bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Minería, instituciones y sostenibilidad: desencuentros y desafíos
Authors: Bebbington Anthony J. , Bury Jeffrey T.
Published: April 2023

Las tendencias de largo plazo en el consumo mundial continúangenerando crecimiento en la actividad minera. Para muchos países,esto puede significar nuevos recursos para el desarrollo, perotambién podría crear desafíos a la sostenibilidad y conflictos enlas regiones en las que se realiza la extracción. Distintos actoresde los sectores público, privado y de la sociedad civil han prestadocreciente atención a las alternativas para superar estos desafíos yencontrar formas de construir sinergias entre la minería y el desarrollo.La investigación en el Perú —uno de los centros mundialesde reciente expansión minera— pone de manifiesto la presión queeste crecimiento impone sobre el recurso hídrico, los medios de vida(livelihoods) y las relaciones sociales. Estas presiones se derivan delas condiciones institucionales que regulan la expansión minera, laadministración del recurso hídrico y la gestión del desarrollo local.Un problema adicional es la escasa comunicación entre los sistemasde conocimiento basados en el sector minero y aquellos de las poblacioneslocales. Abordar estas fuentes de no sostenibilidad requiereuna forma de generar conocimientos que pueda tender puentes entrediferentes sistemas epistémicos, mantener las relaciones entre losactores interesados que tienen posiciones contrapuestas y generar conocimientos que conduzcan a una innovación institucional, enparticular en los ámbitos relacionados con el monitoreo del aguay con la zonificación ecológica y el ordenamiento territorial.
Cambios y continuidades en la percepción y demandas indígenas sobre el territorio en la Amazonía peruana
Authors: Espinosa Óscar
Published: April 2023

En el presente artículo exploramos los cambios y continuidades enlas reivindicaciones que sobre el territorio han planteado los pueblosindígenas de la Amazonía peruana a través de sus organizaciones enlas últimas décadas. El objetivo central reside en explicar cómo endistintas coyunturas estas sociedades han enfrentado la defensa de loque consideran una parte esencial de su forma de vida que se hallacada vez más amenazada frente al avance de la sociedad moderna,del capitalismo y de la globalización. Esta revisión nos permitirádesbaratar aquellos argumentos que califican a los indígenas comosujetos pasivos, manipulables y a merced de intereses ajenos; y almismo tiempo, nos permitirá comprender mejor los cambios que sevienen produciendo al interior de las sociedades indígenas en supercepción y en su relación con el territorio.
3-cerro y 4-mundo: los números del banquete en las ofrendas quechuas
Authors: Lorente Fernández David
Published: April 2023

Las ofrendas quechuas del sur del Perú son platos alimenticios, banquetes destinados principalmente a la pachamama y los apus, pero también elaborados sistemas matemáticos regidos por operaciones sofisticadas. Sirviéndose de dos números fundamentales, el 3 y el 4, los especialistas rituales son capaces de transmitir mensajes polisémicos. Mediante el número 3 aglutinan clientes, parajes y cerros, en suma, «personas» capaces de interactuar entre sí. El 3 aparece en los k’intus de hojas de coca y en las oraciones que se recitan durante el proceso de realizar la ofrenda. Por el contrario, el número 4 no indica relaciones sino formas espaciales: es un operador geométrico que unifica la servilleta ceremonial (unk’uña), el papel envoltorio y el paquete acabado para representar las cuatro direcciones del mundo y hacer de la ofrenda un mundo en miniatura. Gracias a los dos números el ritualista puede recrear el cosmos, establecer convenios con los dioses y definir nuevas situaciones favorables para la vida de sus clientes.
Revista Chilena de Antropología Visual. 15, 2010
Authors: Tineo Sanguinetti Sandra
Published: April 2023

El artículo no presenta resumen
E-misférica. Unsettling Visuality. 7.1, 2010
Authors: Portilla Erik
Published: April 2023

El artículo no presenta resumen
Identidades de diáspora a través de la danza folclórica. Un estudio ciberantropológico
Authors: Sigl Eveline
Published: April 2023

El presente artículo explora el discurso sobre las danzas folclóricas bolivianas desde la perspectiva de diáspora tal como se presenta en la Web 2.0 y a través de ella. Metodológicamente se trata de un estudio ciberantropológico que investiga las implicaciones que tiene la danza folclórica no solo para los migrantes bolivianos y sus descendientes sino también para bailarines no bolivianos, y se enfoca especialmente en cuestiones de identidad y etnicidad.
Leyendo a Fuenzalida
Authors: Diez Alejandro
Published: April 2023

El artículo proporciona un breve recuento de la trayectoria antropológica de Fernando Fuenzalida a partir de sus principales obras. El trabajo antropológico del autor Fuenzalida puede ser rastreado a lo largo de una serie de etapas que marcan una serie de transformaciones tanto en la sociedad como en el sujeto del análisis, la interpretación y el enfoque desarrollados por el autor. A lo largo de cuatro décadas pasa de un enfoque etnográfico centrado en temas «culturales» a enfoques que privilegian la política y la transformación social, para retornar en los últimos años a temas globales y culturales.
Papeles de doble cara: la política de la documentación en un proyecto de ingeniería pública
Authors: Pinker Annabel
Published: April 2023

