bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Rajeev Pundir
Authors: Rajeev Pundir
Published: July 2021

Put not your trust in money, but put your money in trust.”A capital market can provide huge impetus to the development of any economy .so, it can be said that the growth and sustainability of capital markets plays an important role towards the development of the economy. It is being observed that huge fluctuations are happening in Indian capital market in recent past, but with the help of proper mechanism, which is being observed in India and after examining various risk factors involved in capital markets, we attempt to say that the growth which has been observed in Indian capital market in recent past is a realty, but not a myth. Right from the independence, thanks to steps initiated by the Indian government especially after the post liberalization era. A huge growth has been observed in the aspects of quality and quantity. Huge increase has been observed in the volumes of trade. We know that capital markets play a vital role in Indian economy, the growth of capital markets will be helpful in raising the per-capita income of the individuals, decrease the levels of un-employment, and thus reducing the number of people who lies below the poverty line. With the increasing awareness in the people they start investing in capital markets with long-term orientations, which would provide capital inflows to the sectors requiring financial assistance.“Hedge risk; make the derivatives market your investment option”Derivative is finally engineered instruments which derive its value from price of a specific asset. Value of Equity Derivatives is derived from share price of any company or share index. In India trading of two types of derivatives are permitted – Futures and Options. Derivatives trading desks face a growing number of challenges – more sophisticated derivative instruments, fiercer competition, and stricter risk reporting and compliance requirements. It is now common to trade options with multi-asset-class underlying instruments quoted in different currencies, such as an option offering the best return between a Brazilian bond and a U.S. stock index. Investor uses the derivatives as an edged sword. Derivatives instruments are like a mother’s womb that cares of her baby (Investor) from volatility in the market. In nutshell this study is an effort to analyze the trading mechanism which has been followed by the investors in current scenario.
Antibacterial potency of mangosteen pericarp extracts (Garcinia mangostana L.) against Fusobacterium nucleatum
Authors: Octaviani Nia Pramais , Mooduto Latief , Sudirman Achmad
Published: July 2021

Background: Fusobacterium nucleatum is a common bacterial in root canal with pulp necrosis and periradicular lesion. A way to eliminate these bacteria from root canal is by root canal irrigation. Root canal irrigation materials that are widely used nowadays has many shortcomings. The pericarp of mangosteen (Garcinia mangostana L) has antibacterial potency. Therefore mangosteen pericarp can be an alternative material which could inhibit and bactericidal function to Fusobacterium nucleatum. Purpose: The aim of this study was to determine the antibacterial potency of mangosteen pericarp extract (Garcinia Mangostana L.) against Fusobacterium nucleatum. Methods: This study was laboratory experimental with pos-test only control group design. A microdilution method was used to determine minimum inhibitory concentration and minimum bactericidal concentration by colony counting bacteriae in Tryptone Soya Agar (TSA) media with drop plate technique. Growth of bacterial colonies in TSA is calculated manually in colony forming unit (CFU/ml). Results: Bacterial colonies growth at concentration 0.78% was 90% less than positive control group and there were no bacterial colonies growth at concentration 0.975%. Conclusion: The Minimum Inhibitory Concentration (MIC) of mangosteen pericarp against Fusobacterium nucleatum was at 0,78% concentration and the Minimum Bactericidal Concentration (MBC) was at 0.975% concentration.
The Difference of Antibacterial Power between Cocoa Peel (Theobroma Cacao L.) Extract 6% compared to Chlorhexidine Digluconate 2% Againts Streptococcus mutans (In vitro)
Authors: Amanda Alissa , Yuanita Tamara , Sampoerno Galih
Published: July 2021

Background: Before restoration, it is necessary to clean the cavity from the smear layer and residual bacteria such as Sreptococcus mutans using a 'gold standard' cavity cleanser, namely 2% Chlorhexidine digluconate (CHX), however CHX 2% has a disadvantage of having a toxic effect on fibroblasts, osteoblasts, myoblasts, odontoblast-like cells, Chinese hamster ovary cells, and buccal epithelial cells. The shortcomings of the 2% CHX triggered researchers to look for alternative cavity cleansers that are more biocompatible, namely cocoa peel extract because it contains of antibacterial compounds including alkaloids, flavonoids, tannins, saponins, and terponoids with a non-toxic 6% concentration. Purpose: To analyze the difference of antibacterial activity between cocoa peel extract with a concentration of 6% compared to chlorhexidine digluconate 2% against Streptococcus mutans. Methods: This research was an in vitro laboratory experimental study with the posttest only control group design which included two treatment groups, namely 6% cocoa peel extract and 2% CHX. This research was conducted using the inhibition zone diffusion method against S. mutans to see the antibacterial power of each sample. Results: There was a significant difference (p <0.05) in the mean diameter of the inhibition zone between 6% cacao peel extract, namely 11.5406 mm and CHX 2%, namely 13.2156 mm.  Conclusion: Chlorhexidine digluconate 2% has a greater antibacterial power than 6% cocoa peel extract (Theobroma cacao L.) against Streptococcus mutans.
DISCOLORATION OF NANOHYBRID AND NANOFILLER RESIN COMPOSITES AFTER EXPOSURE TO TURMERIC
Authors: Virgiani Yasmin Safira , Soetojo Adioro , Zubaidah Nanik
Published: July 2021

