bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Multiplicity results for nonhomogeneous elliptic equations with singular nonlinearities
Authors: Arora Rakesh
Published: March 2022

This paper is concerned with the study of multiple positive solutions to the following elliptic problem involving a nonhomogeneous operator with nonstandard growth of \begin{document}$ p $\end{document}-\begin{document}$ q $\end{document} type and singular nonlinearities

   \begin{document}$ \left\{ \begin{alignedat}{2} {} - \mathcal{L}_{p,q} u & {} = \lambda \frac{f(u)}{u^\gamma}, \ u>0 && \quad\mbox{ in } \, \Omega, \\ u & {} = 0 && \quad\mbox{ on } \partial\Omega, \end{alignedat} \right. $\end{document}

where \begin{document}$ \Omega $\end{document} is a bounded domain in \begin{document}$ \mathbb{R}^N $\end{document} with \begin{document}$ C^2 $\end{document} boundary, \begin{document}$ N \geq 1 $\end{document}, \begin{document}$ \lambda >0 $\end{document} is a real parameter,

   \begin{document}$ \mathcal{L}_{p,q} u : = {\rm{div}}(|\nabla u|^{p-2} \nabla u + |\nabla u|^{q-2} \nabla u), $\end{document}

\begin{document}$ 1
, \begin{document}$ \gamma \in (0,1) $\end{document}, and \begin{document}$ f $\end{document} is a continuous nondecreasing map satisfying suitable conditions. By constructing two distinctive pairs of strict sub and super solution, and using fixed point theorems by Amann [1], we prove existence of three positive solutions in the positive cone of \begin{document}$ C_\delta(\overline{\Omega}) $\end{document} and in a certain range of \begin{document}$ \lambda $\end{document}.
$ H_{\infty} $ control for continuous-discrete systems in T-S fuzzy model with finite frequency specifications
Authors: Duan Zhaoxia , Liang Jinling , Xiang Zhengrong
Published: March 2022

In this paper, the \begin{document}$ H_{\infty} $\end{document} control problem is concerned for a class of continuous-discrete T-S fuzzy systems (TSFSs) described by the Roesser model with a finite frequency (FF) specification. Assume that the frequencies of the disturbance input are known in advance and dominated within a FF range. An \begin{document}$ H_{\infty} $\end{document} performance is established within a FF range for continuous-discrete TSFSs, which is an extension of the standard \begin{document}$ H_{\infty} $\end{document} performance. This paper aims to construct a state feedback controller which guarantees the closed-loop system to be stable and to have a prescribed FF \begin{document}$ H_{\infty} $\end{document} performance. A numerical tractable method for designing a controller is obtained through matrixing, thus giving conveniently the expression of controller with linear matrix inequality as tool kit.
On approximation of Bernstein-Durrmeyer operators in movable interval
Authors: Wang Fengfeng , Yu Dansheng , Zhang Bin
Published: March 2022

In the present paper, we introduce a new type of Bernstein-Durrmeyer operators preserving linear functions in movable interval. The approximation rate of the new operators for continuous functions and Voronovskaja's asymptotic estimate are obtained.
A Renewable Energy Assessment Method by Parametric and Non-Parametric Models' Data Analysis
Authors: Aydın Yenioğlu Zühre , Ateş Vildan
Published: March 2022

Consumption of renewable energy sources for countries shows a rising trend. Providing progress in the renewable energy field, countries try on related regulations and accurate investments according to renewable energy consumption and generation. European Union (EU15) countries play an essential role increasing renewable energy efficiency, which is share of Europe in total energy usage. In this chapter, deterministic and stochastic methods were used to examine whether the renewable energy efficiencies of EU15 countries and Turkey are sensitive to different data envelopment analysis and stochastic frontier analysis models using renewable energy consumption and generation parameters. The chapter presents how the renewable energy efficiency results of related countries change with different optimization models in the context of deterministic and stochastic framework, and it proposes a new method to find a common solution for the different results of different optimization models.
Evaluating the Most Effective Solar Panel by ENTROPY and COPRAS Methods
Authors: Demir Ezgi , Balo Figen
Published: March 2022

The terms “sustainable development” and “sustainability” have become more popular because of the critical troubles faced through mankind such as growing humankind effect on ecology and the risk of energy source depletion. Solar energy is one of the most rapidly developing sources of sustainable energy available today. The solar panel is the foundation of a photovoltaic system. In this study, the COPRAS and ENTROPY methods have been applied to select the most effective solar panel (100W) for a solar farm design. The five various solar panel brands have been evaluated, and professionals' choices have been dependent on the most important characteristics of the solar panels. From the top panel firms worldwide, the solar panel data utilized in this chapter is obtained. The most effective panel selection has been analyzed to affect the solar panel property potency employing in scales, in conjunction with several competing solar panels from which corporations must choose the top requirements, using COPRAS and ENTROPY techniques.
Multi-Criteria Decision-Making Methods for Biomass Energy Systems
Authors: Güldeş Meral , Gürcan Ömer Faruk
Published: March 2022

