bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Association of Serum Renal Function Levels with Heart Failure Disease in Iraqi Patients
Authors: Murtadha Jinan Hussein , Razzaq Iman Hashim Abdul
Published: May 2021

Renal function tests are commonly used in clinical practice to look for renal disease, the most common includes the serum urea, uric acid and creatinine. Heart failure patients have a higher incidence of renal function test abnormalities than individuals who do not have heart failure disease. Fifty subjects of adults (male) were divided in to two groups, 25 subjects (healthy) as control (group1) and 25 subjects with heart failure (group 2). Our results indicate that serum uric acid, urea, and creatinine values were significantly elevated (P≤0.05) in patients group (2) compared with healthy group (1). The results also showed, the effect of age categories on uric acid blood urea nitrogen and creatinine values (P≤0.05) and there were no significant differences between age (41-60) years and (61-80) years. This study also shows a strong correlation between serum uric acid, urea and creatinine values (P≤0.05) in heart failure patients. Conclusion: It concluded from the above finding that there was effect of heart failure disease on renal function levels.
Waktu Tempuh Perjalanan Penduduk Perumahan Puri Yuhana Permai dan Bukit Khatulstiwa
Authors: Minanga Gideon  Irianto , Rachman Rais , Palinggi Monika D.M
Published: May 2021

Fenomena yang terjadi di Kota Makassar dalam permasalahan waktu tempuh adalah lebih banyak pengguna kendaraan pribdadi dibandingkn dengan pengguna jasa angkutan umum. Pertumbuhan ekonomi di Kota Makassar yang sangat pesat berpengaruh pada daya beli masyarakat dan meningkatkan jumlah kepemilikan kendaraan  bermotor. Konsekuensinya perjaanan menjadi lebih Panjang dan waktu tempuh yang dibutuhkan menjadi lebih lama dan lebih Panjang dari penggunaan kendaraan pribadi. Penelitian  ini bertujuan  untuk   mengidentifikasi variabel-variabel bebas  yang mempengaruhi  waktu tempuh pekerja yang berdomisili di Perumahan Puri Yuhana Permai dan Bukit Khatulisiwa untuk  sampai ke tempat kerja, dan memodelkan waktu tempuh berdasarkan  variabel bebas yang signifikan terhadap waktu tempuh pekerja tersebutmenggunakan metode regresi linear berganda SPSS 22.0. Hasil Penelitian pada masing-masing perumahan menunjukkan bahwa variabel yang berpengaruh signifikan terhadap waktu tempuh perumahan Puri Yuhana Permai adalah moda (X3) dan adalah jarak tempuh (X4), dan Bukit Khtulisiwa adalah jarak tempuh (X4). Serta diketahui bahwa dominasi urutan waktu tempuh perumahan  puri yuhana permai (15-30 Menit) 47,3%, (30-45 Menit) 32,7%, (<15  Menit) 10,9%, (60 Menit) 9,1%. Sedangkan untuk  Perumahan Bukit Khatulistiwa  (15-30 Menit) 37,3%, (30-45 Menit) 28%,  (<15  Menit) 18,7%, (60 Menit) atau 16%.
Development and Quality Evaluation of Ready to Serve Olive and Mandarin Blended Diet Drink
Authors: Rehman Atta Ur , Qazi Ihsan Mahbood , Khan Arsalan , Shah Falak Naz , Shinwari Abid Shah , Zeb Qamar , Kaleem Muhammad
Published: May 2021

Olive (Olea europaea L.) and mandarin (Citrus reticulatae) have been used therapeutically for their nutraceutical and medicinal value. Olive juice contains high vitamin E and phenolic compounds. Similarly, mandarin is a rich source of vitamin C. Hence olive juice was blended with mandarin fruit juice for increasing the therapeutic, nutritional and functional value of Ready-to-Serve (RTS) beverages. Preliminary study revealed that Ready-to-Serve (RTS) product of olive mandarin (60:40) was highly acceptable on sensory basis by the panel of judges. Olive juice and mandarin juice were utilized at various combinations with sugar and artificial sweeteners (aspartame, sucralose and cyclamate) for preparation  of therapeutic RTS beverages and evaluated for physico-chemical and sensory attributes during storage. The study revealed that the therapeutic RTS beverages prepared by blending of olive and mandarin juices with cyclamate has scored maximum for almost all sensorial quality attributes such as appearance, colour, flavour, taste and overall acceptability and also contained phenolic compounds, flavonoids and ascorbic acid in large quantity. A reducing trend was observed in ascorbic acid and increasing trend was observed in acidity content during the storage of beverage at room temperature over a period of 90 days. The beverage changed significantly with respect to TSS content along the storage period.
Amylase Production by Bacillus subtilis SY134D Strain Under Submerged Fermentation
Authors: Bakri Yasser , Elkhouri Samir , Harba Muhammad , Akeed Yasser
Published: May 2021

