bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Layered Double Hydroxide as a Potent Non-viral Vector for Nucleic Acid Delivery Using Gene-Activated Scaffolds for Tissue Regeneration Applications
Authors: Costard Lara S. , Kelly Domhnall C. , Power Rachael N. , Hobbs Christopher , Jaskaniec Sonia , Nicolosi Valeria , Cavanagh Brenton L. , Curtin Caroline M. , O’Brien Fergal J.
Published: December 2020

Nonviral vectors offer a safe alternative to viral vectors for gene therapy applications, albeit typically exhibiting lower transfection efficiencies. As a result, there remains a significant need for the development of a nonviral delivery system with low cytotoxicity and high transfection efficacy as a tool for safe and transient gene delivery. This study assesses MgAl-NO3 layered double hydroxide (LDH) as a nonviral vector to deliver nucleic acids (pDNA, miRNA and siRNA) to mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs) in 2D culture and using a 3D tissue engineering scaffold approach. Nanoparticles were formulated by complexing LDH with pDNA, microRNA (miRNA) mimics and inhibitors, and siRNA at varying mass ratios of LDH:nucleic acid. In 2D monolayer, pDNA delivery demonstrated significant cytotoxicity issues, and low cellular transfection was deemed to be a result of the poor physicochemical properties of the LDH–pDNA nanoparticles. However, the lower mass ratios required to successfully complex with miRNA and siRNA cargo allowed for efficient delivery to MSCs. Furthermore, incorporation of LDH–miRNA nanoparticles into collagen-nanohydroxyapatite scaffolds resulted in successful overexpression of miRNA in MSCs, demonstrating the development of an efficacious miRNA delivery platform for gene therapy applications in regenerative medicine.
Modulating Functionalized Poly(ethylene glycol) Diacrylate Hydrogel Mechanical Properties through Competitive Crosslinking Mechanics for Soft Tissue Applications
Authors: Chapla Rachel , Alhaj Abed Mera , West Jennifer
Published: December 2020

Local mechanical stiffness influences cell behavior, and thus cell culture scaffolds should approximate the stiffness of the tissue type from which the cells are derived. In synthetic hydrogels, this has been difficult to achieve for very soft tissues such as neural. This work presents a method for reducing the stiffness of mechanically and biochemically tunable synthetic poly(ethylene glycol) diacrylate hydrogels to within the soft tissue stiffness regime by altering the organization of the crosslinking sites. A soluble allyl-presenting monomer, which has a higher propensity for chain termination than acrylate monomers, was introduced into the PEG-diacrylate hydrogel precursor solution before crosslinking, resulting in acrylate-allyl competition and a reduction in gel compressive modulus from 5.1 ± 0.48 kPa to 0.32 ± 0.09 kPa. Both allyl monomer concentration and chemical structure were shown to influence the effectiveness of competition and change in stiffness. Fibroblast cells demonstrated a 37% reduction in average cell spread area on the softest hydrogels produced as compared to cells on control hydrogels, while the average percentage of neural cells extending neurites increased by 41% on these hydrogels, demonstrating the potential for this technology to serve as a soft tissue culture system.
In Situ Preparation of Novel Porous Nanocomposite Hydrogel as Effective Adsorbent for the Removal of Cationic Dyes from Polluted Water
Authors: Thamer Badr M. , Aldalbahi Ali , Moydeen A. Meera , El-Newehy Mohamed H.
Published: December 2020

The use of some hydrogels as adsorbents for pollutants removal from wastewater is limited due to their high swelling properties and the difficulty in recovering them after the adsorption process. To overcome these problems, a new hydrogel nanocomposite based on chitosan-grafted-polyacrylic acid/oxidized electrospun carbon nanofibers (CT-g-PAA/O-ECNFs) was prepared by an in situ grafting polymerization process. The prepared hydrogel nanocomposite was used as a novel effective and highly reusable adsorbent for the removal of methylene blue (MB) from polluted water with low cost. The morphology and the structure of CT-g-PAA/O-ECNFs were investigated by numerous techniques. The effect of incorporating O-ECNFs on the swelling capability of the prepared hydrogel was explored in distillated water and MB solution at normal pH. The effect of parameters including ratio of O-ECNFs, contact time, pH, initial concentration, and temperature on adsorption process were explored. The adsorption isotherm and kinetic were studied by numerous non-linear models. The obtained results confirmed that the incorporation of O-ECNFs into the hydrogel network decreased the swelling capacity and improved its ability towards MB dye removal. The adsorption process depended on the pH value of the dye solution. Additionally, the adsorption and kinetic results were fitted using the Freundlich isotherm model and pseudo second order model (PSO), respectively. Moreover, the new adsorbents can be recycled for at least five cycles keeping its adsorption capacity and can be easily recovered without loss in its initial weight.
Loading of Au/Ag Bimetallic Nanoparticles within and Outside of the Flexible SiO2 Electrospun Nanofibers as Highly Sensitive, Stable, Repeatable Substrates for Versatile and Trace SERS Detection
Authors: Wan Menghui , Zhao Haodong , Peng Lichao , Zou Xueyan , Zhao Yanbao , Sun Lei
Published: December 2020

