bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Psychoanalytic Explanation of Key Personality Traits of Instagram Micro-celebrities: A Qualitative Study
Authors: Alimohammadi Amirali , Mortazavi Seyede Salehe , Atef-Vahid Mohammad-Kazem , Shahbazi Nazanin
Published: June 2021

Background: With the growing use of social networks, a large number of studies have investigated their psychological effects. Previous research has demonstrated that virtual networks, especially Instagram, negatively affect users’ mental health and make them vulnerable to mental disorders. However, the studies have been descriptive and provide descriptive statements; hence, they do not contribute to in-depth understanding of such vulnerability. Accordingly, qualitative studies should be conducted to delve into this phenomenon. Objectives: This article aimed to understand the key personality traits of popular Iranian Instagram users, assuming that the networks make individuals psychoanalytically vulnerable to clinical outcomes. Methods: Regarding the research method, the deductive content analysis was adopted for the data extracted from semi-structured in-depth interviews with users having > 10,000 followers. Psychodynamic diagnostic manual, PDM-2 second edition, and the structured analysis matrix were considered to make sense of the collected data. Results: The results demonstrated that the dominant key personality traits in popular Instagram users were narcissism with three subcategories (namely narcissistic central tension, pathogenic belief about oneself, and pathogenic belief about others) and depression with two subcategories (namely depressive pathogenic belief about oneself and pathogenic belief about others). Conclusions: According to the findings, the structures and categories underpinning our experiences by Instagram are inherently narcissistic. Rather than changing individuals’ dynamics, Instagram promotes this intellectual and communicative style inversely by normalizing it and reinforcing the narcissistic personality disorder established by the family and cultural structure of society.
Endothelial Dysfunction in Coronavirus disease: A Literature Review
Authors: Geraldo Kramer Dany , De Sousa Anésio Mendes
Published: June 2021

Coronavirus disease (COVID-19), caused by Sars-Cov-2, affects several cell types, including the vascular endothelium, which can lead to immunological phenomena and coagulopathies with vascular and systemic lesions. Thus, the objective was to describe, through a bibliographic review, the endothelial dysfunction induced by coronavirus. The data collected in this study suggest that the lesion of the endothelium caused by the coronavirus leads to cell death and exposure of the vascular glycocalyx, resulting in activation of neutrophils and platelets, with consequent production of cytokines and activation of blood clotting, inducing the formation of thrombi / clots . The consequences are hypoxia and widespread lesions in several organs, resulting in life-threatening patients with COVID-19. Endothelial dysfunction is well established in cardiovascular diseases and diabetes, in such a way that these comorbidities could aggravate the endothelium-induced lesions induced by Sars-Cov-2, with more serious clinical outcomes. Thus, a close relationship was observed between the endothelial dysfunctions induced by COVID-19 and inflammatory and thrombotic events, with worsening of clinical cases and fatal outcomes. Thus, early diagnosis can assist in the therapy that stabilizes the endothelium and reduces thrombotic events, with consequent aggravation and risk of death, especially in patients with chronic cardiovascular diseases and diabetes.
Robotic Versus Laparoscopic Adrenalectomy: Systemic Review
Authors: Rezkallah Emad , Elsaify Wael , Elsaify Andrew , Lim Grace
Published: June 2021

Background: Minimal invasive surgery has become the standard for most surgical procedures now. Many studies have tried to compare robotic versus laparoscopic to adrenalectomy.

Objectives: The aim of this study is to review most of the available studies comparing robotic to laparoscopic adrenalectomy to evaluate which procedure provides the superior clinical outcomes. Methods: A systematic literature search of ScienceDirect and PubMed databases. The perioperative clinical outcomes were collected by two independent reviewers. We used Random-effects (DerSimonian-Laird) models to get the pooled effect estimates.

Results: 18 studies were eligible in our study. 10 of them were prospective and 8 were retrospective. A total of 1376 patients underwent adrenalectomy, 592 (43.02%) were treated with RA and 784 (56.9%) with the LA technique. There were no significant differences between both groups regarding the conversion rate (Odds ratio: 0.70, 95% CI 0.31-1.57, P= 0.65), intraoperative complications (OR: 2.18, 95% CI 0.49- 9.71, P= 0.28), post-operative complications (OR: 0.83, 95% CI: 0.55-1.24, P= 0.49), and mortality (OR: 0.42, 95% CI: 0.07-2.72, P= 0.98). However, robotic adrenalectomy was associated with longer operative times (MD: 9.89 min, 95% CI: -2.79 to 22.58), shorter hospital stay (MD: -0.33, 95% CI: -0.46 to -0.21) with less blood loss (MD: -25.34, 95% CI: -36.77 to -13.91).

