bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Activity modulation in anaerobic ribonucleotide reductases: nucleotide binding to the ATP-cone allosterically mediates substrate binding to the active site
Authors: Bimaï Ornella , Banerjee Ipsita , Grinberg Inna Rozman , Huang Ping , Hultgren Lucas , Ekström Simon , Lundin Daniel , Sjöberg Britt-Marie , Logan Derek T.
Published: June 2024

A small, nucleotide-binding domain, the ATP-cone, is found at the N-terminus of most ribonucleotide reductase (RNR) catalytic subunits. By binding ATP or dATP it regulates the enzyme activity of all classes of RNR. Functional and structural work on aerobic RNRs has revealed a plethora of ways in which dATP inhibits activity by inducing oligomerization and preventing a productive radical transfer from one subunit to the active site in the other. Anaerobic RNRs, on the other hand, store a stable glycyl radical next to the active site and the basis for their dATP-dependent inhibition is completely unknown. We present biochemical, biophysical and structural information on the effects of ATP and dATP binding to the anaerobic RNR from
Prevotella copri
. The enzyme exists in a dimer-tetramer equilibrium biased towards dimers when two ATP molecules are bound to the ATP-cone and tetramers when two dATP molecules are bound. In the presence of ATP,
P. copri
NrdD is active and has a fully ordered glycyl radical domain (GRD) in one monomer of the dimer. Binding of dATP to the ATP-cone results in loss of activity and increased dynamics of the GRD, such that it can not be detected in the cryo-EM structures. The glycyl radical is formed even in the dATP-bound form, but the substrate does not bind. The structures implicate a complex network of interactions in activity regulation that involve the GRD more than 30 Å away from the dATP molecules, the allosteric substrate specificity site and a conserved but previously unseen flap over the active site. Taken together, the results suggest that dATP inhibition in anaerobic RNRs acts by increasing the flexibility of the flap and GRD, thereby preventing both substrate binding and radical mobilisation.
Introduction
Authors: Blankenship Brian D.
Published: June 2024

This chapter analyzes variation in burden-sharing within US alliances. It investigates why the United States sometimes puts pressure on its allies to bear more of the collective burden and when these burden-sharing pressures succeed. US decisions to encourage allied burden-sharing are the product of calculations about both the benefits and the risks of greater allied self-reliance. The chapter explains how the success of the United States depends on whether allies fear that it will abandon them if it elects to encourage allied burden-sharing. It identifies the conditions under which great power patrons are more likely to seek a way to limit their allies' military power.
From the One to the Many
Authors: Tan Chang
Published: June 2024

This chapter focuses on Qiu Zhijie, a critical figure in the group of artists that first engaged with minjian performatively and via words in the 1990s. It shows how Qiu challenged the elite art of calligraphy with the mundane act of merely writing words. By doing so, it allowed Qiu to merge, conceptually and affectively with diverse subjectivities from minjian, turning the individual into a filter and an archive of the multitude. The chapter details how Qiu's turn to minjian was triggered by his encounters with the global art world. It describes Qui's response to the slights and pressures from the world through a shift in his politics from impassioned critiques of centralized power to a militant advocacy of the native and the collective, taking a position that would qualify as both Chinese and avant-garde.
Things Acquire Life
Authors: Tan Chang
Published: June 2024

This chapter surveys the material terrain of the minjian avant-garde, examining several art projects in the 2010s that staged their own multiplication, circulation, and reception in the wider public. It talks about the group of artists who were acutely aware of the commercial and the imitative becoming the real art of minjian. Jiao Xingtao repositions his own works, suggesting that the original and the copy, the artistic and the utilitarian, the conceptual and the artisanal in fact exist on a continuous spectrum. The chapter describes Li Mu's Qiu Zhuang and the Yangdeng Co-op's Twelve Sceneries, which both illustrate the ways through which objects of art may enchant, connect with, or repel those from minjian. It covers artwork that testifies to the alliances and tensions among the public and grassroots art, the institutions of the West, and the political authorities of China after the state's control of art tightened in 2013.
The Long Twenty-First Century
Authors: Edelman Marc
Published: June 2024

This introductory chapter provides an overview of transnational peasant politics. Today's peasant politics have roots in the late twentieth century, especially in its last two decades that coincide with the rise of neoliberalism, a new and cutthroat version of capitalism that had especially deleterious impacts on rural zones and people. Ecuador and India, among many other places, underscore the continuing relevance of peasant politics in the twenty-first century, even after COVID-19 complicated transnational activism. The chapter explains that the book analyzes transnational agrarian movements (TAMs) that seek to remake the world's food and agriculture systems and—more broadly—changes in rural areas that are reshaping social struggles of all kinds. It traces the historical roots of TAMs, their objectives and campaigns, and how they converged with environmental, human rights, labor, women's, and food justice movements.
"La micro (estampa santiaguina)". Monólogo para una actriz
Authors: Aguirre Isidora
Published: June 2024

Sin resumen
Estorninos
Authors: Ternicier Constanza
Published: June 2024

Sin resumen
Aliosha
Authors: Verdugo Mario
Published: June 2024

Sin resumen
Barrera urbana en la Alameda: Estrategias para la reconexión del sector Santa Lucía y su entorno
Authors:   , Ocampo Ruiz Celeste
Published: June 2024

