bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Propiedad y dominium en Castilla a finales del siglo XV: Celestina como civitas non recte instituta
Authors: Álvarez Moreno Raúl
Published: February 2021

Este artículo estudia el principio de la propiedad como punto de fricción básico desde el que entender algunos de los principales conflictos de Celestina, en relación con la sociedad y el poder político de su tiempo. Tras establecer la relevancia del tema en la obra, se evalúan los mecanismos religiosos, morales y legales utilizados en el control y legitimación de la posesión a finales del siglo XV. La transgresión de los mismos por los personajes en el diálogo recibe un detallado análisis, mostrándose la disfunción o fracaso de los principios reguladores de la obtención de bienes y de las obligaciones sociales de su disposición. El estudio de los bienes exteriores más deseados en Celestina confirma la preferencia de los personajes por su valor sígnico social, maximizado en el componente privativo, exclusivo, público y consumista contemplado por el dominium. El estudio concluye valorando las consecuencias de la disfunción o fracaso mencionados para el proyecto socio-político restaurador de los Reyes Católicos, frente a cuyos modelos ideales de ciudad Celestina se erige como una civitas non recte instituta.
Sobre un tópico equivocado (las representaciones de las comedias de Plauto y Terencio en España a finales del siglo XV) y Celestina
Authors: Paolini Devid
Published: February 2021

Antes de aceptar la pertenencia de Celestina al ámbito dramático y la comedia clásica romana como uno de sus modelos, es necesario aclarar de manera satisfactoria un problema determinante: la total ausencia, en Castilla, de documentación acerca de representaciones de comedias de Plauto y Terencio a finales del siglo XV. Aunque algunos estudiosos hayan afirmado que en esta época solían representarse en España las obras de estos dramaturgos latinos, desgraciadamente no han aducido evidencia o prueba ninguna en apoyo de sus aseveraciones, por lo que nunca se han podido confirmar históricamente tales prácticas teatrales. Esta creencia infundada ha surgido, probablemente, de la voluntad de querer homologar la tradición teatral de la península italiana del último cuarto del siglo XV a España. Sin embargo, esta evidente incongruencia persiste y no ayuda en nada a explicar la génesis de Celestina.
Palabras, palabras, palabras: La Celestina como una autorrepresentación dialógica
Authors: Fernández Díaz David Félix
Published: February 2021

La palabra, el registro dialógico y las relaciones que rigen el sistema comunicativo, son aspectos fundacionales en La Celestina. Como modelo comunicativo que engloba múltiples representaciones comunicativas, el texto proyecta sobre sí una constante y rica autorreferencialidad en ese mismo diálogo que representa. Desde esta perspectiva, el metalenguaje se presenta como un componente esencial en la obra de Rojas y a partir del cual se erige una de sus múltiples lecturas.
Silencio o blasón. Escribir entre dos extremos
Authors: Gastañaga Ponce de León José Luis
Published: February 2021

Los primeros cuatro versos del acróstico que acompaña la Celestina como un texto preliminar subrayan la importancia de dos términos, silencio y blasón, callar o publicar, que representan dos extremos frente los cuales el autor debe optar por un punto medio. En este artículo se sostiene que Rojas, en tanto autor de la obra o, al menos, continuador de los papeles del antiguo autor, adapta esa idea tan manida del justo medio aristotélico a su obra en dos niveles. En un primer nivel, hace que sus personajes deliberen entre dos extremos cuando actúan o reflexionan sobre sus acciones. En un segundo nivel, Rojas, como autor, delibera también sobre las consecuencias de publicar el libro (Comedia) y sobre su respuesta a las opiniones surgidas de un primer público lector (Tragicomedia). En la dinámica entre redacción y recepción de su propia obra, Rojas encuentra un punto medio como lugar de enunciación de un propósito didáctico.
E. Michael Gerli. «Celestina» and the Ends of Desire. Toronto: University of Toronto Press, 2011. ISBN: 978-1-4426-4255-3
Authors: Gastañaga Ponce de León José Luis
Published: February 2021

N/A
Confederación e ironía: crónica de una muerte anunciada (Celestina, autos I-XII)
Authors: Snow Joseph T.
Published: February 2021

