bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A Satirical Magazine in Its Own Way”: Politicisation and Dissent in Gırgır (1972-1983)
Authors: Marcella Valentina
Published: November 2021

The satirical weekly Gırgır, founded by Oğuz Aral in 1972, has been Turkey’s best-selling satirical magazine of all times. Characterized by a multitude of genres and styles, its contents ranged from written jokes to comics and political cartoons. Such diversity has prompted scholars to present this magazine in different, often contrasting ways, especially with reference to the nature and strength of its satire. This study intends to contribute to solving the ambiguity concerning whether Gırgır’s caricatures and cartoons may be deemed political or not. For this purpose, it focuses on its satirical repertoire from its early days up to the end of the military regime of 1980 to 1983, the most challenging time in terms of freedom of expression and dissent. This article argues that satire in Gırgır became increasingly political parallel to the growing politicisation of society in the 1970s and that the magazine did not bow to political pressure under the military rule. Especially its reactions to the repressive climate of the regime allow us to define its satire as political.
Umweltsoziologie
Authors: Kropp Cordula , Sonnberger Marco
Published: November 2021

What role do patterns of thinking and consumption, innovations and infrastructures play both in the emergence of environmental problems and in the way society deals with them? How do environmental attitudes and risk perceptions differ between social groups? And how does all this relate to the diagnosis that the relationship to nature in modern societies is not sustainable? Based on these questions, the introduction to environmental sociology explains what the ecological crisis means from a sociological perspective. It introduces the central questions and theories of environmental sociology and discusses what contribution the discipline can make to overcoming the challenges of the Anthropocene.
Epidemiological Investigation of Salmonella enterica Isolates in Children with Diarrhea in Chengdu, China
Authors: Zhang Jun-Ying , Xie Xiao-Li , Wang Wen-Juan , Deng Lin , Shang Li-Hong , Xiong Li-Jing , Song Pei-Pei
Published: November 2021

Background: Children with the immature intestinal immune system are prone to Salmonella infection through the fecal-oral route causing diarrhea. Non-typhoid Salmonella (NTS) is difficult to treat and eliminate due to its zoonosis. Salmonella typhi, including typhoid and paratyphoid A, B, and C, only infect humans and cause invasive infectious diseases. Salmonella typhi infection is serious and requires antibiotic treatment. The bacterial resistance caused by conventional antibacterial drugs brings great difficulties to treatment. Objectives: This study aimed to investigate the epidemiology of S. enterica in children with diarrhea in Chengdu, China. Methods: Fresh stool specimens or rectal swabs from 6656 children aged 1 day to 13 years with diarrhea were collected, cultured, identified, and tested for antimicrobial susceptibility. Analytical Profile index 20E was used for biochemical identification, and the Kirby-Bauer method was used for the bacterial sensitivity test. The whole process was conducted in accordance with the fourth edition of the National Clinical Examination procedures, and the drug sensitivity test was conducted in accordance with the Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute 2020 guidelines. Results: A total of 649 Salmonella strains were isolated from 6656 children with suspected Salmonella infection, among which the isolation rates of NTS and S. typhi were 8.92% and 0.83%, respectively. The infection rate of S. typhimurium was the highest every year (74.88%). Salmonella infections are on the rise, especially typhimurium, Dublin, Typhi, and London. Paratyphi is unstable, presenting a phenomenon of transition and replacement (the male to female ratio:1.12:1). The infection rate was the lowest within 1 day and 6 months (P < 0.05). Salmonella mainly infected children under 3 years of age, and the positive rate was reported as 88.29%. Within June-September, the infection rate of Salmonella was the highest, with a positive rate of 72.73%. The isolated 649 Salmonella strains had good susceptibility to cefotaxime and ciprofloxacin (87.67% and 79.20%, respectively), almost no susceptibility to ampicillin, and a drug resistance rate of 92.91%. Conclusions: The typhoid and paratyphoid vaccines should be considered together, and vaccines should focus on children under 3 years of age. Antibiotics should be rationally selected according to the drug sensitivity test and disease condition.
Phenomenology of Communications
Authors: Gruenwald Oskar ,   Institute for Interdisciplinary Research
Published: November 2021

This essay explores the intersection of communication and culture. It proposes that a new interdisciplinary field of inquiry–a phenomenology of communications–implicates culture in that all communication helps shape and reflects a society’s cultural assumptions and aspirations. In an era of social media and electronic communication, the impact on culture has accelerated. Both positive and negative aspects of social media reverberate in American popular culture that Christopher Lasch described as a culture of narcissism and David Brooks calls a culture of the “Big Me.” The essay revisits a documentary about Mike Tyson’s life and career that exemplifies what it means to be an American, renewing a culture that aspires to redeem the American dream of a more perfect union beyond preference and prejudice. It shows also why American culture needs to be transformed from a narcissistic, self-referential, tribal perspective of identity politics and false tolerance toward a culture that respects individual autonomy and privacy, reconnects rights and responsibilities, and encourages true diversity, inspired by transcendent norms and ideals worthy of a creature created in the image and likeness of God.
Communication, Ethics and Relational Peace
Authors: Chase Kenneth R. ,   Institute for Interdisciplinary Research
Published: November 2021

