bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Música holofractal; una conexión semiósica entre la música y la física contemporáneas
Authors: Prates Eufrasio
Published: December 2021

Physis es la palabra griega para naturaleza, que da origen al término física. El siglo XX presenció el surgimiento de una nueva percepción de la naturaleza, a través de la física cuántica. De este modo, la nueva física alcanzó y unió dos universos invisibles y supuestamente distantes; las partículas subatómicas y el espacio sideral. Esto llevó, también, a sorpresivos descubrimientos, tan paradójicos e imprevisibles como el propio comportamiento de la naturaleza, evidenciando la imposibilidad de hacer cualquier afirmación definitiva o predicción absoluta a este respecto. Las teorías más importantes nacidas bajo esta visión cuántica tienen en común el concepto de hotos, que significa totalidad, integralidad, el todo. Desde los años 60, algunos físicos comenzaron a referirse al paradigma holográfico o holonómico, dando énfasis a la trascendencia de la interrelación entre la parte y el todo (Frates, 1999; 52). Todos estos cambios estructurales abrieron nuevos campos de investigación, y en especial uno, al parecer extremamente provechoso: la ciencia del caos.
Versolibrismo y regularidad métrica: la «forma libre» de Juan Ramón Jiménez
Authors: Gómez Redondo Fernando
Published: December 2021

No es ajeno el versolibrismo a la regularidad métrica. Salvo casos contados, el poeta accede al verso libre desde el dominio previo de los esquemas regulares, desde la asunción de unos moldes métricos que implican la asimilación de unas secuencias de pensamiento poético; la indagación que promueve la poesía versolibrista se abre a orientaciones conceptuales enteramente nuevas, ligadas como lo están al acto mismo de la creación, al desvelamiento de unas cláusulas rítmicas que han de reproducir el estado emocional que padece el poeta; absorbida la dimensión (puramente intelectiva) que encierra el isosilabismo, el poeta ensaya otras manifestaciones en que su decir poético es conducido a diferentes órdenes de expresividad: porque siempre hay un «orden», desde el momento en que las palabras logran acompasar el ilógico proceso del que surge la disposición versal.
Los lieder de José María Eguren (1874-1942) como dispositivo poético
Authors: Le Corre Hervé
Published: December 2021

El objetivo de este estudio no es identificar una forma (métrica), el lied egureniano no lo es, ni analizar una serie de poemas (los nueve Heder escritos por el poeta peruano) sino ver cómo una forma socializa da —el lied— se actualiza en una obra, la de Eguren, constituyendo un dispositivo, de escritura y de lectura, que cumple con el propósito de lo literario: el texto como disponibilidad, devenir.
La escritura epistolar en la actual encrucijada genérica
Authors: Pulido Tirado Genara
Published: December 2021

La epístola es una manifestación discursiva antiquísima. Aunque hay autores que, como Rico Verdú (1981:133), sitúan su aparición en Roma no podemos ignorar la tradición griega en la que, bien como elemento integrante de una obra literaria o bien de forma independiente, es de justicia citar al menos a Homero {Ilíada, VI), Heródoto y las car tas apócrifas de Aristóteles y Demóstenes. Pero es que además va a ser en la Antigüedad cuando se empiece a teorizar sobre este peculiar tipo de escritura, constituyéndose una Ars Epistolica (Suárez de la Torre, 1988) que aún hoy, dada la confusión teórica que existe en este campo, debemos tener presente.
Reseña de: Formules, Revue des Littératures á Contraintes.79 rué Manin, 75019 Paris, Francia
Authors: Vandepol Jeanne
Published: December 2021

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Reseña de: Jesús G. Maestro: Theatralia 111. Tragedia, Comedia y Canon. III Congreso Internacional de Teoría del Teatro. Vigo, 16-17 marzo de 2000. Vigo: Universidad, Facultad de Filología y Traducción, Ediciones del Área de Teoría de la Literatura, 2000
Authors: Cuiñas Gómez Macarena
Published: December 2021

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Reseña de: José Romera Castillo y Francisco Gutiérrez Carbajo (eds.): Poesía histórica y (auto)biográfica (1975-1999). Madrid: Visor Libros, 2000, 590 páginas
Authors: Cortés Ibáñez Emilia
Published: December 2021

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The health status, aging anxiety, social networking, generativity, and happiness of late middle-aged adults
Authors: Chang Hae Kyung
Published: December 2021

Purpose: This study was conducted to identify the relationship of health status, aging anxiety, social networking, generativity, and happiness and to investigate the main factors influencing happiness of late middle-aged adults.Methods: The study collected data from a total of 153 middle-aged men and women aged 50 to 64 years old from a consumer panel of Macromill-Embrain, the biggest online survey provider in Korea. The data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, Pearson’s correlation coefficient and a stepwise multiple regression using the SPSS 22.0 program.Results: The subjects’ happiness mean score was 16.17±9.29. Statistically significant differences in happiness were found according to education (F=4.38, p=.014), economic status (t=5.13, p<.001), and religion (t=2.18, p=.031). Happiness was correlated significantly with health status (r=.41, p<.001), aging anxiety (r=-.62, p<.001), family support (r=.43, p<.001), friend support (r=.36, p<.001) and generativity (r=.63, p<.001). The factors influencing happiness of late middle-aged adults were generativity (β=.37, p<.001), aging anxiety (β=-.35, p<.001), family support (β=.20, p<.001), and economic status (β=.13, p=.033). The explanatory power of the model was 58.0%.Conclusion: This study will be used as basic data when developing a nursing intervention program for successful aging by identifying factors that affect the happiness of late middle-aged adults.
DESIGN OF AN AUTOMATED MONITORING AND CONTROL SYSTEM FOR THE SOFT DRINK CAPPING MACHINE AND PROCESS MIXER
Authors: Chikumbirike Munashe , Kanyemba Givemore , Chirinda Gibson , Matope Stephen
Published: December 2021

