bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Le Maghreb
Authors: Giblin Béatrice
Published: March 2021

Dans ce numéro sont abordés les problèmes géopolitiques graves et complexes de l’Algérie, du Maroc et de la Tunisie. L’un des problèmes les plus graves auquel ces trois pays, et plus particulièrement l’Algérie, ont dû faire face est l’islamisme politique à partir des années 1990. Qu’en est-il vingt-cinq ans plus tard ? Dans aucun de ces pays la mouvance islamiste n’a totalement disparu, mais elle est plus ou moins sous contrôle selon des moyens spécifiques à chacun d’eux. Ils affrontent dans des situations économiques difficiles la pandémie de la Covid-19 qui a imposé un contrôle sanitaire strict, donnant l’occasion de renforcer un contrôle politique tout aussi strict. Par exemple le gouvernement algérien en a profité pour interdire les manifestations du Hirak espérant ainsi y mettre un terme, mais au vu de la profondeur de la contestation, il est possible que celle-ci reprenne. Dans un numéro sur le Maghreb, il va de soi que les relations avec la France y ont toute leur place, d’autant plus qu’elles sont ô combien plus intenses et étroites qu’elles ne l’étaient pendant la colonisation.
Quelle protection de l’enfance en Côte d’Ivoire ?
Authors: Ballet Jérôme , Delpy Léo , Doffou Pulcherie , Konan Arsène , Konan Michel , Kanoté Francis , Kouassi Joël , Kouamé Séverin Yao , Olié Louis
Published: March 2021

Depuis quelques années une évaluation des violences faites aux enfants a été lancée par les Centers for Disease Control and Prevention en collaboration avec l’UNICEF dans de nombreux pays en développement. Au-delà des chiffres, ce sont les politiques de protection de l’enfance qu’il faut interroger. Sur la base d’une enquête qualitative auprès d’acteurs de la protection de l’enfance, cet article examine l’élaboration d’une telle politique et ses limites en Côte d’Ivoire. Nos résultats montrent que le relais par les communautés locales pose de sérieuses questions et que le clivage entre zones urbaines et zones rurales est en cours de construction. Classification JEL : I38
L’obligation verte : le roi est nu
Authors: Lefournier Julien
Published: March 2021

Internaliser une externalité négative revient à payer un surcoût. L’utilité de l’obligation verte se fonde sur l’hypothèse que ce surcoût serait, au moins partiellement, transféré aux prêteurs obligataires – les acheteurs de l’obligation verte – mettant ainsi à contribution la finance pour le bien commun. Cette hypothèse n’est pas réaliste. Nous le montrons de manière simple en expliquant comment le fonctionnement du marché primaire obligataire s’y oppose dès lors que des investisseurs professionnels participent au placement des obligations vertes. Pour ces derniers, le fait que l’obligation verte ne se différencie pas contractuellement d’une obligation classique empêche de lui conférer la moindre valeur singulière. Cela entraîne à son tour nécessairement que le taux de rendement d’une obligation verte ne puisse pas être inférieur à celui d’une obligation classique (toutes choses égales par ailleurs). Finalement, l’obligation verte ne peut pas constituer une incitation à réaliser un projet vert.
Facteurs stratégiques de gouvernance d’entreprise pour les entreprises détenues par les municipalités : une analyse empirique du point de vue municipal
Authors: Daiser Peter , Wirtz Bernd W.
Published: March 2021

Les recherches empiriques sur les entreprises municipales sont encore trop peu nombreuses. Plus précisément, on manque encore d’études empiriques solides sur les facteurs de réussite qui prennent en compte la mission municipale consistant à créer de la valeur publique, ainsi que les mesures stratégiques tournées vers l’avenir qui permettraient d’orienter les entreprises municipales dans une perspective municipale. Dans la présente étude, nous examinons dès lors les facteurs de succès stratégiques qui ont un impact sur l’efficacité perçue des entreprises municipales en étudiant les réponses de 271 informateurs clés qualifiés à l’aide d’une modélisation par équation structurelle. L’analyse des réponses indique que trois facteurs (vision partagée, coordination stratégique et clarté des objectifs) ont un impact positif significatif sur l’efficacité perçue des entreprises municipales. En résumé, l’étude apporte des éclaircissements aux universitaires et aux fonctionnaires et contribue à combler le manque de connaissances empiriques dans ce domaine. Remarques à l’intention des praticiens Les résultats indiquent que la création d’une vision partagée et l’établissement d’une compréhension commune avec les entreprises détenues par les municipalités concernant leurs objectifs, leurs rôles et leurs devoirs est une tâche importante pour les municipalités. En outre, les résultats indiquent que les municipalités qui jouent un rôle actif dans leur fonction de propriétaire ont plus de chances de connaître un plus grand succès dans les entreprises détenues par les municipalités que celles qui s’appuient plutôt sur des accords contractuels. Ainsi, la création d’une compréhension commune de la stratégie et des opérations prévues semble plus prometteuse que la création de charges bureaucratiques excessives.
Les stratégies des gouvernements locaux face aux chocs et aux crises : le rôle des capacités d’anticipation et de la vulnérabilité financière
Authors: Barbera Carmela , Jones Martin , Korac Sanja , Saliterer Iris , Steccolini Ileana
Published: March 2021