Conclusions: We proved that robotic adrenalectomy has equal safety and feasibility with similar clinical outcomes when compared with laparoscopic approach. However, better well-designed studies are required to determine the role and cost-effectiveness of robotic adrenal surgery.
Effects of Different Types of Zeolites on the Degradation Kinetics of Malathion Pesticide in Water
Authors: Osewe Elly Tety , Shikuku Victor , Pereira Cristiane A. , Otieno Stephen O. , Okoyo Audrey
Published: June 2021

The study examined the effects of selected types of zeolites as an environmentally benign and friendly way to degrade, S-1, 2-bis (ethoxycarbonyl) ethyl O, O-dimethylphosphorodithioate (malathion), used as a model pesticide, from river water. The effect of the size of zeolite channels and dimensionality (such as 1D, 2D, and 3D), Si/Al ratio, and operating pH were studied to find a suitable type of zeolite and conditions to optimize the pesticide degradation. Mordenite (MOR (1D): Si/Al=6.83, and Si/Al=10.72), ferrierite (FER (2D): Si/Al=10.71), ZSM-5 (MFI (3D): Si/Al=6.83 and Si/Al=10.72) and USY (FAU (3D): Si/Al=2.77) zeolites were individually mixed with a water sample collected from Monjolinho River in São Carlos (SP), Brazil and the degradation trend studied. The results showed that all the zeolites accelerated the degradation of malathion. Nevertheless, lower zeolite Si/Al ratio and larger 3D channels or cavities had a positive influence on the degradation rate. The FAU zeolite presented the stronger degradation of the malathion with a half-life of 16.5 followed by ZSM-5 with 24.8, ferrierite with 29.7, and finally mordenite with 30.3 hours.
Evaluation of the Interactive effect of Carbon Dioxide and Temperature on Plant Growth using Hyperspectral Remote Sensing Technology
Authors: Rahman Naseema , Goswami Jonali , Das Ranjan
Published: June 2021

Remote sensing is a powerful tool for monitoring spatiotemporal variations of crop health status in terms of morpho- physiology status helping for precision farming. In comparison with multispectral, hyperspectral imaging with narrow bands are capable of acquiring a subtle variation in spectral response of target crop like garlic under high CO2 and temperature conditions. The present results indicate the potential of spectral information for evaluating various stress conditions as well as status of crop conditions through the use of band rationing technique, mainly NDVI in comparison to the use of individual spectral bands. The present investigation revealed that plant grown under CTGT II (550 ppm CO2 + 4°C elevation of temperature) shows significantly good health in all garlic varieties with high LAD and NDVI. On the other hand, the higher temperature stress treatment brought about significant reduction in the LAD and NDVI. This adverse effect was lesser under CTGT II than CTGT III which indicated that all varieties, Ekfutia Assam in particular, exhibited certain degree of tolerance against high temperature stress. Hyperspectral remote sensing technique acts as an important tool in real time monitoring, early warning and quick damage assessment due to various abiotic stresses.
Vaccination Hesitancy: The Case of Cervical Cancer Vaccination in Fako Division, Cameroon
Authors: Fru C. Neh , Andrew Tassang , Greenspan David , Cho F. Nchang , Martin Mokake , Livingstone Joseph , Thierry Tassang , Fru P. Ngum , Derick Nembulefac
Published: June 2021

Introduction: The fight against cervical cancer stumbles against resistance to accepting vaccines. Vaccination hesitancy is a worldwide phenomenon. It seems this phenomenon is more amplified in Africa. With the advent of COVID 19, many conspiracy theories against all the vaccines have emanated from various quarters. Vaccination against Human Papilloma Virus is no exception to the current dynamics. A study on this topic was carried out in the Fako Division-Cameroon. Structural and individual reasons could explain vaccination hesitancy.

Objective: The objective of this study is to attempt an explanation of why vaccination hesitancy has to do with poor uptake of cervical cancer vaccines.

Methodology: a community-based cross-sectional study was carried out in some towns of the Fako Division – Cameroon from 5 to January 20, 2021. Paper-based questionnaires were administered only to those who consented to participate in this study. And chi-square test was estimated to establish the association between participant socioeconomic characteristics and cervical cancer vaccine hesitancy

Results: A total of 250 consecutively enrolled participants were included in the study. Women with a high level of education will readily accept vaccination against cervical cancer. About 71% of our sample does not trust government decisions regarding judgments against cervical cancer. If given a choice between medical treatment and prayers, 62% of our studied population will prefer prayers. There is some degree of bias against female children in our community.

Conclusion: Many components constitute vaccination hesitancy. The corruption of political elites, brainwashing of masses by the new type of churches, self-convictions, ignorance, lack of knowledge on CC, and gender bias are some. They all increase on structural causes: the colonial background and the low socioeconomic status of these countries.
Knowledge Levels and Practice Regarding Breastfeeding among Mothers with Children under 2 Years Admitted in the Pediatric Ward at Mnazi Mmoja Hospital, Zanzibar
Authors: Said Fat-hiya Abdallah , Okafor Chukwuma J. , Yusuf Said Ali , Ali Amina A. , Abeid Khamis A. , Mahmoud Salma Abdi , Chukwuani Ufuoma , Hussein Ayan Ahmed , Khamis Sabahi Salum , Hamid Amina Abdi
Published: June 2021

