bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Performance Measures and Level of Transit Service Assessment of Public Transport Bus Network in Baghdad City during 2002-2003
Authors: Yiqiu Tan , Qin Lihui , Ismael Imad , Naser Ali Fadhil
Published: November 2021

Buses of General Company for Passenger Transport was the primary mode for public transportation in Baghdad City. This system suffers from many problems, part of which were related to bus routes, while the other part was related to the bus and its operators. These problems have a direct effect on the users of public transport buses. The objective of this study was to assess the performance of eight public transport bus routes which they represented by the Al-Tahrir bus network and adopting the level of the transit service method. Seven transit performance measures were selected in this study, such as bus travel time, hours of service during the day, service frequency (headway), total delay on the route, running speed of the bus, bus occupancy, and capacity of the route. The results of this study showed that bus routes No. (72, 36, 13, 114, 11, 30, 37, and 9) were operating at overall Level of Transit Service LOTS (D, E, E, E, E, D, E, and E) respectively, whereas the bus network (Al-Tahrir bus network) was operating at overall LOTS (E); therefore, the performance of Al-Tahrir bus network was not acceptable, and improvements were needed to increase the level of transit service of this network.
Experimental Investigation on Bending Behavior of Textile Reinforced Concrete (TRC) Plates at High Temperatures
Authors: Arif Assim H.A. , Raoof Saad M.
Published: November 2021

Textile Reinforced Concrete (TRC) can be used as independent structural elements due to its high loading capacity and proper to product light weight and thin walled structural elements. In thisstudy, the bending behavior of TRC plates that reinforced with dry carbon fiber textile and exposed to high temperatures was experimentally studied under 4-points bending loading. Theexamined parameters were; (a) number of textile fiber reinforcements layers 1, 2 and 3 layers; (b) level of high temperatures 20°C, 200°C, 300°C, and 400°C. Firstly, the mechanical properties of the cementitious matrix and the tensile properties of TRC coupons at each predefined temperature were evaluated. The results showed that the ultimate tensile stress of the TRC coupons did not affect up to 200°C, however, a significant reduction observed at 300°C and 400°C by 19% and 24%respectively. Regarding the compressive strength and flexural strength of the cementitious matrix, the degradation was not severe until 200°C, while it became critical at 400 °C (23% and22% respectively). The result of the bending of TRC plates showed that doubling and tripling textile fiber reinforcements layers improved the flexural loading. In general, increasing the level of temperatures resulted in decrease in the flexural capacity of TRC plates. The highest decrease recorded for the specimen reinforced with 1-layer of carbon fiber textile subjected to 400 °C and was 33%.
Landslide variation with
morphometric factors
using the GIS techniques:
The case of Shaqlawa
Forest
Authors: Zaki Sara , Suleimany Jehan
Published: November 2021

This study deals with the application of geographical information system
(GIS) datasets and methods to assess the landslide susceptibility in Wadi
Hujran. The area has a rocky terrain and belongs to the Shaqlawa district
of the Kurdistan Region of Iraq. The region is placed towards the
Northeast side of Erbil city. The region covers an area of 18.56 Km2
(1856.1 ha) and consists of rough broken and stones. The watershed area
is surrounded by North latitudes 36° 21' 53.514" to 36° 17' 49.7796" and
East longitudes 44° 17' 5.658" to 44° 20' 9.06". Three factors, namely the
morphometric, geological, and environmental, were used to prepare the
landslide susceptibility index. The study made use of AHP method and
prepared a landslide susceptibility map. Data related to geology,
topography, hydrology, rainfall, and land use were used to prepare the
map. Physical and statistical methods were used to validate the map. A
heuristic approach was incorporated to produce the final susceptibility
map. ArcGIS software was used to generate the landslide zones. A total
of five landslide zones were generated, which varied from very low
landslide zones (80.5) to very high landslide zone (84.5). The zones also
included low landslide zone (1262.2), moderate landslide zone (1505.9),
and high landslide zone (566.8), and the ratio of consistency in the
present study was 0.06 AHP less than 1, and all the five zones in the study
were compiled landslide zonation estimated.
Modelagem de construções de pretérito imperfeito
Authors: Marção Natália Duarte , Torrent Tiago Timponi
Published: November 2021

Este trabalho visa apresentar a descrição e a modelagem de construções de Pretérito Imperfeito em Português Brasileiro (PT-Br) e em Espanhol (ES) de modo a contribuir para o desenvolvimento de um sistema de tradução por máquina que utiliza a base de dados enriquecida da FrameNet Brasil (FN-Br) para melhorar o resultado de sistemas de tradução por máquina. Primeiramente, fizemos o levantamento bibliográfico das construções de Pretérito Imperfeito em PT-Br e em ES. Posteriormente, para atestar as ocorrências dessa construção, constituímos um corpus com ocorrências de Pretérito Imperfeito em PT-Br e em ES composto por dados retirados de contos (em língua alvo e versão traduzida) de Machado de Assis e García Marques. Com base nos dados, notamos que havia ocorrências de discrepância entre usos do Imperfeito. Logo, passamos à análise dos contextos de discrepância entre as traduções do PT-Br para ES e do ES para PT-Br. A análise indicou que o Constructicon da FN-Br, nos moldes atuais, não comporta construções morfológicas. Dessa forma, propomos a inclusão de um recurso no Constructicon para armazenar modelos linguístico-computacionais na forma de construções morfológicas. Para tanto, pretendemos incorporar restrições de modo, aspecto e tempo verbal aplicadas a construções do tipo Pretérito Imperfeito.
Análise crítica do discurso presente no gibi A Morte e o Retorno de Superman
Authors: Silva Marcelo Travassos da
Published: November 2021

