bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
EXTRAMURAL ENGLISH AND ADULT EFL LEARNERS’ PHONOLOGICAL AWARENESS
Authors: Sa'adah Lailatus , Anam Syafi'ul , Hentasmaka Daning
Published: January 2024

This study examines the duration of adult EFL learners’ extramural English activities related to their phonological awareness. For this purpose, (Indonesian, N = 32, 3 males and 29 females) learners participated in the study. After analyzing the questionnaires and the phonological awareness test using the non-parametric (Spearman) correlation, the result showed a strong positive correlation between the amount of time the adult EFL learners spend for spoken and written extramural English activities and their phonological awareness ability. The extramural English activities they mainly engage in are dealing with technology. The findings call for future research examining the effect of extramural English on phonological awareness and other possible English components or skills.
THE IMPACT OF DORATOON’S VIDEO USE AND SELF-CONFIDENCE ON THE NINTH-GRADE STUDENTS' SPEAKING ABILITY AT MTS AL-ITTIFAQIAH
Authors: Anggraini Dinar , Yukamana Hanny
Published: January 2024

The research aimed to determine the significant effects of Doratoon video use and self-confidence on ninth-grade students’ speaking ability. The investigation was approached through an experimental method with factorial design by having 30 students for each control and experimental group. The data were gathered from tests and a questionnaire. The statistical analysis of the independent sample t-test, paired sample t-test, and two-way ANOVA were used to analyze the data. Research findings revealed that there was a significant difference in speaking performance between students with high self-confidence who were taught using Doratoon Video and those who were taught by a traditional method of instruction, as well as a significant difference between students with low self-confidence who were taught using Doratoon Video and those who used a traditional method of instruction. The results suggested that the use of Doratoon videos and self-confidence had a significant impact on the students’ speaking performance.
A Survey of Female Heroism in Jewish Tradition
Authors: HODOSSY-TAKÁCS Előd
Published: January 2024

Did warrior heroines exist in the Hebrew tradition? The answer is a seemingly reassuring yes, but the paper shows that the topos of female heroism was not a popular theme in Jewish tradition. To imagine ancient war scenes according to depictions in modern media can be misleading; the central purpose of this brief survey is to give a glimpse into this topic.
Wie hat Paulus die Schrift verwendet – am Beispiel von 1Kor 1,26–31.
Authors: KÓKAI-NAGY Viktor
Published: January 2024

How did Paul use the Scriptures - using the example of 1 Corinthians 1:26-31?
We have chosen 1Cor for our study because we find no reference to external attacks on the Apostle in this letter. We may therefore assume that Paul used the Old Testament “freely” in his argumentation. Although the apostle was now forced to communicate with the congregation by letter, he nevertheless reminded them of his teaching fifteen times by means of various Old Testament quotations, which obviously referred back to his sermons, or he wished to use them to emphasize the vitality and reality of the dialogue. In our study, we are not looking for an answer to the question of how the first readers of the letter understood these quotations. We do not want to answer the question of how literal the quotations are or on which text they are based. Rather, we want to use a specific text to approach the question of how Paul used these Old Testament references in his argumentation. To do this, we will look at a specific passage, namely 1Cor 1:26–31.
Egyéni panaszzsoltárok jelentősége az istentiszteleti gyakorlatban
Authors: KOVÁCS Enikő Hajnalka
Published: January 2024

The Importance of Individual Lament Psalms in Worship Practice
The theological significance of individual lament songs lies primarily in their giving voice to suffering. Despite the complaint, the sufferer does not turn away from God since the centre of human existence is God. Suffering does not rule out the connection with God but rather confirms it. The lament has by now lost its original meaning and has received a negative report, as in the eyes of today’s humanity complaint is an expression of unbelief and a distrustful attitude. This aspect, the importance of lament songs, has been ignored by scholars until now. However, the predominance of lament songs in the Book of Psalms means that the issue of complaint is not something marginal or unusual but an important element of faith. One of the most important characteristics of this genre is the sudden change of mood, when the complaint unexpectedly turns into praise. This poetic form involves the transition from hopelessness to joy, for the form not only contains a description of the problem but also the solution to it as well. In a world that has become desensitized, it is important to use these psalms.
A kötelességteljesítő protestáns etika, a szolgáló lelkület életpéldája. Balogh Jenő (1864–1953) jogászprofesszor személyes adatai és életútja
Authors: KOVÁCS Gábor
Published: January 2024

A Protestant Ethic of Duty, a Living Example of a Serving SpiritBiography of Law Professor Jenő Balogh (1864–1953)
Our publication is part of a larger prosopographical study of the careers of Calvinist university professors belonging to the Hungarian knowledge elite in the bourgeois era (1848–1944). Jenő Balogh, a professor of law, was an academic researcher, a ministerial legislator seeking new paths, a teacher of modern disciplines, a minister in difficult times, and the General Secretary of the Academy. For decades, he held leading positions in the Calvinist Church of Hungary. His way of life and his work were determined by a Puritan Christian worldview brought from his family and by a dutiful Protestant ethic.
A nők teológiai képzésének első száz éve Kolozsváron
Authors: PÜSÖK Sarolta
Published: January 2024