Breastfeeding (BF) has been a proven means of providing young infants with the nutrients required for healthy growth and development. The process has also been known to reduce common childhood infections, which are the causes of high mortality and morbidity.  Hence in achieving the best practice of BF, both knowledge and techniques are essential. Therefore, the study aims to assess the knowledge and practice on BF among mothers whose children were admitted at Mnazi Mmoja Hospital, Zanzibar. The study was a cross-sectional descriptive hospital-based carried out in the pediatric ward of MMH from April 2020 to July 2020 after approval by the hospital's health and ethics committee. Questionnaires were deployed to interview all consenting participants who were mothers aged from 18 to 50 years, breastfeeding a child, and having at least one previous child who had been breastfed earlier (Above 2 years) at the time of the study.  Selected questions were used to assess and categorized a total of 199 mothers who were recruited into the study as those with knowledge, those without knowledge on Exclusive breastfeeding (EBF), breastfeeding (BF) for 2 years, and breastfeeding techniques (BFT). Data were analyzed using Statistical Package for Social Sciences version 16. Differences at P < 0.05 were considered significant. About 76.9% of the mothers studied had knowledge of EBF, while 65% had knowledge of BF for two years. A total of 42 (21.1%) had children below 6 months and were still BF, with the remaining 157(78.9%) having children above 6 months. Among the 157, only 58 (37%) practice EBF for 6 months. Also, 130 (65.3%) mothers breastfed their children up to 2 years in their previous child's upbringing. Most of them (42%) stopped because they became pregnant. The breastfeeding technique (BFT) was affected by the mother's age but not education level, as more of the older mothers had good positions and attachments than the younger ones. On overall techniques, 58.5% had good attachment compared to 49.7% who had proper position. Although most mothers were aware of the knowledge of EBF for 6 months, the practice is still low. However, older mothers, particularly the age group 31-40, have good BFT compared to younger mothers. There is a need for more education on EBF, BF, and BFT among women during Antenatal Clinic (ANC) and after delivery during the monthly clinic.
Role of Endoscopic Ultrasound Guided Fine Needle Aspiration in the Diagnosis of Cystic Pancreatic Lesions
Authors: Elsefy Ahmed Metawea , Elnady Mohamed Ali , Elkhateb Mervat Abd El-Hamed , Hegazy Hegazy Mohammed
Published: June 2021

Background: The diagnosis and management of cystic lesions of the pancreas is an increasingly recognized problem in clinical practice and many of the cystic pancreatic lesions are neoplastic and asymptomatic. Despite the significant advances occurred over the last decades, it remains difficulty to accurately distinguish between benign (serous cystic lesions) and malignant or potentially malignant (mucinous cystic lesions) pancreatic cysts before resecting them. Mucinous cystic neoplasms (MCNs), intrapapillary mucinous neoplasms (IPMN) and serous cystic neoplasms (SCNs) can display differences when examined by imaging modalities, endoscopic ultrasonography (EUS) and cytological and biochemical analyses of cyst fluid. The performance characteristics of high-resolution computed tomography (CT) scanning and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in making these distinctions are, however, disappointing. The aim of this study is to evaluate the role of endoscopic ultrasound guided fine needle aspiration (FNA) in diagnosis of cystic pancreatic lesions and its accuracy in discrimination between benign, malignant and potentially malignant cysts.

Methods: The study was organized as a prospective study and conducted over 51 patients with identified cystic pancreatic lesions from prior radiological imaging (CT or MRI).

Results: EUS guided FNA has shown superior sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value and negative predictive value in comparison to EUS alone in discriminating mucinous from non-mucinous cysts. This difference was remarkable specially for malignant cysts (mucinous cystadenocarcinoma, adenocarcinoma) and cystic lymphangioma. EUS-FNA associated with chemical and physical analysis of cyst fluid was 100% sensitive and specific. Cyst fluid CEA revealed significant importance in differentiating mucinous from non mucinous cysts. Cyst fluid amylase was significantly high in pseudocysts while mucin stain was important to discriminate mucinous from non-mucinous cystic lesions.

Conclusion: EUS-FNA has proven greater sensitivity and specificity, positive predictive, negative predictive value in differentiating mucinous and non-mucinous pancreatic cystic lesions as well as pathological categorization into subtypes.
Surface Modification of Optimized Asenapine Maleate Loaded Solid Lipid Nanoparticles Using Box-Behnken Design
Authors: Devi A. Rekha , Vidyavathi M. , Suryateja S. P.
Published: June 2021

Aim: The aim of the present study was to design and evaluate solid lipid nanoparticles of Asenapine maleate (<2% bioavailability) to enhance its oral bioavailability and surface modification for brain targeting.

Methods: A modified solvent injection method was used to produce Asenapine maleate loaded solid lipid nanoparticles. A RSM 3-factor, 3-level Box-Behnken design was applied to study the effect of three independent variables, concentrations of lipid (A), drug (B) and surfactant (C) on three dependent variables, particles size (Y1), entrapment efficiency (Y2), and drug release (Y3). 3-D surface response plots were drawn and optimized formulation was selected based on desirability factor. Then it was coated with tween 80 for ease of permeability through blood brain barrier due to intact absorption of solid lipid nanoparticles.

Results: The results of coated optimized formulation showed average particle size of 108.9 nm, entrapment efficiency of 78.62%, and in vitro drug release of 98.88±0.102% at 36 hr at pH 7.4. Morphologically, particles were almost spherical in shape with uniform size distribution. Targeting of coated optimized formulation to brain after oral administration was confirmed by fluorescence microscopy studies on male albino wistar strain rats. This research also envisaged that there is a >85% cell viability up to 125µg/ ml concentration of coated solid lipid nanoparticles by MTT assay.

Conclusion: Thus, the current study successfully designed, developed an optimized SLN formulation of Asenapine maleate using a 3-factor, 3-level Box-Behnken design for brain targeting to treat Schizophrenia by bypassing the first pass metabolism with enhanced oral bioavailability.
A Newly Developed Reverse Phase-High Performance Liquid Chromatography Method for the Assay of Dexmethylphenidate and Serdexmethylphenidate with PDA
Authors: Talari Subrahmanyam , Anuradha V. , Boddapati S. N. Murthy , Ayithabotla Komala Sai Prathuyasa
Published: June 2021

Aims: The present application is a Newly Validated Reverse Phase-High Performance Liquid Chromatography Method for the Assay of Dexmethylphenidate and Serdexmethylphenidate with PDA.

