bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The Application of Factorial Design in Enhancing Soil Fertility Through Compost
Authors:   Universiti Tun Hussein Onn Malaysia, Tatchnamurthy Tarschny , Mohd Asrah Norhaidah ,   Universiti Tun Hussein Onn Malaysia
Published: October 2024

In recent years, agriculture has increasingly relied on chemical fertilizers to achieve higher yields and boost productivity. Unfortunately, excessive use of chemical fertilizers may result in lowercrop production and decreased soil fertility. Organic fertilizer and compost may complement chemical fertilizers, providing a low-cost and sustainable plant nutrition supply. This study aims to demonstrate the optimal ratio of composts and water that will maximize soil fertility through the application of a 32 factorial design. Using the 32 factorial designs with randomized complete blocks, 27 jasmine plants were randomly grouped into three blocks. The treatment or compost used were dried leaves, orange, and banana peels. The height of the plants in each pot was measured for 30 days and the growth rate was calculated. The plant growth rate was analyzed using the analysis of variance (ANOVA). Each factor and combination factors was analyzed according to the main and interaction effect. The result show that soil fertility is maximized with the use of dried leaves with one cup of water, followed by the orange peel with three cups of water, and the banana peel with two cups of water. The results can be improved by taking the measurements for more than 30 days with the addition of other composts and locations for the blockings.
Assessing Heavy Metal Contamination in Stream Sediment and Water in Idofian, Kwara State: A Geochemical Perspective
Authors:   University of Ilorin, Ayobami Bamikole Emmanuel , Omorinoye Omolayo Ajoke ,   University of Ilorin, Bamigboye Olufemi Sijuade ,   Kwara State University, Kayode Oniyangi Abdulhameed ,   Kwara State University
Published: October 2024

Environmental geochemistry examines the presence, dispersion, and movement of elements on the Earth's surface. This research explores the environmental geochemistry of the Idofian area in Kwara State, Nigeria, with a particular emphasis on water and streamsediments. The heavy metals were ascertained using X-ray diffraction (XRD) and atomic absorption spectrometer (AAS). The study revealed the presence of marble, diorite, gneiss, pegmatite and amphibolite in the Idofian area. Furthermore, the XRD analysis provided information about the mineral composition including quartz, micas, lepidolite, laumontite, orthoclase, plagioclase, dolomite and anthophyllite. The findings revealed the absence of sediment contamination, while highlighting substantial contamination in the study area's water. This contamination, attributed to a combination of geogenic and anthropogenic factors, underscores the crucial necessity for implementing sustainable management practices in the region.
Qualitative Phytochemical Screening and Antioxidant Properties of the Leaves of Miconia crenata (Vahl) Michelang. (Melastomataceae) from Ayer Hitam Utara Forest Reserve, Johor, Malaysia
Authors:   Universiti Tun Hussein Onn Malaysia, Jamil Nur Adila , Mohamad Salasiah ,   Universiti Tun Hussein Onn Malaysia, Linatoc Alona Cuevas ,   University of the Philippines, bin Muhamad Sa’ed Mohammad Ifratshim ,   Johor State Forestry Department
Published: October 2024

Medicinal plants have long been recognised as valuable resources for traditional medicine and modern pharmaceutical research due to their rich reservoirs of bioactive compounds. This study aims to provide baseline data on the phytochemical content and antioxidant activity of a tropical medicinal shrub, Miconia crenata, from Ayer Hitam Utara Forest Reserve (AHUFR), Muar, Johor. Total flavonoid content was determined by using the chloride colorimetric method, while antioxidant activity was validated by the DPPH radical scavenging assay. Phytochemical screening of the methanol extract from the leaves of M. crenata revealed the presence of secondary metabolites, including phenols and flavonoids. The total flavonoid content was measured at 508.84 ± 154.42 mg/mg at a concentration of 0.02 mg/mL, while the extract demonstrated high antioxidant potential, with an IC50 value of 40.54 μg/mL. Further investigation into the phytochemical content of M. crenata may unlock valuable insights into its potential therapeutic uses and contribute to the development of novel pharmaceuticals and natural health products.
Concepções de alunos do Ensino Médio sobre vírus e bactérias
Authors: Santiago Jussara Freire de Azevedo , Silva Natanael Charles da , Araújo Magnólia Fernandes Florêncio de
Published: October 2024

A pesquisa objetivou conhecer a percepção de alunos do ensino médio sobre vírus e bactérias em seus aspectos estrutural e ecológico, além de discutir sobre os aspectos sociais, econômicos e políticos que os envolvem, tomando o viés da Ciência e da Tecnologia. A pesquisa de natureza qualitativa, é caracterizada como um estudo de campo, e teve a participação de 90 alunos de três turmas da 2ª série do ensino médio de uma escola estadual de Parnamirim – RN. Os desenhos produzidos pelos alunos a partir dos questionamentos propostos foram agrupados em quatro categorias, sendo: A (sem desenho), B (representações parciais), C (representações escritas) e D (concepções alternativas e erros conceituais). Verificou-se que a maioria dos desenhos produzidos (60%) se encaixam na categoria D. Inferimos, também, que a maioria dos alunos do ensino médio não possuem um senso crítico sobre as possíveis causas negativas do uso da Ciência e da Tecnologia, podendo essa ser a causa para uma concepção reducionista. Isso mostra a necessidade de se trabalhar os conceitos científicos a partir das concepções prévias dos alunos, de forma que possam construir significados e relaciona-los com fatos do seu cotidiano.
The impact of the genesis of information and communication systems on distance education technologies in Ukraine
Authors:   Національний університет “Львівська політехніка”, Сеник Володимир , Зачек Олег , Рудий Тарас , Магеровська Тетяна ,   Львівський державний університет внутрішніх справ
Published: October 2024