Le présent article s’appuie sur la littérature relative à la résilience financière des gouvernements et sur les données d’une enquête menée auprès de plus de 600 gouvernements locaux en Allemagne, en Italie et au Royaume-Uni, et examine le rôle que jouent les chocs externes, les capacités d’anticipation et les vulnérabilités perçues connexes dans la définition des différentes stratégies de réponse organisationnelle (c’est-à-dire les stratégies qui consistent à « rebondir » par rapport aux stratégies qui consistent à « aller de l’avant ») en temps de crise. Face aux chocs, les vulnérabilités perçues les plus grandes seront surtout associées aux stratégies de rebond, tandis que la présence d’une capacité d’anticipation sera associée aux stratégies consistant à aller de l’avant. Remarques à l’intention des praticiens La présente étude fait apparaître le rôle crucial des vulnérabilités perçues et des capacités d’anticipation des gouvernements locaux qui font face aux chocs et aux crises. Tandis que les réponses organisationnelles consistant à rebondir (comme le repli, l’effet tampon, la réduction des effectifs, les mesures d’austérité) sont fortement liées aux vulnérabilités connexes, la mise en œuvre de stratégies consistant à aller de l’avant (comme la transformation, le repositionnement, la réorientation) dépend principalement des capacités d’anticipation, qui permettent aux organisations de mieux reconnaître les chocs potentiels avant qu’ils ne se produisent. Ce constat souligne l’importance de développer des capacités d’anticipation plus larges au sein des gouvernements locaux, et de les considérer comme un élément clé pour faire face efficacement aux situations difficiles, ainsi que pour construire et entretenir une culture de la résilience financière.
Bolzano’s Badiou
Authors: Nesbitt Nick
Published: March 2021

This article raises a series of points of confluence between Badiou’s philosophy and that of Bernard Bolzano, whom Badiou has identified as a historical predecessor but never directly engaged. These points include their respective critiques of Kant and Hegel, as well as their various concepts of sets, platonist realism, axiomatisation, the infinite, adequate demonstration, structure, and mathematics as the adequate language of being.
Sets, Set Sizes, and Infinity in Badiou's Being and Event
Authors: Tho Tzuchien
Published: March 2021

This paper argues that Cantorian transfinite cardinality is not a necessary assumption for the ontological claims in Badiou’s L’Être et l’Événement (Vol. 1). The necessary structure for Badiou’s mathematical ontology in this work was only the ordinality of sets. The method for reckoning the sizes of sets was only assumed to follow the standard Cantorian measure. In the face of different and compelling forms of measuring non-finite sets (following Benci and Di Nasso, and Mancosu), it is argued that Badiou’s project can indeed accommodate this pluralism of measurement. In turn, this plurality of measurement implies that Badiou’s insistence on the “subtraction of the one”, the move to affirm the unconditioned being of the “inconsistent multiple”, results in the virtuality of the one, a pluralism of counting that further complicates the relationship between the one and the multiple in the post-Cantorian era.
Anxiety and Ontology: Toward the Lacanian Materialist Metapsychology of the Affect
Authors: Nedoh Boštjan
Published: March 2021

Notwithstanding the fact that already in his early essay “The Logical Time” Lacan suggested that the “ontological form of anxiety” is the constitutive element in the process of the constitution of subjectivity, thus far there have only been rare attempts at inquiring into the relation between the affect of anxiety and Lacan’s critique of classical ontology, which this article will try to explore. Specifically, my argument will be that Lacanian anxiety, unlike, for instance, its Heideggerian variation, is inextricably connected with the third dimension of being, which amounts to what Lacan in Seminar XI labelled “the unrealized,” i.e. to the peculiar structure of the unconscious, which distorts the classical ontological opposition between being and non-being. For Lacan, the unconscious, rather than referring simply to repressed unconscious content, is instead structured around a “pre-ontological” gap (Lacan) or “ontological negativity” (Zupančič). While anxiety notoriously “does not deceive,” it does not deceive only regarding the subject’s encounter with the real, but also – and most importantly – regarding the specific ontological structure of the unconscious, which includes the negativity as its own “material cause”. In this respect, anxiety might be regarded as an “ontological” or even objective material affect – yet not in a posthumanist sense of the affect of being/matter, but rather as the affective correlate or material signal for the fracture of being itself. In short, without this specific ontological gap/negativity, there would only be fear and frustration, not anxiety, which brings anxiety into the domain of metapsychology.
Road Safety Education Courseware: A Study of Satisfaction and Learning Performance among Primary School Students in Malaysia
Authors: Zulkifli Abdul Nasir , Mohamed Nur Fadziana Faisal , Qasim Mustafa Moosa , Abu Bakar Nur Afiqah
Published: March 2021