This paper is based on bottling process optimisation through continuous improvement. A case study was done at XYZ company. The Six Sigma Define, Measure, Analyze, Improve, and Control (DMAIC) methodology revealed that the bottling and capping processes were producing defects at 3 Sigma level. The 5 Whys, Pareto chart, fish bone diagram, and Suppliers, Inputs, Process, Outputs, Customers (SIPOC) model showed that loose-capped bottles (31.6%), under-fills (29.2%), and empty bottles (28.9%) caused the highest cost through poor quality. The monitoring system was designed to monitor the applied torque value, the capping head status, and the beverage temperature upon leaving the heat exchanger. The cooling system on the mix processor was designed using the closed loop control strategy. If the beverage temperature is not within 1 or 2 degrees Celsius, it is directed to secondary cooling; otherwise, it proceeds. The glycol inlet valve is actuated such that the flow of the coolant is adjusted to ensure that the primary cooling is efficient. The results show that it is possible to operate production within the Six Sigma level.
HIGH CYCLE FATIGUE PERFORMANCE OF TI6AL4V(ELI) SPECIMENS PRODUCED WITH INHERENT LASER POWDER BED FUSION SURFACE ROUGHNESS
Authors: Miya Hlakae Patrick , du Preez Willie Bouwer , Monaheng Lehlohonolo Francis
Published: December 2021

This study investigated how surface defects affect the fatigue performance of laser powder bed fusion (LPBF) Ti6Al4V(ELI) test specimens in as-built surface roughness and heat-treated conditions. Tensile and fatigue specimens were built in three orthogonal directions for testing. Fatigue testing was carried out to determine the maximum stress at which a run-out number of 5 million cycles to failure could be achieved. Fractured specimens were analysed and compared for crack initiation and propagation characteristics using scanning electron microscopy. Conclusions were drawn on the possibility of producing Ti6Al4V(ELI) aircraft components through LPBF.
THE EFFICACY OF THE INHERENT STRAIN METHOD IN DETERMINING RESIDUAL STRESS IN IN718 SLM SPECIMENS
Authors: Botha Herculaas , Marais Deon , Kloppers C.P.
Published: December 2021

This paper presents a study showing the efficacy of the inherent strain method and modifications thereof to predict residual stresses within selective laser melted components. Cubic specimens with variations in hatch rotations were produced, and the residual stress state was simulated and measured by employing the neutron diffraction technique. Variances in the simulated and observed values of stress in the samples were investigated to show the efficacy of the isotropic, orthotropic, and thermo-mechanical simulation methods. The simulations indicated a suitable prediction of the residual stress with the incorporation of hatch rotation, but as being less adept at resolving the residual stress of the components with no hatch rotation. The most accurate simulation results in the horizontal stress directions were seen for the 90° hatch rotation specimen, for which the average difference between the measured and simulated values were below 65 MPa for all simulation types. The simulations largely over-predicted Z direction compressive stresses; however, the thermo-mechanical simulation type predicted this stress with an average difference of 116, 98, and 72 MPA for the 0°, 67°, and 90° hatch rotations respectively.
INVESTIGATION OF ACOUSTIC EMISSION SIGNAL DURING LASER POWDER BED FUSION AT DIFFERENT OPERATING MODES
Authors: Kouprianoff Dean Riethmuller
Published: December 2021

The increased use of metal additive manufacturing in production components makes quality control essential. The performance of parts produced by laser powder bed fusion depends on optimal process-parameters and the careful selection of scanning and building strategies for complex parts. In-situ acoustic emission provides a suitable solution for directly monitoring the laser powder bed fusion process during manufacturing. This paper shows the effect of different melting modes on the sound pressure and frequency spectrum during the laser powder bed fusion process. The results present valuable information for online monitoring development.
INFLUENCE OF POWDER CHARACTERISTICS ON THE SPREADABILITY OF PRE-ALLOYED TUNGSTEN- CARBIDE COBALT
Authors: Govender Preyin , Blaine Deborah Clare , Sacks Natasha
Published: December 2021

With rising interest in additive manufacturing (AM) techniques, there is an increased focus on research that evaluates critical parameters that guide the selection of powders that are suitable for AM. One such parameter is a powder’s spreadability, described by metrics such as powder bed density and percentage coverage. This study focused on three spray-dried WC-Co powders (two 12 wt% and one 17 wt% Co) and evaluated the influence of typical powder characteristics, such as particle size and shape, apparent density, and flow rate, on their spreadability. It was found that particle size distribution influenced the powder spreadability. Larger particles hindered the even spreading of powder over the base plate, resulting in low powder bed density and percentage coverage. This also correlated with the powders’ apparent densities. The flow rate and angle of repose gave an indication of how cohesive the powders are. The more cohesive a powder, the poorer the spreadability, resulting in a lower powder bed density and percentage coverage.
Knowledge Sharing in Teams Making Strategic Decisions in Companies – The Results of Research Carried Out in the Furniture Industry in Poland
Authors:   Warsaw School of Economics, Sopińska Agnieszka , Glińska-Neweś Aldona
Published: December 2021

