bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Enhancement of vindoline and catharanthine production in Catharanthus roseus by LED light and plasma activated water
Authors: Quadri Alessandro , Barbaresi Alberto , Tassinari Patrizia , Bertaccini Assunta , Contaldo Nicoletta , Mercolini Laura , Protti Michele , Montalbetti Roberto , Laurita Romolo , Torreggiani Daniele
Published: December 2024

This study aimed to increase the concentrations of vindoline (VDL) and catharanthine (CAT) in Catharanthus roseus plants cultivated in an indoor farming system using artificial lighting and plasma-activated water (PAW). After a 61-days pre-treatment period under fluorescent lamps, plants were exposed to four treatments: white light (W) from the same fluorescent lamps, red light (R) from LEDs, W with PAW, and R with PAW. These combinations were evaluated at two sampling times: 45 days (T1) and 70 days (T2) after the end of pre-treatment (DAP). Results showed that R combined with PAW significantly increased VDL and CAT concentrations compared to other combinations. In particular, with PAW, R produced significantly higher VDL and CAT concentrations than W, while without PAW, VDL and CAT concentrations were comparable under W and R. Regardless of the light conditions, VDL and CAT concentrations were higher with PAW. Moreover, VDL and CAT concentrations increased from T1 to T2, reaching higher levels under R or PAW at T2. At the same sampling time, VDL and CAT levels were generally higher in plants exposed to R and in those treated with PAW. The highest VDL and CAT concentrations were observed with combined R and PAW at T2. The study concluded that: (1) VDL and CAT concentrations increase with plant age; (2) PAW enhances VDL and CAT concentrations, with its effect becoming more pronounced from T1 to T2; (3) R contributes to VDL and CAT biosynthesis, but its impact becomes significant only when combined with PAW and its effect is amplified from T1 to T2; (4) regardless of the sampling time, the treatment with R and PAW maximizes the VDL and CAT concentrations; (5) R combined with PAW at T2 is the most effective treatment; (6) if harvest timing cannot be delayed, using R and PAW offers substantial benefits.
Comparison of principal component analysis algorithms for imputation in agrometeorological data in high dimension and reduced sample size
Authors: de Souza Valter Cesar , Rodrigues Sergio Augusto , Filho Luís Roberto Almeida Gabriel
Published: December 2024

Meteorological data acquired with precision, quality, and reliability are crucial in various agronomy fields, especially in studies related to reference evapotranspiration (ETo). ETo plays a fundamental role in the hydrological cycle, irrigation system planning and management, water demand modeling, water stress monitoring, water balance estimation, as well as in hydrological and environmental studies. However, temporal records often encounter issues such as missing measurements. The aim of this study was to evaluate the performance of alternative multivariate procedures for principal component analysis (PCA), using the Nonlinear Iterative Partial Least Squares (NIPALS) and Expectation-Maximization (EM) algorithms, for imputing missing data in time series of meteorological variables. This was carried out on high-dimensional and reduced-sample databases, covering different percentages of missing data. The databases, collected between 2011 and 2021, originated from 45 automatic weather stations in the São Paulo region, Brazil. They were used to create a daily time series of ETo. Five scenarios of missing data (10%, 20%, 30%, 40%, 50%) were simulated, in which datasets were randomly withdrawn from the ETo base. Subsequently, imputation was performed using the NIPALS-PCA, EM-PCA, and simple mean imputation (IM) procedures. This cycle was repeated 100 times, and average performance indicators were calculated. Statistical performance evaluation utilized the following indicators: correlation coefficient (r), Mean Absolute Error (MAE), Mean Absolute Percentage Error (MAPE), Mean Square Error (MSE), Normalized Root Mean Square Error (nRMSE), Willmott Index (d), and performance index (c). In the scenario with 10% missing data, NIPALS-PCA achieved the lowest MAPE (15.4%), followed by EM-PCA (17.0%), while IM recorded a MAPE of 24.7%. In the scenario with 50% missing data, there was a performance reversal, with EM-PCA showing the lowest MAPE (19.1%), followed by NIPALS-PCA (19.9%). The NIPALS-PCA and EM-PCA approaches demonstrated good results in imputation (10% ≤ nRMSE < 20%), with NIPALS-PCA excelling in the 10%, 20%, and 30% scenarios, and EM-PCA in the 40% and 50% scenarios. Based on statistical evaluation, the NIPALS-PCA, EM-PCA, and IM imputation models proved suitable for estimating missing ETo data, with PCA imputation models in the NIPALS and EM algorithms showing the most promise. Future research should explore the effectiveness of various imputation methods in diverse climatic and geographical contexts, as well as develop new techniques considering the temporal and spatial structure of meteorological data, to advance understanding and climate prediction.
Survival analysis of early initiation of antenatal care visits and associated factors among pregnant women in Ethiopia
Authors: Hussen Nuru Mohammed , Gebre Kindu Kebede , Rorisa Tilahun Gemechu , Mohammed Mekash Ayalew
Published: December 2024

Introduction

Early initiation of antenatal care visits creates an opportunity for early detection of high-risk pregnancies, pregnancy complications, health education, and counseling about successful care and nutrition of the mother and the fetus. Thus, the main objective of this study was to identify the factors associated with the early initiation of antenatal care visits in Ethiopia.

