bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Factors influencing the adoption of ICT for remote work among Zimbabwean SMEs: A case study of Bulawayo Metropolitan province
Authors:   Information Communication and Technology Services Department, Lupane State University, Bulawayo, Zimbabwe, Maphosa Vusumuzi , Maphosa Mfowabo ,   Faculty of Information and Communications Technology, School of Information Technology, The Independent Institute of Education, Sandton, South Africa
Published: February 2022

The study’s purpose was to evaluate factors that influence Information and Communication Technology adoption to support remote working by SMEs in Bulawayo, Zimbabwe. The Zimbabwean economy is excessively informal and has the largest informal economy globally, contributing 60.6 percent of the country’s national Gross Domestic Product (GDP). Small and medium-sized enterprises are vital economic drivers in the developing world. Today’s knowledge society demands firms to intensively apply ICTs for competitive advantage and market share. SMEs face many challenges during the current COVID-19 lockdown, and their survival depends on how they can adopt ICT for remote work. COVID-19 disruptions are being counteracted by e-commerce applications across all other sectors of the global economy. The study adopted a quantitative approach, where a questionnaire was used to gather views from 145 SMEs randomly selected in Bulawayo metropolitan province. From the samples, 113 questionnaires were completed. The study found that ICTs play a pivotal role in ensuring the success of remote working programs. Results indicated that ICT support services positively correlate with remote working and that most SMEs lack appropriate ICT tools to support remote working. Furthermore, SMEs face poor and expensive Internet and erratic electricity supply challenges. The study deduced that firms owned or run by young people promoted ICT adoption for telework. The study recommends improved government support by lowering Internet tariffs and supporting SMEs’ ICT acquisition through import duty exemptions. Future work can evaluate the impact of ICT on the financial performance of SMEs after adopting various teleworking schemes.
The Easy-to-Use SARS-CoV-2 Assembler for Genome Sequencing: Development Study
Authors: Rueca Martina , Giombini Emanuela , Messina Francesco , Bartolini Barbara , Di Caro Antonino , Capobianchi Maria Rosaria , Gruber Cesare EM
Published: February 2022

Background

Early sequencing and quick analysis of the SARS-CoV-2 genome have contributed to the understanding of the dynamics of COVID-19 epidemics and in designing countermeasures at a global level.

Objective

Amplicon-based next-generation sequencing (NGS) methods are widely used to sequence the SARS-CoV-2 genome and to identify novel variants that are emerging in rapid succession as well as harboring multiple deletions and amino acid–changing mutations.

Methods

To facilitate the analysis of NGS sequencing data obtained from amplicon-based sequencing methods, here, we propose an easy-to-use SARS-CoV-2 genome assembler: the Easy-to-use SARS-CoV-2 Assembler (ESCA) pipeline.

Results

Our results have shown that ESCA could perform high-quality genome assembly from Ion Torrent and Illumina raw data and help the user in easily correct low-coverage regions. Moreover, ESCA includes the possibility of comparing assembled genomes of multisample runs through an easy table format.

Conclusions

In conclusion, ESCA automatically furnished a variant table output file, fundamental to rapidly recognizing variants of interest. Our pipeline could be a useful method for obtaining a complete, rapid, and accurate analysis even with minimal knowledge in bioinformatics.
The Ontario Electronic Consultation (eConsult) Service: Cross-sectional Analysis of Utilization Data for 2 Models
Authors: Guglani Sheena , Liddy Clare , Afkham Amir , Mitchell Rhea , Keely Erin
Published: February 2022

Background

The Ontario electronic consultation (eConsult) service allows a primary care provider (PCP) to access specialist advice through 2 models: the direct-to-specialist (DTS) model, where PCPs select a specialist from a directory, and the Building Access to Specialists Through eConsultation (BASE)–managed specialty service, where PCPs choose a specialty group and are assigned a specialist from a qualified pool based on availability.

Objective

The aim of this study is to examine patterns of use between the 2 models of eConsult delivery.

Methods

We conducted a cross-sectional analysis of utilization data collected from eConsults completed between October 2018 and September 2019. Cases were grouped based on the model used for submission (ie, BASE or DTS). Each model was assessed for the number of cases over time, specialty distribution, proportion resulting in new or additional information, impact on PCPs’ decisions to refer, and billing time.

Results

PCPs submitted 26,121 eConsults during the study period. The monthly case volume increased by 43% over the duration of the study, primarily in the BASE model (66% compared to 6% for DTS). PCPs were able to confirm a course of action that they originally had in mind in 41.4% (6373/15,376) of BASE cases and 41.3% (3363/8136) of DTS cases and received advice for a new or additional course of action in 54.7% (8418/15,376) of BASE cases and 56.3% (4582/8136) of DTS cases. A referral was originally contemplated but avoided in 51.3% (7887/15,376) of BASE cases and 53.3% (4336/8136) of DTS cases, originally contemplated and still needed in 19.4% (2986/15,376) of BASE cases and 17.7% (1438/8136) of DTS cases, and neither originally contemplated nor needed in 21.7% (3334/15,376) of BASE cases and 21.9% (1781/8136) of DTS cases.