The First Hundred Years of Women’s Theological Education in Cluj-Napoca
The initial topic of the study at hand addresses the beginnings. In terms of women’s education, one of the positive effects of the Reformation is the insistence on the widespread availability of the Bible, which was inevitably followed by the eradication of illiteracy among women. Following the Reformation, another argument emerged in favour of the importance of educating women in theology: society regarded women as a key role in raising children, so in order to raise their children educated in theology, their ability to do so became a priority. The second topic addresses the direct preconditions of the theological education of women, especially the changes in the 19th-century school history, which resulted in women’s admission to universities and opening up the opportunity for them to obtain degrees in higher education. Furthermore, the study presents the past hundred years of women’s education in theology in the Protestant educational centres of Cluj-Napoca – from the first enrolment, the first ordained woman minister up to the present time.
Gamifikáció a hitoktatásban
Authors: SZÉNÁSI Lilla , SZÉNÁSI Levente
Published: January 2024

Gamification in Religious Education
In its first part, the study describes what definitions were created to define the notion of “game” and what characteristics of it can be observed. The second part shows the place of game itself in religious education, and the reason why it is useful if included in the practice of religious education. The third part revolves around the concept of gamification and points out the differences between games and gamification. The fourth part deals with the applicability of gamification in religious education, in which, in addition to theory, practice also appears. The two authors would like to answer the questions raised in the study Possible Forms of Gamification in School Catechesis published in 2019. On the one hand, with the involvement of the young people of the Reformed Church in Martos, who are preparing for confirmation, the Text Eater program (application) designed for them, which tries to facilitate learning the answers to the questions of the Catechism, is evaluated based on practice. On the other hand, with the involvement of the pupils of the Reformed Elementary School with Hungarian as the Language of Instruction in Martos, the gamification evaluation is assessed pertaining to its use in religious education, as a second potential gamification tool.
Framhaldsskólanemar á tímum heimsfaraldurs
Authors: Björnsdóttir Amalía , Pálsdóttir Guðlaug M. , Ragnarsdóttir Guðrún
Published: January 2024

Markmið þessarar rannsóknar var að kanna áhrif COVID-19-faraldursins á íslenska framhaldsskólanemendur en miklar áhyggjur hafa verið af áhrifum faraldursins á nám og líðan ungs fólks. Vorið 2021 var spurningalisti lagður fyrir nemendur (N = 1.306) í fjórum framhaldsskólum. Leitast var eftir því að skoða hvaða hópar fyndu mest fyrir áhrifum faraldursins og hverjum fyndist erfitt að hefja aftur hefðbundið nám innan veggja skólans. Kannað var hvort munur væri á nemendum eftir kyni, móðurmáli og menntun foreldra og hvort þeir teldu sig kljást við þætti sem trufluðu þá í námi. Niðurstöðurnar sýna mismunandi áhrif faraldursins eftir hópum. Konur sögðu frekar en karlar að kvíði hefði aukist í fjarkennslu og nemendur sem áttu háskólamenntaða foreldra voru frekar á því að kvíðinn hefði aukist. Um helmingur var meira einmana í fjarkennslu, konur marktækt frekar en karlar, en nemendur með lesblindu og þeir sem áttu ekki íslensku að móðurmáli voru síður einmana en samnemendur. Ríflega helmingi fannst gott að mæta aftur í skólann og þá frekar þeim sem áttu íslensku að móðurmáli og þeim sem áttu foreldra með háskólamenntun. Nemendur sem upplifðu truflun á námi vegna kvíða, félagsfælni, þunglyndi eða lesblindu voru síður á því að gott væri að mæta aftur í skólann. Niðurstöðurnar benda til þess að ákveðinn hópur finni sig best í hefðbundnu staðnámi, það er nemendur sem eiga háskólamenntaða foreldra, eiga íslensku að móðurmáli og kljást ekki við félagsfælni, þunglyndi, kvíða eða lesblindu sem hefur truflandi áhrif á nám þeirra. Þetta vekur upp áleitnar spurningar um stöðu þeirra sem ekki virðast finna sig í hefðbundnu framhaldsskólanámi. Brýnt er að hlúa sérstaklega að þessum nemendahópi nú þegar skólastarf er að færast í fyrra horf.
Can Paradoxical Leadership Be the Game Changer in Driving Organisations against Negative Practices?
Authors: Alola Uju Violet , Alafeshat Rawan , Tarkang Marymagdaline Enowmbi , Lafmajani Soolmaz Azarmi
Published: January 2024

Employees have suffered as a result of bad organisational practices, and they now perceive the workplace as unfriendly. In recent years, there has been an upsurge in the search for a remedy for this. This study looks at the impact of paradoxical leadership, which is beneficial when it takes a two-way approach to leadership. This study investigated the link that exists between paradoxical leadership styles and workers using the Theory of Social Exchange. In California, USA, 200 surveys were collected from restaurant staff. We examined the data using structural equation modeling to hypothesise linkages. It was shown that paradoxical leadership had a negative association with job insecurity, amotivation, and organisational tolerance for workplace incivility, while having a favorable relationship with employee psychological safety. Job insecurity, on the other hand, partially and fully mediates the link. The findings have implications for managers and the organisation overall. This is the first study that tries to investigate this relationship in the restaurant industry using paradoxical leadership and incivility.
The activity of monocyte-derived macrophages after stimulation with platelet-rich and platelet-poor concentrates. Study on an ovine model of insertion of a tibial implant coated with silicon-doped diamond-like carbon
Authors: Szymczak Bartłomiej , Junkuszew Andrzej , Patkowski Krzysztof , Szponder Tomasz , Ngoc Dominika Nguyen , Drzewiecka Beata , Sobczyńska-Rak Aleksandra , Wessely-Szponder Joanna
Published: January 2024

Introduction

Macrophages are crucial immune cells that play a role in tissue repair and can exhibit pro- or anti-inflammatory behaviour based on environmental stimulation. Their functional phenotype can be affected by platelet-derived products as determined by those products’ composition. When the inflammatory response caused by implantation is excessive, it can lead to rejection of the implant. Therefore, a thorough evaluation of implant haemocompatibility is necessary to minimise undesirable consequences.