Study design: Mentioned study is a quick, rapid, economical, precise, and accurate reverse phase- high performance liquid chromatographic method for estimating Dexmethylphenidate and Serdexmethylphenidate.

Place and duration of study: The present assay was carried out at the Shree icon Pharma laboratories PVT.ltd, Vijayawada, AP, and India, from December 2020 to February 2021.

Methodology: The stationary phase Agilent C18 column with dimensions of 150x4.6mm, 3.5 was used for chromatography and pH-2.5 ammonium acetate buffer with orthophosphoric acid: acetonitrile in a 50:50 ratio used as a buffer. The detection wavelength was 265nm, and the flow rate was 1mL/min. The strategy was justified according to ICH guidelines

Results: Dexmethylphenidate and Serdexmethylphenidate had retention periods of 4.258 and 5.629 minutes, respectively. For the estimation of Dexmethylphenidate and Serdexmethylphenidate, the method has been validated for linearity, accuracy, precision, stability tests, and forced degradation studies including acid, base, hydrolysis, peroxide, and thermal degradation. By multiplying the quality six times, the system's suitability parameter was investigated, and they were well within reasonable limits. The regression coefficient of the two drugs was found to be 0.999 during the linearity study, which was performed at 10% to 150 percentage points. Precision results for Dexmethylphenidate and Serdexmethylphenidate were 0.54 and 1.24, respectively. The drugs were recovered at a rate of 98-102 percent, which is within the acceptable range.

Conclusion: The validation results were found to be satisfactory. It was clear that the proposed method was suitable for routine quality control and analysis of pharmaceutical preparations.
Overweight and Obesity Prevalence and Predictors in People Living in Karachi
Authors: Ibrahim Sadaf , Akram Zuneera , Noreen Aisha , Baig Mirza Tasawer , Sheikh Samina , Huma Ambreen , Jabeen Aisha , Lodhi Muneeza , Khan Shahzada Azam , Hudda Ajmal , Shahid Uzma , Syed Nayel
Published: June 2021

Objective: This study was aimed to establish the prevalence of overweight, obesity and related its factors among the citizens of Karachi.

Methodology: From Jan 2018 to August 2018. This cross-sectional analysis was conducted to obtain information from 772 persons using a validated questionnaire and traditional height and weight evaluation methods have been used. Overweight and obesity were described by South Asian cut-off points as 23 ≥ BMI (Normal), 25.0 - 29.9 BMI (Overweight) and 30 ≤ BMI (Obese) respectively. For data processing, version 21.0 of SPSS was used.

Results: In this sample study men was 44.5% and women was 55.5%.Age group 20-39 was the most numerous group which was 55.70%. Among Overweight and obesity were found to be higher in men than in women. About 23.3% of the people were smokers, 1.42% was alcohol consumer, while 20.3% had vegetarian diet, 55.8% had semi-vegetarian diet, and 23.8% had non-vegetarian diet. The prevalence of overweight and obesity among individuals with co-morbidities is 33.96 %, p=0.000. There were 38.5% of people who performed physical activity for at least 30 minutes every day.

Conclusion: Overweight and obesity prevalence was found to be high among Karachi individuals, particularly in men than in women. The predictors of obesity were sedentary lifestyle, including diet and lack of physical exercise, smoking, alcohol intake, and presence of co-morbidities. Preventive steps to avoid overweight and obesity may be recommended for people.
A Cross-sectional study on Metamemory in Primigravid Women of South Indian population
Authors: Sangeetha A. , Priyanka G. , Kumaresan M. , Harshitha T. , Vijayalakshmi B.
Published: June 2021

Introduction: Metamemory awareness refers to our feelings or experiences of our own memory. For example, if a person feels certain that he or she will remember later something just learned now, that person is having a metamemory experience. Metamemory is a subarea of metacognitions.

Aim: The aim is to assess metamemory in primigravid individuals.

Materials and methods: A study was conducted among 120 pregnant female of south Indian population. The participants were asked to complete a self-reported questionnaire on metamemory. It includes multifactorial memory questionnaire (MMQ), developed to assess separate dimensions of memory ratings that are applicable to clinical assessment and intervention, includes scales of Contentment, Ability, and Strategy.

Results: Association between corresponding subscale scores and gestational period indicates a weak correlation for satisfaction (r = -.09), ability (r = -.12) and strategy (r = -.17). In addition, the MMQ subscales and the total score showed good internal consistency (αs = 0.81-0.89). Conclusion: The results would conclude metamemory components were found to be generally poorer in pregnancy particularly less in third trimester. These impact in pregnant female on quality of life and everyday functioning requires further investigation.
Design, Synthesis and Evaluation of Core Scaffold Pyrazolone Fused Thiazolidinone Derivatives as Anticancer Agents
Authors: Arunachalam Sumathy , Ramalingam Suresh , Lachmanan Gowrishankar Narayanasamy , Nagarajan Srinivasan
Published: June 2021

Background: Cancer is the world's second leading cause of death, accounting for an estimate of more than 10 million deaths annually. The most common type of cancers in women are breast, endometrial, cervical, ovarian, colorectal, lung, and skin cancers.Among these, breast cancer is the most common in women of all ages. Human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 breast cancer is widely seen in women which test positive for the protein HER2. This protein is present in one-fifth of every breast cancer cell, which promotes the growth of cancer cells. There are several compounds available for the treatment of HER2 breast cancer in the market with varying promise in their efficacy and safety on HER2 treatment.