Background: Recently, the demand of aesthetic restorative has greatly increased and enchourages the development of composite resin material. The latest technology of composite is nanohybrid and nanofiller composites. However, color stability of nanohybrid and nanofiller resin composites can be influence by intrinscic and (or) extrinsic factor. Intrinsic factor depends on the composition on the resin composite and extrinsic factor such as colored food and beverages. Turmeric as a food ingredients, that is often consumed by Indonesians can cause discoloration in composites, because it contains the active pigment curcuminoid. The discoloration of nanohybrid and nanofilles composites can caused by the process of water sorbstion and curcumin particles. Purpose: Explain the discoloration of nanohybrid and nanofiller resin composites after exposure to turmeric and the factor that influence. Review(s): The reaction between the curcumin contained in turmeric and nanohybrid as well as nanofiller composites can cause discoloration in both composites. One of the reasons behind the discoloration on composite resin is that the composite resin can absorb water and its substances are carried by the water. Discoloration of composites was influence by the concentration of turmeric solution, pH of the solution, finishing and polishing process, temperature, time of exposure, composition of filler and matrix. Conclusion: Turmeric as an extrinsic factor can cause color changes in nanohybrid and nanofiller composites (ΔE>3,3), where the level of color change can be obtained by intrinsic factors, such as composition of filler and matrix, and other extrinsic factors.
Effectiveness of Sealer Combination Zinc Oxide (ZnO) with Red Pine (Pinus densiflora) on Viscosity and Solubility (Laboratory Experimental)
Authors: Sukaton Sukaton , Mooduto Latief , Andani Stheril
Published: July 2021

Background: Failure of endodontic treatment is caused by 60% of poor obturation. Sealers have an important role in the obturation process, that is filling the root canals and the space between the dentin and the core material. Sealers must have low viscosity so that they can flow easily and fill the entire root canal space so can form a good seal and have physical properties that are not easily soluble to oral fluids to prevent sealer degradation which can cause gaps during filling and become a medium for bacterial proliferation. Red pine extract is a natural ingredient that contain flavonoid and phenolic acid that are effective in reducing the viscosity and solubility of the sealer combination ZnO with red pine. Purpose: To determine the effectiveness of sealer combination ZnO with red pine in reducing viscosity and solubility. Methods: Red pine (Pinus densilora) extract with a concentration of 100% was diluted to a concentration of 0.78% using the dilution formula M1.VI = M2.V2. Viscosity test was done by mixing ZnO with red pine extract 0.78% 1: 1 and calcium hydroxide (Ca(OH)2) with 1: 1 sterile aquadest as a comparison, then each sample was measured for viscosity using a brookfield viscometer. The solubility test was carried out by placing the paste on a disc with a diameter of 15 mm x 3 mm and then being set and immersed in distilled water for 24 hours then the percentage of solubility was calculated. Results: The viscosity value of combination ZnO with red pine is 19.89 Pa.s and the solubility is 0.0075%, while Ca(OH)2 with sterile aquadest had a viscosity of 23.32 Pa.s and a solubility is 0.029%. Conclusion: The combination of ZnO with red pine is effective in reducing the viscosity and solubility of the combination sealer. The viscosity and solubility of the combined sealer is lower than Ca(OH)2 with sterile aquadest.
Keanekaragaman Vegetasi Hutan Mangrove Sebagai Bahan Pengayaan Mata Kuliah Ekologi Lahan Basah
Authors: Hardiansyah Hardiansyah , Noorhidayati Noorhidayati , Mahrudin Mahrudin
Published: July 2021

One of the habitats in the wetlands is the Ecosystem of Mangrove which has a diversity of flora and fauna. This study aims to describe the diversity of vegetation in the mangrove forest area of Sungai Rasau Village, Tanah Laut Regency and obtain valid and practical handout teaching materials. The research method used is descriptive method and development research. The main subjects of this study were 2 experts and 5 students as test subjects. Data were analyzed descriptively. The results showed that the tree vegetation of Sonneratia alba, Hibiscus tiliaceus, Heritiera littoralis, Avicennia marina, Excoecaria agallocha, Rhizopora apiculata, Rhizopora mucronata, Nypa fruticans, Sonneratia caseolaris with a diversity index of 1,848 (medium). Shrubs and herbs, Derris trifociata Acanthus ilicifolius L, Pluchea indica L, Galinsoga parviflora, Cyperus kyllinga, and Fimbristylis dichotoma have moderate diversity index (H'=1.662). The handout developed "Diversity of Mangrove Vegetation in Sungai Rasau Village, Tanah Laut Regency" as Enrichment Material for Wetland Ecology Courses has very valid criteria with very good legibility tests.
Validitas Bahan Ajar Pengayaan Mata Kuliah Ekologi Lahan Basah Pokok Bahasan Lahan Basah Kalimantan Selatan Berbasis Hasil Penelitian Ikan di Sekitar Pulau Sirang Waduk Riam Kanan Kabupaten Banjar
Authors: Hardiansyah Hardiansyah , Noorhidayati Noorhidayati , Mahrudin Mahrudin
Published: July 2021