Material and Methods

In an in vitro study, monocyte-derived macrophages (MDMs) were obtained from the whole blood of sheep after a silicon-doped diamond-like carbon–coated implant insertion. These MDMs were then exposed to autologous platelet-derived products for functional marker analysis.

Results

Platelet-poor plasma (PPP) and pure platelet-rich plasma (P-PRP) stimulation increased arginase-1 activity, while leukocyte-rich PRP stimulation produced a mixed response involving higher O2
− (6.49 ± 2.43 nM vs non-stimulated 3.51 ± 1.23 nM, P-value < 0.05) and NO (3.28 ± 1.38 μM vs non-stimulated 2.55 ± 0.32μM, P-value < 0.05) generation.

Conclusion

Using PPP and P-PRP stimulation in post-implantation procedures may contribute to the polarisation of macrophages towards the M2-like pro-resolving phenotype, thereby accelerating wound healing. This would also prevent implant degradation due to an excessive inflammatory process.
Peranan perceived service quality dan perceived waiting time dalam meningkatkan kepuasan pasien dan intensi berkunjung kembali di rumah sakit umum daerah
Authors: Wulandari Dhea Asih , Keni Keni
Published: January 2024

This study aims to analyze the role of perceived service quality and perceived waiting time in increasing patient satisfaction and return visit intentions at regional general hospitals. This type of research is descriptive with a cross-sectional approach. The total sample for this study was 184 outpatients at the regional general hospital. Based on the research results, it was found that perceptions of service quality had a positive and significant effect on patient satisfaction. Perceived waiting time has a positive and significant effect on patient satisfaction. Perceived service quality can predict return visit intensity positively and significantly. Perceived waiting time has a positive and significant effect on the intensity of return visits. Patient satisfaction has a positive and significant effect on the intensity of return visits.

Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk menganalisis peranan perceived service quality dan perceived waiting time dalam meningkatkan kepuasan pasien dan intensi berkunjung kembali di rumah sakit umum daerah. Jenis penelitian ini adalah deskriptif dengan pendekatan cross-sectional. Total sampel penelitian ini adalah 184 pasien rawat jalan di rumah sakit umum daerah. Berdasarkan hasil penelitian, ditemukan bahwa perceived service quality berpengaruh positif dan signifikan terhadap kepuasan pasien. Perceived waiting time berpengaruh positif dan signifikan terhadap kepuasan pasien. Perceived service quality dapat memprediksi intensi berkunjung kembali secara positif dan signifikan. Perceived waiting time berpengaruh positif dan signifikan terhadap intensi berkunjung kembali. Kepuasan pasien berpengaruh positif dan signifikan terhadap intensi berkunjung ulang.
Jurnal Manajemen Bisnis dan Kewirausahaan Vol. 8 No. 1
Authors: Sekretariat JMBK
Published: January 2024

JMBK Vol. 8 No. 1 Edisi Januari 2024
Avifauna and its interactions with the plants at Botanical Survey of India, Arid Zone Regional Centre, Jodhpur, Rajasthan, India
Authors: Arigela Ravi Kiran , Kumar Ramesh , Deroliya Purushottam Kumar , Vittapu Manoj Kumar , Kathula Tarun , Singh Rajeev Kumar
Published: January 2024

Observations of plant-bird interactions at the Botanical Survey of India (BSI), Arid Zone Regional Centre (AZRC) in Jodhpur campus have been supported by photographic evidence. A total of 55 species of birds have been recorded here, including winter migratory birds (8), internal migratory birds (7) and sedentary birds (40). In the analysed area, interactions of birds with 75 species of plants, representing 34 families, were recorded (most of these plants belong to the families Fabaceae and Poaceae). During the observation, it was found that these plants brought various benefits to the birds living in the area. Most plants are a source of insects that are part of the diet of birds and a shelter or nesting site. These observations allowed for the formulation of conclusions regarding the importance of urban gardens and native plant species for the preservation of biodiversity in urbanised conditions.
Comparison of the microbiological quality of water from selected dug and deep wells in Nowy Sącz district
Authors: Greczek-Stachura Magdalena , Nosal Natalia , Kania Agnieszka
Published: January 2024