This article presents the analysis of scientific publications dedicated to the study of the impact of information and communication systems on distance education technologies in Ukraine. The study uses a number of philosophical (dialectical, phenomenological), general research (analysis, synthesis, event analysis, content analysis, generalization) and specific research (bibliometric) methods of exploration. It describes the genesis of the use of information and communication systems in education starting from the computer presentation design, educational games, or simple programs for testing to the use of artificial intelligence. It has been identified that modern digital technologies are the important prerequisites for the success of both the educational process in general and distance learning in particular. The authors of the article emphasize that the use of information and communication systems in education process has a large number of drawbacks, and to address them, it is necessary to apply information technologies, which are methodologically justified and supplied with appropriate methodological recommendations. It is noted that advantages and disadvantages are potential factors for improving distance education, which significantly contribute to the achievement of learning outcomes. It was determined that distance education technologies significantly affected the quality of the educational process through the formation of educational competencies of specialists in various fields of knowledge. Attention is paid to the insufficient number of studies of the impact of the development of information and communication systems on distance learning technologies and, at the same time, to ensuring the quality of the educational process (achievement of program learning outcomes). The foundations for further scholarly research on the impact of information technology on the formation of general and professional competencies of specialists in various fields of knowledge during distance learning are outlined. Keywords: distance education; distance learning systems; quality of education; Information Technology; educational competences.
The role of the case method as an innovative educational tool for increasing students’ activity and interest in the process of learning chemistry
Authors:   Bohdan Khmelnytsky National University of Cherkasy, Shaforost Yulia
Published: October 2024

The article examines the potential of the case method for developing key competencies in students, in line with the strategy of the development of the new Ukrainian school (NUS). The importance of integrating this method into the educational process is justified, particularly through its role in modernizing educational materials for secondary education. It is emphasized that the case method contributes to creating a conducive learning environment and effective learning activities by combining theory with practice. Attention is drawn to the development of students’ learning abilities and personal qualities necessary for overcoming contemporary challenges, especially in times of war or post-war periods. The article discusses the use of the case method to actively engage students in learning Chemistry. The author proposes various forms of the case method that can be used during the lessons, such as case studies, case analysis, laboratory cases, interactive cases, and video cases. The importance of selecting appropriate cases, lesson preparation, and active interaction with students is underscored. It is noted that the use of the Internet helps teachers find relevant materials for cases, but it is crucial to consider the quality and reliability of sources. The author emphasizes the need to use facilitation methods for effective lesson delivery and encourages adherence to key criteria to ensure the effectiveness of case-based lessons. The positive impact of applying the case method on student motivation, the development of critical thinking, and the ability to independently solve problems is explored. The prospects for further use of the case method as an innovative tool in edutainment to stimulate active learning and skill development in modern education are highlighted. The application of the case method in teaching chemistry at school stimulates the development of creative, investigative, and critical thinking skills in students, helping them to effectively assimilate educational material. Combining the case method with other pedagogical approaches creates favorable conditions for the development of independence and analytical thinking in learners, contributing to their professional growth and acquisition of necessary knowledge and skills for further study of chemistry. Keywords: case method, edutainment, motivation enhancement, creative thinking, chemistry education, professional development.
International experience of physical rehabilitation specialists’ professional training in present times
Authors:   Donetsk National Medical University, Belkova Tetiana
Published: October 2024

The article examines the international experience of the professional training system of physical rehabilitation specialists, taking into account its main aspects and changes that have occurred during recent decades. The relevance of the need for professional training of physical rehabilitation specialists is due to the growing number of the Ukrainians in need of rehabilitation interventions, especially today, during the military conflict. The author of the article investigates the factors influencing the quality of professional training of future physical rehabilitation specialists, in particular the content of the educational programs and the role of technology in the educational process. The contribution of foreign researchers and practitioners to the study of the problem of future physical rehabilitation specialists’ professional training in present times is analyzed. The author summarizes the key reforms that contributed to the development of this modern system and the role of universities, colleges and other institutions of higher education in the process of developing the professional competencies of a rehabilitation specialist. Particular attention is paid to the professional training programs for rehabilitation therapists, their structure, content and methods. By studying foreign experience of the development of rehabilitation, the perspectives for its implementation and the use in Ukraine are identified. The author of the article emphasizes the social significance of physical rehabilitation and the need to establish mechanisms for the functioning of rehabilitation as an independent field and at the same time as an integral part of the activities aimed at restoring and maintaining health and working capacity of citizens at the state level. Based on the analysis of recent studies, it was concluded that the experience of foreign systems of physical rehabilitation specialists’ professional training is characterized by innovative methods and the use of new flexible technologies that introduce diversity and differentiation into the educational process. The paper demonstrates the importance of reforming the professional training of rehabilitation therapists with regard to the changes of modern educational paradigm. Keywords: professional training, health, international experience, higher education, physical rehabilitation, physical rehabilitation specialists.
Película conversación
Authors: Bullot Érik
Published: October 2024

