bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Effects of pH on Enzyme Activity in Pakistan
Authors: Sharif Nawaz
Published: October 2024

Purpose: The aim of the study was to assess the effects of pH on enzyme activity in Pakistan.
Methodology: This study adopted a desk methodology. A desk study research design is commonly known as secondary data collection. This is basically collecting data from existing resources preferably because of its low cost advantage as compared to a field research. Our current study looked into already published studies and reports as the data was easily accessed through online journals and libraries.
Findings: The study indicated that effects of pH on enzyme activity are significant because enzymes are highly sensitive to the pH levels in their environment. Each enzyme has an optimal pH at which it functions most efficiently. Deviations from this optimal pH can lead to a decrease in enzyme activity. At extreme pH levels, enzymes may become denatured, altering their structure and impairing their ability to bind to substrates. This is because changes in pH can affect the ionic bonds and hydrogen bonds within the enzyme, altering its active site. As a result, enzyme activity typically increases as the pH approaches the optimal level, and decreases when the pH moves away from this point. Therefore, maintaining proper pH levels is crucial for the effective functioning of enzymes in biological systems.
Implications to Theory, Practice and Policy: Lock and key model, induced fit theory and chemical equilibrium theory may be used to anchor future studies on the effects of pH on enzyme activity in Pakistan. In practical applications, industries utilizing enzymes should prioritize the implementation of rigorous pH monitoring and control systems to maintain optimal conditions for enzymatic activity. From a policy perspective, it is crucial for policymakers to establish clear guidelines governing the use of enzymes in industrial applications, with a particular emphasis on the importance of pH control in achieving optimal performance.
Impact of Temperature on Reaction Rate in Catalytic Reactions
Authors: Muchendu Ephraim
Published: October 2024

Purpose: The aim of the study was to assess the impact of temperature on reaction rate in catalytic reactions.
Methodology: This study adopted a desk methodology. A desk study research design is commonly known as secondary data collection. This is basically collecting data from existing resources preferably because of its low cost advantage as compared to a field research. Our current study looked into already published studies and reports as the data was easily accessed through online journals and libraries.
Findings: The study indicated that as higher temperatures generally increase the rate at which reactions occur. This is due to the fact that elevated temperatures provide the reactant molecules with more kinetic energy, enabling them to collide more frequently and with greater force, which is necessary to overcome the activation energy barrier. In catalytic reactions, temperature not only accelerates the intrinsic rate of the reaction but can also affect the activity and selectivity of the catalyst. However, too high a temperature can lead to catalyst deactivation through processes such as sintering or coke formation, where the catalyst surface is altered or blocked. Thus, an optimal temperature range is crucial to balance enhanced reaction rates while maintaining catalyst integrity and performance.
Implications to Theory, Practice and Policy: Arrhenius equation, transition state theory and collision theory may be used to anchor future studies on the impact of temperature on reaction rate in catalytic reactions. In practical applications, industries should implement advanced temperature control systems to maintain optimal reaction conditions during catalytic processes.  Policymakers have a critical role in shaping the landscape of catalytic reactions by developing regulatory guidelines focused on temperature management.
Exploring the Impact of Organizational Citizenship Behaviour on Workplace Performance: A Literature Review
Authors: Saad Abidah , Mahmood Nor Asiah , Ishak Suhaida , Ramli Rafiza
Published: October 2024

The present study explores the growing need for a deeper understanding of organizational citizenship behavior (OCB) and its impact on workplace performance, particularly in the context of evolving work environments such as remote work and digitalization. While previous research has identified OCB as a critical factor in organizational success, there is a gap in addressing its future-oriented aspects and long-term implications for both individuals and organizations. This study aims to examine how shifts in modern workplaces influence OCB, with a focus on how leadership styles and employee expectations shape these behaviors. A comprehensive literature review reveals that while OCB has been extensively studied, there is limited research on its role in hybrid workplaces. Findings suggest that digital transformation and flexible work environments enhance certain OCB dimensions, like helping behaviors and innovation, but may reduce traditional face-to-face cooperation. The study highlights the need for organizations to adapt their leadership approaches to foster OCB in these new contexts, emphasizing the importance of rethinking strategies such as leadership development, employee engagement, and performance management systems to sustain the positive benefits of OCB in modern workplaces.
Commitment to Community: Exploring Teachers Responsibility and Challenges
Authors: D. As-il Rommel
Published: October 2024

This research aims to explore and identify the Commitment to Community of the teachers of Manuel L. Quezon Elementary School. The study aims to investigate the teacher’s involvement in their communities, the challenges they encounter during their involvement and how they address these challenges. Through the use of data collection from the respondents, the findings revealed that the teachers of Manuel L. Quezon Elementary School actively practice and execute their Social Responsibilities within their community. The research implies the importance of Community Participation of Teachers towards improving educational outcomes.
Ozamiznons’ Level of Awareness of the Philippine Government’s Proposed Move to Federalism
Authors: Tigolo Jeric C. , Baldado Rodel L. , Daniel Mhie B. , Cartajenas Majorie T.
Published: October 2024