Although social media often is trumpeted as an answer to the divisions bedeviling humankind, social media users also lament the violence enacted on one another through digital interactions. Is digital interaction capable of fulfilling the hope of human community? How ought persons communicate through social media? A baseline understanding of ethical communication is crucial for answering these questions. Martin Buber and Emmanuel Levinas’ philosophical analysis of relational peace lays the groundwork for an ethic of dialogic communication that may guide everyday interactions. As individuals navigate the call of unending responsibility for others, and the strength of existence that arises from a genuine encounter with others, the peace of human relationship becomes a hopeful possibility. The relational mode of asking questions operationalizes this peace. Whether face-to-face or digital, human communicators ought to subordinate their instrumental exchanges to an interpersonal approach of dialogic questions. Therefore, rather than seeing social media interactions as primarily the occasion for agreements or disagreements, one nurtures hope in human community by approaching interactions with a curiosity nurtured by the primordial call of the Other.
Pre-hospital delay in patients with signs of acute stroke
Authors: Živanović Slavoljub
Published: November 2021

Introduction. Acute stroke is the second leading cause of death and the third leading cause of disability in the world. The main goal of the medical treatment is to provide the patient with thrombolytic therapy within 4.5 hours from symptom onset. The majority of patients experience first symptoms outside of health facilities, so the recognition of the symptoms, by the people who are present, is of great importance. Severe strokes, using an ambulance, and younger age coincide with decreased pre-hospital delay. Objective. We aimed to show how long is the pre-hospital delay of the patients with stroke symptoms and how it affects the patient`s treatment. Method. The research is a cross-sectional study of the ER, Belgrade, from 1.1.2015. to 31.12.2018. taking into account patients diagnosed with a stroke, suspected stroke, or TIA. Pre-hospital delay is a time from symptoms onset to the moment of seeing the physician. The patients were divided into three groups according to the delay time: up until 3h, 3-24h, and more than 24h. Statistical data processing was performed in SPSS 11 program, and statistical significance was defined at level p<0,05. Results. 119 participants took part in the study. Their average age was 65.53 ± 14.24, 46.22% were males, and 53.78% females. In the first three hours from the onset of the symptoms 44.54% of the patients arrived in the ER, 31.93% in 3-24h, and 23.53% arrived after 24h. Conclusion. More than half of the patients come to ER in time when thrombolytic therapy is no longer effective.
Manufacturing USA highlights report
Authors: Brunner Zahraha , Gayle Frank W
Published: November 2021

A summary of technology innovation and workforce development projects by the Manufacturing USA network for FY 2020.
The Stub Resolution of 1-planar Graphs
Authors: Kaufmann Michael , Kratochvil Jan , Lipp Fabian , Montecchiani Fabrizio , Raftopoulou Chrysanthi , Valtr Pavel
Published: November 2021

The resolution of a drawing plays a crucial role when defining criteria for its quality.
In the past, grid resolution, edge-length resolution, angular resolution and crossing resolution have been investigated.
In this paper, we investigate the stub resolution, a recently introduced criterion for nonplanar drawings. Intersection points divide edges into parts, called stubs, which should not be too short for the sake of readability. Thus, the stub resolution of a drawing is defined as the minimum ratio between the length of a stub and the length of the entire edge, over all the edges of the drawing. We consider $1$-planar graphs and we explore scenarios in which near optimal stub resolution, i.e., arbitrarily close to $\frac{1}{2}$, can be obtained in drawings with zero, one or two bends per edge, as well as further resolution criteria, such as angular and crossing resolution. In particular, our main contributions are as follows: (i) Every IC-planar graph, i.e., every $1$-planar graph with independent crossing edges, has a straight-line drawing with near optimal stub resolution; (ii) Every $1$-planar graph has a $1$-bend drawing with near optimal stub resolution.
Angle Covers: Algorithms and Complexity
Authors: Evans William , Gethner Ellen , Spalding-Jamieson Jack , Wolff Alexander
Published: November 2021

Consider a graph with a rotation system, namely, for every vertex,
a circular ordering of the incident edges. Given such a graph, an
angle cover maps every vertex to a pair of consecutive
edges in the ordering- an angle- such that each edge
participates in at least one such pair.
We show that any graph of maximum degree 4
admits an angle cover,
give a poly-time algorithm for deciding if a graph without a
degree-3 vertex has an angle cover,
and prove that, given a graph of maximum
degree 5, it is NP-hard to decide whether it admits an angle
cover. We also consider extensions of the angle cover
problem where every vertex selects a fixed number $a>1$ of angles or where an angle consists of more than two consecutive edges.
We show an application of angle covers to the problem of deciding if the 2-blowup of a planar graph has isomorphic thickness 2.
rzedsiębiorczość a zasoby. Analiza uwarunkowań przedsiębiorczości w gminach
Authors:   University of Warsaw, Kłobukowski Paweł
Published: November 2021

Autor opisuje badania zasobowych uwarunkowań przedsiębiorczości w gminach, odwołując się do procesu przedsiębiorczego w kontekście regionalnym i nowej teorii wzrostu. W książce przeanalizowano zasoby, które mają wpływ na proces wzrostu liczby firm funkcjonujących w gminach. Główną zmienną wyjaśnianą jest liczba przedsiębiorstw wpisanych do bazy REGON na 10 tys. mieszkańców. Najważniejszymi zmiennymi wyjaśniającymi są kapitał ludzki, kapitał społeczny, obecność w aglomeracji wojewódzkiej i turystyka. Metody badawcze, które posłużyły do weryfikacji hipotez badawczych, to regresja liniowa oraz wywiady pogłębione. Niniejsza książka może być przyczynkiem dla dalszego rozwoju nauk o przedsiębiorczości i może pozwolić na spojrzenie na przedsiębiorczość lokalną z perspektywy innej niż dotychczasowa. Jest to szczególnie ciekawe w kontekście przedsiębiorczości lokalnej w krajach postkomunistycznych, które będąc spadkobiercami gospodarki centralnie planowanej, muszą odnaleźć swoją drogę, zarówno w kwestiach nauk o zarządzaniu, jak i stricte przedsiębiorczości, jako zjawiska gospodarczego. Autor żywi nadzieję, że jego książka będzie punktem wyjścia do kolejnych badań. Model stworzony na potrzeby weryfikacji badań umożliwi natomiast ich rozwinięcie i szerszą analizę procesu przedsiębiorczego.
Implications of Work-Life Balance Measures for Companies
Authors: Calzón-Menéndez Faustino Manuel , Sacristán-Navarro María , Cabeza-García Laura
Published: November 2021

