bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Assessing Teacher Motivation and its Outcome on Performance in Public Basic Schools in East Gonja District of Ghana
Authors: Kordie Godslove Adjeiwaa , Moro Eiasu
Published: January 2022

The study ascertains the extent and adequacy of motivation within the Ghana Education Service (GES) and its effect on teaching. The population for the study was all teaching staff in the East Gonja District. A Survey design was used in the study and a self-developed questionnaire was administered to 25 schools out of 69 zoned schools giving a 36% representation of the entire population. Random sampling was used to select 4 respondents from each of the selected schools to give a total of 100 respondents. The study revealed that promotion, salary increment, cash rewards and study leave with pay were motivating factors to teacher performance. The study also unraveled poor management commitment to teacher performance, and finally, the relationship between years of experience and job satisfaction depicted that, teachers with more years of teaching experience were more motivated and satisfied than the youth. It is recommended that management pays attention to factors that motivate teachers so as to improve performance and also give some form of incentives/appreciation to especially longer and industrious teachers.
Basic School Teachers’ Attitude and Confidence level in teaching the new Standards-Based Computing Curriculum in Ghana
Authors: Ayebi-Arthur Kofi , Abdulai Issah Bala , Korsah Daniel Paa
Published: January 2022

This study assessed the attitude and level of confidence of Basic 1-6 teachers in Ghana in implementing the new standard-based computing curriculum. The study employed the survey design. Simple random sampling and stratified sampling were used to select 127 teachers from five regions in Ghana. Frequencies, percentages and Pearson correlation statistics were used to analyse the data collected. The findings showed that most of the teachers have high confidence in handling the revised computing curriculum. In addition, most teachers have positive attitude towards using ICT tools for teaching and learning. Availability of ICT resources in basic schools in Ghana remain a challenge. The findings further indicated that some basic school teachers had taken academic courses to improve their academic qualifications within the last three years. However, most teachers said they had not attended any ICT-based workshop in the last one year. The study recommended more in-service training for teachers who teach computing to bring them up to speed on the computing curriculum.
An Analysis of Indian Pharmaceutical Sector using ABCD Framework
Authors: Shenoy Sanjana S. , V. T. Shailashri
Published: January 2022

Purpose: The understanding of changing industry dynamics is essential for any business firm that wishes to enter, earn returns and sustain in any given industry. The study/analysis of an industry is essential for various stakeholders. For instance, creditors/investors take decisions concerning investment only after a thorough analysis of the current scenario and prospects of an industry. The ABCD framework is an effective tool of industry analysis for understanding both the positive and negative impact of the industry’s operations and the factors that support or hinder the effective functioning of the industry. The Indian Pharmaceutical Industry, known as the pharmacy of the world, is the leading supplier of generic drugs. It’s contribution in achieving various public health outcomes such as polio eradication, lower treatment costs, to name a few, are immense. The industry has proved its resilience even in the COVID-19 pandemic era.
Design/Methodology/Approach: This paper studies the Indian Pharmaceutical Sector in terms of its Advantages, Benefits, Constraints and Disadvantages. The data for the same is collected through published reports on the Indian Pharmaceutical Sector. Apart from ABCD Framework, other tools of industry analysis such as the Herfindahl-Hirschman index are used in the study.
Findings/Result: The benefits of the pharma industry to the economy as well as to public health outcomes have been many and varied. The industry enjoys many advantages, the main among them being the low cost of manufacturing, which has contributed to its growth. The main disadvantage of the industry is its adverse impact on the ecology. Rigorous regulations are its chief constraints.
Originality/Value: This paper studies the Indian Pharmaceutical industry using the ABCD model, which gives an all-round perspective of the industry.
Paper Type: Research Case Study based on industry analysis.
Impact Assessment of Investment Returns in Indian CPSEs: A Study at Aggregate Level in the Disinvestment Environment
Authors: Ghosh Sudipta , Aithal P. S.
Published: January 2022

Purpose: The CPSEs were established by the administration of Indian Govt. to serve macro-economic objectives of our country. They are viewed as a device for growth of the economy with fairness and social justice. Due to unsatisfactory performance of the CPSEs towards fulfillment of the socio-economic objectives of our country, the Govt. of India started the process of disinvestment from the financial year 1991-92 to ensure optimum utilization of national wealth and to augment return on investment of the CPSEs in India. With this background, the current paper is an effort to measure the change (i.e., impact) in investment returns of the CPSEs in the disinvestment environment during the period 2010-11 to 2019-20.
Design/Methodology/Approach: Traditional investment ratios are employed for measurement of investment returns of the CPSEs on the basis of secondary data. To capture the impact in investment returns, paired t test is used in the study. Furthermore, the rate of growth related to investment returns are calculated by log linear regression method. Significant difference (if any) in the rate of growth related to different components of aggregate investment returns is measured by Chow statistic.
Findings/Result: Aggregate financial investments have significantly increased. Though the growth rates of selected performance indicators are observed to be significantly positive in majority of the cases, no significant differences in growth rates of the same are found between the two sub-periods (except shareholders’ equity). Though significant increase in financial investment is observed during the years under study, impact of investment returns in the disinvestment environment is observed to be negative i.e., it indicates that investment returns (particularly ROCE and ROE) of the CPSEs at aggregate level have decreased significantly during the study period.
Originality/Value: In the uninterrupted disinvestment environment, the present study has been conducted to examine the impact of investment returns through ROA, ROCE, and ROE.
Paper Type: Empirical Research.
A Systematic Review on Issues and Challenges Associated with Work Engagement of Teachers
Authors: Santmajor Michael Ligory , Goveas Carmelita , James Justine P.
Published: January 2022