Methods

The study was conducted based on the children’s data set of the 2019 Ethiopia mini-demographic and health survey. The study employed a retrospective cohort study design using the data downloaded from the Measure Demographic and Health Survey website. The study included a random sample of 2922 pregnant women who had complete information about their first antenatal care visits. A gamma-accelerated failure time model was employed to identify the factors associated with the early initiation of antenatal care visits in Ethiopia.

Results

In Ethiopia, 62% of the pregnant women started their first antenatal care visit early. The higher birth order of the current pregnancy (ϕ = 2.215, 95% CI: 1.8901, 2.5966), mothers being rural residents (ϕ = 1.239, 95% CI: 1.1633 1.3195), mothers aged 25–34 (ϕ = 1.692, 95% CI: 1.5588, 1.8369), and mothers aged above 34 (ϕ = 1.826, 95% CI: 1.6392, 2.0336) were associated with an accelerated time to initiation of antenatal care visits. However, mothers attained higher education (ϕ = 0.830, 95% CI: 0.7345, 0.9373) and rich wealth index (ϕ = 0.869, 95% CI: 0.8156, 0.9259) were associated with a shorter time to initiation of antenatal care visits.

Conclusion

A higher proportion of urban and educated pregnant women initiated their antenatal care visits earlier than the other groups. We recommend that stakeholders at the federal and regional levels should focus on providing special concern for information, education, and communication regarding the importance of early antenatal care visits initiation.
A graphical exploration of the relationship between parasite aggregation indices
Authors: McVinish R. , Lester R. J. G.
Published: December 2024

The level of aggregation in parasite populations is frequently incorporated into ecological studies. It is measured in various ways including variance-to-mean ratio, mean crowding, the k parameter of the negative binomial distribution and indices based on the Lorenz curve such as the Gini index (Poulin’s D) and the Hoover index. Assuming the frequency distributions follow a negative binomial, we use contour plots to clarify the relationships between aggregation indices, mean abundance and prevalence. The contour plots highlight the nonlinear nature of the relationships between these measures and suggest that correlations are not a suitable summary of these relationships.
Qualitative findings from North America’s first drug compassion club
Authors: Bowles Jeanette , Nyx Eris , Kalicum Jeremy , Kerr Thomas
Published: December 2024

In Canada, the ongoing fatal overdose crisis remains driven by the unpredictable potency and content of the illicit drug supply. From August 2022 until October 2023, the Drug User Liberation Front [DULF] operated a drug compassion club [CC], which sells drugs of known composition and purity without medical oversight. The present study is a qualitative evaluation of this project. From December 2022 to February 2023, we interviewed 16 CC members about their experiences with DULF’s CC. Using a semi-structured interview guide, participants were interviewed in a private space to ensure confidentiality. Thematic analysis was used to code for a priori and unexpected themes. Participants spoke positively of their experiences with the CC, which ranged from lower overdose risk, health improvements, preference for the drug purchasing process, and mutual respect and trust among CC members, founders, and staff. No participants reported overdosing on CC-sourced drugs, and drugs were described as safe and reliable. For opioid users, the tolerance developed for opioid-potent fentanyl hampered the transition to CC heroin. Suggestions for CC improvements were also identified. Despite political backlash to the project, the CC appears to be a novel and promising approach to reducing overdose morbidity in high needs communities. By promoting participant autonomy, regulating an unstable drug supply, and creating community, this intervention has reduced self-reported overdose risk and improved the health and social wellbeing of members. No overdoses reported from CC-sourced drugs suggests that authorizing, expanding and continually evaluating the CC model is warranted.
Sickness behaviour and the effect of sex, age, and immune status on individual behavioural variation in Tenebrio molitor
Authors: Bour Antoine , Kelly Clint D.
Published: December 2024

Sick animals generally behave differently than healthy individuals by, for example, being less active and exploratory. How an individual responds to illness is also likely to be mediated by the individual’s age because age will dictate the individual’s ability to fight a challenge. To date, empirical research on sickness behaviour has focused on the population-level average effect of ill health on behaviour. No study has examined how sickness affects individual behavioural variation, which can affect not only survival and reproductive success but also disease transmission via interactions with conspecifics. In this study, we use a repeated measures design to experimentally test the hypothesis that an immune challenge will induce sickness behaviour in yellow mealworm beetles (Tenebrio molitor) and that the effect on behavioural expression will be dose- and age-dependent. We test the prediction that an immune challenge will reduce beetle activity and exploration at the population level as well as modify variation in behavioural expression among individuals with individuals receiving a stronger challenge expressing more sickness behaviour. Although we found little evidence that T. molitor experiences sickness behaviour, we did find that older beetles were more active than younger ones. There was very little evidence that age, sex, and immune status affect behavioural variation among and within individuals but the phenotypic correlation between activity and exploration is driven by a correlation within individuals. Observed effects within individuals are likely driven by a significant effect of test sequence; behavioural expression significantly decreased in the second of the repeated tests.
Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on violence exposure and alcohol use among adults who drink alcohol
Authors: Gyamerah Akua O. , Dunham Alexandrea E. , Ikeda Janet , Canizares Andy C. , McFarland Willi , Wilson Erin C. , Santos Glenn-Milo
Published: December 2024