Industrial important enzymes have traditionally been obtained by using submerged fermentation technology. Many organisms are able to produce these enzymes, but only a few of them exhibit satisfactory characteristics for industrial application. The ability of bacterial strains from the genus Bacillus to secrete large amounts of extracellular a-amylase has made them well suited for commercial production. Amylase production using Bacillus subtilis SY134D strain was conducted in flasks and bioreactor. In flasks, our results showed that soybean cake, beet pomace and tomato pomace were the best carbon source used in submerged fermentation (SmF) after 72 h of incubation. In bioreactor, the rates of air flow and agitation speed are important factors that affect oxygen transfer rate which influence on product formation. When the aeration rate was increased from 0.25 to 0.75 vvm, amylase production increased at the speed of agitation 100 and 200 rpm. The best enzyme yield 127 IU/mL was obtained at 0.25 vvm an aeration rate and 300 rpm agitation speed in a 3L Electro-lab bio-reactor.
Tyumen region cultural heritage potential: official assessments and real situation
Authors: Klimenko A. , Shulgin P.
Published: May 2021

The  huge  layer  of  unrevealed  cultural  heritage  in  the  Tyumen  region  is considered.  Tyumen  region  hosts  about  two  thousand  monuments  of  history  and  culture, included  in  the  united  federal  register,  and  about  1300  more  identified  objects  of  cultural heritage.  However,  the  identification  of  historical  and  cultural  monuments  is  far  from complete.  Detailed  field  expeditionary  studies,  conducted  in  all  districts  of  the  region  during  2017–2020,  made  it  possible  to  identify  about  a  thousand  more  historical  monuments with signs of cultural heritage.

Examples  of  objects  of  traditional  rural  wooden  architecture  (both  residential  estates  and  outbuildings),  decoration  of  rural  wooden  houses,  stone  construction  in  the  village  (retail  shops,  residential  merchant  houses)  are  given.  The  preserved  historical  layout of  rural  settlements  has  been  regarded  as  a  special  kind  of  heritage  objects.  Examples  of industrial  architecture  in  rural  settlements,  architecture  of  railway  stations  and  station complexes are shown. Several dozens of rural settlements can be distinguished on the territory of the region, where, according to official figures, there are either no cultural heritage objects at all, or there are 1–2 objects, but in fact there are up to 15–20 interesting architectural  structures,  the  historical  layout  and  cultural  landscape  are  preserved.  These  settlements  may  become  real  reference  points  of  the  future  cultural  framework  of  the  region,  a good basis for attracting tourists and excursionists.
Perspective museum and landscape projects for use of cultural heritage objects in Tyumen region rural territories
Authors: Fedorov А. , Varankina A.
Published: May 2021

The  article  presents  results  of  study  of  the  Tyumen  region  south  cultural framework,  capable  of  determining  and  systemically  building  the  tourist  potential  of  the territory.  Within  the  strategic  project  of  the  Tyumen  Industrial  University  "Architectural Image  of  the  Region"  by  the  department  "Architectural  Environment  Design"  of  the  Institute  of  Architecture  and  Design,  based  on  the  studies  conducted,  conceptual  projects  were completed  to  form  the  infrastructure  and  design  the  historical  and  cultural  framework  of the Tyumen region.
Strategic Criticism in Second Language Class
Authors: YU Wanchuan , ZHANG Xian
Published: May 2021

Criticism is one of the important speech acts in class. Some teachers' criticism may threaten students’ face and lower their self-confidence and motivation in L2 learning. “Green Criticism”, which is indirect and friendly, is suggested to establish a harmonious relationship between teachers and students as well as improving teaching efficiency. It can be presented in two forms: verbal criticism and non-verbal criticism: As to verbal criticism, appropriate words like appropriate person deixis, hedges and positive words should be carefully selected to protect students’ self-esteem. Besides, empathetic mood such as passive voice, subjunctive, rising tone and stroking can be utilized to lessen face-threatening acts. Other pragmatic skills including application of request and humor as well as violation of CP are also effective in solving problems occurring in class. As for non-verbal criticism, keeping silent, using eye contact, walking around, changing facial expression and employing gestures are techniques to solve problems in class effectively. Different problems occurring in an English class of 7th grade in a training school in Zhanjiang, Guangdong Province of China are used as examples to illustrate the strategies of criticism.
Multicultural Societies: Future of Human Civilization
Authors:   Career Point University, Kota, Rajasthan, India, Beniwal Mona , Raj Purohit Dr. Anshu
Published: May 2021

Globalization has made this world inter-connected. World is turning into global village, where there is an amalgamation of various cultures. Migration has been a part of human history. Due to such mass movements multicultural societies came into existence which is quickly changing the face of the modern world. Though there are many challenges in the way of peaceful establishment of such societies but still these are rapidly blooming in the various parts of USA, Canada, Australia and many European nations. These multicultural societies make world vibrant as these have a lot to offer from knowledge, values, customs, beliefs and to new perspectives. Thus, proliferation of multicultural societies should be motivated by the governments and the people in general. These can make further strengthen relations between different communities so that all can work for mutual progress and thus world peace is achieved.
Does elevated CO2 affect the biological aspects of Liriomyza sativae in melon plants?
Authors:   Universidade de Pernambuco, Santos Jéssica de Oliveira , Angelotti Francislene ,   Embrapa Semiárido, Costa-Lima Tiago Cardoso da ,   Embrapa Semiárido
Published: May 2021