Global climate change is one of the most challenging problems of today's world and its effects have become more noticeable day after day. The magnitude of climate change is closely related to our carbon footprint, so replacing the resources such as petroleum, coal, nuclear energy by which humankind generates their energy requirements with new ones is essential. The usage of renewable energy resources is one of the effective ways to decrease CO2 emissions and environmental pollution. Biomass energy is one of the promising future energies as a renewable resource. Therefore, many requirements should be considered and evaluated carefully to produce and sustain a successful biomass energy system. This chapter presents a review of academic research attempting to face the biomass energy sector's problems using multi-criteria decision-making (MCDM) methods. Related articles in the international journals from 2010 to 2021 are collected and reviewed to answer the following questions: (1) Which methods are mainly used? (2) Which problems attract the most attention?
The Selection of a Most Feasible Wind Turbine Alternative Under Multi-Criteria Framework
Authors: Demir Ezgi , Balo Figen
Published: March 2022

Because of the effects of nuclear and fossil-based energy on the environment, economics, and security in the world, the need for alternative energy sources has grown steadily and dramatically during the last years. An increasing attraction in renewable power sources, due to rising energy expenses and country-level tax inducement, is driving the research to advance a sequence of improving unified resolutions and novel energy generation equipment. The novel wind turbine installation and the novel wind farm building are critical procedures for long time energy generation. In this chapter, a comprehensive analysis, which combines ARAS and ENTROPY methods, is structured to choose appropriate turbines when improving a wind power plant. The various wind turbine brands were evaluated on different classes (financial, customer satisfaction, environmental, and technical). Data on wind turbines is acquired from 2 MW wind turbine manufacturers.
Evolving, Transforming, and Making Meaning in the Doctoral Journey
Authors: Arnold Harriett B.
Published: March 2022

Utilizing theoretical foundations from culture, spirituality, and emotions in education, this chapter will uniquely and collectively aim to go beyond a single pedagogy to encompass a broad and diverse territory. It will explore more deeply and systematically the significance of understanding the complexity of the phenomena of discovering pedagogical influences on the doctoral process, as well as cognitive and emotional outcomes within and outside of the classroom. What are the roles of meaning and purpose in the doctoral program process? How important is future work and professionalism associated with career placement? Are there connections to professionalism and individual doctoral research? These questions will be explored in this chapter.
Process Considerations for the Development and Assessment of Virtual Education Doctorates
Authors: Prager Erika , Hall Barbara M. , Wellner Laurie , Riggle B. Andrew , Throne Robin
Published: March 2022

This chapter focuses on the use of a customized backward instructional design process used to re-engineer a virtual university's integration of institutional learning outcomes within a practice-based online dissertation process for a doctorate in education (EdD). The EdD will incorporate specialization areas in instructional design, learning analytics, and e-learning and through a lens of best assessment practices for doctoral education. This program will highlight the unique considerations for virtual environments especially those that incorporate asynchronous instructional elements in program and course design. The education doctorate is leadership-based and practitioner-focused to prepare candidates as scholar practitioners who utilize the learning outcomes for research-based decision making and problem solutions within their scope of practice. A new three chapter dissertation allows candidates to solve a practice-based problem as a culminating doctoral learning activity which will be assessed across institutional outcomes and expectations.
The Dissertation as Assessment and More
Authors: Taylor P. Mark
Published: March 2022

This chapter concludes the discussion of typical coursework structure of doctoral programs in education. The dissertation is the culminating experience of both the Ph.D. and the Ed.D. in education. It is presented here because it falls within the coursework structure of doctoral programs. The last credit hours of the doctoral program are dissertation hours. Chapter 7 highlights the many ways the dissertation can be viewed. It is the final learning opportunity, the largest assessment, a form of apprenticeship, a professional discourse opportunity, and a rite of passage. The chapter finishes with a brief description of some alternative forms that some innovative programs offer.
Handling Research Challenges
Authors: Shaban Abir El
Published: March 2022

This chapter explores some of the challenging issues that were raised for the author while conducting her first biggest research project as an international doctoral student at one of the United States universities. The main challenge that the author faced was the difficulty of having access to a language center to examine her technology professional development model on language teachers to explore its effectiveness in understanding the teachers' adoption and rejection decision of using education technology and to collect data for her dissertation. After choosing an alternative venue and planning to travel to the United Arab Emirates to conduct the practical part of her research at one of the UAE's universities, an academic networking event changed the course of the latest plans and had a gatekeeper assisting her in experimenting her model and conducting the rest of her study in an American university. The chapter explores some of the challenges and how the author tackled each one of them. The chapter ends with some general recommendations for graduate students and novice researchers.
Practicing Holistic Health and Self-Care Throughout the Dissertation Journey
Authors: Johnson-Arnold Letitia P.
Published: March 2022