Purpose: As education sector becomes more and more quality conscious, the nature of work involved in teaching profession undergoes dramatic changes. The various management concepts such as creativity, innovation, continuous improvement and change management become a common jargon for teachers in the current scenario. All these factors impose greater pressure and uncertainty on teachers. In the midst of all these challenges, there are multiple parameters to evaluate the performance of teachers. This sudden shift in the profession really resulted in teachers experiencing a stressful environment. The predicament of whether to focus more on traditional teaching methodology or student centric quality parameters exerts pressure on them. The New Education Policy (NEP 2020) will of course demand more involvement from teachers. In this juncture, this study proposes to conduct an analysis of various issues and challenges related to work engagement of teachers.
Design/Methodology/Approach: Literature review is conducted to analyse the concept of work engagement, work engagement of teachers and the factors influencing work engagement of teachers.
Findings/Result: Quality consciousness, innovation driven environment and implementation of National Education Policy, 2020 makes it important to be concerned about the work engagement of teachers. The transition towards a student centric curriculum is challenging and inevitable. In this context, work engagement of teachers should be given utmost importance.
Originality/Value: The antecedents and consequences of work engagement in the volatile, uncertain, complex and ambiguous environment is evaluated.
Paper Type: Conceptual Research.
Developments in Goat Semen Cryopreservation
Authors: Ranjan R , Kumar M , Gangwar C , Kharche S D
Published: January 2022

Sperm cryopreservation simplifies its storage for longer time for use in artificial insemination and assisted reproductive technologies. This technique is also important for breed conservation process and has paved the way for other reproductive biotechnologies. Despite the significant progress in the field, frozen-thawed sperm have enormous inconsistency in fertility rates. It is well known fact that semen cryopreservation exhibited detrimental effects on post-thaw semen motility, plasma membrane, acrosomal status and DNA integrity which ultimately effect the fertility outcome. In addition, several attributes are responsible for low quality of goat cryopreserved semen such as breeds, seasons, management practices and cryopreservation protocols. The aim of the review article is to give an insight of distant features of goat semen cryopreservation as well as recent development in goat semen cryopreservation. It also provides concise information on progress made in the advancement in the semen extender development and cryopreservation of goat sperm.
Review of Strategies for the Industrial Production of α-amylase by Bacillus subtilis
Authors: Ghadge Amit B
Published: January 2022

Bacillus subtilis can secrete industrially important proteins such as proteases and α-amylases and used on industrial scale. α-Amylase enzyme has market demands due to its applications in food, bakery, detergent industries, starch liquefaction, pre-digestion of the animal feed to enhance its quality, sizing of the fibres in textiles. The safety issues associated with the use of this bacteria for industrial applications are studied and it has been observed that the products obtained from it are having GRAS status of US Food and Drug Administration. Bacillus subtilis is considered the most widely experimental organism to conduct the genetic modification studies due to its properties which make it a suitable host for biosynthesis of the products. The genomic structure of Bacillus subtilis can be modified with the help of high quality genomic sequences. The genetic strategies for such modifications include the use of mutagenic treatments, screening of better expression systems, use of better promoters and high secretion level peptides. Another aspect of these strategies to enhance the enzyme yield includes the application of different fermentation methods and use of different substrates. Present review article summarizes some of such strategies applied for obtaining higher yields of α-amylase enzyme using Bacillus subtilis.
DABCO Catalyzed Efficient Addition of Acetyl Acetone on Isatins Under Neat Condition to Afford 3-hydroxy-3-((E)-2-hydroxy-4-oxopent-2-enyl) indolin-2-one Derivatives
Authors: Pramod B Thakur
Published: January 2022

We have demonstrated DABCO catalyzed efficient addition of Acetyl acetone on isatins under neat condition to afford 3-hydroxy-3-((E)-2-hydroxy-4-oxopent-2-enyl)indolin-2-one derivatives. The developed method as found applicable for different structurally diverse isatin electrophiles which has tolerated different functional groups in the reaction to afford Aldol addition products with high isolated yields. The use of green organocatalyst DABCO, mild reaction conditions and catalyst-free nature under neat conditions makes the procedure interesting alternative over the previous methods. Moreover the present protocol provides rapid and easy access for functionally diverse 3-hydroxy-3-((E)-2-hydroxy-4-oxopent-2-enyl) indolin-2-one derivatives, which might be useful for further chemical transformations to prepare a variety of compounds desirable for different applications.
Study of Thermoacoustic Parameters and Statistical Analysis of Liquid State Therories
Authors: Samir M Bagade
Published: January 2022