The wetland environment can be used as a source of learning and teaching material, so that learning is carried out based on contextual learning. This study aims to describe the validity of ecology enrichment teaching materials on wetlands subject of wetlands in South Kalimantan based on the results of fish research around the Sirang Island, Riam Kanan Reservoir, Banjar Regency. This research method is research and development with 5 steps, identification of potential and problems, data collection, product design, design validation, and design revision. The results showed that teaching materials in the form of handouts that were developed as enrichment material for land ecology courses had very valid or were suitable for use. Readability test by 7 students who have passed the wetland ecology course gets very good criteria.
Inovasi Penambahan Sari Kecambah Kacang-Kacangan pada Medium Tumbuh Acetobacter xylinum untuk Membentuk Serat Nata
Authors: Amintarti Sri , Ajizah Aulia
Published: July 2021

The results of research on various types of medium for the growth of Acetobacter xylinum generally show good results, but in the provision of additional nutrients with the same nitrogen source. Bean sprouts have the potential to be an alternative source of nitrogen in the growth medium of Acetobacter xylinum because they contain protein. This study aims to describe the quality of nata produced from bacterial fermentation in the medium by adding green bean extract, cowpea, and soybeans. Experimental method with 6 replications at each treatment. The quality of the nata that is formed is seen based on the color, aroma, and fiber content produced. Data were analyzed descriptively by paying attention to respondents' ratings and the results of fiber content analysis test. The results showed the addition of green bean sprouts extract, cowpea, and soybeans on the nata de coco making medium showed good quality. The quality of nata de coco produced in each treatment has a good aroma (sour smell), the color quality of nata de coco on medium with green bean sprout extract is better than the others.
Cultural signals in understanding firt-year student engagement: How can universities become more culturally sensitive? The case of a rural South African university
Authors: Mkhize J. S. , Ramrathan L.
Published: July 2021

High levels of student engagement, particularly in first-year university students are associated with a wide range of educational practices and conditions including students’ social and academic integration into the institutions of higher education. These educational practices link student engagement with students’ performance to students’ academic achievement leading to graduate throughputs. The study sought to understand first-year student experiences of the university’s ability to provide an academic environment that is conducive and responsive to learning for students with unique characteristics. Data were generated from first-year students enrolled for a Bachelor of Education degree in a rural South African University using focus group interviews with students that were purposively selected from this cohort using areas of specialization as the criteria. Also, one-on-one interviews were conducted with students that had performed well in their examinations as well as those that did not perform so well. The results revealed that students’ cultural orientations are a precursor of how student would thrive in their academic journey and that students’ cultural repertoires influence the extent to which students integrate and engage both academically and socially into the university environment. In this article, we argue that students’ cultural orientations have implications in their academic performance and social integration in their first year of study at university. This article contributes to the ongoing research agenda of student engagement, academic success, first-year student experience and throughput employing students’ cultural signals as another dimension to understand such critical phenomena.
Chartered accountancy and resistance in South Africa
Authors: Terblanche J. , Waghid Y.
Published: July 2021

In recent times, the chartered accountant profession was regularly in the news for reasons pertaining to the unethical and unprofessional behaviour of members. The profession has an important role to play in the South African economy, as members will often fulfil important decision-making roles in business. In a response to the dilemmas the profession is facing, we analysed the implications for the profession and society due to a resistance to include research as a pedagogical activity in the chartered accountancy educational landscape. Through deliberative research activities, students have the opportunity to engage with community members and with societal challenges that could foster reflexivity and humaneness in students. In addition, critical and problem-solving skills are cultivated. These are skills that are difficult to assess in the form of an examination, and the absence of research as pedagogical activity in this particular educational landscape, impacts the cultivation of these skills in future chartered accountants. This is so, as the chartered accountancy educational landscape is significantly influenced by the power that resonates within the profession and culminates into the disciplinary power mechanism of the examination. The South African Institute of Chartered Accountants (SAICA) set an external examination, called the Initial test of Competence (ITC), which graduates need to write upon leaving institutes of higher learning. Success in this SAICA-examination therefore impacts on the teaching and learning pedagogy adopted by chartered accountants in academe. If chartered accounting students were instead primarily being exposed to technical content assessed via an examination, also being exposed and introduced to deliberative research, the possibility exists that students, through critical reflexivity, could move beyond the constraints of the self to that of the communal other in line with the African notion of ubuntu can be enhanced.
The new face of alternative assessment in accounting sciences - technology as an anthropomorphic stakeholder
Authors: Swart O. , Shuttleworth C. C.
Published: July 2021

Worldwide, more and more higher education institutions are making use of online or distance education, due to the increasing demand for tertiary education. In this article, the problem addressed relates to the importance of technology as a stakeholder in alternative assessments for undergraduate accounting sciences modules in an online, non-venue-based, technology-enhanced environment. The purpose of this article is to demonstrate how technology, due to its importance and impact, acts similarly as a human stakeholder and should be treated as an anthropomorphic stakeholder in an online technology-enhanced environment, considering its powerful role. A qualitative approach was followed, and action research was used to develop a conceptual framework. This conceptual framework demonstrates how stakeholder theory could ensure the legitimacy of qualifications through identity verification of students in an online environment through improved performance and innovation potential. These findings contribute to the body of knowledge and due to its importance, technology could be considered as an anthropomorphic stakeholder in the creation, improvement, or restructuring of assessments at online educational institutions.
Academics' conceptions of higher education decolonisation
Authors: Sibanda J.
Published: July 2021