In the Nowy Sącz district (Southern Poland) the water supply network is not sufficiently developed and many farms use individual dug or deep wells. Groundwater supplying dug wells comes from atmospheric precipitation and may be contaminated with agricultural fertilizers, municipal and industrial sewage. Groundwater present in deep wells is well protected against pollution and low water temperature limits the multiplication of microorganisms. Microbiological tests of water are aimed at determining the total number of microorganisms in 1 ml of the tested sample and checking the presence of indicator bacteria, i.e. coliform bacteria and Escherichia coli in the water. The aim of this work was to perform a microbiological analysis of 100 selected samples of water intended for drinking purposes from individual dug or deep wells located in the Nowy Sącz district.
In the tested water samples from individual intakes an increase in the total number of microorganisms, the presence of coliform bacteria and Escherichia coli bacteria were noted. Water from dug wells, that do not have proper insulation, is characterized by significant bacteriological contamination compared to water from deep wells. In the most cases water from deep wells meets the required microbiological standards.
Review of Automatic Speaker Profiling: Features, Methods, and Challenges
Authors: Jaid Umniah Hameed , Abdul Hassan Alia Karim
Published: January 2024

Automatic Speaker Profiling (ASP), is concerned with estimating the physical traits of a person from their voice. These traits include gender, age, ethnicity, and physical parameters. Reliable ASP has a wide range of applications such as mobile shopping, customer service, robotics, forensics, security, and surveillance systems.  Research in ASP has gained interest in the last decade, however, it was focused on different tasks individually, such as age, height, or gender. In this work, a review of existing studies on different tasks of speaker profiling is performed. These tasks include age estimation and classification, gender detection, height, and weight estimation This study aims to provide insight into the work of ASP, available datasets, feature extraction techniques, and learning models. Further, the performance of current speaker profiling systems is investigated. Finally, the challenges of speaker profiling are presented at the end of this review.
WiMax Network Design and Simulation for Middle Technical University Campus Using OPNET Modeler
Authors: Noman Haeeder Munther , Hussein Mohammed AbdulRidha , Abdulrazzaq Ali Abdulwahhab
Published: January 2024

This study aims to build a wireless computer network for a large company or university to enhance mobility and allow university users to stay connected at any time or place, which is achieved by applying the Universal Interoperability for Microwave Access (WiMax) technology. WiMax is based on the 802.16 sets of standards and has the most efficient and advanced hardware capabilities to meet the demands of teachers and students to browse the web or download files quickly. OPNET Modeler version 14.5 was used to determine the quality of service parameters of WiMax.
Association of PARP1 Gene Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms with Papillary Thyroid Carcinoma in The Iraqi population
Authors: Alshaikhli Reyam J. , Alkazaz Abdulkareem A. , Aljanabi Abbas A.
Published: January 2024

Thyroid carcinoma incidence is increasing year after year and ranking second among top ten cancers in Iraq, especially among women, and this increased the requirement for the improvement of the molecular detection accuracy because of its potential role in the early detection. Two single nucleotide polymorphisms (rs1136410, A>G and rs1805414, A>G) in PARP1 gene were found to be associated with thyroid carcinoma risk in several genome wide association studies, therefore, this is a case-control study that was carried out to identify whether these polymorphisms are associated with papillary thyroid carcinoma risk in Iraqi population. The Association was investigated in one hundred and one papillary thyroid carcinoma patients (11 male and 90 female) with ages (22-65), and one hundred and two controls (16 male and 86 female) with ages (21-67), using quantitative PCR-high resolution melting technique. The results showed that there is a strong association between both of rs1136410and rs1805414 with papillary thyroid carcinoma, the allele G was significantly associated with the disease as a risk factor in both variations (p<0.0001, odd ratio(OR): 4.9635, 95% confidence interval(CI): 3.2179-7.6560) in rs1136410, and (P<0.0001, odd ratio(OR): 3.1620, 95% confidence interval (CI): 2.0997-4.7619) in rs1805414. while the allele A represents a protective factor in both variations (OR=0.2015 and 0.3163 respectively). In conclusion, the allele G in both rs1136410 and rs1805414 in the PARP1 gene is strongly associated with papillary thyroid carcinoma in the Iraqi population.
Further properties of the fuzzy complete a-fuzzy normed algebra
Authors: Abbas Rasha Khudhur , Kider Jehad R.
Published: January 2024

In this paper further properties of the fuzzy complete a-fuzzy normed algebra have been introduced. Then we found the relation between the maximal ideals of fuzzy complete a-fuzzy normed algebra and the associated multiplicative linear function space. In this direction we proved that if  is character on Z then ker is a maximal ideal in Z. After this we introduce the notion structure of the a-fuzzy normed algebra then we prove that the structure, st(Z) is -fuzzy closed subset of fb(Z, ) when  (Z,  , , ) is a commutative fuzzy complete a-fuzzy normed algebra with identity e.
Refleksje o przemijaniu w praktyce lekarskiej, nie tylko w czasie pandemii, z odniesieniem do wybranych tekstów z literatury
Authors: Jarząbek-Bielecka Grażyna , Luwański Dawid , Jarząbek Antoni , Bielecki Marek , Plagens-Rotman Katarzyna , Warchoł Emilia , Mizgier Małgorzata
Published: January 2024

Medical practice in various medical disciplines, especially in family medicine, in the time of a pandemic, indicates that in medical interviews patients not only talk about the ailments they report, but also report fear of death and passing away. Indeed, a special, individual approach to each patient is recommended, also in these matters, which is also important in the promotion of mental health. There are statements from patients that the more they know in the media about the successive waves of COVID-19 infections, the more often thoughts about death and passing related to fear for the future of themselves, their family and loved ones appear. Some patients even say: “what will happen to this world”, what awaits humanity. According to psychologists, it is natural to react to a direct threat to life. It is worth analyzing the issue of the human approach to the phenomenon of passing away in an interdisciplinary context in the context of health sciences, medicine, but also the humanities, such as the history of medicine or the philosophy of medicine, as well as literature and art in general.
Fitoterapia w zapobieganiu, leczeniu i przeciwdziałaniu objawom ubocznym po przebyciu COVID-19
Authors: Matławska Irena
Published: January 2024