¿Pueden distinguirse diferentes modos de existencia para una película? ¿Una conversación puede producir una película? Este es el punto de partida del presente artículo, dedicado al estudio de las formas performativas del cine por medio del formato de la conferencia y la conversación. ¿Una conversación es un modo de existencia para el cine? ¿El cine es un arte viviente? Cuando el enunciado sustituye a la obra, ¿quiénes son los mediadores invisibles de la función? A la manera de una obra de teatro o de un guion, el artículo reproduce el texto de una performance desarrollada en 2020, en el marco del Festival des Cinémas Différents et Expérimentaux de París, durante la cual seis espectadores diseminados en la sala reaccionaban a la proyección de películas mudas.
A Javanese Dance is A Representation of Rasa in Javanese Culture
Authors: Indah Sulastuti Katarina , Sunardi  , Efrida  , Mamik Widyastuti  , Hadawiyah Endah Utami  , Setya Widyawati  , Budi Setyastuti  , Nuryanto
Published: October 2024

This paper presents the concept of rasa in Javanese culture embodied in Javanese dance. The ethnographic approach in the Ethnochoreology discipline used as a step in data collection was in-depth interviews with actors (dancers, choreographers) in a society with a Javanese cultural scope. The observation step in the data collection effort was carried out using the involved observation model or participant observer, completed by data collection through literature and relevant documents. The theoretical perspective and concept used as the basis for thinking in discussing the case study of the Ela-ela dance in this paper is the concept of rasa, as put forward by Paul Stange. Namely, that rasa is a "tool" or "means" of perception, or a "function" of "whisper of heart or intuition", and rasa in Javanese dance as expressed by Katarina Indah Sulastuti, that rasa in Javanese dance is an element that is integrated with the senses in the body in a comprehensive manner which involves: the sensibility of heart vibrations, sharpness of intuition, imagination, bodily intelligence, and understanding of Javanese culture. Javanese dance, in the example of the case study, the Bedhaya Ela-ela dance is a representation of the rasa in Javanese culture, namely that the Bedhaya Ela-ela dance is a form of dance that substantially depicts the life of the Javanese people and the culture of rasa which involves issues of ethics, aesthetics, and religion in Javanese culture.
Формування елементів структури урожаю гірчиці залежно від сортових особливостей
Authors: Миколайко І. І.
Published: October 2024

Сьогодні в Україні лише частково реалізуються потенційні можливості підвищення продуктивності рослинництва. Однією з культур, урожайні властивості якої використані неповною мірою, є гірчиця. Більшість механізмів формування підвищеної продуктивності рослин цієї культури наразі до кінця не вивчені і потребують додаткових досліджень. У зв’язку з чим, ми провели багаторічні дослідження в умовах центральної частини Лісостепу України з метою з’ясування особливостей формування елементів структури урожаю гірчиці залежно від сортових особливостей. Встановлено, що формування елементів структури урожаю гірчиці залежало від біологічних особливостей сортів та ґрунтово-кліматичних умов вирощування упродовж всі фаз росту і розвитку рослин. Найсприятливіші умови для формування біометричних показників і, відповідно – урожайності насіння гірчиці були в 2021 р. У середньому за три роки висота рослин в фазу розетки, на початку вегетації, у трьох сортів – Еталон, Царівна Півночі і Аріадна була майже однаковою (9,7 см, 9,7 см і 9,9 см відповідно) то в сорту Ослава вона була достовірно більшою і становила 10,4 см. Найменші показники висоти були у сорту Підпечерецька (9,0 см). Висота рослин за фазами росту і розвитку по сортах змінювалася, не виявлено якогось одного сорту в якого вона була б більшою в усіх фазах порівняно з іншими сортами. Якщо в фазу розетки висота рослин сорту Ослава була найвищою (10,4 см), то в фазах бутанізації, цвітіння та дозрівання достовірно вищою вона була в сорту Аріадна (38,9 см, 66,6 см та 103,4 см відповідно). Кількість стручків на рослині достовірно змінювалася залежно від сортових особливостей. Найбільшу кількість стручків формувалося на рослинах сортів Аріадна – 68,7 шт. та Ослава – 68,5 шт. Значно меншу кількість стручків було сформовано на рослинах сортів Еталон, Підпечерецька та Царівна Півночі. Аналогічна залежність спостерігалася щодо кількості стебел. Найбільше стебел формували рослини сортів Аріадна та Ослава (3,8 шт. та 4,0 шт. відповідно), достовірно менше їх було в інших сортів. Дисперсійним аналізом встановлено, що найбільший вплив на формування елементів структури урожаю був фактор «умови вирощування». Формування елементів структури урожаю залежало як від сортових особливостей, так і погодних умов в роки проведення дослідження. Збільшення показників структури врожаю сприяло підвищення насіннєвої продуктивності гірчиці усіх сортів, але якість насіння – енергія проростання, схожість та маса 1000 насінин не підвищувалася залежно від величини елементів структури урожаю, достовірної різниці по сортах не виявлено.
Стан еритропоезу в організмі поросят за дії наносполук феруму та германію
Authors: Ковальчук О. О. , Томчук В. А. , Данчук В. О. , Карповський В. В.
Published: October 2024