Molecular interaction in binary liquid mixtures can be evaluated from the thermodynamic properties of the liquid mixture. Nature of interaction of liquid molecules can be explain by various liquid state theories, such as Collision factor theory, Free length theory, Eyring's significant structure theory, Flory theory etc., In present work experimental parameters such as ultrasonic velocity (U), density (ρ) of binary mixtures of p-Xylene-Piperidine and Tolune-Piperidine has been measured over the entire range of composition at different temperatures 303,313,323K. The observed experimental data have been utilized to evaluate thermo-acoustical parameter ie. adiabatic compressibility βa, free length Lf molar volume V etc., Theoretical ultrasonic velocities calculated by applying Jacobson’s free length theory and Kalidoss revised free length theory, statistical analysis carried out by applying Chi-square (χ2) test for both the liquid systems to verify the applicability of liquid state theories.
Synthesis of Graphene Oxide Via Microwave Assisted Eco-Friendly Method Versus Modified Hummer Method
Authors: Kanchna Bhatrola  , Sameer Kumar Maurya  , N C Kothiyal
Published: January 2022

Using eco-friendly chemicals, a unique method for synthesizing graphene oxide (GO) by microwave radiation along with organic solvents is described. Microwave radiation was utilized to cause the graphite worm to expand significantly in all directions.SEM images were used to assess the morphology and structure of GO nanomaterials. X-ray diffraction, UV-Vis, and Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopies were used to identify the oxygenated groups on the GO surface. When compared to the conventional Hummer’s technique, the new microwave-assisted approach significantly reduces reaction time and is much more eco-sustainable. Aside from being environmentally sustainable, the suggested approach has the appealing feature of producing a large number of graphene nano-sheets quickly. This article compares efficient and environmentally microwave-assisted and conventional modified hummer methods for graphene oxide preparation..
Green Synthesis of α -acetoxyphosphonate Derivatives by using ChCl/ 2Zncl2 Assolvent from 2-chloro Quinolines 3-carbaldehyde and Triethylphosphite
Authors: Tidke Vishwamber Angadrao
Published: January 2022

A series of bioactive α-hydroxyphosphonate (2a-i) and α-acetoxyphosphonate (3a-i) derivatives have been synthesized for the first time by applying green approach benign choline chloride based ZnCl2 a deep eutectic mixture was employed as an efficient and green ionic liquid catalyst for solvent free condition at room temperature. The current approach to generate sustainable solvent / catalyst in place of volatile organic compounds to 2-chloroquinoline-3-carbaldehyde (1a–i) with triethylphosphite. The reaction is furnished in short time and products were obtained in good yield. Elemental analysis, IR, 1H NMR, 13C NMR and mass spectral data elucidated the structures of all newly synthesized compounds.
Study of Physico-Chemical Parameter of Soil Analysis
Authors: Deshpande A. D.  , Wagh P. B.  , Ingle S. R.
Published: January 2022

The soil is a mixture of solid, water and gases and also a mixture of minerals, organic matter, gases, liquid and other macro or microorganisms and it performs four important functions. The basic of the status of soil we decide requirement of fertilizer to increase the fertility of the soil. This work examines the principal physical and chemical attributes that can serve as indicators of a change in soil quality under particular agro-climatic condition. You will find that different soil can vary greatly in their composition. Proposed indicator including soil depth to a root restricting layer, water holding capacity, organic matter, N, P, K, Cl, electrical conductivity, moisture content. We also confirmed the justification for selecting these key attributes, their measurement, critical limit for monitoring change in solid productivity and soil quality and crop growth in that soil.
Embedded System for Temperature Measurement and Control, Choice of Sensor: A Comparative Study
Authors: Shridhar Sharma
Published: January 2022

This paper is about the comparative study and choice of sensor or transducer for design of embedded system for temperature measurement and control in industrial applications particularly related to chemical industries where specific temperature measurement is very much necessary with accuracy. The main part of the design is selection of sensor or transducer, which will give sufficient output in electrical form which can be later measured and control by microcomputer or microcontroller. The study of different sensor and transducer enables a user to select a particular sensor as per the requirements of temperature measurement, control and related environment.
Research on Throughput Maximization of Wireless Powered Communication Network based on a Retro Directive Matrix
Authors: Li Bo , Tang Hong
Published: January 2022

Aiming at the problem of limited system throughput caused by double near-far effect in wireless power communication network. In this paper, a retro directive matrix method based on phase conjugation is proposed. In the method, energy base stations and information base stations are depolyed separately, energy base station uses large-scale multiple input multiple output (MIMO) system, when system running point equipment firstly to send a beacon signal to energy base station, the energy base station amplifies its conjugate to form a directional beam to achieve multi-input and multi-output energy gains, thus improving the throughput of information transmission of node devices. Through the optimizated and allocated the time of beacon signal, the time of energy transmission, the time of information transmission and some power parameters, a convex optimization problem is proposed. And it has been solved by Lagrange generalized multiplier method and golden section method. Simulation results show that the proposed method has better performance than others projects.
Shortcomings of the Fundamental Matrix Equation to Reconstruct 3D Scenes
Authors: Basta Tayeb
Published: January 2022

