bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Benzidine. Determination in workplace air
Authors: Jeżewska Anna , Woźnica Agnieszka
Published: March 2021

Benzidine is a white, crystalline solid. In the past, it was used mainly for the production of dyes, and nowadays in chemical analysis. Benzidine can cause bladder cancer to humans. The aim of this study was to develop a method for determining benzidine in workplace air, which will makes it possible to determine its concentrations at the lowest possible level. The method is based on the chemisorption of benzidine on a glass fiber filter treated with sulphuric acid(VI), extraction of benzidine disulphate with water and sodium hydroxide solution, and after extraction to the solid phase (SPE), benzidine is eluted from the SPE cartridge using 1 mL of methanol. The obtained solution is analyzed chromatographically. The tests were performed using a liquid chromatograph (HPLC) 1200 series of Agilent Technologies with a fluorescence detector (FLD). Determinations were performed using an Ultra C18 column (25 cm × 4.6 mm, dp = 5 µm). The procedure was validated according to Standard No. EN 482. The method can be used to determine benzidine in workplace air in the concentration range from 0.1 to 2 µg/m3. The limit of quantification (LOQ) is 0.25 ng/m3. The overall accuracy of the method was 5.36% and its relative total uncertainty was 23%. This method makes it possible to selectively determine benzidine in workplace air in the presence of most substances that do not show fluorescence, and in the presence of: biphenyl-4-amine, 1-naphthylamine and 2-naphthylamine, which show fluorescence. The method of determining benzidine has been recorded as an analytical procedure (see Appendix). This article discusses the problems of occupational safety and health, which are covered by health sciences and environmental engineering.
The Scarab and Scaraboid Seals in the Egyptian Collection of the Museum of Cultural History, University of Oslo
Authors: Müller Stephanie
Published: March 2021

The Museum of Cultural History in Oslo is home to a small but fine ancient Egyptian collection. For my Magister thesis at the University of Heidelberg, I had the pleasure of conducting research on the 98 scarabs and scaraboid seals in the collection. The study focused on the bottom motifs and the multifunctional purposes for their owners as well as the important insights they provide into common religious beliefs in ancient Egyptian society. This short overview of the research conducted in Oslo presents all twelve attested bottom motifs and introduces the most remarkable objects in the collection. Covering a time span from the Twelfth Dynasty until the Late Period and most probably the Roman Period, the scarabs and scaraboid seals in the museum bear testimony to 2000 years of cultural history, providing fascinating details about the religious beliefs of the common people as well as demonstrating the importance of these objects in everyday life.
Flour-Based Confectionery as Functional Food
Authors: Oručević Žuljević Sanja , Akagić Asima
Published: March 2021

Nowadays, the flour-based confectionery industry is facing different challenges in reducing caloric and increasing nutritive values in order to produce healthier products, given that consumption of flour-based confectionery products has been growing steadily worldwide. In addition to wheat flour, these products include sugar and fat, which contribute to high energy value, but have few micronutrients and are mostly poor in nutritional terms. Due to frequency of consumption, they can harm a balanced diet, especially when it comes to children and young people. Flour-based confectionery is highly suitable for enrichment with ingredients that have pronounced functional properties. In this sense, the text offers some possibilities for improving such products through different approaches and presents new trends in developing functional, flour-based confectionery by using different supplements that could decrease caloric value, improve nutritional and non-nutritional values and develop products with pronounced functional properties.
Death Penalty: A Human Rights Issue for South Africa
Authors: Jones Chris
Published: March 2021

In South Africa, the death penalty has been repealed just after the arrival of democracy in 1994. At present, due to numerous daily murders, especially farm murders, this issue is being debated once again seriously – by ordinary citizens, politicians, theologians, and others. In the media, in particular, it gets a lot of attention and in view of the extent of violent crime in our country, the reinstatement of the death penalty is again supported by many. The death penalty as such will always be contentious because it is about the reasoned termination of someone’s life – which is a radical act. Between 2009 and 2013 I did research on the death penalty in South African prisons (the first of its kind as far as we could determine), in all 9 our country’s provinces. The content of this study, gathered from 467 convicted murderers, and several other core aspects of why the reinstatement of the death penalty particularly in South Africa, should not be an option, will be discussed with reference to supporting international and authoritative research.
Novelty Detection Methodology Based on Self-Organizing Maps for Power Quality Monitoring
Authors: Jose Saucedo-Dorantes Juan , Alejandro Elvira-Ortiz David , Yosimar Jaen-Cuéllar Arturo , Toledano-Ayala Manuel
Published: March 2021

The inclusion of intelligent systems in the modern industry is demanding the development of the automatic monitoring and continuous analysis of the data related to entire processes, this is a challenge of the industry 4.0 for the energy management. In this regard, this chapter proposes a novelty detection methodology based on Self-Organizing Maps (SOM) for Power Quality Monitoring. The contribution and originality of this proposed method consider the characterization of synthetic electric power signals by estimating a meaningful set of statistical time-domain based features. Subsequently, the modeling of the data distribution through a collaborative SOM’s neuron grid models facilitates the detection of novel events related to the occurrence of power disturbances. The performance of the proposed method is validated by analyzing and assessing four different conditions such as normal, sag, swell, and fluctuations. The obtained results make the proposed method suitable for being implemented in embedded systems for online monitoring.
Economic and Financial Crimes and the Development of Society
Authors: Violeta Achim Monica , Nicolae Borlea Sorin , Ligia Văidean Viorela , Remus Florescu Decebal , Ramona Mara Eugenia , Constantin Cuceu Ionut
Published: March 2021