A primeira revista em quadrinhos com representação ficcional de personagem com superpoderes, Action Comics nº 1, é fruto de um contexto de crise da sociedade estadunidense após a quebra da Bolsa de Valores de Nova Iorque, em 1929. Algumas décadas depois, em 1993, foi lançada no Brasil a narrativa intitulada A morte e o retorno de Superman, dividida em várias revistas. O gênero textual do qual esse personagem faz parte pode ser analisado linguisticamente. Reconhecendo as narrativas com linguagem de quadrinhos como um segmento da cultura pop, este artigo tem como objetivo apresentar e refletir tal narrativa. Através da Análise Crítica do Discurso, tomando como base as elaborações de Norman Fairclough, este trabalho analisa o texto publicado na revista e apresenta a história que aborda a morte e renascimento de Superman, dividida em sequências e quadros estáticos. Autores como Pêcheux e Santaella também são utilizados na análise no que se refere a semiótica, discurso e ideologia. Como resultado, uma interpretação crítica desse personagem e sua publicação.
O discurso histórico e a dóxa
Authors: Prazeres Lara , El-Jaick Ana Paula Grillo
Published: November 2021

O artigo tem como objetivo principal realizar uma análise dos discursos que atravessam o caso dos 80 tiros – ação do Exército Brasileiro que resultou no assassinato de dois civis em 2019. O fato dividiu opiniões quando alguns grupos políticos tentaram isentar o Exército e os soldados de culpa e outros tentaram desvelar o despreparo da instituição militar, servindo, então, de exemplo para entender como fatos históricos podem ser moldados e recontados a depender dos falantes. Como base teórica, foram utilizadas as reflexões contidas em “O Rumor da Língua”, de Roland Barthes, sobre a dóxa e os discursos encrático e acrático, observando como a língua pode operar uma manutenção do poder ou uma reforma dele. Para isso, foram selecionadas manchetes, trechos de notícias e entrevistas veiculadas acerca do caso para realizar a análise linguística e identificar os significados gerados pela enunciação. Percebeu-se que há mecanismos que provocam o apagamento de ideias, tais como a esquiva discursiva; a retificação constante e incerta de números; bem como a criação de narrativas alternativas. Com isso, pretende-se examinar as disputas de poder na sociedade que utilizam da língua como arma principal para fundar a história.
Predicação secundária depictiva
Authors: Ferreira Elisabete Luciana Morais , Vicente Helena da Silva Guerra
Published: November 2021

Este artigo relata os principais resultados de Ferreira (2017), dissertação que investiga construções de predicação secundária no português brasileiro (PB), como “O João leu a carta cansado” e “O João comeu a carne crua”, caracterizadas pelo fato de um mesmo argumento ser partilhado por dois predicados: o predicado da oração matriz e o adjetivo, predicado secundário depictivo (cf. HIMMELMANN; SCHULTZE-BERNDT, 2005). Há na literatura um intenso debate sobre essas construções, voltado especialmente a determinar se o depictivo e seu sujeito formam ou não um constituinte small clause (SC) e se, havendo uma SC, seu sujeito seria PRO (cf. WINKLER, 1997). Outra questão importante, mas menos explorada na literatura, refere-se ao mecanismo de concordância operante nessas sentenças. Diante desse cenário, abordaremos neste artigo: (i) argumentos apresentados em Ferreira (2017) em defesa de uma SC adjunta; (ii) a proposta minimalista de derivação dessas construções apresentada pela autora, que assume não haver PRO na SC, e sim o movimento lateral do DP (NUNES, 2004) da SC para uma posição-θ na oração matriz, sendo o núcleo da SC um Asp φ-incompleto, que estabelece com o DP uma relação de Agree (CHOMSKY, 2000, 2001). Tal proposta, entendida como uma consequência da teoria de controle como movimento (HORNSTEIN, 1999, 2001), tem a vantagem de dispensar PRO e unificar o tratamento de concordância no âmbito das predicações primária e secundária. A dupla atribuição de papel-θ ao DP partilhado pelos dois predicados também é abordada no trabalho.
The linguistic impairment of the perfect aspect in Alzheimer’s disease and logopenic primary progressive aphasia
Authors: Gomes Jean Carlos da Silva , Martins Adriana Leitão , Rodrigues Fernanda de Carvalho
Published: November 2021

Taking into account that neuropsychological studies with subjects with language pathologies can contribute to the investigation of the organization of syntactic knowledge, the objective of this work is to investigate the syntactic representation of the perfect aspect based on data from subjects with pathologies that affect their language. More specifically, we aimed to investigate the possible phrases associated with the types of the perfect aspect and the hierarchy among them. This work aims to investigate the syntactic representation of the perfect aspect. Therefore, we sought to verify a possible linguistic impairment of this aspect in individuals diagnosed with Alzheimer's Disease (AD) and Primary Progressive Logopenic Aphasia (LPPA). A double case study was carried out with one patient with AD and another with LPPA. The methodology consisted of applying functionality tests, neuropsychological tests, and linguistic tests. The results indicated that both the AD patient and the LPPA patient present functional decline and cognitive impairment, with the degree of impairment of the first patient being more extensive than that of the second one in both cases. Regarding language, the patient with AD showed impairment with all four types of perfect, present tense, and imperfective aspect, whereas the LPPA patient has shown impairment only in perfect of recent past and present tense. Based on the results we propose the existence of a phrase to perfect of recent past and the dominance of the temporal phrase over the perfect phrases in the syntactic hierarchy.
Estudos em desenvolvimento da linguagem na Síndrome de Down
Authors: Lima Ivonaldo Leidson Barbosa , Delgado Isabelle Cahino , Andrade Cássio Kennedy de Sá , Melo Ediclécia Sousa de , Lima Marilene Gomes de Sousa , Cavalcante Marianne Carvalho Bezerra
Published: November 2021

