bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Formulation and evaluation of topical piroxicam microemulgel for arthritis
Authors: Sattar Mehreen , Sarfraz Somia , Liaquat Uzma , Shoukat Iqra , Ahmad Bilal , Hussain Talib
Published: July 2023

Background: Piroxicam is an anti-inflammatory, analgesic, and antipyretic drug. Piroxicam is widely used in the management of chronic pain. The objective of this work was to develop and analyze topical Piroxicam microemulgel to improve drug solubility, enhance permeation, reduce GIT side effects reduce the frequency of the drug. Method: The Piroxicam microemulgel was prepared by drawing the pseudo ternary phase picture and water titration procedure. Formulation was prepared by using isopropyl myristate as an oil, Tween 80 as an surfactant, n-butanol as Co-surfactant and water. It was converted to gel by using 1% Carbopol 940 and few drops of ethanolamine. The prepared formulation was characterized for thermodynamic stability, pH, droplet size, viscosity, FTIR,DSC, electrical conductivity, dye solubility drug content, and in-vitro release using a Franz diffusion cell. Result: Microemulgel formulation was thermodynamically stable on visual inspection after being treated with a freeze-thaw cycle and centrifugation. pH of formulation was 6.5. The mean droplet size for ME gel was 100±0.472nm. The viscosity of the microemulgel was 90.4±0.01 cps which showed Newtonian flow. FTIR and DSC studies showed that microemulgel was compatible with its excipients. Electrical conductivity and dye solubility testing confirmed that the microemulgel was O/W. Piroxicam microemulsion gel showed 89.89% drug content and the release rate of piroxicam was 98±8.63% after 48h. It followed the Korsmeyer Pappas model which means it was a hydrogel-based system. Conclusion: Microemulsion gel formulation obtained remarkably inflated skin retention for piroxicam over the piroxicam gel. It might act as a promising vehicle for the topical delivery of poor water-soluble drugs.
The Semantics of Peace and the Role of the Print Media in the 2007-2008 Post-election Violence in Kenya
Authors: Benson Oduor Ojwang
Published: July 2023

The controversial elections of December 2007 in Kenya led to killings, mass displacement, injury and widespread socio-economic destabilization. Despite a series of peace rallies and policy guidelines initiated by the government, the resettlement exercise, dubbed ‘operation rudi nyumbani’, was dogged with controversy and discordant voices from politicians, the clergy, residents of ethnic clash-torn areas, as well as the clash victims. Eventually, voluntary reconciliation through reintegration was promoted and the exercise was renamed ‘operation karibu nyumbani’. In this article, the author analyzes the implications of the messages of peace and conflict inherent in the utterances of the key political players as reported by the mainstream newspapers, namely The Daily Nation, The Standard, and their weekend editions Sunday Nation and Sunday Standard. Specifically, the article reviews the language choices that the media used to frame the hopes, fears, expectations and disappointments entailed in the peace messages by setting the agenda through which the public could monitor and evaluate the peace process. It emerges that the Kenyan press oscillated between peace building and peace threatening modes, depending on the prevailing political and public mood.
Especificação de Sistemas de Informação de Escritórios: a metodologia T.A.& A
Authors: Oliveira José Palazzo Moreira de , Ruiz Duncan Dubugras A. , Hoppen Norberto
Published: July 2023

O desenvolvimento de Sistemas de Informação de Escritórios, em virtude da abrangência deste tipo de sistemas, necessita de metodologia para especificação próprias ao problema. Neste artigo é apresentada a metodologia TAA (Tarefas, Atividades e Ações). É demonstrada sua adequação à representação das propriedades dinâmicas (fluxo de informações). A integração entre a metodologia para modelagem e o modelo de dados é analisada e é descrita a sua associação com visões ("views") de banco de dados. A modelagem dinamica do sistema é suportada por redes Predicado-Transição (Pr-T).
Representação Gráfica para LOTOS
Authors: Moura Maria Teresa Silva de , Cunha Paulo Roberto Freire
Published: July 2023

Este trabalho apresenta uma representação gráfica para LOTOS (Language of Temporal Ordering Specification), uma técnica de descrição formal para a especificação de sistemas distribuídos. A principal característica desta representação gráfica é sua simplicidade, onde os principais aspectos da especificação são facilmente visualizados, facilitando o desenvolvimento e aumentando a clareza, uma característica importante quando se trata de especificações formais.
Modelando a Determinação de Potenciais Du-Caminhos Através da Análise de Fluxo de Dados
Authors: Chaim Marcos L. , Maldonado José C. , Jino Mario
Published: July 2023

Neste trabalho apresenta-se uma abordagem para a solução do problema da determinação dos potenciais du-caminhos estabelecido pelos critérios Potenciais Usos [MAL88a], [MAL88b]. Mostra-se que este problema constitui uma Estrutura Monotônica Distributiva de Análise de Fluxo de Dados [HEC77] e que a solução MOP [HEC77] determina o resultado esperado, viabilizando, desta forma, a utilização dos algoritmos de Horwitz, Demers e Teitelbaum [HOR87] que são otimizações dos algoritmos propostos por Kildall [HEC77] e Kam e Ullman [KAM77]. Adicionalmente, estabelece-se uma estimativa para o custo de processamento associado à determinação do conjunto de potenciais du-caminhos.
Uma Ferramenta para Auxílio na Reutilização de Software
Authors: Teixeira Mário Márcio Ramos , Velasco Flávio Roberto Dias
Published: July 2023