Objective: To design synthesis and evaluation of core scaffold pyrazolone fused thiazolidinone derivatives as anticancer agents.

Methods: In this study, the core scaffold pyrazolone fused thiazolidinone derivatives were designed, synthesized, and analyzed for the anticancer activity using breast carcinoma cell line (MCF-7), against the standard drug Doxorubicin.

Results: Many thiazoles, fused thiazole, and pyrazole derivatives have been found to have anti-cancer and other properties. In this study, the compound 1-phenyl-3-methyl-5-pyrazolones was allowed to react with diverse benzoyl chloride as well as primary amine derivatives and transformed into ’A series of Pyrazolone fused Thiazolidinone derivatives 4A1-4A10 and 4B1- 4B10. Computational studies by Schrodinger Glide XP using the Protein 3RCD which act on the human epidermal growth factor receptor’’ was performed on the selected scheme initially and further from the docked score data the synthesis of pyrazolone fused thiazolidinone was performed.

Conclusion: Among the compounds synthesized, five compounds (4A6 − 3.4 kcal/mol, 4B4 − 3.0 kcal/mol, 4A3 − 2.2 kcal/mol, 4B2 − 1.6 kcal/mol, and 4A9 − 1.3 kcal/mol) shown promising binding affinities against epidermal growth factor receptor kinase. The cytotoxic potential of the compounds was examined using a breast carcinoma cell line (MCF-7), which shown cytotoxicity close to Doxorubicin (standard drug). Our findings are an important step forward in the development of novel anticancer agents.
Knowledge, Risk Perceptions and Depression Related to COVID-19: The Comparison between Nurses and other Professionals in Nanjing, China
Authors: Lee Tsorng-Yeh , Zhong Yaping , Li Fan , Tao Zijiao , Shi Tao , Ji Ji
Published: June 2021

Background: COVID-19 is a deadly infectious disease that dramatically affects the safety of hospital professionals. Their knowledge, risk perception, and depression levels towards COVID-19 need to be understood.

Purpose: This study aimed to compare the differences in knowledge, risk perceptions, and depression related to COVID-19 between nurses and other professionals in hospital settings.

Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted in Nanjing, China at the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic with four standardized questionnaires, including (a) demographic data, (b) knowledge about COVID-19, (c) risk perceptions, and (d) depression. Data from the two groups of participants were analyzed by Chi-square tests, correlations, and t-tests.

Results: The mean correct answer rate of knowledge for nurses was 76.42%, and for other professionals was 73.94%. T-tests indicated significant differences in total mean knowledge score and mean scores in four out of five subscale scores (p<.05). All significant differences in scores showed that nurses' knowledge was higher than other professionals, except one subscale score, which revealed that nurses' knowledge of pets could spread COVID-19 was lower than other professionals. The highest perceived risk scores in both groups were contracting influenza. The second highest was scores on COVID-19 and H1N 1 the third. T-tests indicated significant differences between these two groups in scores of contracting these three infectious diseases, with nurses higher than other professionals (p<.001). T-test also showed that the depression of nurses was higher than other professionals (p<.000). Positive relationships existed between risk perceptions and depression (p<.001).

Conclusions: More education is needed to improve hospital professionals' knowledge of COVID-19. Since nurses' risk perceptions of contracting COVID-19 and dying from this deadly infection were higher than other professionals; further studies might help researchers understand the underlying reasons better. Hospital leaders should pay attention to workers' mental health and initiate proper strategies to reduce their depression related to COVID-19. Further investigation is needed since few publications mention the relationship between the perceived risk of hospital professionals and home and food accidents.
Tweaking Crassulacean Acid Metabolism (CAM)‐Cycling Plants for Crop Productivity Improvement in View of a Bioenergy Crop,Jatropha curcasLinn
Authors: Govender Nisha , Dorairaj Deivaseeno , Mohamed‐Hussein Zeti‐Azura , Osman Normaniza , Ratnam Wickneswari
Published: June 2021

Crassulacean acid metabolism (CAM)‐cycling plants display both the C3and CAM photosynthetic pathways at various extents in response to environmental and plant physiological conditions. Evolved from the C3metabolism, CAM is a photosynthetic adaptation specialised to improve plant water‐use efficiency by shifting/extending the CO2uptake from the day to the night. Obligate CAM plants such as the Agave species, pineapples, orchids, and prickly pears are highly productive and respond favourably to extreme heat and drought, and water‐limited environments. In comparison to the C3and C4plants, agricultural CAM crops can thrive in semi‐arid and arid lands, making them an ideal and sustainable commercial crop for food and energy. Very few plants exhibit the CAM‐cycling pathway, while the fairly well‐known examples includeMesembryanthemum crystallinum(ice plant) andJatropha curcas(physic nut). In such plants bestowed with the ability to interchange different photosynthetic metabolisms, little is known on how each unique photosynthetic metabolism is likely to contribute to overall plant growth and development. This article explores the utilisation of CAM for biomass and yield improvement in a bioenergy crop (J. curcas) conferred with CAM‐cycling photosynthetic machinery. TheJ. curcasphotosynthetic‐associated parameters, yield components in relation to transcriptomic data analyses from previous studies are described and discussed to benefit plant breeding programs targeted for productivity enhancement.
Assiros, Macedonia
Authors: Wardle Ken
Published: June 2021