Conclusions

Both eConsult models had strong uptake. Use patterns varied between models, with the majority of growth occurring under BASE, but survey responses showed that both models provided similar outcomes in terms of new information offered and impact on decision to refer.
Problematic Social Media Use in Adolescents and Young Adults: Systematic Review and Meta-analysis
Authors: Shannon Holly , Bush Katie , Villeneuve Paul J , Hellemans Kim GC , Guimond Synthia
Published: February 2022

Background

Technology is ever evolving, with more and more diverse activities becoming possible on screen-based devices. However, participating in a heavy screen-based lifestyle may come at a cost. Our hypothesis was that problematic social media use increased the prevalence of mental health outcomes.

Objective

This study seeks to systematically examine problematic social media use in youth and its association with symptoms of depression, anxiety, and stress.

Methods

A systematic search was conducted to identify studies in adolescents and young adults, using the databases Engineering Village, Psycinfo, Pubmed, and Web of Science. A total of 18 studies were identified, with a total of 9269 participants in our review and included in the meta-analysis.

Results

Our metaregression shows moderate but statistically significant correlations between problematic social media use and depression (r=0.273, P<.001), anxiety (r=0.348, P<.001), and stress (r=0.313, P<.001). We did not find evidence of heterogeneity of these summary correlations by age, gender, or year of publication.

Conclusions

This study provides further evidence of the association between problematic social media use and negative mental health among adolescents and young adults and supports future research to focus on the underlying mechanisms of problematic use of social media.

Trial Registration

PROSPERO CRD42021222309; https://tinyurl.com/2p9y4bjx
Blood Pressure Control in Individuals With Hypertension Who Used a Digital, Personalized Nutrition Platform: Longitudinal Study
Authors: Bakre Shivani , Shea Benjamin , Langheier Jason , Hu Emily A
Published: February 2022

Background

While there is a strong association between adhering to a healthy dietary pattern and reductions in blood pressure, adherence remains low. New technologies aimed to help facilitate behavior change may have an effect on reducing blood pressure among individuals with hypertension.

Objective

This study aims to evaluate characteristics of participants with stage 2 hypertension who used Foodsmart and to assess changes in systolic blood pressure (SBP) and diastolic blood pressure (DBP).

Methods

We analyzed demographic, dietary, and clinical characteristics collected from 11,934 adults with at least two blood pressure readings who used the Foodsmart platform. Stage 2 hypertension was defined as SBP ≥140 mmHg or DBP ≥90 mmHg. We calculated mean changes in blood pressure among participants with stage 2 hypertension and stratified by length of follow-up and the covariates associated with achieving blood pressure levels below stage 2 hypertension. We compared changes in diet quality and weight between participants with stage 2 hypertension at baseline who achieved stage 1 hypertension or below and those who did not.

Results

We found that 10.63% (1269/11,934) of participants had stage 2 hypertension at baseline. Among Foodsmart participants with stage 2 hypertension at baseline, SBP and DBP decreased, on average, by 5.7 and 4.0 mmHg, respectively; 33.02% (419/1269) of participants with stage 2 hypertension at baseline achieved blood pressure levels below stage 2 hypertension (SBP <140 mmHg and DBP <90 mmHg). Using a multivariable ordinal logistic regression model, changes in Nutriscore (P=.001) and weight (P=.04) were statistically significantly associated with changes in blood pressure categories for users with stage 2 hypertension at baseline. Using a multivariable logistic regression model, we found that baseline Nutriscore, change in Nutriscore, and change in weight were associated with greater likelihood of users with stage 2 hypertension at baseline achieving a lower blood pressure category.

Conclusions

This study evaluated changes in SBP and DBP among users (with hypertension) of the Foodsmart platform and found that those with stage 2 hypertension, on average, improved their blood pressure levels over time.
Probiotic Lactic Acid Bacteria from Goat’s Milk Potential Producer of Bacteriocin: Evidence from Liquid Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry
Authors: Veettil Vajid Nettoor , Chitra A. Vijaya
Published: February 2022

The diverse microbial populations in milk produce a range of antimicrobial compounds that confer preservative action. Goat milk characterized by high nutritional value, medicinal properties and hypoallergenic in nature, constitutes the most prevalent non-bovine milk consumed globally. Lactic acid bacteria (LAB), renowned for their probiotic properties, are important constituents of goat milk microflora. In this study, bacterial strains with probiotic potential were isolated and characterized from milk samples of indigenous Indian goat breeds. On MRS medium, Gram-positive rods were observed after anaerobic culture. Based on 16s rRNA technique LAB from goat milk were identified to belong to Enterococcus durans and Lactobacuillus plantarum. Antimicrobial activities were observed against known pathogens (Staphylococcus aureus, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Escherichia. coli and Salmonella typhimurium) and minimum inhibitory concentration was found to be low (6.5 mg/ml) for most of the isolates. High resistance to both acidic condition (pH 2.0) and 0.3% bile salts was observed along with marginal increase in cell counts in some isolates. Adherence to Caco-2 cell lines was observed in all the four identified LABs and was higher in case of Enterococcus durans compared to Lactobacillus plantarum. LC-MS analysis revealed the presence of lacticin as one of the key component of cell free extracts (CFE) of selected isolate. Goat milk as a source of possible LAB probiotics opens up a whole new avenue of probiotics from non-bovine milk sources. LAB strains isolated in this study are potential probiotic candidates that can be employed as antimicrobial agents in food and pharmaceutical industries.
The Production of Streptomyces W-5B Extract for Antibiofilm against Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus
Authors: Asnani Ari , Purwanti Azizah , Bakrudin Windy Amalia , Anjarwati Dwi Utami
Published: February 2022