Purpose: The aim of this article is to present the phenomenon of knowledge sharing in decision-making teams in companies representing the furniture industry in Poland. The analysis of the phenomenon included the following five aspects: assessment of the propensity to share knowledge within decision-making teams, assessment of the significance of knowledge to be shared from the perspective of the decisions taken, identification of the main motivations for sharing knowledge by members of the decision-making team, identification of dominant attitudes towards knowledge sharing, and identification of dominant forms of knowledge sharing. Design/methodology/approach: The survey was conducted in the time period March 2018 – September 2019, with the use of the CATI method. The research sample included members of decision-making teams responsible for making strategic decisions in medium-sized and large companies representing the furniture industry in Poland. Findings: The analysis of responses delivered by 123 respondents shows that decision-makers in the furniture industry in Poland display an average propensity to share knowledge, with a slightly higher propensity declared by men than women; they highly value the significance of the knowledge transferred to other team members; the main motivations prompting them to share knowledge are non-monetary motivations; the majority of them declare an attitude towards knowledge sharing labeled as ‘a knowledge transformer’ and prefer direct contact between team members as a form of knowledge sharing. Originality/value: The study contributes to the understanding of processes related to knowledge sharing, specifically in terms of sector and market specificity.
Death of a Celebrity: Kobe Bryant and Post-Millennial Sensitivities
Authors: Jacheć Tomasz
Published: December 2021

On Sunday, January 26, 2020, Kobe Bryant – a retired star of the Los Angeles Lakers basketball franchise – died suddenly and tragically in a helicopter crash. Following his death, Bryant was instantaneously mourned and celebrated as a basketball legend, an inspiration, a role model, a family man, and a Renaissance man; he was secularly and medially canonized. This study analyzes the secular canonization process and aims at extrapolating the post-Millennial element of the narratives of the tributes to Bryant. The article looks into how the reaction to the death of Bryant, who, although a Millennial himself, seemed to embody the post-Millennial image of post-Millennials (Generation Z) i.e., competitive, spontaneous, adventuresome, and curious, reflects the self-image of post-Millennials i.e., loyal, compassionate, thoughtful, open-minded, responsible, and determined.
Histone H1 prevents non-CG methylation-mediated small RNA biogenesis in Arabidopsis heterochromatin
Authors: Choi Jaemyung , Lyons David B , Zilberman Daniel
Published: December 2021

Flowering plants utilize small RNA (sRNA) molecules to guide DNA methyltransferases to genomic sequences. This RNA-directed DNA methylation (RdDM) pathway preferentially targets euchromatic transposable elements. However, RdDM is thought to be recruited by methylation of histone H3 at lysine 9 (H3K9me), a hallmark of heterochromatin. How RdDM is targeted to euchromatin despite an affinity for H3K9me is unclear. Here, we show that loss of histone H1 enhances heterochromatic RdDM, preferentially at nucleosome linker DNA. Surprisingly, this does not require SHH1, the RdDM component that binds H3K9me. Furthermore, H3K9me is dispensable for RdDM, as is CG DNA methylation. Instead, we find that non-CG methylation is specifically associated with sRNA biogenesis, and without H1 sRNA production quantitatively expands to non-CG-methylated loci. Our results demonstrate that H1 enforces the separation of euchromatic and heterochromatic DNA methylation pathways by excluding the sRNA-generating branch of RdDM from non-CG-methylated heterochromatin.
Identity Crisis in Arab Diasporic Novel: A Case Study of Lebanese American Novel
Authors: Altwaiji Mubarak , Alwuraafi Ebrahim Mohammed
Published: December 2021

Very little has been written on cultural identity and national identity in contemporary Lebanese novel in the diaspora. This study explores how border identity is presented in Rabih Alameddine's Koolaids (1998), I, the Divine (2001), and The Angel of History (2016), three novels about the failure of the Lebanese immigrants to establish their cultural identity in the diaspora. It also gives a bird's-eye view of the myriad problems encountered by the immigrants while trying to build their cultural identity. Rabih Alameddine, a Lebanese American writer whose early literary pursuits focus on melting in the new homeland, represents the impossibility of redefinition and introduces the immigrants' remarkable preoccupation with the quest for national identity and nationhood. He mixes melancholic and ridiculous moments to represent the quest for cultural identity in order to subvert the neo-orientalist discourse which is based on the East/West dichotomy. Moreover, the use of multiple settings and narrators in each novel is also a common theme that explains the physical and psychological effects of the Lebanese civil war and the Lebanese ethnic categories in the diaspora.
Evaluation of Eurovision Song Contest as a Cultural Impact Tool
Authors: Bekcan Umut , Uz Hançarlı Pınar
Published: December 2021

In this study, three claims/arguments regarding the emergence and function of the Eurovision Song Contest were put forward and tried to be grounded. First, the contest emerged as a tool for Western Europe to influence Eastern Europe culturally in the Cold War but it didn’t become an ideological conflict area of East-West. Second, the contest functioned as a stage of expressing the political problems/situations that countries experience within themselves or with each other in the Cold War era and aftermath. Third, although Turkey took place in the Western Europe side in the Cold War, this contest made Turkey feel non-European while having a different identity. In this context, the subject is discussed from the historical perspective with the assumption that the subject of history is unique. The study focused primarily on the concept of the Cold War and the contest. Then, it was explained with the examples which political problems/situations different from the Cold War ideological conflict environment were brought up on the contest platform. Finally, it was emphasized that the contest contributed to “us vs them” dichotomy in Turkey against Europe, contrary to Eurovision’s aim to form/create a common European culture.
Diasporic Pariah: A Study of Bessie Head’s Maru
Authors: Turki Harith Ismael , Işık Zeliha
Published: December 2021