Excavation at the prehistoric settlement mound (toumba) at Assiros in Greek Central Macedonia by the British School at Athens and the University of Birmingham between 1975 and 1989 has provided important evidence about social organization and agricultural production in this region during the Late Bronze Age, and about its connections with Mycenaean Greece and the Balkans. Robust 14C determinations have provided absolute dates for different phases of the Aegean Late Bronze Age and, for the first time, for the transition from Bronze to Iron Age in the Aegean as a whole.
Enkomi in Cyprus
Authors: Georgiou Artemis
Published: June 2021

Enkomi is a site located on the east coast of Cyprus, which flourished in the Late Bronze Age.
Kition
Authors: Georgiou Artemis
Published: June 2021

Kition is an ancient Cypriot town, located on the southeastern coast of the island, lying within the boundaries of the modern town of Larnaca.
John of Antioch
Authors: Whately Conor
Published: June 2021

John of Antioch compiled a chronicle, the
Chronological History
, which discusses events from Creation to the elimination of the emperor Phokas in 610
ce
.
John Scholasticus
Authors: Whately Conor
Published: June 2021

John III Scholasticus was patriarch of Constantinople from January 31, 565
ce
, to his death on August 31, 577 (John of Ephesos 3.2.31; Theophanes
AM
6069).
Provincial administration, Byzantine
Authors: Pazdernik Charles F.
Published: June 2021

The administrative structure of the Roman Empire from the fourth until the seventh centuries
ce
comprised a central authority radiating from the emperor and his ministers into the provinces.
Social structure and mobility, Byzantine
Authors: Pazdernik Charles F.
Published: June 2021

The principal horizontal division in society between the fourth and seventh centuriescewas between those whose wealth, privilege, and status placed them in the category of “the powerful” or “the notable,” and everyone else. This division has conventionally been expressed in terms of a distinction betweenhonestioresandhumiliores, but equivalent expressions appear in a variety of contexts.
Apellai
Authors: SAMOTTA IRIS
Published: June 2021

Apellai
refers to the religious Apellai festival of Apollo (“Apellon” in the Dorian dialect) held every year in the month of Apellaios in Delphi and probably in Lakonia, or to the Spartan political citizens’ assembly as indicated in the
Great Rhetra
of ca. 700
bce
, the constitutional document ascribed to the mythical lawgiver Lycurgus.
Perinthos (Herakleia)
Authors: Sayar Mustafa H.
Published: June 2021

Perinthos was founded by colonists from Samos in 602bce. The strategic and economic importance of its location on the north shore of the Propontis meant frequent changes of masters. In 286ceDiocletian renamed the city “Herakleia.”
Pythioi
(Spartan)
Authors: Samotta Iris
Published: June 2021

The
pythioi
were Spartan ambassadors to the Delphic oracle of Apollo Pythios, appointed by the kings. The institution is likely to have disappeared with the end of the Spartan kingship in the late third century
bce
.
Abgar Legend
Authors: Karaulashvili Irma
Published: June 2021

The plot of the apocryphal Legend of Abgar revolves around the story of the first royal conversion to Christianity. The Legend, the importance of which was underlined first by citing a letter supposedly written by Jesus to king Abgar (which soon became regarded as a protective amulet), and later by the inclusion of an account of an image of Christ not made by human hands, became so popular in the Christian world that it not only constituted a part of its historical writings and ecclesiastical collections but is still alive today thanks to debates about the erroneous connection with the Turin Shroud.
Prayer, Christian
Authors: Kiley Mark
Published: June 2021

Early Christian prayer is in dialogue with several elements of Jewish, Greek, Roman, and Syriac culture. Scholarship from 2010–20 attends to issues of theology, stylistics, and archaeology.
Aerarium militare
Authors: Meyers Rachel
Published: June 2021

The
aerarium militare
was created by Augustus as a treasury to distribute pensions for soldiers who had completed their military service. After the initial funds given by Augustus, income from the
vicesima hereditatum
and
centesima rerum venalium
financed the
aerarium militare
.
Dioikesis
Authors: Blouin Katherine
Published: June 2021

The
Dioikesis
or “Department of Finance” was, together with the
Hieratika
(“Department of Sacred Income”) and the
Idios Logos
(“Special Account”), one of the three main departments of the Ptolemaic and Roman administration of Egypt.
Environmental history
Authors: Blouin Katherine
Published: June 2021

By reconstructing past landscapes’ modes of “anthropization” (the human transformation of land(scapes)), by questioning the socially‐contingent notion of agricultural “margins,” and by illuminating ancient conceptions of the environment and their modern reception, environmental historians are refining, and at times renewing, our understanding of the ancient world.
Incuse coinage
Authors: Cunnally John
Published: June 2021

A coin is said to be incuse when the impression on one side is concave or intaglio instead of in relief, in contrast to the double‐relief fabric commonly used for coins throughout antiquity and still employed today. In one area of the Hellenic world—the Greek colonies of southern Italy—the early silver coinage displayed an idiosyncratic format, a relief image on the obverse repeated in a concave impression on the reverse. These incuse coins of Magna Graecia are also distinguished by a wider, flatter body than corresponding denominations struck by other Greek cities.
Technological change
Authors: Lucas Adam R.
Published: June 2021