Este artículo sigue los flujos de documentación que se producen alrededor de un estudio técnico de ingeniería para la construcción de una vía de evitamiento por el pueblo de Ollantaytambo. En contraste con el énfasis de Max Weber sobre los documentos como instrumentos de racionalización y transparencia, y el enfoque más reciente sobre los documentos como artefactos estéticos e instancias institucionales, yo presto atención a las maneras en que los documentos se implican en la producción de lo político. Indico que los modos en que circulan, acumulando connotaciones múltiples mientras viajan, no generaban claridad, sino una indeterminación que se incrementaba, y sugiero que la calidad política de los documentos tiene que ver precisamente con su carácter dual, pues implican al mismo tiempo la normatividad (con su promesa de justicia y claridad) y el juego de intereses poco limpios. Su promesa dual de certidumbre y ambivalencia era clave para la apertura de espacios de disensión y posibilidad política en el proyecto.
Un estudiante de antropología en el campo
Authors: W. Stein William
Published: April 2023

Testimonio para la historia de la antropología: Un estudiante de antropología en el campo
Acción colectiva y conflicto de intereses: el caso de la comunidad campesina de Catac
Authors: Osorio Bautista Serafín
Published: April 2023

Este artículo se propone la comprensión de los cambios en lac omunidad de Catac como resultado de la acción colectiva ante los desafíos del contexto que se configuran como oportunidades y restricciones, y frente a las exigencias internas que se expresan como demandas de los grupos de interés o facciones que conforman la comunidad. En una comunidad heterogénea como Catac, la acción colectiva no es algo que se da por supuesto sino una acción deliberada; sin embargo, tiende a ser frágil y generalmente se rompe ante las presiones externas y las relaciones de poder definidas en términos de facciones al interior de la comunidad.
Los dilemas del Estado peruano en la implementación y aplicación de la Ley de Consulta Previa en los Andes peruanos
Authors: Barrio de Mendoza Rafael , Damonte Gerardo
Published: April 2023

La promulgación de la Ley de Consulta Previa a los Pueblos Indígenas u Originarios como mecanismo estatal de participación e inclusión social ha generado debates conceptuales sobre cómo identificar a la población indígena andina. ¿Por qué esta ley tiene dificultades para otorgar a la población andina derechos indígenas a la consulta previa? El presente artículo intenta responder a esta interrogante a partir de un recuento histórico de las formas de identidad andina y de un análisis del debate conceptual internacional sobre la indigeneidad”. Argumentamos que el problema radicaen que la aplicación de la ley estructura un modelo de reconocimiento indígena especialmente restrictivo que no recoge de manera adecuada el dinamismo y complejidad existentes en las formas de adscripción identitaria en los Andes.
Trayectoria de productores familiares. Comunidad Andrés Coliqueo. Comuna de Freire
Authors: Bravo Cuervo Jorge , Pérez Infante Sandra
Published: April 2023

El presente documento es parte de los resultados de la investigación Trayectoria de los productores agrícolas de la comunidad Pelleco (1986-2006), que se planteó en continuidad del estudio realizadoen la década de 1980 denominado Minifundio mapuche y desarrollo agrícola, evolución histórica de la agricultura en Pelleco, que recopiló datos del año agrícola de 1986, bajo la autoría de Bravo y Sotomayor (1992). El nuevo estudio tuvo como objeto conocer la trayectoria de productores familiares de Pelleco en el período 1986-2006, así comoestablecer una tipología de las explotaciones mapuche para ser comparadas con la tipología establecida en el año 1986. Se trató de un estudio longitudinal de carácter cuanti-cualitativo, con la aplicación de encuestas al jefe de familia, entrevistas a dirigentes y agricultores relevantes para el estudio .A partir de la trayectoria de los productores familiares, fue posible distinguir las trayectorias y la tipología e identificar un proceso de restructuración de su sistema productivo, generado al interior de las familias como respuesta a las condiciones y necesidades sociales presentadas en el medio natural y social.
Territorialidad y autonomía, proyectos minero-energéticos y consulta previa: el caso de los pueblos indígenas de la Amazonia ecuatoriana
Authors: García Serrano Fernando
Published: April 2023

A partir de la revisión de dos ámbitos de la relación Estado/pueblos indígenas —esto es, territorialidad y autonomía, proyectos minero energéticosy consulta previa—, se pretende analizar los avances, retrocesos y vaciamientos vividos en esta relación durante el período 1990-2013, con el fin de aportar a la discusión de esta problemática en los demás países que viven circunstancias semejantes enAmérica Latina. Especial importancia tienen para el caso ecuatoriano las constituciones de 1998 y 2008, en las cuales se reconoció el carácter pluricultural y pluriétnico del Estado ecuatoriano en la primera, yel carácter plurinacional e intercultural en la segunda. Asimismo, el movimiento indígena, desde su surgimiento como actor en la política nacional desde 1990, no solo ha sido pionero y referente en la región, sino que ha sido impugnador del proceso de extractivismo llevado adelante por el Estado.
Performatividades contemporáneas y el imperativo de la participación en las tecnologías digitales
Authors: Cánepa Koch Gisela , Ulfe María Eugenia
Published: April 2023