There is a significant increase in road accident statistics in Malaysia and this reflects the culture formed among users related to road safety. In developing a positive road safety culture, road safety education should be introduced from an early age. The effort by the Ministry of Education Malaysia in implementing road safety education in primary schools since 2007 is a wise move towards the formation of that culture. As the road system becomes busier and more complex, children need to be educated with sufficient knowledge and skills to cope with increasingly challenging road situations. This paper introduced the ROSE courseware which incorporates multimedia, AR and VR technologies for the purpose of assisting teachers and students to understand and acquire skills related to road safety. A study was conducted among 30 primary school students in using the ROSE courseware for road safety education. The study provides an insight into the relationship between perceived ease of use, perceived usefulness, and enjoyment and students’ satisfaction in using the ROSE courseware utilising Pearson correlation and regression analyses.  Regression analysis resultsindicate the significant relationships between perceived usefulness and enjoyment and students’ satisfaction in using the ROSE courseware. However, the relationship between perceived ease of use and satisfaction is notsignificant.Using paired sample t-test, this study also looked at the students' learning performance due to the intervention of the ROSE courseware for RSE.  The outcomes showed that the mean scoredifference between the pre-test and post-test is significant. By using the ROSE courseware, thestudents gained significantly higher level of road safety knowledge which indicates that the learning performance among the participants has been enhanced through the implementation of the ROSE courseware.
Text Pre-Processing For The Frequently Mentioned Criteria From Online Community Homebuyer Dataset
Authors: Nursal Ahmad Taufik , Omar Mohd Faizal , Mohd Nawi Mohd Nasrun
Published: March 2021

Due to the competitive Malaysian residential market with a large number of residential projects that offered almost similar features lead to difficulties of residential purchasing among homebuyers. These days, homebuyers are very selective, careful, and required more time in deciding due to the high numbers of abundant, and problem residential projects in Malaysia. As a result, a high number of unsold residential projects were reported. Therefore, understanding homebuyer criteria in a residential purchase is crucially important towards successful Malasia residential projects in the long term. This paper identifies and prioritizing homebuyers criteria in mainland Penang, Malaysia from user-generated data in online property forums. 6000 data was extracted through RapidMiner software. Once data were processes, statistic analysis is used to determined and prioritize the homebuyer's criteria. The classification of criteria is made by the real estate experts.  The result of the study provides fresh insight into homebuyers' criteria. The findings should offer developers, government, potential homebuyers, and real estate agents a better understanding of homebuyers criteria in Penang, Malaysia. 
Application of Different Fruit Peels Powder as an Organic Fertilisers for the Effective Growth of Water Spinach (Ipomoea aquatica)
Authors: Iszhan Nashrin , Subakir Farah Nurshahida Mohd , Mun Hew Kar , Thing Teo Hui , Zaharudin Nazikussabah
Published: March 2021

Macronutrients such as nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P) and potassium (K) are usually found in fertilisers which is essential to plant growth and development. The study reports on the utilization of different fruit peels as an organic fertiliser for the effective growth of water spinach (Ipomoea Aquatica). Each fruit peels of pineapple, banana and mango were collected separately from local fruit vendors. The fruit peels were cleaned, dried, and then grinded into powder individually. The chemical composition of fruit peels powder was analysed by Inductively Coupled Plasma-Optical Emission Spectrometry (ICP-OES) and CHNOS analyser which NPK concentration was determined. Among three analysed fruit peels, results demonstrated that banana peels powder showed the highest concentration of K and N, which consists of 26557.86 mg/L and 1.61%, respectively. Besides that, electrical conductivitymeasurement and water absorption capacity of fruit peels powder was studied. Plants were grown under vary amount of fruit peels powder treatments (mango, banana, and pineapple peels application), as well as control treatments (no fertiliser application). Plant height and number of leaves per plantwere analysed to investigate the effect of fruit peels powder treatment on plant growth. The application of 3 g pineapple peels powder gave the better performances in all water spinach growth parameters with mean maximum plant height of 20.83±3.01cm, number of leaves per plant of 9 was recorded. Hence, it can be concluded that 3 g pineapple peels powder can efficiently improve the utilization efficiency of fertilizers in agricultural production.
Biomineralization of Hydroxyethyl Cellulose/Sodium Alginate for Bone Tissue
Authors: Bakhiet Etdal , Jauhari Nur Fatini Ilyana Mohamat , Zulkifli Farah Hanani
Published: March 2021

The aim of this research is to synthesis biopolymeric materials from hydroxyethyl cellulose (HEC) (5 wt. %) blended with sodium alginate (SA) (10 wt. %) at 1:1 ratio fabricated by using freeze-drying technique. The HES/SA was treated with simulated body fluid (SBF) by immersion technique through the depositing of calcium phosphate on the scaffold’s surfaces. All scaffolds were characterizing by using field emission electron microscope (FESEM), attenuated total reflectance-Fourier infrared transform (ATR-FTIR), and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). The FESEM images results displayed interconnected porous structure with diameter ranging from 40 to 400 μm with average apatite diameter in range of 95 nm – 148 nm. The ATR-FTIR results exhibit possible interactions between hydroxyl groups of HEC, SA and apatite groups of the scaffolds. The TGA results showed four different regions of mass losses, represents the amorphous transition temperature and water disposal, side-chain bond breaking, pyrolysis of SA and dihydroxylation behaviour of calcium phosphate, respectively. Cell-scaffolds interaction demonstrated that human fetal osteoblast (hFOB) cells differentiated and spread well on scaffolds with better cell proliferation and attachment was more prominent on HEC/SA treated with SBF. Since these biocompatible and biodegradable scaffolds showed promising results, these scaffolds could be adopted for the design of next-generation tissue-engineered bone grafts.
GC-MS Analysis and In Vitro Antioxidant Activity of Crude Extracts and Different Fractions of Moringa Oleifera Pods
Authors: Hadi Hasriana , Roslan Nur Salsabila Ahmad , Zamri Normaiza
Published: March 2021

