bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Optimizing security in architecture by design Risk prevention in construction with a Lean perspective
Authors: Flores Peluffo Patricia , Martínez Aires Maria Dolores
Published: December 2024

The construction industry remains one of the most dangerous in terms of occupational health and safety, with high rates of accidents and occupational diseases. Despite the efforts made, security is still managed reactively during the execution phase, leaving room for improved risk prevention. This study addresses the need to integrate safety from the earliest phases of architectural design, leveraging approaches such as Lean Construction and Prevention through Design (PtD).

The purpose of this article is to evaluate how the implementation of these approaches can improve safety in architectural projects in Uruguay. To this end, interviews, surveys and observations were carried out in architecture studios, as well as curricular practices with architecture and graduate students. The results reveal that the adoption of Lean Construction and PtD reduces accidents by up to 20%, although there are economic, cultural and training barriers to their widespread implementation.

These findings suggest that early safety integration not only reduces occupational risks, but also optimizes operational efficiency. Going forward, the adoption of technologies such as Building Information Modelling and increased safety training are crucial to consolidate these preventive approaches in the construction industry.
Diagnosis of gender gaps in higher education a case study in the civil construction program at Federico Santa María Technical University
Authors: Salazar Luis Arturo , Olivari Valeria Olivari , Olivari Katherine , Araya Felipe
Published: December 2024

The low female participation in the construction industry in Chile is an evident reality that reflects persistent gender gaps influenced by stereotypes and prejudices regarding women's skills. This study aims to understand the gaps and challenges faced by female students of civil construction at the Federico Santa María Technical University, thereby addressing the existing knowledge gap. A systematic review was conducted following the PRISMA methodology, analyzing eight relevant articles, complemented by a qualitative survey applied to 47 female civil construction students and ten semi-structured interviews with key female students. The results reveal concerns about cultural stigma, peer valuation, and harassment; however, there is also personal interest in entering the field and a positive perception of the support received in the environment. The presence of female role models and meeting spaces could encourage both the entry and retention of women in construction. This study provides an evidence-based approach to understanding and addressing these disparities, suggesting that paying attention to these factors could enhance the inclusion of women in the industry. Future research is recommended to delve deeper into the impact of female role models on attracting and retaining women in construction careers and to implement educational and institutional strategies to mitigate these gaps.
Reensamblando sentidos, reensamblando patrimonios: Re-Creación de sentidos de
lugar mediante el reensamblaje patrimonial del Barrio Estación de Valdivia a
través de una propuesta de educación patrimonial
Authors:   , Reyes Romero Joaquín Edgardo
Published: December 2024

Este proyecto plantea un enfoque del patrimonio como ensamblaje de
materialidades, discursos y prácticas con agencias que permiten mediar para
reensamblar los sentidos de lugar. De este modo, se plantea que existe un
potencial de reensamblaje de los elementos desestructurados por la
desindustrialización a través de la lógica del patrimonio, permitiendo desde una
ética del cuidado la construcción de relatos propios y contemporáneos.La base
empírica del caso se ubica en el Barrio Estación de Valdivia, lugar afectado por
el desmantelamiento del ferrocarril, el cual hoy se presenta como un lugar
herido y fragmentado en ruinas, algunas infraestructuras, relatos y nostalgias.
A partir de una metodología etnográfica que articula un enfoque patrimonial y
caminante, se propone explorar los sentidos de lugar del barrio, mediante
observación participante, entrevistas, fotografías y revisión bibliográfica.La
hipótesis del proyecto plantea que, en este contexto de desestructuración del
barrio, una propuesta de educación patrimonial consciente de estas dimensiones
permitiría incluir nuevas generaciones y sensibilidades para la construcción de
nuevos sentidos de lugar. A partir de ello, se propone como proyecto una
propuesta de educación patrimonial en el marco pedagógico de los laboratorios
CECREA, ubicado en la ex Estación, generando una mirada multidimensional del
patrimonio en torno a sus materialidades, textualidades y personas como agentes
en red, posibilitando el desarrollo de sentidos propios y contemporáneos
mediante el patrimonio del Barrio Estación. Los resultados esperados apuntan
principalmente a fomentar una perspectiva crítica del patrimonio como ensamblaje
de materialidades, textos y prácticas; así como el desarrollo de un diálogo
intergeneracional entre extrabajadores y nuevas generaciones para la generación
de nuevos sentidos del Barrio Estación.
Proceso de diversificación curricular como estrategia de educación inclusiva
a partir del trabajo del equipo de aula
Authors:   , Baeza Pinto Carolina Alejandra
Published: December 2024

La revisión de antecedentes con respecto a la inclusión de estudiantes que
presentan barreras para el aprendizaje indica que esta continúa siendo un
desafío en los contextos escolares regulares. Frente a esto, la política pública
propone diversificar el currículum. No obstante, existe poco conocimiento sobre
cómo se desarrolla este proceso considerando las tensiones que puede provocar la
implementación de nuevas políticas en el espacio escolar.
El presente trabajo se sitúa en una escuela regular municipal y busca reconocer
cómo se desarrolla la diversificación curricular en un 2º básico como estrategia
de educación inclusiva a partir del trabajo del equipo de aula. Se recolectaron
datos por medio de grabaciones de las reuniones de colaboración del equipo de
aula y se analizaron bajo un enfoque narrativo.
Los resultados demuestran que la diversificación curricular es un proceso de
constante reflexión pedagógica en sus diferentes momentos y requiere del trabajo
colaborativo, del desarrollo de estrategias pedagógicas y de la evaluación
diversificada.
Finalmente, se levanta un plan de mejora que propone elaborar estrategias que
impacten en el desarrollo de la diversificación curricular en los niveles micro,
meso y macro escolar. Se espera contribuir con información relevante para el
diseño de nuevas políticas de educación inclusiva.
Teaching politeness to develop intercultural competence in EFL students in
the Chilean context
Authors:   , Bravo Araya Camila
Published: December 2024

