bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Social Image Concern and Reference Point Formation
Authors: Hashidate Yosuke
Published: February 2021

This paper develops an axiomatic context-dependent model of social image concerns. Allowing for context-dependence based on choice sets, it examines how context-dependence impacts social image concerns, in particular how a decision maker exhibits various social emotions stemming from their intrinsic reference point, which may not be captured by conforming to social norms. To elicit the intrinsic reference point, this paper provides weaker versions of Strategic Rationality and Independence, in addition to the basic axioms, to characterize the model of the Reference-Dependent Image-Conscious utilitarian. This paper also examines how social emotions stemming from the intrinsic reference point are related to preference reversals as violations of the Weak Axiom of Revealed Preference (WARP). Finally, this paper considers the relationship between social image concerns and intrinsic reciprocity. The findings demonstrate that social image plays a large role and the model developed illustrates a condition in which cooperation is sustained in prisoner’s dilemma games.
Foreign Direct Investment and Crime Linkage: Drug Traffic and Kidnapping
Authors: Espinosa Ramirez Rafael Salvador
Published: February 2021

We develop a theoretical model in which a country hosts foreign investment in the presence of a drug dealer, acting as a leader, and a drug seller, acting as a follower. A policy addressed to eradicate the drug trafficking encourages the kidnapping activity, and increase the security cost of firms. When the drug is not consumed in the host country the best policy is not to fight against drug trafficking. When the drug is consumed in the host country the optimal policy depends on the social marginal disutility of drug consumption respect to ransom paid by firms. In this case, when social marginal disutility is sufficiently larger than ransom, the government combats drug trafficking, otherwise, there is no policy at all.
Surface functionalization of nanostructured Cu/Ag-deposited polypropylene fiber by magnetron sputtering
Authors: Chu Changliu , Hu Xuefeng , Yan Hongqin , Sun Yanyan
Published: February 2021

Metallic nanoparticles are widely used due to their superior electrical, antimicrobial, and electromagnetic shielding characteristics. In this work, the surface functionalization of polypropylene (PP) fibers using magnetron sputtering with pure Cu and Ag targets in the presence of Ar gas was systematically investigated, in detail, in terms of surface morphology, tensile, abrasion resistance, moisture regain, antibacterial, and electrostatic properties. The results indicated that the nanocomposite films deposited on the PP surface were even and dense under proper treatment conditions. Compared with pristine fiber, breaking tenacity, abrasion resistance, and antibacterial properties of the Cu/Ag-deposited PP fibers were significantly improved, whereas the extension at break and moisture regain decreased in different degrees. Also, the electrostatic property of treated PP fabrics was studied. This work reveals that surface functionalization of Cu/Ag-deposited PP fiber is versatile, and the surface treatment that uses metallic nanoparticles by magnetron sputtering is a promising approach for achieving multifunctional textiles.
Gold nanoparticles from Celastrus hindsii and HAuCl4: Green synthesis, characteristics, and their cytotoxic effects on HeLa cells
Authors: Mai Xuan-Truong , Tran Minh-Chien , Hoang Anh-Quan , Nguyen Phuc Dang-Ngoc , Nguyen Thi-Hiep , Tran Hai Nguyen , Nguyen Phuong-Tung
Published: February 2021

The extract from Celastrus hindsii (C. hindsii), a plant that naturally grows in the forests of several provinces of Vietnam, has been traditionally used as an alternative medicine for the treatment of inflammation because of its anticancer and antitumor properties. This study reported the green synthesis of stable gold nanoparticles (Au-NPs) derived from HAuCl4 using the extract of C. hindsii as reducing and capping agents. Their particle size could be controlled by adjusting the ratio of the extract to HAuCl4 solution used (1.25%, 2.5%, 3.75%, 5.0%, and 6.25%). The optimal ratio of the extract was 3.75% (Au-NPs-3.75%). The X-ray powder diffraction analysis demonstrated that the Au-NPs was successfully synthesized. Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy result indicated the possible presence of phenolic acids and flavonoids (acting as reducing agents and potential natural antioxidants). Transmission electron microscopy images showed that the particle diameter of Au-NPs-3.75% varied between 13 and 53 nm (average: ∼30 nm) in its spherical shape. The biosynthesized Au-NPs-3.75% exhibited dose-dependent cytotoxicity against HeLa cells, and the inhibitory concentration (IC50) was 12.5 µg/mL at 48 h. Therefore, Au-NPs that were synthesized from environmentally friendly method without the presence of potentially toxic chemicals were highly possible in biomedical applications.
One-step preparation of metal-free phthalocyanine with controllable crystal form
Authors: Li Xiaolong , Feng Yuxi , Li Chenyang , Han Huahui , Hu Xueqing , Ma Yongning , Yang Yuhao
Published: February 2021

Metal-free phthalocyanine (H2Pc) has been widely used as photosensitive semiconductors in the organic optoelectronics field because of its unique planar molecular structure and high photocarriers’ generation efficiency. Herein, this paper related to a new facile and efficient one-step method for preparing specific crystal form of H2Pc with high crystallinity through ball-milling process, in which α-H2Pc can be prepared directly by dry ball-milling, and β-H2Pc and X-H2Pc can be simply obtained through wet ball-milling in butanone solvent at different temperatures. X-ray diffraction (XRD) was used to characterize the crystal stability of α-H2Pc, β-H2Pc, and X-H2Pc, which revealed that all the three crystalline H2Pc prepared had excellent crystal stability under different mechanical conditions.
Phase transformations during the oxidation of fayalite in iron-rich nickel slag
Authors: Du Xueyan , Ma Yongbo
Published: February 2021