Moringa oleifera (M. oleifera) has been known as a medicinal plant. The objectives of this study is to identify the chemical compositions of M. oleifera pods extracts and to evaluate its total phenolic content (TPC) and antioxidant activity. The methodology of this study began with the collection of the pod's sample, drying and grinding the pods into powdered form. M. oleifera pods extracts were prepared by using methanol (MeOH), hexane, dichloromethane (DCM), and ethyl acetate (EtOAc) solvent which yielded respective residues. All extracts were subjected to Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS) to identify its chemical compositions. Major compound found in hexane, DCM, EtOAc, and MeOH extracts were nonanoic acid (30.94 %), diisooctyl phthalate (89.45 %), benzoic acid, 4-hydroxy- (37.57 %) and octanoic acid (19.19 %), respectively. The TPC quantification was done via Folin-Ciocalteu method showed that EtOAc extract has the highest phenols content with 500.05 mg GAE/g. Generally, all extract contain moderate phenolic content. M. oleifera pods extracts were screened for the antioxidant activity via 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) free radical. Hexane, DCM and EtOAc extracts exhibited good free radical scavenging activity with IC50 of 65.79 μg/mL, 74.93 μg/mL and 82.83 μg/mL, respectively. MeOH showed the lowest free radical scavenging activity with IC50 529.6 μg/mL. However, antioxidant activity of all extracts was low compared to standard, ascorbic acid (AA) with IC50 of 19.57 μg/mL. The presence of various bioactive constituents in the M. oleifera pods extracts might contributed to the antioxidant activity of the plant.
Starch Based Film Incorporated with Clitoria ternatea Flower Extracts as pH Indicator
Authors: Abd Hamid Hazrulrizawati , Mutazah Roziasyahira , Yahya Izzah Hayati , Zeyohannes Senait Sileshi
Published: March 2021

The present study demonstrated the evaluation of starch based film formulated with ClitoriaTernatea flowers extracts which act as pH indicator. Maceration, sonication and infusion extraction were employed to determine the percentage yield of the flower extracts. Extract solutions (1mg/mL) were subjected to UPLC-QTOF/MS in order to detect and identify the chemical constituents of C. ternatea. UV-Vis analysis is done by treating the extracts (4mg/mL) with prepared buffer solution in various pH value ranged (2.0 – 11.0) and the absorbance were observed within a broad range of wavelength (400-700 nm). 100 mL solution of 4g starch, C. ternatea extracts and glycerol (19g plasticizer/100g starch) in distilled water were undergo gelatinization process to form the desired thin film. The functional group presented in the film and raw materials were detected and defined by analyzing through FTIR spectroscopy. From the results, maceration techniques produced the higher yield of extracts with 41.48% compared to sonication and infusion method. Variation colours of C. ternatea solution were displayed in different value of pH. At pH lower than 3, the extract solution illustrated light red to purple in colour while at higher pH value to the more basic pH (4,5,6,7,8 and 9), the colour can be perceived as blue. From the gelatinization process, the blue smooth thin layer of film was produced. FTIR analysis showed that all of samples contain C-O bond (3300 cm-1). Starch based film formulated with C. ternatea as pH indicator can be applied to detect the spoilage of foods in the production of food wrapper and packaging.
Effect of Intermolecular Interaction on Ionic Conductivity of CMC-DTAB Plasticized with Ec Based Solid Biopolymer Electrolyte
Authors: Khan Nurhasniza Mamajan , Mohd Ali Noor Saadiah , Samsudin Ahmad Salihin
Published: March 2021

The present work highlights on the structural and conduction properties of the solid biopolymer electrolytes (SBPE) based carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC) doped dodecyltrimethyl ammonium bromide (DTAB) and plasticized with ethylene carbonate (EC). The SBPE exhibits high ionic conductivity at room temperature where the highest value reaching 1.0 x 10-3 S cm-1 for sample containing with 10 wt. % of EC and increases the ionic conductivity when temperature was increased. Complexation within the SBPE has been confirmed by the FTIR analysis where the intermolecular interaction has improvised the coordination between CMC-DTAB and EC resulting in better structural and conductivity ability. The findings suggest that the great potential of CMC and make it promising to serve as an electrolyte for electrochemical devices.
Role of the Selected Grass Species in Developing of Swampy Forest System for Passive Treatment of Acid Mine Drainage
Authors: Noor Ihsan , Arifin Yudi Firmanul , Priatmadi Bambang Joko , Saidy Akhmad Rizally
Published: March 2021

Acid Mine Drainage (AMD) is one of the consequences of environmental impact due to surface coal mining and has big challenge how to treat the AMD both active and passive treatment efficient and effectively. The most expensive method to actively raise the pH and concentration heavy metal reduction of this wastewater is the use of chemical additives. We present the development of passive treatment with Swampy Forest (SF) system as a new natural and sustainable method with lower costs, and greater environmental sustainability. The SF system consists of selecting organic matter and combining it with the planting of selected grass and tree species in the form of a forest constructed wetland. As a preliminary to the construction of the SF, a batch reactor system was used to carry out experiments to find the best individual grass species for SF as the development of AMD passive treatment. The four grass species selected were shown to reduce the concentration of Fe and Mn, which generally has out of threshold value, thus achieving the threshold parameter to comply with applicable regulations for managing mine wastewater.
Determination of Selected Heavy Metal Concentrations in Water Spinach (Ipomea aquatica)
Authors: Ab Manan Wan Noni Afida , Zulkurnain Nursyamimi
Published: March 2021