This article provides a survey of technological change from the late Bronze Age (ca. 1550bce) to the seventh centuryce. It discusses the independent inventions of agriculture, writing, numbers, astronomy, and calendars in the ancient Middle East, Asia, and Mesoamerica, and the development of various technologies by the Greeks and Romans which are now part of the western technical tradition. Narratives of evolution, revolution, stagnation, progress, and development are outlined in relation to various authors, periods, cultures, and technologies. Attitudes toward technological change among different schools of thought in ancient Greece and Rome are also briefly explored.
Villa
Authors: Marzano Annalisa
Published: June 2021

Roman villas were mansions located outside the urban perimeter, which included land (called either
fundus
or
praedium
), and were provided with a luxurious residential part (
pars urbana
) and service quarters (
pars rustica
) with agricultural production facilities. While being for the most part working farms, villas were also the seat for the pursuit of a particular type of lifestyle by the elite (
otium
).
Weights and measures, Greek
Authors: Kroll John H.
Published: June 2021

Necessary for the valuation and exchange of all commodities and property – land, agricultural produce, raw materials including metals and wood, manufactured goods such as cloth – the maintenance of common units for measuring weight, volume, length, and area was a fundamental concern of every established community. Within the highly particularized world of the hundreds of Greek city‐states, a number of these units were especially influential; it is these that are surveyed here. Nevertheless, diversity was common, and often in flux, as cities changed their local standards of measurement in response to changing political and economic circumstances.
La Tène
Authors: Collis John R.
Published: June 2021

The name of the Swiss site of La Tène is commonly used as both the name of a “Culture Group” identified with the historical Celts and with Celtic‐speaking peoples, and as an alternative name for “Celtic Art.” These concepts and correlations are now considered problematic, though they are still commonly used.
Memnon of Herakleia Pontica
Authors: Paganoni Eloisa
Published: June 2021

Memnon wrote a local history of the city of Herakleia Pontica on the southern Black Sea coast. The work survives partly in a summary by Photios recounting events from the mid‐fourth century to 47
bce
. Memnon's activity is placed either in the first century
bce
or in the second century
ce
. Memnon drew from other historians writing on Herakleia Pontica before him: Promathidas, Amphiteos, Nymphis, and Domitius Kallistratos.
Phraates IV of Parthia
Authors: Heller André
Published: June 2021

Phraates IV, son of Orodes II, was king of the Parthian Empire (38–3/2
bce
). In 36, he fended off an attack by Mark Antony, who attempted to recover the standards the Romans had lost in the battle of Carrhae. In 20, Phraates concluded peace with the Roman emperor Augustus by returning the standards. Finally, he was murdered by his wife Musa and succeeded by his son Phraates V.
Shemoneh Esreh (Jewish daily prayer)
Authors: McClister David
Published: June 2021

The Shemoneh Esreh (literally meaning “eighteen”) is a Jewish liturgical, communal prayer which actually consists of nineteen parts. It is also known as the
Amidah
(literally “standing,” because of the posture in which it is recited) or the
Tefillah
(“the prayer,”
par excellence
).
Edessa
Authors: Wood Philip , Heal Kristian S.
Published: June 2021

Edessa was a major city of Roman Mesopotamia. It was the home of a famous Christian theological school and became a significant site for Syriac intellectual life. Edessa was a significant centre for Christian missionary activity and for Syriac scholarship and scribal production. It was one of the most significant cities of Roman Mesopotamia, both for its importance in trade and its strategic position. It fell to the Sasanians in the early seventh century
ce
and was incorporated into the territory of the Sufyanid caliphate soon after.
John Lydus
Authors: Pazdernik Charles F.
Published: June 2021

John Lydus (ca. 490–554
ce
) is known to us through his three extant works – the treatises
De mensibus
(“On the months”) and
De ostentis
(“On omens”), dealing with Roman and other calendars and festivals and with divinatory practices and astrology, respectively, and
De magistratibus
(“On the magistracies”), an idiosyncratic institutional history of the imperial administration – that contain a wealth of antiquarian detail and provide valuable perspectives into the interests and aspirations of highly educated imperial bureaucrats.
Diolkos
Authors: Pettegrew David K.
Published: June 2021

Diolkos
is the toponymic term used by the geographer Strabo to denote the narrowest constriction of land within an isthmus. In the nineteenth century, scholars read the term as a causeway or railway used to transport ships and cargoes across the Isthmus of Corinth, a view that gained traction after the discovery of a physical limestone road on the western side of the Isthmus in the 1950s. Recent scholarship has downplayed the role of the road as a conduit for interregional commercial traffic and connected its construction and use to the growth of the Panhellenic sanctuary of Poseidon at Isthmia.
Asyut (Lykonpolis)
Authors: Kahl Jochem
Published: June 2021

Asyut (Greek: Lykonpolis), situated on the western side of the Nile, was capital of the thirteenth Upper Egyptian nome. Attested since the Old Kingdom, the city played an important role in Egypt's history because of its considerable strategic importance. Texts from Asyut were part of Egypt's cultural memory. The ancient city of Asyut is completely lost, buried under the modern settlement and the strata of the alluvial plain. The necropolis is situated in the western mountains of Asyut, where thousands of tombs dating from the Old Kingdom until recent times are cut into the mountain.
Diplomacy, Pharaonic Egypt
Authors: Shaw Garry J.
Published: June 2021