Home is a very important notion in human life which helps people establish emotional, social and intellectual belonging and identifications so that they can hold on to life. When the sense of home is contested, the sense of identity is impaired too. Those people who are characterized by the sense of disconnectedness and desire to re-establish their home are known as diasporic people. The protagonist of Maru (1971), Margaret is one of those diasporic people who long for home and attachments to people. This article is an attempt to examine the struggle of Margaret against a ruthless and cruel society. In her status as a diasporic individual, Margaret is seen as a nonhuman being due to her race, as a Masarwa, living in Botswana. She is alienated, and treated as a pariah, because she does not belong to a superior race defined by the colonial British forces which ruled Botswana. The article tries to view the protagonist’s estrangement and her experience as a diasporic pariah through the lenses of some of the famous postcolonial critics and writers.  It also tries to explore the origins and aspects of this kind of treatment.
Structural and Spatial Analysis of the Mosques of the Architect Sinan with Hexagonal and Octagonal Baldachin Systems
Authors: Erarslan Alev
Published: December 2021

The master architect of the Ottoman era, Architect Sinan, created and left behind a wide range of structural typologies. The most numerous of Sinan’s works were his mosques. The features defining the layout plan of Sinan’s mosques are the central domed baldachin and the characteristics of the structure on which the baldachin rests. Sinan made use of multiple support systems of sometimes four, six or eight elements in his system of dome structures, planning the layouts of his mosques around the framework of these systems. Sinan handled each of his domed and multiple pillar-supported central baldachin in different ways in terms of both the foundation of the baldachin and of the side galleries, creating in this group of structures a “Sinan style.” This paper is an attempt to make a comparative analysis of the organization of the domed central baldachin constituting the main space of the mosques of Architect Sinan, which is part of a hexagonal and octagonal baldachin system with multiple supports forming the central nucleus of the mosque, and of the side galleries, addressing the relationships between baldachin, structures, dome and galleries.
Osmanlı Devleti’nde Modern Belediyeciliğin Ortaya Çıkışı ve Safranbolu’da İlk Belediyecilik Faaliyetleri
Authors: Bilirli Tahir
Published: December 2021

Bu çalışmada Osmanlı Devleti’nde 19. yüzyıla kadar kadı gibi şehrin yönetiminde söz sahibi olan kişiler ya da vakıf ve loncalar gibi bazı geleneksel kurumlar tarafından yürütülmeye çalışılan belediye hizmetlerinin, değişen şartlar ve zorunluluklar neticesinde dönüşüme uğrayarak yerini modern belediyecilik anlayışına bırakma süreci incelenmektedir.
Araştırmanın giriş bölümünde Osmanlı Devleti’nin 19. yüzyıl ortalarına kadar geçen dönemde geleneksel belediyecilik uygulamaları incelendikten sonra 19. yüzyıldaki modern belediyeciliğe geçiş süreci incelenmiştir. Araştırmanın birinci bölümünde Osmanlı Devleti’nin kuruluşundan 1826 yılında Yeniçeri Ocağı’nın kaldırılmasına kadar geçen sürede geleneksel olarak kadı, naip, lonca ve vakıflar tarafından yürütülen beledi hizmetler ele alınmıştır. İkinci bölümde ise geleneksel belediyecilikten modern belediyeye geçiş süreci değerlendirilmiştir. İç ve dış dinamiklerin etkisi ile belediye hizmetlerinin tek bir merkezden daha teşkilatçı bir şekilde yerine getirilmesi zorunluluğu örnekleri ile ortaya konulmuştur. Üçüncü bölümde de 1870 yılında Safranbolu Belediyesi’nin kurulmasından itibaren şehrin imar ve kalkınmasına yaptığı katkılar, insanının yaşam kalitesini yükseltmek üzere yürütülen beledi hizmetler ve bu hizmetlerin kimler tarafından yürütüldüğü ile hizmet sunma aşamasında oluşan örgütsüz yapıdan kurumsallaşma boyutuna geçiş aşamaları değerlendirilmiştir. Şehirlerin kalkınmasında başat rol oynayan askeri alaylardan birisinin Safranbolu’ya kurulmasında, şehir içi kaldırım ve yollar ile diğer şehirlerle olan bağlantı yollarının yapılmasında belediyenin ne kadar önemli hizmetler yaptığı ortaya konulmuştur. Ayrıca, I. Dünya Savaşı’ndan sonra yurdun işgal edilmesi sırasında yapılan protesto mitingleri örneğinde olduğu gibi belediyelerin toplumsal dayanışma ve organizasyon konularında da rol almaya başladıkları tespiti yapılmıştır.
Polymorphic Investigation of ADCY2 and C7 Genes in Local Population of Oral Cancer
Authors: Abbas Syeda Zahra , Altaf Ayesha , Muhammad Syed Aun , Naqqash Tahir , Zubair Muhammad , Hussain Syed Bilal , Naqvi Tahira Qousain , Raza Husnain , Khan Saqib
Published: December 2021

Single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNP) are responsible for genetic mutations. We studied genetic molecular variations and found an association of oral cancer with SNP of Adenylate Cyclase 2 (ADCY2) rs252546 and complement C7 (C7) rs1450656 genes in people of Southern Punjab, Pakistan. The study involves 100 cases of oral cancer and 100 healthy individuals. ADCY2 is found as a membrane-associated enzyme and C7 is involved in innate immunity. The process of genotyping was carried out by Tetra ARMS Primer PCR. The genetic variant of ADCY2 rs252546 has allelic origin G/A and C7 rs1450656 with C/T. The statistical analysis showed that the 51-60 years age group is significantly associated with oral cancer. The allelic frequency of ADCY2 rs252546 and C7 rs1450656 was calculated through Hardy Weinberg equilibrium. The homozygous mutant allele G of ADCY2 was more prevalent in cases and C allelic genotype was equally found in cases and controls. Other demographic and polymorphic studies indicated a significant association of variants of ADCY2 and C7 with oral cancer in the local population of Punjab. Variations in ADCY2 and C7 can be used as potential biomarkers and biological targets for oral cancer management strategies.
Online Information Seeking Behavior among Indonesian during the COVID-19 Pandemic
Authors: Sulistyawati Sulistyawati , Yuliansyah Herman , Asti Mulasari Surahma , Sukesi Tri Wahyuni
Published: December 2021