An increase in the carbon dioxide concentration (CO2) in the atmosphere has occurred in recent years, influencing the different biological aspects of herbivorous insects. The present study aimed to evaluate the effect of CO2 increase on the biological aspects of Liriomyza sativae Blanchard leafminer in melon plants. For this, two experiments were carried out: (i) to evaluate the effect of melon plants grown in CO2-enriched environments on the immature developmental stages of L. sativae and L. sativae adult longevity, and (ii) to verify the impact of increased CO2 concentration on L. sativae adult survival, feeding punctures, and oviposition. The experiments were carried out in growth chambers maintained in the temperature regime of 20-26-33 °C (simulating the minimum, average, and maximum daily temperature) and under two CO2 concentrations (400 ppm and 770 ppm). The immature stages and the egg-adult period of L. sativae were longer when they developed on plants grown in high CO2 levels (770 ppm), but no difference in adult longevity was observed. The viability of the immature phases was not different between the two CO2 concentrations. Furthermore, there was no difference in the number of eggs and feeding punctures between treatments. Thus, the increase in CO2 concentration prolongs the duration of the immature stages of L. sativae; however, it does not affect their viability. Adult survival, fertility, and feeding punctures were also unmodified by the environment enriched with CO2.
Sperm filtration as an alternative technique for seminal plasma separation in boars
Authors:   Universidade Estadual de Londrina, Melanda Carlos Augusto Alves , Almeida Ana Beatriz Marques de ,   Universidade Estadual de Londrina, Hidalgo Myrian Megumy Tsunokawa ,   Universidade Estadual de Londrina, Souza Anne Kemmer ,   Universidade Estadual de Londrina, Trautwein Luiz Guilherme Corsi ,   Universidade Estadual de Londrina, Haddad Neta Jamile ,   Universidade Estadual de Londrina, Santos Évelyn Rangel dos ,   Universidade Estadual de Londrina, Dearo Antonio Cezar de Oliveira ,   Universidade Estadual de Londrina, Martins Maria Isabel Mello ,   Universidade Estadual de Londrina
Published: May 2021

The present study aimed to evaluate the filtration for separating seminal plasma of boars’ ejaculate by means of sperm viability and the occurrence of hyperactivation and lipid peroxidation in fresh semen and after cooling for up to 96 hours. The ejaculate of eight healthy boars of different breeds was collected and the gelatinous portion was separated and discarded. In the laboratory, the semen was fractioned into three aliquots (groups G1, G2 and G3) as follows: G1: semen with plasma diluted in BTS (TOTAL BTS); G2: semen centrifuged at 600G/10’ (BTS CEN); and G3: semen filtered with the Sperm-filter® following dilution of the retained cells with BTS (BTS FIL). The analyses were performed at three moments: with fresh samples (D0) and after 48 (D2) and 96 hours (D4) of cooling at 17ºC. The kinetic evaluation was performed using the CASA system, which provided data for the classification of sperm hyperactivity. For lipid stress analysis, the TBARS (thiobarbituric acid reactive substance) test was performed. The variance analysis test was conducted to compare the results between the groups and moments analyzed. The results showed better total motility values (%) for G1 at D0 (67.9, P= 0.001), D2 (36.6, P= 0.004) and D4 (26.1, P= 0.003). The occurrence of hyperactivity was observed in G2 and G3 at moments D2 and D4. In addition, TBARS showed higher peroxidation levels for G1 at D0 (8.1 mM MDA/ml, P= 0.01), D2 (7.4 mM MDA/ml, P= 0.02), and D4 (6.41mMol MDA/ml, P= 0.008) when compared to G2 and G3. Since the filtration method did not demonstrate any damage to the sperm viability, the study concluded that sperm filtration is an accessible and valid tool to replace centrifugation.
Recounting חידות מני־קדם in Psalm 78: What Are the “Riddles” About?
Authors: Wagner Thomas
Published: May 2021

The article addresses the issue of the form and function of Ps 78 by focusing on the reference to “riddles from former times.” It offers a detailed analysis of the structure and composition of Ps 78, and argues that the reference to the “riddles” can only be understood by combined analysis of the literary function and social function of the psalm. When approached from this perspective, the reference to the riddles of the past highlights the distinctive didactic process staged by the psalm.
Vetting the Priest in Zechariah 3: The Satan between Divine and Achaemenid Administrations
Authors: Silverman Jason M.
Published: May 2021

This article argues the Satan in Zech 3 was modeled on Achaemenid imperial structure. First, the term in the Hebrew Bible is discussed. Second, a brief overview of Achaemenid offices and loyalty ceremonies is given. These are applied to Zech 3 and the Satan, arguing that the vision is a heavenly version of satrapal confirmation of priests. The article concludes by discussing imperial and theological hubris, arguing that Zech 3 is an instance of political Persian, rather than “Zoroastrian,” influence.
The Structure of Interjections in Biblical Hebrew: Phonetics, Morphology, and Syntax
Authors: Andrason Alexander , Hornea Irina , Joubert Marcus
Published: May 2021

This article studies the compliance of Biblical Hebrew (BH) interjections with the formal prototype of interjections formulated in linguistic typology. The authors demonstrate that, globally, the lexical class of interjections in Biblical Hebrew exhibits a semi-canonical and thus semi-extra-systematic profile as far as its form is concerned. Locally, the levels of canonicity and extra-systematicity of BH interjections are uneven—high in morphology and moderate in phonology and syntax.
Orestes Brownson, Old Republican
Authors: Tate Adam L. ,   Society of Catholic Social Scientists
Published: May 2021