In this paper, we propose a facile and cost-effective electrospinning technique to fabricate surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) substrates, which is appropriate for multiple analytes detection. First of all, HAuCl4∙3H2O was added into the TEOS/PVP precursor solution, and flexible SiO2 nanofibers incorporated with gold nanoparticles (SiO2@Au) were prepared by electrospinning and calcination. Subsequently, the nanofibrous membranes were immersed in the tannic acid and 3-aminopropyltriethoxysilane solution for surface modification through Michael addition reaction. Finally, the composite nanofibers (Ag@T-A@SiO2@Au) were obtained by the in-situ growth of Ag nanoparticles on the surfaces of nanofibers with tannic acid as a reducing agent. Due to the synergistic enhancement of Au and Ag nanoparticles, the flexible and self-supporting composite nanofibrous membranes have excellent SERS properties. Serving as SERS substrates, they are extremely sensitive to the detection of 4-mercaptophenol and 4-mercaptobenzoic acid, with an enhancement factor of 108. Moreover, they could be utilized to detect analytes such as pesticide thiram at a low concentration of 10−8 mol/L, and the substrates retain excellent Raman signals stability during the durability test of 60 days. Furthermore, the as-fabricated substrates, as a versatile SERS platform, could be used to detect bacteria of Staphylococcus aureus without a specific and complicated bacteria-aptamer conjugation procedure, and the detection limit is up to 103 colony forming units/mL. Meanwhile, the substrates also show an excellent repeatability of SERS response for S. aureus organelles. Briefly, the prime novelty of this work is the fabrication of Au/Ag bimetallic synergetic enhancement substrates as SERS platform for versatile detection with high sensitivity and stability.
Water Level Prediction of Emergency Groundwater Source and Its Impact on the Surrounding Environment in Nantong City, China
Authors: Cai Jinbang , Wang Ping , Shen Huan , Su Yue , Huang Yong
Published: December 2020

Based on the geological and hydrogeological conditions, and in situ hydrogeological tests of the emergency groundwater source in Nantong City, China, a 3D numerical model of the heterogeneous anisotropy in the study area was established and calibrated using data from pumping and recovery tests. The calibrated model was used to simulate and predict the water level of the depression cone during the emergency pumping and water level recovery. The results showed that after seven days of pumping, the water level in the center of the depression cone ranged from −51 m to −55 m, and compared with the initial water level, the water level dropped by 29 m to 32 m. The calculated water level has a small deviation compared with that of the analytical solution, which indicates the reliability and rationality of the numerical solution. Furthermore, during water level recovery, the water level of pumping wells and its surroundings rose rapidly, which was a difference of about 0.28 m from the initial water level after 30 days, indicating that the groundwater level had recovered to the state before pumping. Due to the emergency pumping time is not long, the water levels of Tonglu Canal, surrounding residential wells, and other aquifers will not be affected. After stopping pumping, the water level recovers quickly, so the change of water level in a short time will not lead to large land subsidence and has little impact on the surrounding environment.
Determination of Deep Learning Model and Optimum Length of Training Data in the River with Large Fluctuations in Flow Rates
Authors: Park Kidoo , Jung Younghun , Kim Kyungtak , Park Seung Kook
Published: December 2020

Recently, developing countries have steadily been pushing for the construction of stream-oriented smart cities, breaking away from the existing old-town-centered development in the past. Due to the accelerating effects of climate change along with such urbanization, it is imperative for urban rivers to establish a flood warning system that can predict the amount of high flow rates of accuracy in engineering, compared to using the existing Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) models for disaster prevention. In this study, in the case of streams where missing data existed or only small observations were obtained, the variation in flow rates could be predicted with only the appropriate deep learning models, using only limited time series flow data. In addition, the selected deep learning model allowed the minimum number of input learning data to be determined. In this study, the time series flow rates were predicted by applying the deep learning models to the Han River, which is a highly urbanized stream that flows through the capital of Korea, Seoul and has a large seasonal variation in the flow rate. The deep learning models used are Convolution Neural Network (CNN), Simple Recurrent Neural Network (RNN), Long Short-Term Memory (LSTM), Bidirectional LSTM (Bi-LSTM) and Gated Recurrent Unit (GRU). Sequence lengths for time series runoff data were determined first to assess the accuracy and applicability of the deep learning models. By analyzing the forecast results of the outflow data of the Han River, sequence length for 14 days was appropriate in terms of the predicted accuracy of the model. In addition, the GRU model is effective for deep learning models that use time series data of the region with large fluctuations in flow rates, such as the Han River. Furthermore, through this study, it was possible to propose the minimum number of training data that could provide flood warning system with an effective flood forecasting system although the number of input data such as flow rates secured in new towns developed around rivers was insufficient.
Challenges in the Development of Hydropower in Selected European Countries
Authors: Tomczyk Paweł , Wiatkowski Mirosław
Published: December 2020