Phase transformations during the oxidation of fayalite (Fe2SiO4) are investigated for the recovery of iron from iron-rich nickel slag by oxidation-magnetic separation. The proportions of various phases calculated by FactSage 7.1 show that augite and spinel are the major phases in the FeO-SiO2-MgO-CaO-O2 system in air atmosphere. The decreased content of Fe2+shows that Fe2SiO4 is gradually oxidized into Fe3O4 with increasing oxidation time. XRD patterns demonstrate that Fe3O4and Ca(Mg,Fe)Si2O6 are the dominant phases after the oxidation. The Mössbauer spectrum indicates that 93.1 wt.% of iron in oxidized nickel slag is in magnetic minerals, while a limited amount of iron is contained in non-magnetic minerals. Ca(Mg,Fe)Si2O6 was formed during the heating stage in Ar atmosphere through the polymerization of SiO4
4-and also via peritectic reaction after the isothermal oxidation.
Overburdened Gauls: the case of Florus and Sacrovir’s revolt of 21 CE
Authors: Kreiner Jared
Published: February 2021

In 21 CE, a series of localized movements broke out in Gallia Comata due to heavy debts among provincials according to Tacitus. Modern scholars have long argued that the indebtedness occurred because of rising interest rates, resulting from dwindling currency in circulation after decades of free-spending following Augustus’ victory at Actium, and that Gallic communities were subjected to an additional tribute to support the wars of Germanicus (14–16 CE), which continued unabated after the wars and pushed Gauls beyond their means. These claims are misguided, however, in that there is no certain evidence of a special tax to support Germanicus’ wars and that the argument for a dwindling circulation of currency in Gaul falters under closer inspection. Rather, the pressing statal and military needs imposed on communities in Gallia Comata after 9 CE on top of routine exactions could significantly increase burden levels levied on provincial populations, thus contributing to rising debts. Through examining how Roman logistics and conscription operated in this period, it is possible to trace how populations were impacted by such demands and which communities were most heavily affected by them, too. Individually, the impact of each factor is unlikely to have been burdensome enough to have caused large-scale resistance, it is only the cumulative effect that these explanations had on top of routine Roman extraction schemes that could create the conditions for this revolt. This paper argues that in extraordinary circumstances, such as the period after the Varian Disaster for Gallia Comata, the costs of supporting military campaigns places real short-term strains on local economies, which creates the conditions for revolt. The benefit of this approach is that it may explain other episodes of anti-fiscal resistance that broke out during or within a decade of wars in neighboring regions.
Identification and Estimation of Intensive Margin Effects by Difference-in-Difference Methods
Authors: Hersche Markus , Moor Elias
Published: February 2021

This paper discusses identification and estimation of causal intensive margin effects. The causal intensive margin effect is defined as the treatment effect on the outcome of individuals with a positive outcome irrespective of whether they are treated or not, and is of interest for outcomes with corner solutions. The main issue is to deal with a potential selection problem that arises when conditioning on positive outcomes. We propose using difference-in-difference methods - conditional on positive outcomes - to estimate causal intensive margin effects. We derive sufficient conditions under which the difference-in-difference estimator identifies the causal intensive margin effect. We apply the methodology to estimate the causal intensive margin effect of reaching the full retirement age on working hours.
Swarm Intelligence Optimization: An Exploration and Application of Machine Learning Technology
Authors: Cai Yinying , Sharma Amit
Published: February 2021

In the agriculture development and growth, the efficient machinery and equipment plays an important role. Various research studies are involved in the implementation of the research and patents to aid the smart agriculture and authors and reviewers that machine leaning technologies are providing the best support for this growth. To explore machine learning technology and machine learning algorithms, the most of the applications are studied based on the swarm intelligence optimization. An optimized V3CFOA-RF model is built through V3CFOA. The algorithm is tested in the data set collected concerning rice pests, later analyzed and compared in detail with other existing algorithms. The research result shows that the model and algorithm proposed are not only more accurate in recognition and prediction, but also solve the time lagging problem to a degree. The model and algorithm helped realize a higher accuracy in crop pest prediction, which ensures a more stable and higher output of rice. Thus they can be employed as an important decision-making instrument in the agricultural production sector.
Phonological and morphological roles modulate the perception of consonant variants
Authors: Pycha Anne
Published: February 2021

This study investigated how the perception of a sound is affected by its phonological and morphological roles within a word. We asked American English listeners (n = 24) to judge differences among phonetic variants of sounds [l], [n], [ɹ] in three word conditions: 1) at morpheme boundaries with a phonological process, such as [n] in down-ed, which triggers voicing agreement on the suffix, 2) internally without a process, such as [n] in mound, and 3) at morpheme boundaries alone, such as [n] in town-ship. We used Praat synthesis with different acoustic settings to create variants, e.g., [n]a, [n]b, [n]c, which were spliced into a base to produce three tokens, dow[n]a
ed, dow[n]b
ed, dow[n]c
ed. Identical variants were used across conditions (e.g., in condition 2: mou[n]a
d, mou[n]b
d
,
mou[n]c
d). On each trial, participants heard two tokens of the same word (e.g., dow[n]a
ed – dow[n]b
ed) and rated the difference between the target sound using a sliding scale with endpoints “0% (totally identical)” and “99% (totally different)”. Analysis with linear mixed-effects model revealed significant differences between ratings among all conditions, with the pattern township < downed < mound. These results suggest that a sound’s phonological and morphological roles within a word affect how people perceive it. We evaluate this finding in light of the differing predictions made by phoneme-based theories, which incorporate phonemes as a fundamental unit, versus exemplar theories, which argue that phonological units are emergent.
The Linguistic Idealism Question: Wittgenstein’s Method and his Rejection of Realism
Authors: Lagerspetz Olli
Published: February 2021