Background: The COVID-19 vaccination movement in Indonesia until mid-2021 has still not reached the expected number, which is less than 20% of the Indonesian population who receive the first dose of vaccine. Meanwhile, the government's target for accelerating herd immunity is to achieve immunization coverage of 70% by November 2021. Several issues have arisen regarding the public's reluctance to accept the COVID-19 vaccine, such as vaccine readiness, efficacy, conspiracy, halal issues, and the negative side of this vaccine.

Aims: This study aims to assess the online behavior of the Indonesian community in seeking information related to the COVID-19 vaccine.

Methods: Google trends was used as a data source to see the public interest in several issues including COVID, vaccines, and government policies.

Analysis: The analysis was carried out descriptively.

Results: The results of this study indicate the movement over time of society towards several terminologies in line with events or the implementation of policies in Indonesia.

Conclusion: This research contributes to surveillance of the public's information needs on the COVID-19 issue to avoid misinformation.
Sowing Dates and Varieties of Wheat can Affect Yield, Nutrient Content in Grain, Straw and Soil after Crop Harvest
Authors: Prajapat Bhawani Singh , Jat Ram A. , Bairwa Deen Dayal
Published: December 2021

The present study aimed to determine the Sowing dates and varieties of wheat can affect yield, nutrient content in grain, straw and soil after crop harvest. A field experiment was conducted during Rabi season (2015-16) at Instructional Farm, Department of Agronomy, College of Agriculture JAU, Junagadh to evaluate the identification of the suitable date of sowing and variety of wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) for South Saurashtra, Gujarat under changing climatic conditions. The experiment consisted of 12 treatment combinations of four dates of sowing in main plots (05th November, 15th November, 25th November and 05th December) and three varieties in sub plots (GW 322, GW 366 and GW 173) was carried out in split-plot design with three replications. Significantly maximum grain yield, N, P and K in grain and straw was recorded with sowing on 15th November and with the sowing of GW 366. Higher available N, P2O5 and K2O in the soil after harvest was found on 05th December and GW 173.
Species Diversity of Arthropods Founds in Refuse Dumpsites in Ifite Awka, Anambra State and Its Public Health Risk
Authors: Udeh N. P. , Ude I. S. , Obudulu C. , Okeke O. A. , Egwuagu C. C. , Ibemenuga K. N.
Published: December 2021

A survey of some refuse dumpsites in Ifite, Awka, Anambra, Nigeria State were carried out for 5 weeks to determine the arthropod vectors associated with those refuse dumps and their relative abundance per site and species diversity. Five refuse dumpsites were randomly selected based on their composition and human activities within the environment. The sampled sites are Commissioners Quarters (site A), Second Market (site B), Miracle Junction (site C), Star-Lodge Junction (site D) and Wintess Hotel (site E). Fourteen species of arthropods were collected in eight orders and eleven families namely; Muscidae, Culicidae, Blattidae, Calliphoridae, Formicidae, Elateridae, Xystodesmidae, Polydesmidae, Acrididae, Lygaeidae and Selonopidae. The most abundant vector species encountered in all five study sites was Musca domestica, the dominant species, followed by Aedes. spp., and P. americana which occurred in all study sites except site A. Site A, M. domestica 12 (38.71%), followed by A. aegypti 6 (19.35%), site B, M. domestica 15 (25.42%), followed by A. aegypti 12 (20.34%) and P. Americana 10 (16.95%), site C, M. domestica 17 (28.89%), followed by A. aegypti 7 (15.56%) and P. Americana 5 (11.11%), site D, M. domestica 17 (27.42%), followed by A. aegypti 11 (17.74%) and P. americana 7 (11.29%), site E, M. domestica 30 (32.26%), followed by A. spp.,17 (18.28%) and P. Americana 16 (17.20%).The abundance of these vectors suggests the prevalence of arthropod vector borne disease in Ifite, Awka environment. Proper disposal of refuse dumps and public enlightenment on the dangers of indiscriminate dumping of refuse to the general public is highly recommended to avert health and environmental problems associated with these arthropod vectors.
Synthesis of Sulfanoquinoxaline-2,3-Dione Hydrazones Derivatives as a Selective Inhibitor for Acetylcholinesterase and Butyryl Cholinesterase
Authors: Taiwo F. O. , Obafemi C. A. , Obuotor E. M. , Olawuni I. J.
Published: December 2021

Some Sulfanoquinoxaline-2,3-diones hydrazone derivatives (1-8) were synthesized from the reactions of 2,3-dioxoquinoxaline-6-sulfonohydrazine with seven substituted benzaldehydes and acetophenone. All the synthesized compounds were biologically evaluated against cholinesterase’s (acetylcholinesterase and butyryl cholinesterase). Compounds 1-8 were found to be a good selective inhibitor for acetylcholinesterase and butyryl cholinesterase. Among the series, compounds 3 (IC50 = 75 ± 10 µg/mL) and 5 (IC50 = 80 ± 10 µg/mL) were found to be the most active inhibitors against acetylcholinesterase, while compounds 6 (IC50 = 110 ± 10 µg/mL), 8 (IC50 = 130 ± 10 µg/mL) and 7 (IC50 = 150 ± 10 µg/mL), were found to be most active inhibitor against butyryl cholinesterase. The IC50 values for all the synthesized compounds were lower than standard, eserine (IC50 = 70 ± 20 µg/mL). Their considerable acetylcholinesterase and butyryl cholinesterase inhibitory activities make them a good candidate for the development of selective acetylcholinesterase and butyryl cholinesterase inhibitors.
Phytochemical Characterization, Hepatoprotective Activity on Alcohol-Induced Toxicity of the Aqueous Extract of Curcuma longa (Zingiberaceae) in Wistar Rats
Authors: Nkempu Ameaka Fatima , Estella Tembe , Edwige Tchadji Mayoudom Vanessa , Herve Bayaga , Fonmboh Dobgima John , Berinyuy Eustace Bonghan , Nono Njinkio Borgia , Omgba Tabi Yves , Bathelemy Ngameni , Charles Fokunang
Published: December 2021