The COVID-19 pandemic has exacerbated prevalence of alcohol use and violence, including gender-based violence (GBV); however, little is understood about the pandemic’s impact on the relationship between the two. Data were collected from January 2021-April 2023 with adults who drink alcohol (N = 565) in the San Francisco Bay Area. Questions assessed prevalence of heavy alcohol use (≥4 drinks on one occasion ≥4 times a month) in the past 3 months and violence/GBV exposure before and during the pandemic. Logistic regression examined associations between violence and alcohol use. Overall, participants reported heavy alcohol use (73.7%), strong desire for alcohol (53.3%), ever experiencing violence (71.6%), and GBV (20.5%). During the pandemic, participants reported experiencing violence (26.1%), more violence than usual (13.8%), GBV (8.9%), and drinking more alcohol (43.7%). People who experienced violence during the pandemic had significantly greater odds of reporting heavy alcohol use (OR = 1.76, p = 0.05) and drinking more during the pandemic than usual (OR = 2.04, p<0.01). Those who reported experiencing more violence during the pandemic than usual had significantly greater odds of reporting heavy alcohol use (OR = 2.32, p = 0.04) and drinking more during the pandemic (OR = 2.23, p<0.01). People who experienced GBV during the pandemic reported a significantly stronger desire for alcohol (OR = 2.44; p = 0.02) than those not exposed. Alcohol-related harms increased over the COVID-19 pandemic, including increased violence/GBV, alcohol use, and an elevated desire to use alcohol among those who experienced violence during the pandemic. Future pandemic preparedness efforts must prioritize violence prevention strategies and adapt alcohol harm reduction, recovery, and treatment programs to pandemic conditions.
The dysregulation of PARP9 expression is linked to apoptosis and DNA damage in gastric cancer cells
Authors: Li Yating , Wang Xing , Liu Xiaolong , Li Xiangjie , Zhang Jianling , Li Yulan
Published: December 2024

Background

Gastric cancer (GC) is a highly malignant gastrointestinal tumor characterized by difficult early diagnosis and poor prognosis. Therefore, it is imperative to explore potential therapeutic targets for gastric cancer. PARP9 is abnormally expressed in a variety of tumors and is associated with tumor cell apoptosis and DNA damage. However, its relationship with GC has not been fully studied.

Methods

The expression and prognostic significance of PARP9 in gastric cancer (GC) were examined using bioinformatics approaches. Cell lines with either knockdown or overexpression of PARP9 were established through lentiviral transduction, and the role of PARP9 in the malignant phenotypes of GC cells was validated via CCK8 assays, wound healing assays, clonogenic assays, and Transwell migration experiments. Finally, alterations in downstream targets and signaling pathways following changes in PARP9 expression were analyzed through RNA sequencing.

Results

PARP9 is highly expressed in GC tissues and is associated with poor prognosis. PARP9 knockdown can significantly inhibit the proliferation, invasion and migration of GC cells, and increase the apoptosis and DNA damage of GC cells. The therapeutic process of PARP9 in GC may be realized by synergistic interaction with SOX6 through MAPK signaling pathway.

Conclusions

Our study reveals a potential link between PARP9 and GC, providing a new target for the treatment of GC.
Genome-wide identification of the ATP-dependent zinc metalloprotease (FtsH) in Triticeae species reveals that TaFtsH-1 regulates cadmium tolerance in Triticum aestivum
Authors: Huang Yuxi , Cao Lifan , Chen Tanxing , Chang Xiaoqiang , Fang Yumei , Wu Liuliu
Published: December 2024

The ATP-dependent zinc metalloprotease (FtsH) protein gene family is essential for plant growth, development, and stress responses. Although FtsH genes have been identified in various plant species, the FtsH gene family in wheat (Triticum aestivum) remains unstudied. In this study, we identified 11 TaFtsH genes with uneven chromosomal distribution, significant variations in gene sequence length, and differing intron numbers among individual members. Additionally, these proteins exhibit similar physicochemical characteristics as well as secondary and tertiary structures. The FtsH genes can be classified into eight groups, each characterized by similar structures and conserved motifs. Intraspecific and interspecific comparisons further revealed extensive gene duplications within the TaFtsH gene family, indicating a closer relationship to maize. Analysis of cis-acting elements in the promoter regions of TaFtsH genes revealed developmental and stress-responsive elements in most of the genes. Expression pattern analysis showed that TaFtsH genes are expressed in all wheat tissues, though with varying patterns. TaFtsH genes displayed differential responses to CdCl2, ZnSO4, and MnSO4 stress treatments. Gene Ontology (GO) enrichment analysis indicated that TaFtsH genes are involved in protein hydrolysis. Barley stripe mosaic virus-induced gene silencing (BSMV-VIGS) technology confirmed the function of TaFtsH-1, indicating that silencing TaFtsH-1 enhances common wheat’s resistance to cadmium (Cd) toxicity. In summary, this study offers an in-depth understanding of the FtsH gene family in wheat, establishing a solid basis for comprehending its functions, genetic mechanisms, and improving wheat’s tolerance to heavy metal contamination.
Data mining of adverse drug event signals with Nirmatrelvir/Ritonavir from FAERS
Authors: Sun Ji , Deng Xuanyu , Huang Juanjuan , He Gefei , Huang Shiqiong
Published: December 2024