In stereo vision, the epipolar geometry is the intrinsic projective geometry between the two views. The essential and fundamental matrices relate corresponding points in stereo images. The essential matrix describes the geometry when the used cameras are calibrated, and the fundamental matrix expresses the geometry when the cameras are uncalibrated. Since the nineties, researchers devoted a lot of effort to estimating the fundamental matrix. Although it is a landmark of computer vision, in the current work, three derivations of the essential and fundamental matrices have been revised. The Longuet-Higgins' derivation of the essential matrix where the author draws a mapping between the position vectors of a 3D point; however, the one-to-one feature of that mapping is lost when he changed it to a relation between the image points. In the two other derivations, we demonstrate that the authors established a mapping between the image points through the misuse of mathematics.
Device treatment of heart failure
Authors: Park Seung-Jung
Published: January 2022

Background: The incidence of heart failure (HF) is rapidly increasing, introducing a significant burden and challenges in clinical practice. Non-pharmacological cardiac device therapy has been established as an essential component of optimal HF management, particularly for the prevention of sudden cardiac death and the improvement of HF symptoms, left ventricular (LV) systolic function, quality of life, and eventually survival.Current Concepts: Cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) can correct atrioventricular or inter/intraventricular dyssynchrony, thereby improving LV systolic function. Recently, the concept of CRT is being expanded, including His bundle (HB), HB-optimized LV, left bundle branch (LBB), and LBB optimized LV pacing CRTs. Newly introduced CRT approaches by stimulating the cardiac conduction system are expected to correct dyssynchrony better and consequently exhibit better CRT outcomes than the conventional biventricular pacing CRT. The current versions of implantable cardioverter-defibrillators (ICDs) or CRT devices can continuously monitor multiple biosignals. CRT/ICD can calculate a single index by combining these multiple bio-signal data for early detection of HF aggravation. Recently, subcutaneous and transvenous ICDs showed comparable safety and efficacy in HF patients. In drug-refractory HF patients without LV dyssynchrony, cardiac contractility modulation therapy provides some promising results.Discussion and Conclusion: Recent technological advancements have improved the efficacy and safety of cardiac device therapy. Therefore, cardiac device therapy should be used more actively to manage HF patients better.
Treatment of advanced heart failure
Authors: Oh Jaewon , Lee Seung-Hyun
Published: January 2022

Background: The development of medical and device treatment of heart failure (HF) has improved the survival and quality of life in HF patients. However, not all HF patients respond well to these up-to-date HF treatments. We have termed these non-responders as advanced HF patients. The definition, diagnosis, and treatment of advanced HF are discussed in this review article.Current Concepts: After current guideline-directed treatments, advanced HF patients can experience aggravation and decompensation, usually resulting in hospitalization for the symptoms and volume control. Recurrent decompensation or hospitalization can cause a vicious cycle between the heart and other vital organs, such as the kidney and liver. Current and up-to-date guidelines recommend treatments, including heart transplant, left ventricular assist device (LVAD), and hospice care, for advanced HF. Given the limitation of heart transplant donors, LVAD can be used as a bridge to transplant, in addition to destination therapy. Updated LVAD system can reduce pump-related thrombosis, stroke, and bleeding.Discussion and Conclusion: Current guidelines suggest early recognition of advanced HF and referral to advanced HF specialists. Despite advances in the treatments of advanced HF, unmet needs for further improving clinical outcomes and quality of life exist.
Rhythm and Vocabulary of Greek Hexameter: From Formula to Topolexis
Authors: Páramo Rueda Juan Sebastián , Belousova Anastasia , Ruiz Charris Paula
Published: January 2022

The article discusses the results of our application of a computer program created for the automatic analysis of lexical distribution based on rhythmic position in Greek hexameter. For this purpose, we introduce the concept of the topolexis (in Greek τοπολέξις: from τόπος “place” and λέξις “expression, word”), which describes each word based on its position in the given line and is expressed as the word in combination with two sets of numerals. The topolexis “52Ἀχιλῆος62”, for example, indicates that the word Ἀχιλῆος begins at the second syllable of the fifth foot (52) and ends at the second syllable of the sixth foot (62). We investigate the behavior of topolexes in a corpus that includes Homer’s The Iliad and The Odyssey and Apollonius Rhodius’ The Argonautica. We find that the distribution of topolexes of different frequencies varies among these texts. While The Argonautica contains a greater number of unique topolexes, higher-frequency topolexes are more common in Homer’s poems. The “formulaicity ratio”, which we define as the ratio of distinct topolexes in a text to its overall topolexis count, is higher for Homer. In addition, we obtain and analyze data about Hesiod’s The Theogony. Although The Theogony is only 1,023 lines long, it exhibits the same tendencies as Homeric hexameter. We are, thus, able to clearly and accurately compare the behavior of topolexes in epic hexameter in the formulaic style and in its literary imitation by Apollonius. Lastly, we run a test to compare the performances of the topolexes and the most frequent words (MFW) as stylometric indicators for determining text authorship. We find that while topolexes enable us to correctly cluster fragments by their author, they do not outperform the MFW in this respect.
The Influence of Verse on Cognitive Processes: A Psycholinguistic Experiment
Authors: Skulacheva Tatyana , Slioussar Natalia , Kostyuk Alexander , Lipina Anna , Latypov Emil , Koroleva Varvara
Published: January 2022