O processo de aquisição da linguagem pode ser impactado em crianças com síndrome de Down, uma condição genética que provoca um atraso no desenvolvimento infantil. A atenção conjunta é uma habilidade sociocognitiva que se relaciona com o desenvolvimento da linguagem. Desse modo, este trabalho objetivou analisar os estudos a respeito da atenção conjunta no desenvolvimento da linguagem na síndrome de Down. Para isso, foi realizada uma revisão da literatura em bases de dados nacionais e internacionais, a fim de identificar estudos originais acerca dessa temática. Inicialmente, foram obtidos 668 artigos. Mas após a aplicação dos critérios de elegibilidades, foram selecionados 12 estudos. Verificou-se análise do desenvolvimento de crianças com síndrome de Down em comparação com o de crianças neurotípicas ou com Transtorno do Espectro Autista, além da participação dos pais em algumas pesquisas. A análise de filmagens e as avaliações foram as propostas metodológicas mais realizadas nos estudos, e o vocabulário infantil o elemento mais investigado junto ao engajamento conjunto. A partir do levantamento das questões centrais nos trabalhos pesquisados, constatou-se evidências de que a atenção conjunta é uma habilidade potencial na síndrome de Down e que possui relações com o desenvolvimento de outras habilidades cognitivas, motoras e linguísticas.
Análises da neurolinguística discursiva sobre o método fônico
Authors: Moutinho Isabella de Cássia Netto
Published: November 2021

O objetivo deste texto é apresentar a análise da Neurolinguística Discursiva sobre a perspectiva cognitivista para a alfabetização, imposta via decreto presidencial no Brasil em janeiro de 2019. No decreto, está determinada a adoção do método fônico no processo de ensino de leitura e de escrita. Partindo de uma metodologia heurística de análise de dados que busca as hipóteses de escrita das crianças e de concepções discursivamente orientadas de cérebro, sujeito e linguagem, analisamos exercícios representativos do método fônico e apresentamos o contradiscurso da ND, problematizando o método e destacando alternativas ao seu uso. A análise dos exercícios propostos pelo método fônico e o método das boquinhas aponta que não há embasamento teórico, linguístico ou pedagógico que sustente sua aplicação, uma vez que podem ser indutivos ao erro. Neste trabalho, alertamos para o fato de que sua ampla aplicação pode ser geradora de diversas dificuldades para muitas crianças e que sua suposta blindagem científica faz com que não se questione a efetividade do método, mas sim as aptidões e as capacidades inatas das crianças, abrindo espaço, assim, para a patologização de dificuldades normais do aprendizado.
O samba enredo da ética em pesquisa na aquisição da linguagem
Authors: Oliveira Marina de
Published: November 2021

Neste artigo, aborda-se a temática da ética em pesquisa especificamente no campo da Aquisição da Linguagem. O enfoque objetiva refletir sobre a constituição do pesquisador na área aquisicional levando em conta a singularidade do trabalho com a criança e, ainda, discutir as escolhas que permeiam o processo de transcrição de registros em áudio e/ou vídeo produzidos em pesquisas de campo. Para dar conta de tal reflexão, mobilizam-se, principalmente, princípios teóricos da obra “Para uma filosofia do ato responsável”, de Bakhtin (2020), na qual o autor propõe um modo particular de se pensar a pesquisa em Ciências Humanas partindo da realidade do ato. Dessa forma, os conceitos bakhtinianos de ato responsável, pensamento participativo, centro de valores, não-álibi e assinatura fundamentam este artigo. O estudo configura-se como um ensaio teórico reflexivo. Ademais, estudiosos de Bakhtin e pesquisadores da área da Aquisição, tal como Sobral (2019) e Del Ré, Paula e Mendonça (2014), complementam e amparam tal interlocução teórica. Por fim, conclui-se que o ato responsável de pesquisar pressupõe um pensamento participativo do pesquisador e uma tensão de vozes entre pesquisador/pesquisado, além disso a transcrição reflete as demais escolhas da pesquisa, uma vez que é transpassada pela orientação valorativa do pesquisador como centro do fazer científico.
A construção de discursos antidemocráticos no governo Bolsonaro
Authors: Santana Gabriel do Nascimento
Published: November 2021

Este trabalho tem como objetivo central descrever e analisar os mecanismos sociointeracionais empreendidos na fala do ex-ministro da educação Abraham Weintraub durante reunião ministerial do dia 22 de abril de 2020, visando a desvelar em sua fala os modos pelos quais o sujeito desse discurso ratifica uma identidade coletiva de um grupo ideologicamente alinhado ao bolsonarismo. O aparato teórico deste estudo se baseia primordialmente nos conceitos gerais da Sociolinguística Interacional e da Análise da Conversação, tomando como fenômenos centrais a sociocognição como processo retórico-discursivo e as estratégias de (im)polidez como recursos de categorização e identificação cultural. Para a composição dos dados de análise, utilizou-se a transcrição oficial da Justiça Federal e vídeo publicado na íntegra pelo veículo jornalístico UOL. Adotamos uma postura etnometodológica acerca dos dados, voltada para a estruturação da “ação social” nas interações cotidianas (GARFINKEL, 1967). Pretendeu-se, assim, investigar não apenas estruturas linguísticas, mas principalmente o que os participantes estão fazendo na interação e como eles sinalizam textual-discursivamente o que estão fazendo. Concluiu-se que o discurso de Weintraub promove uma anulação da diversidade cultural brasileira e o enfraquecimento das instituições democráticas da República por meio de estratégias sociointeracionais de (im)polidez que constroem um apelo retórico-discursivo e narrativo em torno de uma suposta identidade coletiva bolsonarista.
Como reconhecer uma metáfora quando você vê uma
Authors: Dienstbach Dalby
Published: November 2021