The purpose of this chapter is to study the detailed dynamics of economic and financial crimes within the European Union member states, namely corruption, shadow economy, tax evasion, money laundering, cybercrime and financial frauds. Our econometric modelling focuses on the impact of the vector of financial and economic crime proxies upon economic prosperity and human development. In accordance to the reviewed literature, for our sample of European Union countries, corruption and shadow economy have a negative effect upon the vector of development proxies while money laundering and cybercrimes belonging to “white collars” are positively correlated with the vector of development proxies that we analyze. All the data are interpreted and discussed, and then conclusions are drawn. Governmental policies on economic prosperity and societal wellbeing should focus on reducing corruption and shadow economy, in order to favour benefits in the field of economic and human development.
Study on Influence of a State of Dopants on Dislocation-Dopant Ions Interaction in Annealed Crystals
Authors: Kohzuki Yohichi
Published: March 2021

Combination method of strain-rate cycling tests and application of ultrasonic oscillations was conducted for KCl:Sr2+ (0.035, 0.050, 0.065 mol.% in the melt) single crystals at low temperatures. The measurement of strain-rate sensitivity (λ) of flow stress under the application of ultrasonic oscillatory stress provides useful information on the interaction between a mobile dislocation and impurities (Sr2+ ions) during plastic deformation and the variation of λ with stress decrement (Δτ) due to oscillation has stair-like shape: The first plateau place ranges below the first bending point (τp1) at low stress decrement and the second one extends from the second bending point (τp2) at high stress decrement. The value of λ decreases with the Δτ between the two bending points. The τp1 is considered to represent the effective stress due to impurities when a dislocation begins to break-away from the impurities with the help of thermal activation during plastic deformation. Annealing the impure crystal by heat treatment, τp1 decreases obviously at low temperature and the critical temperature Tc, at which τp1 is zero, also becomes slightly smaller. Furthermore, it was investigated whether a change in the state of a small amount of impurities has an influential factor of the flow parameters (e.g., the activation energy, the density of forest dislocations) from the data analyzed in terms of Δτ vs. λ curve.
Artificial Brain for the Humanoid-Nurse Robots of the Future: Integrating PsyNACS© and Artificial Intelligence
Authors: Ito Hirokazu , Tanioka Tetsuya , Joseph S. Diño Michael , L. Ong Irvin , C. Locsin Rozzano
Published: March 2021

Robots in healthcare are being developed rapidly, as they offer wide-ranging medical applications and care solutions. However, it is quite challenging to develop high-quality, patient-centered, communication-efficient robots. This can be attributed to a multitude of barriers such as technology maturity, diverse healthcare practices, and humanizing innovations. In order to engineer an ideal Humanoid-Nurse Robots (HNRs), a profound integration of artificial intelligence (AI) and information system like nursing assessment databases for a better nursing care delivery model is required. As a specialized nursing database in psychiatric hospitals, the Psychiatric Nursing Assessment Classification System and Care Planning System (PsyNACS©) has been developed by Ito et al., to augment quality and safe nursing care delivery of psychiatric health services. This chapter describes the nursing landscape in Japan, PsyNACS© as a specialized nursing database, the HNRs of the future, and the future artificial brain for HNRs linking PsyNACS© with AI through deep learning and Natural Language Processing (NLP).
Quality Inclusion of Young Children with Disabilities: Taking a Stance to Support Early Childhood Leaders
Authors: Movahedazarhouligh Sara
Published: March 2021

In the educational lexicon, inclusion is not a term, rather a philosophy that values and advocates for every child’s right to quality education and learning to develop their skills and realize their full potentials. Research over the past 40 years has demonstrated that inclusive education is associated with improved outcomes for children and students with disabilities. In early childhood (EC) education, inclusive education is in the best interest of all young children to improve their sense of belonging and membership, positive social relationships and friendships, and learning goals. As more EC programs, schools, and educational settings move toward including children with disabilities in general education settings, a need exists to better prepare EC professionals, most importantly EC leaders as gatekeepers of quality to better enhance and facilitate inclusive instructional opportunities for children with disabilities. This chapter focuses on EC leaders’ role in developing, adopting, and supporting inclusive education with recommendations to implement and sustain quality inclusive education practices in EC programs and settings.
Ocular Hypertension in Blacks
Authors: Laroche Daniel , Rickford Kara
Published: March 2021

Ocular hypertension occurs when intraocular pressure (IOP) is greater than the normal range with no evidence of vision loss or damage to the optic nerve. Individuals with ocular hypertension have an increased risk for glaucoma. The mean normal IOP is 15 mmHg and the mean IOP of untreated glaucoma is 18 mmHg. Elevated IOP commonly occurs in patients over the age of 50 and is often due to enlargement of the lens, narrowing of the angle, iridolenticular apposition, and pigment liberation that obstructs the trabecular meshwork. Cataract surgery and lensectomy can lower IOP and reduce the risk of glaucoma. The global wealth inequality of Blacks has created health inequities that have led to decreased access to surgical care contributing to higher rates of blindness from glaucoma. Greater education on the benefits of early cataract surgery and trabecular bypass for higher risk patients, as well as addressing wealth and health inequities, can help to bend the curve of blindness from glaucoma.
Structural Insight of the Anticancer Properties of Doxazosin on Overexpressing EGFR/HER2 Cell Lines
Authors: Bello Martiniano , Ángel Vargas Mejía Miguel
Published: March 2021