Plant extracts and natural compounds show scientifically proven activity against numerous viruses, including the SARS-CoV-2 virus, responsible for causing COVID-19. Among plant constituents, polyphenolic compounds (flavonoids, phenolic acids, proanthocyanidins, catechins) show the greatest potential. Characteristic for plant extracts containing a mixture of secondary metabolites is the multidirectional action and improvement of the functioning of numerous tissues and organs. As a result, in addition to their antimicrobial activity, they alleviate a number of side effects caused by infection. They show anti-inflammatory properties and stimulate the immune system. Few clinical trials of the use of herbs, bee products, natural compounds, and vitamin D as an adjunct to standard therapies have confirmed their beneficial effects, both in patients with moderate and severe disease. Herbal preparations should be recommended both for prophylaxis and as an adjunct to standard COVID-19 treatment.
Badania jakościowe i ilościowe wyciągów z Inonotus obliquus
Authors: Szymański Marcin , Staniszewska Justyna
Published: January 2024

Introduction. Inonotus obliquus (Ach. Ex Pers.) Pilát is a fungus found in North America, Finland, Poland, Russia, China, Japan and Korea on the bark of trees, most often Betula pendula, B. pubescens, B. carpatica and Fagus sylvatica. Mushroom extracts show a number of biological activities, due to the presence of: polysaccharides, phenolic compounds (phenolic acids and flavonoids), triterpenes, ergosterol and its peroxide. Aim. Determination of the content of the sum of polyphenolic compounds, including the sum of phenolic acids, flavonoids and flavonols in water, methanol and methanol-water extracts, determination of antioxidant activity and qualitative determination of the composition of the chloroform extract from the fruiting body of Inonotus obliquus, collected from a natural site. Material and methods. The raw material for research was collected in the Noteć Forest in the Sieraków Landscape Park. The fruiting body was dried and then ground into a fine powder. Using spectroscopic methods, the sum of polyphenols with the Folin-Ciocalteu reagent, the sum of phenolic acids using the Arnov method, the sum of flavonols with aluminum chloride, the sum of flavonoids according to the method described in FP X, antioxidant activity with the DPPH radical and the composition of the chloroform extract using GC-MS were determined. Results. The methanol extract was characterized by the highest content of the sum of phenolic acids per coffee acid (0.127%), and the lowest content of water-methanol extract (0.047%). The highest content of the sum of polyphenols in terms of caffeic acid was determined in the aqueous extract (1.85%), and the lowest in the methanol extract (1.01%). The methanol extract was characterized by the highest content of the sum of phenolic acids expressed as coffee acid (0.127%), and the lowest content of water-methanol extract (0.047%). The content of total flavonoids and total flavonols was determined only in methanol extracts, because the precipitation made it impossible to perform the determinations in the remaining extracts. The lowest IC50 value was determined for the water-methanol extract. GC-MS analysis allowed to identify, among others: isovanillin, santalene, α-selinene, syringaldehyde, linoleic acid, thymol, α-bergamotene and lanosterol. Conclusions. The highest content of the sum of polyphenols was determined in the water extract of Inonotus obliquus, the sum of phenolic acids in the methanol extract; the water-methanol extract was characterized by the strongest antioxidant properties. GC-MS analysis revealed the presence of numerous compounds with confirmed biological activity.
Substancje czynne i surowce kosmetyczne w wybranych preparatach kosmetologiczno-podologicznych pielęgnujących skórę kończyn dolnych i niwelujących hiperkeratozy
Authors: Lewandowska Anna
Published: January 2024

The paper presents the characteristics of cosmetic raw materials and active ingredients of selected preparations for the skin care and elimination of foot skin hyperkeratosis and their effect on the skin. The most common causes of the formation of significant thickening of the stratum corneum associated with hyperkeratosis are listed. Active substances and cosmetic raw materials contained in cosmetological and podological preparations have been shown as beneficial ingredients that have a positive effect on the condition, appearance and condition of the skin of the feet. They have a regenerating, moisturizing, smoothing effect – reducing the feeling of roughness, nourishing, some of them create a protective film on the surface of the epidermis. Their chemical compositions and methods of preparation are also presented. Calluses and cracked heels have been described as examples of excessively keratinized epidermis, consequences related to inadequately selected care, its lack or too high frequency. The term “podology” has been defined as a rapidly spreading and developing interdisciplinary field of science, the main goal of which is the care, diagnosis and treatment of diseases and abnormalities within the feet and ankle joint. The influence of this scientific field on the maintenance of healthy and well-groomed lower limbs was determined.
Analiza olejku lotnego z ziela Bidens tripartita
Authors: Antoniak Katarzyna , Szymański Marcin , Dudek-Makuch Marlena , Bylka Wiesława
Published: January 2024