The Philippines’ unitary form of government has been counterproductive, with development primarily concentrated in Imperial Manila, the capital. This situation arises from the country’s geographical subdivisions. During President Rodrigo Duterte’s administration, he promised a shift in the government system, leading to a stronger push for federalism, which gained support from various sectors across the nation. While numerous studies have been conducted on constitutional changes and the shift to a federal government, none have specifically examined the level of awareness among Ozamisnons regarding the proposed shift to federalism. This study aims to determine the level of awareness of Ozamisnons concerning the Philippine government’s proposed shift to federalism. A descriptive quantitative research design and survey method were employed, focusing on residents of Barangay Carmen Annex and Lam-an. The respondents were chosen to represent the entire population of Ozamiz City, specifically individuals aged 18 and above who can read and write. The statistical methods used for data analysis included counts and percentages, mean, standard deviation, t-test, and ANOVA. The findings reveal a significant gap in awareness among Ozamisnons regarding the proposed shift to federalism, despite their general support for the initiative. This highlights the need for the Philippine government to provide more comprehensive information to educate the public about aspects of federalism that have yet to be disseminated. Overall, this study contributes to the government’s efforts to enhance public understanding of federalism.
The Influence of School-Family-Community Partnership on Organizational Health among Public Elementary School Teachers
Authors: Mangarin Rey Avila , Tabal Junery B.
Published: October 2024

This study determined the significant influence of School-Family-Community Partnership to Organizational Health to public elementary school teachers. Respondents were 204 public elementary school teachers randomly chosen to respond to the survey conducted. Quantitative non-experimental descriptive correlation was the design utilized in this study. Survey questionnaires were used in the collection of data. Pearson-r and regression analysis were used to present the data in a meaningful way. It was found out that all indicators of school-family-community partnership, to wit, parenting, communicating, volunteering, learning at home, decision-making, and collaborating with the community, have significant influence on organizational health. Furthermore, school-family-community partnership has significant influence on organizational health.
Environmental Sustainability: Ecological Footprint Analysis of Ibadan North, Nigeria
Authors: Sawyerr Henry , Otto Edet , Akinyemi Micheal
Published: October 2024

The ecological implications of global development have been a primary focus in discussions surrounding sustainability. As urban development expands globally, addressing its many ecological concerns becomes imperative. However, the ecological footprint (EF) analysis of urban sustainability within the sub-Saharan region, particularly Nigeria, remains largely unexplored. Here, we used the EF indices to explore the environmental sustainability of Ibadan City, one of Nigeria’s fastest-growing urban centers. We implemented a bottom-up EF approach in the study, employing a cross-sectional design. We used an EF questionnaire to gather monthly household consumption data on food, energy, and water. We analyzed these data descriptively and methodologically using EF formulae. Findings indicate environmental sustainability, as reflected in the low EF of 0.43 gha/capita, with the energy footprint accounting for the majority (93%) at 0.4 gha/capita. In comparison, the food footprint had the lowest share (below 3%) at 0.01 gha/capita. Our findings demonstrate the significant impact of energy consumption on the overall EF, reinforcing the need for more sustainable energy solutions in urban planning, thus contributing to urban sustainability by informing urban planning and energy policy in alignment with the global sustainability drive.
 
Received: 17 June 2024 | Revised: 27 August 2024 | Accepted: 20 October 2024
 
Conflicts of Interest
The authors declare that they have no conflicts of interest to this work.
 
Data Availability Statement
Data available on request from the corresponding author upon reasonable request.
 
Author Contribution Statement
Henry Sawyerr: Conceptualization, Methodology, Validation, Formal analysis, Writing - review & editing, Supervision, Funding acquisition. Edet Otto: Methodology, Formal analysis, Investigation, Writing - original draft, Funding acquisition. Micheal Akinyemi: Investigation, Visualization, Project administration, Funding acquisition.
Steroids produced by Cladosporium anthropophilum, an endophytic fungus Isolated from Avicennia marina (Forssk.) Vierh and Their Antibacterial Activity
Authors: Mulyani Yeni , Naini Al Arofatus , Farabi Kindi , Abdullah Fajar Fauzi , Safriansyah Wahyu , Sinaga Siska Elisahbet , Azhari Azmi , Purbaya Sari , Wulandari Asri Peni , Fajriah Sofa , Shiono Yoshihito , Supratman Unang
Published: October 2024