Hydropower in Europe is playing an increasingly important role as a renewable source of energy. Its share of the final energy consumption varies from country to country, posing different challenges in each. The European Union member states are obliged, according to energy policy, to increase the share of renewable energy. This article presents the challenges related to the development of hydropower in four countries with different shares of domestic electricity production from hydropower plants: Albania (100% share in 2019), Slovenia (25.7%), Poland (1.1%), and Estonia (0.3%). Particular attention is paid to the issues of rational management of water resources in connection to Europe’s energy policy. As a result of the case study analysis, the challenges in the development of hydropower are identified, as well as ways to solve them. In addition, a comprehensive analysis of the impact of social, economic, environmental and climate change factors on the development of hydropower was conducted. At present, whether the assumed goals of the European Union’s energy policy will be achieved is impossible to determine for the whole of Europe. Achieving these goals will be possible only after individual countries prepare comprehensive reports on the topics of renewable energy sources, including hydropower.
Effect of Plasma Activated Water Foliar Application on Selected Growth Parameters of Maize (Zea mays L.)
Authors: Škarpa Petr , Klofáč Daniel , Krčma František , Šimečková Jana , Kozáková Zdenka
Published: December 2020

Utilization of plasma activated water (PAW) for plant growing is mainly connected with the treatment of seeds and subsequent stimulation of their germination. A potential of PAW is its relatively simple and low-cost preparation that calls for studying its wider application in plant production. For this purpose, a pot experiment was realized in order to prove effects of the foliar PAW application on maize growth. The stepped PAW foliar application, carried out in 7-day intervals, led to provable decrease of chlorophyll contents in leaves compared to the distilled water application. The PAW application significantly increased root electrical capacitance, but it had no provable effect on weight of the aboveground biomass. Chlorophyll fluorescence parameters expressing the CO2 assimilation rate and variable fluorescence of dark-adapted leaves were provably decreased by PAW, but quantum yield of photosystem II electron transport was not influenced. A provably higher amount of nitrogen was detected in dry matter of plants treated by PAW, but contents of other macro- and micro-nutrients in the aboveground biomass of maize were not affected. Results of this pilot verification of the PAW application have shown a potential for plant growth optimization and possibility for its further utilization, especially in combination with liquid fertilizers.
Educação Ambiental e a construção de percursos didáticos dialógicos no ensino médio
Authors: Dias Suellen Maria Silva , Silveira Emanuel Souto da Mota
Published: December 2020

O objetivo do trabalho é desenvolver um espaço de diálogo e reflexão sobre problemas ambientais contemporâneos, com foco na busca de alternativas e mudança de comportamento individual e coletivo. Uma proposta definida no âmbito do Ensino Médio, envolvendo estudantes da rede estadual de ensino em sequências didáticas centralizadas na atuação discente. O desenvolvimento dos percursos didáticos revela que é possível mobilizar e sensibilizar os estudantes por meio de atividades que demandam baixo custo e estruturadas a partir de recursos disponíveis na maioria dos espaços escolares. As estratégias adotadas impactaram de forma direta no engajamento dos estudantes e mobilizaram discussões fundamentais para o momento que vivemos.
Encefalite antirreceptor NMDA: a arte de montar quebra-cabeças
Authors: Almeida Louis Fernando Marques de
Published: December 2020

Introdução. Encefalite autoimune (EAI) corresponde a um grupo de patologias em que há produção de anticorpos contra autoantígenos neuronais, estima-se uma incidência de 20% de todas as encefalites no norte da Europa. Encefalite por anticorpos antirreceptor NMDA é a causa mais comum de EAI, classicamente afeta mulheres jovens com uma apresentação aguda ou subaguda de sintomas psiquiátricos, epilepsia, déficit cognitivo, rebaixamento do nível de consciência e disfunção autonômica. Objetivo. Esta revisão busca difundir o entendimento da encefalite antirrecptor NMDA além do público de neuroimunologistas. Método. Foi realizada uma revisão na base de dados eletrônica MEDLINE (acessada via Pubmed), EMBASE e cochrane. A busca se deu entre os meses de abril a junho de 2020, usando os descritores em saúde de acordo com o Medical Subject Headings (MeSH): encefalite, encefalite antirrecptor de N-metil-D-aspartato. Resultados. Foram obtidos 869 artigos completos em inglês ou português. Os artigos foram selecionados para esta revisão pela sua qualidade, originalidade e relevância para o assunto. Conclusão. Com uma apresentação clínica variável, esta patologia assemelha-se a um quebra-cabeça, permanecendo como um desafio diagnóstico, que facilmente pode ser conduzido como patologia psiquiátrica estrita, mesmo por profissionais experientes.
Alterações Neurológicas Na Covid-19: Uma Revisão Sistemática
Authors: Nunes Maria Jussara Medeiros , Silva Jean Carlos Souza , Oliveira Lucidio Clebeson de , Marcos Gabriel Victor Teodoro de Medeiros , Fernandes Amélia Carolina Lopes , Santos Wedney Livanio de Sousa , Guzen Fausto Pierdoná , Cavalcanti José Rodolfo Lopes de Paiva , Araújo Dayane Pessoa de
Published: December 2020