The selective α1-adrenergic receptor antagonist doxazosin is used for the treatment of hypertension. More recently, an experimental report demonstrated that this compound exhibits antiproliferative activity in breast cancer cell lines with similar inhibitory activity to gefitinib, a selective inhibitor of EGFR in the active state (EGFRAC). This experimental study provided evidence that doxazosin can be employed as an anticancer compound, however, the structural basis for its inhibitory properties is poorly understood at the atomic level. To gain insight about this molecule, molecular dynamics (MD) simulation with the molecular mechanics generalized Born surface area (MMGBSA) approach was employed to explore the structural and energetic features that guide the inhibitory properties of doxazosin and gefitinib in overexpressing EGFR/HER2 cell lines. Our result suggest that doxazosin exerts its inhibitory properties in breast cancer cell lines by targeting EGFR/HER2 but mainly HER2 in the inactive state (HER2IN), whereas gefitinib by targeting mainly EGFRAC, in line with previous literature. Decomposition of the binding affinity into individual contributions of HER2IN-doxazosin and EGFRAC-gefitinib systems detected hot spot residues but also showed polar interactions of Met801/Met793 with the quinazoline ring of both compounds. Principal component (PC) analysis revealed that the molecular recognition of the HER2IN-doxazosin system was linked to conformational changes but EGFRAC-gefitinib was not.
Overturned Eocene – Lower Pliocene alluvial stratum on the southern coast of Lake Baikal and its neotectonic significance
Authors: Al Hamoud A. , Rasskazov S. V. , Chuvashova I. S. , Tregub T. F. , Rubtsova M. N. , Kolomiyets V. L. , Budaev R. Ts. , Hassan A. , Volkov М. А.
Published: March 2021

The study is focused on a section of sediments exposed on the right bank of Mishikha River, Russia. These sediments have a wide range of ages, from the Eocene to the Lower Pliocene. The stratigraphic subdivision of the section is based on the lithogeochemical data and X-ray phase analysis of the mineral compositions. The particle-size analysis shows the alluvial origin of the deposits. Their ages are constrained by spore-pollen spectra in three palynozones: I – Eocene – Oligocene, II – Early – Middle Miocene (subzone a – Tsuga, Picea in the lower part, and Quercus, Taxodiaceae, Momipites, Carya in the upper part; subzone b – Fagus, Quercus, Tsuga), and III – the Late Miocene – beginning of the Pliocene (subzone ν – Ulmus, Juglans, Carya; subzone g – Carya, Alnus). The section shows a combination of normal and overturned sedimentary layers. The tectonic displacement of the block with its flip was accompanied by the entry into contact of the unlithified Pliocene sediments with a rigid bed and the development of a landslide. The lower age limit of deformations is constrained from the youngest (beginning of the Pliocene) spore and pollen spectrum extracted from deformed layers. It is suggested that the overturned layers result from strike-slip deformations of the sediments at the beginning of the late orogenic stage of the Baikal rift development. The regional correlations of the sedimentary strata give grounds to conclude that the Mishikha section is characteristic of alluvial sedimentation that dominated at the eastern end of the Tankhoi tectonic step (Mishikha-Klyuevka paleovalley), in contrast to the Tankhoi block in the central part of the step, wherein a thick Lower Miocene stratum of swampy-oxbow sediments accumulated. The stratons of the Mishikha section correlate with sedimentary units detected by drilling in the Selenga delta at the central part of the South Baikal basin.
The Effectiveness of Nomophobia Therapy on Self-esteem and Nomophobia Symptoms in High School Students
Authors: Mohammadi Nasab Nasrin , Manshaee Gholamreza , Nadi Mohammad Ali
Published: March 2021

Background: High mobile-phone dependency may cause cognitive, emotional, and academic impairments among students; hence, proper therapies should be performed to prevent the risk. Objectives: The present study aimed to investigate the effectiveness of the nomophobia therapy package on self-esteem and nomophobia symptoms in high school students. Methods: The research method was quasi-experimental with a pre-test, post-test, and follow-up design and a control group. The statistical population included all the students showing nomophobia symptoms who were in high schools in Isfahan in the academic year of 2018 - 2019. Using purposive sampling, we selected 30 students willing to participate in the project and randomly divided them into experimental (n = 15) and control (n = 15) groups. The research instrument included Nomophobia Questionnaire and Self-Esteem Questionnaire. The experimental group underwent eight sessions (75-minute sessions per week) of nomophobia therapy. The follow-up was performed after two months. Data were analyzed by descriptive and inferential statistics, such as mean, standard deviation, and repeated measures ANOVA. SPSS version 23.0 was further used to analyze the data. Results: The mean ± SD of the post-test scores of self-esteem and nomophobia symptoms were (19.26 ± 3.34) and (50.60 ± 5.07) in the experimental group and (13.46 ± 2.47) and (71.63 ± 8.47) in the control groups. The difference between the scores of the experimental and control groups in the pre-test was not significant (all P-values were > 0.05). Also, the post-test scores did not have a significant difference from the follow-up scores (all P-values were > 0.05). Nomophobia therapy effectively increased self-esteem in students with nomophobia symptoms in the experimental group (P = 0.0001). The training intervention sessions decreased the nomophobia symptoms of high school students in the experimental groups compared to the control group (P = 0.0001). Conclusions: According to research findings, nomophobia therapy was an efficient therapy for improving self-esteem and reducing nomophobia symptoms in students who suffer from the syndrome.
Genetic disruption of WASHC4 drives endo-lysosomal dysfunction and cognitive-movement impairments in mice and humans
Authors: Courtland Jamie L , Bradshaw Tyler WA , Waitt Greg , Soderblom Erik J , Ho Tricia , Rajab Anna , Vancini Ricardo , Kim Il Hwan , Soderling Scott H
Published: March 2021