This chapter discusses the significance of holistic health and self-care practices throughout the dissertation journey and explores how health outcomes may impact academic success, longevity, and persistence of students in a doctoral program. The author examines graduate students' health behaviors and uses a six-dimensional model of wellness to explain how dimensions interconnect and influence health outcomes. The chapter provides the readers with reflection prompts and resources to evaluate wellness dimensions and develop a self-care action plan to adopt strategies that support holistic health. The chapter also presents a case study to illustrate the personal journey of a doctoral student navigating the first half-marathon of the dissertation journey while reflecting on ways to improve or maintain holistic health and practice good self-care. The personal experiences this work shares provide valuable insight into successes and potential obstacles students may encounter and highlight strategies that may be implemented to overcome challenges.
After the Storm
Authors: Sprull Nakiesha Melvin , Starling Cristy B.
Published: March 2022

This chapter describes the experiences of two Black women that have earned doctoral degrees from predominately white institutions, through their narratives. The authors described their experiences using the metaphorical backdrop of a storm. The beginning of their doctoral program represents the calm before the storm. Their experiences within their doctoral program symbolize the authors' movement through the eye of the storm. Finally, the description of the aftermath of the storm symbolizes their post-doctoral journey. They use Tinto's student integrations model as the lens to view their narratives. They describe their institutional experiences by elaborating on their goal and institutional commitments, and their academic and social systems. One of the social aspects of the institutional experience that helped them successfully navigate their doctoral program was inclusion in the Brown Gurlz. The Brown Gurlz is a group of Black women who need a space and place to collaborate and share experiences to benefit all that are in the group.
Summer Mentoring Experiences for Students in Online Doctoral Programs
Authors: Smit Julie , Jones Elizabeth , Ladick Michael , Lesley Mellinee
Published: March 2022

University faculty created the Llano Estacado Writers' Alliance (LEWA) in response to improving the quality and rigor of online doctoral programs. The goal for LEWA was to promote meaningful academic writing and transform doctoral students' identities as agentic academic writers. After LEWA's inception, the authors incorporated the perspectives of their alumni and advanced doctoral students to help address students' needs. This chapter documents the four-year journey of forming LEWA and developing new approaches to mentoring online doctoral students. Specifically, the authors recount the evolution from the faculty-led, week-long summer intensives that addressed students' anxieties and uncertainties about the doctoral program to the writing intensives that were more student centered, responsive, and primarily focused on the mores of academic writing. Results demonstrated the benefits of professor-led and peer-led networks in developing students' sense of belonging, sense of accountability to their peers, and a sense of self-worth as capable academic writers.
The Development of a Doctoral Program CoP and Its Members
Authors: Olszewski Carol A. , Znamenak Kyle A. , Paoletta Toni M. , Hansman Catherine A. , Selker Matthew L. , Coffman Karie A. , Pontikos Keli B.
Published: March 2022

The purpose of this research study was to explore how a multigenerational community of practice (CoP) at a public urban university may provide doctoral students the space and the support needed to explore and develop their professional identities and find their scholarly voices. The second aim of this study was to examine how the entity of the CoP itself evolved over time. Social learning theory and generational theory provided the framework to interpret the data. Through analysis of collective autoethnographic journals, three primary themes emerged:1) psychological safety and trust; 2) diverse expectations became shared interests; and 3) the unique and shared experiences of the CoP members.
Online Research Supervisor Engagement
Authors: Throne Robin , Bourke Brian
Published: March 2022

This chapter has pedagogical implications for online graduate students to define researcher positionality. It offers graduate-level examples for the articulation of researcher positionality within online graduate-level research including theses, dissertations, and academic writings. This chapter is relevant to current master's thesis or doctoral dissertation writers at American institutions of higher education through distance, blended, or hybrid delivery modes. The authors suggest instructional strategies and a research supervisor agency to guide current master's thesis or doctoral dissertation writers in the articulation of researcher positionality. This fosters self-awareness of an online researcher's stance, subjectivities, proclivities, and standpoint prior to study participant engagement for data collection. This chapter may also be applicable to tenure-track faculty in need of this exposition for current empirical research and/or graduate student instruction.
Safety and Health Management on Merchant Ships
Authors: Graham Carolyn A. E.
Published: March 2022

The safety and health of merchant seafarers is of grave concern. With the ongoing global pandemic, the weaknesses in the governance structure to protect the safety and health of seafarers have been further exposed. Safety and health on ships is governed by two international instruments, the International Safety Management Code (ISM) and the Maritime Labour Convention 2006 (MLC). Yet, the maritime industry is challenged with how to effectively manage safe and healthy working conditions in the global merchant fleet. Regulations in and of themselves have been found to be inadequate. Other considerations are important such as representative participation, which has been neglected as a viable mechanism in the maritime safety and health regulatory regime. This chapter foregrounds representative participation as necessary for effective safety and health management on ships. It argues that along with enabling regulations and other supports for its effective implementation and practice, representative participation might help to address the challenges in safety and health management on ships.
An Exploratory Study of Recruitment of Women in the Port Industry
Authors: Karatas-Cetin Cimen , Baran-Kasapoğlu Esra , Ayaz İlke Sezin
Published: March 2022

