bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Foucault's Epicureanism: Parrhēsia , Confession, and the Genealogy of the Self
Authors: Testa Federico
Published: January 2024

Abstract: This paper addresses the apparent absence of a systematic analysis of Epicureanism in Foucault's exploration of ancient philosophy. By considering Pierre Hadot's remark concerning Foucault's problematic neglect of the Epicurean notion of hēdonē , it revisits Foucault's work in search of traces of his engagement with Epicureanism. It then goes on to analyze the genesis of the notion of parrhēsia in Foucault's work, showing how it first appears and is developed in a series of analyses of the "philosophy of the garden," first in a reading of Epicurus's view on the study of nature in the Vatican Sayings , second in his study of Philodemus's Peri Parrhēsias . It is precisely in a series of readings of the Epicurean school that Foucault finds one of his key theoretical resources guiding his study of ancient philosophical practices in the 1980s. More importantly, the paper seeks to articulate the ways in which the analysis of parrhēsia —and of the Epicureans in particular—is situated in a broader genealogy of confession, which connects Foucault's studies of ancient philosophy to his readings of Christianity and the formation of the modern technologies of power and veridiction, defining aspects of the earlier project of a History of Sexuality , as announced in the Will to Knowledge . Finally, the paper articulates a possible view on the critical import of parrhēsia in this broader genealogy of confession.
Medea in the Courtroom: Foucault, Alice Diop, and Abolition
Authors: Telò Mario
Published: January 2024

Abstract: Building on Angela Davis' and other Black feminists' critiques of Discipline and Punish , this article reconsiders the important legacy of this book and of the writings of the Prisons Information Group, recently published as Intolerable (1970–1980 ), through the analysis of Alice Diop's Saint Omer , a 2022 film that imagines an immigrant Medea facing an infanticide conviction in a French courtroom: the symbol of a surveillance system where law and justice participate in racialized or racist oppression. By exploring adjacencies between Discipline and Punish and the "early" Foucault, in particular the essay "The Thought from Outside" in its connections with recent theorizations of Black fugitivity, the article suggests that a re-engagement with Foucault might allow us to test readings that reach beyond the viewers' mere self-awareness of their inescapable collusion with the Prison Industrial Complex. In Saint Omer , Medea seems to embody the fugitivity of a chromatic and affective blueness that stretches the marine environment and aquatic maternal care into the corpus of the movie, the filmic texture, suffusing docu-images with liquid lyricism, which voids the judicial apparatus, reducing it to desolation, an empty signifier.
Environmental Variation in Seed Mass in Sanguisorba Minor
Authors: Salehi Shanjani Parvin , Gholami Ameneh , Seyedian Seyed Esmail , Mahmoodi Mohammad , Javadi Hamideh
Published: January 2024

ABSTRACT: Seed mass is an important characteristic of seed quality because larger seeds contain more resources and are likely to exhibit greater vigor than smaller seeds, characteristics that are commonly targeted in plant breeding programmes. Seed mass variation in 359 populations (accessions) of Sanguisorba minor were evaluated across its geographical range in Iran. In addition, the seed and germination parameters of 13 populations that had been stored for 12 years at 4°C in the Natural Resources Gene Bank of Iran were analysed. Seed mass among the 359 populations varied from 1.4g to 14.5g with an average of 5.65g. In this study, the seed mass variation was compared with eco-geographical variables across the original habitats of S. minor . An increase in the maximum temperature of the warmest month, annual precipitation, precipitation of the wettest month, precipitation of the wettest quarter and precipitation of the coldest quarter led to increases in seed mass. Smaller seeds were produced in the hotter and drier environments located in the center of Iran, and in wetter sites. Significant differences in seed traits were found among the 13 stored populations of S. minor and seed germination was positively corrrelated with seed mass (R2 = 0.9). The highest germination percentage after 12 years of storage was obtained in the Hamedan (75%) and Chaharmahal and Bakhtiari (74%) populations, which had heavier and larger seeds. The positive correlation between longevity in ex-situ facilities and seed mass, suggests heavier seeds may have an advantage during storage and for use in breeding programmes.
States, Migrants, and the Challenge of International Human Smuggling and Trafficking in the Horn of Africa
Authors: Bariagaber Assefaw
Published: January 2024

Abstract: Countering the smuggling and trafficking of persons from the Horn of Africa to Western Europe and preventing the ensuing violations of the human rights of migrants has long been a challenge for states and international organizations. Focusing on the roles human smugglers, traffickers, and states play in smuggling and trafficking in persons, the study explains the persistence of smuggling and trafficking in terms of the following variables: (1) high supply of migrants, (2) profitability of the smuggling and trafficking in persons criminal business, (3) low level of prosecution and conviction of human smugglers and traffickers, (4) migrant, smuggler and trafficker efficient use of modern means of communications, and (5) divergent state policies and priorities on countering smuggling and trafficking in persons. The study concludes with an observation that the irregular human migration from the region and the attendant serious violations of migrant rights is difficult to resolve because it is a state-enabled phenomenon, and calls upon states, particularly EU member states, to revisit their policies to effect human migration that will benefit all stakeholders.
South America's Transnational Solidarity with Southern Africa: Chilean and Argentine Exiles as Cooperators in Mozambique, 1976–1986
Authors: Ayala Mario , Pérez Haristoy Ricardo
Published: January 2024