Introdução. A doença causada pelo novo SARS-CoV-2, Covid 19, possui capacidade de infectar diferentes células do corpo humano. Destarte para as células do SNC que podem ser infectadas juntamente com sistema respiratório.  Estudos comprovam também a existência de sintomas neurológicos em pacientes com COVID-19. Objetivo. Revisar o material bibliográfico existente que descrevem os impactos neurológicos associados a COVID-19. Método. A estratégia de busca dos dados utilizados contou com estudos obtidos por meio de cinco bases de dados. Cada fonte de dados utilizou-se os filtros: título, assunto e tipo. O descritor Neurological foi combinado utilizando o operador booleano AND com os descritores: Coronavirus COVID-19 e Nervous System Diseases e seus correspondentes respectivos na língua portuguesa. Resultados. O Sars-cov-2 possui capacidade de neuroinvasão, assim como os outros tipos de corona vírus. A agressividade dos sintomas pode variar de sintomas mais leves até predispor a doenças cerebrovasculares agudas, em especial, nos pacientes com comorbidades (HAS eDM). Período de aparecimento dos sintomas pode ser em média 1-2 após aparecimento dos sintomas respiratórios. Em pacientes hipertensos os sintomas respiratórios podem ser amenizados, acarretando maior atenção para investigação e diagnóstico. Conclusão. Este estudo oferece novas e importantes informações clínicas sobre a COVID-19 e alterações neurológicas com alta contribuição aos profissionais da área da saúde em ampliarem o espectro de visão da doença além dos distúrbios cardiorrespiratórios, demonstrando a evolução clínica da doença para manifestações neurológicas associadas. Além de também auxiliá-los na identificação dos possíveis agravos em pacientes com COVID-19 e distúrbios neurológicos pré-existentes.
The ratio of the mental and delinquent model of adolescent behaviour
Authors: Gartvik Yelena V.
Published: December 2020

At present, the identification of psychological factors as a determinant of the illegal behaviour of adolescents is of great importance. The mental model allows explaining and predicting the behaviour of other people and reflecting one’s own mental inner reality. The study of the mental model in adolescents with delinquent and law-abiding behaviour using specially designed narratives provided us with the opportunity to analyse the understanding by adolescents, who have committed and not committed crimes, of the mental states of their own and that of another person, as well as the causes of such states in the process of social interactions. The ability to understand the mental world is paramount and necessary for understanding social interactions, for the correct formation of motives and semantic attitudes of the individual. The results of an empirical study allowed us to confirm the hypothesis that the deficit of the mental model is formed in the family; it is associated with the personality characteristics of the adolescent and, obviously, affects the formation of delinquent behaviour.
Analisis Tentang Tujuan Pendidikan Agama Kristen (PAK) Dalam Matius 28:19-20
Authors: Tanduklangi Rinaldus
Published: December 2020

The Gospel of Matthew is a part of the new covenant the presents the great commission of the Jesus. The great commission is the command of the Lord Jesus to the disciples and to all believers in all ages. The great commission becomes the foundation in carrying out educational actions for the world in which Jesus has provided instructions, methods and ways of implementing them. The great commission becomes the foundation of education especially Christian religious education. This paper aims to analyze theologically the objectives of Christian religious education based on Matthew 28: 19-20. In an effort to trace the intention used qualitative-descriptive research methods. The results obtained that the purpose of PAK based on Matthew 28: 19-20's exposure is to make disciples of all nations, baptize and teach them to do all the commands of the Jesus.
Injl Matius merupakan salah satu bagian kitab perjanjian baru yang menyajikan amanat agung Tuhan Yesus. Amanat agung ialah perintah Tuhan Yesus bagi para murid dan kepada semua orang percaya di segala zaman. Amanat agung menjadi landasan dalam melaksanakan tindakan pendidikan bagi dunia yang di dalamnya Yesus telah memberikan petunjuk, metode dan cara pelaksanaannya. Amanat agung menjadi landasan  pendidikan khususnya pendidikan agama Kristen (PAK). Tulisan ini bertujuan untuk menganalasis secara teologis tujuan pendidikan agama kristen (PAK) berdasarkan Matius 28:19-20. Dalam upaya menelusuri maksud tersebut digunakan metode penelitian kualitatif-deskriptif. Hasil yang diperoleh bahwa tujuan PAK berdasarkan paparan Matius 28:19-20 ialah memuridkan segala bangsa, membaptis dan mengajar mereka melakukan segala perintah Tuhan Yesus.
Konseling Agama Pada Siswa Pecandu Narkoba
Authors: Masing Musa
Published: December 2020

The purpose of giving counseling for drug addicts students is to correct mistakes that are the new direction and purpose of life in God. Direction of life to God who will be equipped to a better future. In this study using qualitative research with case study techniques. The subjects in this study consisted of 2 students, junior high school students in Samarinda City who were addicted to drugs but were undergoing rehabilitation at the Tanah Merah Samarinda Rehabilitation Center and one person as a mental mentor of religion. This research focuses on Religious Counseling on addicted students. The purpose of this research is to find out the type of religious counseling used for drug addicts students who are undergoing rehabilitation at the BNN Tanah Merah Rehabilitation. The results showed that there were 6 Religious Counseling conducted at the Tanah Merah Samarinda Rehabilitation Center for DT and KS Clients, namely 6 Supportive-Counseling, Confrontational-Counseling, Educative-Counseling, Spiritual-Counseling, Group-Counseling, Preventive-Counseling.
Tujuan pemberian konseling bagi siswa pecandu narkoba adalah memperbaiki kesalahan yang menjadi arah dan tujuan hidup baru di dalam Tuhan. Pengarahan hidup kepada Tuhan yang akan menjadi bekal menuju masa depan yang lebih baik. Dalam penelitian ini menggunakan penelitian Kualitatif dengan Teknik studi kasus. Subjek dalam penelitian ini terdiri dari 2 yaitu Siswa Sekolah Menengah Pertama (SMP) di Kota Samarinda yang menjadi Pecandu narkoba tetapi sedang menjalani rehabilitasi di Balai Rehabilitasi BNN Tanah Merah Samarinda dan satu orang sebagai Pembina mental Agama. Penelitian ini menfokuskan pada Konseling Agama pada siswa pecandu. Tujuan Penelitiannya adalah untuk mengetahui jenis konseling agama yang digunakan bagi siswa pecandu narkoba yang sedang menjalani rehabilitasi di Balai Rehabilitasi BNN Tanah Merah Samarinda.  Hasil penelitian menunjukkan bahwa Konseling Agama yang dilakukan di Balai Rehabilitasi BNN Tanah Merah Samarinda kepada Klien DT dan KS ada 6 yaitu Supportive-Konseling, Confrontational-Konseling, Educative-Konseling, Spiritual-Konseling, Group-Konseling, Preventive-Konseling.
Römische Fontäne, de Rilke, traduzido por José Paulo Paes e Augusto de Campos
Authors: Torres Ana Maria Ferreira , Guimarães Mayara Ribeiro
Published: December 2020