For decades, existing in male-dominated industries has not been easy for women. At seaports, as a male-dominated sub-industry of maritime, the industrial operators and the freight handlers employ significantly more men than women both in the office and the yard. Listening to women's stories of beginning a job in ports is important to increase their presence in ports. For this reason, this study aims to investigate narratives of women employees about their feelings and experiences at the job interview process in the ports. Narrative analysis was used in this study. According to the results, most of the participants preferred the port sector consciously. Although most of the participants had a positive job interview process, they had some worries before job application. It is hoped this research contributes to the port business both scientifically and practically by revealing the experiences of women employees in job interview processes in ports.
Challenges of Seafarers and the Shipping Market During the COVID-19 Pandemic
Authors: Lau Yui-yip , Kawasaki Tomoya
Published: March 2022

COVID-19 has quickly spread in various parts of the world. A number of countries or cities launched “lock down” policies and stringent social distancing measures. As such, the maritime industry needs to rely on healthy and professional seafarers to support the emergency logistics operations with a short period of time. However, seafarers are classified as a COVID-19 high-risk and vulnerable group. In order to ease global severe pandemic situation, the cancellation of crew change policy has been introduced. Such policy intensifies the challenges of seafarers during the COVID-19 pandemic. Hence, there is an increasing trend of seafarers may changing their working area or occupation and refusing to sail. As such, the study aims to conduct a comprehensive review of the global shipping market and seafarer market, investigate the current COVID-19 policies and measures affecting seafarers, explore the key challenges of seafarers during the COVID-19 pandemic, and suggest possible ways to improve the wellbeing and working conditions of seafarers under the COVID-19 context.
Before, During, and After
Authors: Dimitrevich Alexander , Seyle Daniel Conor
Published: March 2022

This chapter will review the environmental and social stressors that seafarers face regularly and the associated risk of significant behavioral health impact with a particular focus on the risk of traumatic stress impacts. It will present research suggesting that such impacts have economic and performance impacts, in addition to their human impact, and research demonstrating that such impacts can cost-effectively be mitigated by relatively simple behavioral health interventions. Finally, it will propose a “before, during, and after” strategy that manning agencies and shipowners can adopt to equip seafarers with the appropriate tools to mitigate the impacts of maritime stressors.
Design for Additive Manufacturing in Medical Devices
Authors: Roy Shammodip
Published: March 2022

The chapter will cover the fundamentals of product design principles for additive manufacturing in medical devices, with a key focus on orthopedic implants and related devices. The chapter will describe commonly used additive manufacturing processes for medical devices and orthopedics, key design considerations, and how they have opened up possibilities in healthcare. The chapter will detail the fundamentals of design principles, which are expanding the boundaries of rapid, meaningful innovation and positively impacting the innovation cycles of a wide range of industries. It will describe how topology optimization, with the help of computing power, is providing design engineers with the tools to accurately understand structure-functional relationships of designs and in the process re-imagine the biomedical designs of tomorrow.
Computational Modeling of the Mechanics of Tissue Engineering Fibrous Scaffolds
Authors: Mech Dhruba Jyoti , Rizvi Mohd Suhail
Published: March 2022

Tissue engineering fibrous scaffolds play a crucial role in regenerative medicine. This chapter discusses the underlying mechanics and various approaches presently available to model these scaffolds and their limitations. The fibrous scaffolds are subjected to forces or deformation at two very different length scales (i.e., macroscopic forces during mechanical characterization and microscopic cellular forces). The scaffold behaves very differently under these two loading conditions, and very few computational frameworks capture the true nature of the scaffold under microscopic loading. The authors have also briefly discussed the two different ways a cell can sense the stiffness of the underlying scaffold and how it differs from the macroscopic stiffness.
Biomechanics of the Aortic Valve in Health and Disease
Authors: Deepak Thirumalai , Yamini Patina , Babu Anju R.
Published: March 2022

The aortic valve is composed of collagen, elastin, proteoglycan, valvular interstitial cells (VIC), and valvular endothelial cells (VEC). In the open condition, the aorta valve allows blood to leave the heart, and in the closed condition, it prevents the backflow of the blood to the left ventricle. However, when the aortic valve cups become narrow or thickened, cusp motion is impaired and obstructs the blood flow. This chapter investigates the structure and composition of the aortic valve cusp and the role of VIC, VEC, and cross-talk of VEC-VIC. In addition, biomechanical characterization of the aortic cusps such as uniaxial, biaxial, flexure, three-point bending, cantilever bending, and viscoelasticity was discussed. Furthermore, etiology, in vitro cell culture and in vivo animal models, and ex vivo models mimicking aortic stenosis and regurgitation were summarized.
Biomechanics of an Avian Flight
Authors: Ramdhun Yugesh , Basu Priyobroto , A. Ravi Kant , A. Thirugnanam
Published: March 2022