Objective: The relationship between work-family balance and employee performance is a topic of great interest for organisations and, therefore, for academic research. In this context, this paper reviews the literature to identify the determining factors in company-based adoption of work-life balance measures (causes related to work-family conflict: WFC, and family-work conflict: FWC) on the one hand and, on the other, the research that has focussed on studying the effect on business results of practices to achieve a work-life balance.

Methodology: We have undertaken analysis of the academic research published over the period 1998-2018 and available on the Web of Science (WOS), SCOPUS and EBSCO databases.

Results: The review undertaken indicates that conflict can be originated in the family, in the workplace and in other environments throughout the day when we face up to the obligations arising from the roles we play in the family and at work and that affect us in both directions. In turn, work-life balance measures appear to have a positive effect, not only at the individual level for also for staff and companies as a whole.

Limitations: Descriptive research.

Practical implications: This study aims to contribute to the literature by providing updated information on the state of the art on this subject, and to highlight possible future lines of empirical research, as well as the relevance of the subject at a company level.
Fortalecimiento de asociaciones campesinas del municipio del Tambo mediante la transformación de cultivos tradicionales hacia frutos de alto valor agregado
Authors: Sánchez Tróchez Diana Ximena , Diago Ortiz Adriana , Rivera Martínez Wilfred Fabián , Potes Ordoñez Laura Beatriz , Navia Mera Marly Viviana
Published: November 2021

Objetivo: Esta investigación se desarrolla bajo la pregunta orientadora: ¿Cuáles son los elementos necesarios para la transformación de cultivos tradicionales hacia productos de alto valor agregado?; desde la perspectiva teórica se asumen los postulados de la modernización de la agricultura de Schultz (1967) y gestión organizacional de Chiavenato (2017).

Metodología: Se basó en investigación descriptiva, bajo los criterios de un estudio de caso con encuestas semiestructuradas que permitieran conocer las situaciones, costumbres y actitudes predominantes a través de la descripción de las actividades, procesos y personas del entorno de la Cooperativa, así como su mercado potencial.

Resultados: La investigación propone cinco elementos basados en economía agraria que permiten a las comunidades, la transformación de cultivos tradicionales hacia productos de alto valor agregado, incrementando su competitividad, y concluye que las organizaciones requieren estrategias que resalten atributos de producto, y mayores esfuerzos en orientación estratégica.

Limitaciones: Los hallazgos de la investigación son extrapolables a organizaciones con características, tamaños y focos similares, entre ellas, empresas campesinas y cooperativas colombianas interesadas en fortalecer su economía agraria. En su lugar, este análisis sirve para conocer con más profundidad el fenómeno en cuestión, pero con posibilidad de réplica en organizaciones interesadas en la transformación del sector rural. Sin embargo, no abarca tejidos empresariales de sectores industrializados.

Implicaciones prácticas: El estudio es de utilidad en áreas de direccionamiento estratégico y gestión de recursos humanos permitiendo visualizar mecanismos de operativización para planes de innovación de producto.
Lielmēroga dzīvojamo rajonu ārtelpas transformācijas Rīgā postsociālisma periodā
Authors: Koroļova Alisa
Published: November 2021

Promocijas darba “Lielmēroga dzīvojamo rajonu ārtelpas transformācijas Rīgā postsociālisma periodā” mērķis ir izvērtēt lielmēroga dzīvojamo rajonu ārtelpas transformāciju ietekmi uz dzīvojamās vides kvalitāti lielmēroga dzīvojamos rajonos Rīgā. Darbā apkopota informācija par dzīvojamās vides kvalitātes novērtēšanas pieejām un rīkiem, izstrādāta metodoloģija lielmēroga dzīvojamo rajonu ārtelpas transformāciju ietekmes uz dzīvojamās vides kvalitāti vērtēšanai, kā arī veikta Rīgas lielmēroga dzīvojamo rajonu publiskās ārtelpas izvērtēšana. Lai apzinātu iedzīvotāju vērtējumu par transformācijas procesu ietekmi uz dzīvojamās vides kvalitāti, izstrādāta un veikta iedzīvotāju aptauja. Izstrādāto pieeju var izmantot gan jau notikušo transformāciju ietekmes novērtēšanai, gan nākotnes transformāciju iespējamo seku analīzei un alternatīvu scenāriju meklēšanai.
"Ahora también pedimos por nuestra gente en el Norte”: Las chimanes de Todos Santos (Guatemala) entre migración, desarrollo y mayanización
Authors: Freddi Andrea
Published: November 2021