Neste trabalho discutimos a aplicabilidade da reutilização de software para redução nos seus custos de produção. Apresentamos os vários caminhos para reutilização de software e propomos uma metodologia baseada no trabalho de Prieto-Diaz e Freeman. A metodologia é discutida, assim como a correspondente ferramenta e o seu emprego ilustrado com exemplos. Finalmente, são consideradas as dificuldades remanescentes para a reutilização de software, bem como possíveis soluções.
Analyzing directionality of influence among ensemble musicians using Granger Causality
Authors: Sabharwal Sanket Rajeev , Musso Arianna , Breaden Matthew , Riccomagno Eva , Camurri Antonio , Keller Peter E.
Published: July 2023

In small musical groups, performers can seem to coordinate their movements almost effortlessly in remarkable exhibits of joint action and entrainment. To achieve a common musical goal, co-performers interact and communicate using non-verbal means such as upper-body movements, and particularly head motion. Studying these phenomena in naturalistic contexts can be challenging since most techniques make use of motion capture technologies that can be intrusive and costly. To investigate an alternative method, we analyze video recordings of a professional instrumental ensemble by extracting trajectory information using pose estimation algorithms. We examine Kansei perspectives such as the analysis of non-verbal expression conveyed by bodily movements and gestures, and test for causal relationships and directed influence between performers using the Granger Causality method. We compute weighted probabilities representing the likelihood that each performer Granger Causes co-performers’ movements. Effects of different aspects of musical textures were examined and results indicated stronger directionality for homophonic textures (clear melodic leader) than polyphonic (ambiguous leadership).
Effect of Men’s Shirts on Impressions of Wearers’ Motivation and Performance
Authors: Yagi Azusa , Kim KyoungOk , Takatera Masayuki , Yuhara Masahiro
Published: July 2023

We investigated the effect of men’s dress shirts on impressions of wearers’ motivation and performance in the workplace, and appearance. A ready-made commercial shirt was used as a reference. Four types of shirts associated with high status (a high-priced ready-made shirt, a custom-made shirt, a high-end brand shirt, and a luxury brand shirt) were presented either alone or with neckties, on identical mannequins. Fifty-one Japanese university students in their 20s and 85 office workers in their 20s to 60s evaluated their impressions of the shirts. We provided no information about the shirts. Compared with the standard shirt, the evaluations of some shirts associated with high status were higher in both groups of participants. However, the presence of wrinkles was associated with lower evaluations, even for luxury brand shirts. Wearing a necktie improved participants’ evaluation of appearance and impression for all shirts. Overall, the results revealed that dress shirts affected participants’ impression of wearers’ motivation and performance.
Integrating anti-falling function for elderly clothing with high satisfaction using Kansei engineering methodology in Guangzhou city, China
Authors: Wang Mingrun , Shaari Nazlina
Published: July 2023

Falls are one of the major health risks that affect the quality of life among elderly people, but the elderly people do not like to wear anti-falling clothing in their daily lives as the anti-falling clothing are inconvenient, uncomfortable and not beautiful for the elderly people to wear. The elderly clothing and anti-falling function have not been perfectly integrated. To prevent the elderly from being injured by falling and meet their pursuit of clothing, there is a need to integrate anti-falling function into elderly clothing with high satisfaction. This study aims to identify the integration strategies to meet the dressing effect that the elderly pursues in different scenarios using Kansei Engineering Type I. The design strategies for the elderly clothing with anti-falling function will be determined. A framework of integrating anti-falling function into elderly clothing with high satisfaction using Kansei Engineering Type I will be constructed, and the research framework will support the PSS design of elderly clothing at a later stage. The results of this study can support the improvement of elderly clothing performance.
Investigation of symmetric relationship between evaluation of smoothness and roughness in fabric surface images
Authors: Maehara Takashi , Ishikawa Tomoharu , Yanagida Yoshiko , Ayama Miyoshi
Published: July 2023

The purpose of this study was to investigate the symmetry relationship between evaluation of smoothness and roughness of fabrics and the physical factors related to the evaluations, using a set of images obtained by photographing the surfaces of eight fabrics. These fabric surface images were created by setting the distance between the fabric and the camera at approximately 1 m and gradually reducing the distance for each of the eight fabrics. Based on these images, we conducted an experiment to evaluate the smoothness and roughness of fabrics on a seven-level unipolar scale. Results showed that the evaluation characteristics of fabric smoothness and roughness with consideration of the shooting distance of the fabric surface images differed for each fabric. Furthermore, analysis of the correlation between evaluation of smoothness and roughness of fabrics indicated that symmetry was not established between evaluation of smoothness and roughness of some fabrics.
Japanese university students' behavior when reading english: a questionnaire survey and factor analysis
Authors: Yokoyama Yui , Takahashi Naoki , Sakamoto Takashi , Saito Yukie , Kato Toshikazu
Published: July 2023