Birds have always fascinated scientists and opened their eyes to new areas of flight mechanisms through biomimicry of these flyers. These flyers can sustain and control the flight through clever maneuvering by flapping their wings. It involves an intricate aerodynamic force production to generate sufficient lift force to overcome the drag and perform useful maneuvers. Development of the forces differs widely among the species due to natural selection of the flyers. As far as the flapping mechanism is considered, it is very efficient. The differences in flight mechanisms may be explored by determining the kinematics, kinetics, and aerodynamics of the flyers. Wing kinematics determines the aerodynamic forces, which vary with flapping speed. The maneuverability and stability are regulated by complex muscle action and neural control allowing the flyer to perform specific tasks. Computational models have emerged as powerful tools to predict the flow around the flyers with potential exploration of the complex interactions between the skeletal system, sensory system, and neural control of the flight.
Simulation of Bloch Sphere for a Single Qubit
Authors: Garine Harsha Vardhan , Mishra Atul , Agrawal Anubhav
Published: March 2022

The Bloch sphere is a generalisation of the complex number z with |z|2 = 1 being represented in the complex plane as a point on the unit circle. The goal of the research is to create a simulation that can be used to visualise a Bloch sphere of a single quantum bit, also known as a Qbit. QISKIT (developed by IBM) is an open-source lab for education in the realm of quantum computing, and is used to test and validate this simulator. This study made use of both quantitative and qualitative methods of investigation.
Evaluation of E-Service Satisfaction Among Online Travel Agency (OTA) Users
Authors: Kumar Sunil , Gupta Shiv Kumar , Vaishnav Abhishek K. , Kumar Pankaj
Published: March 2022

Online travel agencies (OTAs) are online travel platforms like Expedia.Com, Make My Trip, Booking.com, and Travelzoo, etc., which sell travel-related products and services such as hotels, flights, travel packages, rentals, amenities, and activities to customers. OTAs work as an intermediary between suppliers and customers and help both in selling and buying the products and services. Over the period, due to technological advancement, OTAs have captured an average of 40% to 50% of the total global travel market. Users of online travel agencies are also increasing significantly as they are getting numerous benefits like saving of time and money, cheapest fares, best travel options and deals, customize packages, and superior value propositions. The present study is empirical in nature and has measured the perception and satisfaction level of uses towards various products and services of online travel agencies (OTAs).
Gender Stereotypes in Decision Making in Higher Education in Greece
Authors: Dourgkounas Georgios
Published: March 2022

This study presents an aspect of stereotyping and discrimination in participation in policy-making processes based on gender, which contributes to the reproduction of gender inequalities in higher education in Greece. In the process of accreditation of undergraduate programmes, there are great differences in the participation of male and female evaluators. This fact reproduces existing stereotypes and prejudices in participation in political decision-making and casts a bad light on the debate on gender issues, which is necessary to overcome the gender inequalities that characterise higher education in Greece.
The Study of Consumer Stock Market Behaviour by Consequence of Prospect Theory
Authors: Chotia Varun
Published: March 2022

This study analyses the application of prospect theory concepts to understand stock market fluctuations. Prospect theory is the most frequently encountered alternative to utility theory when the latter is seen as insufficient in explaining empirical data. It incorporates principles of cognitive psychology and encapsulates choice behavior theories from various disciplines to put forth a more comprehensive approach in the study of patterns in consumer behavior. This research also lists various metrics to be used in the calculation of an investor’s readiness in case of an opportunity involving a risky underlying asset and further classifies investors based upon their scores in each of these five metrics. Based upon the principles of behavioral economics, this area of interest offers several challenging problems for further research and their importance is only enhanced by the ease of extension of their solutions to real world implementation.
Systematic Characterization of the Crystalline Phase Transformation, from Amorphous to Rutile through Anatase, of TiO2 Nanofibers Synthesised by Electrospun Technique
Authors: Secundino-Sánchez Oscar , Díaz-Reyes Joel , Sánchez-Ramírez José F. , Arias-Cerón José S. , Galván-Arellano Miguel , Guillen-Cervantes Ángel
Published: March 2022