This work was conducted to isolate the steroid compounds from an endophytic fungus Cladosporium anthropophilum and determine their effects against 4 strains of bacteria. The fungi were afforded from a mangrove plant Avicennia marina (Forssk.) Vierh of Acanthaceae family, growing in West Java, Indonesia. The fermentation and isolation of C. anthropophilum yielded 3 ergostane-type steroids including a highly oxidized one, identified as penicisteroid A (1), ergosterol (2), and ergosterol-5,8-peroxide (3), together with 2 stigmastanes, characterized as stigmasterol (4), and stigmasterol-5,8-peroxide (5). The elucidation structure of all isolated steroids was performed by extensive spectroscopic measurements (MS, IR, 1D, and 2D NMR) and supported by a comparison of previously reported spectral data. Subsequently, the potential of the 5 steroids as well as methanol, n-hexane, and ethyl acetate extracts were evaluated against 2 Gram-positive bacteria, Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 29213 and Enterococcus faecalis ATCC 29212 and 2 Gram-negative bacteria, Vibrio harveyi ATCC 5339 and Escherichia coli ATCC 25922. The results showed that none of the isolated steroids were active, while the 3 extracts exhibited significant inhibition against all the tested bacteria’s growth and enabled us to propose the synergistic effects between active compounds in these extracts and their antibacterial activity.
HIGHLIGHTS

An isolated and identified endophytic fungus, Cladosporium anthropophilum, from a mangrove plant Avicennia marina (Forssk.) Vierh yielded five steroids.
A chromatography technique and spectroscopic method were utilized for separation processes and structure determination, respectively.
An antibacterial assay against two Gram-positive bacteria ( aureus and E. faecalis) and two Gram-negative bacteria (V. harveyi and E. coli) implied the synergistic effects between five isolated steroids and their parent extracts.
A further investigation is highly recommended to explore the possibility of these five steroids as a potential source of active compounds.

GRAPHICAL ABSTRACT
Knowledge, attitudes and practices of a group of medical practitioners in Trinidad toward oral health during pregnancy
Authors: Ramroop Visha , Balkaran Ramaa L. , Bissoon Arlana , Kowlessar Anne , Dookeram Darren
Published: October 2024

Abstract

Objectives
To determine the knowledge, attitudes and practices of a group of medical practitioners in Trinidad toward oral health and dental treatment during pregnancy.

Methods
One hundred and four medical practitioners practicing at both public and private institutions in Trinidad were invited to participate in this cross-sectional study over a period of 6 months. Participants were asked to complete a previously piloted self-administered 25 item questionnaire.

Results
There was 100% response rate. Mean age 34.8 years, 54.8% male, the majority (72.1%) had been practising for 10 years or less. Almost half (48.1%) thought that swollen gums were not associated with pregnancy, and an even higher percentage (60.6%) of participants felt that bleeding gums were not associated with pregnancy. The majority felt that dental examination (98.1%), tooth brushing and flossing (99%), and the use of mouthwash (95.2%) were safe during pregnancy. All respondents in this study would advise their pregnant patients to have dental examinations but fewer (94.2%) would recommend routine cleanings for these patients.

Conclusions
These data provide the first insight into the knowledge, attitudes and beliefs of medical doctors on pregnancy and oral health in the Caribbean.  Dental health and pregnancy have several associations and medical doctors are suitably placed to advise their patients on the importance of the effects of dental treatment on pregnancy outcomes.
Workplace violence against healthcare workers in Türkiye: Experiences, opinions, and suggestions
Authors: İçbay Mehmet Ali , Şevik Ali Emre
Published: October 2024

Workplace violence against healthcare workers is a complex issue with significant implications for the safety and wellbeing of professionals in the healthcare sector. Drawing on data from 136 participants across Türkiye, this study explores the prevalence, forms, impacts, and management strategies of workplace violence in healthcare settings. The demographic characteristics of the participants reveal a diverse composition of healthcare workers affected by workplace violence, highlighting the universal nature of the issue. Verbal abuse emerges as a predominant form of violence, ranging from insults and threats to humiliation, while instances of physical violence pose grave risks to healthcare professionals. The study also underscores the inadequacy of support systems within healthcare institutions and the legal system, exacerbating the distress experienced by healthcare workers. Strategies for managing workplace violence include internal coping mechanisms, peer support, and institutional intervention, underscoring the need for comprehensive training programs and enhanced institutional protocols. Recommendations for prevention encompass a multifaceted approach involving enhanced security measures, support systems, and policy reforms at various levels. The study concludes with a call to action for concerted efforts to address workplace violence against healthcare workers, emphasizing the importance of targeted interventions to ensure the safety and well-being of professionals in their workplace. These findings provide valuable insights into the complexities of workplace violence in healthcare settings and highlight the urgent need for action to address this pressing issue.
Inevitable Trends and Technologies of Libraries and Information Science
Authors: Kishore Amit , Singh Vikash Kumar
Published: October 2024

This paper attempts to describe brief outline about latest trends, tools and technologies which are  being started used in management and service areas of libraries. The emergence of ICT and its effect and impact via new technologies in libraries can be understood after going through this paper. The paper tries to pick such technologies which are becoming very famous among library and information  science professionals due to its positive potential to implement and use it in LIS field. This paper tries  to show how computer, mobile, internet and related technologies have capacity to go deep inside of  library and information sector and having excellent power to manage libraries, library resources and  can serve its users.
Web based library Services in AIIMS Library in India: an overview
Authors: Naskar Barun , Ghosh Sonia , Das Biswajit
Published: October 2024