This paper reports on a specific cognitive behavior often found when trying to understand a text not written in readers’ native language. Our research group conducted a questionnaire survey to examine Japanese readers’ cognitive behavior and awareness when reading English texts. We also conducted a factor analysis on this questionnaire to identify the behaviors often found when reading English. Participants were 56 Japanese students studying engineering at Chuo University. After reading the texts, a questionnaire consisting of 43 items was applied to the participants. We used exploratory factor analysis to identify the primary factors related to readers’ cognitive behavior and awareness when reading a non-native language. As a result of the analysis, mainly based on the highest contributing factors, it was suggested that readers may have made substitutions into Japanese, their own words, when reading the English texts. In other words, when reading a non-native language, the reader may read the texts by replacing them with their native language rather than comprehending it in that language. Based on the results of our experiment, it is expected that the research on the cognitive supporting systems may help readers to understand non-native languages quickly and smoothly.
Kansei evaluation on Hanfu style diversities based on user perception and acceptance
Authors: Shuangxi Zuo , Shaari Nazlina , Mohd Ali Noor Azizi , Zainal Abidin Sazrinee
Published: July 2023

On the rise of China-chic, diverse trends have surfaced in the Hanfu development because of revivification and innovation. Understanding the perception and acceptance of potential users is vital for Hanfu development as it develops genuine confidence in their national identity and traditional culture. This study investigated and discussed the Kansei aspect of perception and acceptance of users in the appearance and structure of Hanfu. The study aims to grasp of characteristics of Kansei to identify the diverse style of Hanfu images to help designers understand the market needs of Hanfu products style and improve the attractiveness of a product. Two types of Hanfu were selected for evaluation. All data were gathered and analysed using semantic differential methods, descriptive statistics, factor analysis and hierarchical clustering analysis. Results revealed two kinds of Hanfu: S01 can be categorised as practical and modern traditional Hanfu images, whereas S02 represented original and adequate fashionable Hanfu images. Finally, this paper is the first empirical research in Hanfu using the Kansei engineering method from users' perception and acceptance.
Modelling emotional valence and arousal of non-linguistic utterances for sound design support
Authors: Khota Ahmed , Cooper Eric , Yan Yu , Kovacs Mate
Published: July 2023

Non-Linguistic Utterances (NLUs), produced for popular media, computers, robots, and public spaces, can quickly and wordlessly convey emotional characteristics of a message. They have been studied in terms of their ability to convey affect in robot communication. The objective of this research is to develop a model that correctly infers the emotional Valence and Arousal of an NLU. On a Likert scale, 17 subjects evaluated the relative Valence and Arousal of 560 sounds collected from popular movies, TV shows, and video games, including NLUs and other character utterances. Three audio feature sets were used to extract features including spectral energy, spectral spread, zero-crossing rate (ZCR), Mel Frequency Cepstral Coefficients (MFCCs), and audio chroma, as well as pitch, jitter, formant, shimmer, loudness, and Harmonics-to-Noise Ratio, among others. After feature reduction by Factor Analysis, the best-performing models inferred average Valence with a Mean Absolute Error (MAE) of 0.107 and Arousal with MAE of 0.097 on audio samples removed from the training stages. These results suggest the model infers Valence and Arousal of most NLUs to less than the difference between successive rating points on the 7-point Likert scale (0.14). This inference system is applicable to the development of novel NLUs to augment robot-human communication or to the design of sounds for other systems, machines, and settings.
The relationship between attractiveness and femininity in female gait
Authors: Tanabe Hiroko , Yamamoto Kota
Published: July 2023

The evaluation of physical attractiveness has been reported to be related to the psychological process for detecting associated physiological health and fertility features. The femininity of the female gait is also associated with its attractiveness. However, it is unclear whether femininity is always attractive in female gait and what physical characteristics are perceived as being attractive and/or feminine. In this study, we aimed to understand the root of the attractiveness of human movement by examining the relationship between perceived attractiveness and femininity in female gait. First, we created 30 s gait animations by using 3D motion capture data of 10 female nonmodels and seven female runway models, where they walked either barefoot or in high heels. Then, 60 observers evaluated the attractiveness and femininity of each animation. We compared the scores of attractiveness (A-scores) and femininity (F-scores) of the models and nonmodels, and we examined the factors related to the evaluation (A-scores and F-scores), namely, the walkers’ height, weight, BMI, and the characteristics of movements. Consequently, both the A-score and the F-score were high for the models’ gait in high heels. Conversely, in the other conditions, there were two types of attractiveness−femininity relationships—a linear relationship (high A-score and F-score, or low A-score and F-score) and an unequal relationship (high F-score but low A-score). Most physical and motion factors correlated with both the A-score and the F-score; however, BMI, flexibility at the thoracolumbar joint, stride time CV, and toe-off angle were related to either the A-score or the F-score.
Sistema constructivo de paneles aligerados con poliestireno expandido y malla electrosoldada espacial: estudio estructural y optimización
Authors:   , Cansario Pérez Maria del Mar
Published: July 2023

Los sistemas modernos de construcción son asociados a tecnologías innovadoras y a los nuevos materiales, sistemas livianos que ofrecen la posibilidad de una mayor rapidez de ejecución por montaje. Estas características influyen en gran medida en el aprovechamiento de los materiales y de la mano de obra, ya que la planificación se hace más sencilla, pudiendo cumplir las metas fijadas en cuanto a los recursos económicos y de tiempo. La demanda de mayor cantidad de viviendas hace necesaria la inversión en investigación para considerar nuevas opciones y encontrar soluciones técnicas apropiadas, esto ha provocado un alto grado de especialización, principalmente en el campo de la ingeniería.