Vegetables are essential in human diet but unfortunately it may also contribute to heavy metals’ consumption. High consumption of water spinach may cause harmful health effects due to contamination by heavy metals. Two different parts of water spinach (Ipomea aquatica), namely: i) leaves and, ii) stem were collected from markets around Bandar Pusat Jengka and UiTM area to determine and compare selected metals’ (Mn, Cu, Zn and Pb) concentrations to the standard permissible limit set by Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and World Health Organization (WHO). The samples were prepared by wet digestion using a mixture of HNO3 and H2O2 and then analysed using Inductively Coupled Plasma Optical Emission Spectrometry (ICP-OES). Heavy metals’ concentration ranges were recorded as follow; 0.130 – 9.410 mg/kg for Mn, 0.120 – 0.330 mg/kg for Cu, 0.200 – 2.470 mg/kg for Zn and 0.003 – 0.210 mg/kg for Pb. Concentration of Mn was higher than other metals. All concentrations of selected metals were below the maximum standard set by FAO/WHO except for leaves in sample A. Nevertheless, it should be noted that consuming the I. aquatica for a long time with excess amount of heavy metals may contribute to health effects.
Comparison of Phenol-Formaldehyde and Lignin-Formaldehyde Resin Adhesives for Wood Application
Authors: Yaakob Muhammad Nor Arifin , Bin Roslan Rasidi , Salim Nurjannah , Zakaria Sarani
Published: March 2021

Phenolic resins are thermosetting material that is commercially produced via the condensation process of phenol and formaldehyde. However, due to the usage of petro-based materials in the production of phenolic resins, several approaches have been made, and one of the approaches is by substituting the raw materials, especially phenol, with lignin. In this study, acetosolv lignin was used to produce lignin-formaldehyde (LF) and compared with phenol-formaldehyde (PF) resin. The resinification reaction was conducted at 85 °C for 4h. The functional group, curing behavior and the shear strength of the resins was analyzed using FTIR-ATR, DSC and Universal Testing Machine, respectively. The formation of PF and LF resins was confirmed by the presence of the methylene bridge functional group at 1460 cm-1. The curing curve shows the shift of LF resin to a higher temperature compared to the PF resin. Furthermore, the evaluation of bonding strength shows that LF resin possesses a low shear strength compared to PF resin. However, both resins pass to be adhesives for the manufacture of plywood panels based on standard JIS K-6852.
Total Acid Number Reduction of Acidic Petroleum Crude Oil by Using 2-Methylimidazole in Polyethylene Glycol and Ca/Al2O3 Catalyst
Authors: Che Harun Noraini Safar , Shohaimi Norshahidatul Akmar Mohd , Daud Shaari
Published: March 2021

The Naphthenic Acid (NA) found in the acidic crude oil is one of the main challenges that can lead to corrosion problem in oil refinery equipment and reduces the quality of the oil. In this study, catalytic neutralization reaction was investigated in order to lowering Total Acid Number (TAN) in crude oil to less than one mg KOH/g utilizing 2-Methylimidazole in Polyethylene Glycol (PEG) with aid of Ca/Al2O3 catalyst. The catalyst were supported on the alumina beads through Incipient Wetness Impregnation (IWI) methods and heated in an oven for 24 hours at 80-90°C then calcined at calcination temperatures of 800, 900 and 1000°C. The result showed that Ca/Al2O3 catalyst successfully reduced to 0.52 mg KOH/g from original TAN value 4.22 mg KOH/g by using a catalyst at calcination temperature 1000°C, 0.39 wt % (7 beads) of catalyst loading and 1000 ppm of 2-Methylimidazole in PEG. It can be concluded that catalytic deacidification method was effective method in reducing NAs from the crude oil and can lowered the TAN value to less than 1 mg KOH/g.
Mechanical Properties of Aramid Composite as an Alternative in Use of Steel on the Manufacture of CN-235 Aircraft Wings
Authors: Hidayah Febrianti Nurul , Farikha Ikha , Maspaitella Donald Edwin
Published: March 2021

The use of steel in aerospace manufacture continues to decrease, owing in part to the sustainability and mechanical properties of fibers which have higher strength in minimum weight than steel. This study was defined to evaluate the mechanical properties of high-performance fibers, especially aramid, in terms of composite to be part of aircraft' wings called CN-235. The reinforcements were pre-impregnated by the materials manufacturers, under heat and pressure, with a pre-catalysed resin. Then the layering of aramid prepregs was carried with a dry lay-up process and cured in the autoclave at a temperature of 125°C and pressure of 3 bar for 90 minutes. The aramid composite was cured in various grain directions and examined in mechanical tests such as tensile, compression, and interlaminar shear strength tests. The result showed an insignificant difference between 0 and 90 degrees of grain direction in aramid composite in any properties. The strength of aramid composite with 90 degrees of grain direction has a higher value in the compression test (less than 5%) while having lower value in tensile and interlaminar shear tests.
Fourier-Transform Infra Red (FTIR) Analysis of UV Curing Biobased-Polyurethane from Epoxidized Palm Oil Using Acrylation and Thiols Addition
Authors: Binti Ahmad Nor Amira , Binti Mustapha Siti Noor Hidayah , Bin Zakaria Shamsul , Bin Roslan Rasidi , Lee Tee Chuan , Binti Mustapha Rohani
Published: March 2021