We are living in the virtual environment and the emerging growth and developments of internet has  modified our society in every aspect. Libraries are more responsive in making users net-savvy. Not only have  internet and technological developments affected the formats and sources of information, but also how and  where libraries provide their services to the user. The World Wide Web (WWW) and Internet's emergence as a  new medium for information storage and transmission have created an unrivalled medium for delivering  information with higher speed and efficiency. All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) are autonomous,  government-funded, public medical institutions established for the advancement of medical education in India.  The paper examines what web-based services, why they are important, and why they are so popular among  users , as well as their benefits and drawbacks in AIIMS library, and on the basis of their website details, the  evaluation of four AIIMS libraries is also emphasized.
The Impact of Internet on the Reading Habits of Undergraduate Students of Government Hamidia Arts and Commerce College, Bhopal: A Survey
Authors: Singh Amita , Kori Santosh Kumar
Published: October 2024

Reading is a way to get better knowledge of one's own experiences and it can be an  exciting journey to self-discovery. The purpose of this study is to try to understand the  reading habits of undergraduate students of Government Hamidia Arts and Commerce  College, Bhopal and to study the effects of internet on their reading habits. The total number  of students participating in the survey is 150, and the questionnaire was distributed to them  after random sampling. The results reveal whether students enjoy reading, their frequency of  reading books, what genre they prefer to read, the factors that influence their reading habits,  and impact of the internet (ICT) media on their reading habits.
Use of Social Media in Marketing of Library and Information Services in Academic libraries in West Bengal
Authors: Das Shraboni , Das Biswajit
Published: October 2024

The main aim of this research paper is to find out use, advantages and problems  faced by the library and information professionals in West Bengal in marketing through  social media. For this study thirteen (13) college libraries in West Bengal were selected as a  research sample. The findings of this research proved that most of the college libraries use  WhatsApp, Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and LinkedIn for publicity of library services. Most  of the libraries use social media for marketing library resources and services, for circulating  library news and events for research purpose. A face-to-face interview method are used for  data collection in this study. Library professionals gives their important views and  suggestions about ways of promoting library services through social media.
THE VALUE OF SCHOOL LIBRARIES IN WEST BENGAL AND THEIR CONTEMPORARY SERVICES
Authors: Ghosh Sonia , Das Biswajit
Published: October 2024

To assist and support the school's instructional endeavours, the library is kept up. It  might be useful for students' academic and extracurricular endeavours. There are primary,  middle, and secondary levels in the school library. This paper has covered the goals, duties,  contemporary services, and significance of secondary school libraries. In the present era, a  computer system connected to a network is required for the school library. For kids and  instructors to adjust to today's more advanced technology, a contemporary school library  and its new services are crucial.
Grey Literature Citations by Social Science Researchers in India: A Study
Authors: Mandal Partha Sarathi , Mandal Sukumar
Published: October 2024

Grey literature has a pivotal role in the research study. It offers valuable  insights that are often overlooked in traditional academic publications. Non conventional published materials such as reports, theses, and conference  proceedings are examples of grey literature. This study investigates the  utilization of grey literature by social science students in India, and the  findings reveal that it is widely utilized due to its accessibility, relevance to  local contexts, and provision of current information. The recent publication of  grey literature is used more than the earlier published literature. Researchers  frequently rely on government reports and NGO publications. This study  encourages researchers to cite grey literature in their research.
IOT-based Energy Efficient Lighting as Emerging Technology
Authors: Mrs. M. V. Vibhute  , Ms. Sakshi M. Gunde  , Bhumika R. Weldode  , Om A. Mahajan
Published: October 2024

Smart lighting control systems have emerged as a sophisticated means of reducing energy consumption. Advanced technology enables smart lighting control systems to afford greater user control by manually, remotely, and autonomously adjusting the brightness of lights, color, and timing. The review provides an overview of energy-efficient lighting technologies: LEDs, CFLs, and advanced controls in lighting. It describes the salient features and relative merits of each technology in saving energy and benefiting the environment. The review further discusses various benefits of energy- efficient lighting technologies, such as reduced energy use, lower operation and maintenance costs, and increased quality on account of better lighting. The discussion also involves ways these technologies help in energy conservation and sustainability, improving the overall experience of the lighting for its users [2]
National Council of Justice and the one test: democratizing the Brazilian Judiciary
Authors: Almeida Davi Everton Vieira de
Published: October 2024