 Los sistemas constructivos convencionales han evolucionado de acuerdo a nuevos criterios para el análisis, desarrollo de procesos y puesta en obra. De esta manera aumenta su utilización, ofreciendo una resistencia y capacidad de carga que le permita un desempeño igual o superior a los sistemas constructivos que actualmente se encuentran en aplicación. Además de ello, estos sistemas también imponen características físicas apropiadas en los materiales como son propiedades térmicas, antisísmicas, resistencia al fuego y una resistencia acústica aceptable.

 El trabajo de investigación realizado plantea el estudio de un sistema constructivo basado en paneles conformados por un alma de poliestireno expandido con una malla electrosoldada espacial, revestido externamente con hormigón, micro-hormigón o mortero proyectado en ambas caras. Actualmente este sistema constructivo se encuentra fuera de las normativas españolas, Instrucción de Hormigón Estructural EHE y la norma básica para la edificación NBE, ya que posee materiales no usados convencionalmente de manera estructural.

 Por tal motivo, la presente tesis pretende una investigación tanto del comportamiento mecánico del elemento, determinando sus propiedades físicas, mediante el uso de herramientas teóricas y experimentales, como de las técnicas de construcción que mejoren la capacidad estructural del sistema. Entre cuyos fundamentos se destacan el análisis del comportamiento como un sistema de tipo estructural, que cumpla con los requisitos necesarios para su aplicación a todo tipo de viviendas, incluso a viviendas de interés social, generando procesos y técnicas constructivas apropiadas para su mejor puesta en obra.

 Dentro de esta investigación se muestra una metodología para el cálculo estructural de este sistema constructivo basado como se menciona anteriormente en la Normativa Española vigente, si bien adaptado a las características específicas de estos elementos. Para corroborar dicha metodología, se realizaron una serie de campañas experimentales en elementos a diferente escala, igualmente se desarrolló una modelación de cálculo por medio del programa estructural SAP2000, ofreciendo resultados favorables en ambos casos.
Implementation of Anesthesia Ethics to Improve Medical Professionalism
Authors: Wiratama Putra Aulia
Published: July 2023

This research aims to increase the professionalism of medical personnel in the field of medicine, especially poly surgery. Research methodology with descriptive qualitative literature review design. Data collection techniques by collecting information from electronic reading sources. This type of research is an analysis of medical journals with primary subjects from several hospitals in Indonesia for analysis based on inclusion criteria such as patients experiencing postoperative anxiety and insecurity, this results in weak physical health due to psychological influences. Data analysis using source triangulation. The research results describe that the medical and health sciences field has ethics and a professional attitude that needs to be realized to increase a sense of comfort and trust in the medical world. From the results of several findings, it was stated that the action decisions taken by medical science were still in agreement or had yet to be mutually agreed upon. They emphasise the element of compulsion because of the conditions requiring it. Patients do not have a voluntary attitude in agreeing to medical action. Such influence becomes a consideration that rules and agreements, the volunteers of doctors and patients must be realized with awareness and voluntarism. If two things are realized, it can increase the value of medical professionalism, especially in anaesthesia.
Efficient Coherent Trust based Location Aware Clustering for Communication in Mobile Ad Hoc Networks
Authors: Ali Alsalamy  , Nejood F.  Abdulsattar  , Dheyaa Abdulameer Mohammed
Published: July 2023

Mobile Ad Hoc Networks (MANETs) are the emerging technology for communication and it is used in maximum of the application hence it is noticed by the academic and industrial sectors. Due to the mobile nature of the nodes in MANETs it is complicated to transfer the ecological information. During communication in maximum of the cases link failures and high energy consumption occurred. In order to overcome this issues clustering techniques are introduced in earlier days which is the group of nodes into cluster and each cluster consists of a cluster head (CH) and the other nodes which are present in that coverage area is termed as cluster members (CM). Due to this method the energy efficiency of the network is increased but the current drawback is selection of effective CH. Improper CH selection reflects in ineffective communication. For that purpose in this paper Efficient Coherent Trust based Location Aware Clustering (ECTLAC) approach is proposed for the selection of CH in MANETs. The approach is sub divided into two sections. They are effective coherent trust calculation and location aware clustering. Through this process an effective CH is chosen the greatly increase the performance of MANETs. The simulation is performed in NS2 and the parameters which are calculated for the performance analysis are energy efficiency, energy consumption, packet delivery ratio, and end-to-end delay. The results are compared with the earlier approaches such as HAMBO and CAPIC. From the results it is understood that the proposed ECTLAC approach produce high energy efficiency and packet delivery ratio as well as lower energy consumption and end to end delay when compared with the earlier works.
Modeling and Optimizing Strengthening Parents' Interest in Sending Their Children to Private Schools
Authors: Yuliarsi Ely , Hardhienata Soewarto , Wulandari Dian
Published: July 2023