This Action Research project was conducted in a school in Santiago, Chile,
from the
necessity of helping ninth-grade students develop the intercultural competence
in the foreign
language class (English as a foreign language) through politeness principles. In
order to do so, a
qualitative approach was adopted where students were exposed to a first focus
group followed by
an intervention; a set of activities focused on producing language, to promote
the acknowledgment
of politeness patterns and the development of the intercultural competence
skill. The success of the
intervention was measured by a second focus group, which was compared to the
first one to draw
conclusions on students’ perceptions and the improvement of their intercultural
skills.
Adult Bladder Exstrophy Managed by Complete Primary Repair: A Case Report
Authors: Mane Deepak , Singh Shivam , Satav Vikram P , Sabale Vilas P
Published: December 2024

Bladder Exstrophic diseases, referred to collectively as Bladder Exstrophy-Epispadiasis complex, are a spectrum of embryological anomalies with a rare prevalence of approximately 3.3 per 1,00,000 live births with a male gender predominance. An 18-year-old man presented to Urology Outpatient Department (OPD) with subumbilical abdominal wall defect, absent anterior bladder wall with epispadiasis and was diagnosed as a case of adult classic bladder exstrophy with Epispadiasis complex. There was no history of any fever, haematuria, dysuria or abdominal pain. His ultrasound abdomen and intravenous pyelography reported normal kidney function. He had a low Body Mass Index (BMI) (17.5 kg/m2 ) with serum creatinine of 0.6 mg/dL. The patient underwent a complete primary repair, including bladder template closure and bladder neck reconstruction using Young-Dees-Leadbetter technique. Epispadias was repaired with the Modified Cantwell-Ransley approach. Abdominal wall defect closure was done with the help of rectus abdominis muscle flap which was later grafted using Split Thickness Skin Graft (STSG). Postoperatively, a small vesicocutaneous fistula developed which healed spontaneously over two weeks period. On follow-up patient was on clean intermittent catheterisation with some incontinence episodes during night-time. Bladder exstrophy in adult patients is rare, as the condition is usually identified in the neonatal period and can be surgically corrected early on. Due to the complexity of the surgery, these cases require thorough multidisciplinary evaluation and careful planning for successful correction.
Anaesthetic Management in a Patient with Pituitary Macroadenoma: A Case Report
Authors: Bhuyan Shyamolima , Bhuyan Deepjit
Published: December 2024

Pituitary tumours are the second most common intracranial tumours. The anaesthetic management of pituitary tumours requires an in-depth understanding of the principles of neuroanaesthesia and pituitary disorders. Immaculate preanaesthetic evaluation, intraoperative management and postoperative care with interdisciplinary teamwork are essential for successful outcomes in surgeries for pituitary tumours. This case report discusses a 34-year-old female patient presenting for the management of a pituitary macroadenoma, illustrating the anaesthetic challenges faced in such cases. The presence of acromegaly, along with co-morbidities such as hypertension, necessitated a detailed anaesthetic management plan. The patient underwent thorough preanaesthetic evaluation and had a transnasal trans-sphenoidal tumour excision under general anaesthesia, following standard protocols for difficult airway management. The patient was intubated using a video laryngoscope and invasive blood pressure and central venous pressure monitoring were conducted. Following surgery, the patient was transferred to the neurosurgery intensive care unit and was subsequently discharged on the 10th postoperative day
Photogenerated radicals in DNA - Hairpin
Authors:   Department of Physics and Medical Engineering, The Faculty of Mathematics and Applied Physics, Rzeszow  University of Technology, Poland, Jasiński Tadeusz , Drąg Mateusz ,   Department of Physics and Medical Engineering, The Faculty of Mathematics and Applied Physics, Rzeszow  University of Technology, Poland, Kuźma Marian ,   Institute of Health Protection, State University of Applied Science in Przemyśl, Poland
Published: December 2024

Synthetic hairpin DNA is a promising organic material for biosensors and for preparation of physical qubits for quantum information science. This paper demonstrates the base principles of the hairpin DNA synthesis and its biradical forms generated by ultraviolet radiation. Such radical pairs form initialy entangled 2-qubit singlet spin states.
A Study on Socio-Economic Status of Cabbage Growers in Krishnagiri District of Tamil Nadu, India
Authors: Balaji V. , Selvakumar R.
Published: December 2024