Nirmatrelvir/Ritonavir, acting as an effective agent against COVID-19, has achieved considerable results in clinical studies in terms of drug efficacy. However, there is little research about its medication safety. Based on the FDA adverse event reporting system (FAERS) database, this study aims to mine the adverse reaction signals of the latest major recommended drug Nirmatrelvir/Ritonavir for the antiviral treatment of COVID-19, so as to provide a basis for safe and rational drug use. The reporting odds ratio (ROR) was used to explore the adverse event report data of all COVID-19 emergency use authorization (EUA) products in the FAERS database with the deadline of third quarter of 2023. In the analysis, 135427 adverse drug event (ADE) reports were found, and 35250 ADEs were reported with Nirmatrelvir/Ritonavir as the primary suspected drug, which was involved in multiple system. There was a high signal intensity of dysgeusia (ROR = 72.98), diarrhea (ROR = 3.03) and headache (ROR = 1.25), which was compatible with the adverse reactions recorded in the manual for Nirmatrelvir/Ritonavir. In addition, it was suggested that Nirmatrelvir/Ritonavir might cause pale-colored stools (ROR = 45.53), chromaturia (ROR = 3.07), yellow skin (ROR = 3.62), tongue coating (ROR = 35.55) and other new adverse reactions (not included in the instructions manual for Nirmatrelvir/Ritonavir). The ADEs of Nirmatrelvir/Ritonavir that are not in the instructions and are highly relevant in the real world are supplemented, prompting clinical attention to the ADEs of the drug, and providing a theoretical basis for the safe and effective application of the drug.
Revisiting Fashion at the Edge: An interview with Caroline Evans
Authors: Findlay Rosie
Published: December 2024

In Fashion at the Edge, Caroline Evans places the past and present in conversation to investigate 1990s fashion’s obsession with the spectacular, the apocalyptic and the melancholic. Drawing on Ulrich Lehmann and Barbara Burman Baines’s writing on fashion revivals, she reads the citation of historical imagery by designers such as Alexander McQueen, Walter Van Beirendonck and Hussein Chalayan as ‘not so much a backwards as a forwards glance’: a contemporary projection of fears of the future and a collective response to the nihilism arising from the sensation of sitting at the end of history. Fitting, then, that on the event of Fashion at the Edge’s reissue, we return to a work that has become something of a cult classic the world over. Twenty years after it was originally published, Caroline and I sat down to discuss the book in the context of a very different fashion landscape and question why fashion imagery is now less informed by themes of cruelty and deathliness, despite the ongoing persistence of collective anxiety and trauma.
Journalism in the age of audification: Features of narrative non-fiction podcasting in Spain
Authors: Arense-Gómez Alfredo , Pérez Alaejos Maria de la Peña Mónica , Terol-Bolinches Raúl , Pedrero-Esteban Luis Miguel
Published: December 2024

The digital ecosystem has promoted on-demand audio listening as a complimentary and even alternative to traditional radio. Some 51 per cent of Spanish internet users listen to podcasts on a regular basis, and podcast consumption in Spain is the highest in Europe. Narrative non-fiction podcasts are giving impetus to topics and issues which may be absent from traditional radio, limited by production schedules and the constraints of the antenna. Audio documentaries combine information, fiction and context through narrative and audio elements that are unusual in conventional audio journalism. This article describes the expressive nature of narrative podcasts in dealing with issues of public interest, identifying their differential features through a content analysis of sixteen podcasts released in Spain in 2021 and 2022. This study identifies the descriptive and narrative features of the stories, the approach, structure, use of music, sound effects and silences. The results reveal a strong emphasis on elaborate sound design, a credible enunciative voice, a journalistic perspective and the use of testimonies, sound effects and textures often hybridized with fiction.
Editorial
Authors: Henninger Claudia E. , Radclyffe-Thomas Natascha
Published: December 2024

The second edition of 2024 for the International Journal of Sustainable Fashion & Textiles (SFT) brings forward a combination of different perspectives and types of articles, thereby highlighting the diverse happenings in the industry. The issue provides insights into the most recent Future Fabrics Expo held in the United Kingdom, whilst also giving insights into fashion communication in Saudi Arabia, mapping pre-consumer textile fibre flows in Australia and providing findings from a study of Fibershed.
What do garments communicate about sustainability? Sustainability communication through hidden sustainability messaging in the context of Saudi Arabia
Authors: Alblowi Rana , Henninger Claudia E.
Published: December 2024

Sustainability has become an increasingly discussed topic within Saudi Arabia, especially after the Saudi Vision 2030, which supports the move away from the dependency on the oil industry, and towards fostering entrepreneurial ventures in diverse sectors. Simultaneously, the country is undergoing a cultural shift, with females becoming vital assets in the workforce. Increased independence and empowerment have led to the rise of female entrepreneurial ventures, especially in the luxury fashion sector. The purpose of the qualitative inquiry is to explore the motivations of Saudi female luxury fashion entrepreneurs that drive them to convey sustainability messages through their businesses. It also aims to understand the strategies adopted by them for communicating sustainability-related messages to their target audience. The research findings are based on interviews with eighteen Saudi female luxury fashion entrepreneurs. Symbolic interactionism theory is used to explain the strategies of ‘hidden messaging’ using symbolism, motifs and creative designs that have both shared cultural and unique personal meaning to the target the audience. Thus, this article contributes to knowledge by not only extending current discussions surrounding sustainability communications but also providing a contextual contribution based on exploring Saudi Arabia as a representative of the Middle East.
Mapping fashion networks and pre-consumer textile flows for circular communities
Authors: Ferrero-Regis Tiziana , Lindquist Marissa , Lunn Carla van , Hopper Caitlan
Published: December 2024