TiO2 nanofibers were synthesised by means of the electrospun technique, which were annealed at high temperatures to achieve the crystalline phase transformation from amorphous to rutile through anatase and the phase mixture. The chemical stoichiometry of electrospun TiO2 nanofibers was estimated by EDS, finding that at low annealing temperatures excess of oxygen was detected and at high temperatures excess of titanium that originates oxygen vacancies. The TEM images showed clearly the formation of TiO2 nanofibers (NF’s) that exhibit a homogeneous and continuous aspect without the presence of crystalline defects, whose surface morphology depends strongly on the annealing temperature. The crystalline phase transformation was studied by Raman spectroscopy, which revealed that annealed TiO2 NF’s showed a crystalline phase transformation from amorphous, pure anatase, anatase-rutile mixed, to pure rutile as the annealing temperature increased, which was corroborated by X-ray diffraction and high-resolution TEM. The average grain size, inside the NF´s, increased with the crystalline phase transformation from 10 to 24 nm for anatase-TiO2 and from 30 to 47 nm for rutile-TiO2, which were estimated by using the Scherrer-Debye equation. By absorbance measurements at room temperature the band gap energy (Eg) was obtained, which is ranged in 3.75-2.42 eV, caused by the amorphous → anatase → anatase-rutile mixed → rutile crystalline phase transformation.
Synthesis of Zinc Oxide Nanoparticles by Precipitation and Sol Gel Methods from Different Precursors and their Comparison Impact on Seedling Attributes of Wheat
Authors: Mehmood Faisal , Kousar Hina , Hassan Faiza , Zaman Qamar Uz
Published: March 2022

Zinc plays an important role as a micronutrient in both animals and plants. The application of zinc oxide nanoparticles as a potential solution to alleviate zinc deficiency and its effect on the growth of seedling attributes of wheat. These particles were prepared by precipitation and sol-gel method using zinc sulfate and zinc chloride as precursors. The prepared samples were characterized by Scanning electron microscopy and Fourier-transform spectroscopy. Zinc oxide nanoparticles were found to be elliptical in shape and their diameter ranges were observed 10.6 to 10.7nm by Scanning electron microscopy. Fourier-transform spectroscopy analyses showed the presence of the various functional group in the zinc oxide nanoparticles like N-H, CH2, CH3, RCH=CHR, C=O, -COOH, -OH and CH2-Cl. Solutions of different concentrations of zinc oxide nanoparticles (0.1%, 0.2%, 0.3%, 0.4%, 0.5%) were prepared and seeds were soaked in distilled water (hydro priming). After the 6 days observations, it was found that nanoparticles (0.3%) prepared from the zinc sulfate by sol-gel method showed significant variation for germination and seedling attributes of wheat as compared to control. The decreasing order for the zinc chemicals was zinc sulfate nanoparticles > zinc chloride for methods sol-gel method > precipitation method > standard (original salt) and for the levels was 0.3% > 0.2% > 0.4% > 0.5% > 0.1% > hydro priming > control. In crux, nanoparticles prepared from zinc sulfate enhanced the germination of wheat as compared to control.
Cold-Pressed Coconut Oil Cream: Preparation and Evaluation
Authors: Lwin Wai Wai , Puyathorn Napaphol , Chantadee Takron
Published: March 2022

Typically, the emollient effect of the vegetable oil has attributed to its usefulness in skin care preparation. The present study aims to prepare the oil in water emulsion cream containing virgin coconut oil (CO) comprisinghydrophilic and lipophilic surfactants (Tween 80 and Span 80). Stability of creams containing CO upon addition of peppermint oil (PO), co-surfactant (Solutol HS 15, ST), solubilizer (benzyl benzoate, BB) was investigated after the temperature cycling. All prepared creams showed the shear thinning flow behavior. Addition of BB gave the lowest viscosity while that comprising ST exhibited the higher viscosity. The highest viscosity formula was the CO andPO containing cream. The particle size determined using light scattering particle analyzer revealed that the mean particle size of all prepared creamswaslower than 35.56 ± 0.62 µm. The homogenous dispersion of oil globules in emulsion was evident, especially, in formulation II (CO) and IV (COand ST). Although the temperature cycling influenced more or less on the compact structure of gel network of cream, the decrement of viscositywasminimal and not much different for cream containing CO and ST (formulation IV). In addition, the mean particle size wasthe smallest for formulation II (CO) which was followed by formulation IV (CO and ST). There wasthe homogenous dispersion of oil globules in formulation II and IV after temperature cycling. All of the above finding was beneficial for employingCO as the oil phase in producing cream such as the foot massage cream where the addition of ST provided the better stability for the prepared cream containing CO.
Deproteinized Natural Rubber Latex as Matrix Base of Meloxicam Transdermal Patches
Authors: Suksaeree Jirapornchai , Waiprib Rungtiwa , Simchareon Weeraya , Phaechamud Thawatchai , Pichayakorn Wiwat
Published: March 2022

This study aims to formulate and evaluate the meloxicam (MX) transdermal patches using deproteinized natural rubber latex (DNRL) as a polymer matrix due to its good film forming characteristics. Hydrophobic drug, MX was firstly dissolved in hydroalcoholic solution and incorporated into DNRL with various concentrations of the drug (1-5%w/w). These mixtures were then cast on the glass plate prior to drying and thereafter obtaining the MX-loaded transdermal patches. Increasing amounts of the drug provided more opaque films with more precipitation of drug in films. The highest amount of MX was 3%w/w to incorporate with DNRL to obtain the acceptable patch without any visible precipitation. Compatibility of each ingredient in the formulation was confirmed using differential scanning calorimeter and X-ray diffractometer. The in vitro drug release study showed the increment of MX release from 7.88±0.43% to 13.33±0.87% in receptor medium of modified Franz diffusion cell when the drug concentration in the patches was increased from 1 to 3%w/w. The in vitro drug permeation study also found that MX could penetrate from DNRL transdermal patch through the porcine skin. However, these release and permeation amounts of MX were rather low that should be improved with some specific techniques and should be further investigated.
Determination of Antimicrobial Activity from Various Plant Parts of Typha angustifolia Using Agar Disc Diffusion and Bioautography
Authors: Narakornwit Worrakanya , Charoenteeraboon Juree
Published: March 2022