Rural development is crucial for the development of the nation. Socio-economic status is dynamic in nature. Socio-economic status provides information on the association between certain factors and the livelihood of vegetables growers. In this study; an attempt had been made to understand the reality of cabbage growers. Krishnagiri was purposefully selected. Kelamangalam block was chosen for the study. The aim of the study was to collect data regarding the characteristics of sample farm households and categorize them into closely related sub groups. Total sample size used for this study was 120. Data was collected by a personal interview method. The personal variables, social variables, economic variables, farming related variables are taken into account to summarize the socio-economic status of cabbage farmers. Based on the data, Agriculture was the main occupation in the study area. Majority of sample farmers had moderate experience in farming. Most of sample farmers had smaller land holdings. Most of the farmers were found to be in the low income group.
The Functions of Actors in the Tahtay Adyabo District of Tigray, Ethiopia's Small Ruminant Value Chain
Authors: ZemedaDesta  , Zemedu Lemma , Tegegne Bosena
Published: December 2024

Even with the fact that Ethiopia in general and Tahtay adyabo district is characterized by populated livestock, actors’ coordination are weak. The aim of the study was to see the function of actors in small ruminant value chain. Primary data were collected from a randomly selected 138 producers, 5 butchers, 6 large traders, 12 small traders, 8 collectors, 11 consumers and 7 hotels/restaurants interviewed through a semi-structured questionnaire and from key informant interview. The major actors in the district were small ruminant producers, input suppliers, farmers, collectors, small traders, large traders, butchers hotels/restaurants, and consumers. The main supporters of the small ruminant value chain in the study area are Office of Agricultural and Rural Development, Office of Trade and Industry, District Administrations, Dedebit Saving and Credit Institution, Shire- Maitsebri Agricultural Research Center and Non-Governmental Organization. The result showed that 58.7%, 67.4% and 45.7% of sample respondents have got veterinary services, market information and taking credit respectively. There are weak parallel linkage among small ruminant producers and shortage of perpendicular relation of small ruminant farmers to the supplementary market actors. Therefore, there should be an intervention on establishing small ruminant producer cooperatives, discuss with stockholders about most important marketing problems, find general solutions and creating market relationship between small ruminant farmers and supplementary actors.
The Impact of Collaborative Governance on Cross-Regional Air Pollution Management: Evidence from China
Authors: Huang Wenpeng , Zhao Chengbai , Zhang Yujie
Published: December 2024

Air pollution is a global environmental issue with significant cross-regional characteristics, requiring multi-regional collaboration and coordination for sustainable management outcomes. This study begins by defining the concept of cross-regional air pollution collaborative governance performance and constructing a multi-level analytical framework to comprehensively evaluate the relationship between governance inputs and outputs across regions. By employing the Super Efficiency SBM-ML Index and Tobit model, the study measures and compares the collaborative governance performance in the Yangtze River Delta and Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei regions from 2016 to 2022. The results indicate that the Yangtze River Delta significantly outperforms the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region, with particularly strong collaboration observed between Jiangsu, Zhejiang, and Shanghai, while collaboration between Tianjin and Hebei remains relatively weak. The study further reveals that economic development levels and regional coordination capabilities have a significant positive impact on enhancing cross-regional governance performance. The superior performance of the Yangtze River Delta is closely linked to its advanced regional economy and early collaborative governance practices, while the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region faces challenges stemming from economic and technological imbalances among its cities. This study provides actionable recommendations for policymakers, including optimizing resource allocation, strengthening inter-regional policy collaboration, and promoting innovation in governance models to improve the overall efficiency of air pollution management and achieve sustainable air quality improvement.
Outcome-Based Education (OBE): An Empirical Analysis of the Challenges in Implementing OBE to Improve Quality Education
Authors: Khatun Amena , Marufa Rumana Siddika , Mouri Fahmida Ferdous
Published: December 2024

Aims: The overall contribution of this paper is to provide adequate support to all the academic stakeholders involved by offering a comprehensive understanding of the Outcome-Based Education (OBE) process and practices for accreditation strategy to ensure continuous quality improvement (CQI). Additionally, this study aims to offer some recommendations for overcoming obstacles and enhancing the quality of education.
Study Design: The populations for this research are the faculty members of different universities, 64 questionnaires were distributed through surveys and 49 faculty members were considered.
Place and Duration of Study: The research utilizes a data collection method that combines both online and offline surveys between December 2023 and March 2024.
Methodology: The statistical analysis refers to the outcome-of the quantitative data. This study focused on demographic data such as gender, academic profession, and prior experience taking OBE classes. All respondents were faculty members. 91.8% had experience in OBE classes, while the remaining 8.2% did not. A structured questionnaire consisting of a five-point Likert scale is employed. Multiple regression analysis is the study methodology used. Cronbach's alpha is used to gauge internal consistency prior to performing the regression. Here, equations and associated tests are performed using IBM SPSS Statistics 26. Every hypothesis has been examined at the 0.05 significance level.
Results: Out of a total of 49 samples, it consists of 57.1% men and 42.9% women. 91.8% had experience in OBE classes. With a value of 0.908 for Cronbach's alpha, the reliability is accepted to be high. With an R-squared of.606, the model's explanatory variables account for 60.6% of the variance in the adoption of an OBE curriculum. The findings of this study show that Switching to OBE has a statistically significant positive impact on the quality of education.
Conclusion: The challenges in the implementation of the OBE curriculum and possible recommendations in Bangladesh have been described in this paper.
Dynamic Modeling of Money Supply and GDP: A State-Space Approach
Authors: E.A Ayanlowo, , D.I Oladapo, , N.P Madu, , G.O Obadina,
Published: December 2024