Актуальність проведених досліджень обумовлена відсутністю у доступній літературі відомостей щодо впливу наночастинок феруму та германію на стан еритропоезу у поросят. Метою роботи було встановити вплив задавання наночастинок феруму та германію свиноматкоам на кількість еритроцитів, вміст гемоглобіну та показник гематокриту у отриманих від них поросят. Експеримент проведено на 24 свиноматках великої білої породи, віком 2–3 роки, яких було розділено на дві групи (контрольна і дослідна). Свиням дослідної групи за 10 діб до опоросу, протягом десяти діб випоювали комплекс наносполук мікроелементів феруму – 3 мг/добу та германію – по 0,01 мг/добу. Матеріалом для досліджень слугували зразки відібрані крові від 5 поросят отриманих від свиноматок дослідних грум на другу, сьому і двадцять першу добу життя. Вплив постнатальної адаптації на кількість еритроцитів в крові поросят протягом експерименту становив – F= 534,6 > FU=4,49 (Р < 0,001), вміст гемоглобіну – F= 55,5 > FU=4,49 (Р<0,001) та показник гематокриту відповідно – F= 11,1 > FU=4,49 (Р < 0,004). Встановлено достовірний вплив задавання наносполук феруму і германію свиноматкам на кількість еритроцитів і крові (F= 11,7 > FU=4,49; Р < 0,004). Задавання наносполук феруму та германію свиноматкам має достовірний вплив на кількість еритроцитів (ղ²ᵪ=0,74; Р < 0,01), вміст гемоглобіну (ղ²ᵪ=0,83; Р < 0,001) та показник гематокриту (ղ²ᵪ=0,75; Р < 0,01\) в крові 2-добових поросят. За задавання свиноматкам протягом 10 діб до опоросу наночастинок феруму і германію кількість еритроцитів у крові отриманих від них 2-добових поросят була на 12,8% (Р < 0,001), вміст гемоглобіну на 14,3% (Р < 0,001), а показник гематокриту на 14,5 % (Р < 0,05) більше відповідно до показників поросят контрольної групи. Отже, наносполуки феруму та германію можуть відігравати важливу роль у покращенні гемопоезу у поросят.
Характеристика латентного періоду стафілококових фагів, виділених за піодермії у собак
Authors: Строїч В. В. , Горюк Ю. В.
Published: October 2024

Одним із захворювань собак за якого часто застосовують антибіотики є піодермія. Збудниками даного захворювання зазвичай є автохтонні бактерії шкіри видів Staphylococcus spp. (S. pseudintermedius, S. aureus та інші). Однак здатність ефективно лікувати піодермії у собак зараз суттєво обмежена через появу мультирезистентних, метицилінрезистентних стафілококів (MRS). Враховуючи таку тенденцію нами було поставлено завдання розробити безпечний спосіб лікування даного захворювання без використання антибіотиків, а за допомогою виділених зі шкіри бактеріофагів літичних до стафілококів. Метою даної роботи було перевірити літичний цикл розвитку виділених чотирьох бактеріофагів активних щодо видів бактерій роду Staphylococcus, які в подальшому стануть основою у фаговому препараті для лікування піодермії собак. Виділення, ідентифікація та отримання стафілококових бактеріофагів проводили за загальновизнаною за методикою Oliveira. Для встановлення періоду латентного часу у виділених фагів використовували спосіб одиночного циклу розмноження фага. Встановлено, що фаг S.a 4 під час культивування у середовищі із золотистим стафілококом характеризувався поступовим вивільненням віронів і на 50 хв інкубації реєстрували максимальну кількість фагових колоній в середовищі – 7,65 log БУО/мл. Дослідження динаміки розвитку фагу S.р 2 виявило інтенсивніший інфекційний процес, ніж фагу S.a 4. Зокрема латентний період у фагу S.р 2 був на 10 хв коротший, ніж фагу S.a 4 і становив 40 хв. Протягом цього часу відбувався розвиток фагу з руйнуванням клітин стафілококів і вивільненням великої кількості фагів 7,91 log БУО/мл, що вважається добрим оскільки буде сприяти зараженню інших мікробних клітин у запальному вогнищі. Інфекційний процес за участі фагу S.she 3 характеризувався коротким латентним періодом, оскільки максимальна кількість вібріонів вивільнялася на 40-ву хвилину інкубації. Водночас під час розвитку даного фагу вивільняється менша кількість віріонів, порівнюючи з розвитком фагів S.a 4 й S.р 2. Літичний процес за участі фагу S.e 5 був приблизно аналогічний як і фага S.she 3. Відмінність полягала тільки в тому, що у фагу S.she 3 латентний період був на 10 хв довший і становив 50 хв, порівнюючи з фагом S.e 5 (40 хв). Отже, усі виділені фаги мали задовільний латентний період, що дає можливість їх використовувати для виробництва бактеріофагового препарату для лікування запальних процесів на шкірі собак.
Паразитарні захворювання собак в умовах міської популяції
Authors: Мушинський А. Б. , Карчевська Т. М. , Керничний С. П. , Савчук Л. Б. , Бетлінська Т. В.
Published: October 2024