Desde una perspectiva procesual de la vida social, la tecnología opera siempre dentro de marcos discursivos y de acción que la hacen posible, le dan sentido y la legitiman, pero que al mismo tiempo son constituidos por la propia tecnología y sus usos. en otras palabras, los marcos de acción de una época son constitutivos de y son constituidos por la tecnología. esta aproximación se alinea con un enfoque performativo acerca de las tecnologías digitales y que ha permitido problematizarlas en términos de los actores y sus pragmáticas. De esta manera se ha logrado también transcender esquemas dicotómicos para entender asuntos referidos a la representación y a las relaciones de poder implicados en estas tecnologías.Pero ¿qué pasa cuando la performatividad de los actores y la fuerza performativa de sus prácticas dejan de ser un aspecto de sus dinámicas y configuración, y adquieren más bien fuerza normativa?en otras palabras, ¿qué está en juego cuando los actores y sus prác-ticas se organizan en torno a la performance como mandato, vale decir, como régimen de verdad? en el contexto de un mundo regido por los principios de eficiencia, eficacia y efectividad, ciertamente resulta necesario plantear este tipo de interrogante, en particular con respectos a las paradojas que esto plantea a los regímenes participativos que responden a la lógica de la gubernamentalidad neoliberal.
¿Desarrollo o bien vivir? Repensando la función social de la Universidad Intercultural desde el cuestionamiento al efecto educativo
Authors: Olivera Rodríguez Inés
Published: April 2023

La institución educativa es el resultado de un orden social moderno-colonial, determinado por un saber eurocéntrico que responde a la lógica del capitalismo como orden mundial de poder. Prueba de esto son los debates en torno a la escolaridad que comprenden su función social desde la inserción eficiente de los sujetos en la sociedad. en el orden de las políticas públicas vigentes, la lógica del desarrollo humano es lo que sigue primando en los proyectos educativos nacionales. esta problemática se agrava cuando se piensa en los contextos interculturales una vez que la lógica del capital, de la productividad y el crecimiento económico, no son parte de otras formas de ver el mundo. La interculturalidad como diálogo e interacción de universos simbólicos distintos exige la incorporación de otras epistemologías y lógicas escolares. Lo inter- cultural, desde las universidades Interculturales mexicanas, exige nuevas respuestas del sistema educativo formal; siendo que estas propuestas parecen aproximarse a la construcción de sociedades plurales capaces de incluir a todos y todas en los proyectos de vida. Considerando esto, la pregunta central para la reflexión que aquí se propone es: ¿cómo se puede pensar los efectos educativos en un contexto intercultural? Para esto hemos asumido la lectura crítica desde la teoría de la colonialidad del poder de Aníbal Quijano, para pensar la interculturalidad desde la inclusión verdadera de otras epistemologías que permitan pensar el mundo desde otros lugares y desde otros saberes.
Desaparecidos en la penumbra del atardecer: disputas privadas, memoria y conflicto armado interno en San Miguel (Ayacucho)
Authors: Cóndor Alarcón Nory , Pereyra Chávez Nelson E.
Published: April 2023

El presente trabajo estudia el caso de Francisco Buendía, un poblador de la microcuenca de San Miguel, en la provincia de La Mar (Ayacucho), desaparecido por Sendero Luminoso en 1984. A partir de la propuesta teórica de Stathis N. Kalyvas, reconstruye las dinámicas locales subyacentes al caso, que se engarzaron con el conflicto armado interno. Para encontrar dichas dinámicas, recurre a los recuerdos y silencios de los familiares y a la información que revelan los documentos notariales y judiciales y que la memoria precisamente intenta esconder. Muestra que las dinámicas locales contienen disputas que tienen que ver con el proceso de reestructuración de la tierra que en la localidad viene desde el siglo XIX. Dichas disputas finalmente devinieron en políticas, ocasionando la desaparición del referido Buendía.
Fiction, mimèsis, et littérature: étude interdiciplinarre sur la fonction et la rmdalité de la fiction
Authors:   Société d’Etudes Franco-coréennes, KIM Hansik
Published: April 2023

Définie comme “produit de l'imagination qui n'a pas de modèle complet dans la réalité”, la fiction est souvent considérée comme mensonge, dissimulation, imitation ou feintise ludique qui se trouve aux antipodes du réel et de la vérité. Il n'en est pas moins vrai qu'elle nous affecte et influence si profondément, d'une manière ou d'autre, que nous nous perdons parfois à la frontière de la fiction et le réel. Quel lien pourrait-on établir entre la fiction et le réel? quels sont le statut ontologique et la fonction de la fiction par rapport au réel? En partant d'une approche centrée sur la fiction littéraire, nous nous interrogeons sur la possibilité d'élargir notre problématique, non seulement dans une domaine littéraire, mais aussi philosophique et cognitive, pour dessiner une géographie des recherches actuelles de la fiction dans une perspective interdisciplinaire. Ces reflexions nous permettront d'évaluer et d'attester, à la croisée du réel et de la fiction, la puissance de la littérature, qui pourrait nous former et transformer.
De petits filets pour de gros poissons ? Imposition des plus riches – l’exemple de l’Ouganda
Authors: Santoro Fabrizio , Waiswa Ronald
Published: April 2023

Taxer les personnes les plus riches est un objectif prioritaire pour toute administration fiscale, et plus encore en Afrique, où les recettes fiscales sont insuffisantes pour financer le développement. En raison de l’évasion fiscale et des capacités fiscales limitées, l’impôt sur le revenu des personnes physiques est largement sous- performant sur l’ensemble du continent (Moore 2020). Les preuves de l’évasion généralisée pratiquée par les plus riches dans les pays développés – par le biais de systèmes d’évasion sophistiqués et agressifs – ont été bien documentées dans les ouvrages académiques. En revanche, les politiques susceptibles d’être efficaces pour l’imposition des riches en Afrique sont très peu connues, probablement parce que très peu de pays ont mis en place des unités dédiées à l’imposition des plus riches. Cette étude, réalisée en collaboration avec l’autorité fiscale ougandaise, est la première du genre à étudier l’impact du lancement d’une unité spécifique de l’autorité fiscale ougandaise (URA) pour les contribuables les plus riches. Résumé du document de travail 143 par Fabrizio Santoro et Ronald Waiswa.
Rendre obligatoires les outils fiscaux numériques en réponse à la Covid : l’exemple d’Eswatini
Authors: Amine Razan , Santoro Fabrizio
Published: April 2023