Este ensayo tiene como objetivo comprender el por qué del asesinato de Celestina y, en particular, su propio rol en él. Comienza todo en el primer auto, cuando por sus propias circunstancias, como una mujer profesional venida a menos, siente la necesidad de tener un respaldo y crea una confederación con Sempronio y Pármeno, los dos criados de Calisto. Su error fatal es la formación de esta confederación que conducirá a su asesinato. Todos los pasos en esta confederación, desde el auto primero al duodécimo, se catalogan y se analizan a la luz de las múltiples ironías que la acompañan. Una sección final comenta los nexos entre esta confederación y sus consecuencias y las muertes de los dos protagonistas al final de la obra.
Two Spanish Masterpieces. A Celebration of the Life and Work of María Rosa Lida de Malkiel, ed. Pablo Ancos y Ivy A. Corfis, Nueva York, Hispanic Seminary of Medieval Studies, 2013
Authors: Millán Silvia
Published: February 2021

N/A
El tahúr y la alcahueta, aliados de juegos prohibidos en Salamanca hacia 1497: Lucena, Repetición de amores y arte de axedrez
Authors: Gómez-Ivanov María Luisa
Published: February 2021

Lucena, autor de Repetición de amores y arte de axedrez, fue un ajedrecista afamado de origen converso. Pese a ser su Repetición una obra fría, descarnada, propia del género que manipula, el célebre ajedrecista, estudiante de leyes en Salamanca, se detiene a recrear su amistad con una vieja, buena amiga, que parece conocía de primera mano. Este artículo interpreta la relación entre el tahúr y la alcahueta con intención de respaldar la hipótesis de la existencia real en Salamanca de una vieja Celestina, cuyas primeras artimañas impresas en 1497 se debieron no tanto a sus artes en la tercería ilícita de amores sino sobre todo a su labor como corredora de lucrativos juegos de mesa clandestinos.
¿Hubo otra traducción quinientista de Celestina al italiano?
Authors: Saguar García Amaranta
Published: February 2021

Algunos textos españoles e italianos de los siglos XVI y XVII parecen aludir a una traducción quinientista de Celestina al italiano diferente de la de Alphonso Hordognez. Este artículo analiza varias referencias a dicha traducción para intentar determinar si existió realmente o si se trata de una traducción fantasma.
Carol Salus. Picasso and «Celestina»: The Artist’s Vision of the Procuress. Newark, DE: Juan de la Cuesta Press, 2015
Authors: Snow Joseph T.
Published: February 2021

N/A
Gestures as a Transnational Language through Woodcuts: Celestina’s Title Pages
Authors: Albalá Pelegrín Marta
Published: February 2021

Tras la publicación de la Comedia de Calisto y Melibea en 1499, La Celestina se convertiría en uno de los libros más profusamente ilustrados del siglo XVI. Este artículo analiza el lenguaje corporal y la gestualidad en las xilografías de las portadas de sus primeras ediciones, confirmando que la mayoría se integra en el marco iconográfico de la tradición teatral, orientada a la legibilidad de sus ilustraciones para ayudar a los lectores a comprender el texto. Tanto impresores como entalladores gozaban de flexibilidad al resumir el argumento o codificar emociones en la página impresa, lo que los llevaría a operar con tres programas iconográficos diferentes: el encuentro de los amantes en el huerto de Melibea, la representación de Celestina en el dormitorio de Melibea, y la condensación del argumento en un escenario teatral poblado por grupos de figuras y acciones sucesivas. En estas tres visualizaciones, los cambios en el lenguaje corporal de los personajes ofrecían diferentes lecturas de sus intenciones, sentimientos y motivaciones.
Paridades y conflictos: Analogía de dos mundos en La Celestina de Teatro El Público
Authors: Pino Más Dania del
Published: February 2021

En 2002, la compañía Teatro El Público llevó a escena una adaptación de La Celestina que obtuvo un enorme éxito en Cuba. Este artículo examina cómo esta adaptación se sirvió de diversas técnicas dramáticas para darle al texto clásico de Rojas una serie de nuevos significados que eran muy pertinentes para el público cubano en las circunstancias históricas precisas de la isla en esos momentos. El texto original de la obra fue respetado en su mayoría, con la excepción de la supresión de los largos pasajes eruditos incluidos en los diálogos. Otros ingredientes de la producción, como el vestuario, la desnudez de algunos actores, una forma de actuar erotizada, la inclusión de piezas musicales de origen tradicional español y cubano, y la disposición espacial del escenario sirvieron para subrayar interesantes paralelismos y contrastes entre el mundo medieval en que se originó La Celestina y la situación de Cuba en la época.
Posibles razones por las que la Celestina fue considerada anónima durante los siglos XVI-XVII y creación de Rojas a partir del XIX
Authors: Prieto de la Iglesia Remedios , Sánchez Sánchez-Serrano Antonio
Published: February 2021