Neste trabalho, realizou-se a comparação entre as traduções de José Paulo Paes e Augusto de Campos do poema Römische Fontäne [Fonte Romana], de Rainer Maria Rilke, presente em seu livro Neue Gedichte – I, [Novos Poemas - I]de 1907. Essas traduções estão presentes nas antologias Rainer Maria Rilke [Poemas] (1993), de Paes, e Rilke: Poesia-Coisa (1994), de Campos. Para cumprir o objetivo principal, discorreu-se sobre o conceito do livro Novos Poemas, bem como sobre a figura da fonte, na poesia de Rilke. Em seguida, realizou-se a análise, sob os parâmetros de análise do poema e das traduções propostos por Mário Laranjeira (1993). Também foi utilizada a classificação de Hans Vermeer (1994 apud SNELL-HORNBY, 2012) para classificar as traduções quanto ao seu grau de distanciamento ou de aproximação à língua de chegada. Por meio da análise e comparação, constatou-se que a principal diferença entre as duas traduções decorre do modo como cada tradutor lidou com a iconicidade verbal presente no poema de Rilke. Outrossim, verificou-se que, em relação à língua de partida, o texto de Paes é mais distanciador, ao passo que o de Campos é mais aproximador. Acerca da obra rilkeana, consultou-se as seguintes fontes: Judith Ryan (2004), Manfred Engel (2004), Otto von Bollnow (1955), Wolfgang Müller (1997) e Benedito Nunes (2009).
De onde (?)
Authors: Da Silva Joilson Bessa
Published: December 2020

Escrito em dias de distanciamento, isolamento e "reclusão", o poema evidencia desigualdades, tensões e suscetibilidades em tempo/espaço vulneráveis.
Editorial
Authors: Pinheiro-Mariz Josilene , Costa Marco Antonio Margarido , Oliveira Maria Angélica de
Published: December 2020

Editorial
Colaboradores
Authors: N. 3 Colaboradores
Published: December 2020

Colaboradores.
A PROPOSED THEORETICAL FRAMEWORK ON STRATEGIES FOR KLANG VALLEY MALAYSIAN QUANTITY SURVEYING CONSULTANCY FIRMS TO ACHIEVE PROFITABILITY
Authors: Chong Bee-Ling , Goh Kai-Chen , Toh Tien-Choon
Published: December 2020

There is a lack of research studies showing the specific practices that enable QS consultancy firms to achieve profitability in Malaysia’s construction industry. As firm profitability is expected to have a positive and significant impact on firm growth, this put Malaysia's QS consulting firms at risk and affected firm growth if the problem they face remains unresolved. Despite the current Covid-19 pandemic has led to the global financial crisis, weaker global growth is still a big issue to developing countries including Malaysia. Construction firms such as QS consultancy firms face a lot of challenges due to the globalisation and competitiveness of the construction industry. Quantity surveying (QS) consultancy firms need to adopt suitable strategies to survive and grow in an evolving business environment. Thus, this paper focuses on the theoretical framework of the strategies for QS consultancy firms.
A Critique of Modernist Synthesis in Islamic Thought
Authors: Choudhury Masudul Alum
Published: December 2020

Is it the realm of theoretical constructs or positive applications thatdefines the essence of scientific inquiry? Is there unison between thenormative and the positive, between the inductive and deductivecontents, between perception and reality, between the micro- andmacro-phenomena of reality as technically understood? In short, isthere a possibility for unification of knowledge in modernist epistemologicalcomprehension? Is knowledge perceived in conceptionand application as systemic dichotomy between the purely epistemic(in the metaphysically a priori sense) and the purely ontic (in thepurely positivistically a posteriori sense) at all a reflection of reality?Is knowledge possible in such a dichotomy or plurality?Answers to these foundational questions are primal in order tounderstand a critique of modernist synthesis in Islamic thought thathas been raging among Muslim scholars for some time now. Theconsequences emanating from the modernist approach underlie muchof the nature of development in methodology, thinking, institutions,and behavior in the Muslim world throughout its history. They arefound to pervade more intensively, I will argue here, as the consequenceof a taqlid of modernism among Islamic thinkers. I will thenargue that this debility has arisen not because of a comparativemodem scientific investigation, but due to a failure to fathom theuniqueness of a truly Qur'anic epistemological inquiry in the understandingof the nature of the Islamic socioscientific worldview ...
Islam and Colonial Rule in Lagos
Authors: Lawal Olakunle A.
Published: December 2020