Abstract: After declaring the country's independence from Portugal in June 1975, the Mozambique Liberation Front focused its efforts on building a modern nation-state and implementing a development strategy to pave the way for a socialist society. The initial lack of cadres for building and managing a postcolonial national state and the new state economy led it to request the international cooperation and solidarity of the Global Left. The aim of this paper is to analyze the notions and practices of international solidarity among leftist Chilean and Argentine exiles who assumed the role of professional-technical cooperators in independent Mozambique between 1976 and 1986. The working method is based on a qualitative analysis of the information obtained from oral sources, documents of the period, and specialist literature.
Introduction: Studying the Impacts of Economic Sanctions in Iran: Everyday Life, Power, and Foreign Policy
Authors: Bajoghli Narges
Published: January 2024

Abstract: Based on fieldwork over ten years in Iran and Cuba, this article follows the myriad political, economic, and cultural, relationships developed between Iran, Venezuela, and Cuba since 2008, as a direct challenge to U.S. sanctions on all three countries. What can we learn about U.S. sanctions when we look at the lived experiences of those both coping with and defying U.S. sanctions in three of the main targeted societies? What do these alliances of sanctions busting show us about the limits of U.S. sanctions, and about the further entrenchment of power by those at the forefront of political and military power in each of their respective states? This article explores the micro-social relations of those who have solidified this alliance, and explores what "sanctions busting" and building "resistance economies" mean for humanitarian and
development issues.
Depleted Households: "Domesticating" Economic Sanctions
Authors: Shahrokni Nazanin
Published: January 2024

Abstract: Premised on the consideration of the household as a key site of social reproduction, where the dislocating effects of sanctions and austerity are felt, this article explores the impact of the Trump administration's 2018 reimposition of punitive sanctions on Iran. The focus on the household, and the myriads of mundane everyday acts which sustain and reproduce it, renders central the study of gender relations and the gendered character of social reproduction. Drawing on the experiences of middle-class women in Tehran, I focus on the ways in which sanctions become manifested in the coping practices developed by those they affect and sketch the contours of what I call "depleted households."
Iran in Latin America: Building Alliances for Busting Economic Sanctions
Authors: Bajoghli Narges
Published: January 2024

Abstract: Based on fieldwork over ten years in Iran and Cuba, this article follows the myriad political, economic, and cultural, relationships developed between Iran, Venezuela, and Cuba since 2008, as a direct challenge to U.S. sanctions on all three countries. What can we learn about U.S. sanctions when we look at the lived experiences of those both coping with and defying U.S. sanctions in three of the main targeted societies? What do these alliances of sanctions busting show us about the limits of U.S. sanctions, and about the further entrenchment of power by those at the forefront of political and military power in each of their respective states? This article explores the micro-social relations of those who have solidified this alliance, and explores what "sanctions busting" and building "resistance economies" mean for humanitarian and development issues.
Saying Everything
Authors: Hart Kevin
Published: January 2024

Abstract: Can one "know everything"? In the past, there were people who came close to doing so, but it seems impossible to have contemporaries who know everything. Certainly, some texts aspire to "say everything"; and the French expression tout dire has a venerable history. Yet saying everything is not the same as polymathy. Can texts, however, be polymaths? A case for an affirmative answer to the question is made by way of passive constitution.
Being Whole
Authors: Nachmanovitch Stephen
Published: January 2024

Abstract: I begin by thinking of my friend and mentor Gregory Bateson, but the questions here are broad and relate to the experience of many people, and many kinds of people. Gregory was known as a great polymath. But that is not quite right. In truth, he was a holomath, if we can coin that word. A polymath is a person who turns to, and sometimes excels in, multiple fields of endeavor. A holomath is a person who sees multiple fields as being really the same enterprise, circling a central pattern from different angles and points of view.
Women’s Empowerment, Region of Residence, and Contraception among Women in India
Authors: Talbert Ryan , Rana Megha
Published: January 2024

Abstract: Despite actions taken by the Indian government to improve national, regional, and village-level sexual and reproductive health, 49 million women still have unmet contraceptive needs. Yet, when granted access, women disproportionately elect for irreversible methods such that India has the highest female sterilization rate in the world. Building on these insights, the present study examines associations between women’s empowerment (e.g., cooking, shopping, and family-planning autonomy), region (e.g., Hills, North, and East), and use of contraception (i.e., any and type). Data for this study comes from ever-married, reproductive aged women in the 2005 and 2012 waves of the India Human Development Survey (n=38,634). Results from multilevel logistic models showed that higher levels of women’s empowerment are associated with greater probability of using contraception, and after disaggregation, relying on female sterilization. Furthermore, region of residence modifies associations such that women residing in the North Central and North are typically less likely to utilize contraception. Across empowerment levels, residents of the West and South consistently have higher levels of contraceptive use. This study highlights the importance of women’s empowerment for contraception as well as regional differences in reproductive healthcare access, views of contraception, and long-term impacts of fertility planning programs.
Reading Byron with Lev Shestov
Authors: Barber Benjamin
Published: January 2024