La interpretación de los paratextos preliminares de la Celestina a la luz de las acepciones del Diccionario de Autoridades conduce a diferenciar entre un «auctor» anónimo para la Carta y un «autor» nombrado en el acróstico, y a identificar el antiguo término «auctor» con el actual cedente y «autor» con componedor, refundidor y editor. Como, además, la práctica editorial de los primeros tiempos de la imprenta permitía la utilización como propios de textos manuscritos ajenos y anónimos, es natural que en la época antigua no se considerase a Rojas autor-creador (inventor) de la Celestina y se conceptuara la obra de anónima. Frente a esto, los cambios en el plano lingüístico y en las circunstancias de la recepción operados en el siglo XIX propiciaron la corriente de opinión favorable a la autoría creativa de Rojas.
Entrevista con Ángel Facio, director de teatro
Authors: Bastianes María
Published: February 2021

N/A
«Postema y landre te mate»: maldiciones, bendiciones y otras frases, y su función como presagio en La Celestina
Authors: Gómez Estrada Grissel
Published: February 2021

Las bendiciones y maldiciones en La Celestina no sólo tienen la función de simples fórmulas de cortesía o reproche, respectivamente. También inciden en el tiempo funcionando como presagios, anticipando sucesos. Además, hay otro tipo de frases premonitorias a lo largo de la obra. Los presagios tienen que ver con el desenlace, en específico, con la muerte de los personajes: Calisto, Melibea, Celestina y los criados. En el caso de Calisto, incluso hay alusiones que describen también la manera como va a morir, por ejemplo, las palabras de la vieja: «Digo que me alegro de estas nuevas como los cirujanos de los descalabrados». Mi propósito en la presente propuesta es demostrar que la aparición continua de anticipaciones, a través de unidades fraseológicas, incide en la forma como se percibe el tiempo de la obra.
Las ilustraciones de las traducciones alemanas de Celestina: Hans Weiditz y la Tragicomedia de Calisto y Melibea
Authors: Saguar García Amaranta
Published: February 2021

Estudio sobre los posibles modelos del artista Hans Weiditz a la hora de grabar los tacos xilográficos para la impresión de la primera traducción de Celestina al alemán, publicada en Augsburgo en diciembre de 1520 por Sigismund Grimm y Max Wirsung. Tras una detallada comparación de las xilografías de la edición alemana con las de las ediciones españolas e italianas ilustradas aparecidas antes de dicha fecha, se concluye que el grabador necesariamente tuvo que conocer las estampas de la edición de la Comedia de Burgos y, al menos, también las de las ediciones de la Tragicomedia herederas de la primera ilustrada de Jacobo Cromberger.
La metamorfosis de Melibea en la Tragicomedia de Calisto y Melibea
Authors: Snow Joseph T.
Published: February 2021

Los autores de la Tragicomedia de Calisto y Melibea con gran pericia planearon para distinguir el personaje de Melibea de las heroinas de las ficciones anteriores una gradual metamorfosis desde la primera escena de la obra. El lector solo ve el re-hazo del galán Calisto, pero en al menos cinco lugares de la obra se detalla que Melibea fue cautivada en la misma escena inicial y escogerá mediante su libre albedrío la manera de volver a estar con Calisto. Guarda ese amor en secreto de sus padres y Celestina hasta el auto X, cuando las tensiones interiores explotan y Melibea comienza a actuar por su propia cuenta, aproximándose así a una mujer moderna, siempre con la complicidad de su fiel criada Lucrecia.
Celestina: Documento bibliográfico (suplemento número 39)
Authors: Paolini Devid
Published: February 2021

N/A
De nuevo sobre la ortotipografía de las Comedias de Toledo 1500 y Burgos 1499-1502 (?) y Tragicomedias de Zaragoza 1507 y Valencia 1514. Usos gráficos de h, i, y, g, j, x
Authors: Prieto Remedios , Sánchez Antonio
Published: February 2021

Mediante criterios cuantitativos, se estudian detenidamente los usos de las grafías h, i, y, x, g, j en función de su posición en las palabras y teniendo en cuenta las coincidencias y divergencias en las cuatro ediciones consignadas en el título. Del estudio se deducen conclusiones sobre el estado de la ortografía castellana de la época, basadas en los miles de datos extraídos de dichas ediciones, de fácil acceso para los lectores del presente estudio.
La desmesura de una comedia transgresora: La Segunda Celestina de Feliciano de Silva
Authors: Navarro Durán Rosa
Published: February 2021