Modern psycho- and neurolinguistics use standards of precision typical of the natural sciences. As verse scholarship also bases its standards on those of the natural sciences, it can be combined fruitfully with the natural sciences, including neuroscience. This may ultimately allow us to answer the fundamental question of how verse and prose are processed in the brain. In this paper, we present the preliminary results of our project that aims to uncover how verse’s effects on cognitive processes compare to those of prose. We conducted 3 experiments with 110 informants who were native speakers of Russian between 18 and 55 years old. These experiments had the same design but involved different stimulus texts and groups of informants (40+40+30). Informants are known to slow down their reading considerably if they detect a textual error. Our aim was to compare the reading times for different verse and prose fragments when they contained errors and when they were error-free. We found that errors in verse remain undetected while the same errors are easily perceived in a corresponding prose text. The observation of this phenomenon in all three experiments is important proof of its validity. We suggest that prose and verse differently activate two ways of processing information in the brain: the first way is logical and relies on critical thinking including error detection, while the second is associative and depends on mental imagery rather than sequential logic
On Digital Comparative Editions and Textual Similarity Detection Tools: Towards a Hypertextual Cartography of a Rewritten Myth
Authors: Suchecka Karolina , Gasiglia Nathalie
Published: January 2022

Our project aims to expose the intertextual relationships observable within a heterogeneous literary corpus. For this purpose, we examine the output of two text reuse detection tools, Tracer and TextPAIR. We suggest some solutions to overcome the specific limitations observed in those tools and to enhance data quality. We believe that automatic analysis of the rewriting process can make it more comprehensible if the analysis is combined with empirical research methods adapted to the corpus in question.
‘Supersticiosos e Pagãos, ou Mágicos e Diabólicos’: xamãs sámi e seus tambores segundo a Lapponia de Johannes Schefferus (1674)
Authors: Alves Victor Hugo Sampaio
Published: January 2022

Durante o ano de 1671 foi solicitado a Johannes Schefferus, professor da Universidade de Uppsala, que elaborasse um tratado acerca dos povos sámi, indígenas que habitavam o território pertencente à Coroa Sueca. Baseando-se sobretudo em relatos a ele enviados por missionários que haviam estado em diferentes partes da Lapônia e em obras prévias sobre o tema, Schefferus elaborou uma descrição abrangente sobre os sámi, discutindo desde suas características físicas e emocionais até aspectos sobre suas crenças religiosas e práticas mágicas, dentre elas o xamanismo. Nosso objetivo é destacar a construção da imagem, por parte de Schefferus, em torno do xamanismo sámi, da figura do xamã e da ritualística envolvendo os tambores, contrastando-a com o que se sabe, hoje, sobre estes aspectos. Demonstraremos como os sámi e sua identidade eram percebidos como desviantes de uma ‘euro- peidade’, estando intrinsecamente relacionados a elementos tidos por selvagens e primitivos, como o xamanismo.
Caracterización de los agroecosistemas productivos en el distrito de Huacho, Perú
Authors: Collantes R. D. , Rodríguez A. R. , Beyer A. A.
Published: January 2022

Objetivos: Caracterizar los agroecosistemas productivos en el distrito de Huacho, Lima, Perú. Metodología: El área de estudio correspondió al distrito de Huacho, provincia de Huaura; a una confianza del 80% y margen de error de 12%, se escogió al azar una muestra de 26 productores agrícolas, a los cuales se les aplicó una encuesta estructurada que contempló la dimensión social (siete variables), económica (11 variables) y técnico-ambientales (seis variables). La información obtenida se tabuló utilizando recursos de la estadística descriptiva. Resultados: 84,62% de los responsables de la finca son hombres y 15,38% mujeres; con edad promedio de 38 años, predominando la instrucción universitaria en un 73%. El 50% de los productores poseen menos de 5 hectáreas, 69% poseen título de propiedad y 73% crían animales menores como cuyes y aves de corral. Los cultivos predominantes son maíz, cítricos, palto, frijol y fresa. El rendimiento promedio para maíz es de 10 toneladas por hectárea, con costo promedio de PEN 3625 por hectárea y precio de venta promedio de PEN 0,80 por kilogramo de producto; mientras que, en el caso de la fresa, se obtienen rendimientos entre 20 y 40 toneladas por hectárea, cuyo precio de venta promedio es de PEN 1,10 por kilogramo, requiriéndose una inversión de hasta PEN 40 000 por hectárea, cuando el producto es para exportación. Todos los encuestados realizan manejo convencional, con alta dependencia de insumos externos y 73% se capacitó en al menos un tema de interés. Conclusiones: Se caracterizaron los agroecosistemas productivos en Huacho, Perú, en los cuales la satisfacción de servicios básicos es incompleta, el 50% de los productores poseen menos de 5 ha de terreno, con un costo productivo promedio de PEN 3625 por hectárea, rendimientos variables y predomina el manejo convencional.
Efecto de la harina de ajo y cebolla sobre la respuesta inmunológica en pollos de engorde
Authors: Velásquez C. R. , Vega-Vilca J. F. , Pujada H. N. , Airahuacho F. E.
Published: January 2022