After the publication of Wittgenstein’s posthumous work the question was raised whether that work involved idealist tendencies. The debate also engaged Wittgenstein’s immediate students. Resistance to presumed idealist positions had been ideologically central to G.E. Moore, Bertrand Russell and other representatives of realism and early analytic philosophy. While Wittgenstein disagreed with them in key respects, he accepted their tendentious definition of ‘idealism’ at face value and bequeathed it to his students. The greatest flaw in the Realists’ view on idealism was their assumption of symmetry between realist and idealist approaches. For Realists, the chief task of philosophy was to establish what kinds of thing exist, and they took Idealists to offer an alternative account of that. However, the Idealists’ guiding concern was rather to investigate the subjective conditions of knowledge. In this respect, Wittgenstein’s conception of philosophical method was closer to theirs than to that of the Realists. This is especially obvious in his rejection of Moore’s idea of immediate knowledge. Ultimately, the trouble with Wittgenstein was not that he endorsed any kind of idealist ontology. It was his refusal to deliver the expected realist ontological messages on the supposed question of whether reality is independent of language or otherwise.
Logischer Holismus und Wittgensteins „praktische Wende“
Authors: Franken Figueiredo Florian
Published: February 2021

Logical Holism and Wittgenstein’s ‘Practical Turn’. – Logical holism is the idea that each elementary proposition belongs to a system and is logically connected to other propositions of that system. In this paper I explore this idea and draw its connections to the nature of negative propositions and the ‘problem of recognition’ on the basis of Wittgenstein’sNachlass.In the first section I argue that in January 1930 the idea leads Wittgenstein to a better understanding of how the negative feature is expressed in propositions, thereby raising the problem of recognition to which he is not yet able to find a proper solution. In the second section I explore how the problem still persists during Wittgenstein’s ‘practical turn’. What he now calls the ‘problem of representation’ forces him to change again his conception of propositions. In the final section I argue that this change is mainly due to the modification of his conception of hypotheses which urges a solution to the problem of representation, though the problem remains unsolved in January 1930.
Orthoamide und Iminiumsalze, CIII. Synthese von N,N′,N′′-peralkylierten Guanidiniumsalz-basierten ionischen Flüssigkeiten durch Anionenmetathese
Authors: Kantlehner Willi , Mezger Jochen , Tiritiris Ioannis , Kreß Ralf , Frey Wolfgang
Published: February 2021

N,N′,N′′-peralkylated guanidinium chlorides and N,N′,N′′-peralkylated guanidines were prepared from N,N′-peralkylated chloroformamidinium chlorides. The alkylation of the guanidines affords N,N′,N′′-persubstituted guanidinium chlorides bromides, iodides, alkylsulfates, and tetrafluoroborates. Guanidinium tricyanomethanides and tetracyanopropenides were prepared from the chlorides and iodides by anion metathesis. The reaction of guanidinium halogenides with borontrifluoride etherate, triethyloxonium tetrafluoroborate or sodiumtetrafluoroborate delivers guanidinium tetrafluoroborates. Guanidinium saccharinides, cyanates, thiocyanates, trifluoromethansulfonates, bis(trifluormethansulfonyl)imides, hexacyanoferrates(II/III), tetracyanonickolates and tetrathiocyanatocobaltates were prepared from the corresponding guanidinium chlorides and tetrafluoroborates by anion exchange.
Marcion’s Gospel and its Use of the Jewish Scriptures
Authors: Davis Phillip Andrew
Published: February 2021

Despite the popular notion of Marcion’s outright rejection of the Jewish Scriptures, his gospel draws on those Scriptures not infrequently. While this might appear inconsistent with Marcion’s theological thought, a pattern is evident in the way his gospel uses Scripture: On the one hand, Marcion’s gospel includes few of the direct, marked quotations of Scripture known from canonical Luke, and in none of those cases does Jesus himself fulfill Scripture. On the other hand, Marcion’s gospel includes more frequent indirect allusions to Scripture, several of which imply Jesus’ fulfillment of scriptural prophecy. This pattern suggests a Marcionite redaction of Luke whereby problematic marked quotes were omitted, while allusions were found less troublesome or simply overlooked due to their implicit nature.
Combination of Defined CatWalk Gait Parameters for Predictive Locomotion Recovery in Experimental Spinal Cord Injury Rat Models
Authors: Timotius Ivanna K. , Bieler Lara , Couillard-Despres Sebastien , Sandner Beatrice , Garcia-Ovejero Daniel , Labombarda Florencia , Estrada Veronica , Müller Hans W. , Winkler Jürgen , Klucken Jochen , Eskofier Bjoern , Weidner Norbert , Puttagunta Radhika
Published: February 2021