Гельмінтози, спричинені паразитичними червами, залишають актуальною проблемою ветеринарної медицини, особливо в контексті здоров’я тварин в Україні. Метою роботи було з’ясування поширеності паразитарних захворювань собак, спричинених гельмінтами і найпростішими, в умовах міста Камʼянець-Подільський Хмельницької області. Об’єктами дослідження були службові, домашні та бездомні собаки м. Камʼянець-Подільський. Серед собак було виявлено п’ять видів гельмінтів та один вид найпростіших: один вид з класу Cestoda (Dipilidium caninum – 15,6 %); чотири види з класу Nematoda (Toxocara canis – 40 %, Toxascaris leonina – 15,1 %, Ancylostoma caninum – 4,8 %, Dirofillaria repens – 2,4 %) і один вид найпростіших (Giardia spp. – 13,4 %). У 17,4 % уражених тварин паразитарні інвазії реєстрували у вигляді мікст- і поліінвазій. Серед найпоширеніших комбінацій спостерігали поєднання анкілостомозу і токсокарозу (9,7 %), діпілідіозу і токсокарозу (12,9 %), а також у деяких тварин виявляли три і більше членів паразитоценозів. Досить часто разом із гельмінтами виявляли найпростіших (26 %). Найвищий відсоток ураження спостерігався серед бездомних тварин. За результатами досліджень було встановлено, що найбільш поширеними серед собак були токсокароз, токсаскаридоз та дипілідіоз, менш поширені – анкілостомоз, дирофіляріоз і лямбліоз. У щенят (до 6 місяців) частіше реєстрували токсокари та анкілостоми. У молодих собак (6 місяців – 2 роки) до них додавалися стронгілоїди та цестоди. Дорослі собаки (2–7 років) та літні (старше 7 років) були уражені токсокарами, анкілостомами, цестодами і дирофіляріями. За даними досліджень, можна зробити висновок, що самки, у яких ЕІ склала 55,1 %, більш інвазовані гельмінтами у порівнянні з кобелями, у яких ЕІ склала 44,9 %.
Achieving Constant Hazard Rate in Psychophysics Experiments
Authors: Maniscalco Brian , Peters Megan A. K.
Published: October 2024

In psychophysics, it is sometimes desirable for the temporal onset of an event to be unpredictable, e.g. to control possible effects of expectation and temporal attention in behavioral or neural data. One way of achieving temporal unpredictability is to make the hazard rate of the event constant. Roughly speaking, the hazard rate measures the odds that an event will occur now or later. If the hazard rate is constant throughout a temporal interval, then the time elapsed thus far provides the observer with no information for updating their expectation of when the event will occur. A constant hazard rate thus prevents the building of predictive anticipation that the event is about to occur even as time continues to unfold. Here we consider the question of how best to control hazard rates in psychophysics experiments with time considered as either a continuous or discrete variable. We argue that for computerized psychophysics experiments, it is both more appropriate and more convenient to model time as a discrete variable. We also consider that for practical reasons, experimenters may wish to impose upper bounds on the duration of random temporal intervals. We show how hazard rate can be exactly controlled for unbounded time intervals when time is treated as either a continuous or discrete variable by using the exponential and geometric distributions, respectively. We discuss complications in controlling hazard rate for bounded time intervals and present a solution yielding exact control of hazard rate for bounded time intervals with discrete time steps using a modified form of the geometric distribution. The latter approach is likely to be the most relevant for most psychophysics experiments that seek to control hazard rate.
A Scoping Review on Conversational Memory and Characteristics of Conversations in Alzheimer’s Disease
Authors: Tanguay Annick , Clough Sharice , McCurdy Ryan , Padilla Victoria-Grace , Lord Kaitlin , Brown-Schmidt Sarah , Duff Melissa Collins
Published: October 2024

Typical late-onset Alzheimer’s disease (AD) compromises episodic memory, the ability to recollect past events. Much of the research on episodic memory in AD has relied on lab-based memory tasks (e.g., word lists, short stories). It is unclear how well these tasks characterize the impact of episodic memory impairments across different domains of everyday life, including conversational memory. In this scoping review, we followed the JBI Manual for Evidence Synthesis and PRISMA-ScR guidelines to establish what is known about conversational memory in AD (e.g., “I remember discussing medical decisions with my children and I said [...] and they responded [...]”). We retained 121 reports on conversation and 3 reports on conversational memory out of the 8,351 unique records found on PubMed, CINAHL, PsycInfo, Web of Science, Cochrane, Embase, and in relevant reviews. Included reports had to involve conversation in any format and on any topic, include an AD population, be peer-reviewed, in English, and published between 1990–2022. None of the studies investigated memory for spontaneous conversation. Given the rarity of studies on conversational memory, we primarily summarized existing knowledge about conversation and methodological considerations to inspire hypotheses for future research on conversational memory in AD and to illuminate decisions regarding study design. Between 10%-85% studies reported on demographic characteristics, hearing/vision acuity, screening tests, task instructions, and the duration of the conversations. Studies described a broad range of behaviors during conversation, such as repetitions, dysfluency, ambiguity, pauses, and gestures. This review revealed a wide gap in knowledge on conversational memory in AD and offers a path to accelerating research on the topic. Conversational memory may be an important factor in promoting independence, participation in healthcare, and social well-being.
Gender Disparities in Parental Linguistic Engagement and in Children's Language Development
Authors: Gurgand Lilas , Peyre Hugo , Ramus Franck
Published: October 2024