Introduction: Liver or hepatic disease refers to different conditions that affect the liver. Chronic alcohol consumption is one of the most frequent causes of liver disease and accounts for about 55% of liver cirrhosis deaths recorded in Cameroon in 2020. Standard accessible treatments focus on end-stage liver disease with safety and efficacy obstacles. We have a research gap in Cameroon to understand the alternative use of natural products as treatment with a long traditional history of safe use. Curcuma longa has long been a source of traditional and modern medicine. It is commonly used in Cameroon as a spice and herbal product with some level of activity against various forms of liver disease.

Objective: To phytochemically screen for bioactive metabolites and evaluate the hepatoprotective activity of the aqueous extract of Curcuma longaon alcohol-induced toxicity in Wistar rats.

Methods: Phytochemical screening was carried out on the aqueous extract obtainedfrom maceration of plant rhizomes. Three doses (125, 250 and 500mg/Kg) of the plant extract and the reference (Silymarin 50mg/Kg) were administered daily (p.o) to rats 30 min before administration of 40% alcohol (2mL/100g p.o) for 21 days. Biochemical parameters such as ALAT, ASAT, GGT, Bilirubin and Lipid profile were quantified and histological studies of the liverwas carried out using standard procedures.

Results: Phytochemical screening of the aqueous extract of C. longa revealed polyphenols such as flavonoids, tannins, quinones, saponins and phlobatanins. The plant showed hepatoprotective activity by decreasing liver toxicity markers such as ASAT, ALAT, GGT and Bilirubin. Histology revealed dose-dependent protection with 500 mg/Kg showing the most cellular integrity, no central vein occlusion and minimal fibrosis.

Conclusion: This study indicated the presence of polyphenols like flavonoids and tannins in the aqueous extract of C. longa. The presence of these secondary metabolites in the studied extract justifies its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties confirmed by its hepatoprotective effects on alcohol-induced toxicity. This was clearly shown by biochemical and histological parameters. More sensitive and specific methods are required to test for these secondary metabolites in serum.
Exposure assessment to inhalable and respirable dust in the post — earthquake construction sites in the city of l’Aquila
Authors: Mastrantonio Riccardo , Civisca Angela , Siciliano Eugenio , Inglese Enrica , Lippolis Tamara , Pompei Domenico , Cococcetta Lucio , Scatigna Maria , Fabiani Leila
Published: December 2021

Objectives

Following an earthquake that occurred in middle Italy in 2009, the involved territory hosted in 10 years thousands of construction sites. The aim of this study is to assess inhalable, respirable, and respirable crystalline silica exposure of the construction workers involved in the rebuilding activities.

Methods

Six construction companies joined the study and hosted the air sampling activities. We identified four work tasks: bricklayer and similar; scaffolder and carpenter; manual demolition; other tasks. We reported 8-h time-weighted concentrations.

Results

The “All tasks” geometric mean concentration of inhalable dust was 4.73 mg/m3 and the higher, TLV exceeding exposure was observed for “Manual demolition workers” (13.92 mg/m3, GM). The “All tasks” geometric mean concentration of respirable dust was 0.25 mg/m3 and no TLV-exceeding exposure (geometric mean values) was observed among the work-related groups. About the respirable crystalline silica dust exposure, the “All tasks” average concentration was 0.004 mg/m3. No TLV-exceeding exposure was observed among the whole data sample.

Conclusions

The comparison of the results shows that manual demolition workers are exposed to high levels of inhalable dust, exceeding the TLV-TWA (Threshold Limit Values-Time Weighted Average) limit of 10 mg/m3. About the respirable dust concentration, none of the analyzed work task dust concentrations exceeded the TLV-TWA limit of 3 mg/m3 (geometric mean values). Measurements of respirable crystalline silica dust have shown levels below the threshold limit value of 0.025 mg/m3. Our findings overall match with the available scientific data.
Integrated Full‐Spectrum Solar Energy Catalysis for Zero‐Emission Ethylene Production from Bioethanol
Authors: Deng Yu , Batmunkh Munkhbayar , Ye Liqun , Song Chenjie , Ge Teng , Xu Yixue , Mu Xiaoyang , Liu Wei , Jin Xiaoli , Wong Po Keung , Huang Hongwei , Wang Qingfeng , Zhuang Xinshu , Ma Tianyi
Published: December 2021