Afin de réduire les contacts physiques, la Covid-19 a contraint de nombreuses administrations fiscales à adopter les technologies numériques pour les déclarations fiscales et les paiements d’impôts. Au-delà de la lutte contre la pandémie, la déclaration et le paiement électroniques sont très prometteurs pour faciliter le respect des obligations fiscales, accroître la transparence et réduire les possibilités de collusion (Okunogbe et Santoro, 2021). Eswatini a rendu obligatoire la déclaration électronique pour tous les contribuables à partir de septembre 2020, par le biais de la plateforme d’impôt en ligne (e-Tax). Par la suite, l’administration fiscale a lancé, en avril 2021, une politique visant à éliminer les opérations en espèces pour les paiements d’impôts. Notre étude a évalué l’impact de l’obligation de déclaration électronique sur le comportement des contribuables en matière de déclaration et de paiement, en examinant les questions suivantes : (i) quel est l’impact de l’obligation de déclaration électronique sur la conformité en matière de déclaration et de paiement ? (ii) existe-t-il des effets d’entraînement sur l’exactitude des déclarations et des paiements ? (iii) quels sont les principaux mécanismes qui expliquent les résultats ? Résumé du document de travail 140 par Fabrizio Santoro, Razan Amine et Tanele Magongo.
Picasso e as Meninas de Velázquez
Authors:   Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Mendes Talita
Published: April 2023

É principalmente nas duas últimas décadas de sua vida que Picasso retorna às apropriações de obras de seus antepassados com um senso de profunda experimentação estética. Esse retorno a obras de seus antepassados ocorre, justamente, no momento em que sua fama artística há muito alcançara seu ápice, porém decaía sua influência sobre as novas gerações de artistas, o que deixa claro que seu olhar para o passado não se deu de forma casual.
Defining the Most Generalized, Natural Extension of the Expected Value on Measurable Functions
Authors: Krishnan Bharath
Published: April 2023

In this paper, we will extend the expected value of the function w.r.t the uniform probability measure on sets measurable in the Caratheodory sense to be finite for a larger class of functions, since the set of all measurable functions with infinite or undefined expected values forms a prevalent subset of the set of all measurable functions, which means "almost all" measurable functions have infinite or undefined expected values. Before we define the specific problem in section 2, we will outline some preliminary definitions. We'll then define the specific problem (along with a partial solution in section 3) to visualize the complete solution. Along the way, we will ask a series of questions to clarify our understanding of the paper.
On the Bayesian Geometric Model: Decision Making Using Multiple (>2) States
Authors: Gerck Ed
Published: April 2023

We find at least 4 quantum properties that are indeed universal in some number systems; and we can use them for quantum consciousness. Using the sets B={0,1}, N, Z, or Q has the +4 quantum properties that one can trust, as archetypes of easy communication to friends and foes, to ignoranti or cognoscenti, and for quantum computing. This paper proposes the use of Bayesian geometry to reduce the space of possible results, reducing or increasing initial beliefs by successive experimentation. This is exemplified in biology and mathematics, and can be applied to physics and other sciences. The conclusion is that an experimental fact can be absolutely verified. Any mathematical choice (as verified by computers) militating against R=Q, is under an absolutely low chance to succeed. Infinitesimals are denied based on 3^16 independent factors. This is not a probabilistic result, but based on reduction of the Bayes geometry for updating beliefs. This work applies to non-probabilistic and unknown phenomena, such as those found in oscillations (neutrino, health), evolution, and quantum computing, denies Gödel's uncertainty, and solves the liar's paradox by reflection. This connects different scientific fields with one another, in an internet, i.e., in a network of connections of multiple open networks, using the set Q, resembling a hologram, and includes entanglement.
Jetson Nano-Based Low-Cost Safety Enhancement System for the Drivers on the Road
Authors: Dsa Joyline , S. Abhishek , Rao Dheeraj , Balaji V. , Bangera Vikas V.
Published: April 2023

Distracted driving is the leading cause of accidents, the cause of these distractions may include drowsiness, using cell phone, smoking a cigarette, etc. The proposed paper aims at monitoring the attentiveness of the driver and alerting the driver when his/her alertness goes below a certain threshold. It uses image processing using OpenCV (Computer Vision) and You Look Only Once (YOLO) algorithm to detect the eyes and object respectively and sounds an alarm when the driver is either drowsy or using his cell phone or smoking a cigarette.
Molecular Pathways Disturbances during COVID-19 Lead to Cardiomyocyte Necroptosis
Authors: Sotoudeheian Mohammadjavad , Soleimani Mohammad , Farahmandian Navid , Mirahmadi Seyed-Mohamad-Sadegh
Published: April 2023