En la Segunda comedia de Celestina Feliciano de Silva no solo quiso imitar a La Celestina, sino continuarla, y para ello tuvo que «resucitar» a la alcahueta, a la que habían asesinado Sempronio y Pármeno; en este ensayo se analiza la forma literaria en que lo hizo, y las consecuencias que tuvo. El segundo objetivo de este estudio es ver cómo el escritor introduce otras dos novedades en su texto y el papel que tienen en él: literarias, al dar un papel relevante a los amores de Poncia, la inteligente y discreta criada de Polandria, y de Sigeril, paje de Felides; y lingüísticas, en los paréntesis que abre con el habla de dos esclavos negros y de un pastor.
Quaderns de filosofia VII, 2
Authors: Fia Quad
Published: February 2021

Número complet / Número completo / Full Issue
Urban Interiority: Emerging Cultural and Spatial Practices
Authors: Atmodiwirjo Paramita , Yatmo Yandi Andri
Published: February 2021

Discourses on the urban interior recently have emerged as a series of provocations and experimentations that highlight the critical understanding of the urban realm from the interiority perspective. In the fast-moving development of modern global cities, the urban interior concept becomes increasingly important. Cities are fast becoming containers for contemporary spatial practice, with urban spaces becoming melting pots of diverse cultures and communities. Viewing urban settings from the interiority perspective allows us to comprehend unique local characters in particular contexts. This issue of Interiority presents a collection of works that illustrate the expanded understanding of the urban interior, especially in relation to cultural and spatial practice in urban contexts. This issue presents multiple perspectives on understanding the urban interior, raising arguments on how its spatial condition could perform as a container of cultural practice, while simultaneously offering possibilities on manoeuvring within the urban interior context through various ways of reading, interpretation and intervention. These perspectives and approaches promise further possibilities to expand our interior architectural practice in responding not only to current contemporary practice, but also to the future of urban inhabitation.
The IKEA x UTS Future Living Lab as a Learning Laboratory
Authors: Brejzek Thea , Wallen Lawrence Paul
Published: February 2021

This article introduces the IKEA x UTS Future Living Lab, a design research collaboration between IKEA Australia and the University of Technology Sydney (UTS), founded in 2018. Authored by the Lab's two directors, the article traces the pedagogical and methodological approach of the IKEA x UTS Future Living Lab. Situated within the Educational Design Research (EDR) discourse, this article demonstrates the development of a productive dialogue between two contrary operating principles: that of infinite creativity afforded to design students, and that of rigorous design development towards mass manufacturing and market distribution by a major global player in the design industry. This article outlines how co-creation principles as practised by IKEA and peer-critique as a long-established pedagogical design school tool accelerate students' understanding of the complex processes involved in contemporary design and provide “real world” experiences in the production of design concepts and outcomes.
Constructing and optimizing 3D atlases from 2D data with application to the developing mouse brain
Authors: Young David M , Fazel Darbandi Siavash , Schwartz Grace , Bonzell Zachary , Yuruk Deniz , Nojima Mai , Gole Laurent C , Rubenstein John LR , Yu Weimiao , Sanders Stephan J
Published: February 2021

3D imaging data necessitate 3D reference atlases for accurate quantitative interpretation. Existing computational methods to generate 3D atlases from 2D-derived atlases result in extensive artifacts, while manual curation approaches are labor-intensive. We present a computational approach for 3D atlas construction that substantially reduces artifacts by identifying anatomical boundaries in the underlying imaging data and using these to guide 3D transformation. Anatomical boundaries also allow extension of atlases to complete edge regions. Applying these methods to the eight developmental stages in the Allen Developing Mouse Brain Atlas (ADMBA) led to more comprehensive and accurate atlases. We generated imaging data from 15 whole mouse brains to validate atlas performance and observed qualitative and quantitative improvement (37% greater alignment between atlas and anatomical boundaries). We provide the pipeline as the MagellanMapper software and the eight 3D reconstructed ADMBA atlases. These resources facilitate whole-organ quantitative analysis between samples and across development.
Cytoneme delivery of Sonic Hedgehog from ligand-producing cells requires Myosin 10 and a Dispatched-BOC/CDON co-receptor complex
Authors: Hall Eric T , Dillard Miriam E , Stewart Daniel P , Zhang Yan , Wagner Ben , Levine Rachel M , Pruett-Miller Shondra M , Sykes April , Temirov Jamshid , Cheney Richard E , Mori Motomi , Robinson Camenzind G , Ogden Stacey K
Published: February 2021