Written in the aftermath of the Civil War, Orestes Brownson’s The American Republic is careful to address the arguments of the recently-defeated southerners. The running debates between southern constitutionalists and their nationalist opponents had produced a rich literature from the 1790s through secession. Brownson himself had known some of this literature and had greatly admired John C. Calhoun, the pre-eminent southern constitutionalist of the 1830s and 1840s. Brownson drew on the Old Republican constitutional tradition in The American Republic in order to counter the tendencies he saw in the northern movement for a national democratic politics. Through comparing Brownson’s ideas in The American Republic to those of Jeffersonian theorist John Taylor of Caroline, his reliance on Old Republican thinking becomes apparent.
Orestes Brownson and the Liberal Tradition in America
Authors: Foss Jerome C. ,   Society of Catholic Social Scientists
Published: May 2021

This essay describes Orestes Brownson’s general orientation to the American regime. As an initial starting point, comparisons are made between Brownson and the other great commentator on the American constitutional order, Alexis de Tocqueville. Brownson tends to emphasize general ideas whereas Tocqueville begins with particulars, but both recognize the unique relationship between religion and politics in America, which presents a new approach to Church-state arrangements in the modern world. Brownson is hopeful that American Catholics can take the lead in American affairs and serve as an example to the citizens of other nations, but this will require a robust educative formation in which love of Truth and love of country are both appropriately nourished.
Whose Social Contract?
Authors: DeHart Paul R. ,   Society of Catholic Social Scientists
Published: May 2021

Many scholars view political contractarianism as a distinctly modern account of the foundations of political order. Ideas such as popular sovereignty, the right of revolution, the necessity of the consent of the governed for rightful political authority, natural equality, and a pre-civil state of nature embody the modern rupture with classical political philosophy and traditional Christian theology. At the headwaters of this modern revolution stands Thomas Hobbes. Since the American founders subscribed to the social contract theory, they are often said to reject classical political philosophy and traditional Christian political theology as well. In America on Trial, Robert Reilly rejects the usual argument. He maintains that the building blocks of the American founding originate in medieval Christian political theology. In this essay, I argue that a morally and metaphysically realist contractarian tradition—one that affirms natural equality, the authority of the society over government, the necessity of consent for legitimate government, the right to resist tyrannical rulers, and the idea of a pre-civil state of nature—predates Hobbes and also that the voluntarist contractarian tradition inaugurated by Hobbes is self-referentially incoherent. A coherent political contractarianism logicially depends on the sort of metaphysics and moral ontology Hobbes rejects.
Civil Divorce and the Catholic Lawyer
Authors: Castaldi Ligia De Jesus , Fastiggi Robert , Adolphe Jane ,   Society of Catholic Social Scientists
Published: May 2021

This article answers common moral questions on civil divorce and legal practice relevant to faithful Catholics in the legal field, such as whether a Catholic lawyer may be morally involved in civil divorce litigation and, if so, to what extent, in light of basic Catholic moral principles on marriage and civil divorce. It addresses moral dilemmas that Catholic legal practitioners, judges and law students may face in employment situations and divorce-related legal services. In addition, the article addresses civil divorce alternatives like reconciliation, declaration of marriage nullity and legal separation.
Types of Stem Cells Used in US-Based Clinical Trials between 1999 and 2014
Authors: Redfield Emma E. , Luciano Erin K. , Sewell Monica J. , Mitzel Lucas A. , Sanford Isaac J. , Schmidt Andrew J. ,   Society of Catholic Social Scientists
Published: May 2021

This study looks at the number of clinical trials involving specific stem cell types. To our knowledge, this has never been done before. Stem cell clinical trials that were conducted at locations in the US and registered on the National Institutes of Health database at ‘clinicaltrials.gov’ were categorized according to the type of stem cell used (adult, cancer, embryonic, perinatal, or induced pluripotent) and the year that the trial was registered. From 1999 to 2014, there were 2,357 US stem cell clinical trials registered on ‘clinicaltrials.gov,’ and 89 percent were from adult stem cells and only 0.12 percent were from embryonic stem cells. This study concludes that embryonic stem cells should no longer be used for clinical study because of their irrelevance, moral questions, and induced pluripotent stem cells.
American Criminal Justice in Disarray
Authors: Krason Stephen M. ,   Society of Catholic Social Scientists
Published: May 2021

This was one of SCSS president Stephen M. Krason’s “Neither Left nor Right, but Catholic” columns that appeared in Crisismagazine.com and The Wanderer. At a time when there is increased discussion about the need for criminal justice reform, he points to several areas that must be addressed: overcriminalization (making illegal too many kinds of actions), vagueness of laws, the decline of mens rea, too much readiness on the part of American police to arrest, excessive incarceration, and prosecutorial abuse.
Atypical antipsychotics for delirium in hospitalized patients
Authors: Bilicic Ubierna Daniza Belén , Cattarinich Schiffrin Nicolás , Coronel Cárdenas Daniela , Soto Munizaga Rubén , Bernucci Piedra José Miguel
Published: May 2021

Introduction For the pharmacotherapy of delirium in elderly adults who are hospitalized, atypical antipsychotics are used. Currently, there is insufficient evidence on the effectiveness of this treatment in low complexity units. Methods We searched in Epistemonikos, the largest database of systematic reviews in health, which is maintained by screening multiple information sources, including MEDLINE/PubMed, EMBASE, Cochrane, among others. We extracted data from the systematic reviews, reanalyzed data of primary studies, conducted a meta-analysis, and generated a summary of findings table using the GRADE approach. Results and conclusions We identified 13 systematic reviews that included three randomized trials. We concluded that the use of atypical antipsychotics in hospitalized patients likely increases the risk of mortality compared to placebo and could decrease the response rate associated with reducing the risk of adverse effects. Furthermore, using atypical antipsychotics probably results in low or no difference in the severity of delirium.
La Ley General de Educación y la Pedagogía. Reencuentro y señal
Authors: Mayordomo Pérez Alejandro
Published: May 2021