Objetivos: Evaluar el efecto de la harina de ajo y cebolla en la dieta sobre la respuesta inmunológica en pollos de engorde. Metodología: Se utilizaron 150 pollos machos de carne de la línea Cobb 500. Las aves se distribuyeron al azar en tres grupos con cinco replicaciones y cada replicación con diez pollos. Los tratamientos fueron: T0: Control negativo, sin Antibióticos Promotores del Crecimiento (APC); T1: Control positivo, con APC (Enramicina 8%); T2: Harina de ajo + cebolla (0,75% + 0,75%). Las variables de respuesta inmunológica fueron, peso de los órganos linfoides (bazo, timo y bolsa de Fabricio) y respuesta humoral (niveles de anticuerpos). Se utilizó el análisis de varianza de un diseño completamente al azar y la prueba de Tukey para evaluar los datos. Resultados: No se encontraron diferencias significativas (P>0,05) en el peso de los órganos linfoides ni en la respuesta humoral, al comparar los tres tratamientos. El peso de los órganos linfoides y la respuesta humoral presentaron una gran variabilidad. Conclusiones: La harina de ajo y cebolla no influyó sobre el peso de los órganos linfoides y niveles de anticuerpos en pollos de engorde.
Evaluación sensorial de galletas de arroz integral suplementadas con stevia y moringa
Authors: Almora-Hernández E. , Barrios L. , Monteagudo-Borges R. , Lago-Abascal V. , Leon G. , Rodríguez E.
Published: January 2022

Objetivos: Conocer la aceptabilidad de galletas de arroz integral suplementadas con Stevia y Moringa. Metodología: Las galletas evaluadas fueron elaboradas con 20% de Moringa y dos concentraciones de 5 y 10% de Stevia, grupos C y A, respectivamente, esta última correlación en dos presentaciones según su grosor: gruesa (1 cm), grupo A y delgada (0.5 cm), grupo B. Se aplicó un diseño de muestras apareadas y se analizó las diferencias mediante la Prueba t-Student, para evaluar la influencia de la concentración de Stevia y el grosor sobre sus características. La caracterización sensorial fue evaluada por 121 consumidores no entrenados y diez catadores adiestrados, aplicando una encuesta de prueba hedónica en la evaluación para la población en general y una para la evaluación por catadores adiestrados. Resultados: El mayor porciento de agrado se presentó en la categoría “Me gusta” en los tres grupos de galletas estudiadas A, B y C con valores de 57%, 52.9% y 37.2% de aceptabilidad, respectivamente. El análisis al aplicar la Prueba t-Student (muestras apareadas), se obtuvo que la media de la diferencia no presentó diferencia estadística significativa entre los grupos de galletas A y B. Mientras que, al comparar los grupos de galletas A y C se obtuvo que la media de la diferencia es significativamente diferente de cero; por tanto, existe diferencia estadística significativa entre estos dos tipos de galletas. Conclusiones: El panel de evaluación organoléptica permitió determinar que las galletas de arroz integral de mayor aceptación corresponden a la formulación del 10% de Stevia y 20% de Moringa y lo señalan como producto preferido. Además, los panelistas entrenados consideraron la categoría de aceptable por presentar entre el 50% y 62.5% de las evaluaciones en cuanto a los atributos organolépticos evaluados: apariencia, olor, sabor y textura.
Efecto del agua ozonizada sobre la reducción poblacional de Escherichia coli en hortalizas mínimamente procesadas
Authors: Caro-Degollar E. M. , Fernández F. , Miranda D. J. , Vásquez G. N. , Bautista F. A. , Nunja-García J. V.
Published: January 2022

Objetivos: Determinar el efecto de la aplicación del agua ozonizada a diferentes concentraciones y tiempos de inmersión sobre la reducción poblacional de Escherichia coli (E. coli) presente en hortalizas mínimamente procesadas en un mercado peruano. Metodología: Se recolectaron e identificaron muestras de hortalizas mínimamente procesadas en ocho puestos de venta en el mercado Modelo de la Provincia de Huaral - Perú, posteriormente se determinó el recuento de E. coli en todas las muestras por triplicado y se seleccionó la muestra que presentó la media más alta; esta muestra se subdividió y se sometió a desinfección empleando agua ozonizada en los que se combinaron dos factores con tres niveles cada uno; concentración de ozono (0,1; 0,5 y 1 ppm) y tiempo de inmersión (30; 150 y 300 segundos), finalmente se volvió a realizar el recuento de E. coli por triplicado para los nueve tratamientos a fin de ver su efecto en la población control inicial. Resultados: De las ocho muestras analizadas la más contaminada alcanzó recuentos de 4,06±0,02 Log ufc g-1 para E. coli y tras su aplicación con agua ozonizada se lograron reducciones poblacionales desde 0,5±0,01 hasta 1,76±0,09 Log ufc g-1 con respecto al control. Conclusiones: El tratamiento con niveles de concentración de 1 ppm de ozono en el agua y tiempo de inmersión de 300 segundos tuvo el mayor efecto bactericida sobre la población microbiana de Escherichia coli presente en hortalizas mínimamente procesadas en el mercado modelo de Huaral.
Estimation of erythrocyte parameters of general blood analysis in patients with SARS-CoV-2 -associated pneumonia
Authors: Petelina T. I. , Musikhina N. A. , Avdeeva K. S. , Shcherbinina A. E. , Leonovich S. V. , Zueva E. V. , Garanina V. D. , Gultiaeva E. P. , Yaroslavskaya E. I. , Kalyuzhnaya E. N. , Gorbatenko E. A. , Kapustina A. A. , Gapon L. I.
Published: January 2022