Morphogens function in concentration-dependent manners to instruct cell fate during tissue patterning. The cytoneme morphogen transport model posits that specialized filopodia extend between morphogen-sending and responding cells to ensure that appropriate signaling thresholds are achieved. How morphogens are transported along and deployed from cytonemes, how quickly a cytoneme-delivered, receptor-dependent signal is initiated, and whether these processes are conserved across phyla are not known. Herein, we reveal that the actin motor Myosin 10 promotes vesicular transport of Sonic Hedgehog (SHH) morphogen in mouse cell cytonemes, and that SHH morphogen gradient organization is altered in neural tubes ofMyo10-/-mice. We demonstrate that cytoneme-mediated deposition of SHH onto receiving cells induces a rapid, receptor-dependent signal response that occurs within seconds of ligand delivery. This activity is dependent upon a novel Dispatched (DISP)-BOC/CDON co-receptor complex that functions in ligand-producing cells to promote cytoneme occurrence and facilitate ligand delivery for signal activation.
Structure and mechanism of a phage-encoded SAM lyase revises catalytic function of enzyme family
Authors: Guo Xiaohu , Söderholm Annika , Kanchugal P Sandesh , Isaksen Geir V , Warsi Omar , Eckhard Ulrich , Trigüis Silvia , Gogoll Adolf , Jerlström-Hultqvist Jon , Åqvist Johan , Andersson Dan I , Selmer Maria
Published: February 2021

The first S-adenosyl methionine (SAM) degrading enzyme (SAMase) was discovered in bacteriophage T3, as a counter-defense against the bacterial restriction-modification system, and annotated as a SAM hydrolase forming 5’-methyl-thioadenosine (MTA) and L-homoserine. From environmental phages, we recently discovered three SAMases with barely detectable sequence similarity to T3 SAMase and without homology to proteins of known structure. Here, we present the very first phage SAMase structures, in complex with a substrate analogue and the product MTA. The structure shows a trimer of alpha–beta sandwiches similar to the GlnB-like superfamily, with active sites formed at the trimer interfaces. Quantum-mechanical calculations, thin-layer chromatography, and nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy demonstrate that this family of enzymes are not hydrolases but lyases forming MTA and L-homoserine lactone in a unimolecular reaction mechanism. Sequence analysis and in vitro and in vivo mutagenesis support that T3 SAMase belongs to the same structural family and utilizes the same reaction mechanism.
The Spike D614G mutation increases SARS-CoV-2 infection of multiple human cell types
Authors: Daniloski Zharko , Jordan Tristan X , Ilmain Juliana K , Guo Xinyi , Bhabha Gira , tenOever Benjamin R , Sanjana Neville E
Published: February 2021

A novel variant of the SARS-CoV-2 virus carrying a point mutation in the Spike protein (D614G) has recently emerged and rapidly surpassed others in prevalence. This mutation is in linkage disequilibrium with an ORF1b protein variant (P314L), making it difficult to discern the functional significance of the Spike D614G mutation from population genetics alone. Here, we perform site-directed mutagenesis on wild-type human-codon-optimized Spike to introduce the D614G variant. Using multiple human cell lines, including human lung epithelial cells, we found that the lentiviral particles pseudotyped with Spike D614G are more effective at transducing cells than ones pseudotyped with wild-type Spike. The increased transduction with Spike D614G ranged from 1.3- to 2.4-fold in Caco-2 and Calu-3 cells expressing endogenous ACE2 and from 1.5- to 7.7-fold in A549ACE2 and Huh7.5ACE2 overexpressing ACE2. Furthermore, trans-complementation of SARS-CoV-2 virus with Spike D614G showed an increased infectivity in human cells. Although there is minimal difference in ACE2 receptor binding between the D614 and G614 Spike variants, the G614 variant is more resistant to proteolytic cleavage, suggesting a possible mechanism for the increased transduction.
Freshwater sponge hosts and their green algae symbionts: a tractable model to understand intracellular symbiosis
Authors: Hall Chelsea , Camilli Sara , Dwaah Henry , Kornegay Benjamin , Lacy Christie , Hill Malcolm S. , Hill April L.
Published: February 2021