The urgency for a decolonised university curriculum in South Africa, occasioned by student protests, demands interrogation of conceptions of decolonisation academic staff hold, seeing that the design and implementation of decolonised education rests largely with them. To determine the academics’ conceptions, the study adopted the interpretivist paradigm, using semi-structured interviews to solicit data from 13 purposively sampled academic staff at a South African university. Data analysis took a grounded analysis approach, where content analysed categories/themes emerged from the transcribed and coded data, not from apriori assumptions. Findings reflected both the conception of decolonisation as recentring and decentring. Findings also pointed to the ubiquitous use of the terms Africa and African(s) in defining decolonisation, conflating Afrocentric philosophy and Africanisation with decolonisation. Such findings represented the conception of decolonisation as a recentring of curriculum from the West to Africa as the centre. Other academics’ conceptions also represented a decentring of knowledge from Western hegemony without necessarily recentring it to African hegemony. Much advocacy was for achieving equality and parity between extant knowledges and hitherto marginalised local knowledges. There was also a manifest vacillation in respondents’ conception of decolonisation as they responded to the different questions, almost evincing a continuum between what can be termed a hard version and a soft version of the concept. The study recommends broader, intensive, institutional discussion of conceptual issues around curriculum decolonisation prior to implementation.issues around curriculum decolonisation prior to implementation.
Relationship between lactic acid bacteria, malolactic fermentation and wine colour
Authors: Olguin Nair Temis , Delfederico Lucrecia , Semorile Liliana
Published: July 2021

Some phenolic acids can either inhibit or stimulate the growth of Oenococcus oeni and other lactic acid bacteria (LAB) in wine. It has been observed that some LAB metabolism could have an influence on wine colour. In this article, some of the relationships between LAB, malolactic fermentation (MLF) and phenolic compounds are summarised; these relationships are important for the selection of LAB to make starter cultures and are of interest for wineries in terms of its effect on wine colour.
DESENTRALISASI PELAYANAN PUBLIK DI KABUPATEN WONOSOBO
Authors: Wijaya Shadu Satwika , Atika Zaula Rizqi , Sutikno Chamid , Maab Muhammad Husnul , Utama Diar Budi
Published: July 2021

Salah satu bentuk desentralisasi dalam pelayanan publik dapat dilihat dari pelaksanaan Pelayanan Administrasi Terpadu Kecamatan (PATEN). Maksud penyelenggaraan PATEN telah tercantum dalam Permendagri Nomor 4 Tahun 2010 Pasal 3 yang diantaranya mengamanatkan bahwa kecamatan sebagai pusat pelayanan masyarakat dan menjadi simpul pelayanan bagi kantor/badan pelayanan terpadu di kabupaten/kota. Penyelenggaraan PATEN sekaligus menambah peran kecamatan, bukan hanya mengkoordinasikan pelaksanaan pemerintahan desa, melainkan juga unit pelayanan publik. Kecamatan sebagai penyelenggara PATEN dianggap belum maksimal menyelenggarakan pelayanan publik sebagaimana yang diharapkan pemerintah kabupaten karena berbagai keterbatasan sehingga kurang mampu memberikan pelayanan yang optimal, serta keterbatasan sarana dan prasarana sehingga tidak mampu menyediakan kenyamanan dalam proses pelayanan publik. Kondisi demikian membuat masyarakat mengharapkan pemerintah agar keberadaan kecamatan mampu memenuhi seluruh kebutuhan pelayanan dasar masyarakat. Berdasarkan hal tersebut maka kajian Blue Print Pengembangan Kecamatan dalam Desentralisasi Pelayanan Publik di Kabupaten Wonosobo penting untuk dilaksanakan.
Implementasi Pembelajaran Berbasis Proyek dengan Integrasi Metode Daring Sinkron dan Asinkron pada Mata Kuliah Teknik Reaksi Kimia 2
Authors:   Fakultas Teknologi Industri, Universitas Islam Indonesia, Rahma Fadilla Noor , Setyaningsih Lucky Wahyu Nuzulia ,   Fakultas Teknologi Industri, Universitas Islam Indonesia
Published: July 2021

Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk mengoptimalkan pembelajaran mata kuliah Teknik Reaksi Kimia 2 di lingkungan PSTK FTI UII. Terdapat dua poin inovasi yang diteliti. Poin pertama adalah pembelajaran berbasis proyek yang bertujuan untuk meningkatkan metode penyampaian materi yang selama ini cenderung bersifat searah dan kurang melibatkan mahasiswa. Indikator keberhasilan dari poin pertama tersebut adalah tingkat kepuasan mahasiswa serta tingkat ketercapaian atau pemenuhan CPMK. Sedangkan poin inovasi kedua terfokus pada pengembangan metode pembelajaran daring yang efisien secara waktu, mendorong mahasiswa untuk belajar secara mandiri, sekaligus memfasilitasi komunikasi dua arah untuk diskusi dan pemberian umpan balik. Untuk dapat mencapai hal-hal tersebut, pembelajaran akan dilakukan dengan integrasi metode daring sinkron dan asinkron. Kedua metode tersebut bersifat mendukung pengerjaan tugas proyek yang merupakan inti pembelajaran di mata kuliah Teknik Reaksi Kimia 2. Keberhasilan kinerja dari poin inovasi kedua diindikasikan dengan tingkat kepuasan mahasiswa. Dari hasil penelitian, diperoleh tingkat ketercapaian CPMK sebesar 89%, tingkat kepuasan mahasiswa terhadap tugas proyek sebesar 89,3%, dan tingkat kepuasan mahasiswa terhadap integrasi metode daring sinkron dan asinkron sebesar 86,9%. Berdasarkan hasil yang telah dicapai, metode pembelajaran ini dapat diterapkan di masa yang akan datang, namun perlu perbaikan dalam hal peningkatan keaktifan mahasiswa dalam tugas kelompok maupun dalam kelas.
Reappraisal of PRRS Control Strategies: The Way forward
Authors: Amadori Massimo , Razzuoli Elisabetta , Listorti Valeria
Published: July 2021