This article evaluates the potential impacts of the reforms introduced by the National Council of Justice on the composition of the judiciary. By examining the proposal for a unified judicial exam, it explores how this reform could alter the composition of Brazil's judicial elites by addressing two major obstacles to judicial democratization: the decentralization of justice administration and the methods of judge recruitment. To assess the centralization sought by the CNJ in contrast to the decentralization advocated by the courts of justice, the article primarily draws on Luciano Athayde’s research on the judiciary as an archipelago. The second part of the article examines the two models used in Brazil for recruiting judges: public examinations and appointments. In discussing the public examination process, the article references the work of Daniela Passos. The debate over the exam is divided into two parts. The first part examines the content of the exam and the skills it prioritizes for the judiciary. It also proposes suggestions for the content of a unified exam. The second part analyzes the socioeconomic profile of judges recruited through public examinations. This is followed by an investigation into the appointmentsystem, also examining the socioeconomic profile of appointed judges, in order to assess the effectiveness of appointments as a tool for democratizing the judiciary.
Zoroastrianism in India and Iran
Authors: Buhler Alexandra
Published: October 2024

In the nineteenth century, a number of Zoroastrians emigrated from Iran to India. The subsequent importance of the cultural, religious and political ties between the Zoroastrian communities of Iran and the Zoroastrian communities of India has long been recognised. But despite this, there has been little scholarly attention paid to the changing dynamics of this transnational relationship.

This book examines the Zoroastrian community in the late Qajar and early Pahlavi period beyond the borders of Iran to trace this Parsi-Persian relationship. A major theme is the increase in philanthropy directed to the Zoroastrians of Iran by the Parsis and the involvement of the British in encouraging Parsi feelings of patriotism towards Iran. The book shows that not only were Parsis affected by events taking place in Iran, they also contributed to the broader change in attitudes towards Zoroastrians in that country.

Using a variety of original sources from Britain, India and Iran, Alexandra Buhler looks at the political, legal, and social position of Zoroastrians in Iran and how different events impacted their attitudes as well as the attitudes of Parsis towards their ancestral homeland. Of particular significance, this book shows, are the seminal years of the Iranian Constitutional Revolution (1906-11) and the rise in the glorification of the pre-Islamic past, which culminated in the state nationalism expounded by Reza Shah. These political moments had a profound impact on how Zoroastrians in India felt about their future in the country and reveal a complex web of relations between the Parsis, the Zoroastrians of Iran, and the British.
Banquet of the Brethren: An Ismaili Guide to Spiritual Hermeneutics
Authors: Gholami Rahim
Published: October 2024

I.B. Tauris in association with the Institute of Ismaili Studies

The Ismaili missionary and poet, Nasir-i Khusraw (d. after 1070), wroteKhwan al-ikhwan(The Banquet of the Brethren) when he was living in his remote mountain refuge of Yumgan in Badakhshan.A work of philosophical theology, it consists of a sequence of dynamic arguments for divine unicity (tawhid), the authority of the Prophet Muhammad, his legatee, 'Ali b. Abi Talib, and his descendants, the imams from the line of Isma'il b. Ja'far al-Sadiq. This new edition is based on two extant manuscripts of Khwan al-ikhwan making it a more comprehensive resource.

Written in Persian,Khwan al-ikhwanincludes a precis of ideas found in a work by an earlier missionary, Abu Ya'qub al-Sijistani (d. ca. 971), the Kitab al-Yanabi', which Nasir-i Khusraw recast and then extended in 100 chapters. The current publication consists of a new Persian critical edition of the text, with an introduction that discussesKhwan al-ikhwanin the context of both Nasir-i Khusraw’s other works and al-Sijistani’s Kitab al-Yanabi, in addition to notes throughout. The book is an important example of Ismaili theology and a reflection of the learning of the age including the conception of a geo-centric cosmos, Aristotelian physics, and Neoplatonic philosophy, which greatly influenced the Ismaili missionaries (orda'is) of the Iranian lands. The editorial apparatus in this edition bringsKhwan al-ikhwanto an even wider readership advancing the field of Ismaili Studies.
New Directions in the Russellian Theory of Time
Authors: Boccardi Emiliano , Oaklander L. Nathan , Tegtmeier Erwin
Published: October 2024

The main debates in the philosophy of time have centred on whether A-theory, with events ordered bypastness,presentnessandfuturity,or B-theory, ordered byearlier thanorlater than,are equally fundamental.Emiliano Boccardi, L. Nathan Oaklander and Erwin Tegtmeier instead uphold the Russellian theory, or R-theory, and consider not only the fundamental differences but also its superiority. They argue McTaggart’s misinterpretation of Russell has led to a false dichotomy between the A- and B-theories, while exploring the connection between temporal relations, temporal facts and time.