This research aims to identify and analyze modeling and optimizing the strengthening of parents' interest in sending their children to private schools. This study uses preliminary research, qualitative, quantitative, and research analysis. The population used in this study was 430 students at the Global Mandiri School in Cibubur and 340 at the Global Mandiri School in Jakarta. The sampling technique used was proportional random sampling. Data collection techniques in this study used questionnaires for respondents—data analysis techniques using research hypothesis testing. Based on the study's results, it is explained that there are strategies and ways to increase parents' interest in sending their children to private schools by strengthening variables that have a positive and dominant effect on parental interest. The strategy includes strengthening Service Quality, Promotion, and Organizational Image. Ways to strengthen these variables include improving weak indicators and maintaining good indicators for each variable. This research has implications that to increase parents' interest in sending their children to private schools, it is necessary to strengthen the quality of service, promotion, and corporate image. To strengthen service quality, it is necessary to improve indicators of assurance and certainty and empathy and maintain tangible, responsive, and reliable indicators. Meanwhile, to strengthen promotion, it is necessary to improve advertising and individual sales indicators and maintain sales promotion and public relations indicators. To strengthen the organization's image, it is necessary to improve the reputation indicators and maintain the indicators of organizational identity, values, and personality.
Enhancing Student Academic Performance through Educational Testing and Measurement
Authors:   PhD Scholar, Faculty of Education of the Nigerian Baptist Theological Seminary, Ogbomoso, Oyo State, Nigeria, Faniyi Adeola Opeyemi
Published: July 2023

Student academic performance depends upon several factors that can improve or impair their performance. Educational testing and measurement have been attested to help improve students’ academic performance. Educational testing and measurement are used in education to explain the learning progress and assess the outcome of any learning situation. Hence, educational testing and measurement are crucial to the educational system of any given country as it avails itself numerous benefits, such as feedback for both the learners and instructors, evaluation of knowledge gained, and identification of gaps to be filled, among others. The need for educational testing and measurement at all levels of education cannot be over-emphasized; however, the paper focuses on tertiary education students in Nigeria. It seeks to explore the various ways educational testing and measurement enhance students’ academic performance. Several articles have been written regarding student academic performance; however, there is a need to write more, given the current situation in the country and the world. The study is descriptive as it explores the practice of enhancing students’ academic performance through educational testing and measurement. It engaged in library research to gather data and is limited in scope to tertiary institution students in Nigeria. It thus provides a means to enhance students’ academic performance through educational testing and measurement. The paper argues that student academic performance can be enhanced through educational testing and measurement because of its benefits. Hence, it is recommended that tertiary institutions in Nigeria take educational testing and measurement procedure more seriously.
Classroom Teachers' Perceptions of and Attitudes Towards the Social Studies Course
Authors: Demir Selcuk Besir , Toprak Ersen
Published: July 2023

The purpose of this study is to determine how the attitudes and perceptions of classroom teachers towards social studies lesson affect those of the students towards the same lesson and to develop suggestions about social studies lesson. Social studies classes, which aim to bring up active citizens by helping them attain three of its most important objectives: rights, freedoms and democracy qualities, are first introduced to students in primary schools by primary school teachers. In this kind of lesson, primary school teachers' attitudes towards and perceptions of the lesson play a key role in terms of students who are the basis of posterity. In this regard, this study was carried out to indicate the importance of how primary school teachers' attitudes and perceptions towards social studies lesson affect students' attitudes towards this lesson. The present study aimed to examine primary school teachers' perceptions of and attitudes towards the social studies lesson and students' attitudes towards social studies lesson in terms of various factors and to study how this affects students' attitudes. This study was conducted by collecting both quantitative and qualitative data, and it adopted a multi-staged mixed method design to explore the relationship between various factors and aspects. To collect quantitative data, “social studies attitude scale for students", "social studies attitude scale for teachers" and "social studies self-efficacy scale for teachers" were used. To collect qualitative data, an interview protocol consisting of 18 questions with follow-up questions was used. The sample of the study consisted of 267 5th graders, and the study group consisted of 21 primary school teachers. SPSS 21 was used to calculate descriptive analyses, correlation analyses and one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) while analyzing quantitative data. In qualitative data analysis, Nvivo 10.0 was used. The results indicated that primary school teachers ‘attitudes towards social studies lesson, and their competence are above the average. It is concluded that there is a positively significant relationship between primary school teachers ‘attitudes, perceptions and students ‘attitudes towards social studies lesson, students' achievements and the teachers' self-efficacy in the social studies lesson.
Business Educators’ Perception of Government (Tetfund) Human Capital Development as a Strategy for Moving Nigeria Towards Knowledge Based Economy in Delta State
Authors: Akpojotor Rita Ufuoma , Mordi Christian Uche , Onoka Onyekachi Henry , Ogah Benson Ogochukwu
Published: July 2023