SARS-CoV-2 was detected in China in December 2019. Myocardial injury is a crucial presentation of COVID-19, based on the association of ACE-2 and SARS-CoV-2. Down-regulating ACE-2 decreases the cardioprotective effects of angiotensin, leading to a higher TNF-α activation. TNF-α causes the inflammatory response in the myocardial damage as an apoptotic inducer. Moreover, as an inducer of necroptosis, TNF-α binds to a part of TNF receptor 1, which involves receptor-interacting protein 1 (RIP1) and causes cell death through RIP1 inhibition and NF-κB stimulation, which are also done through Tpl-2. Calcineurin controls the Tpl-2-driven NFAT stimulation. Bcl-2 or Bcl-XL entirely blocks these pathways. Bcl-2 overexpression reduces FasL expression with a mechanism based on Bcl-2 inhibiting the NFAT. Moreover, the Fas/FasL system activates apoptosis in various cells. Bcl-XL stimulates Fas-related cell death. Additionally, TNF-α, as a part of inflammatory cytokine storms, indirectly interacts with NFAT/Bcl-2 through Tpl-2/NF-κB. Diversely, TNF-α and IL-1ẞ, the basis of inflammatory cytokine storms in COVID-19, can stimulate generating NO. Also, IL-2 is highly up-regulated in COVID-19 patients and stimulates NO generation in patients. TNF-α can provoke the generation of superoxides in neutrophils. A well-determined mechanism is the intracellular production of NO via calcium-calmodulin-dependent NO synthase (NOS). NO enhances NFAT’s calcium-dependent activity. Also, Intra/extracellular calcium exchange activates calcineurin and its related molecule, NFAT. Nitration provokes RIP1 necroptosis cascade, with respiratory complex I. Nitrites converse protection against ischemia-reperfusion injuries in the myocardium. Regulating this intrinsic molecular pathway can prevent the necroptosis of cardiomyocytes.
The Impact of Pogil-Based Instruction versus Teacher versus Lecturning-Based Instruction on Grade 12 Performance in Circular Motion Unit
Authors: Alneyadi Saif Saeed
Published: April 2023

The aim of this study was to investigate the impact of Process Oriented Guided Inquiry Learning (POGIL)-based instruction versus lecture-based instruction on Grade 12 students’ performance in circular motion unit. A quasi-experimental, pretest-posttest design, the impact of POGIL-based instruction versus lecture-based instruction on students’ performance as measured by three types of cognitive outcomes: Knowing, Applying and Reasoning (KAR). The total number of participants was approximately 110 students (N=110); 54 were assigned to treatment groups (25 girls and 29 boys) and 56 were assigned to control groups (27 girls and 29 boys). The treatment group was taught a unit of circular motion in physics using POGIL-based instruction while the control group was taught the unit using lecture-based instruction. The findings of the study showed statistically significant differences between students of the control group and the treatment group in favor of the later regarding their circular motion performance, suggesting the superiority of the POGIL in enhancing student understanding of the circular motion.
Is Time a Cyclic Dimension? How to Second-Quantize Fields by Means of Periodic Boundary Conditions
Authors: Dolce Donatello
Published: April 2023

With simple but rigorous arguments we prove that the ordinary second quantization of bosonic and fermionc fields is formally equivalent to constraining the elementary degrees of freedom of the classical fields to have intrinsically periodic dynamics in time. This result confirms and extends the formal equivalence obtained in previous papers for general Hamiltonian systems in terms of canonical quantization, for elementary relativistic particles also in terms of the Feynman Path Integrals, as well as other remarkable correspondences of both phenomenological and theoretical fundamental interest.
Leishmaniasis: Immune Cells Crosstalk in Macrophage Polarization
Authors: Almeida Fernanda Silva , Vanderley Shayenne Eduarda Ramos , Comberlang Fernando Cézar , Andrade Arthur Gomes de , Cavalcante-Silva Luiz Henrique Agra , Silva Edson dos Santos , Palmeira Pedro Henrique de Sousa , Amaral Ian P.G. do , Keesen Tatjana S. L.
Published: April 2023

Leishmaniasis is a complex infectious parasitic disease caused by protozoa of the genus Leishmania, belonging to a group of neglected tropical diseases. It poses significant global health challenges, particularly in socio-economically disadvantaged regions. Macrophages, as innate immune cells, play a crucial role in initiating the inflammatory response against the pathogens responsible for this disease. Macrophage polarization, the process of differentiating macrophages into pro-inflammatory (M1) or anti-inflammatory (M2) phenotypes, is essential for the immune response in leishmaniasis. The M1 phenotype is associated with resistance to Leishmania infection, while the M2 phenotype is predominant in susceptible environments. Notably, various immune cells, including T cells, play a significant role in modulating macrophage polarization by releasing cytokines that influence macrophage maturation and function. Furthermore, other immune cells can also impact macrophage polarization in a T-cell-dependent manner. Therefore, this review comprehensively examines macrophage polarization's role in leishmaniasis and other immune cells' potential involvement in this intricate process.
Anti-Virulence Prospects of Metformin against Pseudomonas aeruginosa: A New Dimension to a Multifaceted Drug
Authors: Chadha Jatin , Khullar Lavanya , Gulati Pallavi , Chhibber Sanjay , Harjai Kusum
Published: April 2023