A afirmação de que as metáforas seriam algo entranhado na nossa vida cotidiana (LAKOFF; JOHNSON, 2002 [1980]) incorre na constatação de que esse fenômeno pode acontecer em virtualmente quaisquer territórios discursivos. Porém, não é em qualquer tipo de discurso que falantes encontram ‒ ou esperamos encontrar ‒ expressões metafóricas. Nesse contexto, este estudo assume o objeto de investigar os mecanismos conceptuais que levam falantes comuns a associarem a ocorrência de metáforas a alguns gêneros textuais e não a outros. Ancorado no conceito de metaforicidade (DIENSTBACH, 2017), as análises deste estudo se lançam, de um lado, ao levantamento da densidade metafórica (BERBER SARDINHA, 2011) e de recursos de metaforicidade (MÜLLER, 2008) em quatro corpora identificados com gêneros diferentes ‒ poema, capa de revista, artigo científico e bula de medicamento ‒ e, de outro, à sondagem da expectativa de falantes quanto à ocorrência de metáforas nesses gêneros. Os resultados das análises mostram uma correlação positiva entre densidade metafórica e a expectativa dos informantes quanto à ocorrência de metáforas em somente dois dos gêneros analisados; especificamente, poemas e capas. Por outro lado, a correlação entre recursos de metaforicidade e a expectativa dos informantes é positiva em todos os gêneros. Esses resultados afiançam a conclusão de que mais do que somente a ocorrência de metáforas em um texto, é a ocorrência de recursos de metaforicidade ‒ os quais permitiriam que elas fossem reconhecidas como tais ‒ que levam o falante a associar esse fenômeno com o gênero desse texto.
A abordagem da voz passiva em livros didáticos brasileiros
Authors: Bechir Thaís
Published: November 2021

Nesse trabalho, com o objetivo de verificar como se dá a definição e a aplicação da matéria da voz passiva nos livros didáticos brasileiros, analisamos, qualitativamente, 5 livros do Ensino Fundamental II e 5 livros do Ensino Médio, aprovados, respectivamente, pelo PNLD de 2020 e pelo PNLD de 2018. Nesses livros, percebemos uma tendência de limitar a passiva (a) em relação a transitividade verbal, restringindo que ela só ocorre com VTD; (a) em relação a sua semântica, restringindo que ela só ocorre com verbos de ação agentivos. Além disso, notamos que, nesses materiais, a passiva é tratada com ênfase em seus aspectos gramaticais. Mostramos, seguindo a linha de pesquisa da semântica lexical, que a passiva não apresenta restrições normativas rigorosas, sejam elas sintáticas ou semânticas. Isso porque ela se configura como um vasto e poderoso recurso semântico-discursivo da língua. Assim, propusemos que a passiva seja tratada de maneira mais ampla nos materiais didáticos, com foco, não em regras prontas, mas nas motivações para seu uso e em seus efeitos de sentido.
Entre ficção e realidade
Authors: Chaise Maria Joana Chiodelli , Freitas Ernani Cesar de , Boaventura Luis Henrique
Published: November 2021

O presente trabalho examina a formulação de um ethos crítico à administração da crise sanitária da COVID-19 pelo Governo brasileiro por parte de uma capa do jornal Extra de março de 2021. A capa noticia a primeira posição mundial do Brasil em número de mortes diárias pelo novo coronavírus através de uma das frases mais utilizadas pelo atual presidente durante as eleições de 2018: “Brasil acima de todos”. O objetivo é analisar o ethos elaborado pela capa do jornal e que efeitos de sentido ele produz. O marco teórico se situa nas reflexões sobre destacabilidade, cenografia e ethos de Dominique Maingueneau (2008b, 2018, 2020). Conclui-se que, apesar de utilizar uma frase aparentemente neutra e sem ataques explícitos ao Governo, o jornal Extra consegue transmitir um efeito de sentido crítico à administração federal ao apoiar-se sobre o ethos pré-discursivo do atual presidente para a produção de um ethos efetivo de oposição à política da crise sem fazer uma crítica nominal.
Deepfake e violência verbal nos comentários de internautas no Facebook
Authors: Oliveira Manoel Klebson de Andrade , Albuquerque Andréa Moreira Gonçalves de , Cunha Dóris de Arruda Carneiro da
Published: November 2021

O objetivo deste trabalho é analisar a violência verbal em comentários de deepfake no Facebook. Partimos da hipótese de que, diante do discurso satírico e tendencioso de uma deepfake, inicia-se um confronto violento entre os internautas no qual cada polo se posiciona axiologicamente como dono da verdade, o que reforça o cenário de descortesia e ódio presente no ambiente discursivo da política brasileira. O nosso corpus é constituído pelos comentários da publicação de uma deepfake sobre o pronunciamento do Presidente Jair Bolsonaro no dia 22 de setembro de 2020 na Organização das Nações Unidas. Produzida e publicada no perfil do jornalista e videomaker Bruno Sartori, a deepfake gerou 12 mil reações, mil comentários e 9,7 mil compartilhamentos. No vídeo, o presidente Harris, interpretado por Leslie Nielsen, de um filme de comédia americana, aparece com a voz e as falas de Bolsonaro, discursando para líderes mundiais e pronuncia uma sequência de enunciados controvertidos, ditos em situações reais pelo presidente Bolsonaro em alguns momentos do seu governo. Para a análise dos comentários, mobilizamos noções de relações dialógicas, contexto, auditório e entonação da obra de Mikhail Bakhtin, Pável Medviédev e Valentin Volóchinov. A análise mostra que, no confronto entre diferentes posicionamentos valorativos, os internautas desqualificam, insultam, usam linguagem grosseira e, em disputas acirradas por suas convicções, produzem enunciados de ódio e disseminam violência na esfera comunicativa e pública das redes sociais digitais.
Üniversite Öğrencilerinin Girişimcilik Dersini Seçme Nedenleri ve Dersten Beklentileri
Authors: MARANGOZ Mehmet , TAYÇU DOLU Zehra
Published: November 2021