This article stems from a pilot project that identified fashion and textile businesses to inform a circular strategy for pre-consumer textile waste within South-East Queensland, Australia. The circular economy is seen as an overall intervention strategy to shift the fashion industry from a linear to a circular model of production and consumption. New approaches of circularity look at economic and social sustainability in cities and urban environments, designing circularity to enhance urban places and social wellbeing, and empower local communities. Our project advances the concept of the circular city by mapping existing small and medium fashion and textile businesses with social infrastructure in the Brisbane Region, to understand opportunities for local connectivity and circular practices. This article unpacks circularity to underline emerging shifts in circular fashion practice, situating our mapping process within the context of pre-consumer textile waste flows. Through locating businesses and practices, conducting a survey, interviews and a workshop, information collected through this project has provided a clearer understanding of the geographic and sociocultural factors needed to sustain and support local fashion networks to transition to a circular community model that harness social and community interactions based on fashion and textile re-use. One of the key findings is the potential for the development of micro-logistics of connectivity based on intergenerational communities of circular knowledge. This finding considers Crewe’s ‘geographies of fashion’ as an overarching lens and proposes an adoption of Pratt’s ‘contact zones’ and ‘intergenerational contact zones’ to support circular practices through the nexus of fashion, education, community settings and recycling hubs.
The Global Fight Against Cervical Cancer – Bridging the Gap in Prevention and Treatment
Authors:   Novotech, Anderson Sarah Rose
Published: December 2024

Cervical cancer remains one of the most preventable yet devastating diseases affecting women worldwide.

Despite remarkable advances in prevention and treatment, the global burden of cervical cancer continues to highlight stark disparities in healthcare access, education, and resources. As we approach 2050, projections suggest a 40% increase in cervical cancer cases globally, underscoring the urgent need for coordinated, data-driven interventions.
Comparative NMR Spectral and Pharmacological Investigation of Some N1-(4-Substituted benzyl/butyl)-2-methyl-4-nitro-1H-imidazoles
Authors: Satheesh Dhurairaj , Rajendran Annamalai , Valarmathi B. , Parthipan K. , Ramya S.I. Srikrishna , Thirunavukkarasu A. , Kavitha Helen P. , Daniel Santhanaraj , Suganya Karunanithi
Published: December 2024

One of the key advantages of NMR spectroscopy is its non-destructive nature, allowing researchers to analyze organic compounds without altering or damaging the samples. This characteristic makes NMR spectroscopy particularly well-suited for studying delicate or limited-quantity samples, providing researchers with a non-invasive means of exploring the molecular intricacies of organic compounds. The effect of substituents in benzyl moiety of N1-(4-substituted benzyl)-2-methyl-4-nitro-1H-imidazoles (3a-f: 4-R-C6H4-CH2-N1; 3a: C6H5-CH2; 3b: 4-Br-C6H5-CH2; 3c: 4-Cl-C6H5-CH2; 3d: 4-F-C6H5-CH2; 3e: 4-CH3-C6H5-CH2 and 3f: 4-NO2-C6H5-CH2) and the effect of substituents in N1-butyl-2-methyl-4-nitro-1H-imidazoles (3g-i: 3g: n-C4H9-, 3h: sec-C4H9- and 3i: iso-C4H9-) were investigated based on the comparative study of the effect on their chemical shift values with nine different substituents by using 1H NMR and 13C NMR spectra. This work deals with the changes in the chemical shift values with respect to an active methylene carbon (4-R-C6H4-CH2-N1) and aromatic carbons. The 4-nitrobenzyl moiety of compound 3f shown more effective deviation on its chemical shift values of the N-methylene as well as aromatic protons compared to other substituents in the six imidazoles in 1H and 13C NMR spectra. The effective deviation on its chemical shift values of 3g-i with respect to decreases the carbon chain length of the butyl groups. Compounds 3a-i were also screened for their anti-inflammatory and antidiabetic activity at different concentrations (20, 40, 80, 200 and 400 µg/mL). Diclofenac sodium and acarbose were used as standard drugs for anti-inflammatory and antidiabetic activities, respectively. The 4-nitro-1H-imidazoles (3a-i) showed good to remarkable anti-inflammatory and good to excellent antidiabetic activities compared to their corresponding standard drug.
Synthesis and Characterization of LaFeO3@ZnS Core-Shell Nanocomposites as Photocatalyst for the Degradation of Methylene Blue Dye
Authors: Nair Reeja Gopalakrishnan
Published: December 2024