In defence of the R-theory, they argue how it offers a metaphysical explanation of the nature of time, in addition to investigating whether ontological theories of time can be considered from a moral or existential point of view. Using an ontological approach, this volume clarifies what is mistaken about both theories can only be resolved by adopting a Russellian philosophy, reaching beyond the A-theory vs B-theory debate.
Failing Universities
Authors: Karger Howard , Stoesz David
Published: October 2024

Higher education in the US is increasingly being based on a corporate model. This book examines the corporatized industry of American higher education, providing a comprehensive critique of the problems the sector faces.It explores alternative policy solutions and examples of systems of higher education that are both effective and cost-effective. The authors propose a forward-looking agenda for structural reform that is less expensive and more educationally sound than the current model. They explore key topics including affordability, access, waste, hierarchal administrative structures, faculty governance, status and social mobility based on institutional prestige and the overall commodification of higher education in the US. They provide an alternative solution for the US which emphasizes social cohesion, sustainability, a respect for diversity and an understanding of democracy and democratic principles.
Milk in Spain and the History of Diet Change
Authors: Collantes Fernando
Published: October 2024

In barely three generations the Spanish diet has changed beyond recognition. The traditional concerns around nutritional health and scarcity have been mostly left behind, but they have given way to new problems linked to excess.In this book Fernando Collantes shows how the dairy industry has been central to this societal shift. From widespread calcium deficiency in the 1950s to the more recent, and controversial, turn to highly processed foods, it provides a recent history of diet change in Spain. Probing the reasons behind why this shift has occurred, and how, it shows that when it comes to food society, politics, economics and the law are intrinsically linked.

Taking the reader beyond the world of food,Milk in Spain and the History of Diet Changecombines qualitative and quantitative methods to position diet change within the broader debate on consumer society and ‘the good life’. Contrasting two models of food consumption, it shows that unless public policy takes the challenge of affluence seriously, the food system can become an obstacle to a better society.
Apocalyptic Conspiracism
Authors: Albrecht Tom , Sturm Tristan
Published: October 2024

In the USA, politically conservative and right-wing apocalyptic evangelicals hold that climate change science and Covid-19 are fabrications governed by manifest evil. How do these groups generate and distribute these truth-claims and why?

Using a sociological methodology informed by Bourdieu and Foucault, this book offers tools for scholars and students to better understand the logic of climate denial within the context of American conservative evangelicalism and apocalypticism.

Tom Albrecht and Tristan Sturm coin and employ the termapocalyptic conspiracismto analyse the increasingly powerful confluence of apocalyptic and conspiracist discourses. These dialogues create a holistic belief system, which claims that the world will profoundly change for the worse due to a global network of interconnected conspiracies. This book focuses on and expands the literature on the discursive practices of anthropogenic climate change and Covid-19 denialism. Exploring religious, apocalyptic, and conspiracist belief systems, the authors demonstrate how these affect geopolitical imaginations, the perception of global crises, as well as the environmentally relevant behaviour of American Evangelical Christians.
Me 262 Units in Combat
Authors: Forsyth Robert
Published: October 2024

An illustrated account ofthe first jet-powered combat aircraft, the Messerschmitt Me 262, and its short but action-packed career during World War 2.

Powered by the Jumo 004 jet engine, the Me 262 outclassed anything the Allies had in terms of speed and firepower, offering, as an interceptor, a formidable punch with four 30 mm MK 108 nose-mounted cannon. Such a blend of armament and speed allowed the Me 262A-1a not just to inflict carnage on the Allied heavy bomber formations, but also to evade their fighter escorts – even the later marks of Spitfire and the formidable American P-51 Mustang.

In this new study, Luftwaffe historian Robert Forsyth utilises first-hand accounts from Me 262 pilots to chronicle actions against Allied bombers and their escorts, as well as detailing hit-and-run bomber attacks on road junctions, Allied airfields, vehicle columns, troop assemblies and supply dumps. All of these aspects of the Me 262 are enhanced by vivid illustrations, including archival photographs and specially commissioned profile artworks.
Last Transport
Authors: McElligott Anthony
Published: October 2024

The deportation of 1,755 Jews from the islands of Rhodes and Cos in July 1944, shortly after the last deportation from Hungary, was the last transport to leave Greece for Auschwitz and brought to a close the last significant phase of the genocide of Europe’s Jews (notwithstanding the death marches).Within six weeks of their deportation, the Germans were retreating from Greece and the Balkans as Hitler’s empire shrank. This last deportation is frequently acknowledged in Holocaust literature but its significance for our understanding of the Nazi genocide of the Jews remains largely overlooked. The timing of the transport, when it was clear to the German military elite that Nazi Germany had lost the war, raises important questions in relation to long-term ideological Nazi goals and the immediate contingency thrown up by war.

Anthony McElligott, in this account of the last Greek transport of Jews to Auschwitz, tells a compelling story of this previously underexplored event and sheds light on an important aspect of the Holocaust through an in-depth study of one Eastern Mediterranean community.
Revolutionize Youth Book Clubs
Authors: Brown Stacy
Published: October 2024

Learn to facilitate modern book clubs devoted to elevating the reading experience through active engagement, resulting in long-term commitment to book club events.

How do you get the kids in your library to read? The benefits of reading are plentiful, especially for youth – it improves vocabulary, helps them become more empathetic and inclusive, and expands exposure to academic opportunities. In an age of digital distractions, book clubs can be a catalyst for encouraging youth to prioritize reading.