In many freshwater habitats, green algae form intracellular symbioses with a variety of heterotrophic host taxa including several species of freshwater sponge. These sponges perform important ecological roles in their habitats, and the poriferan:green algae partnerships offers unique opportunities to study the evolutionary origins and ecological persistence of endosymbioses. We examined the association betweenEphydatia muelleriand its chlorophyte partner to identify features of host cellular and genetic responses to the presence of intracellular algal partners.Chlorella-like green algal symbionts were isolated from field-collected adultE. muelleritissue harboring algae. The sponge-derived algae were successfully cultured and subsequently used to reinfect aposymbioticE. muelleritissue. We used confocal microscopy to follow the fate of the sponge-derived algae after inoculating algae-freeE. muellerigrown from gemmules to show temporal patterns of symbiont location within host tissue. We also infected aposymbioticE. muelleriwith sponge-derived algae, and performed RNASeq to study differential expression patterns in the host relative to symbiotic states. We compare and contrast our findings with work in other systems (e.g., endosymbioticHydra) to explore possible conserved evolutionary pathways that may lead to stable mutualistic endosymbioses. Our work demonstrates that freshwater sponges offer many tractable qualities to study features of intracellular occupancy and thus meet criteria desired for a model system.
Academic Supervision for Improving Quality Education in Primary Schools of Bangladesh: Concept, Issues and Implications
Authors: Alam Md. Jahangir , Haque A. K. M. Mahmudul , Banu Akter
Published: February 2021

Quality primary education has become a first and foremost matter of concern of our country in the twenty-first century. In Bangladesh, achievement in primary education is tremendous, though there is a question in quality education. In this case, there are numerous problems that resist the process of quality education at the primary level and lack of effective academic supervision is one of them. The study is descriptive in nature and it collects relevant data and information from secondary sources through content analysis. The study highlights on the general role and functionalities of the Assistant Upazila (sub-district) Education Officer (AUEO) as a supervisor in improving the teaching-learning process and to improve quality primary education. It tries to make a conceptual analysis on different aspects of academic supervisor, quality education in school, supervision and inspection, quality assurance as well as teaching-learning. The study reveals that low support and morale, inspection rather than academic supervision, lack of dedication and professionalism, etc are the main issues of academic supervision which hamper quality primary education in Bangladesh. The study recommends that AUEO’s role as a supervisor should assist the execution of the numerous roles and functionalities which will progress the teaching-learning situation in the input process to improve quality primary education in Bangladesh.
Comparative Analysis of Sindh Education Foundation and Private Educational Institutions: A Case Study of District Khairpur
Authors: Ali Umeed , Maqbool Imran
Published: February 2021

Schooling is important for the character preparing of person. There are various kinds of establishments accessible like private and public organizations, specialized foundations, These organizations are having the triangle of three principle columns; comprised of Teachers, Students, and Curriculum. There are two fundamental kinds of schools in Pakistan and everywhere on the world. One is public and other is non-public school framework. Presently a day’s non-public schools are getting more top pick and appealing for lion's share of the understudies because of their better training frameworks, test measures and information creation versus SEF schools, which similarly Free however wasteful are losing their fascination. Guardians want to send their kids in tuition based schools and evade SEF schools. The primary target of this examination is to research why individuals favor high charging tuition based schools to free SEF schools (That charge nothing)? We show that five principle factors arise as significant determinants of non-public school decision. These incorporate the financial status of the family unit, the level of a school's availability, the expense of tutoring, guardians' impression of school quality, and their view of the accessible business openings in the area.
Do Prior Type and Sample Size have Effect on Mixtures of Normal? The Monte Carlo evidence
Authors: Oluwadare Ojo O. , Lateifat Enesi O. , Oluremi Owonipa R.
Published: February 2021

Overtime finite mixtures of Normal in regression have gained popularity and also shown to be useful in modelling heterogeneous data. This study examines the effects of prior and sample size in regression mixtures of Normal models with Bayesian approach. Monte Carlo experiment was carried out on the Normal mixtures model in order to examine the strength of priors and also to know the suitable sample size to produce stable results. Results obtained from the experiment indicate that an informative prior gives a reliable estimate than non-informative prior while large sample sizes maybe needed to obtain stable results.
First-principles Investigation of Structure and Electronic Properties of NiTe2 Fermi Crossing Type-II Dirac Semimetal
Authors: Saminu Muzambilu , Saleh Sofwan Ibrahim , Musa Shafiu Ibrahim , Ahmed Gulzar , Idris M. C.
Published: February 2021