This paper undertakes a historical overview of the pedagogical considerations and references that characterize the basic educational reform in Spain in 1970. To do so, the text offers a description and interpretation of technical, political and legal documentation. Additionally, it clarifies the contexts, orientations, innovations and shortcomings of the legislation, known as the Villar Palasi law. Basically, the author attempts to demonstrate the characteristics of the scientific rationality or technical model of the law and its reform. The article also addresses the lack of agreement between the pedagogy being defended, the social and cultural context, and the specific policies that needed to be introduced in order for the reform to achieve its objectives. And finally, this work tries to clarify the significance of this General Education Act in the educational history of Spain.
La Ley General de Educación de 1970 a través de las imágenes
Authors: Comas Rubí Francisca , Sureda Garcia Bernat
Published: May 2021

The aim of this paper is to provide an approach to the graphic representation of the Ley General de Educación (LGE) and the discourses it has generated. To this end, a distinction is made between the official or public image and its means and times of projection, and the private images that make up the iconic legacy of this legislative reform from its beginning to the present day. This approach shows that the graphic representation of the LGE, comparing the official and public image with the private one, leads to different and sometimes opposing narratives, which show the complex reality in which this ambitious educational reform was conceived and applied.
McMindfulness in the Era of Accelerated Life
Authors: Nielsen Klaus
Published: May 2021

This article addresses how we are to understand mindfulness as a cultural phenomenon and why it has changed so little of what it originally set out to address. In the article, it will be argued that we need to understand the development of mindfulness as a part of the progression of neoliberalism. Central in the analysis of neoliberalism stands Harvey’s concept of accumulation by dispossession (2003, 2007) helping us understanding the transformations mindfulness has made from being a part of a religious practice to becoming a product in the modern health discourse through processes of privatizing and commodification. Finally, the article discusses if mindfulness contains critical potentials for change.
Measured lives in educational psychology
Authors: Nielsen Klaus , Klitmøller Jakob
Published: May 2021

Why is the work of educational researcher John Hattie’s work so popular today? This is the question we will try to answer in this paper. Based on a very large empirical database, Hattie calculates the effects of numerous educational interventions and factors influencing student achievements. Despite documented methodological flaws in his work, Hattie’s work keep attracting the attention of policy makers, teachers and educational researchers all over the world. We propose to understand thepopularity of Hattie’s work in relation to the ongoing debate about the legitimation of schooling – using Habermas’ (1976) work Legitimation Crisis as point of departure. Our claim is that Hattie is offering a theoretical synthesis of effective teaching as a way to legitimize modern schooling. However, there are a number of problems with this synthesis, most notably that it does not include the pupils’ intentions for participating.
Rural Agriculture Work Experience Programme in Agriculture College: A Study in Tarai Region of Uttarakhand
Authors: Sharma Arpita
Published: May 2021

Agricultural education is evolving in a very rapid manner to meet the needs of the society. RAWE (Rural Agriculture Work Experience) was introduced in the Agricultural Universities mainly to bring overall improvement in quality of life of rural families. This programme is offered in final year of the B.Sc. (Agri) degree programme which includes training, demonstration, observation, practice and participation in purposeful activities and to orient agricultural graduates for participation in various rural developmental programme.

This pioneer study about RAWE was undertaken to study the perception of RAWE programme by the students and to know the constraints of students for effective conduct of RAWE. The data was collected from 40 students of College of Agriculture, GBPUA&T, Pantnagar by using semi-structured interview schedule.

The findings revealed that majority of the students belonged to urban background. More than half per cent of students had parents with Intermediate level followed by Graduate level and Post Graduate level. Some of the students belong to families with annual income of over 2 lakh/annum (high category). At GBPUA&T, Pantnagar, majority had medium OGPA. Cent Per cent students were using mobile phone followed by television. A great majority of students read newspaper followed by magazine. It can be observed that majority of the students were fully agreed that RAWE programme had helped them to get familiar with rural people followed by RAWE had helped them to understand village situations. The Perception of the students regarding extent of achievement of RAWE is  to understand rural institutions, socio economic conditions of farmers, adoption patterns and adoption gaps, farmers’ problems, farming systems and farming, improvement in diagnostic skills, provided practical training in crop production, improved communication skills, improved leadership qualities, provided opportunity to work with various Agri based institutions, developed confidence and professional competence to solve field problems. The suggestions for improvement of RAWE by students are the Time for each module in RAWE to be increased, stipend should be increased, University should increase its credibility and accessibility among farmers.
The Socio-economic and Environmental Implications of Supplying Charcoal in Yaounde City
Authors: Defo L. , Touakam M. , Tagne C. Tatuebu, , Nghobuoche F.
Published: May 2021