Metformin (MeT) is an FDA-approved drug with a myriad of health benefits. Besides being used as an anti-diabetic drug, MeT is also effective against various cancers, liver-, cardiovascular-, and renal diseases. It has also been proven to demonstrate anti-ageing and neuroprotective effects. This study was undertaken to examine its unique potential as an anti-virulence drug against an opportunistic bacterial pathogen, Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Due to the menace of multidrug resistance in pathogenic microorganisms, many novel or repurposed drugs with anti-virulence prospects are emerging as next-generation therapies with the aim to overshadow the application of existing antimicrobial regimens. The quorum sensing (QS) mechanisms of P. aeruginosa are an attractive drug target for attenuating bacterial virulence. In this context, the anti-QS potential of MeT was scrutinized using biosensor assays. MeT was comprehensively evaluated for its effects on different motility phenotypes, virulence factor production (phenotypic and genotypic expression) along with biofilm development in P. aeruginosa in vitro. At sub-lethal concentrations, MeT displayed prolific quorum quenching (QQ) ability and remarkably inhibited AHL biosynthesis in P. aeruginosa. Moreover, MeT (1/8 MIC) effectively downregulated the expression levels of various QS- and virulence genes in P. aeruginosa, which coincided with a notable reduction in the levels of alginate, hemolysin, pyocyanin, pyochelin, elastase, and protease production. In silico analysis through molecular docking also predicted strong associations between the QS receptors of P. aeruginosa and MeT. MeT also compromised the motility phenotypes and successfully abrogated biofilm formation by inhibiting EPS production in P. aeruginosa. Hence, the QQ, anti-virulence, and anti-fouling potential of MeT was elucidated for the first time against P. aeruginosa.
Experimental Study on Expansive Soil Improved by Lignin and Its Derivatives
Authors: Cai Yi , Ou MingXi
Published: April 2023

To study the feasibility and effect of compounding lignin and its derivatives to improve expansive soil, the physical properties, mechanical properties, and microstructure of the improved soil mixed with calcium lignosulfonate alone, calcium lignosulfonate and lignin fibers were investigated through indoor experiments and electron microscope scanning. Select samples with better performance for water stability tests, and discuss the improvement mechanism of expansive soil by combining macroscopic mechanical changes with microstructural characteristics. The research results show that the addition of calcium lignosulfonate can reduce the water content of the soil and enhance its strength of the soil. The overall performance is the best when the calcium lignosulfonate content is 3%. 3% calcium lignosulfonate compounded with 1.5% lignin fiber has the best all-around performance; the composite improved soil has a better pore-filling effect, the whole is more compact, and the connection between particles significantly enhances the strength, which greatly inhibits the development of cracks good water stability. Lignin and its derivatives compound improved expansive soil have better effect than traditional improvement methods, and have no pollution to the environment, which can provide a particular reference for engineering practice
Novel Isolate of Bean Common Mosaic Virus from Crownvetch (Securigera varia L. Lassen)
Authors: Mihálik Daniel , Grešíková Simona , Hančinský Richard , Cejnar Pavel , Havrlentová Michaela , Kraic Ján
Published: April 2023

Bean common mosaic virus from the genus Potyvirus has a wide range of hosts and a very negative impact on cultivated crops from the genus Phaseolus. The risk of viral infection of economically important crops increases even if the carriers of the virus are related plant species growing on agroecological interfaces. Such plant species have emerged as new hosts for BCMV, usually harboring novel genetic variants of the virus. A novel genetic variant of BCMV was isolated from a symptomatic crownvetch plant, where the presence of this virus was confirmed by Western-blotting analysis and by amino acid identities in peptide fragments of CI, HC-pro, and CP proteins using the nanoLC-ESI-Q-TOF. The novel BCMV SVK isolate differed from the most genetically similar one in 0.91% of nucleotides and 1.55% of amino acids. The highest number of amino acid substitutions (8.8% of amino acids) was in the P1 protein, followed by CP (2.44% of amino acids). Minor substitutions were in Hc-pro, CI, and Nib proteins. The symptomatic crownvetch plant was confirmed as a new host and carrier of the novel BCMV isolate.
Nanomaterial-Based Advanced Oxidation/Reduction Processes for the Degradation of PFAS
Authors: Cardoso Inês M. F. , Silva Luís Pinto da , Silva Joaquim C. G. Esteves da
Published: April 2023

This review focus on a critical analysis of nanocatalysts for Advanced Reductive Processes (ARP) and Oxidation Processes (AOP) designed for the degradation of poly/perfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in water. Ozone, ultraviolet and photocatalyzed ARP and/or AOP will be the basic treatment technologies. Besides the review of the nanomaterials with greater potential as catalyst for advanced processes of PFAS in water, the perspectives for its future development considering sustainability considerations will be discussed. Moreover, a brief analysis of the current state of the art of the ARP and AOP for the treatment of PFAS in water will be presented.
Variability in Krill Biomass Combined With Fixed Catch Limits Affected Pygoscelis Penguin Breeding Success in the Western Antarctic Peninsula
Authors: Krüger Lucas , Santa Cruz Francisco , Mardones Mauricio , Cárdenas César
Published: April 2023

Pygoscelis penguin populations in the Antarctic Peninsula have dropped dramatically in the last 50 years. The main probable cause is the reduction in Krill (Euphausia superba), the most important feeding item for Pygoscelis penguins during breeding. The scientific community has expressed concerns on the potential that competition with the fishery during periods of low krill availability might be exacerbating the effects of climate change. By bringing together data on breeding success of penguin colonies throughout the Antarctic Peninsula with information of krill availability from acoustic survey and krill fishery monitoring data, we were able to show that fishery has had in the past an effect over breeding success. That is a consequence of a management strategy based on a constant catch level enabling the fishery to maintain the same levels of production even when krill availability is low. The total catch limit may have represented a substantial amount of the available krill biomass in some years, and we detected that when the catch goes over 5% of the available biomass during summer, breeding success of penguins decreased by one third. We discuss the implications of our findings to the revised ecosystem-based management strategy of the krill fishery in Antarctica.
Citrus Essential Oils as an Alternative Method of Control of the Fungus Alternaria alternata (Fr.: Fr.) Keissler
Authors: Azevedo Fernando Alves de , Devite Fernando Trevizan , Bastianel Marines , Schinor Evandro Henrique , Da Conceição Patricia Marluci
Published: April 2023