IntroductionThis essay provides an explanation of the dynamics of the interactionbetween Islam and politics by placing emphasis on the role played byMuslims in the collision of traditionalism and British rule as colonialismtook root in Lagos. The focus is on the development of a political schismwithin the nascent Muslim community of metropolitan Lagos at the startof the twentieth century up until the end of the 1940s. It highlights therole of Islam in an emerging urban settlement experiencing rapid transformationfrom a purely rural and traditional center into a colonial urbancenter. The essay is located within the broader issues of urban change andtransition in twentieth-century tropical Africa. Three major developments(viz: the central mosque crisis, the Eleko affair, and the Oluwa land case)are used as the vehicles through which the objectives of the essay areachieved.The introduction of Islam into Lagos has been studied by T. G. O.Gbadamosi as part of the history of Islam in southwestern Nigeria. Thisepic study does not pay specific attention to Lagos, devoted as it is to thegrowth of Islam in a far-flung territory like the whole of modem southwesternNigeria. His contribution to a collection of essays on the historyof Lagos curiously leaves out Islam’s phenomenal impact on Lagosianpolitics during the first half of the twentieth century. In an attempt to fillthis gap, Hakeem Danmole’s essay also stops short of appreciating the fundamentallink between the process of urbanization, symbolized in this caseby colonial rule, and the vanguard role played by Muslims in the inevitableclash of tradition and colonial rule in Lagos between 1900 and 1950.
ISLAMIC COMMERCIAL LAW
Authors: Kamali Mohammad Hashim
Published: December 2020

This essay is presented in two sections. Section one is devoted to amarket analysis of options, and section two to a Shari'ah perspective onoptions trading. There is no real shortage of information in the operationalprocedures of options and the various ways in which options areutilized as trading vehicles and hedging and risk-reduction devices. Onthe other hand, there is a shortage of in-depth information analyzingoptions trading from the perspective of the Shari'ah. The second part ofthis essay is tentative, in part because certain aspects of the issue needfurther development and research. The literature on the subject is in itsearly stages and has not reached a stage where consensus on issues canbe identified. This is borne out perhaps by the divided opinion that wehave at present over the basic question of the validity or nonvalidity ofoptions from an Islamic legal perspective. I shall review these twoopposing currents of opinion in due course. Suffice it here to note thatthis presentation does not seek to advocate the validity of those varietiesof options which either directly or indirectly proceed on the charging offixed interest to accounts. This may be said to be one of the distinctivefeatures of the Shari'ah perspective on options-just as it is of all varietiesof commercial transactions in Islamic law.My review of the mechanics of options trading in the first section ofthis essay broadly indicates that options trading does not proceed oncharging of fixed interest, nor does it involve unwarranted risk takingand uncertainty (gharur). Options trading has a logic of its own, whichis dominated by the idea of risk reduction and hedging against excessivelylarge positions in its underlying assets. From the perspective ofIslamic law this aspect of options is attractive and hence, from this perspectiveI make the case for the legality of options. I may also add herein passing that options trading cannot be equated with gambling or overindulgencein financial speculation. as it is basically designed to ...
Psychology and Religion
Authors: Haque Amber
Published: December 2020

Religion is a pervasive and influential phenomenon in the lives of m ypeople. Instances of religious behavior are easily found in almost allsocieties and cultures of the world. However, psychology, as a behavioralscience has largely ignored the study of religion and its profoundimpact on human behavior. This article attempts to explore the relationshipbetween psychology and religion and how these two disciplinesinteract. After a general overview of the relationship between thetwo disciplines, Islamization of psychology is suggested as a way outof the current impasse between psychology and religion.
The Muslim Scholars and the History of Economics
Authors: Mirakhor Abbas
Published: December 2020

Introduction. . .The enterpriser addressing a Greek who had been boasting of the scientificachievement of his people, says: You boast most unreasonably of these sciences;for you did not discover them by your own penetration, but attained them fromthe scientific men of Ptolemy's times; and some sciences you took from the Eygptiansin the days of Prammetichus, and then introduced them into your ownland, and now you claim to have discovered them. The King asked the Greekphilosopher: "Can it be as he says?" He replied saying, "It is true; we obtainedmost of the sciences from the preceding philosophers, as others now receivethem from us. Such is the way of the world - for one people to derive benefitfrom another. Rasail of the Ikhwan Al-SafaNever in any age was any science discovered, but from the beginning of theworld wisdom has increased gradually, and it has not yet been completed asregards this life. Roger Bacon. . .there is no longer any excuse for a pmctice which has confounded the studyof medieval economics since its inception more than a century ago, namely,that of basing the most sweeping historical generalizations on a fav familiarnames, with no regard for context and continuity; even the best textbooks inthe field still skip and jump from one century to the next, in and out of differenttraditions. But a scholastic commentator superimposed his own ideas on thoseaccumulated in the particular tmdition in which he wrote, accepted its premisesand adopted its language. He cannot be fully understood until its foundationis also dug out.It is easy now to forget that those who laid the foundation of modemeconomics in the eighteenth century were as familiar with the accumulated ...
Manufacturing Consent
Authors: Siddiqui Dilnawaz A.
Published: December 2020