En la fase de posguerra las comunidades indígenas de Guatemala han pasado a través de un doble proceso de transnacionalización: mientras sus miembros migraban a Estados Unidos, turistas y ONG extranjeras entraban en las comunidades como efecto de las políticas de desarrollo multicultural. En este contexto, el artículo busca comprender cómo la costumbre de Todos Santos Cuchumatán, una comunidad maya mam, son resignificadas frente a las transformaciones sociales y de imaginarios provocadas por tales escenarios de movilidad. Se presentan casos etnográficos que ponen en evidencia cómo las especialistas rituales locales –la mayoría de ellas mujeres– mantienen el delicado equilibrio entre presiones internas y externas. Si dentro de la comunidad enfrentan acusaciones de brujería y asumen la tarea de dar respuestas rituales a preocupaciones vinculadas con la migración, desde el exterior, son invitadas a adherirse a los discursos y prácticas mayanistas. A pesar del riesgo de estandarizar sus prácticas, las mujeres se apropian de dichos capitales transnacionales utilizándolos estratégicamente. Las contradictorias identidades que adquieren en este proceso muestran un intento de resignificar su rol en continuidad con las prerrogativas del sincretismo religioso mesoamericano, históricamente capaz de transgredir fronteras y mediar con la alteridad.
Political trust on COVID-19 handling as predictor towards optimism on the new normal situation: Integrity and benevolence rather than competence
Authors: Adinugroho Indro , Simanjuntak Ruth Regina
Published: November 2021

Covid-19 has turned into a global health issue since April 2020 where WHO finally decided the spread of the virus as a global pandemic that affected more than 200 countries. Previous works have found that trust toward the government is important in adapting to the pandemic situation. However, what type of trust is more important? This study aims to investigate the role of different domains of trust towards Covid-19 treatment conducted by the Indonesian government as a predictor for the perception of the new normal situation. The result shows that higher trust towards government will lead to optimism in facing the new normal situation, in which perceived integrity and benevolence become the significant predictors toward optimism. However, we did not find the same pattern for the competence domain of trust.
COVID-19 pandemic through the lens of person-situation interaction
Authors: Narhetali Erita
Published: November 2021

This paper aims to describe how emotions, risk perceptions, and social norms shape their protective behavior under uncertainty time of the COVID-19 pandemic. Protective behavior means all individual efforts to comply with the pandemic measures: staying at home, hand washing, physical distancing, and wearing masks. Borrowing insight from the person-situation theory by Kurt Lewin, I try to entangle the interaction between personal and situational factors lingered within the pandemic environment that leads to our particular behavioral response. Following this, I discussed how people can comply with the measures and policies being enacted.
Eksplorasi motivasi relawan: Sebuah perspektif indigenous psychology
Authors: Akhtar Hanif , Pertiwi Ratih Eka , Mashuri Muhammad Fath
Published: November 2021

Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk memetakan motivasi individu dalam melakukan kegiatan kere-lawanan menggunakan pendekatan Indigenous Psychology. Responden penelitian terdiri atas 315 orang relawan di Indonesia. Pengambilan data menggunakan open-ended questionnaire. Hasil kategorisasi terhadap jawaban responden menunjukkan terdapat delapan kategori motivasi menjadi relawan, yakni nilai pribadi (32,2%), pengembangan diri (13,6%), kepedulian lingkungan (12,6%), minat kegiatan (11,6%), perasaan positif (9,7%), protektif (8,7%), hubung-an sosial (6,9%), dan religiositas (4,7%). Analisis data menemukan bahwa ada perbedaan yang signifikan intensi untuk menjadi relawan kembali berdasarkan jenis motivasinya. Implikasi hasil penelitian untuk pengelolaan relawan di masa depan akan dibahas dalam artikel ini.
Behavioral control by depolarized and hyperpolarized states of an integrating neuron
Authors: Sordillo Aylesse , Bargmann Cornelia I
Published: November 2021

Coordinated transitions between mutually exclusive motor states are central to behavioral decisions. During locomotion, the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans spontaneously cycles between forward runs, reversals, and turns with complex but predictable dynamics. Here, we provide insight into these dynamics by demonstrating how RIM interneurons, which are active during reversals, act in two modes to stabilize both forward runs and reversals. By systematically quantifying the roles of RIM outputs during spontaneous behavior, we show that RIM lengthens reversals when depolarized through glutamate and tyramine neurotransmitters and lengthens forward runs when hyperpolarized through its gap junctions. RIM is not merely silent upon hyperpolarization: RIM gap junctions actively reinforce a hyperpolarized state of the reversal circuit. Additionally, the combined outputs of chemical synapses and gap junctions from RIM regulate forward-to-reversal transitions. Our results indicate that multiple classes of RIM synapses create behavioral inertia during spontaneous locomotion.
APROVEITAMENTO DO LODO TÊXTIL NA PRODUÇÃO DE BRIQUETES PARA GERAÇÃO DE ENERGIA TÉRMICA
Authors: Draeger Adenirson , Kaufmann Vander , Alves de Lima Edson , Nascimento Vieira de Melo Mateus , Dias da Silva Joel
Published: November 2021