Ethylene, a hydrocarbon (C2H4), is one of the widely used products in the chemical industry. A traditional dehydration method of ethanol to ethylene relies strongly on high‐temperature and high‐pressure process with significant energy consumption. In this regard, producing ethylene from bioethanol through dehydration is a promising and sustainable approach, but, this process under mild conditions results in low yields and poor selectivity. Herein, an integrated solar energy catalytic system driven by only sun energy under ambient conditions is established for the first time for bioethanol dehydration using oxygen‐vacancy‐abundant (Ov) WO3 coupled with a thin layer of carbon coating (CL) (WO3−x@C). A record‐high ethylene selectivity of 98.1% is achieved driven by full solar spectrum without any external power, featuring zero pollution emission nature. In this process, Ov acts as a solid acid center, which is the key to initiate the dehydration of ethanol to ethylene via a solar thermal process, while the CL promotes solar thermal synergy, ensuring the high reaction temperature and hot carriers transmission simultaneously. In‐situ infrared spectroscopy and thermodynamic calculations demonstrate a novel proton hydrogen‐mediated catalytic process over WO3−x@C. This work provides a new opportunity of using full‐spectrum solar energy for catalytic generation of value‐added chemicals.
High‐Current‐Density Organic Electrochemical Diodes Enabled by Asymmetric Active Layer Design
Authors: Kim Youngseok , Kim Gunwoo , Ding Bowen , Jeong Dahyun , Lee Inho , Park Sungjun , Kim Bumjoon J. , McCulloch Iain , Heeney Martin , Yoon Myung‐Han
Published: December 2021

Owing to their outstanding electrical/electrochemical performance, operational stability, mechanical flexibility, and decent biocompatibility, organic mixed ionic–electronic conductors have shown great potential as implantable electrodes for neural recording/stimulation and as active channels for signal switching/amplifying transistors. Nonetheless, no studies exist on a general design rule for high‐performance electrochemical diodes, which are essential for highly functional circuit architectures. In this work, generalizable electrochemical diodes with a very high current density over 30 kA cm−2 are designed by introducing an asymmetric active layer based on organic mixed ionic–electronic conductors. The underlying mechanism on polarity‐sensitive balanced ionic doping/dedoping is elucidated by numerical device analysis and in operando spectroelectrochemical potential mapping, while the general material requirements for electrochemical diode operation are deduced using various types of conjugated polymers. In parallel, analog signal rectification and digital logic processing circuits are successfully demonstrated to show the broad impact of circuits incorporating organic electrochemical diodes. It is expected that organic electrochemical diodes will play vital roles in realizing multifunctional soft bioelectronic circuitry in combination with organic electrochemical transistors.
Defect‐Selectivity and “Order‐in‐Disorder” Engineering in Carbon for Durable and Fast Potassium Storage
Authors: Chen Yaxin , Xi Baojuan , Huang Man , Shi Liluo , Huang Shaozhuan , Guo Nannan , Li Da , Ju Zhicheng , Xiong Shenglin
Published: December 2021

Defect‐rich carbon materials possess high gravimetric potassium storage capability due to the abundance of active sites, but their cyclic stability is limited because of the low reversibility of undesirable defects and the deteriorative conductivity. Herein, in situ defect‐selectivity and order‐in‐disorder synergetic engineering in carbon via a self‐template strategy is reported to boost the K+‐storage capacity, rate capability and cyclic stability simultaneously. The defect‐sites are selectively tuned to realize abundant reversible carbon‐vacancies with the sacrifice of poorly reversible heteroatom‐defects through the persistent gas release during pyrolysis. Meanwhile, nanobubbles generated during the pyrolysis serve as self‐templates to induce the surface atom rearrangement, thus in situ embedding nanographitic networks in the defective domains without serious phase separation, which greatly enhances the intrinsic conductivity. The synergetic structure ensures high concentration of reversible carbon‐vacancies and fast charge‐transfer kinetics simultaneously, leading to high reversible capacity (425 mAh g−1 at 0.05 A g−1), high‐rate (237.4 mAh g−1 at 1 A g−1), and superior cyclic stability (90.4% capacity retention from cycle 10 to 400 at 0.1 A g−1). This work provides a rational and facile strategy to realize the tradeoff between defect‐sites and intrinsic conductivity, and gives deep insights into the mechanism of reversible potassium storage.
Does Social Security promote food security? Evidence for older households
Authors: Brucker Debra L. , Jajtner Katie , Mitra Sophie
Published: December 2021

This study examines the effect of Social Security benefits received in old age on food security among older adults. Using repeated cross sections from the Panel Study of Income Dynamics and an instrumental variable approach to address the endogeneity between the decision to claim Social Security and household food security, we find that an increase in Social Security benefits or becoming a Social Security beneficiary significantly increases the probability of being food secure. Our results were robust to changes of the dependent variable or the endogenous variable but were sensitive to some of the expansions or contractions of the sample.
Reframing explanation as an interactive medium: The EQUAS (Explainable QUestion Answering System) project
Authors: Ferguson William , Batra Dhruv , Mooney Raymond , Parikh Devi , Torralba Antonio , Bau David , Diller David , Fasching Josh , Fiotto‐Kaufman Jaden , Goyal Yash , Miller Jeff , Moffitt Kerry , Montes de Oca Alex , Selvaraju Ramprasaath R. , Shrivastava Ayush , Wu Jialin , Lee Stefan
Published: December 2021

This letter is a retrospective analysis of our team's research for the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency Explainable Artificial Intelligence project. Our initial approach was to use salience maps, English sentences, and lists of feature names to explain the behavior of deep‐learning‐based discriminative systems, with particular focus on visual question answering systems. We found that presenting static explanations along with answers led to limited positive effects. By exploring various combinations of machine and human explanation production and consumption, we evolved a notion of explanation as an interactive process that takes place usually between humans and artificial intelligence systems but sometimes within the software system. We realized that by interacting via explanations people could task and adapt machine learning (ML) agents. We added affordances for editing explanations and modified the ML system to act in accordance with the edits to produce an interpretable interface to the agent. Through this interface, editing an explanation can adapt a system's performance to new, modified purposes. This deep tasking, wherein the agent knows its objective and the explanation for that objective, will be critical to enable higher levels of autonomy.
Template‐Directed Synthesis of Bivalent, Broad‐Spectrum Hosts for Neuromuscular Blocking Agents**
Authors: Selinger Allison J. , Cavallin Natalie A. , Yanai Anat , Birol Inanc , Hof Fraser
Published: December 2021

