGBTQ adolescents. In particular, narrative therapy, with its focus on deconstructing and re-storying oppressive cultural narratives, seems a natural fit, but little to no quantitative research has been done on family-based narrative therapy for LGBTQ adolescents, and only a handful of qualitative studies have been published. Therefore, the paper reviews the relevant literature on LGBTQ youth at risk, family acceptance, and narrative therapy, and argues for narrative therapy as a potentially useful intervention to help a marginalized population thrive in the face of continuing challenges. Finally, the paper suggests some avenues for further research.
Development of Virtual Simulation Experimental Software of Marine Platform Structure
Authors:   Petrolem Engineering School, Southwest Petroleum University, Chengdu, Sichuan 610500, Kang Lu , Ni Cong ,   Haohan Well Completion and Logging Science and Technology Limited Company, Chengdu, Sichuan 610500, Song Jinze ,   Petrolem Engineering School, Southwest Petroleum University, Chengdu, Sichuan 610500, Li Zhuang ,   CNOOC EnerTech-Drilling & Production Co., Tianjin 300452, Chen Weiyu ,   Petrolem Engineering School, Southwest Petroleum University, Chengdu, Sichuan 610500
Published: October 2021

Due to the harsh offshore exploitation environment, students are unable to conduct field investigation in offshore platforms. In this scenario, virtual simulation is an effective way to solve this problem. This paper introduces in detail a Virtual Simulation Experimental Software of Marine Platform Structure, which is closely integrated with the course content and engineering reality. Through the operation and learning of platform site selection, platform structure assembly, platform structure display, can realize the students' knowledge of platform structure composition mastery, and at the same time improve the students' participation and motivation. In addition, the system can automatically generate the experiment report and give the operation score reference to realize the teacher's quality control of the experiment course.
E-10 A study on Educating through Media in Islamic Education Perspective in Higher Education in Pakistan
Authors: Shahzad Muhammad , Nadeem Muhammad Asif , Waraich Haseeb
Published: October 2021

Advances in science and technology are motivating the teachers to use technology in the teaching process. Teaching through media technology seemed to enhance capabilities among learners. The educational media used should be adapted to the development and demands of the times. Using the right educational media in the process of learning to teach will make it easier to attain learning goals. The purpose of this article is to describe modern educational media used in this technological age and compare it with those that were used in Islamic education system since the initial days of spread of religion Islam. The research method used in this discussion is descriptive. The result attained form this discussion seemed to identify that in the early days of the spread of Islam, the educational media was used for the enhancement of teaching and teaching process and these technological medias were used by the by the Messenger of Allah, the Holy Prophet Muhammad (صلی اللہ علیہ و آلہ وسلم). The Holy Prophet Muhammad ((صلی اللہ علیہ و آلہ وسلم) used media while teaching the knowledge and rules of Islamic religion to the holy companions (صحابہ رضوان اللہ علیہ). In addition, in the hadith حدیت مبارکہ)) there are several terms used to indicate the use of educational media in learning, such as pictures, gravel, and fingers hands. The conclusion of this article is that the educational media seemed to influence learning aptitude of the learners. The use of media technology appeared to be inevitable for complete and accurate learning process. Media is an impactful and credible learning source of information to get the end result in the learning process.
Teaching and Assessing Critical Thinking Skills at Tertiary Level: Students’ Perceptions
Authors: Čeho Osmanović Amina
Published: October 2021

Through the implementation of structured interviews, this study design sought to investigate the students’ perceptions about the critical thinking skills infusion at English as a foreign language classroom. The purpose of this analysis is to focus on the underlying logical dimensions and perceptions of high and low critical thinking test scorers, and to discover how and why they diﬀer. This research problem has been investigated qualitatively. Students were divided into two groups: the high and the low critical thinking test achievers. The results indicated the lack of diﬀerences in students’ answers about the quality of teaching processes and assessment methods that promote critical thinking in English language classroom. To ensure better validity of the results, a larger number of participants should be included.
Research of the Gaze during Perception of Textbook’s Page Elements in Bulgarian
Authors:   Sofia University, Vasileva Despina
Published: October 2021

A study about perception of a page from a textbook of Bulgarian is presented in the article. Participants in the experiment are 30 students of age 15 to 19 from high schools in Soﬁa. The study is realized through an eye tracking system. For the purposes of the study 8 stimuli (textbook pages) were constructed, containing the components as follows: “text”, “image”, and “diagram”. In each stimulus the quantity of the components differs. All possible pairs in a combination in the left and in the right ﬁeld of view are presented in the stimuli. The goal of the research is to be examined the ﬁxation of the gaze on each elements of a textbook page. To assess the characteristic of the gaze was calculated the number of saccades in the left and right visual ﬁeld of the slides. The data are organized in spreadsheets. Statistical analysis is performed in two-group t-test (two samples with different variances). Mean number of saccades, standard deviation, standard error, critical ratio are calculated.
New Real and Non-real Phraseological Expressions in the Bulgarian Media Discourse
Authors:   Trakia University, Stara Zagora, Ilieva Teodora
Published: October 2021

The prerequisites for spontaneous or premedited phraseological word formation are both cultural and geopolitical, ethnopsychological, socio-economic, contextual and others. Some neophraseologies acquire public usage and multiply, others freeze in the ﬁeld of the occasional word formation. The main criteria for the excerpt of the phrases in the research are: the chronological one – real (full) and non-real (non-full) phraseologies are analyzed, isolated from media texts during the last 7 years; the semantic one – the semantic motivation is established, which is a result of borrowing, tracing, modiﬁcation of an element of the phrase or rehabilitation of archaic word combinations; structural – mono-, bi- and polyelement forms; the thematic one – where sustainable units with different conceptual and stylistic affiliation are analyzed. The aim of the study is to differentiate the new real phraseology according to the derivational methods and ways of their emergence through metaphorization, metonymization, irony, hyperbole, substitution, etc. Each of the phrases is analyzed comprehensively according to the speciﬁed parameters.
Strategic Agility in the SME: Use It Before You Lose It
Authors: Reed Jonathan
Published: October 2021