A two-step process involving hydrothermal and co-precipitation methods was used to synthesize core-shell nanoparticles of lanthanum ferrite @zinc sulphide (LaFeO3@ZnS), which were then characterized. The X-ray diffraction (XRD) patterns exhibiting distinct diffraction peaks corresponding to both LaFeO3 and ZnS components confirmed the synthesis of the nanocomposite. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) images confirmed that the nanocomposite exhibited a core-shell structure. The photoluminescence quenching in LaFeO3@ZnS nanoparticles indicates a decrease in the recombination of photogenerated charge carriers. The photocatalytic degradation of methylene blue was assessed using LaFeO3@ZnS core-shell nanoparticles, which showed a considerable improvement in efficiency compared to the pure LaFeO3 and ZnS nanoparticles. This superior photocatalytic performance can be attributed to the synergistic interaction between the LaFeO3 core and ZnS shell, which led to increased absorption of visible light by the photocatalyst and longer lifetimes of the photogenerated charge carriers without undergoing recombination.
GC-MS Chemical Profiling, Antifungal and Antioxidant Activity of Cleome aspera Aerial Parts Extracts
Authors: Khuntia Anuradha , Kathiravan M.K.
Published: December 2024

Cleome aspera belongs to the Capparidaceae family. Many species of this family have been used in traditional folk medicine for a long period of time. This study aims to evaluate the antifungal and antioxidant properties of C. aspera and to identify various chemical constituents through GC-MS chemical profiling. In present study, aerial parts of Cleome aspera plant were extracted by petroleum ether, ethyl acetate and ethanol. In vitro, antifungal activity was investigated by agar disc diffusion method and minimum inhibitory concentration, whereas in vitro assay techniques, including total phenolic content (TPC) and total flavonoid content (TFC), were employed to evaluate antioxidant activity. Against all of the chosen strains, the ethanol (polar) extract showed prominent antifungal activity and had the strongest antioxidant activity, which is attributed due to the presence of significant levels of total flavonoids and phenolic contents. The findings indicate that the plant has considerable antioxidant and antifungal properties, along with a range of pharmacologically significant chemical compounds.
Synthesis and Characterization of Nanocellulose from Neem Sawdust as Biomass using Ionic Liquid
Authors: Pradeep H.K. , Patel Dipti H. , Sahana S. , Abhishek N. , Jeevan H. , Karthik V. , Tejasvini K.V. , Pattanashetty Divya V.
Published: December 2024

The primary emphasis of the work was to synthesize and characterize nanocellulose from the ionic liquid method for potential biosensor application. The lignocellulosic material like neem sawdust was utilized to prepare cellulose by treating it with sodium hydroxide and sodium chlorite solution for the delignification and removal of hemicellulose. The obtained cellulose was employed to produce nanocellulose by treating it with ionic liquid. The obtained nanocellulose was characterized for FTIR, SEM, TGA, DTA and XRD techniques. The FTIR results suggest the successful conversion of cellulose to nanocellulose and highlights the functional groups. The β-glycosidic linkage at its peak is a main characteristic feature of the cellulose backbone which remains intact in each of the samples and was greatly preserved during nanocellulose processing. SEM analysis demonstrates that the nanocellulose has fibrils with a dense agglomeration of interconnected fibrils and also confirmed that nanocellulose has a higher surface area with high flexibility, good mechanical strength and good structural integrity. The XRD results indicate the increased crystallinity in the prepared nanocellulose. The TGA and DTA represent the limited thermal stability with major thermal degradation at a specified temperature range followed by the exothermic reaction. Nanocellulose synthesized through the ionic liquid method from lignocellulosic biomass and characterized which shows good structural and thermal properties.
Presencias fragmentadas del Estado: políticas sociales en Argentina pos 2019
Authors: Aenlle María Belén
Published: December 2024

En este artículo se analiza la presencia estatal a través de políticas sociales y lasexperiencias y percepciones de los «beneficiarios» sobre esa presencia en la ciudad de Chascomús, provincia de Buenos Aires, en 2022. Se realizó un estudio de caso, a través de fuentes secundarias y de entrevistas se identificaron los programas de los diferentes niveles del Estado que se implementan a nivel local. Dadas las dificultades para reconocer un grupo familiar que acceda a todos los programas, que, de acuerdo con sus situaciones, el Estado le posibilita, se trabajó con una familia «ficticia». Paralelamente, se realizaron diez entrevistas a «beneficiarias» de programas. En el análisis se evidenció lafragmentación de las políticas sociales y que aun las familias que acceden a multiplicidad de programas no tienen garantizada la Canasta Básica Total. Se sostiene que las presencias fragmentadas del Estado no fortalecen el lazo social y constituyen sujetos asistidos.
Presentación de Dossier
Authors: Bórtoli Pamela Virginia , Algañaraz Soria Victor Hugo
Published: December 2024

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Internacionalización de las publicaciones científicas argentinas: entre la polarización mainstream/regional y la compleja colaboración autoral
Authors: Castillo Gonzalo , Algañaraz Victor , Ordínez Leonardo , Lupo Liliana
Published: December 2024

Las publicaciones científicas asumen un rol superlativo para la producción y circulación de conocimientos desarrollados por investigadores/as. Asimismo, se tratan de los principales dispositivos recuperados al momento de evaluar el desarrollo y la calidad académica tanto de instituciones/organismos como de personas. Ahora bien, las fronteras del Sistema Académico Mundial son valuadas de un modo diferencial, acumulando cuotas de prestigio dispares según su idioma, tránsito por los circuitos de circulación e instituciones y regiones geográficas donde se emplazan sus editoriales. Todo ello impacta en diferentes decisiones abordadas por investigadores/as al momento de publicar sus resultados. Este artículo procura indagar acerca de cómo científicos/as argentinos/as asumen ciertos modos de circulación de sus publicaciones atendiendo al tránsito por bases indexadoras, sus disciplinas, así como sus opciones de coautoría. En sintonía con el proyecto PISAC-CTI marco, el artículo se sostiene conceptualmente desde el paradigma de la circulación del conocimiento y metodológicamente se erige como un estudio de casos sincrónico-descriptivo focalizado en doce Universidades Nacionales argentinas. Entre sus hallazgos principales, da cuenta de la existencia de perfiles que cristalizan diversos modos internacionalización los cuales son interpelados por las disciplinas, la indexación y la colaboración interinstitucional.
We Have No More Creators
Authors: Provost Sarah Caissie
Published: December 2024