Using data from 2008 to 2023, this study investigates the dynamic relationship between money supply (M2) and GDP through a state-space modeling approach. Addressing the question of how effectively money supply impacts GDP, the study is grounded in the theoretical framework that monetary policy influences economic output, a concept drawn from classical and Keynesian economic theories. The data, sourced from official economic reports, highlights significant variability in both M2 and GDP, with GDP exhibiting slightly lower volatility. The distributional characteristics of the variables show a slight positive skew and a flatter-than-normal distribution, suggesting potential deviations from typical economic trends. The state-space model captures the relationship between M2 and GDP, indicating that money supply is an important explanatory factor for GDP. While the model’s observation equation shows a low and statistically significant standard deviation of the error term—suggesting that it explains variations in GDP effectively—the state transition equation reveals a mostly deterministic evolution of unobserved state variables, though this result lacks full statistical significance and warrants cautious interpretation. The log-likelihood value supports a fair model fit, yet additional macroeconomic variables or alternate model structures may enhance the analysis. The findings affirm the critical role of money supply in economic growth, consistent with economic theory. However, future research could explore more complex dynamics, including non-linear relationships and the effects of external shocks, to refine the understanding of the M2-GDP nexus. This study contributes empirical insights using a state-space framework, offering valuable implications for monetary policy and macroeconomic forecasting.
Formulation of Nutraceutical from the Leaf Extracts of Justicia carnea, Ficus capensis and Mucuna pruriens for the Management of Iron Deficiency Anaemia
Authors: Kelechi Asogwa Kingsley , Chidi Udedi Stanley , Onyeze Igwilo Innocent , Chigaemezu Onyewuchi Kennedy
Published: December 2024

Iron deficiency anemia (IDA) is a global health issue, particularly in low-income populations where access to conventional treatments is limited. This study evaluated the efficacy of a herbal teabag formulated with Justicia carnea, Ficus capensis, and Mucuna pruriens in improving hematological and biochemical markers of IDA in Wistar rats, showing results comparable to standard ferrous sulfate therapy. The results obtained showed that the teabag significantly increased the rbc from 3.58±0.61 x 1012/L in the negative control to 5.77±0.65 x 102/L and 5.64±0.73 x 1012L in the groups treated with 2ml and 4ml/kg decoction of the teabag respectively. The hemoglobin increased from 6.51±1.61mg/dl in the negative control to 9.31±1.61 and 7.97±1.38mg/dl in the groups treated with 2ml and 4ml/kg decoction of the teabag respectively. These values were not significantly difference from the normal control and the group treated with ferrous sulfate (p >0.05). The mean corpuscular volume also increased from 72.38±20.63fl in the negative to 91.07±11.72 and 90.68±8.20fl in the groups treated with 2ml and 4ml/kg decoction of the teabag respectively. The ferritin, serum iron and pack cell volume of the iron deficiency anemic rats were also significantly (p<0.05) improved on treatment with the decoction of the formulated tea bag. When compared with that of the group treated with the standard drug, ferrous sulphate, there was no significant difference. The total iron binding capacity (TIBC) was also significantly decreased on treatment with the teabag decoction. The findings highlight the potential of this cost-effective herbal formulation as an alternative treatment for IDA, warranting further research for clinical application.
Agroforestry Systems: A Pathway to Resilient and Productive Landscapes
Authors: VijayKumar R , Tiwari Prashant , Daniel Sameer , Kumar K. Ravi , Mishra Ishita , KS Aneesh , Shah Dharmendra
Published: December 2024

Agroforestry, the integration of trees, crops, and livestock on the same land, offers a sustainable approach to enhancing agricultural productivity while mitigating environmental challenges. This review highlights the important role agroforestry systems play in promoting resilient and productive landscapes, particularly in the face of climate change, land degradation, and biodiversity loss. Agroforestry systems, including alley cropping, silvopasture, and home gardens, provide significant ecological benefits such as carbon sequestration, reduced greenhouse gas emissions, improved soil health, water conservation, and enhanced biodiversity. These systems not only stabilize microclimates and reduce soil erosion but also improve soil fertility and water infiltration, making them vital for climate adaptation. Socio-economically, agroforestry diversifies income sources for smallholder farmers by generating products like timber, fruits, and fodder, while contributing to food security through year-round crop availability and improved nutrition. Despite these benefits, the adoption of agroforestry faces substantial barriers, including socio-cultural resistance, knowledge gaps, inadequate policy support, and limited access to markets and credit. High initial costs, perceived risks, and competition for resources between trees and crops further impede its widespread implementation. Addressing these challenges requires enhancing extension services, policy reforms, financial incentives, and market access to support smallholder farmers. Future directions emphasize integrating agroforestry into national agricultural policies and climate action plans, supported by research on optimizing species selection, pest management, and sustainable resource use. By the synergies between agroforestry, regenerative agriculture, and Sustainable Development Goals, agroforestry presents a viable pathway for transforming agricultural systems into more resilient, productive, and sustainable models. Scaling up agroforestry can help restore degraded lands, sequester carbon, and enhance the livelihoods of rural communities, contributing to global efforts to combat climate change and promote sustainable development.
Evaluation of the Effect of Probiotics on Growth Performance in Backyard Poultry Farming
Authors: Muthusamy.N  , Akila.N  , M.S Murugan
Published: December 2024