The control of Porcine Reproductive and Respiratory Syndrome (PRRS) is still a major issue worldwide in the pig farming sector. Despite extensive research efforts and the practical experience gained so far, the syndrome still heavily affects farmed pigs worldwide and challenges established beliefs in veterinary virology and immunology. The clinical and economic repercussions of PRRS are based on concomitant, additive features of virus pathogenicity, host susceptibility and influence of environmental, microbial and non-microbial stressors. This makes a case for integrated, multi-disciplinary research efforts in which the three types of contributing factors are critically evaluated toward the development of successful disease control strategies. These could be definitely eased by the definition of reliable markers of disease risk and virus pathogenicity. As for the host’s susceptibility to PRRSV infection and disease onset, the roles of both innate and adaptive immune responses are still ill-defined. In particular, the overt discrepancy between passive and active immunity and the uncertain role of adaptive immunity vis-à-vis an established PRRSV infection should prompt the scientific community to the development of novel research schemes, in which apparently diverging and contradictory findings could be reconciled, and eventually brought to a satisfactory conceptual framework.
Development of Agriculture Model to Measure Survival Income for Different Categories of Agriculture Land-Holding Farmers
Authors: Ahmed Masood
Published: July 2021

The rural population percentage decreased from 82.7% to 68.9% in 2011, even though there is an increase in the total rural population, which stands at 833.7 million, and the rural population were now more than three times compared to the population seven decades ago. Another observation is the decrease in cultivators percentage from 71.9% to 45.1 %, while agriculture labour increase from 28.1% to 54.9% during the same period. Despite the increase in irrigated land and net area sown, the average holdings' size under the farmers is continuously decreasing, and it requires a study to look into the reasons. The research probes the role of Minimum Support Price (MSP) in supporting farmers and measuring market price above MSP needed to help marginal and small farmers remain above the poverty level. It explains how different market rates above MSP have a different impact on different categories of agriculture landholding. The study works on developing a common model that relates the impact of MSP on different farmers categories. The model can be generalized to all crops and regions and useful in designing policies that focus on uplifting the income of agricultural farmers.
Expanding the Myxochelin Natural Product Family by Nicotinic Acid Containing Congeners
Authors: Frank Nicolas A. , Széles Márió , Akone Sergi H. , Rasheed Sari , Hüttel Stephan , Frewert Simon , Hamed Mostafa M. , Herrmann Jennifer , Schuler Soeren M. M. , Hirsch Anna K. H. , Müller Rolf
Published: July 2021

Myxobacteria represent a viable source of chemically diverse and biologically active secondary metabolites. The myxochelins are a well-studied family of catecholate-type siderophores produced by various myxobacterial strains. Here, we report the discovery, isolation and structure elucidation of three new myxochelins N1–N3 from the terrestrial myxobacterium Corallococcus sp. MCy9049, featuring an unusual nicotinic acid moiety. Precursor-directed biosynthesis (PDB) experiments and total synthesis were performed in order to confirm structures, improve access to pure compounds for bioactivity testing and to devise a biosynthesis proposal. The combined evaluation of metabolome and genome data covering myxobacteria supports the notion that the new myxochelin congeners reported here are in fact frequent side products of the known myxochelin A biosynthetic pathway in myxobacteria.
Comment on the Determination of the Polar Anchoring Energy by Capacitance Measurements in Nematic Liquid Crystals
Authors: Oswald Patrick
Published: July 2021

Capacitance measurements have been extensively used to measure the anchoring extrapolation length L at a nematic-substrate interface. These measurements are extremely delicate because the value found for L often critically depends on the sample thickness and the voltage range chosen to perform the measurements. Several reasons have been proposed to explain this observation, such as the presence of inhomogeneities in the director distribution on the bounding plates or the variation with the electric field of the dielectric constants. In this paper I propose a new method to measure Lp that takes into account this second effect. This method is more general than that proposed in Murauski et al. Phys. Rev. E 71, 061707 (2005) because it does not assume that the anchoring angle is small and that the anchoring energy is of the Rapini-Papoular form. This method is applied to a cell of 8CB treated for planar unidirectional anchoring by photoalignment with the azobenzene dye Brilliant Yellow. The role of flexoelectric effects and the shape of the anchoring potential are discussed.
Sharp Energy Self-Determination of Macroscopic Quantum Bodies in Pure States, as a Validation of the First Law of Thermodynamics
Authors: Romero-Rochin Victor
Published: July 2021