La siguiente tesis busca indagar sobre las transformaciones territoriales de la Provincia de Chacabuco en los últimos 40 años a partir del intenso proceso de colonización residencial de su espacio rural. El área de estudio abarca a la Provincia de Chacabuco en la Región Metropolitana de Chile, donde se generó el esfuerzo de retratar parte importante del problema y sus singularidades en las tres comunas que la comprenden: Colina, Lampa y Til Til. En un primer momento, se identificaron los factores que posibilitaron el avance de la colonización residencial en el espacio rural desde la década 1980 a la actualidad. Luego, se determinó de manera cuantitativa el avance de las viviendas -dando énfasis a las parcelas de agrado- en las zonas rurales de las tres comunas analizadas. Después, utilizando metodología cualitativa, se vislumbraron las principales consecuencias ambientales, económicas y socioculturales de este avance en la urbanización del campo en las últimas cuatro décadas. Finalmente, a partir de los resultados cuantitativos y cualitativos, se examinan una serie de transformaciones territoriales para las comunas investigadas. Este trabajo forma parte del FONDECYT 11190058, “Agradourbanización: estar sin ser en el rural chileno. Fiscalización espacio-temporal de un cambio territorial y socioeconómico en la Región Metropolitana”.
Improving brain-to-text models utilizing recurrent neural networks and transfer learning for neuroprosthetic speech
Authors:   , Valle Araya Carlos
Published: June 2024

This PhD thesis focuses on the decoding of silent speech from electroencephalogram (EEG) signals using Brain-Computer Interfaces (BCIs) and transfer learning tech- niques. Silent speech, also known as imagined speech, involves the generation of neural patterns related to speech without audible sound production. Decoding silent speech from EEG signals is challenging due to the noisy and low-resolution nature of the signals. While previous studies have achieved varying levels of success in classify- ing individual words or phonemes from EEG signals, the translation of full sentences remains intricate. The motivation for this research stems from the potential of BCIs to restore com- munication abilities for individuals with speech impairments caused by neuromuscular disorders. Existing speech decoding methods, particularly for silent speech, heavily rely on neural networks and require large amounts of data, which is both costly and time-intensive to record. Transfer learning is proposed as a solution to address this data limitation in silent speech decoding. The research encompasses three main studies: subject-independent sentence de- coding, decoding individual words from continuous imagined speech, and applying Connectionist Temporal Classification (CTC) loss for EEG-based speech decoding. The findings highlight the potential of Deep Neural Networks (DNNs) in decoding speech signals across individuals, while also shedding light on the challenges inherent in silent speech production. Additionally, this thesis introduces the “Large Spanish EEG” dataset, facilitating further advancements in the field. Overall, this thesis demonstrates the feasibility and potential of deep learning techniques and transfer learning in EEG-based speech decoding. The research not only paves the way for future exploration but also brings us closer to the development of robust and real-world applicable tools for silent speech decoding. Ultimately, these advancements hold the promise of enhancing the quality of life for individuals with speech and language impairments.
Role of Abl1 kinase in axon initial segment disassembly and its consequences on axonal trafficking in Alzheimer’s disease.
Authors:   , Stuardo Castillo Nicolás Gabriel
Published: June 2024

Axon initial segment disassembly has recently begun to be appreciated as an important event in Alzheimer’s disease pathology as it directly impacts neuronal compartmentalization, leading to pathological processes like tau missorting. However, the molecular mechanisms that underlie the collapse of the axon initial segment scaffold are incompletely understood. Our lab has previously shown that Abl1 kinase, a non-receptor tyrosine kinase with multiple functions, becomes aberrantly activated in Alzheimer’s disease and promotes multiple deleterious cellular processes including dendritic spine collapse, tau hyperphosphorylation, neuronal apoptosis, among others. Given the important role of Abl1 in Alzheimer’s disease pathology and its emerging role in tau pathology, we set out to evaluate whether it could participate directly in axon initial segment collapse. Our results show that inhibition of Abl1 prevents amyloid-β fibril–promoted axon initial segment collapse, and conversely, that Abl1 allosteric activation promotes loss of Ankyrin G clustering. Through cytosolic extraction experiments, we show that active Abl1 associates to the axon initial segment scaffold, and that this association increases in response to amyloid-β fibril treatment. Furthermore, through expansion microscopy experiments we show that Abl1 can be found in the axon initial segment in vivo and in vitro. We then evaluated the effects of Abl1 activation on the axon initial segment actin cytoskeleton and found that it promotes a decrease in actin patch area and a generalized decrease in phalloidin stain intensity. In order to further our understanding of the underlying molecular mechanism, we evaluated the participation of MICAL3, a known AIS actin patch depolymerizing protein and Abl1 interactor, in the process of actin patch loss. Interestingly, we find that Abl1 appears to recruit MICAL3 to actin patches and that silencing MICAL3 expression with a shRNA precludes the actin patch disassembly induced by Abl1 activation, shedding light on a possible mechanism of AIS actin cytoskeleton disruption by Abl1. Finally, we evaluated 2 different cargoes that have been previously shown to depend on axon initial segment integrity for its correct compartmentalization: Rab11, a somatodendritic protein, and tau, an axonal protein. Strikingly, we find that Rab11 missorts into the axon, and tau missorts into the somatodendritic compartment in response to Abl1 activation, demonstrating a bidirectional failure in AIS barrier function. Taken together, our results show that Abl1 plays an important role in AIS destabilization and that this has important consequences in terms of protein compartmentalization, which are relevant processes in Alzheimer’s disease pathology.
Rol de la E3 ligasa NEDD4-1 en la regulación de Mitofagia en células miogénicas
Authors:   , Zunza Sandoval Diego José
Published: June 2024

Salas Venegas, Jeremy Antonio Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile Facultad de Ciencias Biológicas https://repositorio.uc.cl/handle/11534/86540 10.7764/tesisUC/BIO/86540 Rol de la E3 ligasa NEDD4-1 en la regulación de Mitofagia en células miogénicas
Implementación de un servicio local de educación : la nueva administración pública desde la mirada de directores de escuela
Authors:   , Álvarez Bustos Pablo
Published: June 2024