With the increased efficiency of mass communication technology therehas been enhanced sophistication in its varied utilization. Correspondingly,a few fresher perspectives of mass media analysis have also appeared in recentyears.Wiebe's (1975) The Segmented Society offered a sociological interpretationof mass media contents which, according to him, aggravated the growingisolation of individuals from their social organizations. Williams (1982) wroteof serious dangers of the concentrated control of powerful media. In the sameyear, Berger (1982) dealt with the three types of media analysis techniquesfrom the perspectives of a) structural-functionalist; b) serniological; andc) Marxist. Berger sounded rather casual about the misuse of media by certainindividuals or groups. To him it seemed just a matter of varying perspectivesto find faults with each other's media systems in the tradition of inter-ideologicalrivalry among researchers subscribing to the three different schools of thought.Lowery and DeFleur (1983, 1988) identified the major milestone in theevolution of communication research. In this process, they discovered severalinstances of misuse of mass media and of media research for commercialand political purposes. But their disapproval of such practices in the Americansociety was relatively mild and subdued. Martin's and Chaudhary's (1983 )work seems to be the first comprehensive comparative investigation into massmedia systems currently operating in the world. They have compared andcontrasted modes of control, goals and roles of media in the Western,Communist, and the Third World nations. In relative terms, Martin andChaudhary are right in asserting that in the Western world "press freedombelongs primarily to the individual and secondarily to private groups." However,one needs to look deeper to be able to measure the extent to which the individualcontrols the Western media. It is this research concern that should lead usto a fuller discussion of the book under review here.Looking into the political economy of information in the global context,Mowlana (1988) justifies the "fear and frustration of Third World nations."He quotes Schiller (1981) to prove his point that the so-called 'free flow' ofinformation does not exist, for "There are 'selectors and controllers' who shiftand shape the messages that circulate in society." ...
Gender Anthropology in the Middle East
Authors: Arebi Saddeka
Published: December 2020

The Western view of the role of women in Muslim societies presentsa strikingly ambivalent attitude. On the one hand, the patrilineal, patriarchalstructure of the Muslim family has been so emphasized that it is believedto be at the heart of the assumed subordination of women in Muslim societies(Rassam 1983; Joseph 1985). On the other hand, a matrilineal structure isbelieved to exist in at least some Muslim societies. Frantz Fanon speaks ofhow the French colonizers of Algeria developed a policy built on the“discoveries” of the sociologists that a structure of matriarchal essence didindeed exist. These findings enabled the French to define their politicaldoctrine, summed up by Fanon as: “If we want to destroy the structure ofAlgerian society, its capacity for resistance, we must first of all conquer thewomen, we must go and find them behind the veil where they hide themselves,and in the houses where the men keep them out of sight” (Fanon 1965, 39).France’s success or failure in adopting this policy, and the repercussionsof the adoption of this formula, are beyond the scope of this paper. Whatis important here is its implication vis-\a-vis the importance of women. Also,it enables us to be cognizant of a structured irony in the politics of studyingMuslim women, whether for practical colonial purposes, or for intellectualorientalist aims. In the case of women, for example, French colonialists triedto use them to destroy the structure of Algerian society by attributing to theman almost absolute “significance.” On the other hand, orientalists have usedMuslim women also, but with the aim of destroying the image of Islam byrendering them absolutely “insignificant” within the religion.The view of Islam as a purgatory for women underlies most works writtenon Muslim women. They are commonly depicted as isolated from men, passiveactors in the so-called public domain, confined to their kin groups, and so ...
Equity Participation Contracts and Investment
Authors: Bashir Abdel-Hamid M.
Published: December 2020

Profit-sharing contzacts have recently captured the attention of academicians,bankers, and policymakers, particularly those in the Middle East. These contractsare characterized by risk sharing, an element that forces the contracting parties(especially the financier) to fund only sound projects. The theoretical analysesof such contracts have received a major boost from a variety of models, includingKhan (1986) and Haque and Mirakhor (1986), and empirical support from, forexample, Darrat (1988) and Bashir et al. (1991). The bold claim of these modelsis that if the interest payment on financial capital were to be replaced by the profit sharingarrangement, the level of investment would be enhanced instead ofweakened.A commonly used profit-sharing financial contract is known as musharakah(equity participation). This contract is a limited partnership in which theinvestor(s) and the entrepreneur pool their capital to finance a specific investmentproject. Another version of musharukah involves the investor participating inan existing enterprise by contributing capital. In both cases, the pro-ratadistribution of profit is stated in the contract and losses are shared accordingto capital contribution. The investor is eligible to participate in the project’smanagement, but may also waive this right.’A musharakah arrangement can be modeled as a two-person, two-periodpartnership game. In this setup, each player‘s utility depends on the other player’saction through a commonly observed consequence (profit), which is itself afunction of both players’ actions and an exogenous stochastic environment. Thegame is thus one of decentralized decision making in which individual optimizers ...
Nationalism and the Multinational State
Authors: Safi Louay
Published: December 2020