Mutation of the Wiskott–Aldrich syndrome protein and SCAR homology (WASH) complex subunit, SWIP, is implicated in human intellectual disability, but the cellular etiology of this association is unknown. We identify the neuronal WASH complex proteome, revealing a network of endosomal proteins. To uncover how dysfunction of endosomal SWIP leads to disease, we generate a mouse model of the human WASHC4c.3056C>G mutation. Quantitative spatial proteomics analysis of SWIPP1019R mouse brain reveals that this mutation destabilizes the WASH complex and uncovers significant perturbations in both endosomal and lysosomal pathways. Cellular and histological analyses confirm that SWIPP1019R results in endo-lysosomal disruption and uncover indicators of neurodegeneration. We find that SWIPP1019R not only impacts cognition, but also causes significant progressive motor deficits in mice. A retrospective analysis of SWIPP1019R patients reveals similar movement deficits in humans. Combined, these findings support the model that WASH complex destabilization, resulting from SWIPP1019R, drives cognitive and motor impairments via endo-lysosomal dysfunction in the brain.
Academic Entrepreneurship of Technological Universities and Sustainable Development in Nigeria
Authors: Dada Abolaji D. , Obamuyi Tomola M. , Jesuleye Olalekan A.
Published: March 2021

Universities are recognised as important sources of knowledge for critical innovative performance of industries through commercialisation of their Research and Development (R&D) outputs otherwise called Academic entrepreneurship. This paper examines the approaches and extent of Academic entrepreneurship of the Federal Universities of Technology in pursuit of sustainable development in Nigeria. The study adopted survey technique with population of all the lecturers in the Universities. A sample size of 528 researchers/lecturers were drawn from the rank of Senior Lecturer to Professor in 16 relevant Departments of the Federal Universities of Technology, Akure (FUTA), Owerri (FUTO) and Minna (FUTM) with a response rate of 67.07%. Descriptive statistics such as percentage and mean; and regression analysis as inferential statistics were employed for data analysis. The result of analysis revealed that a multiple of R&D outputs generated by the reseachers are academic publications (100.0%), copyrights (12.2%), industrial designs (11.40%), patents registered in Nigeria (4.60%), patents registered outside Nigeria (1.6%). Only 20.95% of the researchers claimed to have commercialised their R&D outputs through outright sales of R&D outputs (76.67%), sales of patents (18.33%); and joint venture with industries (8.33%). The regression analysis of data revealed that the academic entrepreneurial and innovative performance of the researchers were influenced by access to research fund (β=36.49, p ≤ 0.01), R&D and innovation incentives (β = 36.67, p ≤ 0.05), government policy implementations (β = 36.67, p ≤ 0.05), infrastructure and research facilities (β = 36.67, p ≤ 0.05), business technical support services (β = 36.67, p ≤ 0.01), industrial patronages (β = 36.67, p ≤ 0.05), industrial partnerships and collaborations (β = 36.67, p ≤ 0.05) entrepreneurial drive of the researchers (β = 36.67, p ≤ 0.05), field of research (β = 36.67, p ≤ 0.05); and business advisory services (β = 36.67, p ≤ 0.05). All the variables contributed 29.74% (R2 = 0.2974) to the academic entrepreneurial and innovative behaviours of the researchers. The study also showed that the contributions of the academic entrepreneurship to sustainable development are improved product/process quality (67.32%), utilisation of local raw material (61.97%), eco-innovation (60.73%), product diversification (54.81%), research-industry partnership (49.05%), increased production capacity (47.22%); and generation of new employment (44.18%). The paper concluded that, there is a marginal improvement in the academic entrepreneurship for sustainable development in Nigeria. However, the need for policy intervention to encourage greater and adequate R&D funding support by government and private organisations is required.
Restoration of Degraded Natural Limestone Forests in Cat Ba Biosphere Reserves, Vietnam
Authors: Long Tran Hai , Hung Trieu Thai , Im Sangjun , Ha Dang Thi Hai , Khuong Ninh Viet , Tuan Nguyen Van , Son Hoang Thanh , Quy Tran Hoang , Bon Trinh Ngoc , Nguyen Tran Cao , Trung Phung Dinh , Binh Tran Nam , Lien Le Hong , Li Qiwen
Published: March 2021