Abstract: In 1821, Byron took a respite from writing Don Juan , during which he wrote Cain . Cain strives to attain a rationalist understanding of his predicament, which shapes the tragic arc of the play. This paper contends that reading Byron's Cain and Heaven and Earth with Shestov's philosophy of tragedy and insistence on God as a creative rather than rational being highlights the way Cain acts as a foil for the author of Don Juan , illustrating how Byron's poetic practice mirrors the capriciousness of the deity he obliquely represents.
Redistancing Romanticism: Kent Monkman, Indigenous Perspectives, and the Art of History
Authors: Bundock Chris
Published: January 2024

Abstract: Over the last decade, Cree visual and performance artist Kent Monkman has undertaken an innovative and searching exploration of Romantic painting. Yet, the centrality of Romanticism in his oeuvre has hitherto been misunderstood. Drawing on the resources of Romantic historiography, he modulates historical distance—sympathetic proximity and cerebral distanciation—not only to "redistance" history to meet contemporary needs, but to complicate the movements of identification and alienation. Monkman's work may be ironic, but his is a strangely compassionate irony in which the relationship between European and non-Indigenous peoples is framed with a delicate hope for sincere reconciliation.
Governance, Lawlessness and Ethnic Difference in Coastal China During the Early Yuan: The Case of Zhu Qing and Zhang Xuan
Authors: Chaffee John
Published: January 2024

Abstract: Zhu Qing and Zhang Xuan were pirates and smugglers who, through service to the Mongols in their conquest of the Southern Song, rose to become leading regional officials under Khubilai Khan, possessors of a large territory in the Yangzi Delta that was under their exclusive control, and owners of fleets of ships that dominated the transportation of grain by sea from the lower Yangzi to Dadu (Beijing). Their story sheds light on the great array of maritime activities under Khubilai and his willingness to tolerate a high level of corruption and misgovernment in the process.
The Distant Reading of “Conversations”: Dialogue Network Analysis on the Northern Song Anecdote Collection ‘Tang yulin’
Authors: Qin Amelia Ying
Published: January 2024

Abstract: This study adapts the social network model to build structured representations of conversational interactions in the Tang yulin . In these dialogue networks, nodes represent interlocutors, and edges between nodes indicate the frequency and the direction of words from speakers to listeners. Algorithms calculate a series of statistical measurements that gauge the local and global importance of each node. The study highlights an influential, global “Xuánzong factor” across the dialogue network, and argues that Empress Wu Zetian is depicted as a more passive figure, more of a listener than a speaker, when compared with the male rulers of the Tang.
Writing the People's Science: One Hundred Thousand Whys and the Politics of Science Popularization in China, 1931–1975
Authors: Xue Yinyin
Published: January 2024

Abstract: This article focuses on One Hundred Thousand Whys ( Shiwan ge weishenme ), modern China's single most popular book series for science dissemination. A translation of a 1929 work from the Soviet Union, it took on new life throughout China's eventful twentieth century. Challenging the prevalent understanding that antisuperstition was the most important goal of science dissemination in Mao-era China, I illustrate how science dissemination in the 1960s aimed to spark readers' interest in natural sciences and prepare them to contribute to national construction. I argue that, during the Cultural Revolution, when political propaganda was bluntly integrated into science dissemination materials, these materials remained consistent with previous editions and continued to serve as reliable references for readers seeking scientific knowledge.
SuPyMode: an open-source library for design and optimization of fiber optic components,
Authors: de Sivry-Houle Martin Poinsinet , Becerra Deana Rodrigo Itzamna , Virally Stéphane , Godbout Nicolas , Boudoux Caroline
Published: January 2024

Recent advancements in photonic lantern design have stirred interest in computational tools to develop fiber-based components. Addressing the complex design challenges, we introduce SuPyMode, a Python package that enables comprehensive fiber component design analysis. This study details its mathematical framework and verifies its accuracy and reliability through simulation results. We demonstrate its practicality using a design study on modally-specific photonic lanterns, underlining the tool’s versatility and efficacy. SuPyMode is instrumental for researchers and engineers in the design and optimization of fiber components, thereby advancing photonics technology.
Development of Democratic Attitudes in Panama (2012-2021)
Authors: García-Rendón Sergio , Subinas Jon
Published: January 2024

How have the attitudes of citizens towards democracy in Panama evolved? What explains the decline in democratic values among the population? This paper describes the evolution of attitudes in Panama between 2012 and 2021 and examines the political dynamics that have contributed to changes in attitudes over time. To describe the evolution of democratic attitudes, we draw on cluster analysis, which identified groups of citizens with distinct patterns of democratic attitudes in each of five waves of AmericasBarometer data. The central finding that emerges from the cluster analysis is that there are significant drops in support for democracy and tolerance since 2014. In the analysis we discuss in the light of theory a possible influence of former President Ricardo Martinelli (2009-2014) on the overall high support for democracy and democratic institutions in 2012, and a possible legacy of his administration on the subsequent evolution of democratic attitudes between 2014 and 2021.
Budapest - versenyképesség és oktatás
Authors: Gervai Pál , Trautmann László , Vida Cecília
Published: January 2024