El año 2018, Chile comenzó un traspaso progresivo de las escuelas municipales a una nueva y única administración, los Servicios Locales de Educación Pública (SLEP), entidad responsable de gestionar los ámbitos financieros y pedagógicos que en el anterior sistema funcionaban de forma separada. El Servicio Local de Barrancas fue el primero en instalarse en la capital del país por lo que resulta de particular interés indagar en su implementación, dada la escasa evidencia sobre cómo han experimentado este proceso las comunidades escolares. Este estudio de caso único busca analizar las percepciones de los líderes de escuelas pertenecientes del Servicio Local a partir de entrevistas semiestructuradas a nueve directores en las áreas de gestión pedagógica y manejo de recursos económicos. A través de un análisis temático, los resultados del estudio evidencian que directores perciben la implementación del Servicio Local en cuestión en seis dimensiones: manejo de recursos económicos; gestión de procesos pedagógicos e inclusivos; conformación de la administración; autonomía de directores de escuelas; corporaciones municipales y Servicio Local; y, vinculación territorial de las escuelas con esta nueva entidad. Si bien los resultados indican que la implementación de este Servicio Local ha potenciado aspectos que las municipalidades no lograban consolidar, existen tensiones en la gestión pedagógica, implementación de estrategias inclusivas e infraestructura. Los líderes escolares plantean los desafíos que se requiere para resolver eficiencia de la gestión en estas temáticas.
Elaboración de hitos para evaluar el logro del perfil de egreso de carreras de pedagogía de una universidad privada chilena
Authors:   , Alegría Núñez Felipe
Published: June 2024

La definición de hitos evaluativos en el plan de estudios para monitorear el nivel de logro del perfil de egreso en carreras de pedagogía es un mecanismo de aseguramiento de calidad en un modelo formativo en base a competencias y que, si bien existe bibliografía sobre evaluación de aprendizajes, está escasamente documentado. Las carreras de pedagogía de una universidad privada con presencia nacional requieren de la definición de estos hitos para mejorar su proceso formativo; para esto se implementó una intervención basada en un enfoque edumétrico y un estudio descriptivo con una estrategia metodológica sustentada en la investigación-acción práctica. Se desarrolló una propuesta de hitos, situaciones e instrumentos de evaluación tomando como referencia el modelo de planificación invertida y el resguardo de criterios de validez, confiabilidad y objetividad. Se proponen también mecanismos de reporte permanente para la toma de decisiones por la comunidad educativa de la facultad participante. Los resultados de esta propuesta apuntan a contar con un mecanismo que permita gestionar el levantamiento de información sobre el aprendizaje alcanzado por los estudiantes a lo largo de su formación.
Ñimin y escritura. Encuentros y desencuentros entre niñas y mujeres mapuche con misioneras anglicanas en la Misión Araucana de SAMS (1895-1929)
Authors:   , Fuente Stranger Paula de la
Published: June 2024

Bajo la premisa de que las misiones fueron espacios relacionales y de encuentros culturales, la investigación se centra en los establecimientos educativos para niñas y jóvenes mapuche de la Misión Araucana de la South American Missionary Society (en adelante, SAMS), ubicados en Cholchol y Maquehue-Pelal durante los años en que se realizó la radicación de indígenas. Se sostiene que el devenir de la Misión Araucana tuvo una trama particular protagonizada por niñas y mujeres mapuche y misioneras anglicanas que presentó características específicas: fueron otros los propósitos de las misioneras y otros los contenidos educativos y, también, otros los intereses y respuestas mapuche relativos a la incorporación de las niñas y jóvenes indígenas a los espacios educativos wingka. Esta trama tenía en su centro la familia y el hogar mapuche y podría inscribirse en el ámbito de lo privado. Con todo, la presencia o ausencia de las niñas y jóvenes en los espacios misionales estaba estrechamente vinculada a la configuración de comunidades mayores, ya sea religiosas o políticas. En este marco, surgieron diversas interpretaciones sobre el sentido de la educación de las jóvenes mapuche y, también, una nueva textualidad híbrida encarnada en la incorporación del tejido mapuche entre los contenidos impartidos en la misión.
Desenvolvimento de uma arquitetura de software para um sistema de armário inteligente
Authors: Santos Beatriz Correia , Rocha Gabriel Silva , Cardoso Fábio de Sousa , Lima Karina Lima e , Araújo Sobrinho Antonio Felipe Garcia de , Torné Israel Gondres , Ono Ingrid Mayumi Fonseca , Cisneros Edry Antonio Garcia
Published: June 2024