The electronic structure aspect of transition metal dichalcogenides (TMDs) has so far received intensive research interest. NiTe2 is a noble candidate for type-II DSM with Dirac point near the Fermi surface. In this paper we present a systematic investigation of the structural stabilities and electronic properties of NiTe2 using density functional theory via a plane wave pseudopotential method in the context of the Perdew–Burke–Ernzerh of generalized gradient approximation. The structural parameters, partial and total density of states (DOS) were systematically studied. Our structural study indicates that the material has a trigonal structure with P3̅m1 space group. In addition, we have computed the cohesive energy and the DOS at the Fermi level [N(Ef)]. The results show that NiTe2 is stable.
Effect of Silicon Fertilization on Agro-Morphological Traits of Grand Naine Banana Grown in Typic Ustifluvent Soil
Authors: Arthi V. , Sriramachandrasekharan M. V. , Manivannan R. , Shakila Arumugam
Published: February 2021

Aims: Banana is the fifth largest agricultural commodity in the world trade after cereals, sugar, coffee and cocoa and second largest fruit crop in the world. The main objective of the study is to know the performance of banana to silicon fertilization grown in typic ustifluvent soil.

Study Design: The experiment was conducted in randomized block design. The test crop banana var Grand Naine.

Place and Duration of Study: Rajagopalapuram village under Kuttallam taluk, Tamilnadu, India

Between July to October 2016

Methodology: The experiment consisted of ten treatments viz., T1-NPK (RDF), T2-NPK+Potassium silicate (FS)- 0.25%,T3-NPK+Potassium silicate (FS)-0.50%,T4-NPK+Potassium silicate (FS)-1.00%,T5-NPK+Potassium silicate (FS)-0.25%,T6 -NPK+ Potassium silicate (FS)-0.50%,T7­-NPK+ Potassium silicate (FS)-1.00%,T8-NPK+Potassium silicate (SA)-50kgha-1,T9-NPK + Potassium silicate (SA)-100 kg ha-1 and T10 -NPK + Potassium silicate (SA)-150 kg ha-1. T2 to T4 foliar spray was done at 3rd and 5th month and from T5 toT7, foliar spray was done at 3rd, 5th and 7th month. Growth, yield parameters and banana yield were recorded.

Results: The outcome was that soil application of silicon recorded higher growth and yield compared to foliar application. Pseudo stem height, Pseudo stem girth, LAI, chlorophyll content, sucker production and leaf dry matter weight, fruit characters viz., bunch weight and length, number of hands/ bunches, number of fingers / hands, total number of fingers/ bunches, finger weight, length and girth were highest with soil application of 50 kg Si ha-1. Similarly, foliar application of silicon at 1% applied at 3rd and 5th recorded the highest morphological and fruit characters compared to 0.25 and 0.5% Si. The highest fruit yield ((96.0 t ha-1) was noticed with 50 kg Si ha-1 followed by foliar spray of 1% Si applied at 3rd and 5th month (92.7 t ha-1).

Conclusion: It is concluded that soil application of 50 kg Si ha-1 through potassium silicate is best followed by foliar spray of 1.0% Si for realizing higher banana productivity.
A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of an Emerging Therapy against COVID-19: Is Convalescent Plasma a Hidden Gem Not Yet Optimized?
Authors: Sarfraz Azza , Sarfraz Zouina , Razzack Aminah Abdul , Hathaway III Donald , Thevuthasan Sindhu , Singh-Makkar Sarabjot , Paul Trissa , Patel Gaurav , Sana Muhammad Khawar , Sarfraz Muzna , Richter Franz , Gonzalez Marcos A. Sanchez
Published: February 2021

Background: An unprecedented global effort in identifying potentially viable and emerging drugs for effective treatment of the novel coronavirus disease (2019) is being made. Of the most promising candidate therapies, convalescent plasma (CP), albeit controversial, is approved for emergency use authorization (EUA) by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The concept rests on passive immunity, achieved by administering plasma with high titers of neutralizing antibodies to reduce severity of SARS-CoV-2 infection and mortality. The aim of this paper is to assess the clinical improvement, patients’ discharge status and all-cause mortality in convalescent plasma versus standard of care COVID-19 patient groups.

Methods: Using PRISMA guidelines, a review was conducted from January, 2020, until October, 2020 employing keywords including “convalescent plasma”, “clinical improvement, “mortality”, “adverse events”, “viral load”, “dosing”, and survival.” Dichotomous data for all-cause mortality, patients’ discharge status, and clinical improvement at day 14 of treatment were meta-analyzed applying the Mantel-Haenszel (M-H) random effects model using Review Manager 5.4. 