Introduction. Bur-marigold herb (Bidens tripartitae herba L.) is used in folk medicine in respiratory tract diseases, in urinary disorders as a diuretic as well as in digestive disturbances and diabetes. It is recommended for locally treatment of furunculosis, seborrheic dermatitis, acne vulgaris, eczema, psoriasis, wound and allergy. The main active compounds are flavonoids and phenolic acids. Aim. The purpose of our research was to analyze the components of volatile oil obtained from commercial bur-marigold herb. Material and methods. The oil was obtained by hydrodistillation in a Clevenger apparatus and its composition was analyzed by GC-MS. Results. Among 63 compounds identified, almost half of the content was trimetoquinol (triquinol) (46.89%). Other compounds present in quantities below 1% are represented by linalool, carvacrol, L-limonene, trans-α-bergamotene, β-farnesene, β-cymene, α-caryophyllene, phytol, caryophyllene oxide, nerolidol, sabinene, terpinen-4-ol, menthone, menthol, anethole, α-bisabolol, α-bisabolene and isoaromadendrene oxide. Conclusions. The identified compounds may be co-responsible for the biological activity of bur-marigold herb.
Cimicifuga racemosa L. – skuteczność i bezpieczeństwo stosowania w menopauzie
Authors: Krauze-Baranowska Mirosława , Łużyńska Lukrecja , Kimel Katarzyna
Published: January 2024

Black cohosh (Cimicifuga racemosa L., Ranunculaceae) root and rhizome are recommended in the treatment of vasomotor symptoms related to menopausal period, constituting a plant alternative to hormone replacement therapy (HRT). Although, its mechanism of action has not been fully understood, black cohosh is a rich and complex source of secondary metabolites with varied pharmacological activity aimed at alleviating menopausal symptoms. The efficiency of its use was confirmed in clinical trials. At the same time, C. racemosa root and rhizome are characterized by the content of numerous alkaloid compounds of various structural groups, which can be responsible for toxic effects. Despite that fact, there are no regulations indicating the need of standardization of black cohosh root and rhizome extracts, assuming the repeatability of their chemical composition. The large number of dietary supplements containing black cohosh root and rhizome extracts, compared to herbal medicinal products, may pose a health risk due to the lack of standardization and risk of adulteration with other Cimicifuga species. The paper presents the C. racemosa root and rhizome in terms of its traditional use, pharmacological and pharmacognostic studies, and clinical trials. In addition, herbal products of various categories containing the herbal substance and preparations obtained from it were characterized.
B-Plane Resonant Flybys: Theory Extension to Elliptical Orbits and Dynamic Programming Application
Authors: Campiti Giulio , Masat Alessandro , Colombo Camilla
Published: January 2024

A convenient formalism for the design of resonant flyby trajectories is the B-plane, where postencounter orbits with target resonance conditions or semimajor axes can be analytically mapped. This framework has been developed by many authors starting from the classical Öpik’s theory for close encounters, but it still relies on the approximation of circular orbits of the flyby bodies. In this work, the theory is analytically extended to account for elliptical planetary orbits. The classical and the extended formulations are tested and compared on two mission design applications, showing nonnegligible differences when the flyby body has a marked eccentricity. Further validation using a full three-body model confirmed the greater accuracy of the extended formulation. The second part of the paper proposes an efficient dynamic programming approach to the design of unperturbed resonant flybys. This problem has traditionally been addressed within broader optimization frameworks involving generic multiple gravity assists. However, focusing only on the resonant sequence allows the problem to feature a convenient structure for the implementation of dynamic programming. The developed algorithm is tested by reproducing the design of Solar Orbiter’s resonant phase with Venus, used in the actual mission to gradually raise the ecliptic inclination and reduce the distance at perihelion.
Clinical application of medical adhesive in endovascular embolization treatment of peripheral pseudoaneurysm
Authors: Jiang Li-Ping , Wang Qi-Bin
Published: January 2024

Objectives:

This study explores the clinical application value of medical adhesive in endovascular embolization treatment of peripheral pseudoaneurysm.

Material and Methods:

This was a retrospective review on 31 patients with peripheral pseudoaneurysm treated with medical adhesive endovascular embolization at the First Affiliated Hospital of Shihezi University from July 2021 to July 2023. Follow-up for 3–6 months was to observe the clinical efficacy and postoperative complications of medical adhesive embolization treatment.

Results:

A total of 32 pseudoaneurysms were embolized in 31 patients with peripheral pseudoaneurysms. All pseudoaneurysms originated from visceral arteries. Among them, 29 pseudoaneurysms were embolized with medical adhesive alone, and three pseudoaneurysms were embolized with coil-assisted medical adhesive. After endovascular embolization with medical adhesive, all pseudoaneurysms were successfully embolized. Technical success was 100%. All patients experienced cessation of bleeding after endovascular embolization with medical adhesive, and there were no serious post-operative complications. Clinical success was 100%. During the follow-up period, two patients experienced recurrent bleeding but no pseudoaneurysm recurrence was observed.