Explorar a necessidade de realizar uma gestão de estoque adequada e eficiente implica em analisar diversos aspectos do controle (NASCIMENTO et al., 2023). Destaca-se a importância de conduzir inventários periódicos torna-se fundamental para examinar detalhadamente o fluxo de itens no armazém.  A arquitetura do sistema deve considerar componentes, interações e características de qualidade para atender às necessidades do sistema. O processo de desenvolvimento de um sistema de controle de estoque automatizado com tecnologias de Internet das Coisas, como RFID, para aumentar a eficiência e segurança é uma temática de atualidade e muita importância. O artigo apresenta um Sistema de Armário Inteligente projetado para melhorar o gerenciamento de estoque em ambientes industriais e laboratoriais. A estrutura proposta é baseada em microsserviços, destacando a importância da documentação arquitetônica e sugerindo uma arquitetura modular flexível e eficaz. Durante o desenvolvimento, a documentação arquitetural foi priorizada, escolhendo-se FastAPI para APIs web em Python, Docker para conteinerização, Nginx como API Gateway e práticas de CI/CD com GitLab. O protocolo MQTT foi selecionado para a comunicação eficiente entre os componentes do sistema. Os resultados obtidos demonstram a validez do projeto e a sua vez se destaca que metodologia de desenvolvimento emprega uma arquitetura de microsserviços, integrando tecnologias como FastAPI, Docker, Nginx e GitLab, resultando em um ambiente eficiente, escalável e flexível. O sistema é dividido em módulos como registro de usuários, ferramentas e locais, com recursos de empréstimo de ferramentas, operando de forma independente, mas interconectada.
ÇERKES NART DESTANLARI’NIN NELİĞİ, NASILLIĞI VE NEREDENLİĞİ BAĞLAMINDA GEORGE DUMÉZİL’İN ÜÇ İŞLEV HİPOTEZİ / ŞABLONU
Authors: Zaman Şenol
Published: June 2024

Her toplumun kültürel dokusunun önemli bir parçası olan destanlar, kutsal metinler gibi kabul edilirler. Kahramanların nasıl ortaya çıktığı, kimlerle savaştığı gibi konular ele alınır. Çerkes Nart Destanı, Nart adı verilen kahramanların maceralarını anlatır. Kahramanlar destanın taşıyıcı kolonları işlevini görürler. Çerkes Nart Destanları, dünya literatüründe haklı bir üne sahiptir. Bu çalışmanın amacı Çerkes Nart Destanlarını konu, üslup, edebiyattaki izleri, kahramanlar, destandaki insan dışı yaratıklar, doğa ve mekân ilişkisi ile George Dumézil’in üçlü ideoloji / üç işlev hipotezini kuramsal olarak dünya destanları üzerinden tartışmaktır. Çalışmada yerli ve yabancı kaynaklar taranmış elde edilen veriler içerik analiziyle çözümlenmiştir Dumézil’in üç işlev hipotezi genel-geçer bir açıklama sunmaktan ziyade belirli toplumsal yapıları zorlamış gibi görünmekte ve toplumsal yapıları çözümlemede yetersiz kalmaktadır. Destanlar bulunduğu bölgeye göre şekillenmektedir. Nart mitolojisinde Sosruko, Yunan mitolojisinin Prometeus’una benzerlik gösterir. Ayrıca dişi bir kahraman olan Setanay’in özellikleri, Yunan mitolojisinin Artemis veya Amazon kadın savaşçılarıyla benzerlik gösterir. Çalışmada elde edilen bulgularımızı sonuç bölümünde sıralayarak yazına katkı sağlamayı hedefledik. Araştırmamızın ileriki yıllarda başat kaynak olacağı öngörülmektedir.
UZAKTAN YABANCI DİL OLARAK TÜRKÇE ÖĞRETİMİNDE ÖĞRENEN ÖZERKLİĞİ DAVRANIŞLARININ BAZI DEĞİŞKENLER AÇISINDAN İNCELENMESİ
Authors: Durmuş Öz Beyzanur , Şengül Kübra
Published: June 2024

Bu araştırmanın amacı uzaktan eğitim aracılığıyla Türkçe öğrenen öğrencilerin bu süreçteki öğrenme özerkliği davranışlarının ortaya konması ve bu davranışların bazı değişkenler açısından incelenmesidir. Çalışmada nicel araştırma yöntemlerinden tarama araştırması modeli tercih edilmiştir. Çalışmanın örneklemini yabancı dil olarak Türkçe öğrenen 143 öğrenci oluşturmuştur. Elde edilen veriler SPSS isimli programda analiz edilmiştir. Çalışmanın sonucunda uzaktan eğitim yoluyla Türkçe öğrenen öğrencilerin büyük çoğunluğunun derslere düzenli katılım sağlamaya gayret ettikleri, öğrencilerin ödev ve verilen görevleri yerine getirme konusunda yüksek düzeyde özerk davranış gösterdikleri, öğrencilerin uzaktan eğitimde karşılaştıkları sorunları çözme noktasında öğreticilere göre özerk davranmadıkları ancak kendilerine göre yeterli düzeyde özerk davrandıkları görülmüştür. Öğrenciler uzaktan Türkçe öğrenme sürecinin tamamında yeterli düzeyde özerk davranış sergilediklerini belirtmişlerdir. Ancak uzaktan Türkçe öğrenme sürecinde Web 2.0 araçlarının kullanımını ve derslere kamerayla katılım sağlama düzeyi düşük bulunmuştur. Ayrıca verilerin analizinde uzaktan eğitimde derse katılım ve dersin düzenli takip edilmesi, etkileşim ve öz değerlendirme alt boyutlarında kadınların erkeklerden daha özerk davrandıkları, öğrencilerin yaşı ve özerk davranışları arasında bir ilişkinin bulunmadığı, öğrencilerin eğitim düzeyleri ile derse katılım ve dersi düzenli takip etmeleri arasında ise ilişki bulunduğu tespit edilmiştir.
Functional and Physicochemical Properties of Flour and Cookies from Wheat Soybean and Orange Fleshed Potatoes Blend
Authors: Gold Odiaka Princess , Mike Ojotu Eke , Evelyn M. Tersoo-Abiem
Published: June 2024