The ability of Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) to form biofilms is one of the triggering factors for the emergence of MRSA resistance to antibiotics. Streptomyces W-5B has shown potency as an antibacterial producer against MRSA. However, the production of microbial bioactive compounds is strongly affected by the source of nutrients in the fermentation medium. Therefore, the objective of this study was to determine the optimal sources of carbon and nitrogen for the production of bioactive compounds with antibiofilm activities. The research method included cultivating Streptomyces W-5B, extract production, and variation of carbon (glucose, sucrose, starch) and nitrogen (casein, peptone, urea) sources for fermentation medium. Antibiofilm activities were measured based on inhibition of biofilm formation and biofilm degradation tests using the microtiter plate method with a crystal violet stain. The results showed that the highest inhibition of biofilm formation was 68.206 ± 1.750% after 12 days of incubation in a fermentation medium containing sucrose and urea. Meanwhile, the highest biofilm degradation was 73.023 ± 1.972% after nine days of incubation on a fermentation medium containing starch and urea. These findings indicated that Streptomyces W-5B has the potency to produce antibiofilm extract against MRSA.
Neonatal Screening Application
Authors: Raj Adarsh
Published: February 2022

Abstract: Neonatal screening is a set of medical diagnostics that are performed on infants. Our project deals with the problem of a centralized management system for hospitals making it easier for doctors as well as patients to view reports and compare current reports with the previous reports. Our app would also help in reducing errors that are generally caused when this process of comparing and contrasting the report is done manually by doctors. The main objective of this project is to develop a Client Server based environment, for transferring the medical report details from the bio medical lab. Also to improve data analysis technique, using previous data comparison methods. This system works on accurate recording of all user report transactions lead to better data management and increases in various comparisons. This project consists of two types of interactions like admin and patient. Admin will be providing with a well secured login and patient details will be registered using admin. A user name and password will be provided to the user. The initially process is to enter the medical test requirement of the patient. The details contain prescribed doctor details, patient details and lab test details. Each disease will contain different CTA (Complete test analysis) for their test result. For example a general blood sugar test contains HBL cholesterol, LDL cholesterol, Glucose level and etc. These all said to be CTA test. Once patient has been register successfully their blood will be collected and a temporary reference number will be provided. This temporary number is for admin and employee reference. Once their blood test has been done, the test result will be uploaded by the admin by selected the corresponding user name. The uploading details will be stored in a centralized server for data utility purpose. Patient can login with their user and password. Through selecting the date, the patient can view their current test result from their home itself. A test history option will be provided to the patient. So that patient can compare their test with their previous test results. This option makes the patient to manage and know about their health condition and their treatment. An interactive grid and chart will be generated for furnishing the result to the patient. Admin can maintain their patient detail, patient count, test results and etc. This makes more comfortable communication between admin and patients. Also entire treatment record will be computerized for future references.
“Improvement in Power Quality of Grid Connected PV & Wind Power Generation System”
Authors: Bankar Gulshan
Published: February 2022

Abstract: Power structure is really extraordinary and future one system. In this structure, there is wind system with neighboring planetary gathering and diesel generator system, which is limit in one spot that is reserves (Batteries) and yield, gives age sources, little turbines system used in hybrid, infers relationship with battery, diesel-generator and photovoltaic system. The breeze is a wellspring of free-energy, which has been used since bygone era. It is used of wind stream through wind turbine to provide the mechanical ability to change into electrical power this structure for used by a wide margin off and off-network system in like manner, that marvel called hybrid power system. Now and again, this blend power system in any case called Green Energy. Mix of something like two economical power sources is more convincing than single. This is called as blend system. 'Hybrid' connotes unite harmless to the ecosystem power sources headways. This advancements yield gives electric deftly gets at home, on-network and so forth Numerous combination system sources, which worked off-grid structure, not related with an appropriated structure from this system, we set aside the energy power stream in batteries. A mix of somewhere around two supportable power sources is more effective than a singular is brought with respect to cost, capability and reliability. Energy is the main element for both present day and agribusiness progression of any country. Keywords: Charging station, DC grid, Electric vehicle, MATLAB Simulink
Breast Cancer Detection with Machine Learning
Authors: Mangukiya Manav
Published: February 2022

Abstract: Breast cancer is one of the leading cause for the death of women. In women Breast cancer is treated as the most significant issue. According to statistics released by the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) in December 2020, Breast cancer has now overtaken lung cancer as the most commonly diagnosed cancer in women worldwide. Early diagnosis of this helps to prevent the cancer. If breast cancer is detected in early stage, then Survival rate is very high. Machine Learning methods are effective ways to classify data. Especially in the medical field, where those methods are widely used in diagnosis and analysis for decision making. In this paper, Data Visualization and performance comparisons between different machine learning algorithms: Support Vector Machine (SVM), Decision Tree, Naive Bayes (NB), K Nearest Neighbours (k-NN), Adaboost, XGboost and Random Forest conducted on Wisconsin breast cancer Dataset. The main objective is to evaluate the accuracy in the classification of data in terms of efficiency and effectiveness of each algorithm in terms of accuracy, precision, sensitivity and specificity. Our aim is to review various Techniques To detect early, efficiently and accurately Using Machine Learning. Experimental results show that XGboost offers the highest accuracy (98.24%) with the lowest error rate. Keywords: Breast Cancer, Machine Learning, Wisconsin, Algorithms, Detection
Cayley Graphs Versus Algebraic Graphs
Authors: Pranjali Pranjali , Kumar Amit , Yadav Tanuja
Published: February 2022