Vietnam experienced significant forest cover change during the last half of the twentieth century, and restoration of natural forests have increased since the 1990s. This study developed comparisons of human-intervened and naturally restored forests in Cat Ba Biosphere Reserve, Vietnam in order to gain a better understanding of restoration options for the dual objectives of biodiversity conservation and forest cover. The overstory trees (species composition, growth, and diameter distribution) and natural regeneration (species richness, density, and height distribution) were measured and compared in twelve plots established in natural (NPS) and artificial restoration (RPS) models for post-selective-logged forest, and natural (NPC) and artificial restoration (RPC) models for post-clear-cut forest. Results indicated that the overstory trees and natural regeneration of RPS and RPC was higher than that of NPS and NPC. We concluded that the forest restoration models had shown successes, although extensive silvicultural techniques should be applied for a more stabilized development, especially in the RPC.
Assessment of Heavy Metal Contents in Three Different Land used Soils in Ohaji/Egbema Imo State, Nigeria
Authors: Okoro L. C. , Nwachukwu M. O. , Ikeh S. G. I.
Published: March 2021

This assessment of some heavy metal contents in different land used soils in Ohaji/Egbema, Imo State was conducted between June, 2019 and May, 2020. Three land used soils namely; the grass land, continuously cropped and forest land were studied. Soil profile representations were established in each of the physiographic units and soil samples collected from the pedogenetic horizons for the analysis of some heavy metals like Lead (Pb), Copper (Cu), Manganese (Mn), Zinc (Zn), and Iron (Fe). The heavy metals observed in this study were Cu, Mn, Zn and Fe while Pb was not detected in this study. The results of this study showed that the grass land, continuously cropped and forest land had no Pb detected. The heavy metal contents(Cu, Mn, Zn and Fe) detected decreases with depth from 0.15cm depth to 60-90 cm depth in grass land and continuously cropped and forested land respectively. The occurrence of Fe was high in forested land which ranges from 7.8-6.3Mg/Kg with mean value of 7.0Mg/Kg than continuous cropped land and grass land with lower values. The forest land had high sodium content with mean value of 0.74 and high electrical conductivity with a mean 4.91 dsm-1. The results showed low to moderate heavy metal load in forest land and high to moderate load of heavy metals in the grass land and continuously cropped land.
Synthesis and Characterization of Polyaluminum Ferric Chloride (PAFC) Coagulant with Superior Turbidity Removal Capacity from K-feldspar/NaOH Extraction Residues
Authors: Tesfagergish Meron , Haragirimana Alphonse , Li Na , Hu Zhaoxia , Chen Shouwen
Published: March 2021

The aim of this work was to synthesize polyaluminum ferric chloride coagulant with significant coagulation performance employing K-feldspar/NaOH leaching residue as precursor. Potassium extraction from K-feldspar through sodium hydroxide calcination method is carried out at optimum, activation temperature, time, mass ratio of NaOH to K-feldspar ore in a muffle furnace followed by deionized water conventional leaching. The extraction residues are engaged in co-polymerization of aluminum and iron for the synthesis of polyaluminum ferric chloride (PAFC). The favorable conditions, concentration of hydrochloric acid, hydrochloric acid to residue ratio (v/m), temperature, time and pH are comprehensively investigated. Main process conditions for K extraction are: ore particle mass ratio of NaOH/ore 1.5:1, calcination temperature at 500 °C, and calcination duration of 2 hours, which all jointly yielded an extraction of 95% potassium, whereas polyaluminum ferric chloride (PAFC) synthesis favorable conditions are: HCl concentration of 5M, HCl/residue 5.5:1(v/m), time 2 hours, temperature 100 ℃ and pH 7. 99.8% turbidity elimination efficacy from an initial turbidity of 125 NTU kaolin suspension is obtained. The XRD study is implemented for raw ore, slag and leach residue and proved existing all possible structural changes occurred in extraction routes, additionally FTIR and ICP-MS employed in investigation of polyaluminum ferric chloride (PAFC) to reveal the functional group configuration within the elements of a coagulant and component analysis respectively.
Creating Effective Teaching and Learning in the Classroom through Problem Based Teaching Method (PBTM): Guidance for Accounting Teachers in the Developing Countries
Authors: Obidile Jacinta Ifeoma
Published: March 2021

Problem-based teaching method (PBTM), which is one of the student-centered teaching methods, has been found by scholars as an effective teaching method that enhances students’ academic performance and knowledge retention in the teaching and learning of several subjects, including accounting. But, no known study has simplified PBTM processes for use in the classrooms in the teaching and learning of accounting. This seems to have made its application in the teaching and learning of accounting at tertiary and basic/postbasic levels difficult. This study, therefore, has simplified the Problem-based teaching method (PBTM) for use in the teaching and learning of accounting at basic/postbasic and tertiary levels in the education sector in Nigeria. This research study was considered because of the environment where the teaching and learning of accounting usually take place in the nation. The study anchors on Social learning theory, which states that, as learners actively participate in the classroom work through problem-solving, advancement in knowledge occurs. The study concludes that accounting could be taught effectively at any education level in Nigeria using this simplified PBTM to enhance students’ academic performance and knowledge retention.
A Clinico-Demographic Evaluation of Patients with Oral Submucous Fibrosis: a Cross Sectional Study
Authors: Memon Abdul Bari , Rahman Aneela Atta Ur , Channar Kashif Ali , Kumar Naresh
Published: March 2021

Aim: To evaluate the Clinico-Demographic variables in patients of Oral Submucous Fibrosis

Study Design:  Descriptive Cross Sectional

Place and Duration of Study: Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Liaquat Medical University Hospital from December 2017 to February 2019.