The incorporation of nutritionally-rich yet underutilized local crops into popularly consumed cookies could be employed to address undernourishment in snacking. Hence, the feasibility of producing cookies from wheat flour, soybean and orange fleshed sweet potatoes (OFSP) was investigated. A completely randomized design (CRD) was used in the experiment. A total of 5 samples of composite flour in varying proportions of 100:0:0, 75:20:5, 70:20:10, 65:20:15, 60:20:20 were used for the production of cookies. The cookies were subjected to functional, proximate, antinutrient and physical analyses using standard laboratory procedures. The functional properties of the flour increased in addition of soybean and OFSP flour respectively. Results from the proximate composition (%) of the flour samples showed that protein, ash, fat, crude fibre, moisture and carbohydrate ranged from (10.54 - 11.39), (1.61 - 2.95), (1.60 - 3.30), (1.25 - 3.38), (10.77 - 14.36) and (65.99 - 74.22) respectively. The antinutrients analysed for the flour and cookies samples were in ranges of (4.81 - 11.87 mg/100g) (0.52 – 1.64 mg/100g), (11.71 – 19.03 mg/100g) (5.89 – 7.07 mg/100g), (6.87 – 10.73 TIU/g) (0.99 – 1.66 TIU/g) and (7.35 - 12.67 mg/100g) (0.92 – 1.22 mg/100g) for oxalate, tannin, trypsin inhibitor and phytate respectively. The minerals (iron and zinc) were bioavailable in the cookies and the effect of phytate could not hinder their bioavailability. The physical properties (weight, diameter and thickness) of the cookies substituted with constant 20% soybean in combination with variations of OFSP increased significantly (p ˂ 0.05) except the spread ratio. This study suggests that incorporation of soybean and OFSP flour into wheat flour will improve the nutritional quality of cookies mostly consumed by the populace.
Extraction of Alumina from Kaolin found in Gem Mining Sites of Sri Lanka
Authors: Karunarathna Y. D. T. I. , Silva R. C. L. De
Published: June 2024

Kaolinitic clay deposits, esteemed as valuable mineral resources in Sri Lanka, are widely distributed throughout the country. Clay deposits in the Ratnapura District are often unearthed during gem mining operations. Unfortunately, excavated deposits are frequently disposed of openly on the ground without undergoing any value-addition process. This practice alters the soil condition of the vicinity, as the clay soil blocks the gravitational flow of rainwater. This environmental impact can be overcome by adding commercial value to these kaolinitic clay deposits. The present study aims to demonstrate the feasibility of extracting alumina from kaolinitic clay found at gem mining sites and to evaluate the potential of the extracted alumina as an adsorbent. Kaolinitic clay samples were collected from a gem mining site in the Ratnapura District. First, kaolin was transformed into metakaolin through calcination, and then alumina was extracted from the metakaolin via acid leaching using HCl as the leaching agent. Aluminum ions were separated from the leaching solution as Al(OH)₃ using NaOH as the precipitant. The precipitated Al(OH)₃ was transformed into alumina by calcination. The adsorption properties of the extracted alumina were evaluated using methylene blue solution as the adsorbate. Kaolin, extracted, and commercial alumina samples were characterized using XRD, XRF, FTIR, and SEM analysis. XRF analysis revealed that kaolin consists of 29.11 % alumina by weight, and the purity of the extracted alumina was 90.03%. The crystalline phase of extracted alumina was identified as the γ phase via XRD analysis. Extracted and commercial alumina exhibited similar trends in the adsorption of methylene blue under varying adsorption parameters. Accordingly, γ-phase alumina with a purity exceeding 90% can be produced from the kaolinitic clay found at the gem mining site under these experimental conditions. The extracted alumina has demonstrated potential for use as an adsorbent, exhibiting compatibility with commercial alumina.
Chemical Composition, Functional, Microbiological and Sensory Qualities of Locally Produced Complementary Food from Rizgah (Plectranthus esculentus), Baobab Fruit Powder (Adansonia digitata), Soybean (Glycine max) and Crayfish (Cambarus Sp) Flour Blends
Authors: J.A Ayo, , M.D Awogbenja, , Z.A Mohammed, , F.O Bello, , N. O Olawumi, , B. M Yusuf
Published: June 2024

Production of complementary food using locally available underutilized materials has become of necessity to overcome the economic effects on importation. This research examined the chemical composition, functional, microbial and sensory qualities of complementary food produced from Rizgah (Plectranthus esculentus), baobab fruit powder (Adansonia digitata), soybean (Glycine max) and crayfish(Cambarus Sp) flour blend. The raw materials used were purchased, processed into flour and mixed in varied proportions of Rizgah: baobab: soybean:cray fish flour(100:0:0:0; 85:10:5:0; 75:15:10:0;70:15:10:;60:20:15:5;55:20:15:10) to produce complementary foods and analyzed for chemical, microbial and sensory qualities. The ash, crude protein, crude fat and crude fibre increased from 9.34 to 16.77, 4.93 to 9.28, 9.48 to 11.50 and 1.57 to 3.53%, respectively, while the moisture and carbohydrates content decreased from 9.42 to 7.77 and 65.38 to 53.71%, respectively with reduction in the added Rizgah flour (100 to 55%). The bulk density decreased from 0.34 to 0.28g/cm3, while the swelling, oil absorption and water absorption capacity decreased from 85.25-66.10%, 25.50-17.50% and 57.50-45.50%, respectively. The vitamin C, vitamin B1 and vitamin B6 increased from 5.7 to 7.50(mg/100g), 0.64 to 3.00(mg/100g) and 0.58 to 1.75(mg/100g), respectively, with increase in the soybean, baobab powder and crayfish. The total coliform count, total heterotrophic bacterial count and total heterotrophic fungi count decreased from 2.8×10-2 to 1.5×10-2, 7.5×10-5 to 2.3×10-5 and 3.1×10-3 to 1.8×10-3, respectively, with decrease in the added Rizgah (100% to 55%). The mineral content of the sample increased from 0.29 to 0.90mg/100g for iron, 0.01 to 0.047mg/100g for sodium, 1.68 to 71.88mg/100g for calcium, 8.19 to 12.50mg/100g for magnesium and 0.96 to 2.75mg/100g for phosphorus with increase in the quantity of crayfish.The anti nutrient content of the sample varied from 5.90 to 5.81mg/100g for tannin, 5.46 to 13.60mg/100g for phytate, 7.81 to 10.91mg/100g for trypsin, 0.82 to 2.04mg/100g for oxalate. The relative increase observed for the anti nutrient content could be due to the added soybean flour. The average mean scores for aroma, colour, texture, taste, and overall acceptability of the complementary food samples varied from 3.50 to 3.60, 3.50 to 3.60, 3.50 to 3.40, 3.70 to 3.50 and 3.10 to 3.40 respectively, the relative increase in the average means score of sensory quality could be attributed to the added crayfish. This study has shown that relatively high quality and safe complementary food can be produced from Rizgah flour with addition of soybean, baobab and cray fish.
Dynamic of Cropping Pattern Changes in Selected Block of Virudunagar District, India
Authors: M. Sathishkumar , J. Sivananthan , J. Jayaprabha
Published: June 2024