This study focused on business educators’ perception of government (TETFund) human capital development as a strategy for moving Nigeria towards knowledge based economy in Delta State. Three research questions guided the study and two null hypotheses which was tested at 0.05 level of significance. A descriptive survey research design was adopted. The population for the study consisted of 157 business educators drawn from tertiary institutions that offer business education programme in Delta State. There was no sample since the population was of manageable size. A structured questionnaire of 30-item on four-point Likert scale was used for data collection. The instrument was validated by two experts in business education. The reliability of the instrument was determined by using Cronbach Alpha reliability method and the reliability coefficient was 0,72 The data collected was analyzed using mean statistics and standard deviation to answer the research questions while the t-test statistics was used to test the null hypotheses at 0.05 level of significance. The findings revealed that continued Tetfund intervention for business educators in training, research and development, infrastructure and learning aids can lead to knowledge based economy in Nigeria. It was recommended that Heads and management of tertiary institutions in Nigeria should set up a committee to supervise TETFund projects to ensure judicious use of the fund released by TETFund for provision or maintenance of infrastructure. Business educators who benefited from TETFund intervention in training and development locally or international, should endeavour to return to their school of Primary assignment after graduation to use the new knowledge and skill, among others.
IPCC, 2023: Climate Change 2023: Synthesis Report. Contribution of Working Groups I, II and III to the Sixth Assessment Report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change [Core Writing Team, H. Lee and J. Romero (eds.)]. IPCC, Geneva, Switzerland.
Authors: Calvin Katherine , Dasgupta Dipak , Krinner Gerhard , Mukherji Aditi , Thorne Peter W. , Trisos Christopher , Romero José , Aldunce Paulina , Barrett Ko , Blanco Gabriel , Cheung William W.L. , Connors Sarah , Denton Fatima , Diongue-Niang Aïda , Dodman David , Garschagen Matthias , Geden Oliver , Hayward Bronwyn , Jones Christopher , Jotzo Frank , Krug Thelma , Lasco Rodel , Lee Yune-Yi , Masson-Delmotte Valérie , Meinshausen Malte , Mintenbeck Katja , Mokssit Abdalah , Otto Friederike E.L. , Pathak Minal , Pirani Anna , Poloczanska Elvira , Pörtner Hans-Otto , Revi Aromar , Roberts Debra C. , Roy Joyashree , Ruane Alex C. , Skea Jim , Shukla Priyadarshi R. , Slade Raphael , Slangen Aimée , Sokona Youba , Sörensson Anna A. , Tignor Melinda , van Vuuren Detlef , Wei Yi-Ming , Winkler Harald , Zhai Panmao , Zommers Zinta , Hourcade Jean-Charles , Johnson Francis X. , Pachauri Shonali , Simpson Nicholas P. , Singh Chandni , Thomas Adelle , Totin Edmond , Alegría Andrés , Armour Kyle , Bednar-Friedl Birgit , Blok Kornelis , Cissé Guéladio , Dentener Frank , Eriksen Siri , Fischer Erich , Garner Gregory , Guivarch Céline , Haasnoot Marjolijn , Hansen Gerrit , Hauser Mathias , Hawkins Ed , Hermans Tim , Kopp Robert , Leprince-Ringuet Noëmie , Lewis Jared , Ley Debora , Ludden Chloé , Niamir Leila , Nicholls Zebedee , Some Shreya , Szopa Sophie , Trewin Blair , van der Wijst Kaj-Ivar , Winter Gundula , Witting Maximilian , Birt Arlene , Ha Meeyoung
Published: July 2023

The Synthesis Report (SYR) is a stand-alone synthesis of the most policy-relevant evidence from the scientific, technical, and socio-economic literature assessed in the Sixth Assessment Report (AR6) of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC). The SYR distils and integrates the main findings of the three reports of the Working Groups of the IPCC during the AR6, and the three AR6 Special Reports into a concise document. It consists of a Summary for Policymakers and a longer report.
IPCC, 2023: Annex I: Glossary [Reisinger, A., D. Cammarano, A. Fischlin, J.S. Fuglestvedt, G. Hansen, Y. Jung, C. Ludden, V. Masson-Delmotte, R. Matthews, J.B.K Mintenbeck, D.J. Orendain, A. Pirani, E. Poloczanska, and J. Romero (eds.)]. In: Climate Change 2023: Synthesis Report. Contribution of Working Groups I, II and III to the Sixth Assessment Report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change [Core Writing Team, H. Lee and J. Romero (eds.)]. IPCC, Geneva, Switzerland
Authors: Poloczanska Elvira , Romero José
Published: July 2023

The Glossary of the Synthesis Report (SYR) of the Sixth Assessment Report (AR6) of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), is an annex of the SYR which provides explanations on relevant terms used in the SYR. The Glossary is consistent with the glossaries of the three reports of the Working Groups of the IPCC during the AR6, and the three AR6 Special Reports.
Voice disorders occurred as a result of the use of psychoactive substances
Authors: Ilić-Savić Ivana , Babac Snežana
Published: July 2023

Frequent use of psychoactive drugs, alcohol and tobacco can lead to pathological changes in the vocal cords. The aim of this study is to analyze the connection between the consumption of psychoactive substances and disturbances in the quality of the voice by reviewing the previous literature. Voice disorders in users of psychoactive substances occur over time, due to the appearance of organic changes in the vocal apparatus. Marijuana smoke causes irritation of the mucous membrane of the larynx, which causes hoarseness and hoarseness in the voice. The effect of electronic cigarettes on voice quality is milder compared to the effect of conventional cigarettes. The results of this study also show that drug users have lower results in the domain of social functioning compared to alcohol and tobacco users. The findings of this study suggest that users of psychoactive substances have respiratory disorders and worse lung function, changes in vocal folds, disturbance of auditory and perceptual parameters of voice quality and worse quality of life. Additional implications suggest the necessary help and support of speech therapists in educating users of psychoactive substances about the ways of their use and their connection with voice disorders and quality of life as a whole.
Sensory characteristics of local cheese from the Pčinja district as a potential for gastro-tourist offers
Authors: Stošić Tamara , Šmugović Stefan , Ivanović Velibor , Kalenjuk-Pivarski Bojana , Stošić Tijana
Published: July 2023