Çalışmanın amacı, öğrencilerin girişimcilik dersini seçme nedenlerinin ve girişimcilik dersinden beklentilerinin öğrenilmesidir. Araştırma anket yöntemi kullanılarak yapılmış olup basit tesadüfî örnekleme yöntemi ve 527 öğrencinin katılımı ile gerçekleştirilmiştir. Elde edilen sonuçlara göre öğrencilerin girişimcilik dersini seçme nedenleri; ders ile ilgili nedenler, öğretim elemanı ile ilgili nedenler, çevre etkisi ile ilgili nedenler, ders seçme sistemi ile ilgili nedenler, ders geçmeye ilişkin nedenler ve diğer nedenler olarak belirlenmiştir. Girişimcilik dersinden beklentiler ise kişisel gelişime ilişkin beklentiler, öğretim elemanından beklentiler ve ders geçmeye ilişkin beklentiler şeklindedir. Ayrıca öğrencilerin girişimcilik dersini seçme nedenleri ve dersten beklentilerinin cinsiyet, gelir durumu ve dersi veren öğretim elemanının unvanına göre farklılık gösterip göstermediği incelenmiştir. Öğrencilerin girişimcilik dersini seçme nedenlerinden olan; ders ile ilgili, ders seçme sistemi ile ilgili ve ders geçmeye ilişkin nedenleri cinsiyete göre; ders ile ilgili, çevre etkisi ile ilgili ve ders seçme sistemi ile ilgili nedenlerin gelire göre; ders ile ilgili, öğretim elemanı ile ilgili, çevre etkisi ile ilgili ve diğer nedenlerin, dersi veren öğretim elemanının unvanına göre farklılık göstermektedir. Öğrencilerin girişimcilik dersinden beklentileri ise cinsiyete göre tüm faktörlerin ve dersi veren öğretim elemanının unvanına göre kişisel gelişim ile ilgili beklentiler ve öğretim elemanından beklentiler faktörleri farklılık göstermektedir.
Phytochemical characterization of Caraway (Carum carvi) seed extract and its use as a potent medicinal agent
Authors: Chauhan Vivek , Devi Sunita , Sharma Sonaxi , Kanwar Shamsher S.
Published: November 2021

Carum carvi (Caraway) is a member of Apiaceae family which originated in Asia. Due to its economic importance, it is widely cultivated. Caraway is the only annual species, commonly present in arable land, moist meadows and on low lands to mountains. Caraway has different applications in pharmaceutical and food industries. Phytochemical screening of different medicinal plants is helpful in identifying new sources of industrially and therapeutically important compounds. In this study, Caraway obtained from forest surrounding the village Goherman, Lahaul and Spiti, Himachal Pradesh (India) was used. Seed extract of caraway extracted in methanol (MSE) and distilled water (WSE) was used for phytochemical analysis to determine the constituents of caraway seeds. Further, caraway seeds extract was checked for antibacterial activity [Staphylococcus aureus (ATCC 6538), Salmonella typhimurium (NCTC 74), Escherichia coli (ATCC 25922) and Staphylococcus epidermidis (ATCC 12228)], antioxidant activity and acid neutralizing activity. After analysing the results, it can be said that caraway seeds possess many medicinal properties and it can be used in enhancing human health.
Decolorization of mixture of UV/ TiO2 pre-treated azo dyes by using developed bacterial consortium – An excellent outcome
Authors: Shoa Shamsi , Bibi Fathima S.G. , Sangeetha K. , Niveditha S. , Venkata Krishna Bayineni
Published: November 2021

The degradation of the mixture of azo dyes by the developed bacterial consortium, photocatalytic process (TiO2/UV) and their combined effects were investigated in this study. The bacteria consortium was developed from waste disposal drains in the local textile dyeing industry. The consortium consists of two different bacteria which were identified as Stenotrophomonas pavanii and Bacillus licheniformis through 16S rDNA sequence alignment. The decolorization efficiency was estimated by spectrophotometry and it was observed that biological and photochemical methods alone could not effectively remove the dyes as the decolorization efficiency was low and the absorption peak in the UV region was not completely removed. After 5 days of incubation at 37°C, pH 7 and a dye concentration of 150 mg/L, the microbial dye degradation reached a decolorization efficiency of more than 55%. Additionally, the UV treatment alone was also able to decolorize the dye less than 20% at 45°C, pH 9 at 150 mg/L of dye. A two-step treatment process, namely, photocatalytic treatment followed by biological degradation, was assessed. Ultraviolet-Visible (UVVis) spectral analysis showed that the combined effects were most efficient in the dye degradation (97-98%) which involved a complex interaction of enzyme activity, biosorption and photocatalytic action. Here we also report the optimization of various operational parameters.
Biomedical applications of fish gut associated Streptomyces maritimus IM20 isolated from Rastrelliger kanagurta (Indian mackerel)
Authors: Vignesh Angamuthu , Gopikrishnan Venugopal , Anbarasu Sivaraj , Radhakrishnan Manikkam , Jerrine Joseph
Published: November 2021