The assessment in dynamic of cropping pattern in several regions is vital part for a much-improved insight intothe farming development method. The present study was commenced to inspect the dynamicsof cropping pattern in Kariapatti block of the virudhunagar district of Tamil Nadu. The data analyzed with the help of Markov chain by year wise and for all years with analyzed as transitional probability matrix for dynamic changes. The main findings from the study exposed that any type of crops did not hold its area. But, the acreage of the crops was simultaneously changing from one set of crops to another set throughout the season. The cereals (cholam) area was observed to be more stable and the less area observed in gingelly and sunflower crops. Indicated that the cropping pattern of the region moves towards diversification from cholam to cotton followed by groundnut, sugarcane, paddy and maize, gingelly and green gram and sunflower in Kariapatti block. The reducing trend has been observed in the uncultivable land. This specifies that the area for cultivation has increased in Kariapatti. There is a greater possibility for deciding within the choice of crops to place the agriculture on the base of property growth that has to be supposed about in analysis and extension programmes.
Financial Management in Public Secondary Schools, Arumeru District, Tanzania: An Econometric Case Study
Authors: John Wilson Daniel
Published: June 2024

The main purpose of this study was to investigate the skills of heads of schools in managing unit costs for financing students in public secondary schools in the Arumeru District Council. Effective financial management is critical for optimizing the limited resources available to public schools, and the competence of school heads in handling unit costs plays a pivotal role in this regard. The research employs a mixed-methods approach, combining quantitative surveys and qualitative interviews with school heads, teachers, and district education officers. A sample size of 30 heads of secondary schools, 60 secondary school teachers, and 1 district education officers were used in this research. The findings reveal that while some heads of schools demonstrate proficient financial management skills, others lack the necessary expertise, leading to inefficiencies in resource allocation and utilization. Also the study revealed that the head of schools are involved in the process of making budge.  However the key factors influencing their financial management skills include professional training, experience, and support from district education authorities. The study underscores the need for targeted professional development programs to enhance the financial management capabilities of school heads. Recommendations include the implementation of continuous training workshops, peer learning opportunities, and stronger support mechanisms from the district education offices. By improving the financial management skills of school heads, public secondary schools in the Tanzania can better allocate resources, thereby enhancing educational outcomes and ensuring sustainable funding mechanisms.
Mehrstimmrechtsaktien im Stabilisierungs- und Restrukturierungsrahmen
Authors: Kümpel Jeremias
Published: June 2024

Seit dem 15.12.2023 ist die Ausstattung bzw. Ausgabe von Aktien mit Mehrstimmrechten wieder zulässig. Das Zukunftsfinanzierungsgesetz hat in dieser Hinsicht einmal mehr eine 180‑Grad-Wende im deutschen Aktienrecht herbeigeführt. Während sich Mehrstimmrechtsaktionäre damit in einem gewissen Maße die Mehrheitsmacht bei aktienrechtlichen Beschlussfassungen sichern können, stellt sich die Frage, ob bzw. inwieweit die Mehrstimmrechte auch im Rahmen einer Restrukturierung auf der Grundlage des StaRUG die Durchsetzung des eigenen Willens bzw. der eigenen Vision ermöglichen. Insbesondere vor dem Hintergrund der im vergangenen Jahr durchgeführten öffentlichen Restrukturierungssachen, in denen börsennotierte Aktiengesellschaften gesellschaftsrechtliche Maßnahmen durch einen Restrukturierungsplan umgesetzt haben und damit gesellschaftsrechtliche Mehrheitserfordernisse durch restrukturierungsrechtliche Vorgaben ersetzt wurden, gerät nun auch die Stellung von Mehrstimmrechtsaktionären in den Blick.
(Wieder) Neues aus Luxemburg zum Rücktritt vom Pauschalreisevertrag — Maßgeblicher Zeitpunkt, geografische Grenzen und Beweisfragen
Authors: Ruks Rudi
Published: June 2024

Terminating a package travel contract due to extraordinary circumstances significantly affecting the performance of the package requires an assessment based on a prediction at date of termination. It is a point of criticism that restrictions at the place of departure that affect the traveler upon return shall be considered in that assessment. It raises concerns that the scope of „personal factors“ taken into account is not clearly defined.
Effect of curing behaviors on the properties of poly(arylene ether nitrile) end‐capped with phthalonitrile
Authors: Zou Yanke , Yang Jian , Zhan Yingqing , Yang Xulin , Zhong Jiachun , Zhao Rui , Liu Xiaobo
Published: February 2012