We argue that a very large class of quantum pure states of isolated macroscopic bodies have sharply peaked energy distributions, with their width relative to the average scaling between $\sim N^{-1}$ and $\sim N^{-1/2}$, with $N \gg 1$, the number of atoms conforming the body. Those states are dense superpositions of energy eigenstates within arbitrary finite or infinite energy intervals that decay sufficiently fast. The sharpness of the energy distribution implies that closed systems in those states are {\it microcanonical} in the sense that only energy eigenstates very near to the mean energy contribute to their thermodynamic evolution. Since thermodynamics accurately describes processes of macroscopic bodies and requires that closed systems have constant energy, our claim is that these pure states are typical of macroscopic systems. The main assumption beneath the energy sharpness is that the isolated body can reach thermal equilibrium if left unaltered. We argue that such a self-sharpness of the energy in macroscopic bodies indicates that the First Law of Thermodynamics is statistical in character.
Prospects of 3D Bioprinting as a Possible Treatment for Cancer Cachexia
Authors: Galib Mustafa , Araf Yusha , Naser Iftekhar Bin , Promon Salman Khan
Published: July 2021

Cancer cachexia is a multifactorial syndrome that is identified by ongoing muscle atrophy, along with functional impairment, anorexia, weakness, fatigue, anemia, reduced tolerance to antitumor treatments. Thus, reducing the patients’ quality of life. Cachexia alone causes about 22-25% of cancer deaths. This review covers the symptoms, mediators, available treatment, and prospects of 3D bioprinting for cancer cachexia. Studies about cachexia have shown several factors that drive this disease – protein breakdown, inflammatory cytokines activation, and mitochondrial alteration. Even with proper nutrition, physical exercises, anti-inflammatory agents, chemotherapy, and grafting attempts, standard treatment has been unsuccessful for cachexia. But the use of 3D bioprinting shows much promise compared to conventional methods by attempting to fabricate 3D constructs mimicking the native muscle tissues. In this review, some 3D bioprinting techniques with their advantages and drawbacks, along with their achievements and challenges in in-vivo applications have been discussed. Constructs with neural integration or muscle-tendon units aim to repair muscle atrophy. But it is still difficult to properly bio-print these complex muscles. Although progress can be made by developing new bio-inks or 3D printers to fabricate high-resolution constructs. Using secondary data, this review study shows prospects of why 3D bioprinting can be a good alternate approach to fight cachexia.
Exposure to Environmental Factor Arsenic and Emerging Risk of Alzheimer’s Disease: Perspective Mechanisms, Management Strategy, And Future Directions
Authors: Rahman Md. Ataur , Hannan Md. Abdul , Uddin Md Jamal , Rahman Md Saidur , Rashid Md Mamunur , Kim Bonglee
Published: July 2021

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is one of the most prevailing neurodegenerative diseases, characterized by memory dysfunction and the presence of hyperphosphorylated tau and amyloid β (Aβ) aggregate in multiple brain regions, including the hippocampus and cortex. The exact etiology of AD has not yet been confirmed. However, epidemiological reports suggest that populations who were exposed to environmental hazards are more likely to develop AD than those who were not. Arsenic (As) is a naturally occurring environmental risk factor abundant in the Earth’s crust and human exposure to As predominantly occurs through drinking water. Convincing evidence suggests that As causes neurotoxicity and impairs memory and cognition although the hypothesis and molecular mechanism of As-associated pathobiology in AD are not clear yet. However, exposure to As and its metabolites leads to various pathogenic events such as oxidative stress, inflammation, mitochondrial dysfunctions, ER stress, apoptosis, impaired protein homeostasis, and abnormal calcium signaling. Evidence has indicated that As exposure induces alterations that coincide with most of the biochemical, pathological, and clinical developments of AD. Here, we overview existing literature to gain insights into the plausible mechanisms that underlie As-induced neurotoxicity and the subsequent neurological deficits in AD. Prospective strategies for the prevention and management of arsenic exposure and neurotoxicity have also been discussed.
Beyond Deepfake Technology Fear: On its Positive Uses for Livestock Farming
Authors: Neethirajan Suresh
Published: July 2021

Deepfake technologies are known for the creation of forged celebrity pornography, face and voice swaps, and other fake media content. Despite the negative connotations the technology bears, the underlying machine learning algorithms have a huge potential that could be applied to not just digital media, but also to medicine, biology, affective science, and agriculture, just to name a few. Due to the ability to generate big datasets based on real data distributions, deepfake could also be used to positively impact non-human animals such as livestock. Generated data using Generative Adversarial Networks, one of the algorithms that deepfake is based on, could be used to train models to accurately identify and monitor animal health and emotions. Through data augmentation, using digital twins, and maybe even displaying digital conspecifics where social interactions are enhanced, deepfake technologies have the potential to increase animal health, emotionality, sociality, animal-human and animal-computer interactions and thereby animal welfare, productivity, and sustainability of the farming industry.
Modeling the Dual-function Effects of Hybrid-photopolymerization in Iodonium/Amine and Two Monomers System
Authors: Lin Jui-Teng
Published: July 2021