A 21. század második negyedében egyértelműen érzékelhető a globalizáció új korszaka, amit tudásalapú társadalomnak és gazdaságnak is neveznek. A tudásalapú társadalom a globalizáció formációelméletének egyik alapvető meghatározása több más tényező mellett. A tudás az alapvető és egyetemes emberi értékek, a biztonság, a szabadság, a demokrácia és a jólét alkalmazása. Az alkalmazás folyamata egyben a kultúra megőrzése, létrehozása és kiterjesztése. Amikor Budapest jövőjét vizsgáljuk, akkor kutatásunk tárgya az, hogy Budapest hogyan tud felzárkózni ehhez az új korszakhoz. Tanulmányunkban amellett érvelünk, hogy Budapest fejlődése kulturális hatásának megerősítését jelenti, a tudás és a kultúra létrehozását és kiterjesztését. Budapest, ahogy minden főváros, közvetlenül kapcsolódik a globalizációhoz és ebből fakad az a felelősség, hogy azt közvetítse az ország egésze felé. A rossz, hamis dichotómia ország és főváros, kozmopolitizmus és provincializmus között csak úgy haladható meg, ha Budapest integrálja tudás és kultúra szempontjából az összes hazai teljesítményt, és ha erőteljesebben vesz részt a globális normák közvetítésében minden terület, tájegység felé. A rendszerváltás környékén megfogalmazott jelszó, „világvárost építünk” ezért igaz ma is, de világvárossá csak akkor válhat, ha harmónia jön létre a globalizáció, az ország és a fővárosa között. Magyarország világháború és Trianon utáni helyzete miatt élesebben vetődött fel a főváros és a vidék viszonya.
„Elköteleződés a kiválóság iránt” – Interjú dr. Fülöp Tamás rektorral, dr. Tózsa István intézetigazgatóval és dr. Forman Balázs egyetemi docenssel
Authors: Fülöp Tamás , Tózsa István , Forman Balázs
Published: January 2024

2024. április 8. és 11. között rendezik meg a Regional Science Association International (RSAI) 14. Világkonferenciáját Kecskeméten, a Neumann János Egyetemen. A konferencia magyar szakmai partnere a Magyar Regionális Tudományi Társaság, a konferencia címe: „Sustainable regional economic growth: Global challenges and new regional development trajectories”. A konferenciára előadással jelentkezni kívánók számára a jelentkezési határidő (absztrakttal): 2023. november 25. Ebből az alkalomból kértünk interjút dr. Fülöp Tamástól, az NJE rektorától, dr. Tózsa Istvántól az NJE MNB Tudásközpont Gazdaságföldrajz és Településmarketing Központjának vezetőjétől és dr. Forman Balázs egyetemi docenstől, a konferencia hazai szakmai szervezőjétől.
Az érték helye a menedzsment-tudományokban és a közgazdaságtanban
Authors: Szabó Dorottya
Published: January 2024

Sylvia Nasar A nagy hajsza c. könyve több szempontból is az egyik legkedvesebb olvasmányom, amiből sok meglehetősen érdekes, már-már pletykaszerű információt bányászhat ki az ember jelentős hatású közgazdászok életéről. Az egyik kedvenc sorom az Alfred Marshallnak tulajdonított idézet: „Csupán egy idegen földre tévedt filozófus vagyok”. Soha nem néztem utána Nasar forrásának, de voltaképp nem is annyira fontos, hogy valóban kimondta-e ezeket a szavakat Marshall, már az is sokatmondó, ha csak a szájába adták. Mindenesetre manapság én is valahogy úgy érzem magam, mint egy idegen földre tévedt közgazdász, amikor a különböző, alapvetően leendő menedzsereket célzó tanórákon üldögélek a Lisszaboni Egyetemen. Néhány oktatóm olyan nyelven beszél, és olyan terminusokat használ, amiket az agyam csak nagy erőfeszítések árán tud dekódolni, és sokszor elfog egyfajta nosztalgia a végtelen deriválások iránt, amiket igazándiból mindig is utáltam. Habár az egyetemi karrierem egy menedzsment képzésen kezdődött, gyorsan bevettem a közgazdaságtan felé tartó kanyart, aminek eredményeképp a menedzsment szakzsargont illetően mindezidáig jóindulattal is csak A1-es szintű passzív nyelvtudásom volt – még szerencse, hogy a jelentkezésnél csupán angol nyelvvizsgát vártak el. Azzal azért mégiscsak „eldicsekedhetek”, hogy a menedzserek és közgazdászok között meghúzódó nyelvi szakadéknak mindvégig tudatában voltam az egyetemi éveim alatt, de a K karos hallgatók jó öreg tudományos hübriszével felfegyverkezve mindig azt gondoltam, hogy én állok a szakadék – vagy a történelem? – „jó” oldalán. Most viszont figyelek, igyekszem behozni a lemaradásom, hiszen végtére is, ha nem is ugyanúgy, de ugyanarról kéne beszélnünk.
Caracterização ambiental em condomínios e loteamentos na região oeste da cidade de São Carlos – SP
Authors: Oliveira Keithy Juliane de , Rios Leonardo , Ribeiro Maria Lúcia
Published: January 2024