Girls tend to outperform boys in language development and literacy, but the reasons behind this remain unclear, particularly whether the family environment plays a role. This study examines gender differences in parental linguistic engagement and its effect on language outcomes. Using data from the French birth cohort Elfe (about 12,000 for early outcomes, 4,000 for later outcomes), parental questionnaires assessed linguistic engagement from ages 1 to 5. Children’s language outcomes were measured via the McArthur-Bates CDI at age 2, and literacy tests in preschool and first grade. Analyses showed parents engaged more with girls than boys (standardized β=0.10 to 0.17), and this engagement partially mediated the relationship between sex and language outcomes (mediation 6% to 19%). These findings suggest that parental language input contributes to sex differences in language development, with implications for designing interventions that ensure equitable language opportunities for all children.
Perceptions of Agency Over Social Media Use Are Better Predictors of Well-Being Than Logged Usage Time
Authors: Parry Douglas A. , Coetzee Bronwyne
Published: October 2024

There is substantial concern that social media use (SMU) negatively impacts well-being. Building on the idea that subjective evaluations of SMU can shape well-being effects, this study examined how two social media mindsets—agency and valence—relate to self-reported and logged SMU, and four well-being indicators (depression, anxiety, stress, life satisfaction) among a sample of young adults (N = 1858, M = 21.01, SD = 3.14) in South Africa. The results replicate, extend and sometimes contradict previous findings in this regard. Agency mindsets (perceptions of control over SMU) negatively correlated with SMU and positively with well- being, while valence mindsets (perceptions about SMU effects) were associated with higher SMU but not to well-being. Logged SMU showed weaker associations with mindsets and well- being compared to self-reported SMU, suggesting differences between perceived and actual use. These findings highlight the importance of users' sense of control, more so than SMU duration or valence mindsets, in predicting well-being.
Effect of auditory cues to lexical stress on the visual perception of gestural timing
Authors: Ye Chengjia , McQueen James , Bosker Hans Rutger
Published: October 2024

Speech is often accompanied by gestures. Since beat gestures frequently co-occur with prosodic prominence, they can indicate stress in a word and hence influence spoken-word recognition. However, little is known about the reverse influence of auditory speech on visual perception. The current study investigated whether lexical stress has an effect on the perceived timing of hand beats. We used videos in which a disyllabic word, embedded in a carrier sentence (Exp 1) or in isolation (Exp 2), was coupled with an up-and-down hand beat, while varying their degrees of asynchrony. Results from Experiment 1, a novel beat timing estimation task, revealed that gestures were estimated to occur closer in time to the pitch peak in a stressed syllable than their actual timing, hence reducing the perceived temporal difference between gestures and stress by around 60%. Using a forced-choice task, Experiment 2 further demonstrated that listeners tended to perceive a gesture, falling midway between two syllables, on the syllable receiving stronger cues to stress than the other, and the auditory effect was greater when gestural timing was most ambiguous. Our findings suggest that f0 and intensity are the driving force behind the temporal attraction effect of stress on perceived gestural timing. This study provides new evidence for auditory influences on visual perception, supporting bidirectionality in audiovisual interaction between speech-related signals that occur in everyday face-to-face communication.
The Past, the Present, the Future: Self-portrayals of Wealthy Business Owners in the Media
Authors: Wallaschek Stefan , Waitkus Nora
Published: October 2024

The super-rich rarely discuss their lives in public. On the rare occasion that they do so, provide interesting insights into the self-legitimization strategies. In this article, we study the discursive construction of wealth accumulation through arguments, frames, and metaphors drawing on the Sociology of cultural processes in the (re-)production of inequality. We use interviews with wealthy German family business owners in media outlets between 2014 and 2019. Applying thematic analysis, we demonstrate that these wealthy business owners discursively link the past, present, and future of their family and business. By doing so, they emphasize hard work to explain family wealth transitions and how such wealth is accumulated across generations. This temporal self-narration about business success tied to family structure creates a powerful discursive strategy to legitimize their wealth. Our findings contribute to the emerging field of media studies on the super-rich and wealthy dynasties.
Gender Representation in Expert Groups
Authors: Holst Cathrine , Christensen Johan , Borgen Solveig Topstad
Published: October 2024

Expert institutions are increasingly expected not only to provide the best professional expertise but also to ensure equal presence of women. Yet while there is an extensive literature on descriptive gender representation in bureaucracies and courts, we largely lack studies that examine patterns of women’s presence on expert advisory bodies. Drawing on large-n data on the composition of Norwegian expert advisory commissions, the paper investigates and evaluates how the share of women on these commissions has developed over the last half-century. It finds that while overall gender parity was achieved in recent decades, women remain strongly under-represented among commission chairs, particularly academic chairs, and among commission members from economics, an especially important policy discipline. Normatively speaking, the developments towards parity are promising, and we find no empirical confirmation of the worry that proportional representation and competence requirements are in tension. On the contrary, persistent gender gaps among economists on commissions and academic chairs may endanger adequate provision of expertise into policy-making.
RDW-SD - A more sensitive marker of anisocytosis than RDW-CV in patients with macrocytosis
Authors: Dangare Harsha , Janice Jaison , PS Murgod
Published: October 2024