We report on the synthesis of bivalent water‐soluble calix[4]arene and calix[5]arene hosts, Super‐sCx4 and Super‐sCx5 as new broad‐spectrum supramolecular binders of neuromuscular blocking agents (NMBAs). Synthesis was achieved using the target bisquaternary amine NMBAs as a template to link two highly anionic p‐sulfonatocalixarene building blocks in aqueous solution. Bivalent anionic hosts Super‐sCx4 and Super‐sCx5 bind by engaging both quaternary amines present on a variety of NMBAs. We report low μM binding to structurally diverse alkyl, steroidal, curarine and benzylisoquinoline NMBAs with high selectivity over the neurotransmitter acetylcholine and a variety of other hydrophobic amines.
Potent and Selective RIPK1 Inhibitors Targeting Dual‐Pockets for the Treatment of Systemic Inflammatory Response Syndrome and Sepsis
Authors: Yang Xiangbo , Lu Huimin , Xie Hang , Zhang Binbin , Nie Tianqing , Fan Chen , Yang Tao , Xu Yechun , Su Haixia , Tang Wei , Zhou Bing
Published: December 2021

Sepsis, characterized with high risk of life‐threatening organ dysfunction, represents a major cause of health loss and the World Health Organization (WHO) labelled sepsis as the most urgent unmet medical need in 2017. The emerging biological understanding of the role of RIPK1 in sepsis has opened up an exciting opportunity to explore potent and selective RIPK1 inhibitors as an effective therapeutic strategy for SIRS and sepsis therapy. Herein, we have synthesized a class of highly potent dual‐mode RIPK1 inhibitors occupying both the allosteric and the ATP binding pockets, exemplified by compound 21 (ZB‐R‐55) which is about 10‐fold more potent than GSK2982772, and exhibits excellent kinase selectivity, good oral pharmacokinetics and good therapeutic effects in the LPS‐induced sepsis model, suggesting that compound ZB‐R‐55 is a highly promising preclinical candidate.
Rational Design of a Two‐Photon Fluorescent Probe for Human Cytochrome P450 3A and the Visualization of Mechanism‐Based Inactivation
Authors: Ning Jing , Tian Zhenhao , Wang Jiayue , Wang Bo , Tian Xiangge , Yu Zhenlong , Huo Xiaokui , Feng Lei , Cui Jingnan , James Tony D. , Ma Xiaochi
Published: December 2021

Mechanism‐based inactivation (MBI) can mediate adverse reactions and hepatotoxicity from drugs, which is a result of their conversion into highly reactive metabolites catalyzed by enzymes such as cytochrome P450 3A (CYP3A). In the present research, we optimized the key interaction domain of the fluorophore with the target protein to develop a two‐photon fluorescent probe for CYP3A that is involved in the metabolism of more than half of all clinical drugs. The developed BN‐1 probe exhibited appropriate selectivity and sensitivity for the semi‐quantitative detection and imaging of endogenous CYP3A activity in various living systems, thereby providing a high‐throughput screening system enabling evaluation of MBI‐associated hepatotoxicity by CYP3A. Using BN‐1 as a fluorescent molecular tool facilitates the efficient discovery and characterization of CYP3A‐induced MBI in natural systems.
Proximity Labeling Techniques: A Multi‐Omics Toolbox
Authors: Shkel Olha , Kharkivska Yevheniia , Kim Yun Kyung , Lee Jun‐Seok
Published: December 2021

Proximity labeling techniques are emerging high‐throughput methods for studying protein‐protein, protein‐RNA, and protein‐DNA interactions with temporal and spatial precision. Proximity labeling methods take advantage of enzymes that can covalently label biomolecules with reactive substrates. These labeled biomolecules can be identified using mass spectrometry or next‐generation sequencing. The main advantage of these methods is their ability to capture weak or transient interactions between biomolecules. Proximity labeling is indispensable for studying organelle interactomes. Additionally, it can be used to resolve spatial composition of macromolecular complexes. Many of these methods have only recently been introduced; nonetheless, they have already provided new and deep insights into the biological processes at the cellular, organ, and organism levels. In this paper, we review a broad range of proximity labeling techniques, their development, drawbacks and advantages, and implementations in recent studies.
Estimating photoevaporative mass loss of exoplanets with PLATYPOS
Authors: Ketzer Laura , Poppenhaeger Katja
Published: December 2021

We develop PLATYPOS (PLAneTarY PhOtoevaporation Simulator), a python code to perform planetary photoevaporative mass‐loss calculations for close‐in planets with hydrogen‐helium envelopes atop Earth‐like rocky cores. With physical and model parameters as input, PLATYPOS calculates the atmospheric mass loss and with it the radius evolution of a planet over time, taking into account also the thermal cooling and subsequent radius evolution of the planet. In particular, we implement different stellar activity evolution tracks over time. Our setup allows for a prediction of whether a planet can hold on to a significant fraction of its atmosphere, or fully evaporates, leaving behind only the bare rocky core. The user supplies information about the star–planet system of interest, which includes planetary and host star parameters, as well as the star's rotational and thus activity evolution. In addition, several details for the evaporative mass‐loss rate estimation can be chosen. This includes the effective absorption cross‐section for high energy photons, the evaporation efficiency, and the hydrodynamic escape model.