Um fenômeno cada vez mais presente em muitas cidades ao redor do mundo é a expansão urbana, sendo que os condomínios e os loteamentos são uma das principais formas de desenvolvimento urbano. Deste modo, esta pesquisa procurou esclarecer algumas indagações observadas na produção do espaço urbano pelos loteamentos e condomínios e sua rápida expansão na cidade de São Carlos-SP, em especial a região Oeste, buscando responder a seguinte questão: qual modelo ou padrão de condomínio ou de loteamento, localizado na região Oeste da cidade de São Carlos-SP, tem maior impacto na produção do espaço urbano à luz das questões ambientais? Sendo assim, este trabalho tem como objetivo caracterizar os impactos ambientais nas diversas modalidades e padrões de condomínios e loteamentos na zona oeste da cidade de São Carlos - SP.  Foi utilizando o SIG ferramentas do geoprocessamento, QGIS 3.16, para digitalizar a topografia, hidrografia, contorno dos loteamentos e condomínios bem como, gerar as áreas de preservação permanentes e gerar o mapa de declividade. Os parâmetros de caracterização ambiental utilizados foram consumo de água, geração de efluente sanitário, áreas permeáveis e respeito as áreas de preservação permanentes.  Os resultados demonstram que dos empreendimentos analisados, os de padrão popular foram os que apresentaram menor consumo de água e geração de efluentes sanitários e os de maior padrão socioeconômicos foram os que apresentaram os maiores consumos e geração. Todos os empreendimentos respeitaram as áreas de APPs e possuem áreas permeáveis. Apesar de não constar documentação dos Estudos de Impacto Ambiental em sua implantação, todos cumprem a legislação ambiental de acordo com as variáveis analisadas.
Sexual Risk Behaviors of Sex Workers for HIV / AIDS and STIs in the City of Bamako, Mali
Authors: Dohinnon Collette , Traoré Fatoumata , Mounkoro Niani , Musuenge Beatrice , Poda Ghislain G.
Published: January 2024

Background: HIV / AIDS affects all social strata and including female sex workers who are a particularly vulnerable group at risk of HIV infection.

Objective
To assess the risky sexual behavior of female sex workers in Bamako, Mali.

Methods
This is a quantitative cross-sectional analytical study conducted among 288 female sex workers in the city of Bamako, Mali. This study used a questionnaire to collect information from January to April 2021.

Results
Out of 288 sex workers, 41% came from neighboring countries (Burkina Faso, Cote d'Ivoire, Mauritania). More than half of the participants had started working as sex workers before the age of 20. More than half of sex workers do not always use a condom. About 32% of female sex workers had previously had anal sex, 20% had experienced group sex, and less than a quarter smoked or drank alcohol before sex. A significant relationship was found between the behavior or practice of sex workers with the following variables: ethnicity (P = 0.04); marital status (P = 0.01); monthly income (P = 0.001), age at first sexual intercourse (P = 0.03); the presence of STDs in the past (P = 0.02), knowledge of HIV status (P = 0.04) and nationality (P = 0.03).

Conclusions
This study highlights negative risk behaviors of sex workers such as not using condoms consistently, anal sex, alcohol, and smoking. It is therefore important to develop education actions to improve the knowledge, attitude, and practice of sex workers related to HIV/ AIDS in Mali.
Knowledge And Practice of Preconception Care Among Women of Reproductive-Age in Bheerkot Municipality, Nepal
Authors: Godar Mousami , Sharma Krishna , Adhikari Keshab Raj
Published: January 2024

Background
Preconception care is a crucial aspect of maternal and child healthcare services that aims to mitigate adverse pregnancy outcomes and enhance the desired health outcomes for women, newborns, and children. Despite the continuous multi-sectoral efforts in preconception care, maternal mortality and morbidity remain significant health concerns globally. This study aimed to assess the knowledge and practice of preconception care and its associated factors among women of reproductive age in Bheerkot Municipality, Nepal.

Methodology
A community-based descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted among 215 reproductive-age women to assess knowledge and practice regarding preconception care in Bheerkot Municipality, Nepal. Structured questionnaires were designed in the Nepali language and used in face-to-face interviews. We used a simple random sampling technique to collect quantitative data. In a statistical analysis, we employed the Chi-squared test and logistic regression analysis to identify possible predictors using the odds ratio and considered variables with p<0.05 statistically significant at a 95% confidence interval.

Result
Out of the 215 women who participated in the study, only 46.9% had a good knowledge of preconception care. Approximately half (43.7%) of the respondents had never practiced preconception care. Among respondents who had practiced preconception care before, 47.9% reported good practice, and 52.1% reported poor practice. Age of the respondent (χ2=14.2063, P=0.000823, df=1), marital status (χ2=17.9851, P=0.000022, df=1), time to reach a health facility (χ2=30.1371, P=0.00001, df=1), and age at first pregnancy (χ2=4.7975, P=0.0285, df=1) were statistically associated with knowledge about preconception care. Women who have foreign employment as a major source of family income and whose age is from 25 to 34 years were more likely to have a better practice of preconception care than their counterparts (COR 3.5000, CI 1.3343 to 9.1805, P = 0.0109) and (COR 3.4000, CI 1.1646 to 9.9265, P = 0.0252), respectively. Additionally, out of those who practiced preconception care, most respondents (93.4%) have practiced it in government health facilities.

Conclusion
Respondents had relatively poor knowledge and practice of preconception care. Collaboration of governmental health institutions between multiple sectors at local levels for more education and information and a specific national protocol or policy formulation would be beneficial in improving preconception care in Nepal.
Stemming The Tide Of Hypertension In Women: Optimal Age For Obstetric Debut
Authors: Okeahialam Basil N
Published: January 2024

Objective
Women have continued to bear a heavy burden of cardiovascular disease morbidity and mortality with hypertension as the flagship. This is partly because as the modifiable cardiovascular disease risk factors are falling in rate, gender specific risk factors have persisted. One of them is age at first pregnancy and delivery.