Pianist Mary Lou Williams spent the last decade of her life as an educator as well as a performer. She presented many lecture-recitals, during which she would imitate famous musicians, play examples of jazz styles, and present her own works. From 1977 to 1981, she held a position at Duke University, teaching jazz to musicians and non-musicians. In this essay I examine archival materials from her lecture-recitals and recordings from her Introduction to Jazz course. These educational activities reveal Williams’s unconventional understanding of jazz history. By examining jazz history as played by a performer who experienced it, we find Williams questioning the historiographers’ understanding of the racial composition of jazz’s background, the distinction between accepted jazz styles, and the body of canonized jazz masterworks.  Williams’s educational activities provide a starting point for adding musicians’ voices to the rich body of jazz scholarship. The lecture-recitals also show Williams’s views on jazz education, colored by her opinions of other musicians. I present evidence that her performance-oriented lecture style brought her spiritual beliefs to her college audience. After converting to Catholicism in the 1950s, Williams’s compositional output turned increasingly to spiritually oriented and sometimes overtly religious music. She avoided speaking specifically about God in her classroom, but her beliefs on the spirit of jazz performance and improvisations colored her lectures. While she located positive emotions and brotherhood in some artists’ outputs, she attacked others for lacking the “spiritual feeling” in their music. This group of others was primarily comprised of avant-garde musicians, making her a divisive figure in post-bop history. I suggest here that the controversial views advocated in her lectures that bop and pre-bop music were superior to later styles were dictated by her general beliefs on spirituality.
Assessing the digital transformation efficiency of agribusiness firms: A case study in the South-Western zone of Tamil Nadu
Authors: Shokila C , Rohini A , Velavan C , Pangayarselvi R , Parimalarangan R , Vanitha G
Published: December 2024

The rapid pace of digitalization has transformed industries and consumer behaviour worldwide, prompting businesses to accelerate their digital transformation efforts. This study aimed to assess the efficiency of agribusiness firms in achieving digital transformation within the South-Western Zone of Tamil Nadu. Data were collected from 41 agribusiness firms and analysed using Data Envelopment analysis (DEA), a method for evaluating the efficiency of decision-making units (DMUs). The results showed that ten DMUs involved in the processing and value addition of millets and firms selling organic products, were efficient, accounting for 24% of the total agribusiness firms. The major cause of inefficiency was the decline in pure technical efficiency and the market's steadily declining returns to scale. Hence, firms must closely track their resource and scale allocations, manage their internal operations and modify their output in response to market conditions to avoid a decline in their technical efficiency. The export potential of processed foods is projected to increase by 35% during 2027-28. The export potential of processed foods is projected to increase by 35% during 2027-28. Therefore, the growth of agribusiness enterprises, especially food processing firms, provides increased value and employment opportunities. Firms should prioritize investments in recruiting a digitally skilled workforce and dedicate training hours to ensure the effective use of advanced digital technologies, thereby enhancing efficiency. Firms should prioritize investments in recruiting a digitally skilled workforce and dedicate training hours to ensure the effective use of advanced digital technologies, thereby enhancing efficiency.
Bioefficacy and persistent toxicity of newer insecticide against thrips, Pseudodendrothrips mori (Niwa) and leaf webber, Diaphania pulverulentalis (Hampson) in mulberry cultivation
Authors: Prety Rekha Narzary , Manimegalai S , Vinothkumar B , Suganthi A , Radha P , Shanmugam R , Thangamalar A , Kousika J
Published: December 2024

Two field trials were conducted in two locations to assess new insecticide molecules' efficacy against thrips and leaf webber in the mulberry ecosystem. Results indicated that fipronil 5SC @ 50 g a.i. /ha showed the highest percentage reduction in the population of thrips (87.13 and 88.41 % in the first and second trials, respectively) over untreated control. In contrast, for leaf webber, flubendiamide 39.35 SC @ 48 g a.i./ha showed the highest effectiveness with 85.56 and 89.90 per cent reduction over control in the first and second trials, respectively. Persistence was observed through laboratory bioassay. Results revealed that the order of persistent toxicity of insecticides against thrips based on persistent toxicity index was fipronil 5 SC > spinetoram 11.7 SC > thiacloprid 21.7 SC > dimethoate 30 EC. Emamectin benzoate 5SC and dimethoate 30 EC recorded the shortest persistency of 10 days after treatment against mulberry leaf Webber, while chlorantraniliprole 18.5 SC and flubendiamide 39.35 SC registered the longest persistency of 25 and 20 days, respectively at the recommended dose. Higher concentrations of pest–resistant proteins and enzymes were recorded in the insecticide-treated mulberry plants than in the untreated plants. To conclude, fipronil 5 SC and thiacloprid 21.7 SC were the most effective in checking the population of thrips. At the same time, emamectin benzoate 5SC and flubendiamide 39.35 SC were most efficient against leaf webber, besides having less persistent toxicity than other treatments. Hence, these insecticides may be recommended to manage thrips and leaf webber in the mulberry ecosystem.
Investigating the effect of emotional tone on learners’ reading engagement and peer acknowledgement in social annotation
Authors: Huang Xiaoshan , Zheng Juan , Li Shan , Zhu Gaoxia , Du Hanxiang , Zhong Tianlong , Hou Chenyu , Lajoie Susanne
Published: December 2024