These tried and tested strategies help even reluctant readers develop a love of reading through book club participation. Author Stacy Brown, who has facilitated book clubs for more than twenty years, shows you how to build active engagement through hands-on activities, reflective discussions, and theme-related tips and tricks, even in the face of time and budget constraints. Learn how to attract participants, brand and market your book clubs, and keep attendees returning for more. You’ll be changing the world – one book club at a time.

Revolutionizing the book club experience for modern youth requires strategic planning and an emphasis on enjoyment. Stacy Brown offers numerous strategies, recent book titles, and related maker-infused activities to create a fun and rewarding book club program for ages zero to eighteen. Brown emphasizes longevity and sustainability with explicit methods by creating and relying upon a useful formula for book club implementation. The formula’s framework changes based on a set of variables to ensure a unique event, which helps facilitators remain efficient, stress-free, and organized to avoid book club burnout. An overview of book club history and the commonalities that have withstood the test of time allows readers to hone in on a successful formulaic approach. Discover the many faces of a book club: the different interests, identities, demographics, and physical needs that a strong book club program supports to create a culture of belonging. Brown shares how to engage in true marketing and how these efforts directly impact the success of a book club program. Examine the value of developing a book club brand and empowering students to take ownership in the planning, execution, and marketing of the book club to maintain its momentum. Learn how to leverage youth involvement in book club participation as a vessel for student leaders who ultimately grow into empathetic, thoughtful lifelong readers and leaders.
Modest Mouse's The Moon & Antarctica
Authors: Petit Zachary
Published: October 2024

In 1999, Modest Mouse struck out for Chicago to record their major-label debut for Epic Records. Amid indie circle cries of “sellouts,” a largely untested producer, and a half-built studio, the trio recorded the instrumental basics of The Moon & Antarctica … and then singer/songwriter Isaac Brock got his face smashed by a hooligan in a park.

With barely any vocals recorded, Brock emerged from the hospital with his jaw completely wired shut, and returned to a mostly empty studio. And there, on a diet of painkillers, in a neighborhood that wanted to purge the band from its borders, a creative alchemy took place that would redefine Modest Mouse and indie rock at large.

The fact that the band finished the album at all is surprising. The fact that it is now considered by critics as “hands-down one of the greatest records ever made” (NME) is perhaps an utter miracle.

The Moon & Antarctica is an album so strange and enigmatic, from those sweet opening notes, to the plunging depths of the middle, to the shocking, furious end, that you almost hesitate to listen to it again for fear of it losing its chaotic magic. But then you do, and you discover all-new sounds—a lost harmonic here, a stray percussion element there, a fresh interpretation of a lyric that leaves you thunderstruck.

And that ever-looming question, years on: How the hell did Modest Mouse pull this off?!
From War Room to Living Room
Authors: Davidson Tish , Davidson Scott
Published: October 2024

The military's focus on innovation and problem-solving has led to the creation of numerous items and technologies that have transcended the battlefield and become commonplace in our daily lives.

This accessible reference volume explores 46 of these innovations, from duct tape to microwaves, focusing on the people and events that made each possible. Entries follow a standardized format that covers both the development and initial military applications of each innovation as well as its transition into civilian life. Readers will gain a better understanding of the challenges military leaders have faced for hundreds of years that have spurred these innovations, from keeping tabs on enemy movements to keeping soldiers healthy and well-fed. Each entry also explores the historical antecedents of the innovation, helping readers contextualize the evolution of objects and ideas. A carefully curated list of further readings rounds out each entry, pointing readers toward additional resources for more in-depth study. For readers wishing to focus on a particular category of innovation, a thematic list of entries at the beginning of the volume will help them narrow their search.
Musicking TikTok
Authors: Bermúdez Juan
Published: October 2024

This ethnographic work about TikTok’s musicking in a glocal (Austrian) context complements and build upon ethnomusicological assumptions, theories, and methods for the study of musical practices in digital spaces.

An overview of elements that make up TikTok’s interface as well as the technical-performative possibilities that it allows, this book introduces a general categorization of existing performance types and how TikTokers appropriate the platform to make their music. It illustrates how some TikTokers became aware of and began using TikTok, and it reviews some of the different strategies TikTokers apply to learn how to use the application and successfully develop their performances. The author explores how performers move from being “ordinary users” to becoming TikTokers, developing and performing an identity he calls TikTok Persona. Moreover, the author discusses how some TikTok practices can and have occurred across multiple, interconnected platforms, and he examines how localities are articulated and negotiated in these contexts.

The author argues for an understanding of musicking as a multimedia practice that different actors create and experience individually in everyday synchronous and asynchronous, physical and digital situations. The so-called TikTokers, the author demonstrates, create a sense of identity and community through their performances. This study suggests that a digital performance can be, aside from a representation of reality, an integral part of it, serving as a fundamental space for constructing and performing identity.
Cold War Women
Authors: McAteer Cathy
Published: October 2024

Presents original archival research on eight largely unknown émigrée translators whose work during the Cold War actively contributed to and, in some cases, decisively shaped the reception of Russian and Soviet literature throughout the English-speaking world.