The biomedical potential of fish gut-associated actinobacteria isolated from the marine fish Rastrelliger kanagurta (Indian mackerel) was investigated. The actinobacterial strain IM20 was isolated from the fish gut by using Kusters agar medium prepared with 50% sea water. Based on their phenotypic and molecular characteristics, strain IM20 was identified as Streptomyces maritimus. The bioactive metabolites produced from the strain IM20 by agar surface fermentation and ethyl acetate extraction were tested for in vitro antimicrobial, antiquorum sensing , anti-biofilm, anti TB, anti-oxidant and anti-cancer activity. The MIC value of ethyl acetate extract (EAE) of IM20 was found to be 16 μg ml−1 against S. aureus and E. coli. In quorum sensing inhibition assay, the extract showed violacein inhibition upto 87% at 512 μg ml−1 concentration when tested by pigment inhibition assay using C. violaceum MTCC 2656. The results of in vitro assays revealed that the ethyl acetate extract of IM-20 (EAE-IM20) showed 75%, 83% and 72% inhibition against Mycobacterium tuberculosis H37Rv, M. tuberculosis (SHRE sensitive) and multi drug resistant (MDR) M tuberculosis respectively at 500 μg ml−1 concentration. In DPPH assay, 71% radical scavenging activity was exhibited by the EAE-IM20 at 250 μg ml−1. In MTT assay, EAEIM20 exhibited 74.29±2.01% inhibition on breast cancer cell line MCF7 (250 μg ml−1). This study broadly determines that the fish associated actinobacteria is a prolific place for diverse multifunctional bioactive compounds for the development of medically important unique drugs.
Optimization of lipid accumulation in Pleurastrum insigne for biodiesel production
Authors: Chhandama Van Lal Michael , Satyan Belur Kumudini
Published: November 2021

Microalgae emerged as a competent feedstock for biodiesel production because of high growth rate and lipid content. This work focuses on isolation of novel microalgal strain from different sources of water for the production of biodiesel. The isolated microalgae, Pleurastrum insigne possessed high lipid content (~28 % dcw), further optimized to 57.06 % dcw using a statistical design (CCD) under Response Surface Methodology. Lipid production was optimized by nutrient (nitrogen and phosphorus) and pH stress. The different type of fatty acids present in the optimized lipid was also profiled using GCMS. Biodiesel yield was found to be 82.14 % of the total lipid and the fuel properties tested have met IS, ASTM and EN biodiesel standards.
A review on fatty liver disease or non-alcoholic fatty liver disease and hepatocellular carcinoma
Authors: Toman Daniel , Vavra Petr , Jelinek Petr , Ostruszka Petr , Ihnat Peter , Foltys Ales , Roman Jan
Published: November 2021

The non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is the predominant etiological factor for liver disease. There is a risk of the development of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in patients suffering from NAFLD. Non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) is one of the risk factors for the development of HCC. The aim is to discuss an association of NAFLD and HCC in the adult population. HCC is one of the debilitating complications of NAFLD/NASH and obesity is a causative factor for NAFLD/NASH. Various clinical data suggest that obesity appears to be a causative factor in the progression of NAFLD/NASH to HCC. We searched data from the PubMed/Medline and Google Scholar databases including various studies and review articles. Significantly, an increased number of HCC patients with cryptogenic liver disease had well-differentiated tumors than in HCC patients with chronic viral hepatitis and alcoholism. HCC is one of the debilitating complications of NAFLD/NASH and obesity is a causative factor for NAFLD/NASH. Various preclinical and clinical data suggest that obesity appears to be an important causative factor in the progression of NAFLD/NASH to HCC.
Virophage: The hijacker of my hijacker is my friend
Authors: Kharisma Viol Dhea , Jatmiko Yoga Dwi , Ansori Arif Nur Muhammad , Wicaksono Adhityo , Mustafa Irfan
Published: November 2021

The discovery of virophage carries along the proof of existence of a new bio controlling agent in the entire biosystem. The virophage is a parasite to a giant virus and works by hijacking “the giant virus” viral factory, an essential machinery for the giant virus’s replication, leading to a sharp incline of the virophage viral load inside the host cell. Success of the host cell survival against the invading giant virus is shown by the decline of the destroyed cell during lytic stage after virophage co-infection to the giant virus. Virophage has a similar role to the bacteriophage but instead of targeting a bacterium, it targets specifically on virus. Hitherto, the existence of human-borne virophage and interactions of virophage to human microbiome remain elusive, thus future studies are required. This short review will highlight the discovery, types and recent known method of virophage replication. We also added some biological perspectives of the connections and interactions between the virophage and its host to exploit the virophage main role as a biocontrolling agent to pathogenic viruses that are potentially benevolent for human life.
Insights into pathophysiology, immune response and treatment of novel CoVID-19
Authors: Kaur Manpreet , Kaur Rajinder , Gupta Reena
Published: November 2021

The beginning of year 2020 has brought with it mass destruction of mankind in form of novel coronavirus, named as CoVID-19. Declared as pandemic by World Health Organization (WHO), CoVID-19 has its origin in bats and pangolin from which it was probably transferred to human. Subsequent human to human transmission has been seen by respiratory droplets, fomites and oral-fecal route. The disease has caused widespread deaths in America, China, France and Italy followed by many European and Asian countries. CoVID-19 targets the human lungs and multiplies in alveoli using host machinery. Interstitial edema and alveolar edema at later stages cause alveoli collapse and difficulty in breathing. Severe cases may pave to systemic inflammatory response that has fatal response in body. Unfortunately, researchers are still struggling for potential vaccine or promising drug to combat the disease. WHO has issued guidelines suggesting regular hand washing, social distancing, wearing masks and quarantination as the best ways to prevent infection. This review gives an overview of the novel CoVID-19, conditions and immune response of human body related with it.
Deciphering the Amendment-Induced Secretion of Ligninolytic Enzymes by Pleurotus pulmonarius
Authors: Thiribhuvanamala G. , Parthasarathy S. , Ahiladevi P.
Published: November 2021