The synergetic features of a three-component photoinitiating systems(A/B/C) based on the measured data and proposed mechanism of Liu et al are analyzed. The co-initiators/additivesB and C have dual-functions of : (i) regeneration of photoinitiator A, and (ii) generation of extra radicals for enhanced conversion efficacy (CE), the synergic effects lead to higher CE for both free radical polymerization(FRP) and cationic polymerization (CP). The CE of FRP has 3 terms due to the direct (tyep-I) coupling and two radicals. Therefore, it is always higher than that of CP having only one radical. The CE of CP has a transient state proportional to the effective absorption constnat (b), the light intensity (I) and initiator concentration (A0), but a steady state given independent to the light intensity (I). For the CE of FRP, the contribution from radical R could have two cases: (i)linear dependence on T'=bIA0, or (ii) nonlinear square root dependence T0.5. The nonlinear feature is due to the bimolecular termination term of k'R2.The key factors influencing the conversion efficacy are explored by analytic formulas. The synergetic effects lead to higher conversion of FRP and CP are consistent with the measured work. However, there are other theoretically predicted new features (findings) which are either not identified or explored experimentally including: (i) co-initiator [C] always enhances both FRP and CP conversions, whereas co-initiator [B] leads to more efficient FRP, but it also reduces CP. The specific systems analyzed are: benzophenonederivatives(A) ethyl 4-(dimethylamino)benzoate (B), and (4-tert-butylphenyl)iodonium hexafluorophosphate (C) under a UV (365 nm) LED irradiation; and two monomers of trimethylolpropane triacrylate (TMPTA, for FRP) and (3,4- epoxycyclohexane)methyl 3,4-epoxycyclohexylcarboxylate (EPOX, for CP).
Astrocyte Stimulates Microglial Proliferation and M2 Polarization in vitro through Cross-Talk between Astrocyte and Microglia
Authors: Kim Sumin , Son Youngsook
Published: July 2021

Microglia are resident immune cells of the central nervous system such as brain-specific macrophages and also known to regulate the innate immune functions of astrocytes through secretory molecules. This conversation plays an important role in brain functions and homeostasis as well as in neuropathologic disease. In this study, we aimed to elucidate whether astrocytes and microglia can cross-talk to induce microglial polarization and proliferation, which can be further regulated under the brain stroke-mimic microenvironment. Microglia in mixed glial culture increased their survival and proliferation and altered to the M2 microglia, whose role was provided by CD11b-GFAP+ astrocytes by showing approximately tenfold increase in microglia cell proliferation after the astrocyte reconstitution. Furthermore, GM-CSF stimulated microglial proliferation approximately tenfold and induced to CCR7+ M1 microglia, whose phenotype could be suppressed by anti-inflammatory cytokines such as IL-4, IL-10, and Substance-P. Also, astrocyte in the microglia co-culture revealed A2 phenotype, which could be activated to A1 astrocyte by TNFα and IFNγ under the stroke-mimic condition. Altogether, astrocyte in the mixed glial culture stimulated the microglia proliferation and M2 polarization possibly through its acquisition of A2 phenotype, both of which could be converted to M1 microglia and A1 astrocytes under the inflammatory stroke-mimic environment. This study demonstrated that microglia and astrocyte can be polarized to M2 microglia and A2 astrocytes respectively through the cross-talk in vitro and provided a system to explore how microglia and astrocyte may behave in the inflammatory disease milieu after in vivo transplantation.
The Tardigrade Damage Suppressor Protein Promotes Transcription Factor Activation and Expression of DNA Repair Genes in Human Cells in Response to Hydroxyl Radicals and UV-C Exposure
Authors: Ricci Claudia , Riolo Giulia , Marzocchi Carlotta , Brunetti Jlenia , Pini Alessandro , Cantara Silvia
Published: July 2021

The Ramazzottius varieornatus tardigrade is an extremotolerant terrestrial invertebrate belonging to the phylum of Tardigrada. At a length of 0.1-1.0 mm, tardigrades are small animals with an exceptional tolerance to extreme conditions such as high pressure, chemicals and irradia-tion. These properties have been attributed to the recently-discovered Dsup protein. Dsup is a nucleosome-binding protein that prevents DNA damage against X-ray and oxidative stress without impairing cell life, also in Dsup-transfected animal and plant cells. However, the precise “protective” role of this protein is still under study. We performed experiments on human cells and shows that, as compared to control cells, Dsup+ cells are more resistant to UV-C exposure and H2O2. Real-time PCR identified different expression patterns of endogenous genes involved in apoptosis, cell survival and DNA damage repair in Dsup+ cells in response to H2O2 and UV-C. While H2O2 treatment in Dsup+ cells only marginally involved the activation of pathways responsible for DNA repair reinforcing the idea of a direct protective effect of the protein on DNA, in UV-C exposed cells, Dsup efficiently upregulates DNA damage repair genes. In conclusion, our data may help to delineate the different mechanisms by which the Dsup protein operates in response to different insults.
Linking of Financial Data with Non-Financial Information on CSR of Companies Listed on the Stock Exchange in Poland – Polish Case Study
Authors: Węgrzyńska Małgorzata Anna
Published: July 2021

Reporting on CSR activities has become the essence of reporting for modern business entities. In this regard, particular attention is paid to public interest companies. Therefore, the following paper aims to answer the question of whether there are differences in the linguistic structure of the studied CSR reports in three selected industry indices on the Warsaw Stock Exchange (WSE) in Poland, i.e. WIG-energy index, WIG-fuel index, WIG-mining index and their relationship with the performance of selected companies. The study was conducted on a purposely selected sample of companies between 2013 and 2018. A total of 138 CSR reports and 138 annual separate financial statements prepared in accordance with international balance sheet law were collected. The study was carried out based on a panel regression model. It was found that CSR reports contained similar average percentages of parts of speech such as nouns and adjectives. When linking the economic performance of companies, expressed with selected indices, to the information on the implementation of CSR concepts, it was revealed that the results are more likely to describe business performance when it is satisfactory.
Economic Potential of Rare Earth Elements in the Philippine Phosphogypsum
Authors: Ramirez Jennyvi D. , Diwa Reymar R. , Palattao Botvinnik L. , Tabora Estrellita U. , Bautista VII Angel T. , Reyes Rolando Y.
Published: July 2021