In this open access volume, Cathy McAteer profiles female translators of Russian and Soviet literature into English during the last century, focusing on the UK, USSR and US. Through cultural mediation, most often translation, each woman represents a unique encounter with Cold War politics.

Drawing from extensive archival material, including British Intelligence files, reviews, publications and memoirs,Cold War Womensketches the microhistories of eight complex and occasionally controversial bilingual women: Moura Budberg, Vera Traill, Evelyn Manning, Margaret Wettlin, Violet Dutt, Edith Bone, Olga Carlisle, and Mirra Ginsburg. Many of these women, in addition to their work as translators and publishers of Soviet literature, led complex political lives that brought them under scrutiny for espionage, and even suspected assassination.

Cold War Womenexplores how literary translation became a uniquely enabling career for each of these women, both in personally challenging gender norms, and in showing translation's soft power for galvanizing propagandist and humanitarian change. The book thus rehabilitates forgotten but influential female translators of Russian literature whose contributions helped to shape the Anglophone reception of Russian and Soviet literature both during and beyond their fraught historical moment.

The ebook editions of this book are available open access under a CC BY-NC-ND 4.0 licence on bloomsburycollections.com. Open access was funded by the University of Exeter.
Designing a secure title deed registration model for land transactions in Kenya based on blockchain
Authors: Chesang Evans Kimutai , Masese Nelson , Rugiri Peter
Published: October 2024

The purpose of this study was to design a secure title deed registration model for land transactions in Kenya based on Blockchain. Blockchain technology creates a publicly accessible distributed database that keeps track of all land transaction records, allowing confirmation of land ownership at any given point in time with the aim of creating a secure and transparent environment that guarantees the much-needed confidentiality and integrity of land transactions. Design Science research methodology was adopted by the research to provide an overall scope in the model design and development requirements, while the Proof of Concept (PoC) research methodology was used to design and develop the essential modules for the model. The research employed subjective sampling to select users to perform a criteria-based model evaluation approach against the evaluation metrics (persistence, time stamping, transparency and decentralisation) set out by the research. Results were presented in the form of a descriptive summary of the users' feedback. From the results, the study established that the model could effectively execute immutable, time-stamped, transparent and decentralised land registration and land transaction processes that can be used as authentic proof of land ownership. The study concluded that the proposed model enhances transparency and security, contributing to a more reliable system that fosters public confidence. The study recommends that future research may focus on the integration of Blockchain with land taxation systems as well as the adoption of cryptocurrency as a legal tender to facilitate the execution of smart contracts for properties in Kenya.
Development of a microfluidic system with a bearing micropump for applying fluid shear force in an intervertebral disc degeneration model involving mechanical stimulation
Authors: Lee Jae-Won , Back Seoung Min , Kim Tae-Won , Choi Hyuk
Published: October 2024

Background: The intervertebral disc (IVD) functions as a shock absorber with viscoelastic tissues, including the gelatinous nucleus pulposus and the collagenous annulus fibrosus (AF). External mechanical loading influences IVD homeostasis but can cause damage and inflammatory reactions, contributing to disc degeneration. There is a lack of in vitro platforms for modeling IVD disease with mechanical stimulation.Methods: This study aimed to create a mechanical stimulation-based model by subjecting AF cells to shear stress using a micropump system. A micropump platform was used to measure pulsation, flow rate, and shear stress. AF cells were exposed to fluid shear stress of 0.5 and 1 dyne/cm², and morphological changes, cytotoxicity, and cell viability were analyzed through a live/dead assay. Perimeter, area, diameter, and elongation were assessed using live cell imaging and imaging analysis software.Results: The micropump platform exhibited optimal rotor characteristics for uniform pulsation and shear stress. Fluid shear stress at 0.5 dyne/cm² showed no significant difference from the control group, while 1 dyne/cm² reduced cell adhesion and survival. Comparing the 0.5 dyne/cm² shear stress group and interleukin-1β group to the control, significant decreases in perimeter, area, and diameter were observed.Conclusion: The study successfully developed a micro-peristaltic pump platform for applying fluid shear stress to cells, identifying an optimal rotor for uniform stress application. The platform effectively modeled IVD disease, revealing reduced cell adhesion and survival under specific shear stress conditions. This platform has potential promise for discovering biomarkers and exploring cellular responsiveness to external stimuli.
Honduras: base norteamericana para la intervención en Centroamérica
Authors: ECA: Estudios Centroamericanos
Published: October 2024

No abstract available.

ECA Estudios Centroamericanos, Vol. 38, No. 419, 1983: 735-742.
Julio y agosto
Authors: Anaya Eugenio C.
Published: October 2024

No abstract available.

ECA Estudios Centroamericanos, Vol. 38, No. 419, 1983: 789-795.