We live in a world of nation-states where national cohesiveness constitutesthe legitimizing ground for political unity. In such a world, multinationalpolitical units are considered to be peculiar entities whose existence is eithertaken as an exception to the rule or is considered to be transient and thereforedestined to collapse into its national units.A product of Eutope’s historical experience, nationalism found its wayto the Muslim world and gained many adherents and advocates in its ethnic(i.e., Arabic, Turkish, Kurdish) and religious (i.e., Pakistani, Iranian) forms.The nationalistic mindset has become an intrinsic part of the political thinkingof many Muslim individuals and groups. As a result of the discontinuity inhistorical political thinking and practice effected by the European cultural andpolitical domination of Muslim life for the last two centuries, many Muslimsare unaware of the much superior political structutes which existed-albeitin rudimentary, distorted, or compromised forms-before Westem penetration.In this paper, I will discuss the origin and development of the concept ofnationalism, underscore its defects, and point out some of its devastatingconsequences, especially in regions rich in ethnic and religious minorities. Iargue that nationalism is a European phenomenon invented by German intellectualsand employed by Prussia in order to bring about a united Germanstate. I contend that a national govemment tends to suppress minority groupsand is therefore inappropriate to societies with heterogenous and diversepopulations. I conclude by discussing, in general terms, the model of communalpluralism that flourished under the khilafah system.The Genesis of NationalismNationalism is a relatively modem political doctrine. Writers on nationalismtrace it back to Rousseau, a European philosopher who insisted that agood political community was characterized by a homogeneous population.However, nationalism as we know it today began to take shape not in France,but in Germanic Prussia. German writers interested in a united German statebegan to advocate nationalism as the only legitimate basis for statehood ...
A docência universitária no contexto de pandemia e o ingresso no ensino superior
Authors: Fior Camila Alves , Martins Maria José
Published: December 2020

O objetivo deste estudo é analisar as características da docência universitária na pandemia de Covid-19 que favoreceram a transição de estudantes ao ensino superior. Oito ingressantes, de ambos os sexos, foram entrevistados e dos dados, analisados qualitativamente, destacam-se: as adaptações pedagógicas realizadas no ensino remoto, as interações professor-aluno, o compromisso com a formação do aluno e o reconhecimento da qualidade da docência universitária como facilitadora da transição ao ensino superior. Tais resultados reafirmam o papel dos professores na aprendizagem e na permanência dos calouros, mas indicam a urgência em se pensar nas implicações políticas e sociais do ensino remoto emergencial, inclusive sobre a docência universitária na pandemia, com sobrecarga de trabalho do professor e pouco espaço para o seu desenvolvimento profissional.
The Evolutionary Concept of Human Death
Authors: Świeżyński Adam
Published: December 2020

The natural sciences reveal the existence of a constant process of cosmic evolution, in which new forms of matter emerge. The continuity of the nonorganic and biological evolutionary processes, their assignment to the laws of nature, as well as the fact that the appearance of a human being constitutes their culmination, all this shows that a human being is an element of the material structure of the world. From the evolutionary point of view, it could be argued that a human being is “the ultimate form of life,” a very interesting but, in many respects, still very mysterious idea.
Teaching Programming Using the Robot-Based Learning Approach
Authors: Kangungu Stephanus Mberema , Mohamad Yatim Maizatul Hayati
Published: December 2020

This paper discusses learning theories, STEM, educational robotics as well as the current generation of students found in classrooms by reviewing previous and current academic literature on these topics, to assist in ascertaining the current advancements and theories related to the Robot-based learning approach as well as how these advancements have helped improve this approach and enabled educators to better make use of it. Furthermore, this paper reviews previous academic literature on computer programming to discuss the current learning approaches in use and the kind of learning tools being utilized. Once this topics are reviewed the reader can have a clear picture of the learning approach, what learning theory does it belong too, the type of students found in the classroom as well as what motivates them and the subject that is being taught as well as the different learning tools for this subject. The reader will also learn why improving the effectiveness of how programming is learned helps create more students good in STEM and how it assists in realising the Malaysian Educational Development Plan. This paper reviewed literature from the year 2014 and above as the information is more relevant and current, except for literature that is from a leading or renowned individual in any field that is being discussed in this dissertation.
Sick and tired of COVID-19: long haulers and post viral (fatigue) syndromes
Authors: Outhoff K
Published: December 2020

COVID-19 patients may face a long and winding road to recovery. Outcomes of critically ill patients have been well described, including in China, Italy and the USA, and particularly in the comorbid elderly. However, short-, medium- and long-term health consequences are being realised not only in those that were hospitalised, but also in outpatients with milder or asymptomatic illness.
CALCULATION MODELS OF DEFORMATIONOF REINFORCED CONCRETE CONSTRUCTIONS WITH SPATIAL CRACKS
Authors: Fedorov V. S. , Kolchunov Vl. I. , Pokusaev A. A. , Naumov N. V.
Published: December 2020

Statement of the problem. A model of deformation of reinforced concrete structures with spatial cracks is set forth.Results. In the article working prerequisites are shown and the identifying equations of the model of the resistance of reinforced concrete structures to torsion with bending are derived.Conclusions. The methods for calculating the resistance of reinforced concrete structures, as well as calculating the distance between spatial cracks and the width of crack opening under the joint action of the bending moment, torque and lateral force in the second stage of the stress-strain are discussed for two cases (case 1 -- when the spatial cracks of the first type appear on the lower edge of the reinforced concrete structure, case 2 -- when the spatial cracks of the first type appear on the lateral edge of the reinforced concrete structure).