Alternaria brown spot (ABS) is a disease caused by the fungus Alternaria alternata f. sp. citri, which results in lesions on fruits, leaves, and branches of several mandarin varieties and their hybrids. Due to the high cost of fungicide application, alternative methods for controlling ABS need to be studied. Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate the use of essential oils (EOs) from different mandarin varieties to mitigate the effects of ABS. The inhibitory effect of different concentrations (1, 2, 4, 8, and 16 μL mL-1) of Fremont IAC 543 mandarin, IAC 2019Maria mandarin, Murcott IAC 221 tangor, and Late IAC 855 willowleaf. EOs on the in vitro mycelial growth of the fungus A. alternata was evaluated. Additionally, the curative and preventive effects of these EOs on ABS symptoms on detached leaves of Murcott IAC 221 tangor were also assessed. The EO of IAC 2019Maria mandarin induced less mycelial growth, and consequently, greater inhibition of the growth of the fungus A. alternata at a concentration of 16 μL mL-1. This EO was more effective in control than the other oils tested. In the detached leaf experiment, both the curative and preventive treatments at a concentration of 16 μL mL-1 showed lower values of disease severity.
Hydropower Scenarios in the Face of Climate Change in Ecuador
Authors: Naranjo-Silva Sebastian , Punina-Guerrero Diego , Rivera-González Luis Miguel , Escobar-Segovia Kenny , Barros-Enriquez Jose David , Almeida-Dominguez Jorge Armando , Alvarez del Castillo Javier
Published: April 2023

Nowadays, hydropower is the principal renewable; however, climate change increases extreme events such as floods, droughts, erosion, and sedimentation of rivers that produce uncertainty in hydroelectric generation. Thus, this document aims to analyze the climate change projections in the hydropower systems of Ecuador based on data from 14 projects studying the scenarios ac-cording to the Shared Socioeconomic Pathways from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. The study period starts from 2010 to 2020 with historical data, collects the tendency, defines a database year, and then projects the scenarios to 2050. The quantitative methodology uses a statistic on Ecuador's hydropower obtained inflow time series to calculate the deviation over the last years and develop a model to simulate future generation. The results show that the hydropower in Ecuador is expected to decrease considerably through 2050 due to meteorological changes. In this calculation of the Shared Socioeconomic Pathways, the selected scenarios show a reduction in SSP5 of 11.5%, SP2 of 16.2%, and SSP4 of 18.2% to 2050, concluding that the oppor-tunities for hydroelectric production facing climate change are variable, but the challenges are broad. In Ecuador, the projections of hydropower plants represent a sensitive issue of their re-ductions, especially knowing that the country had an energy grid in 2020 that depended on 87% of hydroelectric production.
Green Dental Environmentalism among Students and Dentists in Greece
Authors: Antoniadou Maria , Chrysochoou Georgios , Tzanetopoulos Rafael , Riza Elena
Published: April 2023

As in every workplace, human sustainability in dental enterprises is connected to air and water quality, eco-friendly and naturally designed working spaces and 4R’s culture. Purpose of this study is to access the preferences and knowledge on circular economy and green building construction in a sample of students and dentists in Greece. Students (N1=93) and dentists (N2= 126) filled in e-questionnaires from April to December 2022. The response rate was 17,88% for N1 and 1.94% for N2. Data revealed that both students and dentists lack knowledge on circular economy (N1=67.7%, N2=68,25%), EU regulations on amalgam disposal (N1=64.5%, N2=58.73%) and plastic recycling (N1=76.34%, N2=76,98) while they do recycle at home (N1= 80.6%, N2=82.54%) and have participated in voluntary environmental actions (N1=58.1%, N2=66.67%). Gender influences the importance of factors related to green dental practices, with women students being more prone to answer positively as important for increase costs for network changes (p=0.02), lack of environmental awareness of manufacturers (p=0.057), and poor wastewater management (p=0.01). Students from urban areas are more prone to answer positively for lack of state financial support (p=0.02), low level of green design in the building (p=0.03), low direct financial benefit of a green dental office (p=0.04), low benefit to the reputation of the green dental office (p=0.02), lack of continuing education training seminars on green dentistry (p=0.05). For dentists, no significant relationships were observed except of a weak positive relationship in increase in costs for changes related to utility networks (p=0.08) while increased wasteful energy (p=0.12) and waste of dental materials (p=0.19) seemed important only for dentists in urban areas. Women dentists were more prone to answer positively on wasting energy (p=0.024) and use of unapproved disinfection products (p=0.036). The findings contribute ideas and solutions on green dental office buildings and sustainable behaviors through educational activities and social perspective of factors such as age, experience in dentistry, gender, and urbanism. It also inspires future multi-disciplinary research on dental quality assurance, psychology of environmentalism, economics, and behavioral science in dentistry.
RNA Vaccines: Yeast as a Novel Antigen Vehicle
Authors: Silva Anna Jéssica Duarte , Souza Mylenna Máyra Gois , Macêdo Larissa Silva , França Neto Pedro Luiz , Moura Ingrid Andressa de , Espinoza Benigno Cristofer Flores , Invenção Maria da Conceição Viana , Pinho Samara Sousa de , Gama Marco Antonio Turiah Machado da , Freitas Antonio Carlos de
Published: April 2023