Early chick mortality is a common issue in improved germplasm of desi birds under backyard system of rearing. Probiotics is one of the feed additives to decrease chick mortality. Hence, the present study aimed to evaluate the effect of probeads EC on growth performance and livability of vanaraja chicks. This study was conducted at Mangalapuram and Thussur villages of Namakkal district. A total no of 400 nos of vanaraja chicks were distributed to 4 woman groups. Each group consists of 4 replicates with 20 chicks in each. Group I was taken as control (C), Group II was supplemented with probeads EC once in two days (T1), Group III was supplemented with probeadsEConce in a week (T2) and Group IV was supplemented with probeads EC only day old chicks (T3) and Group V was supplemented with oxytetracycline continuously three days from day old (T4). All the treatment groups were supplemented with 5 beads per bird. The present study revealed T1was significantly (P<0.05) increased body weight compared to T2, T3 and control during second and fourth weeks of age of vanaraja chicks. The livability of vanaraja chicks was 87.21, 86.43, 83.52, 79.23 & 77.26 % in T4, T1, T2, control and T3 respectively. The present study concluded that supplementation probeads EC once in two days increased body weight and livability of vanaraja chicken compared to control.
Evaluation of Photodynamic Therapy in Teeth with Fistula and Apical Periodontitis: A Case Series
Authors: González Carolina Stéfani Wince , Kassa Claudio T. , Tortamano Ana Carolina A.C. , Magalhães Fabiana Divina , Latorre Joaquin Isper , Rodriguez Valherya , Pavani Christiane , Prates Renato A.
Published: December 2024

Aim: This case series aimed to demonstrate the adjunctive effect of antimicrobial photodynamic therapy (aPDT) in the treatment of teeth with fistula and apical periodontitis, with a methylene blue photosensitizer boosted by sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS).
Presentation: The six participants underwent conventional endodontic treatment combined with aPDT using diode laser equipment with a wavelength of 660 nm, power of 100 mW, irradiated for 2 minutes at each point, and a pre-irradiation time of 1 minute with the photosensitizer. All cases were performed at the University Health Clinic of the Catholic University of Uruguay. Infection resolution was achieved 15 days after the treatment was completed in all cases.
Discussion: The surfactant effect of SDS combined with methylene blue may have been responsible for the clinical success of the reported cases, as the minimization of photosensitizer dimerization maximizes the phototoxic effects, accelerating the resolution of infection sites and consequently reducing the healing time of the fistulas.
Conclusion: aPDT can be indicated as an adjunctive treatment to conventional endodontic therapy, reducing both costs and the risks associated with the development of bacterial resistance.
Enhancing Clustering Stability and Efficiency: A Framework for Optimizing K-means, K-medoids, and K-shape with Intelligent Algorithms
Authors: Zhang Ru (Johnny)
Published: December 2024

Clustering methods like Kmeans often produce inconsistent results due to the random initialization of cluster centroids, even with optimizations such as Kmeans++, which improve centroid selection but fail to eliminate sensitivity to initialization randomness. Additionally, the choice of the number of clusters and distance metrics significantly impacts clustering performance. This paper proposes an enhanced framework combining intelligent optimization algorithms—Sparrow Search Algorithm (SSA), Dung Beetle Optimizer (DBO), and Sine Cosine Algorithm (SCA)—to optimize clustering outcomes for Kmeans, Kmedoids, and Kshape. The framework also incorporates dimensionality reduction techniques, including Principal Component Analysis (PCA), Non-Negative Matrix Factorization (NNMF), and Singular Value Decomposition (SVD), to address high-dimensional data challenges. Experimental results on benchmark datasets demonstrate the proposed framework’s effectiveness, with SSA achieving the highest silhouette score of 0.68 and reducing runtime by 35% compared to traditional methods. This approach enhances clustering stability and accuracy, offering a robust solution for diverse applications.
Impact of Technological Interventions on the Yield and Income of Tribal Farm Women’s in Arunachal Pradesh under Eastern Himalayan Region
Authors: Misra V.K. , Kumar Neelesh , Kumar Rajesh , Singh C.P. , Singh Shashank , Kumar Dinesh , Tripathi A.N. , Patahk Mahesh , Upadhayay A.D.
Published: December 2024

The study was conducted to determine the extent of Impact, adoption of improved technologies, economics and yield gap analysis in the empowerment of tribal farm women’s cluster having 50 nos. of respondents selected among a pool of 105 farm families in the Chug village of West Kameng District Arunachal Pradesh. Various technological interventions were made by the K.V.K for the tribal farm women’s empowerment. In this reference the present study was undertaken to have an understanding of the nature and extent of the empowerment of rural women’sthrough involvement in income generational activities under the aegis of Doubling Farmers Income Programme started by Govt. of India. The study revealed that the highest income generating activity was paddy cum Fish farming and nursery raising of temperate fruit crops with >100% increase while the lowest income generating activity was SRI of local rice with 25% increase only. The extension gap recorded was highest 2000Kg/ha in the introduction of HYV of ginger and lowest 30 eggs/year in the introduction of improved poultry breed having same trend in (TG) technology gap i.e. 12000kg and 60 egg/year respectively. The technology index TI was highest 60 in ginger production and 16.66 in SRI of local paddy.
Thermal and Thermoelectric Properties of Molecular Junctions
Authors: Wang Kun , Meyhofer Edgar , Reddy Pramod
Published: October 2019