Pleurotus pulmonarius belonging to the white-rot fungal basidiomycetes group secretes extracellular ligninolytic enzymes for the degradation of agroresidues. The present study was carried out to evaluate the efficacy of different agro-residues for the enhanced production of ligninolytic enzymes and to authenticate their ability by protein analysis. The morphological and molecular sequences of white-rot fungi were characterised. Besides, the efficacy of organic and inorganic amendments in the secretion of ligninolytic enzymes by P. pulmonarius was characterised using SDS-PAGE and native PAGE analysis. The characterised strain of P. pulmonarius secreted enhanced laccase enzyme levels in the liquid medium through supplementation with organic and inorganic amendments. Wheat bran and groundnut cake each @5% enhanced secretions of Laccase, LiP and MnP. Copper sulphate at 150 μM enhanced the laccase enzyme and at 100 μM enhanced the LiP enzyme level by P. pulmonarius. Similarly, supplementation with manganese sulphate at 150 μM enhanced laccase, LiP and MnP enzyme levels compared to control. SDS-PAGE results showed protein banding patterns in the range of 50–85 kDa for the Lac enzyme in samples drawn from wheat bran and groundnut cake-supplemented substrates. Native PAGE results of laccase enzymes also showed that wheat bran (5%) + groundnut cake (5%) + CuSO4 (150 M) + MnSO4 (150 M) induced four laccase isozymes. Supplementing organic and inorganic amendments to the substrates would enhance the secretion of laccase enzyme that would aid in better breakdown of lignin.
Synergistic Apoptotic Effect of Naringenin on enhancing the Anti-Glioma Efficacy of Temozolomide in an in vitro Experimental Model
Authors: Daisy Precilla S. , Shreyas S. Kuduvalli , Sathish R. , Anitha T.S.
Published: November 2021

Glioma is one of the most devastating and difficult-totreat brain tumors with a very poor prognosis. Despite the current treatment modalities, the overall survival rate is only 5% contributing to a high mortality rate. Nevertheless, of emerging treatment strategies, there is still a rising need for novel mitigation strategies to counteract glioma aggressiveness. One attempt towards this long-term goal was made in this study to reveal the combined efficacy of naringenin, a bioactive flavonoid on enhancing the anti-glioma potency of temozolomide in C6 glioma cells. The cytotoxic effect of temozolomide and naringenin, both individually and in combination was assessed by employing MTT assay. The synergistic effect of the drugs temozolomide and naringenin was determined by calculating the combination index. To confirm the presence of apoptotic changes in the cells at morphological level, acridine orange/ethidium bromide staining was performed. Further, the modulatory effects of the drugs on apoptotic genes, caspase-3 and BCL-2 were evaluated using quantitative real time-PCR. Interestingly, we found that the combinatorial drug treatment was in consensus and effectively inhibited the growth of C6 glioma cells in a dose-dependent manner. Furthermore, this combinatorial drug treatment significantly up-regulated the expression of the proapoptotic gene, caspase-3 and down-regulated the anti-apoptotic gene BCL-2 suggesting a shift of equilibrium towards apoptosis. Our findings suggest that naringenin can be employed as a potent drug to enhance the anti-glioma efficacy of temozolomide and could be therapeutically exploited for the management of glioma.
Computational Atom-based Three-Dimensional Quantitative Structure-Activity Relationship (3D QSAR) Model for Predicting Anti-Dengue Agents
Authors: Khalid Ali Qusay , Avupati Vasudeva Rao , Hussain Husniza , Zaidan Tabarek Najeeb
Published: November 2021

Dengue fever is a viral infection spread by the female mosquito Aedes aegypti. It is a virus spread by mosquitoes found all over the tropics with risk levels varying depending on rainfall, relative humidity, temperature and urbanization. There are no specific medications that can be used to treat the condition. The development of possible bioactive ligands to combat Dengue fever before it becomes a pandemic is a global priority. Few studies on building three-dimensional quantitative structure-activity relationship (3D QSAR) models for anti-dengue agents have been reported. Thus, we aimed at building a statistically validated atom-based 3D-QSAR model using bioactive ligands reported to possess significant anti-dengue properties. In this study, the Schrodinger PhaseTM atom-based 3D QSAR model was developed and was validated using known anti-dengue properties as ligand data. This model was also tested to see if there was a link between structural characteristics and anti-dengue activity of a series of 3-acyl-indole derivatives. The established 3D QSAR model has strong predictive capacity and is statistically significant [Model: R2 Training Set = 0.93, Q2 (R2 Test Set) = 0.72]. In addition, the pharmacophore characteristics essential for the reported anti-dengue properties were explored using combined effects contour maps (coloured contour maps: blue: positive potential and red: negative potential) of the model. In the pathway of anti-dengue drug development, the model could be included as a virtual screening method to predict novel hits.
Atom based Profiling and Functional Enrichment analysis of Aquaporins
Authors: Johri Parul , Trivedi Mala , Singh Sujeet Pratap
Published: November 2021