Poly(arylene ether nitrile) (PEN) end‐capped with phthalonitrile (PEN‐n) was synthesized by incorporating phthalonitrile into the terminals of PEN. The as‐prepared flexible PEN‐n (after elevated temperature treatment) was characterized by infrared spectroscopy, nuclear magnetic resonance, gel permeation chromatography, and rheological measurements. In addition, the effects of curing behaviors on properties of PEN‐n films were studied by thermal, dielectric and mechanical measurements. Differential scanning calorimetry analysis showed that glass transition temperature of PEN‐n was improved from 176 to 232°C as the curing temperature and time increased. Thermal gravimetric analysis revealed that initial decomposition temperature of PEN‐n cured at 320°C for 2 h was 570°C. Mechanical properties showed that tensile strength of PEN‐n uncured and cured at 320°C for 3 h was 85 and 97 MPa, respectively. The dielectric properties showed that the dielectric constant of PEN‐n film decreased from 4.0 to 3.1 as the curing time increased and dielectric loss of PEN‐n was 0.01 at 100 kHz. This kind of PEN‐n film may be used as a good candidate for high‐performance polymeric materials. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2012
Preparation and characterization of polysulfone–cyclodextrin composite nanofiltration membrane: Solvent effect
Authors: Baruah Kundan , Hazarika Swapnali , Borthakur Somiron , Dutta Narendra Nath
Published: February 2012

α‐Cyclodextrin membranes were prepared by the phase inversion method using four types of casting solvents such as N‐methyl pyrrolidone (NMP), dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO), dimethyl acetamide (DMAc), and dimethyl formamide (DMF) herein‐after termed as α‐CD‐NMP, α‐CD‐DMSO, α‐CD‐DMAc, and α‐CD‐DMF, respectively. The membranes were characterized by IR, XRD, TGA‐DTA, DSC, and SEM analysis and show that solvents like NMP, DMA, DMF give good uniform morphological membranes and are better than that of DMSO. Thermal decompositions of the pure polymer and composite membranes indicate different range of thermal degradation of the membrane. This study reveals that the casting solvents NMP, DMF, DMAC have nearly same significant effect on morphology and other properties of the membranes. This is explained in terms of demixing behavior of the polymer and the combined effect of solvent volatility and polymer–solvent interactions as estimated from Hansen solubility parameter. Solvent hydrophobicity also affects the performance of the membrane and can be determined in terms of water permeability. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2012
pH‐responsive poly(DMAPMA‐co‐HEMA)‐based hydrogels for prolonged release of 5‐fluorouracil
Authors: Mishra R. K. , Ramasamy K. , Majeed A. B. A.
Published: February 2012

This work reports the synthesis and characterization of pH‐sensitive hydrogel (PSHs) system composed of N[‐3(dimethylamino)propyl] methacrylamide (DMAPMA) and 2‐hydroxyethyl methacrylate (HEMA). This hydrogel was prepared efficiently by solution copolymerization method using N,N‐methylene bisacrylamide as crosslinker and sodium persulfate/ammonium persulfate as joint initiator system. The chemical structure of the hydrogel was confirmed by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and proton nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy. Thermal stability and morphology of the hydrogels were assessed by thermogravimetric analysis and field emission scanning electron microscopy. 5‐Fluorouracil (5‐FU), an anticancer drug was loaded in the hydrogels to investigate their drug release properties using a human colon cancer cell line (DLD‐1). The pH (pH 1.2–7.4) as well as temperature‐sensitive swelling of the hydrogel was also determined. The morphological analysis of the resulting hydrogel revealed a highly interconnected macroporous interior with pore size ranging from 10 to 100 μm in size. The swelling of the hydrogel was highly influenced by pH of the surrounding medium and higher swelling ratio was observed at simulated intestinal fluid (SIF). The 5‐FU release was found to be more efficient in SIF as compared with simulated gastric fluid. The results showed that the 5‐FU released from the hydrogel remained biologically active and the developed hydrogel was not cytotoxic. The hydrogel with a 50 : 50 feed ratio of DMAPMA and HEMA was better than the other developed hydrogels. The PSH is furthermore safe for colon‐targeted delivery of 5‐FU. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2012
Preparation and characterization of PLA/ZnS nanocomposites via an in situ solvothermal process
Authors: Ye Dandan , Xiao Chunyun , Qi Rongrong , Jiang Pingkai
Published: February 2012

Homogenous poly(lactic acid) (PLA)/zinc sulfide (ZnS) nanocomposites were successfully prepared via a solvothermal method with lactide, zinc acetate, and carbon disulfide as precursors. In this process, the cationic ring‐opening polymerization of lactide and the formation of ZnS nanoparticles were taken place simultaneously, and PLA/ZnS nanocomposites were obtained in situ way. The effect of reaction temperature, time, and zinc acetate content on the molecular weight of PLA was discussed. Ubbelohde viscometer, TEM, UV–vis, TGA, and fluorophotometer were used to characterize the obtained nanocomposites. It was found that homogonous PLA/ZnS nanocomposites could be obtained at 160°C for 8 h with toluene as reaction medium. Comparing to pure PLA, the molecular weight of PLA in the obtained nanocomposites increased, and ZnS nanoparticles with the size about 10 nm in diameter were dispersed well in PLA matrix without any dispersan. The PLA/ZnS nanocomposites have ultraviolet resistant. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2012
New Attempts to Understand Nanodiamond Stardust
Authors: Ott U. , Besmehn A. , Farouqi K. , Hallmann O. , Hoppe P. , Kratz K.-L. , Melber K. , Wallner A.
Published: February 2012