O desenvolvimento de técnicas para valorização de resíduos é uma necessidade para diminuir o uso das matérias primas e a degradação ambiental. A utilização de lodo têxtil na produção de briquetes para geração de energia é uma alternativa. Assim, foram produzidos briquetes com quatro proporções de lodo biológico ou lodo físico-químico (0, 33, 66 e 100%) misturados com serragem de Pinus, em duas temperaturas (90 e 130 oC). O lodo biológico apresentou poder calorífico superior (PCS) de 17,07 MJ.kg-1, valor considerado viável para a queima e geração de energia térmica, já o lodo físico-químico apresentou PCS de 3,4 MJ.kg-1, inviável para esse fim. Os briquetes produzidos com lodo biológico apresentaram resultados favoráveis ao uso em caldeiras, sendo que os com 33% de lodo apresentaram maior resistência (149,8 kgf.cm-2) e poder calorífico superior (PCS) (18,89 MJ.kg-1). As cinzas resultantes da queima dos briquetes ficaram abaixo do limite estabelecido pela norma NBR 10.004 (ABNT, 2004), quanto aos parâmetros inorgânicos.
Effect of Exogenous Abscisic Acid on Sugar Metabolism in Tomato Fruits
Authors: Hong-Yun Xing , Yang Yu , Xiao-Ke Zhang , Ying Zhang , Tong-Tong Wang , Yu-Jiao Zhang , Na Cui
Published: November 2021

Aims: This research explored the effect of exogenous abscisic acid (ABA) treatment on sugar metabolism in tomato fruits, and provided theoretical basis for the regulation of ABA on the growth and development of tomato fruits.

Study Design: The whole tomato plant was treated by spraying with 50 mg·L-1 ABA. Spraying distilled water was as the control.

Place and Duration of Study: College of Biological Science and Technology, between February 2019 and March 2020.

Methodology: The contents of soluble sugar in tomato fruits were measured with HPLC (High performance liquid chromatography). The enzyme extraction and activities were followed the biochemical method.

Results: Exogenous ABA treatment reduced the weight and transverse meridians of the fruit at the ripening stage, but increased the contents of fructose, glucose and sucrose in the fruit. At the same time, it also increased the activities of acid invertase, neutral invertase, and sucrose phosphate synthase at the ripening stage.

Conclusions: Exogenous ABA treatment was beneficial to the accumulation of sugar in tomato fruit and improved tomato quality. Therefore, it could be applied to tomato production.
The Frequency of Diabetes Related Complications in Patients with Type 2 Diabetes a Case Study of Tertiary Care Hospital
Authors: Baloch Nadeem , Gul Ali , Bhatti Waseem Sarwar , Magsi Inayatullah , Alahmadi Yaser M , Almusalam Abdulaziz Jafar
Published: November 2021

Introduction: The peoples suffering from diabetes are at greater risk for leading to diabetes related complication due to improper glycemic control resulting in micro or macrovascular complication.

Methods: A descriptive survey based study was conducted. A total of 400 patients were interviewed by purposive sampling with their written information using series of questions with the help of a structured questionnaire. All the data was evaluated and results were given on percentage basis through SPSS20.00. 

Inclusion criteria were all diabetic patients having age between 30 years to 80 years.

Exclusion criteria were diabetic patient with chronic kidney disease, chronic liver disease, alcohol misuse, pregnancy, lactating mother.

Results: 306 (76%) patients were visit the hospital with some diabetic associated complications. 74 (24%) from diabetic nephropathy, 76 (26%) with diabetic retinopathy and 153(50%) with diabetic neuropathy.

Conclusion: Diabetic Associated Complications were more in patients who were taking oral hypoglycemic agents as compare to insulin.
Inhibitory Potential of Combination of Macrolide Antibiotic with Conventional Chemotherapeutic Agent Sorafenib on Growth Rate of Cancer Cell Population
Authors: Zehra Dabeeran , Usman Shumaila , Ismail Kauser , Hasan Syed Saud , Zafar Urooj , Rizvi Syed Faizan Ali , Rasheed Nabila
Published: November 2021

Over the past few years great progress has been achieved in anticancer therapy, but development of resistance and unavoidable side effects have incapacitated these fulfilments. Keeping in view this demanding condition, numerous drugs with unique antitumor mechanisms are under investigations including antimicrobials which have been shown to possess anti-inflammatory, immunomodulatory and cytotoxic effects. In this regard, both conventional and novel antimicrobials are being studied to explore their anticancer potential along with underlying mechanisms which may render them as effective anticancer drugs in near future. Moreover, the new approach of drug repurposing is also being encouraged especially in cancers in order to reduce cost and limit adverse effects. In recent times a cumulative number of studies have laid stress upon the antitumor properties of antimicrobials. Consequently, this study has been conducted to see comparative inhibitory effect of Sorafenib and its combination with a macrolide antibiotic Azithromycin on growth rate HepG2 cell line.
Effect of Magnesium Sulphate Nebulization on the Incidence of Postoperative Sore Throat in Patients Requiring Endotracheal Intubation for General Anesthesia
Authors: Chakole Vivek , Sneha Kota , Shankar Shilpa , Madavi Sheetal
Published: November 2021

Background: Post-operative sore throat (POST) is one of the most common anesthesia related complication. It is one of the undesirable post-operative events. Several Non pharmacological and pharmacological methods tried to reduce POST. we planned to study the efficacy of magnsesium sulphate nebulization in reduction of post operative sore throat.

Study Design: Prospective, comparative observational study.

Place and Duration of Study: Department of anesthesiology, AVBRH, from June 2020 to November 2020.

Materials and Methods:  observational study of 60 cases divided into two equal groups. Patients included in the study were of either gender belonging to American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) status 1 or 2 undergoing elective surgery of approximately 2 h or more duration requiring tracheal intubation. Patients in Group N were nebulized with 3 ml of normal saline and the patients in Group M were nebulized with 3 ml of 225 mg isotonic nebulized magnesium sulfate for 15 min. The incidence of POST at rest and on swallowing at 0, 2, 4,12 and 24 h in the postoperative period were evaluated.