Fruit, leaf, fruit stalk, and rhizome of Typha angustifolia, which is abundantly available in Thailand, were investigated for antimicrobial activities. The results showed that fruit ethanolic extract had high activity against Staphylococcus aureus and Bacillus subtilis similar to the fruit stalk and rhizome extracts whereas the lowest antibacterial activities was found in the leaf extract. Only rhizome extract had antifungal activity against Candida albicans. The fruit extract was chosen for furthur study because of its antibacterial action, ease of collecting, and preparation before usage. This fruit ethanolic extract was semi-purified by partition with petroleum ether, chloroform and ethylacetate, respectively and subsequently tested for antimicrobial activities by disc diffusion against S. aureus, Staphylococcus epidermidis, Sarcina lutea, Streptococcus faecalis, Streptococcus pneumoniae, Micrococcus flavus, Bacillus cereus, Bacillus pumillus, B. subtilis, Shigella somnei, Proteus mirabilis, Proteus valgalis, Alcaligenes fecalis, Serratia marcescens, Salmonella paratyphi A, Salmonella typhi, Escherechia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Saccharomyces cerevisiae. The inhibitory zone against gram-positive bacteria was broader in all partitioned fractions than in gram-negative bacteria and yeast. Furthermore, none of the fractions were able to prevent the development of S. marcescens, P. aeruginosa, or E. coli. The inhibition zone of the ethyl acetate fraction was larger than that of chloroform and petroleum ether. In comparison to the other fractions, the chloroform fraction demonstrated the broadest inhibition zone against B. subtilis. Based on the bioautography investigation, it was reasonable to conclude that there were at least five antibacterial chemicals against B. subtilis. Therefore, fruit of T. angustifolia has the potential for use in the discovery of new antibacterial agents.
Exposure Evaluation of Toxic Trace Elements in Thai Mulberry Leaves and Commercial Tea Infusion Products
Authors: Thida Aye , Toyama Onoomar , Sratthaphut Lawan , Tanamatayarat Patcharawan , Satiraphan Malai
Published: March 2022

Tea infusion is one of the most widely popular beverages. With several medicinal activities, mulberry leaf is listed as a raw material for tea infusion by the Thai Ministry of Public Health. However, long-term consumption may lead to health risk from toxic trace elements accumulated in herbal raw materials. In this research, the potentially toxic metal (including As, Cd, Pb, Ni and Ba) contents were determined in six mulberry reference leaves and nineteen commercial tea infusion products from local harvester (LHG) and non-harvester (non-LHG) groups using ICP-MS. Each sample was analyzed in triplicate. Health risks of toxic metal consumption was evaluated through content mean value, t-test and Pearson correlation at the significance level of 0.05. The relevant aspects of principal component analysis were also discussed. No observed contents of heavy metals in all sample exceeded the limitation of Thai FDA and WHO. Yet, it was notified that quantity of As, Cd, Ni and Ba in commercial products was higher than that of references while there was no difference in Pb content between two groups. Further investigation found that Cd, Ni and Ba contents in samples from LHG were lower than those from non-LHG significantly. On the contrary, higher Pb content was found in sample from LHG than that from non-LHG group. The amount of As was not different in both groups. As the result, awareness of environmental controls in cultivation area and proper production is crucial to reduce health risk of exposure to heavy metals.
Formulation and Optimization of Progesterone Microemulsion Using Simplex Lattice Mixture Design
Authors: Aumklad Porawan , Suriyaamporn Phuvamin , Patrojanasophon Prasopchai
Published: March 2022

Progesterone (P4) is a neurosteroid hormone synthesized in both males and females, it is widely used in reproductive health and hormone replacement therapy. The aim of this study was to develop microemulsions (ME) and optimization of P4 microemulsion using a simplex lattice mixture design for enhancing the transdermal delivery of P4. Pseudo-ternary phase diagrams were generated to find the optimal ratio of the microemulsion constituents. The solubilities of P4 in different oils, surfactants, and co-surfactants were determined. The ME formulations of P4 were then prepared and optimized by simplex lattice mixture design. Each ME formulation was characterized for size, PDI, zeta potential, drug content, in vitro permeation study, and drug permeation in porcine skin. The result showed that the optimal ME formulation composed of 34.97 %w/w eugenol as the oil phase, 18.35 %w/w Labrasol® as the surfactant, 36.69 %w/w ethanol as the cosurfactant, and 10.00% w/w water containing HPβCD (1.0 M). The optimized ME showed an appropriate size of about 178 ± 42 nm with a low polydispersity index (PDI) and almost neutral charge. The drug content of the optimized ME was about 19.9 ± 0.6 %w/w. The results of in vitro permeability showed that the optimized ME formulation was significantly higher than the drug suspension. Moreover, the P4 from the optimized ME was able to be deposited in the dermis (1.07 mg) at a higher extent than in the stratum corneum (0.65 mg). In conclusion, this study explored a formulation approach to improve the transdermal permeation of P4.
Images of the dead (body) and the missing corpse in the Book of Job
Authors: Van der Zwan Pieter
Published: March 2022