Conclusion:

Endovascular medical adhesive embolization is a safe and effective method for treating pseudoaneurysm, with high hemostatic efficiency and permanent occlusion of the pseudoaneurysm after embolization, which is worthy of clinical promotion and application.
Workplace Ethical Communication and Quality Service Delivery of State-owned Tertiary Institutions, Oyo State, Nigeria
Authors: Oloye Rachael A , Adenekan Tolulope E
Published: January 2024

Internal communications may be as ancient as the practice of communicating organizational values in the workplace. Maintaining a strong culture of compliance at work requires ethical communication. When executed properly, ethical communications may reduce total risk and improve the delivery of high-quality services. But organizations’ risk serious financial, legal, and reputational consequences when they disregard ethics. A service is efficient when the same objectives are accomplished with the help of available resources and successful when the results or accomplishments are valuable to the consumers. Quality has always been the cornerstone of any developed and successful institution around the world. However, preliminary investigations revealed that quality service delivery in State-owned tertiary institutions is on the decline. As a result, this study examined how workplace ethical communication affect the provision of high-quality services in state-owned tertiary institutions in Oyo State, Nigeria. 2,273 management employees at the top and intermediate levels from the six institutions under investigation make up the study's population. The sample size was 329 gotten from Raosoft sample size determinant. Cross sectional survey was adopted for this study. Findings revealed that work ethics significantly influence quality service delivery of State-owned tertiary institutions, Oyo State, Nigeria (Adj R2=0.628; p=0.000, Q2 =0.472). This study concluded that workplace ethical communication and its quality service delivery are inextricably linked. The study recommended that management of the selected State-owned tertiary institutions should ensure that strategies are put in place for strict compliance to ethics and positive attitude being a pre-requisite in delivering quality service
Rocket salad aroma is affected by sampling method, species and degree of leaf damage
Authors: Spadafora Natasha , Müller Carsten T. , Rogers Hilary J.
Published: January 2024

Rocket salad is a valuable commercial product often sold as a bagged ready to eat salad. Two different species from the Brassicaceae family are sold as rocket salad: Diplotaxis tenuifolia and Eruca sativa. Both are aromatic, and previous studies have shown that their aroma is composed of a complex mixture of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) from several different chemical families. Of particular interest are isothiocyanates that are generated from the metabolism of glucosinolates produced by Brassicaceae species. Both types of rocket salad have a limited shelf-life and there has been interest in assessing whether analysis of VOCs could be used to help set ‘use by dates’ assess quality changes, and report on issues within the supply chain. However, different methods have been used to sample and analyse the VOC profiles. Here we compare the profiles from D. tenuifolia using two VOC sampling methods (solid phase microextraction, SPME) and sampling onto thermal desorption (TD) tubes. We also compare the VOC profiles sampled onto TD tubes from both species from leaves subjected to different levels of damage: intact, chopped and blended. We find that both the method of VOC sampling and the level of leaf damage have important effects on the VOC profile. In the comparison, fewer VOCs are detected when sampling with SPME compared to TD tubes. Overall, 41 different VOCs are detected in the leaf damage experiment but many fewer are detected in intact leaves. While the two rocket species are distinct based on the VOC profile of chopped leaves, they are not discriminated by VOC profiles of blended or intact leaves. When species are considered separately VOC profile discriminates level of damage. Very few isothiocyanates are detected in intact or chopped leaves, presumably due to the requirement for leaf damage to activate their production from glucosinolates. To conclude, level of leaf damage will strongly influence VOC profiles from rocket leaves, and medium damage seems to elicit the most discriminatory profiles
Synthesis of N–H Aziridines from Unactivated Olefins Using Hydroxylamine-O-Sulfonic Acids as Aminating Agent
Authors: Huang Yi , Zhu Shiyang , He Gang , Chen Gong , Wang Hao
Published: January 2024

Herein, we presented a practical methodology for the intermolecular aziridination of alkenes, using HOSA as the aminating agent, alongside pyridine or piperidine as the base, within HFIP solvent system. Notably, this approach showcases excellent reactivity, especially with non-activated alkenes, and facilitates the transformation of various alkenes substrates, including mono-, di-, tri, and tetra-substituted alkenes, into aziridines with moderate to excellent yield. This method presents a promising avenue for synthesizing aziridines from a wide range of alkenes, featuring the benefits of straightforward operation, mild reaction conditions, extensive substrate compatibility, and scalability.
Seamless integration of GEM, a density based-force field, for QM/MM simulations via LICHEM, Psi4 and Tinker-HP
Authors: Nochebuena Jorge , Simmonett Andrew C. , Cisneros G. Andrés
Published: January 2024

Hybrid quantum mechanics/molecular mechanics (QM/MM) simulations have become an essential tool in computational chemistry, particularly for analyzing complex biological and condensed phase systems. Building on this foundation, our work presents a novel implementation of the Gaussian Electrostatic Model (GEM), a polarizable density-based force field, within the QM/MM framework. This advancement provides seamless integration, enabling efficient and optimized QM/GEM calculations in a single step using the LICHEM Code. We have successfully applied our implementation to water dimers and hexamers, demonstrating the ability to handle water systems with varying numbers of water molecules. Moreover, we have extended the application to describe the double proton transfer of the aspartic acid dimer in a box of water, which highlights the method's proficiency in investigating heterogeneous systems. Our implementation offers the flexibility to perform on-the-fly density fitting or to utilize pre-fitted coefficients to estimate exchange and Coulomb contributions. This flexibility enhances efficiency and accuracy in modeling molecular interactions, especially in systems where polarization effects are significant.
E_min: A First-Principles Thermochemical Descriptor for Predicting Molecular Synthesizability
Authors: Lee Andrew , Elliott Sarah N. , Harb Hassan , Ward Logan , Foster Ian T. , Curtiss Larry A. , Assary Rajeev S.
Published: January 2024