Bounded by deserts to the east and west, the Mediterranean Sea to the north, and the Nile cataracts to the south, Egypt's geography gave rise to a philosophy of dangerous outsiders who threatened to disrupt the ordered world of the Egyptian state. Nevertheless, throughout Egyptian history, diplomatic relations existed with nearby regions; initially Nubia and the Levant, and later the major Near Eastern kingdoms – of the Mittani, Hittites, and Babylonians – as well as the Aegean. Treaties, gifts, and diplomatic marriages cemented these relationships, and messengers traveled great distances to deliver diplomatic correspondence between royal courts.
Palette
Authors: Kuhn Robert
Published: June 2021

Slate palettes are an important object category for the material culture in Egypt during the sixth to third millenniabce. Made of a range of different stones, they are found in both tombs and settlements. They were likely to have been used to mix pigment for the ritual adornment of the body. Bigger ceremonial objects might have played a role as image‐carriers and ex‐voti in early temples.
Spalatum (Split, Spalato): Diocletian's Palace
Authors: Schrunk Ivančica , Studer‐Karlen Manuela
Published: June 2021

Spalatum is the traditional name for the location of Diocletian's palace, which was transformed into a city in the early Byzantine period and still constitutes the urban core of Split on the coast of central Dalmatia in Croatia.
Emesa
Authors: Kropp Andreas J. M.
Published: June 2021

Emesa (Ḥomṣ) on the Orontes (Nahr al‐‘Āsī) in central Syria occupies a key strategic position at the head of the Gap of Ḥomṣ, the main lowland pass connecting the coast to the interior. Though settled since the Early Bronze Age, the city only became prominent in Roman times. Emesa was famous for its temple to the sun god Elagabalus, which housed a conical black baetyl, and famous as the birthplace of the empress Julia Domna and the emperor Elagabalus.
Euphrates frontier (Roman)
Authors: Mitford T. B.
Published: June 2021

From the northern plains of Syria and Samosata, the Roman frontier stretched for almost 500 miles up the Euphrates valley and over the Pontic mountains to the Black Sea at Trapezus (Trabzon). Eastward along the coast a chain of protected anchorages extended to Sebastopolis and the foothills of the Caucasus. Adopting lines encountered during the Mithradatic Wars, and developed during Nero's Armenian campaigns, the frontier was constructed by Vespasian. Massively rebuilt by Justinian, it endured until the Arab advances in the seventh century.
Camps, military
Authors: Dobson Michael
Published: June 2021

All ancient armies required camps, but the Roman army made them a specialty. It constructed a camp (
castra
) at the end of each day's march to provide protected overnight shelter. It was used as a base from which to march forth and offer battle nearby, form part of siegeworks, provide a temporary halt when campaigning in order to rest and gather supplies, and so on. To a Roman soldier the camp was his second home – the ramparts his city walls and his tent his house.
Legions, history and location
Authors: wesch‐klein Gabriele
Published: June 2021

The first
princeps
Augustus reorganized the Roman army. His military reforms included the creation of a professional army that consisted of legions, auxiliary forces, fleets, and units within the capital of Rome itself.
Epigraphy, Latin
Authors: saastamoinen Ari
Published: June 2021

nscriptions (i.e., texts that are carved or, in some special cases, painted on stone or on some other hard, durable, inorganic material) are a vast source material that complements in a very important manner the information obtained from other sources. The discipline that studies inscriptions written in Latin is called Latin epigraphy (from the Greek word
epigraphein
“to write on/over”) and its principal task is to collect, edit, and publish all ancient Latin inscriptions. Inscriptional source material poses problems that are partly common with other sources (representativity), partly unique (stereotypicality).
Sertorius, Quintus
Authors: Gómez‐Pantoja Joaquín L.
Published: June 2021

Sertorius was a Roman statesman who lived during the critical years of the Social War and the Sullan dictatorship. He was also one of the mythical one‐eyed warriors of the ancient world, a cunning commander, and a clever politician. As governor in Hispania, he declared himself the legitimate representative of Rome against the incumbent regime, resulting in the Iberian Peninsula becoming a war zone and a refuge for many diehard opponents of Sulla and his Senate. This conflict, essentially a continuation of the civil wars of the 80s
bce
, was a watershed in the history of Roman Spain and, in the eyes of many, made Sertorius a quasi‐mythical defender of Republican
libertas
or a precursor to Caesar.
Aemilius Paullus, Lucius
Authors: erskine Andrew
Published: June 2021

Lucius Aemilius Paullus (ca. 228–160
bce
) was one of the leading Roman generals of the second century
bce
, celebrated in particular for his victory over the Macedonian king Perseus.
Comets
Authors: taub Liba
Published: June 2021

Comets were often regarded as portents in antiquity. Certain ancient philosophers, including Aristotle, explained them as occurring naturally, and in some cases as predictive of particular weather events. The appearance of the
sidus iulium
(the Julian star, presumably a comet) at the games organized by Octavian in 44
bce
was interpreted by some – including Augustus, according to Pliny the Elder – as a sign confirming Julius Caesar's divinity and Octavian's right to succeed his adopted father as emperor.
Hieroglyphs, Anatolian
Authors: valério Miguel
Published: June 2021

The Anatolian hieroglyphic script arose out of an indigenous set of pictorial symbols used in Anatolia during the second millennium
bce
. Its highly pictorial signs include syllabograms, logograms, and semantic determinatives. The script is first attested in a fully developed form ca. 1350–1200
bce
, when in addition to seals it was used extensively on monumental stone inscriptions commissioned by Hittite rulers, and became associated with the Luwian language. It went out of use after 700
bce
, as a result of the Assyrian conquest of the Neo‐Hittite states and the spread of alphabetic scripts.