This article aims to identify and assess the socio-economic and environmental implications of supplying charcoal in the city of Yaounde. To achieve the above-mentioned goal, investigations based on a standardized questionnaire (130 charcoal producers and sellers), formal interviews (7 resource persons), informal discussions, field observations and floristic survey were carried out in Bikok between the last quarter of 2016 and the second quarter of 2017. Bikok, a subdivision located in the neighbourhood of Yaounde is one of the most important supply sites of charcoal for the city. Investigations revealed that, accelerated demographic growth over the past fifty years, unemployment and poverty constitute the main factors for the increase in the production and consumption of charcoal in the city. Poverty, unemployment and the urge for the satisfaction of basic needs constituted the main reasons for involvement of 98.8% of charcoal producers in the activity. The increase in urban demand for charcoal is at the origin of several significant biophysical impacts, including the degradation of forests and soils as well as the decrease in the availability of some Non-Timber Forest Products and animal species. In the survey villages, a total area of 3.1 hectares of forest is cut each year and the average distances from inhabited areas to harvesting areas, increased from 0.8 to 5 km in 10 years. 76.6% of charcoal producers believe that some animal species are increasingly rare in the locality. On the socio-economic level, this activity creates jobs, generates income thereby increasing the living standards of producers and sellers. More than 300 people are involved in this activity who earns on average an income of 3000 to 6000 Central African Franc (XAF) per day. Decrease in the availability of certain NTFPs and damage to the health of producers constituted some of the negative socio-economic impacts of this activity. It is imperative to adopt measures to limit the negative impacts of this activity while ensuring a sustainable supply of charcoal in the city or the use of alternative sources of fuel.
Correlation and Calibration of 4D Seismic Vintages for Effective Postproduction Intervention
Authors: Ojo B. T. , Olowokere M. T. , Oladapo M. I.
Published: May 2021

Poor or low data quality usually has an adverse effect on the quantitative usage of (4D) seismic data for accurate analysis. Repeatability of 4D Seismic or time-lapse survey is considered as a vital tool for effective, potent, and impressive monitoring of productivity of reservoirs. Inconsistencies and disagreement of ‘time-lapse’ data will greatly affect the accuracy and outcome of research when comparing two or more seismic surveys having low repeatability. Correlation is a statistic procedure that measures the linear relation between all points of two variables. Error due to acquisition and processing must be checked for before interpretation in order to minimize exploration failure and the number of dry holes drilled. The seismic data available for this study comprises of 779 crosslines and 494 inlines. The 4D seismic data consisting of the base Seismic shot in 1998 before production and the monitor Seismic shot in 2010 at different stages of hydrocarbon production were cross correlated to ascertain repeatability between the two vintages. A global average matching process was applied while phase and time shift were estimated using the Russell-Liang technique. Two pass full shaping filters were applied for the phase matching. Maximum and minimum ‘cross-correlation’ are 0.85 (85%) and 0.60 (60%) respectively. Statistics of the ‘cross-correlation’ shift show standard deviation  (0.3), variance (0.12), and root mean square (0.78). For high percentage repeatability and maximum correlations, the requested correlation threshold is 0.7 but 1 and 0.99 were obtained for the first and the second matching respectively.  Conclusively, the overall results show that there is high repeatability between the 4D seismic data used and the data can be employed conveniently for accurate ‘time-lapse’ (future) production monitoring and investigation on the field.
A Critical and Extensive Review of the Historical Rise and the Contemporary Resurgence of Interest in Positivism in Geography
Authors: Omobude Ekuase Innocent
Published: May 2021

The positivist methods of explaining geographical phenomena enjoyed prominence and revolutionized the methods of geographical research up to the 1950s where the criticisms were largely that the methods cannot account for any role in human geography and the subsequent rise of humanism as an alternative mode of explanation. These critiques and the introduction of many concepts in humanism inadvertently slowed down the progress in seeking for acceptable scientific methods to explain human experiences in geographical research. These criticisms in the 1980s and 90s reduced the popularity and application of the quantitative methodologies which were powerful research techniques in human geography. Geography by its nature is a dual discipline with one half on physical and the other on human geography. Human geographers have used quantitative methodologies to study a multitude of topics including demographics, migration, housing and settlement patterns and ethnic segregation. Human activities like migration, journey to work, retail capital patronage, have adopted some element of scientific laws and models have been focused on transportation, migration, settlement development, innovation diffusion, population growth and distribution, urban land use etc. The shortcomings of the philosophy of humanism have not provided a good alternative in explaining geographical phenomenon and has over time become the gains of the positivist school of thought. The resurgence in the interest in positivism as a tool for explanation of geographical phenomena bores down from the fact that the humanistic methods is laced with subjectivity, the language of discourse is abstract and difficult to comprehend while the logical sequence of the positivist methods make the approach real and achievable.
Expression and cell transformation activity of dynactin‐associated protein isoforms
Authors: Yin Xiaobo , Yamada Shota , Kobayashi Hiroaki , Tanaka Ryota , Togo Yuki , Hosoi Miho , Tsuchida Mie , Kunoh Tatsuki , Wada Shuichi , Nakamura Toshinobu , Sasaki Ryuzo , Mizukami Tamio , Hasegawa Makoto
Published: May 2021