Methods
In order to contribute to this discourse, we secondarily analysed data generated in a previous field study on risk factors for cardiovascular diseases in free living adults in Plateau State, Nigeria. The women were divided into four groups and we looked at blood pressure at the time of study from the perspective of age at first pregnancy.

Reults
It was found that those who had their first pregnancy in the late teenage years had the lowest mean arterial blood pressure many years down the line; better than those who started child bearing earlier and those who started later. There was also significant within and between group differences in the blood pressures (p = 0.000).

Conclusion
To stem the tide of female hypertension later in life, child bearing should not start in the early teenage years nor be unnecessarily delayed. Sociocultural conditions that promote early teenage marriage and pregnancy should be discouraged.
Molecular Analysis of 6-pyruvoyltetrahydropterin Synthase Gene in Atypical Phenylketonuric Egyptian Patients
Authors: Mohamed Ahmed F. , Abd Allah Eman M. , Moselhim Ahmed E. , Gamal Radwa , Mahmoud Magdy M. , Zaki Osama K.
Published: January 2024

Background
Hyperphenylalaninemia (HPA) combined with neurological signs due to impaired catecholamine, dopamine and serotonin synthesis. Symptoms may appears in first week of life but most seen in age of 4 months. Atypical PKU disease caused mainly by deficiency in 6-pyruvoyltetrahydropterin synthase (PTPS) involved in synthesis of BH4. Clinical symptoms may include poor sucking, impaired tone, ataxia, and seizures. The purpose of this study was to analyze the genotype-phenotype relation among BH4 deficient patients because of PTPS mutations in different state of Egypt.

Methods
Suspected PKU patients loaded with phenylalanine/Kuvan, and the level of phe and phe/tyrosine ratio determined using tandem mass spectrometry by dried blood spots. Blood samples of 13 unrelated Egyptian patients were collected for total RNA extraction, amplification of PTPS gene by PCR followed with sequencing by Sanger method and finally mutations were recorded for genetic analysis.

Results
The mean value of phe in 13 patients decreased after loaded of phenylalanine from 482.5μmol/L to 270.63 μmol/L as well as phe/tyrosine ratio was decreased from 13.4 to 6.36 after 24hour of treatment with Kuvan. Sanger sequencing of PTPS gene of those patient showed 21 SNPs and Indels mutations. The most repeated mutation is a novel 23 base pair homozygous deletion in 12/13; c.200C>T in four patients, a novel c.86A>T in two patients and three different mutations located once in three different patients (novel c.22C>T; novel c.273G>A and 405T>C) among patients. On amino acid predicted sequences 4 different types of mutations on protein level were presented, 1 deletion mutation in seven amino acid and 3 different missense mutations in addition to 2 silent mutations among 13 patients.

Conclusion
Patients were the first case of clinical diagnosis as hyperphenylalaninemia (HPA) undergoing genetic diagnosis for PTPS deficiency in Egypt. The sever HPA patients with severe nervous system damage mainly accompanied with deletion mutations and should pay more attention to the BH4 deficiency. While mild HPA is associated with base substitution mutations with mainly transition mutations (7/9; 78%). Next-generation sequencing technique can increase the mutation detection rate when the hereditary diseases are highly suspected in clinic.
Statistical Study on the Impact of Computer-use on Child-health in the Arab-community
Authors: M. Al-Subaie Rahgad Nasser , A. Al-Subaie Hiafa Hamuwd , M. Al-Subaie Dhabia Turki , M. Sabra Sherifa Mostafa
Published: January 2024

United States of America (USA), Australia, and Canada recommending children computer-use should be imperfect. It obligated a strong influence on children’s lives. The problem was for stuck in the computer-use for a long time per day. The goal was to follow child-health in the Arab-community to notice its influence on the child-health. The method was through a arithmetical study by sending Internet questionnaire and receiving the parents' advice. The results were in the 500 parent answers and 14 comments. The first was "You have a child up to 13 years old?"; 83.6%. The second was "Your child used a computer?"; 80.8%. The third was "Your child used the computer for a long time?"; 67.9%. The fourth was "The computer caused a health problem for your child?"; 70.3%. The fifth was "The computer caused your child mental disorder?"; 68.5%. The sixth was "The computer caused your child trouble seeing?"; 77.2%. The seventh was "The computer caused your child trouble sleeping?"; 72.0%. The eighth 8 was "The computer caused your child feeding problem?"; 69.5%. The ninth was "The computer caused your child family relationship problem?", 72.0%. The tenth was "Prevent your child from using the computer to protect his health?"; 79.0%. It was concluded that the extent of the harms of child computer-use from a health and psychological point. They have young and sensitive tissues. The computer-use affected them, child-health. It was recommended the parents instructions will protect children from the computer-use for long periods. That will reduce child-health and psychological problems.
Quercetin Attenuates Manganese-Induced Neurotoxicity in Mice Hippocampus by Regulation of Oxidative Stress and Tumour Necrosis factor Alpha Expression
Authors: Adekeye Adeshina Oloruntoba , Fafure Adedamola Adediran , Ofogba Oghenetega First , Saka Olusola , Enye Linus Anderson , Akintayo Christopher Oloruntoba , Oni James Olukayode , Adedayo Lawrence Dayo , Ojewale Abdulfatai
Published: January 2024

The hippocampus is involved in learning and memory processes, an integral component of cognitive function. The aim of this study is to assess the efficacy of quercetin on manganese-induced neurotoxicity in the hippocampus of the adult mice.