Molecular junctions (MJs) represent an ideal platform for studying charge and energy transport at the atomic and molecular scale and are of fundamental interest for the development of molecular‐scale electronics. While tremendous efforts have been devoted to probing charge transport in MJs during the past two decades, only recently advances in experimental techniques and computational tools have made it possible to precisely characterize how heat is transported, dissipated, and converted in MJs. This progress is central to the design of thermally robust molecular circuits and high‐efficiency energy conversion devices. In addition, thermal and thermoelectric studies on MJs offer unique opportunities to test the validity of classical physical laws at the nanoscale. A brief survey of recent progress and emerging experimental approaches in probing thermal and thermoelectric transport in MJs is provided, including thermal conduction, heat dissipation, and thermoelectric effects, from both a theoretical and experimental perspective. Future directions and outstanding challenges in the field are also discussed.
Hierarchically Structured Self‐Healing Actuators with Superfast Light‐ and Magnetic‐Response
Authors: Wang Yuyan , Guo Quanquan , Su Gehong , Cao Jie , Liu Jize , Zhang Xinxing
Published: October 2019

Despite the tremendous advancement of intelligent robots, it remains a great challenge to integrate living organisms‐like multistimuli responsive actuation and excellent self‐healing ability into one single material system, which will greatly benefit and broaden the development of smart biomimetic materials. Herein, a novel self‐healable multistimuli responsive actuator is developed based on hierarchical structural design and interfacial supramolecular crosslinking. The resulting biomimetic actuator shows a record high photothermal efficiency (ηPT = 79.1%) and thermal conductivity (31.92 W m−1 K−1), and presents a superfast actuating response (near‐infrared light: 0.44 s; magnetic field: 0.36 s). In addition, the supramolecular crosslinking endows excellent self‐healing performance in both mechanical and actuating properties to the material. This biomimetic actuator with its hierarchical structure design provides great potential for various applications, such as artificial muscles, soft robotics, and biomedical microdevices.
Injection and Self‐Assembly of Bioinspired Stem Cell‐Laden Gelatin/Hyaluronic Acid Hybrid Microgels Promote Cartilage Repair In Vivo
Authors: Feng Qi , Li Qingtao , Wen Hongji , Chen Jingxuan , Liang Minhua , Huang Hanhao , Lan Dongxu , Dong Hua , Cao Xiaodong
Published: October 2019

In this paper, a novel bioinspired stem cell‐laden microgel and related in vivo cartilage repair strategy are proposed. In particular, herein the preparation of new stem cell‐laden microgels, which can be injected into the chondral defect site in a minimally invasive way, and more importantly, capable of in situ self‐assembly into 3D macroporous scaffold without external stimuli, is presented. Specifically, thiolated gelatin (Gel‐SH) and vinyl sulfonated hyaluronic acid (HA‐VS) are first synthesized, and then stem cell‐laden gelatin/hyaluronic acid hybrid microgels (Gel‐HA) are generated by mixing Gel‐SH, HA‐VS, and bone mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs) together via droplet‐based microfluidic approach, followed by gelation through fast and efficient thiol‐Michael addition reaction. The encapsulated BMSCs show high viability, proliferation, and chondrogenic differentiation potential in the microgels. Moreover, the in vitro test proves that BMSC‐laden Gel‐HA microgels are injectable without sacrificing BMSC viability, and more importantly, can self‐assemble into cartilage‐like scaffolds via cell–cell interconnectivity. In vivo experiments further confirm that the self‐assembled microgels can inhibit vascularization and hypertrophy. The Gel‐HA microgels and relevant cartilage repair strategy, i.e., injecting BMSC‐laden microgels separately and reconstructing chondral defect structure by microgel self‐assembly, provides a simple and effective method for cartilage tissue engineering and regenerative medicine.
Repairing Transected Peripheral Nerve Using a Biomimetic Nerve Guidance Conduit Containing Intraluminal Sponge Fillers
Authors: Hou Yuanjing , Wang Xinyu , Zhang Zongrui , Luo Jing , Cai Zhengwei , Wang Yiyu , Li Yi
Published: October 2019

Nerve guide conduits (NGCs) with geometric design have shown significant advantages in guidance of nerve reinnervation across the defect of injured peripheral nerves. It is realized that intraluminal fillers with distinctive structure can effectively provide an inner guidance for sprouting of axons and improve the permeability of NGC. In this work, a poly(lactic‐co‐glycolic acid) (PLGA) NGC is prepared containing intraluminal sponge fillers (labeled as ISF‐NGC) and used for reconstruction of a rat sciatic nerve with a 10 mm gap. For comparison, the same procedure is applied to a single hollow PLGA NGC (labeled as H‐NGC) and an autologous nerve. As evidenced by significantly improved nerve morphology and function, the ISF‐NGC achieves a superior nerve repair effect over H‐NGC, which is comparable to autologous nerve grafting. It is likely that the H‐NGC only provides a protected tunnel for nerve fiber regrowth and axonal extension, while ISF‐NGC offers an extracellular matrix‐mimetic architecture as autograft to provide contact guidance for nerve reinnervation. This newly developed ISF‐NGC is a promising candidate to aid nerve reinnervation across longer gaps commonly encountered in clinical cases.
Flexible Ferrofluids: Design and Applications
Authors: Zhang Xiaoxuan , Sun Lingyu , Yu Yunru , Zhao Yuanjin
Published: October 2019