Overexpression of human dynactin‐associated protein isoform a (dynAPa) transforms NIH3T3 cells. DynAPa is a single‐pass transmembrane protein with a carboxy‐terminal region exposed to the outside of cells. According to the NCBI RefSeq database, there may be two other splicing variants of the encoding gene (dynAPb and c). DynAPa and c differ in some amino‐terminal residues (NH2‐MVA in dynAPa and NH2‐MEYQLL in dynAPc). DynAPb has the same amino‐terminal residues as dynAPc, but lacks 55 residues in the intracellular region. All three isoforms have the same carboxy‐terminal region, including the transmembrane domain. Expression of mRNAs of three splicing variants was found in human cancer cell lines ACHN and Caki‐1. The subcellular localization and in vitro cell transformation ability of the three isoforms were examined using NIH3T3 cells overexpressing each respective isoform. All isoforms were found to be localized to the Golgi apparatus and plasma membrane, where the carboxy‐terminal region was exposed to the outside of cells. Cell transformation was tested using focus formation due to loss of contact inhibition of cell proliferation, and colony formation was examined on soft agar and spheroid formation in ultralow U‐bottomed wells. DynAPa robustly formed foci and colonies on soft agar and spheroid, whereas these abilities were considerably decreased for dynAPb and completely lost in dynAPc. These findings warrant dissection studies to identify the dynAP domain that is required for cell transformation.
Evaluation of a commercial synthetic computed tomography generation solution for magnetic resonance imaging‐only radiotherapy
Authors: Gonzalez‐Moya A. , Dufreneix S. , Ouyessad N. , Guillerminet C. , Autret D.
Published: May 2021

Purpose

To evaluate the Siemens solution generating Synthetic computed tomography (sCT) for magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)‐only radiotherapy (RT).

Method

A retrospective study was conducted on 47 patients treated with external beam RT for brain or prostate cancer who underwent both MRI and CT for treatment planning. sCT images were generated from MRI using automatic bulk densities segmentation. The geometric accuracy of the sCT was assessed by comparing the Hounsfield Units (HU) difference between sCT and CT for bone structures, soft‐tissue, and full body contour. VMAT plans were computed on the CT for treatment preparation and then copied and recalculated with the same monitor units on the sCT using the AcurosXB algorithm. A 1%‐1mm gamma analysis was performed and DVH metrics for the Planning Target Volume (PTV) like the Dmean and the D98% were compared. In addition, we evaluate the usability of sCT for daily position verification with cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) for 14 prostate patients by comparing sCT/CBCT registration results to CT/CBCT.

Results

Mean HU differences were small except for the skull (207 HU) and right femoral head of four patients where significant aberrations were found. The mean gamma pass rate was 73.2% for the brain and 84.7% for the prostate and Dmean were smaller than 0.5%. Large differences for the D98% of the prostate group could be correlated to low Dice index of the PTV. The mean difference of translations and rotations were inferior to 3.5 mm and 0.2° in all directions with a major difference in the anterior‐posterior direction.

Conclusion

The performances of the software were shown to be similar to other sCT generation algorithms in terms of HU difference, dose comparison and daily image localization.
Long‐term efficacy of eculizumab in refractory generalized myasthenia gravis: responder analyses
Authors: Howard James F. , Karam Chafic , Yountz Marcus , O’Brien Fanny L. , Mozaffar Tahseen ,   for the REGAIN Study Group
Published: May 2021

Objective

Generalized myasthenia gravis (gMG) is an autoimmune disease that causes disabling weakness via damage to the neuromuscular junction. In most patients, the disease is mediated by autoantibodies to the acetylcholine receptor, which activate the complement cascade. Our objective was to analyze response profiles in adult patients with anti‐acetylcholine receptor antibody‐positive refractory gMG treated with eculizumab—a terminal complement inhibitor—in the REGAIN study or its open‐label extension (OLE).

Methods

We retrospectively analyzed Myasthenia Gravis‐Activities of Daily Living (MG‐ADL) and Quantitative Myasthenia Gravis (QMG) scores recorded during REGAIN and its OLE. Early/late responses were defined as improvement in MG‐ADL score (≥3 points) or QMG score (≥5 points) at ≤12 or >12 weeks, respectively, after eculizumab initiation.

Results

The analysis included 98 patients. By Week 12 and conclusion of the OLE, MG‐ADL response had been achieved at some point by 67.3% and 84.7% of patients, respectively, and QMG response by 56.1% and 71.4%, respectively. Response was observed over multiple consecutive assessments for most patients. At Week 130, the least‐squares mean percentage changes (95% CI) from baseline in MG‐ADL score were −61.9% (−69.9%, −53.9%) and −47.5% (−59.0%, −36.0%) in early and late MG‐ADL responders, respectively; the least‐squares mean percentage changes from baseline in QMG score were −40.8% (−48.3%, −33.4%) and −55.5% (−68.4%, −42.7%) in early and late QMG responders, respectively.

Interpretation

The findings suggest that, although most patients with refractory gMG will achieve clinical response by Week 12 of eculizumab treatment, first responses can be observed with longer‐term treatment.
Engineering Bioactive M2 Macrophage‐Polarized Anti‐Inflammatory, Antioxidant, and Antibacterial Scaffolds for Rapid Angiogenesis and Diabetic Wound Repair
Authors: Tu Zhuolong , Chen Mi , Wang Min , Shao Zhenxuan , Jiang Xiaoqi , Wang Kangyan , Yao Zhe , Yang Shiwei , Zhang Xingxing , Gao Weiyang , Lin Cai , Lei Bo , Mao Cong
Published: May 2021