In this study, 40 adult mice of average weight of 18 –29g were randomly distributed into five groups of eight each. The brain was harvested and the region of the hippocampus was grossed for histological and immunohistochemical analysis.

The results revealed a significant increased level of oxidative stress markers of manganese treated mice when compared with the normal control and quercetin treated animals (p<0.05). Immunohistochemical analysis also showed a decrease expression of Tumour necrosis factor alpha (TNFα) with quercetin treated animals when compared with manganese treated animals indicating its neuroprotective function. In addition, quercetin treated animals all had an improved working spatial memory in Y-maze test. The histological results also revealed a degeneration of pyramidal cells with a characteristic pyknotic activities at the granular layer of the hippocampus leading to neuronal integrity damage following chronic exposure to manganese but normal architectural design was however maintained with quercetin.

Conclusively, exposure to manganese in excess may have adverse effect on extensive neuronal degeneration that could affect the learning, memory and possibly spatial navigation ability of miceand quercetin attenuates this induced neurotoxicity via inhibition of oxidative stress and reduction of TNF expression.
Dose Response of Total Saponins Isolated from the Stem Bark of Dialium Guineense
Authors: Abu O.D., , Onoagbe I.O., , Ojo I.,
Published: January 2024

The safety of plant-derived bioactive compounds has become a global concern. The present study investigated the dose response of total saponins isolated from the stem bark of Dialiumguineense. Adultmale Wistar rats (n = 15) weighing 170 – 190 g (mean weight = 180 ± 10 g) were randomly assigned to three groups (5 rats per group). The rats received varied doses of total saponins isolated from the stem bark of the medicinal plant (50 - 150 mg/kg body weight, bwt) orally for a period of 9 days. The concentration of fasting blood glucose (FBG) was used as the therapeutic index.The results of the analysis revealed that total saponins isolated from the stem bark of D. guineense significantly reduced the Fasting Blood Glucose (FBG) levels of normal Wistar rats (p < 0.05). The graded and quantal dose-response curves showed that150 mg/kg bwt was effective in reducing the blood glucose of rats (produced the best hypoglycemic effect). The study concluded that total saponins isolated from the stem bark of D. guineense possesses hypoglycemic effect at a relatively good dose.
Specified model of the work environment in a public university in central Mexico
Authors: Bund Arger
Published: January 2024

The work environment, in its most general conception, alludes to biased expectations of risks and benefits around a function and in relation to the performance of a working group, but in its factorial structure, dimensions have been found that explain a moderate percentage of the variance of the construct. In this sense, the objective of this paper is to specify a model for the study of the work climate, considering the institutionalism and human capital of a public university. An exploratory study was carried out with an intentional sample of 125 administrative personnel. From a structural model it was found that the relationship climate factor explained the highest percentage of the variance (21%) and it was the reflective dimension of the construct (0.524). The inclusion of the task climate is recommended due to its link with the leadership and the collaborative climate.
The Design and Demonstrative Analysis of the Gas Turbine Operation’s Simulator
Authors: Abhulimen Abel Edeowede
Published: January 2024

The Gas Turbine operation was investigated with a view to evolving a system designed to provide a realistic imitation of the controls and operation of a Gas Turbine, used for training purposes. Operator Training Simulator has been widely adopted by many industries being a computer simulation which attempts to model a real-life plant so that it can be studied. A well trained and skilled operator is key in increasing power plant safety and productivity. Therefore, enabling quality training for operators is becoming more important as they need to handle increased load of information and duties whereas the lack of training is a major reason for inadequate performance. By changing variables in the simulator, predictions are made about the behaviour of the engine. It is a tool to virtually investigate the behaviour of the system while in operation. This work becomes indispensable because it is prohibitively expensive or simply too dangerous to allow trainees use the real equipment in a power plant. The Gas Turbine operation’s simulator is born from Object Oriented Programming, employing key programming languages. The simulator design focused on specific tasks in the operation of the Gas Turbine which include; startup, synchronization and monitoring of vital parameters like vibration, temperature, pressure, and angle of the Inlet Guide Vane. The statuses of various valves, pumps and motors as well as the Performance of actuators and the response of concatenated components are also being tracked. The simulator was found to effectively mimic a real plant life. With this simulator, trainee operators in Gas Turbine can spend time learning valuable lessons in a "safe" virtual environment yet living a lifelike experience. This will go a long way in minimizing operators’ error in GT power plants, thereby curtailing power outages and conserving power plant components.
Evolutionary Conservation of Hox Genes in Vertebrate Brain Development
Authors: Struemph Samantha G. , Henderson Jeffrey O.
Published: January 2024