Ferrofluids, also known as ferromagnetic particle suspensions, are materials with an excellent magnetic response, which have attracted increasing interest in both industrial production and scientific research areas. Because of their outstanding features, such as rapid magnetic reaction, flexible flowability, as well as tunable optical and thermal properties, ferrofluids have found applications in various fields, including material science, physics, chemistry, biology, medicine, and engineering. Here, a comprehensive, in‐depth insight into the diverse applications of ferrofluids from material fabrication, droplet manipulation, and biomedicine to energy and machinery is provided. Design of ferrofluid‐related devices, recent developments, as well as present challenges and future prospects are also outlined.
A Computational Predictive Approach for Controlling the Morphology of Functional Molecular Aggregates on Substrates
Authors: Lorenzoni Andrea , Muccini Michele , Mercuri Francesco
Published: October 2019

Full control of the growth dynamics and morphology of nanoscale molecular aggregates on substrates is a crucial factor for the development of novel materials and devices for technological applications. A novel computational approach based on molecular dynamics, which is able to predict the structure of nanoscale aggregates of organic small molecules on substrates as a function of growth and processing conditions, is presented. In the simulation protocol proposed, molecules are progressively added to the substrate, one by one, reproducing vacuum thermal deposition processes. The simulation parameters affect the structure of the configuration, and formation of molecular aggregates is spontaneously observed upon reaching a critical molecular density at the interface. Suitable simulation parameters allow to access different molecular aggregation morphologies on substrates, including crystalline phases, matching the structural variability observed in real fabrication conditions. This approach is benchmarked by simulating the morphology of aggregates of N,N′‐ditridecylperylene‐3,4,9,10‐tetracarboxylic diimide (PTCDI‐C13), a prototypical n‐type semiconductor for organic electronics, on graphene, in different growth conditions. Simulations predict structural features of aggregates of PTCDI‐C13 on graphene that are in excellent agreement with experiments and, at the same time, provide a rationale and quantitative relationship between molecular structure and observed aggregation morphologies.
S‐Click Reaction for Isotropic Orientation of Oxidases on Electrodes to Promote Electron Transfer at Low Potentials
Authors: Xia Lin , Han Ming‐Jie , Zhou Lu , Huang Aiping , Yang Zhaoya , Wang Tianyuan , Li Fahui , Yu Lu , Tian Changlin , Zang Zhongsheng , Yang Qing‐Zheng , Liu Chenli , Hong Wenxu , Lu Yi , Alfonta Lital , Wang Jiangyun
Published: October 2019

Electrochemical sensors are essential for point‐of‐care testing (POCT) and wearable sensing devices. Establishing an efficient electron transfer route between redox enzymes and electrodes is key for converting enzyme‐catalyzed reactions into electrochemical signals, and for the development of robust, sensitive, and selective biosensors. We demonstrate that the site‐specific incorporation of a novel synthetic amino acid (2‐amino‐3‐(4‐mercaptophenyl)propanoic acid) into redox enzymes, followed by an S‐click reaction to wire the enzyme to the electrode, facilitates electron transfer. The fabricated biosensor demonstrated real‐time and selective monitoring of tryptophan (Trp) in blood and sweat samples, with a linear range of 0.02–0.8 mm. Further developments along this route may result in dramatic expansion of portable electrochemical sensors for diverse health‐determination molecules.
Pyridine/Oxadiazole‐Based Helical Foldamer Ion Channels with Exceptionally High K+/Na+ Selectivity
Authors: Chen Feng , Shen Jie , Li Ning , Roy Arundhati , Ye Ruijuan , Ren Changliang , Zeng Huaqiang
Published: October 2019

Protein channels are characterized by high transport selectivity, which is essential for maintaining cellular function. Efforts to reproduce such high selectivity over the past four decades have not been very successful. We report a novel series of aromatic foldamer‐based polymeric channels where the backbone is stabilized by differential electrostatic repulsions among heteroatoms helically arrayed along the helical backbone. Nanotubes averaging 2.3 and 2.7 nm in length mediate highly efficient transport of K+ ions as a consequence of hydrophilic electron‐rich hollow cavities that are 3 Å in diameter. Exceptionally high K+ and Na+ selectivity values of 16.3 and 12.6, respectively, are achieved.
New morpholine‐liganded palladium(II) N‐heterocyclic carbene complexes: Synthesis, characterization, crystal structure, and DNA‐binding studies
Authors: Türker Ferhat , Gürses Canbolat , Barut Celepci Duygu , Aktaş Aydın , Ateş Burhan , Gök Yetkin
Published: October 2019