Let Γ be a finite group and let S ⊆ Γ be a subset. The Cayley graph, denoted byCay(Γ, S) has vertex set Γ and two distinct vertices x, y ∈ Γ are joined by a directed edge fromx to y if and only if there exists s ∈ S such that x = sy. In this manuscript, we characterize the generating setsS for which Cay(Γ, S) is isomorphic to somealgebraic graphs, namely, unit graphs, co-unit graphs, total graph and co-total graphs.
LP-Sasakian Manifolds Equipped with Zamkovoy Connection and Conharmonic Curvature Tensor
Authors: Mandal Abhijit , Das Ashoke
Published: February 2022

In this paper we have proved some results on conharmonically flat, quasi conharmonically flat and φ-conharmonically flat LP-Sasakian manifolds with respect to Zamkovoy connection. Also, we study generalized conharmonic φ-recurrent LP-Sasakian manifolds with respect to Zamkovoy connection. Moreover, we study LP-Sasakian manifolds satisfying K*(ξ,U)∘R*=0, where K* denotes conharmonic curvature tensor and R* denotes Riemannian curvature tensor with respect to Zamkovoy connection.
Queens Independence Separation on Rectangular Chessboards
Authors: Kaluri Sowndarya Suseela Padma , Naidu Y Lakshmi
Published: February 2022

The famous eight queens problem with non-attacking queens placement on an 8 x 8 chessboard was first posed in the year 1848. The queens separation problem is the legal placement of the fewest number of pawns with the maximum number of independent queens placed on an N x N board which results in a separated board. Here a legal placement is defined as the separation of attacking queens by pawns. Using this concept, the current study extends the queens separation problem onto the rectangular board M x N, (M<N),  to result in a separated board with the maximum number of independent queens. The research work here first describes the  M+k queens separation with k=1 pawn and continue to find for any k. Then it  focuses on finding the symmetric solutions of the M+k queens separation with k pawns.
On Birkhoff Angles in Normed Spaces
Authors: Gunawan Hendra , Jamaludin Muhamad , Pratamadirdja Mas Daffa
Published: February 2022

Associated to Birkhoff orthogonality, we study Birkhoff angles in a normed space and present some of their basic properties. We also discuss how to decide whether an angle is more acute or more obtuse than another. In addition, given two vectors $x$ and $y$ in a normed space, we study the formula for Birkhoff `cosine' of the angle from $x$ to $y$ from which we can, in principal, compute the angle. Some examples will be presented.
Connectivity Indices of Coprime Graph of Generalized Quarternion Group
Authors: Zahidah Siti , Mahanani Dwi Mifta , Oktaviana Karine Lutfiah
Published: February 2022

Generalized quarternion group (Q_(4n)) is a group of order $4n$ that is generated by two elements x and y with the properties x^{2n}=y^4=e and xy=yx^{-1}. The coprime graph of Q_{4n}, denoted by Omega_{Q_{4n}}, is a graph with the vertices are elements of Q_{4n} and the edges are generated by two elements that have coprime order. The first result of this paper presented that Omega_{Q_{4n}} is a tripartite graph for n is odd and Omega_{Q_{4n}} is a star graph for n is even. The second one presented the connectivity indices of Omega_{Q_{4n}}. Connectivity indices of a graph is a research area in mathematics that popularly applied in chemistry. There are six indices that are presented in this paper, those are first Zagreb index, second Zagreb index, Wiener index, hyper-Wiener index, Harary index, and Szeged index.Generalized quaternion group (Q4n) is a group of order 4n that is generated by two elements x and y with the properties x 2n = y 4 = e and xy = yx−1 . The coprime graph of Q4n, denoted by ΩQ4n , is a graph with the vertices are elements of Q4n and the edges are formed by two elements that have coprime order. The first result of this paper presents that ΩQ4n is a tripartite graph for n is an odd prime and ΩQ4n is a star graph for n is a power of 2. The second one presents the connectivity indices of ΩQ4n . Connectivity indices of a graph is a research area in mathematics that popularly applied in chemistry. There are six indices that are presented in this paper, those are first Zagreb index, second Zagreb index, Wiener index, hyper-Wiener index, Harary index, and Szeged index.
Amino acid nitrogen and carbon isotope data: Potential and implications for ecological studies
Authors: Yun Hee Young , Larsen Thomas , Choi Bohyung , Won Eun-Ji , Shin Kyung-Hoon
Published: February 2022