Predicting the synthesizability of a new molecule remains an unsolved challenge that chemists have long tackled with heuristic approaches. Here, we report a new method for predicting synthesizability using a simple, yet accurate thermochemical descriptor. We introduce E_min, the energy difference between a molecule and its lowest energy constitutional isomer, as a synthesizability predictor that is accurate, physically meaningful, and first-principles based. We apply E_min to 134,000 molecules in the QM9 dataset and find that E_min is accurate when used alone and reduces incorrect predictions of "synthesizable" by up to 52% when used to augment commonly-used prediction methods. Our work illustrates how first-principles thermochemistry and heuristic approximations for molecular stability are complementary, opening a new direction for synthesizability prediction methods
Water-Soluble Soft Nylons: Novel Class of Soft Matter Exhibiting LCST-type Thermo-Responsiveness
Authors: Sugano Akari , Inaba Natsuki , Matsuoka Keitaro , Sada Kazuki
Published: January 2024

High crystallinity and low solubility are inherent characteristics of polyamides. Research efforts have primarily focused on exploring their bulk properties as fibers, with less emphasis on their solution properties. Herein, we report on the synthesis and properties of soft and soluble N-methylated nylons as a novel class of soft polymer matter. Surprisingly, N-methylated nylons have scarcely been reported and are almost not registered with CAS SciFindern, while their unit structure is very simple. The N-methylation of nylons resulted in softness and high solubility by eliminating hydrogen bonds between polymer backbones and generating two conformers (cis and trans) of the tertiary amide group. Remarkably, some of them exhibit lower critical solution temperature (LCST)-type phase separation in water. By manipulating the carbon number within polymer backbones, we have found that the quantitative hydrophilic/hydrophobic balance for LCST is its unit formula per amide group equal to C6H11NO, which aligns with typical LCST polymers like poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) (PNIPAM). Despite the structural similarity to PNIPAM, polymer scientists have never found LCST-type behavior of N-methylated nylons during over 50 years of soft polymer matter research. The long-standing assumption that polyamides are inherently rigid and cannot exhibit softness and solubility has impeded their application to soft polymer matter.
GelMA-Carbopol bioinks with low total solids content for high-fidelity extrusion 3D bioprinting of dynamic tissue biomimetics
Authors: González-Martínez David , Barreiro Carpio Mabel , Arizpe Tafoya Aidee , González-Martínez Eduardo , Hirota Jeremy , Moran-Mirabal Jose
Published: January 2024

Extrusion 3D bioprinting is a technology that allows the deposition of cells within hydrogels in well-defined spatial patterns, facilitating the fabrication of tissue biomimetics. Gelatin methacrylate (GelMA)-based hydrogels are biocompatible, biodegradable, and promote cell adhesion and proliferation, which makes them a common choice to formulate bioinks for extrusion 3D bioprinting. However, due to the low viscosity of GelMA-based inks, it is very difficult to achieve high printability and shape fidelity of complex constructs at physiological temperatures. To overcome this issue, high concentrations of GelMA or rheological modifiers and low temperatures are typically used, with both approaches negatively impacting the printing process and cell viability. The present work develops new GelMA-based bioinks using low concentrations of Carbopol (CBP) (0.1-0.5 wt%) as a rheology modifier. GelMA-CBP inks exhibit excellent rheological properties and outstanding printability at physiological temperatures (37 ºC) and at low GelMA concentrations (1–7 wt%). Complex constructs, including hollow structures with overhangs, were printed at 37 ºC with high shape fidelity using 0.5 wt% CBP. 3T3 fibroblasts embedded within structures 3D printed using GelMA-CBP bioinks exhibited > 90% cell viability for up to 14 days. GelMA-CBP bioinks also enabled the fabrication of a stretchable lung tissue model incorporating primary human lung fibroblasts to study fibroblast-to-myofibroblast transition. This work solves the three key issues of GelMA-based bioinks for extrusion 3D bioprinting, by allowing the printing of complex constructs using i) low concentrations of GelMA, ii) low concentrations of a rheological modifier, and iii) physiological temperatures. Our work lays the foundation for using 3D printable GelMA materials in tissue engineering, regenerative medicine, and implantable medical device applications.
Mapping parental DMRs predictive of local and distal methylome remodeling in epigenetic F1 hybrids
Authors: Kakoulidou Ioanna , Piecyk Robert S , Meyer Rhonda C , Kuhlmann Markus , Gutjahr Caroline , Altmann Thomas , Johannes Frank
Published: January 2024

F1 hybrids derived from a cross between two inbred parental lines often display widespread changes in DNA methylation and gene expression patterns relative to their parents. An emerging challenge is to understand how parental epigenomic differences contribute to these events. Here, we generated a large mapping panel of F1 epigenetic hybrids, whose parents are isogenic but variable in their DNA methylation patterns. Using a combination of multi-omic profiling and epigenetic mapping strategies we show that differentially methylated regions in parental pericentromeres act as major reorganizers of hybrid methylomes and transcriptomes, even in the absence of genetic variation. These parental differentially methylated regions are associated with hybrid methylation remodeling events at thousands of target regions throughout the genome, both locally (in cis) and distally (in trans). Many of these distally-induced methylation changes lead to nonadditive expression of nearby genes and associate with phenotypic heterosis. Our study highlights the pleiotropic potential of parental pericentromeres in the functional remodeling of hybrid genomes and phenotypes.