Methodology: The recruitment of patients was done after the clinical diagnosis of oral sub mucous fibrosis (OSMF) patients. The demographic information and associated factors were recorded on the proforma. Mouth opening (MO) was measured between upper and lower central incisors with vernier caliper. Burning sensation (BS) and pain were measured using Visual Analog Scale (VAS). The data were analyzed by SPSS Version-16.

Results: Male and female were (66%) and (34%) respectively. The mean age was 41.04±11.24. The frequency of gutka usage was 44% and 43% followed by betel nut as 21% and 23% in functional stages as per Inter Incisal Mouth Opening (IIMO-2) and (IIMO-3) respectively. The BS was shown as severe 49% and 40% followed by moderate as 32% and 37% in functional stages IIMO-2 and IIMO-3 respectively whereas pain was shown as severe 82% and 18% and as moderate 63% and 37% in functional stage M2 and M3 respectively showed statistically significant relationship (p=0.041).

Conclusion: Males were more affected and middle aged patients were more involved. Majority of patients were using gutka and had 3rd functional stage of mouth opening. The burning sensation and pain were the most common clinical complains. There was significant relationship of functional stages with pain.
Effect of Olea europaea L. and Juglans regia L. Extracts on Human Cancer Cell Line Viability with Studying of Hypoglycemic and Antiglycation Properties
Authors: Dakah Abdulkarim , Khalil Raida , Masri Chahed Al , Matar Marwa Al , Hameed Saba , Yousif Huzaifa , Albsoul Eman , Issa Tala
Published: March 2021

There is an urgent and continuous need to discover new sources of medicinal plants to obtain useful compounds with health properties. So the purpose of this study was to investigate activity of Olea  europaea L and Juglans regia leaves extract on Hela cell line viability, antidiabetic and Antiglycation. The aqueous extracts were obtained from leaves. Alloxan 180 mg /kg body was used to induce diabetes. Mice with blood glucose level of ≥200 mg/dl were considered as diabetic and were received 10 mg/kg of body weight of Extracts. For Antiglycation, SDS-PAGE (sodium dodecyl sulphate–polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis) were prepared for the appearance of high molecular weight products. Hela cell line were cultured in RPMI-1640 medium for MTT (3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide) assay analysis. The results showed that the mean of glucose levels decreasing in mice that treated with 10 mg/Kg extracts of O. europaea and J. regia. Also SDS-PAGE showed that extracts of J. regia were better than of O. europaea in inhibition of glycation induced protein cross-linking at all studied concentrations. MTT assay showed that the Cytotoxicity was increased with increasing the doses of extract and the cytotoxic effects of J.regia extract were higher than O.europaea at all concentrations. This study showed promising results.
Climate-Smart Agriculture (CSA) Adaptation Strategies of Farmers against Climate Change in Lawra Municipality, Upper West Region, Ghana
Authors: Karbo Ransford Teng-viel , Crentsil Aba Obrumah
Published: March 2021

Climate-Change is real and has daunting effects on various economic sectors. Agriculture is one of the hardest hit. The sector is the main source of livelihood for rural areas and risk being endangered. Concrete steps are needed to adapt to the situation. Climate-Smart Agriculture (CSA) practices are robust coping mechanisms against climate change and the effects on agriculture. Farmers in Lawra Municipal are encouraged to employ CSA practices in farming. The CSA adaptation strategies of farmers in Lawra against climate change are unclear. Specifically, the objective of the study is to identify CSA adaptation strategies of farmers in Lawra. The importance of this study is to strengthen the adaptation capacity of farmers towards protecting their primary livelihood source (agricultural) from the impact of climate change. Employing a qualitative approach and using a semi-structured questionnaire, the study conducted in-depth interviews with farmers, and a key informant each from the Municipal Agriculture Department and one local radio station. Quota, snowballing and purposive non-probability sampling techniques were employed to select 20 farmers with knowledge and experiences on CSA practices. Findings from the study suggest that, farmers’ CSA adaptation strategies included advice on crop management, new or improved crop varieties, climate change education and awareness, and the organization of field trips to demonstration sites. To improve farmers’ adaptation strategies, the study recommends intensification of routine visits and monitoring by agriculture extension agents, encouraging farmers to frequently visit the Municipal Agriculture Department for assistance, and governments and the private sector must support farmers with logistics and credit pertaining to CSA practices.
Problems and Opportunities of Women Entrepreneurship in Char Areas of Bangladesh
Authors: Mamun Md. Al , Jabbar Md. Abdul , Sultana Rebeka
Published: March 2021