Explaining food web dynamics, stability, and functioning depend
substantially on understanding of feeding relations within a community.
Bulk stable isotope ratios (SIRs) in natural abundance are
well-established tools to express direct and indirect feeding relations
as continuous variables across time and space. Along with bulk SIRs, the
SIRs of individual amino acids (AAs) are now emerging as a promising and
complementary method to characterize the flow and transformation of
resources across a diversity of organisms, from microbial domains to
macroscopic consumers. This significant AA-SIR capacity is based on
empirical evidence that a consumer’s SIR, specific to an individual AA,
reflects its diet SIR coupled with a certain degree of isotopic
differences between the consumer and its diet. However, many empirical
ecologists are still unfamiliar with the scope of applicability and the
interpretative power of AA-SIR. To fill these knowledge gaps, we here
describe a comprehensive approach to both carbon and nitrogen AA-SIR
assessment focusing on two key topics: pattern in AA-isotope composition
across spatial and temporal scales, and a certain variability of
AA-specific isotope differences between the diet and the consumer. On
this basis we review the versatile applicability of AA-SIR to improve
our understanding of physiological processes as well as food web
functioning, allowing us to reconstruct dominant basal dietary sources
and trace their trophic transfers at the specimen and community levels.
Given the insightful and opportunities of AA-SIR, we suggest future
applications for the dual use of carbon and nitrogen AA-SIR to study
more realistic food web structures and robust consumer niches, which are
often very difficult to explain in nature.
The Use of Ultrafiltration in High-Risk Post-operative Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting Patients.
Authors: Beckles Daniel , Tavilla Giuseppe , Malhotra Amber , Williams Nikki E. , Jackson Tamara , Koerner Michael , Reddy Ramachandra
Published: February 2022

Abstract:Background: Fluid overload (FO) and acute
kidney injury (AKI) after CABG surgery are due to multiple perioperative
etiologies associated with high failure to rescue rates (FTR) and
associated with poor outcomes  . Diuretics, fluid
restriction, ultrafiltration (UF) and renal replacement therapies are
the treatment modalities implemented as monotherapy or in combination to
address this severe complication. There is limited data on the use of
simplified UF therapy as a fluid management strategy in post-operative
cardiac surgery patients. Methods: A retrospective review of
our post operative isolated CABG patients was done from Jan 1
, 2020 to July 31 , 2021. Those
subjected to a simplified UF protocol incorporating Goal Directed
Therapy (GDT) to treat fluid overload and/or acute kidney injury were
evaluated for 30-day survival and readmission rates. Results: A
total of 254 isolated CABG procedures were performed during this period.
Ultrafiltration was used in 17 (6.7%) patients. The 30-day mortality
for the entire CABG cohort was 5/254 (2.0%) patients and in the UF
group 0/17 (0%). The mean age of UF therapy patients was 65.8 years
(Range 41-89). The mean Society of Thoracic Surgeons STS mortality score
of UF patients was 5.7% (Range 0.6-50.0). The 30-day survival for the
17 patients placed on UF therapy was 100% and their readmission rate
was 2/17 (11.7%). Conclusions: The use of ultrafiltration in
this patient population with relatively high STS scores provided a safe
and effective modality to manage fluid balance but further studies are
needed.
IgD enhances the release of neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs) via FcδR in rheumatoid arthritis patients
Authors: Pan Wen wen , Xin Qianling , Hu Xiao xi , Xu Jing , He Jingjing , Chen Zhaoying , Li Tao , Wei Wei , Wu Yu-Jing
Published: February 2022

Background and Purpose Neutrophils and the release of neutrophil
extracellular traps (NETs) play important roles in the pathogenesis of
RA. However, IgD, which was abnormally higher in RA, has not been
studied for its pathological role in neutrophil activation and NETs
formation. Experimental Approach Peripheral blood of RA patients and
healthy controls were collected and adjuvant-induced arthritis (AA) rat
models were established. Body weights, the severity of arthritis of AA
rats were monitored regularly. After being stimulated with IgD,
expression of FcδR on neutrophils and NETs formation were analyzed with
multiple approaches such as flow cytometry, scanning electron
microscopy, western blot, and qPCR. IgD-Fc-Ig were used to block
interactions between IgD-FcδR. Additionally, the effect of IgD-induced
neutrophils or NETs on FLS was assayed. Key Results As a specific marker
of NETs, the level of citrullinated histone H3 was positively correlated
with sIgD and FcδR in RA patients. IgD enhances the release of NETs by
activating neutrophils. IgD-Fc-Ig could significantly reduce NETs
formation and FcδR expression on neutrophils in vitro. In vivo,
IgD-Fc-Ig treatment significantly regulates the neutrophil activity and
NETs formation. IgD-Fc-Ig could restrain IgD-induced neutrophil
activation and NETs formation, thus inhibiting FLS proliferation.
Conclusions and Implications Neutrophils were activated by IgD, which
suggests that neutrophils play a role in inducing FLS proliferation in
RA patients who have abnormally higher IgD levels, there by increasing
the severity of the disease. Blocking FcδR inhibited neutrophil
activation and may represent an additional attractive novel therapeutic
strategy for the treatment of RA.
Consumer Acceptability of Yoghurt Produced from fresh Cow milk using Brevibacterium linens as Starter Culture.
Authors:   ¹Department of Food Science and Technology, Federal Polytechnic, Bauchi, Nigeria 2Department of Nutrition and Dietetics, Federal Polytechnic, Bauchi. Nigeria, Lawal R. A , Musa H , Adebusoye M.S , Haruna U.S
Published: February 2022