Cheese is one of the most used foods in the world. Each region has a large number of different types of cheese that are specific in their sensory characteristics. In Serbia, the local production of homemade cheeses has a centuries-long tradition and is an important part of the country's culinary heritage. Local cheeses that are produced all over Serbia represent an important part of our country's gastronomic and tourist offer. Knowledge of the sensory characteristics of local cheeses is crucial for the preservation and promotion of these products. Precisely for this reason, the main subject of this paper is the sensory evaluation of four local cheeses from the Pčinj district, in the south of Serbia. Sensory evaluation of quality was carried out by trained tasters, who had the task of evaluating the potential they have for the development of the gastronomic and tourist offer of this region. Four different types of cheese, with different tastes, smells and structures, were selected for the research. The main goal is to show the sensory characteristics of cheeses, in order to be able to notice the differences in their intensity of smell, bitterness and saltiness, as well as to evaluate their influence on the level of gastronomic and tourist offer of the Pčinj district.
Revenge Fantasies Against Neftegna1 as a Challenge of Protecting Cultural Heritage: Case Study of Wolayta Sodo Museum, Ethiopia
Authors: Birara Desalegn
Published: July 2023

Protection of cultural heritage in Ethiopia has been tough for several reasons. Previous assessments identified salient challenges such as scarcity of resources, shortage of facilities, lack of expertise, deficient budget for the sector, legal holes regarding regulatory role, illicit trafficking & the existence of multiple ports, inadequate awareness about heritages at local communities, poverty, and weather variabilities. This case study had been conducted to examine the impact of social movements on cultural heritages. It emphasizes the demolition of a former satellite palace of H.I.M. Hailesilassie I by local communities with the intention to revenge their grievances of alleged identity suppression. The demolished palace used to serve as a cultural heritage store of Wolayta Zone Museum. Demolition of the palace, besides being historically a valuable house which according to UNESCO was a heritage itself, made heritages that were contained inside, vulnerable to assorted damages. Peoples’ perception of historical facts and themselves has briskly endangered heritages. The study uncovers narratives of emergent identities have catastrophic impact on cultural heritages.
Catálogo Exposición "Tiempo de reunir piedras"
Authors: Jiménez-Donaire Salvador
Published: July 2023

Catálogo de la Exposición celebrada del 8 de noviembre al 2 de diciembre, 2022, en Sala La Capilla, Rectorado de la Universidad de Murcia. Organizada por el Servicio de Cultura.
Brain mechanisms of reversible symbolic reference: a potential singularity of the human brain
Authors: van Kerkoerle Timo , Pape Louise , Ekramnia Milad , Feng Xiaoxia , Tasserie Jordy , Dupont Morgan , Li Xiaolian , Jarraya Bechir , Vanduffel Wim , Dehaene Stanislas , Dehaene-Lambertz Ghislaine
Published: July 2023

The emergence of symbolic thinking has been proposed as a dominant cognitive criterion to distinguish humans from other primates during hominization. Although the proper definition of a symbol has been the subject of much debate, one of its simplest features is bidirectional attachment: the content is accessible from the symbol, and vice versa. Behavioral observations scattered over the past four decades suggest that this criterion might not be met in non-human primates, as they fail to generalize an association learned in one temporal order (A to B) to the reverse order (B to A). Here, we designed an implicit fMRI test to investigate the neural mechanisms of arbitrary audio-visual and visual-visual pairing in monkeys and humans and probe their spontaneous reversibility. After learning a unidirectional association, humans showed surprise signals when this learned association was violated. Crucially, this effect occurred spontaneously in both learned and reversed directions, within an extended network of high-level brain areas, including, but also going beyond the language network. In monkeys, by contrast, violations of association effects occurred solely in the learned direction and were largely confined to sensory areas. We propose that a human-specific brain network may have evolved the capacity for reversible symbolic reference.
Multifunctional requirements for ERK1/2 signaling in the development of ganglionic eminence derived glia and cortical inhibitory neurons
Authors: Knowles Sara J. , Holter Michael C. , Li Guohui , Bjorklund George R. , Rees Katherina P. , Martinez-Fuentes Johan S. , Nishimura Kenji J. , Afshari Ariana E. , Fry Noah , Stafford April M , Vogt Daniel , Mangone Marco , Anderson Trent , Newbern Jason M.
Published: July 2023

The RAS/RAF/MEK/ERK1/2 intracellular signaling pathway is activated by numerous cues during brain development and dysregulated in neurodevelopmental syndromes, particularly the RASopathies and certain forms of autism. Cortical excitatory/inhibitory imbalance is thought to be critical in the neuropathogenesis of these conditions. However, the developmental functions of ERK1/2 signaling in cortical inhibitory neurons (CINs) and other medial ganglionic eminence (MGE)-derived non-neuronal cells are poorly understood. Here, we genetically modulated ERK1/2 signaling in mouse MGE neural progenitors or GABAergic neurons in vivo. We find that MEK-ERK1/2 signaling is essential for regulating MGE-derived oligodendrocyte number in the anterior commissure. While
Erk1/2
inactivation does not alter CIN number, we discovered a significant and persistent reduction in somatostatin, but not parvalbumin, expression in a subset of CINs. ERK1/2 signaling is also necessary for chemogenetic activity-dependent FOSB expression in CINs in vivo. Interestingly, one week of chronic chemogenetic stimulation in juvenile or adult animals partially rescues the decrease in somatostatin expression in
Erk1/2
mutant CINs. Our data demonstrate ERK1/2 signaling is required for the establishment of MGE-derived glia, whereas in CINs, ERK1/2 drives activity dependent-responses and the expression of somatostatin in a subset of neurons.
Interface-acting nucleotide controls polymerization dynamics at microtubule plus- and minus-ends
Authors: McCormick Lauren A , Cleary Joseph M , Hancock William O , Rice Luke M
Published: July 2023