This empirical study investigates strategic agility and its relationships with firm age, firm size, and firm performance in SMEs. The Doz and Kosonen three-factor model of strategic agility is operationalized and tested in 30 firms from multiple industries located in the Space Coast region of Florida. It is found that strategic agility decreases as firms grow older but not as firms grow larger. Strategic agility and firm performance are also found to be related as moderated by environmental turbulence. Specifically, performance increases with strategic agility in high turbulence but decreases with strategic agility in low turbulence. This finding is consistent with the view that dynamic capabilities like strategic agility bear a cost which may be unnecessary in stable environments. Overall, the study suggests that SMEs may benefit from strategic agility if it used while they still have it, that is, when they are young.
Entrepreneurial Mindset: Examining the Contribution of Deliberative and Implemental Mindsets to SME Internationalization
Authors: Ahimbisibwe Godwin M. , Ntayi Joseph M. , Ngoma Muhammed , Bakunda Geoffery , Munene John C. , Esemu Timothy
Published: October 2021

The purpose of this study was to establish the contribution of deliberative mindset and implemental mindset to SME (small and medium enterprises) internationalization. This study employed cross-sectional and correlational research designs. Data were collected through a questionnaire survey of exporting SME owners and managers. Data was analyzed with the help of Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) and SmartPLS. Results suggest that implemental mindset significantly contributes to variances in SME internationalization unlike deliberative mindset. The findings in this study imply that increased levels of internationalization among SMEs in a developing country like Uganda can be achieved by those managers and owners who possess an implemental mindset. This study provides initial empirical evidence of the contribution of deliberative and implemental mindsets to SME internationalization using evidence from Uganda – a developing country.
Employees’ Psychological Characteristics and Sustainable Leadership in Firms With High and Low Entrepreneurial Orientation
Authors: Durst Suxanne , Chowdhury Farzana , Davilla Andres , Kraus Sascha , Cheng Cheng-Feng
Published: October 2021

In this article, we examine how individual-level psychological characteristics such as empowerment, integrity, humility, and need for cognition influence sustainable leadership behavior in firms with levels of high and low entrepreneurial orientation (EO). For this, we utilized fuzzy set qualitative comparative analysis (fsQCA) using data from 2,117 employees working in firms located and operating in different countries and diverse industries. Our results show that specific psychological characteristics possessed by the members of the organizations can be beneficial for engaging in entrepreneurial activity in both high and low EO firms. Our results e.g. show that need for cognition has a differential impact on sustainable leadership behavior in high and low EO firms. However, integrity is essential for a high level of sustainable leadership behavior in both high as well as low EO firms.
Effects of Financial Inclusion and Awareness Creation on Women Empowerment in Kalawa Ward, Makueni County-Kenya
Authors:   Management University of Africa, Mutua Janet , Juster Nyaga G. ,   Management University of Africa
Published: October 2021

Despite the ever-increasing number of NGOs in Makueni County aimed at socio-economic empowerment of women, gender inequalities are persistent and poverty levels are high. This is evident by low participation of women in decision making process, control over ownership and access of resources and wealth, increased poverty levels, increased cases of gender-based violence. This has necessitated the need to establish the role of NGOs in women empowerment in Makueni County. The purpose of the study was to establish the role of NGOs in financial inclusion of women and the creation of awareness on property rights for women. The anchor theory for this study is the Women Empowerment Framework by Sara Longwe and the other theories used in the study include Kabeers 3-dimensional model; the public goods theory of financial inclusion. The study population was 60 women groups in Kalawa ward, Makueni County who have benefited from the NGOs programs. The total number of respondents were 1254 and a sample size of 294 was used. The findings revealed that financial inclusion and awareness creation on the right to own resources and property influence women empowerment. The focus group discussions highlighted that the NGOs are doing very little in regards to awareness creation on the right of ownership of resources and property. Women cited that discrimination, being left out of development agenda, illiteracy and patriarchal nature of the society as the major challenge. The study recommendations were that NGOs, National and County Governments should provide linkage to markets for the products from the income generating activities by women groups. Both Government and NGOs should develop frameworks to engage women in development agenda. Keywords: Women Empowerment, Financial Inclusion, Awareness Creation, NGOs, Makueni County.
QSAR STUDIES ON PYRAZOLO [1, 5-A] PYRIMIDINE-BASED PIM-1 KINASE INHIBITORS
Authors: Sharma M. C ,   School of Pharmacy, Devi Ahilya University, Takshila Campus, Khandwa Road, Indore - 452 001, Madhya Pradesh, India.
Published: October 2021

Quantitative structure-activity relationships (QSAR) have been applied in order to explain the structural requirements of Pim-1 kinase activity of pyrazolo [1, 5-a] pyrimidine derivatives. The QSAR model was an internal predictive power (q2 = 0.7866) of 78% and a predictivity for the external test set (pred_r2 = 0.7742) of about 77%. The developed significant QSAR model indicates that HUMO energy, SsOHcount, SsNH2Count and T_O_O_4 potential of whole molecule play an important role in Pim-1 kinase inhibitor of pyrimidine. Consequently, these results can be useful in identifying the structural requirements of pyrazolo [1, 5-a] pyrimidine derivatives and helpful for better understanding the Pim-1 kinase. Eventually, they provide a beneficial basis to design new and more potent inhibitors of Pim-1 kinase.