Results: No significant difference in postoperative sorethroat was observed on swallowing in between magnesium sulphate and normal saline at zero and 2nd hour. significant difference was observed at 4th,12th and 24th hour between magnesium sulphate and normal saline in reducing the incidence of post-operative sore throat.

Conclusion: MgSO4 significantly reduces the incidence of POST compared to normal saline.
NSDUH 2020: 40 million adults with SUD
Authors: Knopf Alison
Published: November 2021

The National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH), released last month, does not allow for easy comparison to past years, because of definition changes — “craving” is added as a criterion for substance use disorder (SUD), and substance use disorder itself is for the first time used as a diagnosis, updating the annual survey with the most recent version of the American Psychiatric Association's Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM) manual, which came out in 2013 (see ADAW, Nov. 1, for a brief report on these changes).
AMA and CDC promote language focusing on health equity
Authors: Knopf Alison
Published: November 2021

In a document issued this month, the American Medical Association (AMA), relying in part on guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), issued guidelines for the use of language to promote health care equity.
A Stretchable Kirigami‐Inspired Self‐Powered Electroactive Sensor for Tensile Strain and Torsion Sensing
Authors: Lee Jai-Hua , Chee Pei-Song , Lim Eng-Hock , Low Jen-Hahn , Nguyen Nam-Trung
Published: November 2021

Electroactive polymer has a great potential to be employed for making a self‐powered sensor due to the ionic movement of the mobile cation that exists in the polymer structure itself. However, applying an electroactive‐based sensor as wearable gadget can be challenging due to its limited detection range and nonconformity. Inspired by the Kirigami structure, herein, it has been demonstrated that a self‐powered electroactive‐based sensor with improved conformality. It has been found that the Kirigami structure can enhance the sensor sensitivity significantly. The sensor exhibited high sensitivity to a uniaxial strain deformation with more than 300% sensitivity and a broad sensing range of up to 80% strain. In addition to being able to detect the uniaxial strain, the Kirigami‐patterned sensor also has good torsion and mixed torsion–strain dependent properties, making it a good multifunctional sensor. As a proof‐of‐concept demonstration for applications in monitoring human activities, it has been successfully demonstrated that the proposed Kirigami‐patterned sensor is able to monitor wrist movements and respiration rate. Notably, this Kirigami‐patterned electroactive‐based sensor has significantly broadened the application of electroactive polymer on advanced wearable electronics.
Metal Micropatterning by Triboelectric Spark Discharge
Authors: Wang Chao , Li Xiangming , Wang Liang , Liu Guifang , Nie Bangbang , Qiu Yangfan , Fan Bin , Yan Chao , Chen Xiaoliang , Tian Hongmiao , Wang Chunhui , Shao Jinyou
Published: November 2021

Metal micropatterns play critical roles in flexible electronics. However, the lack of versatile strategies for micropatterning of diverse metal materials on various thin, flexible or stretchable substrates has limited the rapid development of flexible electronics. Here, a metal micropatterning method by triboelectric spark discharge under atmospheric environment is developed, where a triboelectric nanogenerator (TENG) is employed to precisely and safely control the voltage, current, and frequency of the spark discharges. Micropatterns of metal films like gold, silver, copper, aluminum and platinum are successfully fabricated on substrates of polyimide, polyethylene terephthalate, polyvinyl chloride, polydimethylsiloxane, paper or latex, even on ultrathin substrates (5 μm thick) without damage, where the feature sizes of metal patterns are controllable from 20 μm to 1 mm. Experimental insights into the triboelectric spark discharge behaviors and the pattern feature sizes control are discussed. A straightforward fabrication of metal patterns on the balloon surface or human skin through “handwriting” by a pencil as discharge electrode is realized. Besides metals, extended processibility of conductive materials like carbon nanotubes, graphene, MXene, graphite, carbon fibers, and conductive polymers are also demonstrated. This work proves the possibility of microfabrication by TENG, which is of simplicity and attractiveness for flexible electronics.
Head on Comparison of Self‐ and Nano‐Assemblies of Gamma Peptide Nucleic Acid Amphiphiles
Authors: Malik Shipra , Kumar Vikas , Liu Chung‐Hao , Shih Kuo‐Chih , Krueger Susan , Nieh Mu‐Ping , Bahal Raman
Published: November 2021

Peptide nucleic acids (PNAs) are nucleic acid analogs with hybridization properties and enzymatic stability superior to that of DNA. In addition to gene targeting applications, PNAs have garnered significant attention as bio‐polymers due to the Watson–Crick‐based molecular recognition and flexibility of synthesis. Here, PNA amphiphiles are engineered using chemically modified gamma PNA (8 mer in length) containing hydrophilic diethylene glycol units at the gamma position and covalently conjugated lauric acid (C12) as a hydrophobic moiety. Gamma PNA (γ  PNA) amphiphiles self‐assemble into spherical vesicles. Further, nano‐assemblies (NA) are formulated using the amphiphilic γ  PNA as a polymer via ethanol injection‐based protocols. Comprehensive head‐on comparison of the physicochemical and cellular uptake properties of PNA derived self‐ and NA is performed. Small‐angle neutron and X‐ray scattering analysis reveal ellipsoidal morphology of γ  PNA NA that results in superior cellular delivery compate to the spherical self‐assembly. Next, the functional activities of γ  PNA self‐and NA in lymphoma cells via multiple endpoints, including gene expression, cell viability, and apoptosis‐based assays are compared. Overall, it is established that γ  PNA amphiphile is a functionally active bio‐polymer to formulate NA for a wide range of biomedical applications.
Impact of Nanoscale Morphology on Charge Carrier Delocalization and Mobility in an Organic Semiconductor
Authors: Ellis Matthew , Yang Hui , Giannini Samuele , Ziogos Orestis G. , Blumberger Jochen
Published: November 2021