A series of the morpholine‐liganded palladium(II) complexes (1a–e) bearing N‐heterocyclic carbene (NHC) functionalized by benzonitrile were synthesized. These complexes were synthesized from (NHC)Pd(II)(pyridine) complexes (PEPPSI) and morpholine. The new complexes were fully characterized by using 1H NMR, 13C NMR, Fourier‐transform infrared spectroscopy, and elemental analysis techniques. Single‐crystal X‐ray diffraction was used to determine the structure of a derivative. The DNA‐binding studies of the new (NHC)Pd(II)morpholine complexes were examined using the pBR322 plasmid. The 2,4,6‐trimethylbenzyl derivative compound has the most DNA binding activity. In addition, for the 3‐methylbenzyl derivative compound, oxidation effects were observed at concentrations higher than 100 µg/ml. Also, the molecular and crystal structures of the complex 3‐methylbenzyl derivative compound were recorded by using a single‐crystal X‐ray diffraction method.
Half‐Sandwich Iridium Complexes Bearing a Diprotic Glyoxime Ligand: Structural Diversity Induced by Reversible Deprotonation
Authors: Takamura Taishin , Harada Takuya , Furuta Tatsuro , Ikariya Takao , Kuwata Shigeki
Published: October 2019

Synthesis and deprotonation reactions of half‐sandwich iridium complexes bearing a vicinal dioxime ligand were studied. Treatment of [{Cp*IrCl(μ‐Cl)}2] (Cp*=η5‐C5Me5) with dimethylglyoxime (LH2) at an Ir:LH2 ratio of 1:1 afforded the cationic dioxime iridium complex [Cp*IrCl(LH2)]Cl (1). The chlorido complex 1 undergoes stepwise and reversible deprotonation with potassium carbonate to give the oxime–oximato complex [Cp*IrCl(LH)] (2) and the anionic dioximato(2−) complex K[Cp*IrCl(L)] (3) sequentially. Meanwhile, twofold deprotonation of the sulfato complex [Cp*Ir(SO4)(LH2)] (4) resulted in the formation of the oximato‐bridged dinuclear complex [{Cp*Ir(μ‐L)}2] (5). X‐ray analyses disclosed their supramolecular structures with one‐dimensional infinite chain (1 and 2), hexagonal open channels (3), and a tetrameric rhomboid (4) featuring multiple intermolecular hydrogen bonds and electrostatic interactions.
Language deficits in specific language impairment, attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder, and autism spectrum disorder: An analysis of polygenic risk
Authors: Nudel Ron , Christiani Camilla A. J. , Ohland Jessica , Uddin Md Jamal , Hemager Nicoline , Ellersgaard Ditte V. , Spang Katrine S. , Burton Birgitte K. , Greve Aja N. , Gantriis Ditte L. , Bybjerg‐Grauholm Jonas , Jepsen Jens Richardt M. , Thorup Anne A. E. , Mors Ole , Nordentoft Merete , Werge Thomas
Published: October 2019

Language is one of the cognitive domains often impaired across many neurodevelopmental disorders. While for some disorders the linguistic deficit is the primary impairment (e.g., specific language impairment, SLI), for others it may accompany broader behavioral problems (e.g., autism). The precise nature of this phenotypic overlap has been the subject of debate. Moreover, several studies have found genetic overlaps across neurodevelopmental disorders. This raises the question of whether these genetic overlaps may correlate with phenotypic overlaps and, if so, in what manner. Here, we apply a genome‐wide approach to the study of the linguistic deficit in SLI, autism spectrum disorder (ASD), and attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Using a discovery genome‐wide association study of SLI, we generate polygenic risk scores (PRS) in an independent sample which includes children with language impairment, SLI, ASD or ADHD and age‐matched controls and perform regression analyses across groups. The SLI‐trained PRS significantly predicted risk in the SLI case–control group (adjusted R2 = 6.24%; P = 0.024) but not in the ASD or ADHD case‐control groups (adjusted R2 = 0.0004%, 0.01%; P = 0.984, 0.889, respectively) nor for height, used as a negative control (R2 = 0.2%; P = 0.452). Additionally, there was a significant difference in the normalized PRS between children with SLI and children with ASD (common language effect size = 0.66; P = 0.044). Our study suggests no additive common‐variant genetic overlap between SLI and ASD and ADHD. This is discussed in the context of phenotypic studies of SLI and related disorders. Autism Res 2020, 13: 369–381. © 2019 The Authors. Autism Research published by International Society for Autism Research published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Lay Summary

Language deficits are characteristic of specific language impairment (SLI), but may also be found in other neurodevelopmental disorders, such as autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Many studies examined the overlaps and differences across the language deficits in these disorders, but few studies have examined the genetic aspect thereof. In this study, we use a genome‐wide approach to evaluate whether common genetic variants increasing risk of SLI may also be associated with ASD and ADHD in the same manner. Our results suggest that this is not the case, and we discuss this finding in the context of theories concerning the etiologies of these disorders.
Creating an Effective Corrosion Control Program to Eliminate Lead in Drinking Water in Hamilton, Ontario
Authors: Docherty Bill , Kariuki Martha
Published: October 2019

Key Takeaways

The City of Hamilton, Ontario, developed a corrosion control program after discovering over 10% of residential plumbing samples had lead concentrations exceeding the maximum allowable concentration of 10 μg/L.

Preliminary studies suggested that the best corrosion control method for the city was a phosphate‐based inhibitor that would protect Hamilton customers from all contact sources of lead in drinking water.

Multiple public outreach and educational campaigns informed the public of the city's efforts and contributed to the success of its program.