This study was investigated consumer acceptability of yoghurt produced from fresh cow milk using Brevibacterium linens as starter culture. The fresh cow milk was collected from Vom, Jos, and Plateau State, Nigeria. Bervibacterium linens was isolated from sample of cheese. The milk samples were clarified to remove foreign materials, pasteurized at 65oC for 30min to destroy pathogenic materials and later cool to temperature of 42oC and inoculated with Freeze- dried yoghurt starter as inoculums and allowed to ferment for 4hrs. The semi- solid curds were homogenized; package and cool at 4oC. Aroma, mouth- feel and taste were monitored for the sensory quality. The general acceptability of the products was evaluated using twenty (20) trained panelists. The result of the sensory evaluation of the yoghurts showed that the yoghurt produced from B. linens as starter culture was significantly different (p<0.05) than those produced from common starter culture. Keywords: Consumer Acceptability, Yoghurt, Fresh Cow Milk, Brevibacterium linens, Starter Culture.
Insider Threats and The Security of Organizational Data: A Qualitative Analysis Using In-Vivo Algorithm
Authors:   Computer Science Department Federal College of Education, Yola, Ahmed Yahya
Published: February 2022

The concern of organizational management is now towards protecting their data and information against the insider threat. Who uses the opportunities as employees to undertake malicious acts on organization information assets for one reason or the other? This paper looked into the definition of insider threat, responsibility misuse, insider threat phases, insider threat levels and ways to mitigate insider threat by organizational management. The paper use qualitative approach base on Nvivo software to find the relationship between the four variables insider intention, insider level of training and security awareness, insider level of technical expertise and insider role. The findings reveals the following:  There is relationships between the insider intention, insider’s level of technical expertise, level of training and awareness, user role with insider’s behavior.  The insider threat activities affects the organization because  Malicious activities will be carried out and at the end it will affect the organizations data integrity.  Organizations are put at high risk due to low level of training and awareness. Keywords: Insider Threats, Security, Organizational Data, Qualitative Analysis, In-Vivo Algorithm .
The Abishag Episode: Reexamining the Role of Virility in 1 Kings 1:1–4 in Light of the Kirta Epic and the Sumerian Tale “The Old Man and the Young Woman"
Authors: Meek Russell L.
Published: February 2022

Abstract

Based on two pieces of parallel literature (the Sumerian folktale “The Old Man and the Young Woman” and the Kirta Epic), most modern interpreters have understood the Abishag Episode as a virility test that indicates David is unfit to rule. However, this article contends that this view is a misreading of the text based on a comparative method that fails to take into account important differences between 1 Kgs 1:1–4 and the parallel literature. Following Hallo’s contextual method, this article compares and contrasts these two texts with the Abishag Episode and demonstrates that the dissimilarities between the narratives make it unlikely that 1 Kgs 1:1–4 is truly about David’s sexual competence. The evidence presented here confirms that the Abishag Episode is concerned with David’s ability to rule, but the emphasis is on David’s inability to rule his kingdom effectively, which his servants attempt to address by reenergizing David with a beautiful young virgin.
Perspectives on Paul the Sinner
Authors: Gray Patrick
Published: February 2022

Abstract

Among other aspects of his writings, the New Perspective reexamines Paul’s moral self-evaluation in light of his Jewish background and his faith in Jesus as Messiah. Many scholars follow Krister Stendahl’s lead in finding a “robust” conscience in Paul and take this as one more element distinguishing the undisputed letters from the disputed letters. This article reconsiders the key texts in this construal of Paul’s spiritual career and explores the broader implications for understanding his thought.
Confirming Joshua as the Interpreter of Israel’s “Tôrāh”: The Narrative Role of Joshua 8:30–35
Authors: Chambers Nathan
Published: February 2022

Abstract

By reading Deuteronomy and Joshua in their canonical sequence and applying the framework of a three-stage accession process, the ceremony at Mount Ebal (Josh 8:30–35) emerges as the confirmation of Joshua as Moses’s successor. After describing Joshua’s designation (Josh 1) and demonstration (Josh 3–8), this study argues that his confirmation is specifically as the legitimate interpreter of Moses’s tôrāh.
Mother-Child Narratives and the Kingdom of God: Authorial Use of Typology as an Interpretive Device in Samuel–Kings
Authors: Jero Christopher
Published: February 2022

Abstract

This article seeks to demonstrate how the Samuel–Kings history uses mother-child narratives typologically both as a structural frame around which to present the history of the kingdom and as a guide to the reader in interpreting that history. The author’s use of structure, emphasis, tension, and selectivity leads the reader to recognize that the child in each narrative typifies Israel’s kingdom. The Hannah narrative (1 Sam 1) introduces the kingdom and nuances Yhwh’s censure of Israel’s request for a king. Solomon’s judgment (1 Kgs 3) foreshadows the divided monarchy. It teaches that Jeroboam’s willingness to rebel exposes the illegitimacy of his dynasty. The Shunammite’s story (2 Kgs 4) anticipates the final fall of David’s kingdom. Through it, the author argues that the Babylonian Exile does not negate the Davidic covenant, but the faithful lean on Yhwh who can and will resolve all impossible contradictions.
Psalm 67 and the Cosmopolite Musical Worship of Yhwh
Authors: Amzallag Nissim
Published: February 2022