Sequence analysis is a computational biology method to study protein sequences by comparing amino acids of one protein sequence with the other (residual level comparison). This study reveals a new concept of comparing protein sequences at their basic atomic level. Aquaporins from various origin were compared at their atomic level and the study revealed that all the aquaporin proteins have a closed range of 31.0% to 34.2% of carbon atoms irrespective of their origin and amino acid sequence. Further the protein interaction and functional enrichment analysis of AQP7 showed significant interaction with glycerol kinase and ATP-sensitive inward rectifier potassium channel protein. Our insilico analysis on aquaporin proteins exposed that nature tends to maintain the overall carbon atom composition in the proteins regardless of their amino acid sequence composition which could be further used for their classification. Also, the most highly interacting partners for AQPs are the potassium buffering channel proteins.
Molecular cloning and characterization of NAD+ dependent isocitrate dehydrogenase enzyme from Shewanella putrefaciens
Authors: Akbas Fahri , Demirel Metin , Ozaydin Ahmet , Selek Sahabettin
Published: November 2021

Isocitrate dehydrogenase (IDH) is a fundamental enzyme for carbon metabolism in the Krebs cycle. This enzyme is required for oxidation-reduction reactions in both eukaryotic and prokaryotic cells and plays a critical role in their growth and pathogenesis. In this study, we cloned the gene encoding NAD+ dependent isocitrate dehydrogenase from Shewanella putrefaciens. The expression of recombinant protein was induced with 0.5 mM of IPTG. His-tagged IDH overexpressed in E. coli was purified and characterized. The expressed IDH enzyme was purified in an active soluble form. The molecular weight of the enzyme was confirmed with Western blotting. High sequence homology was observed with IDH sequences of other Shewanella strains and remarkable sequence homology was found with other bacteria reported in the database. The open reading frame of the gene encoding IDH of S. putrefaciens was 1069 bp in length, which codes a polypeptide composed of 356 amino acids and with a 38 KDa molecular weight. The optimum enzyme activity was obtained at pH 8. We cloned, purified and characterized Shewanella putrefaciens isocitrate dehydrogenase enzyme (SpIDH). The recombinant enzyme demonstrated a specific activity of Vmax 4.6±0.3 μM/min and Km 334 μM using NAD+ as a cofactor.
Risk of respiratory viral infections after hematopoietic stem cell transplantation in Indian patients
Authors: Jethani Jyoti , Samad Sameer , Kumar Prashant , Dar Lalit
Published: November 2021

Haematopoietic stem cell transplant (HSCT) recipients are at higher risk of morbidity and mortality due to respiratory infections and their frequency is not well studied in Indian HSCT recipients. A cohort of 55 HSCT recipients were enrolled prospectively for respiratory episodes. Real-time polymerase chain reaction was performed for respiratory viral aetiology. A total of 153 episodes of acute respiratory infections occurred, [107 episodes (mean; 2.8/patient) in autologous HSCT (n=38); 46 episodes (mean; 2.7/patients) in allogeneic HSCT (n=17)]. From these episodes, 70 samples could be tested for respiratory viruses, of which 33 (47.1%) samples tested positive. A higher infection rate (52%; 26/50) was seen in autologous HSCT compared with allogeneic HSCT (35%; 7/20). Rhinoviruses were detected most often (18/33; 54.5%), followed by parainfluenza viruses, (PIV, 6/33; 18.1%). Human metapneumoviruses, (hMPV) and influenza A/H3N2 were detected in 4 samples each (4/33; 12.1%) followed by respiratory syncytial virus (RSV, 2/33; 6.1%). Of the 13 patients with an unfavourable outcome, 4 had respiratory viral infections. Significantly higher fatality was observed in allogeneic than in autologous recipients. Respiratory viruses cause multiple episodes of infection contributing to morbidity and mortality in HSCT recipients.
Antifungal activity of rare actinobacterium isolated from forest soil
Authors: Sasidhar Muralidharan , Masilamani Selvam , Baskaran Abirami , Kaari Manigundan , Manikkam Radhakrishnan
Published: November 2021

Prolonged use of antifungal drugs has led to the emergence of drug resistant fungal pathogens that pose serious threat to public health and challenge to researchers for discovering novel antifungal agents. Natural products from the members of phylum actinobacteria are the promising source of antibiotics including antifungal agents. Twenty-seven morphologically different actinobacterial cultures were isolated from the forest soils of Sabarimala, Kerala and Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh. Actinobacterial strain LA34 showed promising antifungal activity when screened against Candida albicans and Cryptococcus neoformans, hence selected as potential strain. Antifungal compounds were produced from the strain LA34 using agar surface fermentation and its extraction was done using ethyl acetate and methanol. Results of cultural, microscopic and physiological characteristics as well as cell wall amino acid and sugars analysis revealed that the strain LA34 was nonstreptomyces or rare actinobacterium. Various carbon sources, nitrogen sources and minerals were found to influence antifungal compound production by the strain LA34. The present study concluded that the rare actinobacterial strain LA34 isolated from Lucknow forest soil is a promising source for the isolation of antifungal compounds.
Cost management in technological processes taking into account the implementation of the resource saving policy
Authors: Shinkevich A. I. , Antipova O. V.
Published: November 2021

The most important factor in maintaining the positions of Russian oil companies at the global level is taking into account the factors of changes in the external environment and the activation of internal reserves. The development of effective management decision support systems requires new management concepts based on current advances in production management theory and practice. The article proposes an approach based on determining the optimal combination of resources used in the production process and assessing their impact on the formation of production costs. The concept of cost management is based on an analysis, included the specifics of the enterprise’s internal environment and an assessment of the external environment impact on it. A cost management methodology has been developed to reduce the labour intensity of decision-making and the likelihood of technical selection errors, and to increase the efficiency of resource use and cost management. The proposed approach to cost management model formation has been recommended for using at oil industry enterprises. It can also be applied to enterprises in other industries by developing key performance indicators that affect the main cost items of the technological process under consideration.