Hox genes, their conserved derivatives, and the pathways responsible for their expression have been extensively studied in the fruit fly, Drosophila melanogaster;the experimentation done in the Drosophila model system has given developmental biologists tools to better understand the role and significance of Hox genes and their derivatives in anterior-posterior axis determination in the Drosophila embryo. Along with this, Drosophila research opened up the door to investigation on the conservation of Hox genes between vertebrates and invertebrates. Comparative embryology in mice, chickens, pufferfish, and zebrafish have shown conserved Hox gene expression patterns specifically along the anterior-posterior axis. Recently, comparative analysis performed on dorsal-ventral axis formation showed that patterning and segmentation of the spinal cord is influenced by the action of Hox genes as well. This review will briefly consider the evolution of the vertebrate brain and the evolution and conservation of Hox genes in regulating hindbrain patterning and spinal cord development.
Enzyme Immobilization On Polypropylene Film: A Role Model For Biocatalytic Polymer Membranes?
Authors: Gartner Patrizia , Rudat Jens , Bilger Maximilian , Grünert Tom , Lanza Gisela
Published: January 2024

Polymer electrolyte membrane (PEM) technologies hold promise for sustainable energy solutions, yet pinhole-related challenges persist. Our research introduces a novel biohybrid approach to self-healing, enhancing multiple healing cycles with minimal membrane disruption. Initial steps involve immobilizing enzymes on a polymeric membrane. This study establishes the immobilization process and analytical framework through enzyme immobilization on polypropylene. Applicability and stability are investigated, laying groundwork for potential Nafion™ applications and advancing climate neutral energy.

Qualitative analysis employs colorimetric p-NPA assay on polypropylene-immobilized lipase from Candida rugosa (CRL) and Lipase B from Candida antarctica (CALB). Both enzymes hold their temperature optimum at 50°C which is increased by 10°C via immobilization. Diisopropylcarbodiimide (DIC) is optimal for immobilization. Synchronous enzyme and DIC addition is advantageous. After 8 reuse cycles, immobilized enzymes retain 54.3% residual activity. Immobilizates exposed to PEM fuel cell conditions show better stability due to covalent immobilization than free CRL. Yet, declines occur under stressors like 60 °C and concentrated alcohol. Immobilizates remain resilient at pH 3 and under oxidizing as well as reducing conditions constituted by varied gas atmospheres. Considering PEM fuel cells' operational range, in-depth investigations across conditions are vital. Future studies target long-term PEM fuel cell lifespans, focusing on extremophilic enzymes or modifications for high-temperature stability. Subsequently, the transferability of the immobilization method to Nafion™ shall be deliberated based on the outcomes.
Characterization of the Vaccine Abdala
Authors: Marrero Katia Pino , Pérez Alvaro Laurencio , Batista Dania Vargas
Published: January 2024

Vaccines symbolize the main pandemic control tool in the world, which is why they are the object of study in many investigations. In this work, the Abdala vaccine was characterized in terms of adverse reactions by conducting a survey and statistical processing of the data taken through distribution graphs of the same, developed in the Minitab software 16. Of the people involved, 47.67% presented Symptoms that were mild to moderate with the presence of pain in the area of the injection, drowsiness and decay, mainly. Based on the distribution of the data in histograms, the duration of these symptoms was approximately 1 day. Likewise, it was observed that the symptoms occur mainly in females, for 33.72% of the cases in the first dose and 23.26% after the second dose was applied.
Clustering objects for spatial data mining: a comparative study
Authors: FAKIR Youssef , ELAYACHI Rachid , MAHI Btissam
Published: January 2024

Spatial data mining (SDM) is searching important relationships and characteristics that can clearly exist in spatial databases. This content aims to compare object clustering algorithms for spatial data mining, before identifying the most efficient algorithm. To this end, this paper compare k-means, Partionning Around Medoids (PAM) and Clustering Large Applications based on RANdomized Search (CLARANS) algorithms based on computing time. Experimental results indicate that, CLARANS is very efficient and effective.
Molecular Detection of Mycoplasma Gallisepticum and Mycoplasma Synoviae Infection in Poultry
Authors: Mazhar Waqar
Published: January 2024

In Pakistan, production of poultry has been evolved as a good alternate of beef and mutton. In this study multiplex PCR approaches were adopted to differentiate and detect avian mycoplasma in a single PCR reaction as a step forward in the economization of PCR detection. From the total of 25 samples, 25 (100%) had a positive Mycoplasma isolation result. The biochemical test yielded the highest number of isolations, with MG accounting for 10/25. Commercial DNA-based PCR kits have been developed as a result of recent advancements in diagnostic techniques for Mycoplasma infections. Tetracyclines, fluoroquinolones, tilmicosin, tylosin, spiramycin Infections should be reduced as much as possible.
Czesław Miłosz. Prawnik, który wiersze pisał. Kilka uwag między historią, literaturą i filozofią prawa
Authors: Snarski Tomasz
Published: January 2024

Artykuł jest rezultatem interdyscyplinarnych badań nad prawniczymi aspektami biografii i twórczości Czesława Miłosza. Przybliża nieco zapomnianą w powszechnym odbiorze prawniczą tożsamość Czesława Miłosza, nawiązując do ukończenia przez niego uniwersyteckich studiów prawniczych, a także poszukując tropów prawnych w wybranych utworach noblisty. Praca opiera się na przeprowadzonych badaniach historycznych, literaturoznawczych i filozoficznoprawnych. Bada nie tylko biografię noblisty, ale również stawia pytania o możliwość interpretacji jego dzieł literackich przy zastosowaniu refleksji filozoficznoprawnej, wykorzystując podejście postanalitycznej filozofii prawa, w tym dorobek kierunku badań prawno-literackich. Stanowi także studium edukacji prawniczej na Uniwersytecie Stefana Batorego w Wilnie w okresie międzywojennym.