Abstract

The perfect concentric structure of Ps 67 and the many problems inherent to its linear reading together suggest that this song was designed to be performed in a cross-responsa fashion. In this mode of complex antiphony, the text is sung in an ascending ranking of verses by a first voice (sense voice), while a second voice responds, from verse to verse, by singing the same text in a descending ranking of verses (antisense voice). It is shown here that this sort of setting yields a coherent composite text with a meaning totally ignored in the linear reading: the revelation of Yhwh through musical performance and its wide diffusion among the nations. The reality of these composite claims is confirmed by their echo in the text of other psalms. It is concluded that Ps 67 is a song devoted to the congregation of singers for the remote diffusion of the Yhwh cult. It expresses a cosmopolite musical theology distinct from the official theology that focused exclusively on the cult of Yhwh at Jerusalem.
Like a Fish and Shrimp Out of Water: Identifying the Dāg and Remeś Animals of Habakkuk 1:14
Authors: Whitekettle Richard
Published: February 2022

In Hab 1:14, Habakkuk compares the people who are being attacked by an oppressor to fish and other aquatic animals. One thing this comparison conveyed was exile, seen in the attacker’s removal of the fish and other aquatic animals from water, an action that will kill them. The comparison also conveyed the equal treatment of the righteous and the wicked, seen in the attacker’s consumption of the fish and other aquatic animals. According to Lev 11:9–12 and Deut 14:9–10, the only other place in the Israelite textual record where fish and other aquatic animals are mentioned together, fish are clean while other aquatic animals are unclean. Thus, the consumption of the fish and other aquatic animals by the oppressor represented the indiscriminate deportation of both the righteous (the clean fish) and the wicked (the unclean other aquatic animals).
A Theocratic Reading of Zechariah 9:9
Authors: Goswell Gregory
Published: February 2022

The prospect of the coming of Yhwh to Jerusalem is a pervasive theme in Zechariah and supports the interpretation of Zech 9:9 as a description of the entrance of Yhwh into the city. This view is not excluded by the necessity of reading “your (Zion’s) king” as a third-person self-reference by Yhwh himself. None of the terms used to describe the royal personage in this verse rule out the supposition that it depicts Yhwh. The figure seated on an ass is shown to be a metaphorical description of the coronation and enthronement of Yhwh in the eschaton. The allusion to Ps 72:8 in Zech 9:10b is a reapplication of the picture of the Davidic world rule to the universal dominion of the Divine King. Finally, consistent with this interpretation, it is argued that the Gospels of Matthew and John use Zech 9:9 in the scene of Jesus’ entry into Jerusalem to proclaim the highest Christology of all, depicting Jesus as God in the flesh.
From “Hosanna!” to “Crucify!” The Fickle Crowds in the Four Gospels
Authors: Eklund Rebekah
Published: February 2022

It is often taken for granted that the same crowds who hail Jesus at his triumphal entry later turn against him and cry for his crucifixion. A careful examination of the four Gospel narratives overturns this assumption by demonstrating that the two crowds are not the same narrative character. Despite this, the vehemence of the crowds who cry for Jesus’ crucifixion demands explanation. This essay concludes by exploring several different reasons for the cries to release Barabbas and crucify Jesus and by suggesting that no single explanation is sufficient.
The Abused Aspect: Neglecting the Influence of a Verb’s Lexical Meaning on Tense-Form Choice
Authors: Merkle Benjamin L.
Published: February 2022

The recent prominence of verbal aspect theory has played an important role in helping NT exegetes more accurately interpret the use and meaning of verbs. In seeking to correct the abuses of the past, however, modern interpreters who embrace verbal aspect theory are also often guilty of placing too much interpretive weight on the tense-form of verbs, often describing them as being “marked.” Focusing on imperatives, this essay demonstrates that verbs that are often highlighted as being emphasized by some scholars are simply the normal, expected form of that verb. In other words, sometimes an author does not make a subjective choice to portray an action in a certain way but submits to convention and uses the normal or expected form which is often influenced by a particular verb’s inherent lexical meaning.
The Implied Yhwh Christology of Mark’s Gospel: Mark’s Challenge to the Reader to “Connect the Dots"
Authors: GEDDERT TIMOTHY J.
Published: February 2022

Mark’s Gospel conveys an explicit Christology (Jesus is Messiah, Divine Son, Son of Man, and so on), which is inscribed clearly on the surface of the text. But it also contains a “secret” implied Christology that remains below the text’s surface and is perceivable only by those who follow Mark’s hints and discover how to connect the dots. To elucidate this implied Christology requires making two distinctions: first, between the story level (what characters say to each other in the narrative) and the discourse level (what the implied author communicates to the reader); and, second, between messages on the discourse level that are communicated explicitly (for example, direct statements by the narrator) and those that are only implied through hints and pointers, polyvalent expressions, allusions to texts not quoted, and so on. Careful attention to Mark’s discourse-level hints provides access to his secret Yhwh Christology: Jesus is the embodied God, the presence of Yhwh on earth.
A Bracketed Bethany Anointing
Authors: CHUNG MICHAEL
Published: February 2022

All four Gospels contain an anointing scene of Jesus. Most scholars acknowledge that Luke’s anointing scene describes an event different from the event recorded in Matthew, Mark, and John. Matthew’s anointing scene appears to be an abridgment of Mark’s. Challenges arise in comparisons of Mark’s version against John’s. In this article, I will argue that John is influenced by the Markan account’s use of the literary device intercalation. When this is applied to John’s anointing pericope, noncorresponding details are more coherent.
"Forget Your People and Your Father’s House": The Core Theological Message of Psalm 45 and Its Canonical Position in the Hebrew Psalter
Authors: CHEUNG SIMON CHI-CHUNG
Published: February 2022