We report on a concerted effort aimed at understanding the origin and history of the pre-solar nanodiamonds in meteorites including the astrophysical sources of the observed isotopic abundance signatures. This includes measurement of light elements by secondary ion mass spectrometry (SIMS), analysis of additional heavy trace elements by accelerator mass spectrometry (AMS) and dynamic calculations of r-process nucleosynthesis with updated nuclear properties. Results obtained indicate that: (i) there is no evidence for the former presence of now-extinct 26Al and 44Ti in our diamond samples other than what can be attributed to silicon carbide and other ‘impurities’, and this does not offer support for a supernova (SN) origin but neither does it negate it; (ii) analysis by AMS of platinum in ‘bulk diamond’ yields an overabundance of r-only 198Pt that at face value seems more consistent with the neutron burst than with the separation model for the origin of heavy trace elements in the diamonds, although this conclusion is not firm given analytical uncertainties; (iii) if the Xe–H pattern was established by an unadulterated r-process, it must have been a strong variant of the main r-process, which possibly could also account for the new observations in platinum.
SED-ED, a workflow editor for computational biology experiments written in SED-ML
Authors: Adams Richard R.
Published: February 2012

Summary: The simulation experiment description markup language (SED-ML) is a new community data standard to encode computational biology experiments in a computer-readable XML format. Its widespread adoption will require the development of software support to work with SED-ML files. Here, we describe a software tool, SED-ED, to view, edit, validate and annotate SED-ML documents while shielding end-users from the underlying XML representation. SED-ED supports modellers who wish to create, understand and further develop a simulation description provided in SED-ML format.

Availability and implementation: SED-ED is available as a standalone Java application, as an Eclipse plug-in and as an SBSI (www.sbsi.ed.ac.uk) plug-in, all under an MIT open-source license. Source code is at https://sed-ed-sedmleditor.googlecode.com/svn. The application itself is available from https://sourceforge.net/projects/jlibsedml/files/SED-ED/

Contact:  richard.adams@ed.ac.uk
The impact of preprinted prescription forms on medication prescribing errors in an ophthalmology clinic in northeast Thailand: a non-randomised interventional study
Authors: Sanguansak Thuss , Morley Michael G , Yospaiboon Yosanan , Lorch Alice , Hedt Bethany , Morley Katharine
Published: February 2012

Objectives

To understand the incidence and types of medication prescribing errors in a low resource setting ophthalmology clinic and to determine the impact of a preprinted prescription based on the hospital formulary (FormularyScript) on medication prescribing errors.

Design

Non-randomised interventional study.

Setting

Ophthalmology clinic in a teaching hospital in northeast Thailand.

Participants

4349 handwritten prescriptions collected from October 2009 to December 2009, and 4146 FormularyScripts collected from February 2010 to May 2010.

Primary and secondary outcome measures

All prescriptions from the handwritten and FormularyScript groups were analysed for medication error rates by types (legibility, ambiguous, incomplete, abbreviation and accuracy) and subtypes (drug name, strength, which eye, route and dispensed amount).

Results

Comparison of error rates in the two groups showed a 10-fold reduction in the overall error rate using FormularyScript (32.9%–3.5%, p<0.001). FormularyScripts were associated with statistically significant (p<0.001) decreases in the following error types: legibility (16.1%–0.1%), incomplete (16.1%–0.1%) and abbreviation (3.1%–0.3%). There was no statistically significant change in accuracy errors (0.8%–0.6%, p=0.21). Ambiguous errors increased with FormularyScripts (0.6%–2.5%, p<0.001), likely due to the introduction of new ways to make errors. Decreases were seen in all legibility, abbreviation and accuracy error subtypes, and four out of six incomplete error subtypes. There were statistically significant increases in both ambiguous error subtypes: which eye (0.3%–2.5%, p<0.001) and drug name (0.3%–0.6%, p=0.03).

Conclusions

In our study population, outpatient medication prescribing errors were common and primarily due to legibility and incomplete error types. A preprinted prescription form has the potential to decrease medication prescribing errors related to legibility, incomplete prescribing information and use of unacceptable abbreviations without changing the overall rate of accuracy errors. However, new error types can occur.
Moisture Sources and Life Cycle of Convective Systems over Western Colombia
Authors: Sakamoto Meiry Sayuri , Ambrizzi Tércio , Poveda Germán
Published: February 2012

This paper describes life cycle and moisture sources of mesoscale convective systems (MCSs) observed over western Colombia. Results show that, in general, MCS are more frequent during boreal summer and autumn, and particularly, systems observed in summer season present longer life and larger extension. On the continent, MCS genesis is strongly affected by sea breeze and diurnal heating and presents a peak from 15 to 18 LST. For oceanic systems, the main genesis period is later, from 00 to 03 LST. Continental and oceanic systems present a tendency of westward displacement. Analysis using a Lagrangian approach implemented to estimate air parcel trajectories suggests that, during boreal winter, the main moisture sources are from the Caribbean Sea and tropical north Atlantic, possibly resulting from the moisture-laden trade winds and the land-ocean temperature contrast over northern South America. In summer, it is clear the influence of ITCZ positioning with moisture particles traveling from the tropical Atlantic over Amazonian river basin. In Autumn, Chilean-Peruvian Pacific is the main moisture source, confirming the importance of Chocó low level jet to MCS genesis.
A Class of Schur Multipliers on Some Quasi-Banach Spaces of Infinite Matrices
Authors: Popa Nicolae
Published: February 2012

We characterize the Schur multipliers of scalar type acting on scattered classes of infinite matrices.