The Song of Songs is regarding Eros, whereas the Book of Job seems to be about Thanatos. Despite the dominance of the theme of death in this biblical book, no word for a corpse or even a dead body occurs. Absence is, however, hermeneutically so important that it probably constitutes its essence in that only gaps leaving questions can be interpreted. The theory of the French psychoanalyst, Mária Török, about a phantom in a psychic crypt as unknown parental bequeathal can shed some light in the darkness of this mysterious absence: God never reveals the secret deal with the Satan to the traumatised Job who consequently cannot see the hidden wisdom – the truth – of the ‘corpse’. It is possible that death is more צַלְמָוֶת [a shadow of death, a word that occurs more in Book of Job than in any other biblical book], than a body, explaining something of Job’s ambivalent attitude to physical death.Contribution: The interdisciplinary research into biblical texts as literature from a psychoanalytical perspective adds to the broader horizons within which these texts can be analysed and interpreted. This is in line with the current shift of psychoanalytical interpretations away from psychiatry to literary studies.
Aligning SDG 13 with South Africa’s development agenda: Adaptation policies and institutional frameworks
Authors: Mthembu Dumisani E. , Nhamo Godwell
Published: March 2022

The alignment of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) with national development agendas has gained traction since the ratification of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development in September 2015. This article investigates how South Africa has aligned the climate action SDG (SDG 13) with its national development agenda, with an emphasis on adaptation policies and institutional framework. This comes against a background where the country has been accused of bias towards mitigation policies that were trigged by the Long-Term Mitigation Scenarios in 2007, which could have quickened mitigation responses to SDG 13. The data were generated through the use of three key methods, namely key informant interviews (n = 21), an online survey uploaded on an online platform called QuestionPro and a realised sample of 103 completed surveys. Furthermore, relevant policy documents were analysed from a critical discourse perspective. It emerged that South Africa has policies and strategies in place to respond to climate change adaptation within the context of SDG 13. However, while policies are in place, they have not translated to real change on the ground and therefore have not enabled the country to have adequate climate change resilience. The policies have not been translated into concrete actions; there are knowledge gaps in adaptation, poor leadership and lack of clear vision for adaptation and poor coordination. Institutions are scattered, with uneven capacity across sectors and different spheres of government; and weakest at the local government level. It also emerged that mitigation was prioritised for a while over adaptation, with a lack of funding and general awareness. The study recommends that adaptation measures should not be undertaken in isolation, instead, it should be addressed within the context of other programmes such as disaster risk management and sustainable development.
Evaluation of the modified Wells score in predicting venous thromboembolic disease in patients with tuberculosis or HIV in a South African setting
Authors: Keokgale Tweedy , Van Blydenstein Sarah A. , Kalla Ishmail S.
Published: March 2022

Background: There is paucity of data on the modified Wells score (MWS) utility on patients with venous thromboembolism (VTE) in a South African setting where there is a high burden of HIV and tuberculosis (TB). This study analyses the performance of this score in HIV/TB-infected patients compared with non-infected patients.Objectives: To assess the performance of the MWS as an additional risk factor for VTE in hospitalised patients with a high burden of HIV/TB infections.Method: This study was a retrospective cross-sectional cohort analysis of the utility of the MWS in 156 HIV/TB-infected and non-infected adult patients diagnosed with VTE on compression ultrasonography (CUS) or computed tomography pulmonary angiography (CTPA) in a medical inpatient setting over six months. Patients with HIV and/or TB were assessed as having an additional risk factor (1 point for each), and this was compared with the MWS. A McNeymar’s paired sample chi-squared test was used to compare the sensitivity of this score against the MWS.Results: Of the 156 patients with VTE who were enrolled, HIV was the commonest risk factor (42.31%) with TB accounting for 10.90% of cases. When the MWS adjusted for HIV/TB was used, the sensitivity increased from 25% to 100% for the HIV–/TB+ category, it increased from 77.36% to 98.11% in the HIV+/TB– category and it increased from 84.62% to 92.95% in the HIV+/TB+ category. These differences were statistically significant at P  0.05 in all categories.Conclusion: The MWS performs better when the infectivity of HIV/TB is included as an additional risk factor in the score.