The majority of the phosphogypsum produced by a fertilizer plant in the Philippines is just stockpiled, which is considered a liability with no commercial prospects. It is important that we find use of this industrial waste by-product sooner than it becomes an environmental issue. Our study investigated the economic potential of the phosphogypsum by determining its rare earth elements (REE) composition. Phosphogypsum samples were collected from 2 m-depth trenches at 0.5 m intervals in 24 locations in the tailings ponds. ICPMS analysis of the phosphogypsum samples shows that the ponds have a mean Ʃ REE + Y concentrations of 266.15 mg kg-1. The individual REE concentrations are within the world average concentrations in phosphogypsum, although there is relative depletion of Yb, Tb, and Tm. There are huge variations in REE concentrations between the ponds, likely because these are produced from the processing of more than ten types of exported phosphate rocks since the start of operation of the fertilizer plant in 1980s. The major REE abundance is in the order of Y (26 %) > Ce (25 %) > La (16 %) > Nd (15 %). There is an estimated 66 M USD worth of REE oxides in the phosphogypsum ponds with a potential added value of 3.3 to 6.6 M USD for 1 to 2 Mt phosphogypsum produced annually at 50 % recovery rate. This study provides a comprehensive REE concentration and economic analyses of Philippine phosphogypsum produced from different types of imported phosphate rocks for potential REE extraction.
On self-correcting logic circuits of unreliable gates
Authors: Popkov Kirill Andreevich
Published: July 2021

The following statements are proved: 1) for any integer m ≥ 3 there is a basis consisting of Boolean functions of no more than m variables, in which any Boolean function can be implemented by a logic circuit of unreliable gates that self-corrects relative to certain faults in an arbitrary number of gates; 2) for any positive integer k there are bases consisting of Boolean functions of no more than two variables, in each of which any Boolean function can be implemented by a logic circuit of unreliable gates that self-correct relative to certain faults in no more than k gates; 3) there is a functionally complete basis consisting of Boolean functions of no more than two variables, in which almost no Boolean function can be implemented by a logic circuit of unreliable gates that self-correct relative to at least some faults in no more than one gate.
Machine learning models for bank reviews classification
Authors: Badanina Natalya Dmitriyevna , Sudakov Vladimir Anatolievich
Published: July 2021

Using the banking products and services review corpus, analysis is conducted to establish different text classification models. The paper explores different approaches to the processing of unstructured textual information. Based on the selected approaches, the review corpus on banking products and services received during the COVID-19 pandemic is analyzed. An automatic Internet resources parser has been developed to obtain the required training sample. Software has been developed that implemens basic methods for the classification models construction. This model can be used to create system for monitoring people’s attitudes to banking processes.
Isolasi Sinensetin dari Kumis Kucing (Orthosiphon aristatus Blume miq.) Varietas Putih
Authors: Faramayuda Fahrauk , Riyanti Soraya , Pratiwi Adella Shindy , Mariani Totik Sri , Elfahmi Elfahmi , Sukrasno Sukrasno
Published: July 2021

Kumis kucing mengandung metabolit sekunder sinensetin yang termasuk ke dalam golongan senyawa flavonoid. Sinensetin berpotensi sebagai agen antivirus dan imunomodulator.  Tujuan penelitian ini adalah standardisasi tanaman kumis kucing varietas putih dan upaya produksi senyawa sinensetin. Ekstraksi dilakukan dengan metoda maserasi. Tahap pemisahan lanjutan dilakukan dengan metoda ekstraksi cair-cair, kromatografi kolom dan kromatografi cair vakum. Hasil ekstraksi cair-cair terpilih tiga fraksi  yaitu fraksi air, etil asetat dan n-heksana. Sebanyak 2,08 gram fraksi etil asetat dilanjutkkan pada tahap pemisahan lanjutan menggunakan kromatografi cair vakum dengan fasa diam silika gel H60 dan fasa gerak n-heksana dan etil asetat. Hasil dari kromatografi cair vakum diperoleh sebanyak 11 subfraksi. Penggabungan dilakukan pada subfraksi 8-11 yang terdeteksi adanya senyawa sinensetin, selanjutnya terhadap subfraksi gabungan dilakukan pemisaahan lanjutan dengan kromatografi kolom. Hasil pemisahan dengan kromatografi kolom diperoleh subfraksi sebanyak 142 vial. Pada subfraksi hasil kromatografi kolom nomor 91-114 terdeteksi adanya isolat sinensetin. Kromatografi lapis tipis preparatif (KLTP) gabungan subfraksi kromatografi kolom 91-114 (SFK) menunjukkan adanya senyawa sinensetin. Berdasarkan hasil pemeriksaan kemurnian dengan menggunakan KLT 2 dimensi dan analisis profil spektrum UV isolat diduga senyawa sinensetin. 