This study is conducted to synthesis bio-polyurethane from epoxidized palm oil (EPO). Palm oil-based polyurethane was synthesized by the acrylation process followed by thiols addition. The resulting oligomers were then reacted with isophorone diisocyanate (IPDI) and dibutylin dilaurate (DBTDL) to form Thiolated Acrylated Epoxidized Palm Oil Urethane (t-AEPOU). t-AEPOU was then reacted under UV photoirradiation for further reaction and to pre-determine its curing activities. The polymerization of AEPO and t-AEPOU were confirms by using Attenuated Total Reflection - Fourier-Transform Infra Red (ATR-FTIR). This study affords new approach in synthesis of Palm Oil bio-based Polyurethane Coating.
Atlas of picocyanobacteria monoclonal strains from the collection of CNR-IRSA, Italy
Authors: Callieri Cristiana , Mandolini Edoardo , Bertoni Roberto , Lauceri Rosaria , Picazo Antonio , Camacho Antonio , Cabello-Yeves Pedro Jose
Published: March 2021

This atlas aims to provide an overview of the picocyanobacteria cultures hold by the CNR-IRSA collection. These are monoclonal strains mostly of the genera Synechococcus and Cyanobium. These strains were mainly isolated from lakes of different trophic status around the globe and, so far, they are not available in other collections of algae and (pico)cyanobacteria. Here we summarise the main characteristics of these strains, including some previously published data, and offer most of the strains as material available for research to every scientists upon request.
Construct validity of two measures of self-forgiveness in Portugal: a study of self-forgiveness, psychological symptoms, and well-being
Authors: Costa Liliana , Worthington, Jr. Everett L. , Cavadas Montanha Cristina , Couto Ana Bela , Cunha Carla
Published: March 2021

Several studies have suggested that self-forgiveness promotes psychological well-being. The state self-forgiveness scale (SSFS) and the differentiated self-forgiveness process scale (DSFPS) are two self-report questionnaires that assess self-forgiveness in psychotherapy, personal change, and health. The present study aims to examine the psychometric properties of the SSFS and the DSFPS in a Portuguese sample, highlighting reliability and validity properties for scores on both scales. We examine the relationships among self-forgiveness, self-criticism, psychological well-being, and global psychopathological symptoms. The two scales were completed in a random nonclinical sample of 475 University students. The psychological well-being scale was used to explore the relation between self-forgiveness and well-being. Our findings show evidence of a good estimated internal consistency for scores on both scales - SSFS and DSFPS. Self-forgiveness is related to higher indexes of positive feelings (e.g., self-compassion, self-esteem) such as positive behaviors and beliefs about the self. Thus, self-criticism (e.g., hated self) tends to decrease while self-forgiveness feelings and actions, as well as positive feelings of the self (self-compassion; self-love) tends to increase. In clinical practice these are positive indicators, which can lead to personal improvement, as well as positive affect and lower symptomatology (e.g., symptoms of depression).
Mentalization, attachment, and defense mechanisms: a Psychodynamic Diagnostic Manual-2-oriented empirical investigation
Authors: Tanzilli Annalisa , Di Giuseppe Mariagrazia , Giovanardi Guido , Boldrini Tommaso , Caviglia Giorgio , Conversano Ciro , Lingiardi Vittorio
Published: March 2021

Mentalizing capacities depends on the quality of primary attachment interactions with caregivers who thinks of the child as a subject with mental states. Operationalized as reflective functioning, mentalization is crucial for regulating emotions and developing of a coherent sense of identity, for interacting with individuals making sense to own and others mental states, and for distinguishing internal and external realities without distortions. Although the clinical literature on interplay between mentalization, attachment, and emotional regulation is rich, the empirical research is limited. This study sought to explore connections between reflective functioning, attachment styles, and implicit emotion regulation, operationalized as defense mechanisms, in a group of depressive patients. Twenty-eight patients were interviewed using the adult attachment interview (AAI) and diagnosed using the Psychodynamic Chart-2 of the Psychodynamic Diagnostic Manual, Second Edition. The reflective functioning scale and the defense mechanisms rating scale Q-sort were applied to AAI transcriptions to assess reflective functioning and defensive profile. Patients with secure attachment showed significantly higher levels in reflective functioning and overall defensive functioning as compared to those with insecure attachment. Good reflective functioning and secure attachment correlated with mature defenses and specific defensive mechanisms that serve in better regulating affective states. Overall, the relationship between mentalization, attachment and emotion regulation lay the foundations for the delineation of defensive profiles associated with attachment patterns and reflective functioning in depressive patients. The systematic assessment of these psychological dimensions with gold-standard tools may help in tailoring personalized therapeutic interventions and promoting more effective treatments.
Openbaring 21:1−8 in teks en prediking
Authors: Bothma Gerhard
Published: March 2021