GTP-tubulin is preferentially incorporated at growing microtubule ends, but the biochemical mechanism by which the bound nucleotide regulates the strength of tubulin:tubulin interactions is debated. The ‘self-acting’ (cis) model posits that the nucleotide (GTP or GDP) bound to a particular tubulin dictates how strongly that tubulin interacts, whereas the ‘interface-acting’ (trans) model posits that the nucleotide at the interface of two tubulin dimers is the determinant. We identified a testable difference between these mechanisms using mixed nucleotide simulations of microtubule elongation: with self-acting nucleotide plus- and minus-end growth rates decreased in the same proportion to the amount of GDP-tubulin, whereas with interface-acting nucleotide plus-end growth rates decreased disproportionately. We then experimentally measured plus- and minus-end elongation rates in mixed nucleotides and observed a disproportionate effect of GDP-tubulin on plus-end growth rates. Simulations of microtubule growth were consistent with GDP-tubulin binding at and ‘poisoning’ plus-ends but not at minus-ends. Quantitative agreement between simulations and experiments required nucleotide exchange at terminal plus-end subunits to mitigate the poisoning effect of GDP-tubulin there. Our results indicate that the interfacial nucleotide determines tubulin:tubulin interaction strength, thereby settling a longstanding debate over the effect of nucleotide state on microtubule dynamics.
Phase 1, Single‐ and Multiple‐Ascending‐Dose, Food‐Effect, and East Asian Subject Studies to Assess the Pharmacokinetics, Safety, and Tolerability of Bempedoic Acid, a Selective Inhibitor of Adenosine Triphosphate Citrate Lyase
Authors: Amore Benny M. , MacDougall Diane E. , Hanselman Jeffrey C. , Emery Maurice G.
Published: July 2023

Bempedoic acid is an adenosine triphosphate citrate lyase inhibitor that lowers low‐density lipoprotein cholesterol by inhibiting cholesterol synthesis and upregulating hepatic low‐density lipoprotein receptor expression. After oral dosing, bempedoic acid was readily absorbed, attaining maximum concentrations with a median time of 3.5 hours, and may be taken without regard to food. Steady‐state oral pharmacokinetics in healthy adults receiving bempedoic acid at the approved 180 mg/day dose were characterized by mean maximum concentration of 20.6 µg/mL, area under the concentration–time curve over 24 hours of 289 µg·h/mL, and elimination half‐life of 21.1 hours. Multiple‐dose pharmacokinetics were linear at bempedoic acid doses of 120–220 mg/day. Circulating concentrations of the active metabolite ESP15228 were 18.0% of bempedoic acid concentrations on average. Comparisons of bempedoic acid 180 mg/day pharmacokinetics after single and multiple dosing revealed no clinically meaningful differences between Japanese, Chinese, and Western subjects. Mean estimates of bempedoic acid elimination half‐life in Japanese (25.2 hours) and Chinese (20.0 hours) subjects were comparable to Western subjects (23.9 hours) following 14 days of once‐daily dosing. Bempedoic acid was generally safe and well tolerated up to a dose of 220 mg/day across the study populations described herein.
Reversible CO2 Fixation and Release by a Trinuclear Zn(II) Cryptate Complex and Operando Analysis of the Complex Structure
Authors: Murase Masakazu , Maegawa Yoshifumi , Ohashi Masataka , Goto Yasutomo , Sakamoto Naonari , Nonaka Takamasa , Uyama Takeshi , Arai Takeo
Published: July 2023

Metal complexes inspired by carbonic anhydrase (CA), which is a metalloenzyme containing Zn(II), have been investigated as alternatives for CO2 fixation systems operating under ambient temperature and pressure conditions. In this study, we designed a trinuclear Zn(II) cryptate complex (Zn3L) and demonstrated rapid CO2 fixation with carbonation of CO2 using Zn3L. The CO2 fixation performance of Zn3L surpassed that of a standard CO2 absorbent, KOH(aq) solution, under conditions of the same solute concentration. In addition, the reaction achieved operation without support addition of base, which has been often required in systems of CA‐inspired complexes. Fixed CO2 was released by protonating polyazacryptate ligand (L) and breaking the complex structure, and deprotonation of L induced the reconstruction of Zn3L, allowing it to refix CO2. This reaction mechanism was proposed based on the analysis of operando extended X‐ray absorption fine structure spectroscopy. Zn3L also demonstrated the ability to capture dilute CO2 from air, and the volume of CO2 captured by Zn3L was approximately 2.6 times that captured by the KOH(aq) solution. Our Zn3L exhibited three valuable properties: rapid CO2 fixation without a base, reversibility, and ability to capture dilute CO2; thus Zn3L is a promising candidate as CO2 fixatives.