The study was conducted to have an overview of the existing condition of women entrepreneurs in climate vulnerable char area in line with their problems and prospects. The analysis was based on primary data collected through personal interviews spread over a period of three months in four districts namely Bogura, Sirajgong, Ghaibandha and Rangpur of Bangladesh which have a significant area of char land. A set of questionnaires were prepared to conduct the field survey. The results revealed that women entrepreneurship in char area is an important tool to improve livelihood, empowerment and economic independency of many women. Indeed, women in char areas are engaged in different types of enterprises of which some are agro-based (poultry and cattle rearing, seed business and organic fertilizer business) and some are nonfarm based (boutique house, handicrafts, grocery and tailoring). Fertile and virgin soil with isolation distance is the most common opportunity for agricultural seed business in char areas. Huge cattle population in char areas is another organic manure business in chars. Most of the cases showed that women entrepreneurs selected their enterprises with what they were familiar and started their business with own savings followed by borrowing money from parents or husband or relatives. The study clearly indicated that lack of capital; communication and transportation are still the main problem of women entrepreneurs in char area. The other major problems include absence of marketing facilities, lack of chances for skill development training and different family issues. Family conflict and negative attitude of society also important barrier to start up a business. Another common barrier faced by the women entrepreneurs is balancing time between the enterprise and the family duty or responsibilities. This study conveys the message that if the char land women are provided with appropriate training, motivation and need-based financial and related assistance, they will enter into the entrepreneurial occupation in a large number and will prove their worth to contribute to the economy of Bangladesh. Both the government organizations and private sector should contribute to promote entrepreneurship development for women in the char area of Bangladesh where a great opportunity is waiting.
Hydro-treating and Hydro-isomerisation of Sunflower Oil using Pt/SAPO-11: Influence of Templates in Ultrasonic Assisted with Hydrothermal Synthesis
Authors: Palanisamy Shanmugam , Palanisamy Durona , Gul Mugaishudeen , Kandasamy Kannan , Gevert Borje Sten
Published: March 2021

Pt/SAPO-11 mesopores type materials has successfully synthesized using different templates, such as: diethylamine (DEA), dimethylamine (DMA), and n-propylamine (n-PA), under ultrasonication coupled with hydrothermal treatment or independently with hydrothermal treatment. The influences of structure directing agent (SDA) and synthesis method are investigated by different characterization techniques and the role of the material as catalyst in hydrotreating of sunflower oil has examined. The synthesized materials have been characterized by X-ray Diffraction (XRD), Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM), and Fourier Transform Infra Red (FT-IR) techniques. It is found that SAPO-11 material which has synthesized with n-PA as a template has the characteristics of high silicon incorporation. Hydrotreating of sunflower oil is carried out in a fixed bed reactor with Pt impregnated SAPO-11 catalyst and a detailed study on the isomerization is performed by varying the operating parameters like temperature and space velocity. The high selectivity of Pt/SAPO-11 catalyst is achieved by uniform pore size and acidity. Also the pore opening of the catalyst has a major effect in the selectivity of the catalyst. Further, it represents a higher ratio of isomers compared to other synthesized catalysts on hydro-treating of sunflower oil.  Copyright © 2021 by Authors, Published by BCREC Group. This is an open access article under the CC BY-SA License (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0).
Localisation, dans la partie NH2‐terminale de la caséine αs1 bovine, d'une délétion de 13 acides aminés différenciant le variant a des variants B et C
Authors: Grosclaude François , Mahé Marie-Françoise , Mercier Jean-Claude , Ribadeau-Dumas Bruno
Published: July 2002

The A variant of bovine αs1 casein is devoid of the segment of 13 amino acid residues which occupies the 14th to 26th position from the NH2‐terminal in the polypeptide chain (198 residues) of the B and C variants.
Reversible inhibition of photochemistry of photosystem II by Ca2+ removal from intact cells of Anacystis nidulans
Authors: Brand Jerry J. , Mohanty Prasanna , Fork David C.
Published: July 2002

Depletion of Ca2+ from Anacystis nidulans produces an inhibition of O2 evolution that is accompanied both at 39°C and 77 K by a loss of chlorophyll fluorescence of variable yield. This indicates that Ca2+‐depletion causes disruption of normal photosystem II function, manifested by the disappearance of photoreduction of Q. Delayed light emission in the ms time range is also eliminated in Ca2+‐depleted cells, which confirms that Ca2+ removal prevents charge separation and recombination in reaction centers of photosystem II. Readdition of Ca2+ to depleted cells restores fully the fluorescence of variable yield and delayed light emission, as well as O2 evolution. Thus, Ca2+ may be a required component for photosystem II in A. nidulans.
Sequence‐specific inhibition of RNA elongation by actinomycin D
Authors: Aivasashvilli V.A. , Beabealashvilli R.Sh.
Published: July 2002

We have developed a method to localize specific sites where RNA elongation is arrested due to DNA‐bound ligands. The method was used to determine apparent binding sites for actinomycin D. We have found 14 strong RNA hindrance sites along nucleotide sequence of T7 and D111 T7 DNA of 380 nucleotides full length under low actinomycin D concentration conditions. Nucleotide sequence of all the sites is described by general formula XGCY where X ‡ G and Y ‡ C.
Polymorphism of human pituitary lutropin (LH)
Authors: Lichtenberg V. , Weise H.C. , Graesslin D. , Bettendorf G.
Published: July 2002

The effect of the 7 different molecular forms of human pituitary lutropin (LH) on mouse Leydig cells as a model of a target organ were studied. The hormone functions have been characterized by receptor binding, cAMP accumulation and testosterone production. One important finding was the similar intrinsic in vitro biological activity for all isohormones. Quantitatively, however, the potencies of the 7 hormone forms did not correlate with the activities obtained by radioimmunoassay: there was a dramatic decrease of receptor binding activity and biological activity compared to immunoactivity from the more alkaline to the more acidic LH isohormones.
Induction of TNF‐like factor by murine macrophage‐like cell line J774.1 on treatment with Sarcophaga lectin
Authors: Itoh Akira , Iizuka Keiko , Natori Shunji
Published: July 2002