Diabetic wound healing still faces great challenges due to the excessive inflammation, easy infection, and impaired angiogenesis in wound beds. The immunoregulation of macrophages polarization toward M2 phenotype that facilitates the transition from inflammation to proliferation phase has been proved to be an effective way to improve diabetic wound healing. Herein, an M2 phenotype‐enabled anti‐inflammatory, antioxidant, and antibacterial conductive hydrogel scaffolds (GDFE) for producing rapid angiogenesis and diabetic wound repair are reported. The GDFE scaffolds are fabricated facilely through the dynamic crosslinking between polypeptide and polydopamine and graphene oxide. The GDFE scaffolds possess thermosensitivity, self‐healing behavior, injectability, broad‐spectrum antibacterial activity, antioxidant and anti‐inflammatory ability, and electronic conductivity. GDFE effectively activates the polarization of macrophages toward M2 phenotype and significantly promotes the proliferation of dermal fibroblasts, the migration, and in vitro angiogenesis of endothelial cells through paracrine mechanisms. The in vivo results from a full‐thickness diabetic wound model demonstrate that GDFE can rapidly promote the diabetic wound repair and skin regeneration, through fast anti‐inflammation and angiogenesis and M2 macrophage polarization. This study provides highly efficient strategy for treating diabetic wound repair through designing the M2 polarization‐enabled anti‐inflammatory, antioxidant, and antibacterial bioactive materials.
Silica Jar‐with‐Lid as Chemo‐Enzymatic Nano‐Compartment for Enantioselective Synthesis inside Living Cells
Authors: Kim Seonock , Kumari Nitee , Lim Jongwon , Dubbu Sateesh , Kumar Amit , Lee In Su
Published: May 2021

Nanodevices, harvesting the power of synthetic catalysts and enzymes to perform enantioselective synthesis inside cell, have never been reported. Here, we synthesized round bottom jar‐like silica nanostructures (SiJARs) with a chemo‐responsive metal‐silicate lid. This was isolated as an intermediate structure during highly controlled solid‐state nanocrystal‐conversion at the arc‐section of silica shell. Different catalytic noble metals (Pt, Pd, Ru) were selectively modified on the lid‐section through galvanic reactions. And, lid aperture‐opening was regulated by mild acidic conditions or intracellular environment which accommodated the metal nanocrystals and enzymes, and in turn created an open‐mouth nanoreactor. Distinct from the free enzymes, SiJARs performed asymmetric aldol reactions with high activity and enantioselectivity (yield >99 %, ee=95 %) and also functioned as the artificial catalytic organelles inside living cells. This work bridges the enormous potential of sophisticated nanocrystal‐conversion chemistry and advanced platforms for new‐to‐nature catalysis.
Benzimidazole ligands with allyl, propargyl or allene groups, DNA binding properties, and molecular docking studies
Authors: Turgut Enes , Gungor Ozge , Kirpik Hilal , Kose Ayşegül , Gungor Seyit Ali , Kose Muhammet
Published: May 2021

Three benzimidazole based tridentate ligands (L1–L3) and their mononuclear complexes with the general formula of [M(L)Cl2] (where M: Mn(II), Cu(II), and Zn(II), L: ligand) were prepared. The solid state structures of the ligands and [Cu(L1)Cl2], [Mn(L3)Cl2], and [Zn(L3)Cl2] complexes were determined by single crystal X‐ray diffraction studies. The X‐ray crystallographic data confirmed the tautomeric conversion of alkyne groups in L2 to allene isomer L3. In the structures of the complexes, each metal ion is five‐coordinate binding to three nitrogen atoms from the ligands and two chloride ions. The ligands and their metal complexes were studied for their DNA binding properties (Dsfs‐DNA, double‐stranded fish sperm DNA). DNA binding studies were performed by UV–Vis and fluorescence techniques and experimental observations revealed strong binding of ligands and order of DNA binding was found to be L2 > L3 > L1. The DNA binding ability of the metal complexes is higher than free ligands. Finally, molecular dockings were performed to investigate the possible interaction sites of the DNA with the synthesized molecules. Molecular dockings results showed that the ligands bind into the minor groove of DNA.
Synthesis and application of new macromolecular hindered phenol antioxidants of polyamide 6
Authors: Jiang Siyuan , Liu Yufei , Zou Xiaoyu , He Min , Zhang Kai , Xu Guomin , Qin Shuhao
Published: May 2021

The two macromolecular antioxidants, P(3,5‐di‐tert‐butyl‐4‐hydroxy cinnamic acid‐alt‐N‐phenylmaleimide) (PCN) and P(3‐butene‐1‐yl‐3,5‐di‐tert‐butyl −4‐hydroxyphenyl propionate‐alt‐N‐phenylmaleimide) (PPN) were designed and synthesized via free radical copolymerization. The structures of the resulting PCN and PPN antioxidants were characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy (1H NMR), and gel permeation chromatography. In addition, the effect of the two macromolecular antioxidants on the thermal oxidation aging resistance of polyamide 6 (PA6) was studied. According to the analysis of differential scanning calorimetry, thermogravimetric analysis, dynamic mechanical analysis, dynamic viscosity, and the mechanical property of PA6 and its blends, these two types of macromolecular antioxidants protected the molecular chain of PA6 from breaking, protected the crystallization of PA6 and maintained the stability of PA6 crystal form, improved the activation energy of thermal degradation and thermal stability of PA6, enhanced the strength and elasticity of PA6 and maintained the mechanical properties of PA6 during aging to a certain extent.