The study of the features and dynamics of the erythrocyte parameters of general blood analysis in patients with cardiovascular diseases who underwent SARS-CoV-2 associated pneumonia is of great practical importance. That was a prospective study. The study included 106 patients with SARS-CoV-2-associated pneumonia. All patients were divided into 2 groups. The first group included 51 patients without CVD, the second group included 55 patients with CVD .Patients in both groups underwent laboratory examination of blood samples at the time of hospitalization and 3 months after discharge from the hospital. Parameters of the erythroid series of the general blood test were assessed. Among inflammatory biomarkers, we examined the concentration of C-reactive protein (CRP), high-sensitivity CRP (hs-CRP) and homocysteine. Initially all patients underwent computed tomography of the chest organs. Revealed what indicators of the erythroid series in the groups of patients with and without CVD had significant differences in a number of parameters: ESR; RDW-SD and RDW-CV with significant excess of parameters in group 2. Three months after discharge from the hospital, patients in both groups had a significant increase in HCT, MCV, MCH. There was detected decrease in both groups in MCHC, RDW-CV (p<0.001 for all parameters), ESR level in group 2.At baseline, CRP exceeded reference values in both groups of patients, reaching maximum values in group 2. After 3 months CRP decreased significantly only in group 1. Increased CRP was associated with elevated hs-CRP in 3 months after discharge and elevated homocysteine levels in both groups, indicating the persistence of prolonged inflammatory vascular reaction in patients after SARS-CoV-2 associated pneumonia, more pronounced in group 2 patients. RDW-CV over 13.6 and lymphocytes / CRP less than 0.6 increase the likelihood of having lung tissue damage over 50% by 9.3 and 5.9 times, respectively. Thus, the data obtained confirm that RDW-CV, the coefficient of variation of erythrocyte distribution width, associated with the parameters of inflammatory response and the lymphocytes / CRP is lung volume marker and of COVID-19 severity. Careful consideration of already known laboratory parameters allows us to expand the number of indicators influencing the risk of COVID-19 complications and enable an earlier response to a difficult situation.
The bi-directional effect of markers of inflammation and a decrease in glomerular filtration rate in chronic kidney disease
Authors: Murkamilov I. T.
Published: January 2022

The aim of the study was to analyze and evaluate the relationship between the cytokine profile, C-reactive blood protein, fibrinogen, and glomerular filtration rate in patients with chronic kidney disease. The study involved individuals (n = 816) with chronic kidney disease (CKD) from the 1st to 5th stage of the disease, aged 20 to 76 years. The male to female ratio was 48% and 52%, respectively. All examined individuals underwent a comprehensive clinical and laboratory study evaluating the concentration of interleukins (IL, IL-10, IL-6, TNF-α) and acute phase inflammation proteins (C-reactive protein, fibrinogen) in the blood. CKD categories were evaluated by glomerular filtration rate (GFR), which was calculated using the CKD-EPI formula (Chronic Kidney Disease Epidemiology Collaboration). In individuals with CKD, significantly high concentrations of IL-10 and IL-6 were observed at stage 3b of the disease. Systolic blood pressure, median TNF-α, blood fibrinogen, and the number of individuals with high CRP were significant at stage 4 of CKD. A statistically significant correlation was found between the estimated GFR with the level of IL-6, CRP, blood fibrinogen at the 2nd stage of the disease and the concentration of IL-10 at 3b and TNF-α at the 4th stage of CKD. At the initial stage of CKD, there is a significant relationship between a decrease in estimated GFR and an increase in the level of IL-6, IL-10, TNF-α, as well as an increase in CRP and blood fibrinogen, which becomes pronounced at stages 3b and 4 of CKD.
Analysis of rheumatoid factor and acute phase proteins using microarrays in patients with rheumatoid arthritis
Authors: Feyzkhanova G. U. , Voloshin S. A. , Novikov A. A. , Aleksandrova E. N. , Smoldovskaya O. V. , Rubina A. Yu.
Published: January 2022

One of the biomarkers of biggest clinical importance in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is rheumatoid factor (IgM RF). The rheumatoid factor has insufficient sensitivity and specificity, therefore, to increase the diagnostic information of the test, acute phase proteins were used as concomitant biomarkers. Using biological microchips, we measured IgM RF, C-reactive protein (CRP) and Serum amyloid protein A (SAA) in patients with RA (n = 60), ankylosing spondylitis (AS) (n=55), systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) (n=20) and healthy donors (HD) (n=9). It was shown that the medians of IgM RF concentrations are significantly higher (p<0.01) in patients with RA compared to patients suffering from other diseases and healthy donors. CRP and SAA were also significantly increased (p<0.05) in patients with RA and AS compared with SLE and HD. It has been shown that the complex determination of three biomarkers in differentiating RA patients with the comparison group had a higher diagnostic sensitivity than the isolated determination of IgM RF, while the addition of SAA makes the greatest contribution to improving the diagnostic characteristics of the biomarker panel: the use of a logistic regression model based on IgM RF and SAA allowed to increase the diagnostic sensitivity of the analysis from 58.3% to 65%. Thus, the developed microarray-based method can be used to detect and elucidate the diagnostic characteristics of RA biomarkers; however, further use requires validation of the obtained results on an expanded sampling.
Modification of isothermal test for detecting DNA of pathogens of
tick-borne borreliosis
Authors: Olkhovskiy I. A. , Gorbenko A. S. , Komarovskiy Yu. Yu. , Stolyar M. A. , Vasil’eva D. I. , Epifanova O. S. , Khodov D. A. , Rudakova S. A. , Rudakov N. V. , Oskorbin I. P. , Filipenko M. L.
Published: January 2022