Openbaring 21:1-8 bring ’n belangrike wending in hierdie boek. Die koms van ’n nuwe hemel, ’n nuwe aarde en ’n nuwe Jerusalem word aangekondig. Die oue is verby. Die nuwe het gekom. Hoe behoort Openbaring 21:1-8 uitgelê, vertolk en verstaan te word? Hoe behoort daar oor hierdie teks gepreek te word? Hierdie en nog meer vrae word in hierdie artikel bespreek. Vanweë onder andere die literêre genre daarvan, stel die boek Openbaring unieke uitdagings aan diegene wat dit wil uitlê, verstaan en daaroor wil preek. Deur Openbaring 21:1-8 en homiletiese teorie met mekaar in verband te bring, word hierdie Skrifgedeelte vir die prediking ontgin. Deur die benutting van ’n literêr-estetiese benadering tot prediking in ’n skuiwende kultuur – soos deur Cas Vos en Cas Wepener ontwikkel – word die nuwe hemel en aarde, die nuwe Jerusalem en die lied ‘Hot Gates’ met mekaar gekombineer om nuwe betekenismoontlikhede te ontdek. Deur intertekstueel en inkulturerend te werk te gaan, word parameters vir die uitleg en verstaan van Openbaring 21:1-8 geformuleer en voorstelle vir die prediking van hierdie Skrifgedeelte word gemaak.Revelation 21:1-8 in text and preaching. Revelation 21:1-8 presents an important turning point in this book. A new heaven, a new earth and a New Jerusalem are introduced. The old has passed. The new has come. How should Revelation 21:1-8 be read, interpreted and understood? How should this text be preached? These and other questions are asked in this article. Because of its literary genre, amongst other factors, the Book of Revelation poses unique challenges to anyone who wants to interpret and understand or preach about it. Revelation 21:1-8 is investigated by engaging the text and homiletic theory with each other. By utilising a literary-esthetical approach to preaching in a changing culture – as developed by Cas Vosen Cas Wepener – the new heaven and earth, the new Jerusalem and the song ‘Hot Gates’ are engaged with one another in order to find possible new meanings. By working intertextually and inculturating, parameters for the explanation and understanding of Revelation 21:1-8 are explicated and suggestions with regard to preaching this text are made.
Early severity predictors of snakebite envenomation in the southern region of Tunisia
Authors: Chakroun-Walha Olfa , Issaoui Fadhila , Nasri Abdennour , Bradai Haifa , Farroukh Ayman , Karray Rim , Jerbi Mouna , Rekik Noureddine
Published: March 2021

Objective:

To identify the early predictors of severe envenomation in the southern region of Tunisia.

Methods:

It was a retrospective monocentric study including consecutive patients admitted to the emergency department for snakebite envenomation. Snakebite envenomation was defined by a history of snakebite. Predictors of severe envenomation were determined by univariate and multivariate analyses.

Results:

Our sample consisted of 109 patients aged 30 (20-44) years with a 1.1:1 sex-ratio (56 males and 53 females). During the 24-hour surveillance period, 25 patients developed severe envenomation (22.9%). The in-hospital mortality rate was 4.6% (n=5). The independent predictors of severe snakebite envenomation were leucocyte count over 11 550/mm3 (OR: 18.7, 95% CI: 3.3-107.8), creatine kinase over 155 IU/L (OR: 6.16, 95% CI: 1.1-35.6), and/or tourniquet before arrival to the ED (OR: 32.14, 95% CI: 3.5-295.9).

Conclusions:

This study emphasizes the importance of early evaluation of snakebite envenomation. Further studies are required to approve a severity scale proper to snakebite envenomation in Tunisia.
Manual reduction with traditional small splints for distal radius fracture in older patients
Authors: Wei Li-You , Zhang Hong-Wei , Dong De-Hong , Zuo Jin-Zeng , Li Liang , Wang Guo-Qiang , Chen Hua , Geng Xin , Jiao Cheng , Chen Li-Jun , Guo Hui , Zhang Yu-Long , Rong Lin , Zhang Jing
Published: March 2021

Objective:

To investigate the effect of manual reduction with traditional small splints fixation for distal radius fractures in older patients in the emergency department.

Methods:

Older patients (aged at least 60 years) with distal radius fractures were enrolled in this study. The patients were randomly divided into the treatment group and the control group. The treatment group was treated with manual reduction and small splints fixation. The control group was treated with manual reduction and resin plaster fixation. Before treatment, after reduction, and 3 months after treatment, the palmar tilt angle, ulnar deviation angle, and radial length were recorded. Before treatment and 3 months after treatment, the Cooney wrist joint scores were recorded. The time of fracture healing and related adverse events during the treatment were recorded.

Results:

Before treatment and after reduction, there were no statistically significant differences between the two groups in palmar tilt angle, ulnar deviation angle, or radial length (P>0.05). Three months after treatment, the palmar tilt angle, ulnar deviation angle, and radial length of the treatment group were better than those of the control group (P<0.05). The Cooney wrist scores of the treatment group was significantly higher than that of the control group three months after the treatment (P<0.05). The time of fracture healing of the treatment group was shorter than that of the control group, but the difference was no statistically significant (P>0.05).

Conclusions:

Compared with resin plaster fixation, traditional small splints fixation for distal radius fractures in older patients have the advantages of less loss of fracture reduction and faster functional recovery. Besides, the method is simple and low cost thus, it needs to be promoted.
Bilateral optic nerve infiltration in tuberculous meningitis
Authors: Thiam-Hou Lim , Mohtar Ibrahim , Hitam Wan Hazabbah Wan , Halim Sanihah Abdul
Published: March 2021

Rationale:

Tuberculous meningitis (TBM) is severe extrapulmonary tuberculosis that can cause poor outcomes without timely treatment. We report a case of presumed TBM that presented solely ocular complaints without other neurological features.

Patient's concerns:

A 71-year-old man presented with a sudden central visual defect in both eyes for 10 days. Fundoscopy showed bilateral hyperaemic swelling disc with infiltrates.