In many preclinical spinal cord injury (SCI) studies, assessment of locomotion recovery is key to understanding the effectiveness of the experimental intervention. In such rat SCI studies, the most basic locomotor recovery scoring system is a subjective observation of animals freely roaming in an open field, the Basso Beattie Bresnahan (BBB) score. In comparison, CatWalk is an automated gait analysis system, providing further parameter specifications. Although together the CatWalk parameters encompass gait, studies consistently report single parameters, which differ in significance from other behavioral assessments. Therefore, we believe no single parameter produced by the CatWalk can represent the fully-coordinated motion of gait. Typically, other locomotor assessments, such as the BBB score, combine several locomotor characteristics into a representative score. For this reason, we ranked the most distinctive CatWalk parameters between uninjured and SC injured rats. Subsequently, we combined nine of the topmost parameters into an SCI gait index score based on linear discriminant analysis (LDA). The resulting combination was applied to assess gait recovery in SCI experiments comprising of three thoracic contusions, a thoracic dorsal hemisection, and a cervical dorsal column lesion model. For thoracic lesions, our unbiased machine learning model revealed gait differences in lesion type and severity. In some instances, our LDA was found to be more sensitive in differentiating recovery than the BBB score alone. We believe the newly developed gait parameter combination presented here should be used in CatWalk gait recovery work with preclinical thoracic rat SCI models.
Regulation of Mitochondrial Function by Epac2 Contributes to Acute Inflammatory Hyperalgesia
Authors: Goode Diana J. , Molliver Derek C.
Published: February 2021

Gαs-coupled receptors signaling through cAMP provide a key mechanism for the sensitization of nociceptive sensory neurons, and the cAMP effector Epac has been implicated in the transition from acute to chronic pain. Epac exerts its effects through Rap1 and protein kinase C (PKC). To identify targets of Epac–PKC signaling in sensory neurons of the mouse dorsal root ganglion (DRG), we profiled PKC substrate proteins phosphorylated in response to the activation of Epac with the proinflammatory prostaglandin E2 (PGE2). A prominent Epac-dependent phospho-protein band induced by PGE2 was identified by mass spectrometry as the mitochondrial enzyme pyruvate dehydrogenase (Pdha1). In dissociated DRG from both males and females, the recruitment of Pdha1 to phospho-protein fractions was rapidly induced by PGE2 and prevented by selective inhibition of Epac2. Epac activation increased mitochondrial respiration, consistent with an increase in Pdha1 function mediated by Epac2. Hindpaw injection of PGE2 induced heat hyperalgesia in males and females, but Pdha1 phosphorylation occurred only in males. Hyperalgesia was attenuated in males but not in females by systemic inhibition of Epac2, and also by a mitochondrial membrane potential uncoupler, dinitrophenol, supporting a role for mitochondrial regulation in acute hyperalgesia. These findings identify a mechanism for the regulation of mitochondrial function by Epac2 that contributes to acute inflammatory hyperalgesia in male mice. Systemic administration of the cyclooxygenase 2 inhibitor celecoxib suppressed both PGE2-induced heat hyperalgesia and Pdha1 phosphorylation in DRG of males but not females, suggesting that prostaglandin synthesis within the DRG mediates the phosphorylation of Pdha1 in response to hindpaw insult.

SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENTThere has been extensive investigation of mitochondrial dysfunction as a causative factor in neuropathic pain disorders. In contrast, results reported here implicate enhanced mitochondrial function as a contributing factor in the development of acute inflammatory hyperalgesia. We describe a mechanism in which Epac2 activation by prostaglandin receptors leads to phosphorylation of pyruvate dehydrogenase and an increase in mitochondrial respiration in peripheral sensory neurons. Although Epac2 activation leads to Pdha1 (pyruvate dehydrogenase) phosphorylation in dissociated neurons from mice of both sexes, induction of this pathwayin vivoby hindpaw insult is restricted to males and appears to require intraganglionic prostaglandin synthesis. These findings support a model in which Gs-coupled receptor modulation of mitochondrial function promotes acute nociceptive signaling and inflammatory hyperalgesia.
A sonic ethnography
Authors: Peterson Marina L. , Brennan Vicki L.
Published: February 2021

We propose a sonic ethnography that focuses on listening, departing from an investigation of a soundscape to one that attends to how people listen. This, we suggest, is crucial for an anthropological approach that understands sound as processual and relational. Rather than describing what the ethnographer hears, we outline a project of listening with others. Listening is ordinary, something at which everyone is expert, even as it expands beyond the ear and beyond the human. In this way, listening is central to an anthropogenic sensorium that shifts away from human exceptionalism. Always emergent, listening—like climate change—is fundamentally uncertain. And while recording technology has long been central to an anthropology of sound, we invite new ways of engaging audio technology that take seriously its presence in everyday listening as well as its expressive capacities.
Chlamydia inhibits progesterone receptor mRNA expression in SHT-290 cells
Authors: Brown Megan , Rae Mick , Wheelhouse Nick
Published: February 2021