Background: Anisocytosis is a variation in RBC size. This can be conventionally observed on peripheral blood smear microscopy and also by red cell distribution width, a RBC parameter obtained on automated hematology analyzers.  Red cell distribution width is considered a quantitative measure of anisocytosis and does not carry subjective variation associated with microscopy and it is reported as RDW-CV % and RDW-SD. Both these values are calculated differently. Although it is one of the most frequently used hemogram parameters for anisocytosis, it is not well understood. This study aimed to compare the sensitivity of RDW-CV and RDW-SD as markers of anisocytosis in macrocytosis.
Material and methods: This was a cross-sectional prospective observational study conducted in a laboratory of a tertiary care hospital in western India. The sample size of 138 was calculated at a precision 0.1 and 90% confidence interval. 138 blood samples each from patients with macrocytosis and normocytosis control group were analysed.
Results: The range for RDW-CV & RDW-SD was 12.59%-15.13% & 40.05-47.81fl respectively in our population. Gender-wise distribution showed 72% male & 28% female.  The Z score value of 4.12 (>1.96 is significant) reflected a significant difference in anisocytosis detection using RDW-SD compared to RDW-CV in macrocytosis.
Conclusions: RDW-SD is a more sensitive marker of RBC anisocytosis than RDW-CV in macrocytosis.
An analysis of vitamin D testing over recent years
Authors: Pant Vivek , Gautam Keyoor , Pyakurel Devish , Pradhan Santosh
Published: October 2024

Testing for vitamin D deficiency increased over the past years among Nepalese population. The aim of this study is to investigate the trends in the incidence of testing for vitamin D and the prevalence of patients with circulating concentrations of Vitamin D indicative of  toxicity  (>100 nmol/L) between 2015 and 2022.
Histopathological study of scaly plaque over palm and sole in patients attending a tertiary care Hospital in Kathmandu
Authors: Pudasaini Sujata , Yadav Pooja , Silvanus Vinutha , Adhikari Shreesti , Tiwari Aashish
Published: October 2024

Background: Dermatoses of palms and soles are frequently encountered as palms and soles have non-hairy skin. Scaling skin could be a symptom of many medical conditions including psoriasis, eczema, contact dermatitis, ichthyosis, actinic keratosis, lichen planus, tinea, etc. Psoriasis must be differentiated from its non-psoriatic lesions. Histopathological examination often serves as a confirmative part of the diagnosis.
Materials and methods: This was a hospital-based retrospective study carried out in the Department of Pathology and Department of Dermatology of Nepal Medical College Teaching Hospital. A total of 139 cases of scaly plaque skin lesions of the palm and sole from January 2020 to December 2022 were included in the study. The histopathological diagnosis was correlated with the clinical diagnosis.
Results: Among 139 persons presenting with scaly lesions, the median age was 36 years with an age range from 15 years to 80 years. A female preponderance (59%) was observed. The odds of Psoriasis were 2.5 times higher (OR CI: 1.21 to 5.17) among those aged 36 years and above (P value 0.011). There was a significant association between age categories and histological diagnosis of scaly lesions. The agreement was significant between the clinical and histological diagnosis for psoriatic (63.0%) and non-psoriatic lesions (76.3%) with a Cohen’s kappa coefficient of 0.38 (SE: 0.084), P value < 0.0001.
Conclusions: Both psoriatic and non-psoriatic lesions can present as scaly plaque skin lesions, hence the knowledge of these clinical mimickers is important for the proper diagnosis. The histopathological examination will give the confirmatory diagnosis.
Question of Self in Namita Gokhale’s Paro: Dream of Passion
Authors: Irshad Md.
Published: October 2024

Namita Gokhale is a remarkable signature in Indian English fiction. She very brilliantly pinpoints the quest of identity of a woman in her very first novel Paro: Dream of Passion. The novel gives stress on concrete individual existence and consequently on subjectivity, individual freedom and choice. By writing Paro: Dream of Passion Namita Gokhale has initiated a new phase in Indian writing in English. Through two women characters –Paro and Priya-Namita Gokhale explores an exceptionally esoteric strata of society. Namita Gokhale’s Paro: Dream of Passion is the world of affluent business class and their idle rich counterparts, the working middle class and the world of legal professional, politician and service cadres. Obviously, the world of the novel is not representative of a cross-structure of Indian society, either in class, occupation, and cultural affiliation. But it is an interpretation of the life of highly Westernized urban Indian.
Kryzys schizofreniczny i rozszczepienie formy poetyckiej w dobie kapitalizmu kognitywnego. Klasycyzm postmodernistyczny Przemysława Dakowicza
Authors: Jazienicki Zbigniew
Published: October 2024

The article interprets Przemysław Dakowicz’s poetics as an attempt to diagrammatically reproduce the mechanisms of postmodern culture with particular emphasis on its connections with the economic base in the form of the so-called cognitive capitalism. The poet diagnoses contemporary times as “schizophrenic”, referring to "Capitalism and schizophrenia" by Gilles Deleuze and Félix Guattari. From the perspective of literary history, the poetry of great modernists also turns out to be an important inspiration for his work – from Ezra Pound and T.S. Eliot to Tadeusz Różewicz, as well as their reception by Jarosław Marek Rymkiewicz.
Polska literatura faktu w Chinach: omówienie i przekłady
Authors: Yue Duan
Published: October 2024

The purpose of this paper is to present the history of translation of Polish non-fiction in mainland China from the 1980s to the present. The article divides the translations into three broad categories: anti-fascist literature, exemplified by Tadeusz Borowski and Zofia Nałkowska; reportages, represented by Ryszard Kapuściński; and biographies, diaries and correspondence of renowned Polish artists. The paper includes descriptions of the motives behind the publication of these translations, their reception and information about the translators. It notes that most of the Chinese translations of Polish non-fiction were produced under the influence of significant commemorative events or promotional activities organized by official cultural institutions of both countries.
The Haunting of the Antebellum South: Branden Jacobs-Jenkins’s Appropriate as a Gothic Memory Archive
Authors: Shin Dohyun
Published: October 2024