A central challenge of organic semiconductor research is to make cheap, disordered materials that exhibit high electrical conductivity. Unfortunately, this endeavor is hampered by the poor fundamental understanding of the relationship between molecular packing structure and charge carrier mobility. Here a novel computational methodology is presented that fills this gap. Using a melt‐quench procedure it is shown that amorphous pentacene spontaneously self‐assembles to nanocrystalline structures that, at long quench times, form the characteristic herringbone layer of the single crystal. Quantum dynamical simulations of electron hole transport show a clear correlation between the crystallinity of the sample, the quantum delocalization, and the mobility of the charge carrier. Surprisingly, the long‐held belief that charge carriers form relatively localized polarons in disordered OS is only valid for fully amorphous structures—for nanocrystalline and crystalline samples, significant charge carrier delocalization over several nanometers occurs that underpins their improved conductivities. The good agreement with experimentally available data makes the presented methodology a robust computational tool for the predictive engineering of disordered organic materials.
Stretchable, Soft, and Variable Stiffness Elastomer foam with Positive and Negative Piezoresistivity Enabled by Liquid Metal Inclusion
Authors: Cho Dongkyun , Bhuyan Priyanuj , Sin Dongho , Kim Hyemin , Kim Eunseon , Park Sungjune
Published: November 2021

Stretchable and soft piezoresistive composites are appealing for application to tactile sensors, artificial skin, and wearable electronics. The ability of the composites to deform the geometries when they are strained can allow the electrical behavior of the composites to be manipulated. Although rigid metal and semiconductor inclusions have been utilized to create piezoresistive composites, they limit the degree of mechanical deformation. Here, liquid metal (gallium, melting point ≈ 29.7 °C) inclusion into elastomeric foam substrate with 3D open cell morphologies is utilized. Gallium is a fluidic conductor, thus it is possible to infiltrate the liquid metal into the 3D interconnected pore, resulting in soft, stretchable, and shape reconfigurable conductive composites that can change shape and function in response to external stimuli. Applying strain can enable deformation of the liquid metal, generating changes of electrical resistance. Interestingly, it is found that this piezoresistivity of the composite can be positively and negatively manipulated by adjusting the geometries of the liquid metal in the foam. Furthermore, the liquid metal in the elastomeric foam can be reversibly actuated by applying compressive force, resulting in manipulation of the restorative electrical activity of the composites.
High Performance Solution‐Processed Deep‐Blue Phosphorescence Organic Light‐Emitting Diodes with EQE Over 24% by Employing New Carbenic Ir(III) Complexes
Authors: Kumaresan Raja , Park Ho‐Yeol , Maheshwaran Athithan , Park Hyungjin , Do Yeongju , Song Myungkwan , Yoon Jinhwan , Ahn Sung Il , Jin Sung‐Ho
Published: November 2021

Solution‐processed phosphorescence organic light‐emitting diodes (PHOLEDs) are an increasingly attractive option as compared with vacuum‐processed PHOLEDs due to their lower costs, large areas, and flexible production. Currently, the majority of reported solution‐processed PHOLEDs are produced using red and green triplet emitters. The earlier reports on blue solution‐processed PHOLEDs describe poor Commission International de l'Éclairage color coordinates (CIE(x, y)) and low external quantum efficiencies (EQEs). It is difficult to produce efficient solution‐processed deep‐blue PHOLEDs that meet high EQE and CIE y color coordinate ≤ 0.15 requirements. The authors design and synthesize three new carbenic homoleptic deep‐blue emitting Ir(III) complexes for solution‐processed PHOLEDs. The introduction of bulky tert‐butyl and trifluoromethyl (CF3) substituents at a suitable position on the benzylated pyridoimidazole moiety effectively improves solution‐processed device performance without compromising CIE(x, y) color purity. The deep‐blue PHOLEDs exhibit remarkable maximum EQE (EQEmax) of 25.3% and excellent CIE(x, y) color of (0.16, 0.10) at a mer‐Ir(ptbbp)3 doping ratio of 50 wt%. In particular, deep‐blue PHOLEDs containing mer‐Ir(CF3pbp)3 as dopant exhibit excellent CIE(x, y) color coordinates of (0.16, 0.05) and an EQEmax of 21.2%. This is the first report of deep‐blue solution‐processed PHOLEDs containing carbene‐based Ir(III) complexes with extremely high EQE values and CIE y coordinate requirement.
Precise Diabetic Wound Therapy: PLS Nanospheres Eliminate Senescent Cells via DPP4 Targeting and PARP1 Activation
Authors: Zhao Renliang , Jin Xiangyun , Li Ang , Xu Bitong , Shen Yifan , Wang Wei , Huang Jinghuan , Zhang Yadong , Li Xiaolin
Published: November 2021