Lay summary

Chlamydia trachomatis is the most commonly diagnosed sexually transmitted infection in the UK, with over 200,000 positive diagnoses annually. The infection is thought to cause reproductive complications including problems in conceiving a pregnancy through to miscarriage and early or stillbirth. One potential reason Chlamydia may impact upon pregnancy is through disrupting the embryo implantation at the earliest stages of pregnancy is by altering the ability of specific cells that line the uterus called stromal cells to respond to the hormone progesterone, the hormone responsible for preparing the uterus for pregnancy. The results of this study showed that Chlamydial infection of these uterus lining stromal cells decreased the levels of specific progesterone sensitive markers which are associated with early embryo implantation, suggesting a loss of responsiveness to progesterone treatment. These changes were accompanied by a decrease in the levels of RNA for the progesterone receptor which is responsible for progesterone activity, suggesting that this is a potential mechanism through which Chlamydia could directly inhibit the effects of progesterone on uterine cells.
Effects of firefighting on semen parameters: an exploratory study
Authors: Engelsman Michelle , Toms Leisa-Maree L , Wang Xianyu , Banks Andrew P W , Blake Debbie
Published: February 2021

Lay summary

Firefighters are occupationally exposed to heat intensities and chemical concentrations that may affect fertility. Twenty firefighters participated in an exploratory study assessing fertility of firefighters via an online survey and semen analysis. Data analysis included consideration of demographic characteristics, reproductive history and occupational exposures. Overall, firefighter semen parameters were below World Health Organisation reference values designating fertility in men. Firefighters younger than 45 years had a higher incidence of abnormal semen parameters (42%) than those aged 45 years or greater (9%). Increased rank and higher levels of occupational and/or personal hygiene were associated with improved semen quality. Increased frequency of fire exposure was associated with a reduction in normal forms, volume, sperm concentration and total sperm count. Sperm clumping was greater than 10% in 26% of samples, suggesting reduced semen quality. This exploratory study provides novel data that support the hypothesis of an association between semen quality and firefighter’s occupational exposure to toxic environments.
Effect of lignin content on enzymatic hydrolysis of furfural residues
Authors: Sun Ran , Song Xianliang , Sun Runcang , Jiang Jianxin
Published: February 2021

The enzymatic saccharification of pretreated furfural residues with different lignin content was studied to verify the effect of lignin removal in the hydrolysis process. The results showed that the glucose yield was improved by increasing the lignin removal. A maximum glucose yield of 96.8% was obtained when the residue with a lignin removal of 51.4% was hydrolyzed for 108 h at an enzyme loading of 25 FPU/g cellulose. However, further lignin removal did not increase the hydrolysis. The effect of enzyme loading on the enzymatic hydrolysis was also explored in this work. It was concluded that a high glucose yield of 90% was achieved when the enzyme dosage was reduced from 25 to 15 FPU/g cellulose, which was cost-effective for the sugar and ethanol production. The structures of raw material and delignified samples were further characterized by XRD and scanning electron microscopy (SEM).
Intramedullary abscess associated with acute bacterial meningitis: a case report and review of the literature
Authors: Hammoud Marouane , Lakhdar Fayçal , Benzagmout Mohammed , Chakour, Khalid , Faiz Chaou Mohammed El
Published: February 2021

Intramedullary spinal cord abscess (ISCA) is a rare infection of the central nervous system. Untreated, it may result in significant morbidity and mortality. We describe the case of a 34-year-old man, who initially was admitted for bacterial meningitis. 3 days after initiation of antibiotic therapy, a gradually and progressive weakness appeared on the left side of his body with numbness on the contralateral side. MRI of the spine demonstrated an ISCA at level of C4. A myelotomy and surgical drainage was performed. Postoperatively, the patient had improved significantly his neurological deficit. ISCA is still a life-threatening condition, we point out that the diagnosis should be highly suspected, if a cystic spinal cord lesion is surrounded by significant medullar edema associated with fast onset of symptoms, especially in a context of sepsis or acuate meningitis. Prompt surgical evacuation followed by adequate antibiotic therapy, are the mainstays of treatment.
Clopidogrel resistance in stroke patients (The CRISP Trial)
Authors: Qazi, E , AH Zaidi Syed , Owojori Olukolade O , Bonnett LJ , Fitzsimmons PR , Sharma N , Menezes B , Thachil J , Greenhalf W , Oates M , Lopez P , Fletcher G , Cox P , Hussain F , Lloyd J , Manoj A
Published: February 2021

Objective: To investigate the incidence of clopidogrel resistance in patients with acute ischaemic stroke and to evaluate whether there is an association between clopidogrel resistance and the occurrence of a further cerebrovascular ischaemic event using the vasodilator-stimulated phosphoprotein (VASP) index as a marker of clopidogrel resistance. Methods: It is a prospective cohort study that recruited 120 patients from the acute stroke unit at the Royal Liverpool University Hospital. All patients with confirmed acute ischaemic stroke had clopidogrel 75mg/day at discharge or after 14 days of acute stroke if deemed by the direct clinical team to be the most appropriate treatment. After at least 7 days of clopidogrel 75mg/day, all those patients fulfilling inclusion/exclusion criteria had phosphorylation of vasodilator-stimulated phosphoprotein (VASP) measured. If VASP measured ≥50% after ≥7 days of clopidogrel maintenance, these patients were deemed as ‘clopidogrel resistant’, while those with VASP <50% were deemed as ‘clopidogrel responder’. Statistical analysis was by univariable analysis which considered the association of each variable – diagnosis, age, duration of clopidogrel, VASP, days to VASP, and number of comorbidities – with the outcome. Risk of second stroke after a first at 6, 12 and 24 months was estimated using logistic regression. Results: No variables were significantly associated with risk of stroke at 6 months with clopidogrel resistance having no significant effect on likelihood of a further stroke compared to the no clopiodgrel resistance cohort (p value= 0.39). Results were similar at 12 months follow up. However, at 24 months VASP index was significantly associated with risk of a further stroke; each one unit increase in VASP was associated with a 3% increase in risk of stroke at 24 months (p value = 0.05, CI Interval of 1.00- 1.06). Conclusion: No variables were significantly associated with risk of further stroke at 6 months and 12 months after a first stroke. However, VASP was significantly associated with risk of further stroke at 24 months with increasing VASP leading to a higher risk of further stroke.
COLD-ACTIVE MICROBIAL CELLULASE: NOVEL APPROACH TO UNDERSTAND MECHANISM AND ITS APPLICATIONS IN FOOD AND BEVERAGES INDUSTRY
Authors: Yunus Ghazala , Kuddus Mohammed
Published: February 2021