On stimulation with Sarcophaga lectin, the mouse macrophage‐like cell line J774.1 secreted a factor like the tumor necrosis factor (TNF) into the culture medium. This factor was a protein with a molecular weight of 40000–45000, and was cytotoxic to L‐929 cells, but not to normal embryonic fibroblasts. This factor was effective on both the ascites form and solid form of sarcoma 180 transplanted into ICR mice.
H+‐sugar antiport as the mechanism of sugar uptake by sugarcane vacuoles
Authors: Thom Margaret , Komor Ewald
Published: July 2002

The uptake of 3‐O‐methylglucose (3‐OMG) by vacuoles isolated from sugarcane cells caused a depolarization of the internally positive membrane potential and a decrease of the pH gradient. The uptake of sugar was accompanied by a corresponding efflux of protons out of vacuoles with a stoichiometry of 1:1. The data support a model whereby sugar is transported via an H+‐antiport system.
Rate constants for reaction of hydroxyl radicals with Tris, Tricine and Hepes buffers
Authors: Hicks Mark , Gebicki Janusz M.
Published: July 2002

Rate constants for the reactions of three commonly used organic buffers and hydroxyl radicals were measured using steady‐state competition kinetics with thymine. For Hepes (4‐(2‐hydroxyethyl)‐1‐piperazine‐ethanesulphonic acid), Tricine (N‐[2‐hydroxy‐1,1‐bis(hydroxymethyl)ethyl]glycine and Tris (2‐amino‐2‐hydroxymethylpropane‐1,3‐diol) the rate constants were 5.1×109, 1.6×109 and 1.1 × 109 1·mol−1·s−1, respectively.
Separation and partial characterization of isolectins with different subunit compositions from Datura stramonium seeds
Authors: Broekaert Willem F. , Allen Anthony K. , Peumans Willy J.
Published: July 2002

The lectin from Datura stramonium seeds was separated into three individual isolectins by hydrophobic‐interaction chromatography on phenyl‐Sepharose. Two of these isolectins are homodimers made up of two A‐ or two B‐subunits, whereas the third is a heterodimer composed of one A‐ and one B‐subunit. Analysis of the homodimeric AA‐ and BB‐isolectins revealed that the A‐ and B‐subunits have similar but not identical M
r values (32 000 and 28 000, respectively), amino acid and carbohydrate compositions. The A‐subunit has a higher affinity for N‐acetyl‐D‐glucosamine oligomers than the B‐subunit, whereas the latter is more specific for the carbohydrate determinants of some animal glycoproteins such as fetuin, asialofetuin and ovomucoid.
Subcellular localization of a PhoE‐LacZ fusion protein in E. coli by protease accessibility experiments reveals an inner‐membrane‐spanning form of the protein
Authors: Tommassen Jan , de Kroon Toon
Published: July 2002

Protease accessibility experiments were employed to localize a PhoE‐LacZ hybrid protein, encompassing a large N‐terminal fragment of the outer membrane PhoE protein of E. coli, fused to β‐galactosidase, at the subcellular level. In previous studies, this protein was shown to co‐fractionate with the outer membrane, whereas immunocytochemical methods suggested a cytoplasmic location. The present results confirm the latter localization. Moreover, it appears that a minor amount of hybrid protein spans the inner membrane, with the PhoE moiety in the periplasm and the β‐galactosidase moiety in the cytoplasm. These membrane‐spanning proteins might be responsible for the lethal jamming of the export machinery, observed upon induction of synthesis of the protein.
A route to 2′,5′‐oligoadenylates with increased stability towards phosphodiesterases
Authors: Itkes A.V. , Karpeisky M.Ya. , Kartasheva O.N. , Mikhailov S.N. , Moiseyev G.P. , Pfleiderer W. , Charubala R. , Yakovlev G.I.
Published: July 2002

The rates of enzymatic hydrolysis of 2′,5′‐oligoadenylates and their synthetic analogs have been measured. These compounds were treated with either NIH 3T3 cell lysates, mouse liver homogenates or snake venom phosphodiesterase. All analogs with 3′‐terminal acyclic nucleoside residues demonstrated greater stability compared with the natural compound adenylyl(2′‐5′)adenylyl(2′‐5′)adenosine.
Single cell microspectroscopy reveals that erythrocytes containing hemoglobin S retain a ‘memory’ of previous sickling cycles
Authors: Coletta Massimo , Alayash A.I. , Wilson M.T. , Benedetti P.A. , Evangelista V. , Brunori Maurizio
Published: July 2002

Red blood cells from patients homozygotes for hemoglobin S (HbS) have been studied using a computer‐controlled microspectrophotometer, which allows measurements of spectra and dynamics to be undertaken in a single erythrocyte. Complete photodissociation of HbCO results in polymerization of intracellular deoxyhemoglobin S and deformation of the cell. This is associated with a delayed optical change, which, for the same cell, was found to be highly reproducible between repeated cycles of sickling. Comparison of photographic records and absorbance time courses indicates that an erythrocyte, once having undergone a photochemically induced sickling event, always deforms along the same axis during subsequent cycles. This behaviour implies that the cell retains a ‘memory’ of its previous cycle(s) possibly via slow relaxations of the membrane. In addition, rebinding of CO to intracellular hemoglobin was found to be slower if measured after deformation of the cell, with possible important implications for the pathological mechanism of sickling.