Early diagnosis of tick-borne borreliosis determines the indications for etiotropic therapy, and the detection of borrelia in a tick that has bitten you serves as the basis for antibiotic prophylaxis. To determine the causative agent of borreliosis, PCR methods are most widely used, which requires special conditions for organizing the work of laboratories and the use of expensive equipment. In addition, the procedure for isolating bacterial DNA and subsequent amplification takes several hours of working time. At the same time, methods for detecting borrelia in the isothermal LAMP-reaction are described, which makes it possible to significantly speed up the diagnosis, does not require complex equipment and highly qualified personnel. It is also known that LAMP in some cases allows analysis without prior extraction of nucleic acids. The purpose was a development of a modified test for isothermal detection of DNA of borreliosis pathogens for an accelerated result and the possibility of excluding the stage of nucleic acid extraction. We used 40 samples of Borrelia DNA and 11 Ixodes persulcatus ticks. To shorten the detection time for Borrelia, the previously described LAMP method was modified by the introduction of additional loop primers. The copy number of the positive DNA sample of the borrelia plasmid was estimated using digital PCR. The results of the LAMP reaction were compared with those of the commercial PRC-RT test. The additional use of loop primers approximately halved the detection time for Borrelia DNA without affecting the comparative diagnostic efficiency. The analytical sensitivity limit of the modified LAMP method was 4 copies/μl or 21 molecules of the plasmid standard added to the reaction. In comparative testing with RT-PCR, the sensitivity of the LAMP method is 90%, and the specificity is 100%. The possibility of detecting borrelia in ticks without the stage of DNA extraction has been demonstrated for the first time. A modified isothermal method for the detection of pathogens of tick-borne borreliosis has been developed, which allows analysis within 20-30 minutes, including in ticks without preliminary DNA extraction.
Translating Wang Xiaoshuai: From Third Front to Cultural Revolution
Authors: Kendall Paul
Published: January 2022

Since the turn of the century, there has been an upturn of cultural production about the Third Front (1964-80) within China, yet mainstream knowledge of this military-industrial project and former state secret remains limited, particularly outside of China. This article examines the English-language reception of Wang Xiaoshuai’s “Third Front trilogy” of films, arguing that – despite the moniker – reviewers have tended to marginalise the Third Front and focus instead on the Cultural Revolution proper (1966-68), creating a slippage between these two distinct events. This “translation” of campaign time has occurred because of English-language reviewers’ assumptions about the Mao era and how it should be depicted by Chinese artists, as well as a Chinese-English subtitling strategy in one film that anticipates and encourages these same assumptions about the Mao era. Moreover, despite generally adopting a critical tone towards the CCP, film reviewers have reproduced – and propagated – the judgement of the 1981 Resolution on Certain Questions in the History of the Party since the Founding of the PRC that the Cultural Revolution was “ten years of turmoil”. Consequently, not only do these reviewers enfold the Third Front into the Cultural Revolution, they also homogenise the complexities of the Cultural Revolution. In doing so, film reviewers unwittingly provide the Party with useful assistance in globally disseminating and maintaining its version of PRC history, as well as hindering the emergence of alternative accounts of the Mao era.
How Can We Talk about China and against Sinophobia without Feeling Guilty, Apologetic or Defensive?
Authors: Zhang Chi , Kho Tung-Yi
Published: January 2022

Drawing on our experience as early career researchers who identify as Chinese, we discuss how such an identity has inevitably and unjustifiably come to entrap us in the politics of the great power rivalries of our time. We call for attention to the discrimination against Chinese scholars in the process of academic knowledge production, in particular, in peer review processes.
British Chinese or British ESEA? Articulating Creativity and Care across Scales and Disciplines
Authors: Lora-Wainwright Anna-Lisa , Wainwright Leon Roy , Loong Shona
Published: January 2022

This position paper advocates for more scholarship on British Chinese and ESEA communities in the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic. It briefly outlines our vision for future research in relation to visual arts and other forms of creativity but also presents some thoughts that could inspire new research directions for scholars with other disciplinary backgrounds and interests.
Chinese Identity Construction and Reconstruction as a Response to Pandemic Orientalism in Canada
Authors: Lin Grace Cheng-Ying Lin
Published: January 2022

During the COVID-19 pandemic, Chineseness has been embedded in a set of efficacious public health practices employed by China, Hong Kong and Taiwan to prevent virus spread. These measures were interpreted apprehensively by the West, including Canada, highlighting the knowledge hierarchies between the West (norm) and the East (other) as constructed by an Orientalist mindset. To Canadian Sinophone communities, these knowledge conflicts serve as a medium through which identity is constructed or deconstructed. Their trust in the public health measures has competed against other forces in political dynamics, which allowed them to generate a unique positionality to examine any given discourses, such as Chineseness and Canadianness.