Diabetic ulcers, a difficult problem faced by clinicians, are strongly associated with an increase in cellular senescence. Few empirical studies have focused on exploring a targeted strategy to cure diabetic wounds by eliminating senescent fibroblasts (SFs) and reducing side effects. In this study, poly‐l‐lysine/sodium alginate (PLS) is modified with talabostat (PT100) and encapsulates a PARP1 plasmid (PARP1@PLS‐PT100) for delivery to target the dipeptidyl peptidase 4 (DPP4) receptor and eliminate SFs. PARP1@PLS‐PT100 releases encapsulated plasmids, displaying high selectivity for SFs over normal fibroblasts by targeting the DPP4 receptor, decreasing senescence‐associated secretory phenotypes (SASPs), and stimulating the secretion of anti‐inflammatory factors. Furthermore, the increased apoptosis of SFs and the disappearance of cellular senescence alleviates SASPs, accelerates re‐epithelialization and collagen deposition, and significantly induces macrophage M2 polarization, which mediates tissue repair and the inflammatory response. This innovative strategy has revealed the previously undefined role of PARP1@PLS‐PT100 in promoting diabetic wound healing, suggesting its therapeutic potential in refractory wound repair.
The High‐Pressure Processed Cu2S: Phase Intergrowth with Strained Lamella Leading to an Improved Thermoelectric Performance
Authors: Luo Hao , Yang Dongwang , Yu Yimeng , Liang Qi , Peng Haoyang , Xia Fanjie , Tang Xinfeng , Wu Jinsong
Published: November 2021

Among the state‐of‐the‐art thermoelectric materials, Cu2S has attracted much attention because of its nontoxicity, high abundance, and “phonon‐liquid electron‐crystal” characteristics. It is found the thermoelectric performance of Cu2S processed by high‐pressure at room temperature (HPRT) can be greatly improved. However, the underlying mechanism remains unknown due to the complex phase and microstructure formed under high pressure. Herein, the origin of the improved properties is disclosed by investigating the dynamic phase and defect structure evolutions using both ex situ and in situ transmission electron microscopy, and by exploring the high temperature thermal kinetics through differential scanning calorimetry and high temperature Hall test. It is surprising to find that an intergrowth of monoclinic γ‐phase and tetragonal δ‐phase is formed in the HPRT Cu2S. Meanwhile, a strained lamella structure with a large number of dislocations is found within the monoclinic γ‐Cu2S phase. Due to the defected microstructure and thus the increased carrier concentration, conductivities of electron and phonon are decoupled. Notably, the average lattice thermal conductivity of HPRT Cu2S is low in 600–900 K, due to the strongly phonon scattering by nanovoids inside the material. Finally, in 600–900 K, an average ZT value of 0.89 is obtained in the HPRT Cu2S, much higher than that of 0.19 for melting combined with plasma activated sintering processed Cu2S.
Nitrogen and phosphorus uptake and nitrogen fixation estimation of faba bean in western Canada
Authors: Klippenstein Serena Roslyn , Khazaei Hamid , Vandenberg Albert , Schoenau Jeff
Published: November 2021

Faba bean (Vicia faba L.) has very efficient dinitrogen (N2) fixation, the greatest among grain legumes. The main aims of this study were to investigate the effect of nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) fertilizers on yield, N and P uptake, and biological nitrogen fixation (BNF) potential of faba bean. Four faba bean cultivars (‘CDC Snowdrop’, ‘219‐16’, ‘Snowbird’, and ‘Tabasco’) were grown in a 2‐yr field experiment at four site‐locations in Saskatchewan, Canada, during 2016 and 2017. In addition, a controlled‐environment study was also conducted to address how P fertilization influences growth and proportion of nitrogen derived from the atmosphere (%Ndfa) through BNF in 2017. Yield was not significantly affected by cultivar, fertilization or site‐location, however, N and P uptake were significantly affected to varying degrees by all three effects. The average faba bean grain yield was 5,280 kg ha–1 in field experiments. Average grain N uptake (117–300 kg N ha–1) and P uptake (15–35 kg P ha–1 and 34–80 kg P2O5 ha–1) were significantly greater than straw N and P uptake in the field. An estimated 88% Ndfa was obtained in the controlled‐environment study and 230 kg N ha–1 of N uptake was observed in aboveground biomass (grain and straw) in the field experiments. Results support the efficiency of N2 fixation in this species in western Canada.
Recent Advances in Field‐Controlled Micro–Nano Manipulations and Micro–Nano Robots
Authors: Chen Yuanyuan , Chen Dixiao , Liang Shuzhang , Dai Yuguo , Bai Xue , Song Bin , Zhang Deyuan , Chen Huawei , Feng Lin
Published: November 2021

Field‐controlled micro–nano manipulations and micro–nano robots have attracted increasing attention in the fields of medicine, environment, engineering, and energy due to their outstanding characteristics which include small size, strong controllability, cluster action, and strong penetrability; thus, they have gradually become an important research focus in micro–nano manufacturing and in vivo detection. However, precise cluster control, targeted drug delivery in vivo, and cellular micro–nano operation remain challenges. Herein, the scientific research results produced in recent years to meet these challenges are studied. Considering the current research enthusiasm and application challenges, the micro–nano manipulations and micro–nano robots driven by physical fields (magnetic field, sound field, and light field) are mainly discussed. This review includes detailed analysis of control mechanism, control objectives, and supporting technologies; analysis of recent research results, and advantages and future development trends driven by physic fields, etc. This review involves the crossover and integration of multiple disciplines (including microelectronic technology, micro–nano processing technology, biology, physics, chemistry, machinery, and automation, etc.), hoping to inspire relevant practitioners to create new research perspectives, and promote the development of micro–nano robotics.