Cellulose, a carbohydrate mainly found in plant cell walls, is most abundant biopolymer on the Earth. Biodegradation of cellulose is carried out by a group of enzymes knows as cellulases. These enzymes play important roles in food processing and used in food industry. In the present era, cold-active enzymes are preferred instead of meso- and thermos-philic counterparts due to less energy requirement for their optimal activity and easy inactivation. The present study includes evaluation of cold-active cellulase from Pseudoalteromonas haloplanktis for its industrial applications in comparison to mesophilic and thermophilic cellulases, through molecular docking method. The binding energy of cold-active cellulase with the substrate cellulose was -126.60 KCals/mole. However, the energy for thermo- and mesophilic cellulase found to be -93.29 and -75.54 KCals/mole, respectively. The results concluded that cold-active cellulase has more efficacy compared to its counterparts and may be used in food processing industry at commercial level.
THE GENETIC VARIATION ASSESSMENT OF IN VITRO IRRADIATED TOMATO (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill) BY SCoT AND ISSR MARKERS
Authors: El-Fiki Ayman , Fahmy Eman , Abo Doma Ahmed , Helmy Osama , Adly Mohamed , El-Metabteb Gamal
Published: February 2021

Tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill.) are considered major and important globally vegetable crops and in Egypt in particular. Tissue culture techniques have encouraged the utilization of mutation methods in crop improvement. The mutation induction in vegetative crops through tissue culture may be the optimal method to improve these crops. Induced genetic variation in tomato plantlets by using gamma radiation and identified these changes through SCoT and ISSR markers. Egyptian tomato cultivar Idkawy explant was cultured onto MS medium supplemented with 0.2 mg-l BAP. The resulted plantlets were irradiated with γ radiation doses (50, 100, 150, 200 or 250 Gy). The survival, growth rate, and mean of shoot length were decreased with increasing gamma radiation dose. The irradiated plantlets survival percentages were ranged from 78.75% to (50 Gy) and 18.75% to (250 Gy), whereas, the shoot length decreased by a rate of 2.71 cm for the dose (50 Gy) and 1.2 cm for dose (250 Gy). Genetic diversity was evaluated by SCoT and ISSR markers using ten primers for each. It was noticed that the polymorphism percentage mean of SCoT marker (60.53%) is higher than the ISSR marker (39.6). The PIC values average for both markers SCoT and ISSR were 0.429 and 0.347, as well, MI values were 0.345 and 0.156, respectively. On the other hand, the effective no. of alleles (Ne), Nei’s genetic diversity (H) and Shannon’s information index (I) parameters, it was found that the dose 100 Gy caused the highest genetic variation compared with other doses using SCoT marker, however, in ISSR marker was dose of 150 Gy the highest dose for induced genetic variation. The obtained results demonstrate that SCoT marker was more accurate and efficient than ISSR marker for distinguishing and genetic variation analysis of irradiated tomato plantlets. The relationships within treatments were assessed through cluster analysis (UPGMA) based on SCoT and ISSR analysis.
EVALUATING THE VOLATILE COMPOUNDS DURING ALCOHOLIC FERMENTATION OF DIFFERENT SACCHAROMYCES CEREVISIAE STRAINS IN MIXED JUICES OF CASHEW APPLE AND LONGAN
Authors: Sanoppa Kanokchan
Published: February 2021

The purpose of this research was to evaluate the microbiological, chemical, and volatile compounds of mixed juices comprised of cashew apple and longan fermented with two yeast strains of Saccharomyces cerevisiae (C12 and EC1118). The two fermentations in the mixed juices were similar physicochemical parameters (the growth of yeast, pH, total acidity, total soluble solids, and total sugar). The most abundant of the volatile compounds in these wines were ethyl acetate, ethyl hexanoate, ethyl octanoate, ethyl decanoate, isoamyl acetate, ethanol, isobutanol, isoamyl alcohol, 2-phenylethanol, β-ocimene, and acetic acid. Seven volatile compounds in the wines had odor activity values (OAVs) higher than 1, and also were selected and quantified (ethyl octanoate, ethyl hexanoate, ethyl decanoate, isoamyl acetate, isoamyl alcohol, 2-phenylethanol, and linalool). Ethyl octanoate (fruity, floral, and pineapple) had the highest OAVs in both of the mixed juices fermented with the yeast strains C12 and EC1118. The S. cerevisiae strain EC1118 can significantly produce the highest total volatile contents (359.23 mg/L), and we also found a higher level of total ester (95.50 mg/L) in the wines. Additionally, the S. cerevisiae strain EC1118 can provide a higher content of fruity aroma in wines, as indicated by the calculation of OAVs. The sensory analysis of the wines was acceptable to all the panelists, who gave color, clarity, taste, flavor, and overall acceptance scores as “like slightly” to “like moderately.”
FREE RADICAL SCAVENGING ABILITY, MECHANISMS OF ACTION AND HEALTH IMPLICATIONS OF OYSTER MUSHROOMS (Pleurotus species)
Authors: Comfort Olukemi Bamigboye , Omomowo Iyabo Olunike , Alao Bukola Micheal , Elegbede Joseph Adetunji , Adebayo Elijah Adegoke
Published: February 2021