In Ps 45, the bridegroom king and the bride are portrayed notably alike. Illustrating their similarities, this article also tries to explain these similarities in light of the speech that the bride hears in vv. 11–13. The bride, whom this article will argue is from Tyre, is advised to forget her people and her home and submit totally to her husband-to-be. This counsel to “forget,” as I will show, is an allusion to God’s promise to Abraham in Gen 12:1–3 and also explains why a foreign bride may share the glory and splendor that an Israelite king enjoys. I will then examine the canonical position of Ps 45 in the Hebrew Psalter. While all four psalms in Pss 45–48 promulgate the universal reign of the divine, both Pss 45 and 47 allude to the same Abrahamic promise.
Is the Sky Falling in the World of Historical Jesus Research?
Authors: LICONA MICHAEL
Published: February 2022

For years, historians of Jesus have employed the criteria for authenticity in their work and a few scholars have occasionally called the value of the criteria into question. Fairly recently, however, a team of scholars, many of whom are highly esteemed, contributed critiques in a volume in which they expressed doubts pertaining to the value of the criteria. Several of the contributors even called for their abandonment. But the extent of their pessimism is ill-founded and based on a postmodernist approach to history that, while gaining momentum within biblical scholarship, has already been debated for decades among historians practicing outside the world of religious studies and has largely been found wanting.
Prophetic Script and Dramatic Enactment in Mark’s Prologue
Authors: BOTNER MAX
Published: February 2022

The opening of Mark’s Gospel has received substantial scholarly attention over the past century. While initial debates largely centered on nailing down its precise ending, narrative criticism and increased attention to intertextuality have attuned scholars to the ways in which the prologue establishes a set of narrative and theological agendas for the rest of the Gospel. This study builds on many of these previous contributions by drawing attention to the function of Mark’s opening citation (Mark 1:2–3). Specifically, I argue that the composite citation functions as a prophetic script and that the remainder of the prologue functions as its dramatic enactment. Reading the prologue in this way suggests that God is, in fact, the central actor of the prologue, the one who summons and commissions the dramatis personae to enact his will. The script thus discloses that at the heart of the good news about Jesus Christ stands the revelation that Christ is the “you" who both takes up Israel’s vocation as the covenant people (cf. Exod 23:20) and enacts the glorious manifestation of Israel’s Kyrios (cf. Mal 3:1; Isa 40:3).
The Influence of Cognitive Biases on Biblical Interpretation
Authors: CHALMERS AARON
Published: February 2022

This article discusses the causes and nature of certain systematic and predictable errors in human judgment and decision making, which cognitive psychologists refer to as “cognitive biases,” and considers their influence on biblical interpretation. Five key cognitive biases (confirmation bias, false consensus effect, in-group bias, functional fixedness, and the illusory truth effect) are discussed, along with proposals for how each of these may skew an individual’s interpretation of the biblical text. The article concludes with an identification of a number of methods, strategies and considerations that may help to reduce the influence of these biases.
“When It Was Clear That We Could Not Persuade Him, We Gave Up and Said, ‘The Lord’s Will Be Done’” (Acts 21:14): Good Reasons to Stop Making Unproven Claims for Rhetorical Criticism
Authors: Porter Stanley E.
Published: February 2022

This article responds to Ben Witherington’s recently published paper (JETS 58 [2015] 63–88) arguing for the importance of ancient rhetoric as a means of interpreting the New Testament, especially the letters of Paul. I instead argue that rhetoric was not in the air, that Paul was not an ancient rhetorician but a writer of letters, and that his letters must be interpreted in this light.
Co-regency in Ancient Israel’s Divine Council as the Conceptual Backdrop to Ancient Jewish Binitarian Monotheism
Authors: HEISER MICHAEL S.
Published: February 2022

Scholars have long wondered what theological and hermeneutical trajectories allowed committed monotheistic Jews to embrace Christianity’s high Christology. How exactly could devoted followers of Yhwh convert to Christianity and still consider themselves innocent of the charge of worshiping another deity? Alan Segal’s seminal work on the “two powers in heaven” doctrine of ancient Judaism demonstrated that Judaism allowed a second deity figure identified with, but distinct from, Yhwh prior to the rise of Christianity. But Segal never succeeded in articulating the roots of this theology in the Hebrew Bible. This essay seeks to bridge this gap by proposing a Godhead framework put forth by the biblical writers in adaptation of the earlier Canaanite (Ugaritic) divine council involving a co-regency of El and Baʿal. The essay suggests that Judaism’s two powers theology had its roots in an ancient Israelite co-regency notion whereby Yhwh and a second, visible Yhwh figure occupied both roles of the co-regency in the biblical writers’ conception of the divine council.
ARE THOUGHTS EVER EXPERIENCES?
Authors: Forrest Peter V.
Published: February 2022

The recent debate in philosophy of mind over whether thought has its own distinctive phenomenology, so-called cognitive phenomenology (CP), has led to a sharp division between proponents and skeptics of CP. This paper critically examines an ambitious argument against the existence of CP, which is based on a particular view of the temporal structure of thought. The argument, roughly, is that experiences, those mental entities that have phenomenology, persist as processes, while thoughts, on the other hand, are non-processive states or events. So no thoughts are experiences. The present paper attacks the claim that thoughts never temporally unfold as processes.