Diagnosis:

A diagnosis of presumptive TBM was made with Mantoux test reading 15 mm, elevated erythrocyte sedimentation rate, subdural effusion on CT scan, and high opening pressure.

Intervention:

Anti-tuberculous treatment.

Outcomes:

Bilateral vision improved and optic discs swelling resolved.

Lessons:

Early recognition of TBM with optic nerve infiltration is crucial for prompt treatment that may lead to a good prognosis. Neuroimaging will facilitate the diagnosis when other investigations show a borderline result.
Evaluation of Sleep Training Effectiveness on the Quality of Sleep in Cancer Patients during Chemotherapy
Authors: Alem Leila , Ansari Hourieh , Hajigholami Ali
Published: March 2021

Background:

Sleep disorder is one of the most common problems in cancer patients involved in chemotherapy stages, which is caused by the side effects of anticancer drugs and the exacerbation of mental disorders. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of sleep health education on sleep quality of cancer patients during chemotherapy stages.

Materials and Methods:

In this clinical trial, 70 cancer patients were selected in the chemotherapy phase and divided into two groups of 35. In the intervention group, two 60-min training sessions on sleep hygiene were educated, solutions of coping with the exacerbation of sleep disturbances were determined, and routine care was provided in the control group. Patients were evaluated for sleep disorders before and 1 and 3 weeks after the intervention by the Pittsburgh questionnaire and then the effect of this intervention compared between the two groups.

Results:

The mean score of sleep medication consumption in the intervention group was not significantly different between the three times (P = 0.59), but the mean score of total sleep quality disorder and its other dimensions was significantly different between the three time points (P < 0.05). Least significant difference post hoc test showed that the mean total score of sleep quality disorder and its dimensions except using sleep medication 1 week after the intervention was significantly less than before the intervention and 3 weeks after the intervention <1 week after the intervention in the intervention group (P < 0.05).

Conclusion:

Sleep health education for cancer patients involved in chemotherapy can significantly have a positive effect on improving their sleep quality.
Mitochondrial activity of human umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells
Authors: Cozene Blaise M. , Russo Eleonora , Anzalone Rita , Rocca Giampiero La , Borlongan Cesario V.
Published: March 2021

Human umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells (hUC-MSCs) serve as a potential cell-based therapy for degenerative disease. They provide immunomodulatory and anti-inflammatory properties, multipotent differentiation potential and are harvested with no ethical concern. It is unknown whether MSCs collected from different areas of the human umbilical cord elicit more favorable effects than others. Three MSC populations were harvested from various regions of the human umbilical cord: cord lining (CL-MSCs), perivascular region (PV-MSCs), and Wharton's jelly (WJ-MSCs). Mesenchymal markers (CD90 and CD73) were expressed by all three cell populations. Stemness marker (OCT4), endothelial cell adhesion molecular marker (CD146), and monocyte-macrophage marker (CD14) were expressed by WJ-MSCs, PV-MSCs, and CL-MSCs, respectively. Stroke presents with oxygen and glucose deprivation and leads to dysfunctional mitochondria and consequently cell death. Targeting the restoration of mitochondrial function in the stroke brain through mitochondrial transfer may be effective in treating stroke. In vitro exposure to ambient and OGD conditions resulted in CL-MSCs number decreasing the least post-OGD/R exposure, and PV-MSCs exhibiting the greatest mitochondrial activity. All three hUC-MSC populations presented similar metabolic activity and survival in normal and pathologic environments. These characteristics indicate hUC-MSCs potential as a potent therapeutic in regenerative medicine.
An Examination of Mobile Spinal Cord Stimulators on Treating Parkinson Disease
Authors: Wang Zhen-Jie , Yasuhara Takao
Published: March 2021

In animal models of Parkinson disease (PD), spinal cord stimulation (SCS) exhibits neuroprotective effects. Recent advancements in SCS technology, most importantly mobile stimulators, allow for the conventional limitations of SCS such as limited stimulation time and restricted animal movements to be bypassed, offering potential avenues for improved clinical translation to PD patients. Small devices that could deliver continuous SCS to freely moving parkinsonian rats were shown to significantly improve behavior, preserve neurons and fibers in the substantia Nigra/striatum, reduce microglia infiltration, and increase laminin-positive area of the cerebral cortex. Through possible anti-inflammatory and angiogenic mechanisms, it has been demonstrated that there are behavioral and histological benefits to continuous SCS in a time-dependent manner. This review will discuss the benefits of this technology as well as focus on the limitations of current animal models.
Stem cell secretome derived from human amniotic fluid affords neuroprotection in an ischemic model
Authors: Kingsbury Chase , Stuppia Liborio
Published: March 2021

Human amniotic fluid stem cells (hAFSCs) are growing in interest; yet, little is understood about their secretome and neuroprotective actions in different diseases, including stroke. When stem cells are grown in vitro, they release an array of cytokines and growth factors that can stimulate neuroprotective processes. Furthermore, administering secretome rather than cells may be a safer route for patients who are at risk for rejection, promoting innate restorative processes. Current literature implicates that the miRNA contents of such secretome, more specifically exosomes, may regulate the effectiveness of secretome administration. In this review, we explore what factors may promote pro-survival and pro-apoptotic pathways after the administration of hAFSCs-derived secretome in ischemic models.