Due to the importance of Oyster mushrooms (Pleurotus species) as a source of food and medicine to man, they have been cultivated both on large and small scales or collected in the wild. The present study evaluated the different antioxidant activities, mechanisms of action and various health implications on human of Oyster mushrooms. Since a single study is not effective in determining the antioxidant property of mushroom, several in vitro assays were reviewed including scavenging activities of DPPH, superoxide, nitric oxide, hydroxyl and ABTS as well as Oxygen radical absorbance capacity (ORAC) activities among others. In vivo assays like enzymatic (catalase (CAT), superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione S-transferase (GST),  glutathione peroxidase (GPx), glutathione reductase (GR), and ascorbate peroxidase (APx) and non-enzymatic (Ascorbic acid, Vitamin E and Glutathione (GSH)); using mice, rats and porcine brain were also reviewed. Oyster mushrooms extract scavenged free radicals and prevented oxidative stress both in vitro and in vivo, and can influence their activities as natural immune boosters and thereby affect human health positively. The review has revealed oyster mushrooms as functional foods enriched with antioxidants and a good potential to oppose the formation of reactive oxygen and nitrogen species, preventing oxidative stress and scavenging free radicals.
Un análisis regional de los choques monetarios y externos: el caso del Valle del Cauca en Colombia
Authors: Vidal Alejandro Pavel , Ramírez Gilberto , Sierra Lya Paola
Published: February 2021

Este artículo analiza el efecto de distintos choques monetarios y externos sobre el crecimiento cíclico del departamento del Valle del Cauca y se compara con el efecto que tienen estos sobre el ciclo nacional en el periodo comprendido entre 2013 y 2016, en el cual caen los precios de las materias primas. La estrategia empírica empleada permite examinar la efectividad de la política monetaria y cambiaria en la región. Las estimaciones muestran que el mejor desempeño económico del Valle, en comparación con el promedio nacional, se debe, principalmente, a la mayor sensibilidad a la tasa de cambio real y a la menor dependencia del precio del petróleo.
Financiarización de la política fiscal y su impacto sobre la deuda pública de Colombia entre 1996-2015
Authors: Rodríguez Camilo
Published: February 2021

Este artículo evalúa la relación entre la política fiscal y la deuda pública en el marco de la financiarización de la economía. Se hace un estudio teórico-analítico, que se complementa con una regresión econométrica. La importancia de este análisis radica en que la deuda pública representa un problema para el desarrollo de los países periféricos y las soluciones propuestas no logran transformar esta realidad. Se concluye que, para el caso colombiano, la política fiscal es procíclica y que la política económica está supeditada al funcionamiento del capital financiero, por lo que la política fiscal no resuelve los problemas económicos del país.
Productividad laboral y competitividad externa en el sector manufacturero mexicano tras la apertura comercial, 1996-2007
Authors: Vázquez López Raúl
Published: February 2021

Este artículo tiene los objetivos de, por un lado, determinar si existió una relación significativa entre la evolución de la productividad laboral y la competitividad externa, en 88 actividades manufactureras mexicanas; por otro, caracterizar la competitividad exhibida en un periodo clave de transformación estructural. El cálculo de diversos indicadores encuentra evidencia de competitividad espuria, exportaciones crecientes no asociadas con mejoras en la productividad, concentradas en un número reducido de actividades. Finalmente, la metodología CAN muestra la ausencia de dinamismo competitivo en el sector y que las ganancias en las cuotas de mercado internacionales se dan en productos cuya participación en el comercio mundial disminuye.
Razonamiento por principios. Aproximación canonística
Authors: Michowicz, OFMConv Przemysław
Published: February 2021

El presente artículo estudia el problemático tema de los principios generales del derecho dentro del sistema canónico. En primer lugar, el autor identifica algunas características particulares elegidas para ser atribuidos solo a los principios o a las reglas jurídicas, los cuales –según el mismo autor– deberían ser considerados normas que se diferencian únicamente en términos de la gradualidad y cantidad en su aplicación práctica. En segundo lugar, el autor analiza algunas de dichas características en referencia a los principios y conforme a la siguiente metodología: el carácter genérico e indeterminado de los principios, la dimensión de peso de los principios y las relaciones entre ellos. El autor concluye el trabajo con algunas reflexiones sobre el efectivo valor de los principios en arte de la argumentación y de la interpretación jurídica en el sistema del derecho canónico y su rica práctica forense.
THE IMPACT OF SOCIAL MEDIA ACTIVITY, INTERACTIVITY, AND CONTENT ON CUSTOMER SATISFACTION: A STUDY OF FASHION PRODUCTS
Authors:   International Islamic University Malaysia, Malaysia, Jan Muhammad Tahir , de Jager Johan ,   Tshwane University of Technology, South Africa, Sultan Naheed ,   International Islamic University Malaysia, Malaysia
Published: February 2021