In the last decades, technological advances related to RNA manipulation enabled and expanded its application in vaccine development. This approach comprises synthetic single-stranded mRNA molecules that direct the translation of the antigen responsible for activating the desired immune response. The success of RNA vaccines depends on the delivery vehicle employed. Among the systems, yeasts emerge as a new approach to a natural delivery platform. The presence of β-glucans and mannans in its wall is responsible for the adjuvant action of this system. Yeasts are already employed to deliver protein antigens, with success and efficacy demonstrated through pre-clinical and clinical trials. Yeast β-glucan capsules, microparticles, and nanoparticles are capable of modulating host immune responses and have a high capacity to carry RNA and small molecules, with bioavailability upon oral immunization and with targeting to receptors present in anti-gen-presenting cells (APCs). Besides, yeasts are interesting vehicles for the protection and specific delivery of therapeutic vaccines based on shRNA or dsRNA. In this review, we present an overview of the attributes of yeast or its derivatives for the delivery of RNA-based vaccines, discussing their current challenges and prospects for using this promising strategy.
Real-Time Pipe Structure Change Detection and Classification using Distributed Acoustic Fiber Sensors Based on Convolutional Neural Network (CNN) Models
Authors: Zhang Pengdi , Venketeswaran Abhishek , Wright Ruishu F. , Lalam Nageswara , Sarcinelli Enrico , Ohodnicki Paul R.
Published: April 2023

This study proposes a machine-learning-based framework for detecting mechanical damage in pipelines, utilizing physics-informed datasets collected from simulations for mechanical damage. The framework provides an effective workflow from dataset generation to damage detection and identification for three types of pipeline events: welds, clamps, and corrosion defects. While the study initially focused on optimizing the CNN structure using various advanced optimizers, it also investigated the impact of sensing systems on data classification and the effect of noise on classification performance. The study's analysis highlights the importance of selecting the appropriate sensing system for the specific application. The authors also found that the proposed framework is robust to experimentally relevant levels of noise, suggesting its applicability in real-world scenarios where noise is present. Overall, this study contributes to the development of a more reliable and effective method for detecting mechanical damage in pipelines. The proposed framework provides an effective workflow for damage detection and identification, and the findings on the impact of sensing systems and noise on classification performance add to its robustness and reliability.
Whole Genome Sequence Analysis of SARS-COV-2 Isolated from COVID-19 Patients in Duhok Province, Iraq
Authors: Taher Sherzad Majeed , Abdo Jassim Mohammed , Merza Muayad Aghali
Published: April 2023

Abstract
The severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) was first identified in people in the city of Wuhan at the end of December 2019, and it has since spread to all continents. Global interest has been focused on discovering a treatment and developing a successful coronavirus vaccine as a result of the emergence of this new coronavirus. In this research, we sequenced the whole genome of the SARS-COV-2 virus that were isolated from 40 patients in Duhok, Iraq. 95 different mutations were identified in our isolation when such the whole genome sequence of the SARS-COV-2 isolated from the city of Wuhan, China (Accession number: NC 045512.2) was matched to the virus's sequence using Sequencing technology (Illumina , USA ) and Assembly method (iVar 1.3.1). Sequence analysis revealed that 38 mutations were found at spike glycoprotein (S), 30 of which were found in the ORF1b , 11 mutations were found in ORF1b ,7,3,2,1 mutations were found in ( N,M,ORF6 ,ORF9 /E ) genes which had been linked to structural changes at various places. The conclusion that the cases in Iraq were of different origins of infections and had a close relationship with the isolates from different country and state were further confirmed by phylogenetic analysis and transmission. The whole genome sequence of the SARS-CoV-2 , which were identified from the Iraqi Kurdistan region, and reported as a first study in Kurdistan region.
Characterizations of the Non-linear Responses of a Non-premixed Flame to the Low Frequency Acoustic Excitations
Authors: Pan Deng , Ji Chenzhen , Zhu Tong
Published: April 2023

The heat release response of the flame to acoustic excitation is a critical factor for understanding combustion instability. In the present work, the nonlinear heat release response of a methane-air non-premixed flame to the low frequency acoustic excitations is experimentally investigated. The flame describing function (FDF) was measured based on the overall CH* chemiluminescence intensity and the velocity fluctuations obtained by two-microphone method. The CH* chemiluminescence images and the schlieren images were analyzed to reveal the mechanism of nonlinear response. The excitation frequency ranges from 10Hz to 120Hz. The forced relative velocity fluctuation amplitude ranges from 0.10 to 0.50. The corresponding flame Strouhal number (Stf) ranges from 0.43 to 4.67. The study has shown that the flame length responds more sensitively to changes in excitation amplitude when subjected to relatively high frequency excitations. The normalized flame length (Lf/D) decreases from 3.79 to 2.37 with the increase of excitation amplitude at excitation frequency of 100Hz. The number of oscillation zones along the flame increases with increasing excitation frequency, which is consistent with the increase of the Stf. The low-pass filtering characteristic of FDF is caused by the dispersion of multiple oscillation zones, as well as the cancellation effect of the adjacent oscillation zones under relatively high frequency excitation. The cancellation effect of the positive and negative oscillation zones with various Stf is main mechanism for the local gain peak and valley. When two adjacent oscillation regions have approximate amplitudes, the overall phase-lag becomes more sensitive to changes in excitation frequency and amplitude. This sensitivity leads to nonlinear anomalous changes in the phase-lag near the frequency corresponding to the gain valley. The calculated disturbance convection time is consistent with the measured time delay in the short flame scenario. Future research is necessary to establish whether the observed agreement occurs due to the oscillation zone consistently occurring proximate to the flame's center of mass, coupled with a precise determination of the average convective velocity.