In Appropriate (2014), Branden Jacobs-Jenkins unearths the buried horror of the antebellum South by crafting a story about the white, dysfunctional Lafayettes, who visit their family house in Arkansas for an estate sale. In the process, they discover the secret of their deceased patriarch – that he collected photos and body parts of lynched Black men and women as souvenirs. Following the trend established by American Gothic scholars who read the American house as a metonym for the United States and its haunting entanglement with slavery, this article explores how Appropriate uses specific traits of the genre to critique its racialized conventions, particularly the portrayal of slavery as the haunting “dark” guilt of the past. I read the Lafayette family’s collective obsession with lynched body parts across three generations as a form of Gothic doubling. Furthermore, I explore how Jacobs-Jenkins reveals the Gothic horror of the past through the trope of the unseen and repressed Other – mainly through the sound of cicadas – which emphasizes the dismembered body in active pain rather than frozen and preserved in time. Through these interventions, Jacobs-Jenkins disturbs buried and repressed discourses about transatlantic slavery and white supremacy that still haunt the United States today.
نقد فلسفة طه عبد الرحمن الائتمانية: تداخل السياسة والدين والأخلاق والحداثة
Authors: الحاج صالح رشيد
Published: October 2024

هذه الدراسة تحليل نقدي لمشروع طه عبد الرحمن الفكري، وقد قُسمت إلى ستة أقسام. في القسم الأول حددت المسلمات الخمس الأساسية التي بنى عليها عبد الرحمن مشروعه الفكري، وحددت ماهية منهجه وركائزه السبعة. وفي القسم الثاني تناولت العلاقة بين الدين والسياسة في مشروعه، وكيف جرى تديين السياسة أو تسييس الدين، والمماهاة بينهما لمصلحة الدين التزكوي. أما في القسم الثالث، فتناولت العلاقة بين الدين والأخلاق وكيف جرى تديين الأخلاق أو تخليق الدين، وتحويل الأخلاق إلى مجرد مذهب في التصوف. وأما في القسم الرابع، فتناولت الدور السياسي للتصوف وكيف أنه يعتمد المشروع على "الأقطاب الصوفية" لتصحيح العلاقة بين المسلمين ودينهم، وذلك على الضد من الدور الذي يعطيه الإخوان المسلمون والسلفية للفقهاء، على الرغم من اتفاقه معهم من حيث مركزية فكرة "الوسيط"، وهي فكرة أتى الإسلام بضدها. وفي القسم الخامس تناولت ما أسميته "عبودية المنطق للعلوم الدينية"، والتناقضات التي تعتري استخدام عبد الرحمن للمنطق ومناهجه. ثم تناولت الدراسة في القسم السادس تناقضات نقده للحداثة الغربية من حيث إنه يقوم على اللعب بين ما هو كائن وما ينبغي أن يكون، وأنه نقد غير أصيل لأنه مستمد من نقد الحداثة لنفسها، وليس من تطبيق مذهبه الديني على الحداثة الغربية كما توحي بعض كتبه. وقد ختمت كل قسم بنقد يُوضح تناقضات المشروع في كل نقطه تناولتها، والغايات السياسية التي تقف وراء الأفكار التي يطرحها.
THE ROLE OF MONGOLIA IN REGIONAL SECURITY
Authors: Munkh-Orgil Tuvdendarjaa
Published: October 2024

The situation in Northeast Asia is an important topic of international security arena. Political and economic relations between Russia and China, as well as the Korean Peninsula issue, which can have a major impact in Northeast Asia as such powerful actors that can change the world order and security environment. Past decades, the peace policy of mutual trust between the countries of the Northeast Asian region has become the most important issue not only in the regional but also in the international security environment. Therefore, it is important to analyze and assess a strategic interests and international geopolitical ambition of major powers that could directly or indirectly affect Mongolia's national security to develop national strategic solutions to enhance Mongolia’s national security and its security environment. Mongolia has no territorial, economic, military or political conflicts of interest with any of the countries in the region. Such reasons can give Mongolia an opportunity to be a key player in confidence-building measures to prevent hostilities, to avert escalation, to reduce military tension in Northeast Asia. There are many ways and fields to operate as peace player in this region. For instance, Mongolia can be an initiator or a main actor of a regional peacekeeping cooperation organization in Northeast Asia.
Análise comparativa entre metodologias para determinação do hematócrito de cães e equinos
Authors: Almeida Thiago Oliveira de , Cabral Anna Laura Rodrigues , Machado Camila Ribeiro Cibien , Prado Tiago Martins do
Published: October 2024

This study aimed to analyze and statistically compare the hematocrit values obtained from the processing of whole blood samples in EDTA from 20 dogs and 17 horses using the microhematocrit methodology and the GENVET 3-part VH20 Hematological Analyzer, in order to verify the accuracy of automated analysis. The automated technique demonstrated statistically similar results, with an average bias of 1.47% between the methodologies in the canine species and 1.48% in the equine species. It was concluded that automated analysis produces results with minimal variability, little affecting the laboratory interpretation of the hematocrit index in canine and equine patients.