Social annotation fosters collaborative learning by encouraging knowledge sharing and a community of inquiry. However, research has primarily focused on the cognitive aspect of social annotation. This study aims to contribute an emotional perspective to the existing literature on social annotation. Specifically, we used the valence-aware dictionary for sentiment reasoning algorithm to measure students’ emotional tones in 1,954 comments posted during social annotation. We then utilised linear mixed-effect models to examine the effect of emotional tone on students’ reading engagement and peer acknowledgement, respectively. Our findings indicate that students who posted more positive sentiment comments were more likely to spend more time engaging in social annotation and receive peer acknowledgement. These findings offer insights into the significance of emotional tone in social annotation and the design of scaffolding strategies to foster positive emotional tone.
 
Implications for practice or policy:

Undergraduates’ peer acknowledgement can be enhanced by positive emotional tone in social annotation.
Undergraduates engage more in active reading when their written comment expressed more positive sentiment in social annotation.
Instructional designers and researchers can use sentiment analysis as an analytic approach to evaluate learners’ written texts for promoting peer interaction and reading engagement.
Instructors and educators should consider understanding and monitoring the emotional tones students convey in their social annotations.
Rola instrumentalna polityki zakupowej państwa
Authors: Marek-Bielawska Agnieszka
Published: December 2024

The article analyzes the impact of public procurement policy on economic development, innovation, and the efficiency of public spending. Procurement policy, as a key element of public financial management, has the potential to stimulate economic growth through preferential treatment of local suppliers and the promotion of innovative solutions. The article examines how effective procurement policy can lead to budgetary savings and increased transparency in tendering processes, which, in turn, fosters public trust. The role of public procurement policy in supporting economic development, innovation, and sustainable growth through preferences for local suppliers and transparency in procurement processes is also highlighted. An effective procurement policy contributes to efficient public spending and strengthens public confidence. The state’s procurement policy plays a key instrumental role in shaping the economy, influencing the achievement of public objectives and the efficient allocation of resources. By employing appropriately designed tools, the state can support sustainable development, innovation, and market competitiveness. The article particularly emphasizes how the instrumental role of state policy relates to its function as a tool for achieving specific public, economic, social or environmental goals. Special attention is given to the state’s procurement policy, which plays a crucial role in achieving established priorities. As an instrumental tool, public procurement policy enables the realization of various strategic objectives, provided it is properly designed and implemented. The effectiveness of this policy depends on its alignment with social needs and the assurance of fairness and transparency in procurement processes. The analysis underscores the critical importance of procurement policy in the context of future economic trends and global challenges.
A dual-band dual-mode customer premises equipment antenna
Authors: Duan Zhu , Gao Cheng-Lu , Wang Feng , Geyi Wen
Published: December 2024

Two antenna arrays are designed for beam scanning in the azimuthal plane using the method of maximum power transfer efficiency (MMPTE). The first array consists of vertically polarized single-band bow-tie like dipole antennas operating at 3.5 GHz. It can be switched between directional and omnidirectional modes, achieving an omnidirectional/directional gain of 3.6/8.1 dBi. Based on the single-band array, a second vertically polarized dual-band dipole array is proposed by replacing the bow-tie arm with two nesting loops, which can achieve omnidirectional and directional radiations at 3.5 GHz and 4.9 GHz with an omnidirectional/directional gain of 1.7/7.5 dBi and 3.3/7.5 dBi respectively. The satisfactory dual-mode operations of the proposed arrays make them suitable for CPE applications.
Impact of post-task explicit instruction on the interaction among child EFL learners in online task-based reading lessons
Authors: Chung Yoojin , Révész Andrea
Published: December 2024

L2 researchers increasingly agree that task-based teaching, combined with timely form-focused instruction, offers an ideal environment for L2 learning. However, the timing of form-focused instruction is debated, with concerns that pre-task interventions may distract learners from focusing on meaning. While some studies address this issue for adults, little is known about children. Hence, this study examined the impact of post-task explicit instruction on children’s task-based interactions in an online EFL setting. Thirty-three Korean EFL children aged 7–11 participated in seven online lessons using Zoom and Padlet. They read a storybook and completed a collaborative post-reading task. The +Explicit Instruction group (+EI) received a three-minute grammar explanation before the task, while the −Explicit Instruction group (−EI) did not. The children’s interaction was analysed for language-related episodes (LREs). Although the number of LREs was small, the −EI group generated significantly more and more elaborate LREs than the +EI group. Regardless of group, the participants attempted to address the majority of linguistic issues raised, but importantly, LREs related to the target form hardly ever occurred. Overall, the analyses of task-based interactions revealed that participants’ primary attention remained on meaning, regardless of whether or not they received explicit instruction.