Malaysian companies have been using social media as a major platform for marketing their products or services. This trend is shared and preferred by various companies to interact with their customers in order to boost their sales. The primary objective of the study is to determine if the components of social media marketing, namely, social media activity, social media interactivity, and social media content, impact on customer satisfaction, in particular online fashion stores. A quantitative approach is adopted where data was collected using a selfadministered questionnaire. The respondents were consumers who use social media in their daily routine and those who have purchased any fashion product by using online platforms. A total of 393 useable questionnaires were collected using the online survey method. The collected data went through a process of analysis, where descriptive as well as inferential analyses were performed. Data analyses include reliability tests, validity tests, exploratory factor analysis, confirmatory factor analysis, and hypotheses testing using structural equation modeling. The purpose of this research was to investigate the impact of social media marketing on consumer satisfaction. The study reveals that all three (3) factors related to social media marketing, namely: social media activity, social media interactivity, and social media content, has been tested empirically and found that they all contribute significantly towards customer satisfaction. However, social media content emerged with a stronger positive impact than the other two factors. The result of this study should contribute to the body of knowledge and will be of significance to those companies who are interested/or using social media platforms for their marketing purposes.
THE ROLES OF PSYCHOLOGICAL ANTECEDENTS AND CONSUMER INNOVATIVENESS IN DETERMINING CONSUMER DECISION MAKING STYLES OF SOUTH AFRICAN MILLENNIAL CONSUMERS
Authors:   Durban University of Technology, South Africa, Musasa Tinashe , Moodley Padhma ,   Durban University of Technology, South Africa
Published: February 2021

Studies on consumer decision making styles largely focused on determining and replicating these to varying contexts. Literature remains limited on what underlying psychological variables lead to the manifestation of consumer decision making styles. The purpose of this study is to investigate the roles of psychological antecedents and consumer innovativeness in determining consumer decision making styles of millennials in South Africa. A quantitative survey of 320 South African millennials through social groups was utilized. Non-probability convenience sampling determined selection of participants. Reliability statistics were applied to substantiate the effectiveness of this study’s questionnaire and data collection approach. Presentation and interpretation of data were achieved through descriptive and inferential statistics respectively. Findings of this study confirmed that psychological antecedents and consumer innovativeness pose either direct or inverse relationships on consumer decision making styles. Two classifications of consumer decision making styles (utilitarian or hedonic) were discovered to be directed by distinctive sets of psychological antecedents and consumer innovativeness. Findings of this study will assist marketers and mall managers in better understanding what aspects of shopping drive their patrons and how they can best serve them to ensure sustainability.
LIMITED AVAILABILITY IN CROWDFUNDING PROJECTS – GUARANTEE FOR PROFITABILITY?
Authors:   Ilmenau University of Technology, Germany, Fox Alexander , Neuland Jana ,   Ilmenau University of Technology, Germany
Published: February 2021

Scarcity is an instrument that is often used in crowdfunding. Crowdfunding is an alternative form of financing, especially for entrepreneurs in the early-stage development phase. This paper deals with the characteristics of profitable crowdfunding projects. Hereby, we examine the impact factors of crowdfunding’s profitability, with a special focus on limited availability (scarcity), depth of project description and the size of pledging goals as follows. Therefore, we analyze data from kickstarter.com, one of the world’s largest crowdfunding platforms, and used 494 projects and 4,224 pledge levels from the broad category technology as our database. Technology projects lend themselves particularly well to the study, as they usually contain the project result as a tangible return, thus facilitating or even enabling the monetary evaluation of the success in contrast to, for example, cultural projects. Hence, our sample includes 32% of pledge levels with limited availability. We provide empirical evidence that the limited availability in the crowdfunding projects in terms of scarcity management is positively related to the profitability of the included pledge levels. We conclude that crowdfunding projects with limited availability on pledge levels are more profitable for investors.
THE IMPACT OF GENDER INEQUALITIES IN EDUCATION ON INCOME
Authors:   Erzurum Technical University, Turkey, Bedir Kar Serap , Coskun Aysegul ,   Erzurum Technical University, Turkey
Published: February 2021

Gender inequality in education, health, politics and employment is considered as a global problem. The development of human capital thanks to education is expected to increase efficient individuals in quantity and quality. It is stated that as the education rate of women and participation rate of the educated women in the labor force increase, the quality of the labor force and the rate of healthier and well-fed children will increase as well and consequently the human capital of the countries will have a positive effect on the economic development in the long term. In this study, the effect of gender inequality in primary and secondary education on income was investigated by panel data analysis for high and upper-middle-income countries in the period of 1998-2017. According to the results, the effect of capital accumulation and fertility on income was positive and the effect of gender inequality in education on income was negative. It is seen that gender inequality, especially in primary education, has significantly negative effect on income, and that inequality in primary education is transferred to the next education levels and it is important to eliminate inequality of opportunity in terms of income inequality and growth potential in the long term. Therefore, it is necessary to take into account the importance of long-term and stable policies, in particular in primary education, and to create the necessary arrangements and awareness to increase the education and job opportunities of women in order to eliminate inequality of opportunity in education.