Results: A total of 627 (23.9%) patients in the CP group and 1997 (76.1%) patients in the control group were pooled. The studies were conducted in the United States, China, Netherlands, and Iran. The CP group had a lower association to all-cause mortality as compared to the control group [OR: 0.69; CI: 0.50 to 0.96; P=0.03]. Patients who received CP had higher probability of discharge during the study course [OR: 1.87; CI: 1.1 to 3.18; P=0.02]. Bias was expected in the analysis due to the stratified of study designs included.

Conclusion: Convalescent plasma therapy may be an effective and vital tool with promising historical, current, and expected clinical trial evidence of metrics such as increased safety and reduction of all-cause mortality.
INTERDISCIPLINARITY IN ONLINE TEACHING AND LEARNING RESEARCH: A BIBLIOMETRIC STUDY
Authors: Lund Brady , Wang Ting , Hendrickson Beth
Published: February 2021

This study examines the interdisciplinarity of the field of online teaching and learning research using a framework for the bibliometric assessment of the interdisciplinarity of scholarly journals, adapted from the work of Imad Al-Sabbagh, as captured in the journal The Internet and Higher Education, a top-cited journal in this field. It analyzed the citations (n = 21854) for all articles published in the history of the journal and presents findings for the complete history of the journal and trends throughout the history of the journal. The findings indicate that online learning and teaching research is a highly interdisciplinary field that builds on research from dozens of disciplines.
Five Key Strategies for Reducing Dwelling Time in the Ports of Indonesia
Authors: Sirajuddin Sirajuddin
Published: February 2021

This paper discusses the implementation of five key strategies of reducing dwelling time at ports. The five strategies are deregulation of administrative procedures, availability of infrastructure and port facilities, integration of information technology, quality of services, price and incentive strategies. By using partial least squares method and bootstrapping testing, these five variables are a good fit, reliable, and robust as a factor for reducing dwelling time at the port. However, the implementation at Ports in Indonesia still needs to be improved. Four strategies have been running well and they have a significant effect either directly or indirectly on the decrease of dwelling time, namely deregulation of administrative procedures, availability of infrastructure and port facilities, integration of information technology, dan quality of services. While price and incentive have not been maximized to reduce dwelling time at Ports in Indonesia.
Hollow Microneedle Arrays Produced by Low‐Cost, High‐Fidelity Replication of Hypodermic Needle Tips for High‐Dose Transdermal Drug Delivery
Authors: Zhou Cuiping , Tang Hao , Zhang Li , An Hong , Wu Yunjin , Tang Ding , Zhou Jianhua
Published: February 2021

As an emerging tool for transdermal drug delivery and body fluid sampling, hollow microneedles (HMNs) exhibit advantages such as safety in use, painlessness, high drug loading, precise administration, and convenience of connecting to external devices. However, the existing techniques for fabricating HMNs are expensive and poor in batch‐to‐batch consistency. Herein, a simple, high‐fidelity, cost‐effective replication technique to produce polymeric HMN arrays using the tips of traditional hypodermic needles as the template is developed. HMN arrays of four different polymers are successfully fabricated. The as‐fabricated HMN arrays exhibit excellent consistency from batch to batch, a puncture force of ≈1.03 N for penetrating rabbit skin, almost no cytotoxicity to CT‐26.WT cells, and a maximum drug‐loading capacity of 2.06 mg cm−2 for each array. Furthermore, a bundle device is fabricated by attaching the HMN array to a looped zip tie and applied to load a protein vaccine into mice, and it is found that the vaccination efficiency of the HMN arrays is comparable to that of the traditional hypodermic injection. The experiments suggest that the replication technique proposed herein is promising for the large‐scale production of HMN arrays for cosmetics, drug delivery, minimally invasive diagnosis, etc.
A Critical Appraisal of the Instrumented Indentation Technique and Profilometry‐Based Inverse Finite Element Method Indentation Plastometry for Obtaining Stress–Strain Curves
Authors: Campbell Jimmy E. , Zhang Hannah , Burley Max , Gee Mark , Fry Antony Thomas , Dean James , Clyne Trevor William
Published: February 2021

A comparison is presented between conventional tensile stress‐strain curves and those obtained via two methodologies based on (spherical) indentation. The first, termed Instrumented Indentation Technique (IIT), involves conversion of load‐displacement data to stress‐strain curves via analytical expressions. This has been done using loads below 1 N (“nano”) and in the kN range (“macro”). The other procedure, termed profilometry‐based indentation plastometry (PIP), is based on repeated finite element method (FEM) simulation, using the residual indent profile as the target outcome and obtaining the best fit set of parameter values in a constitutive stress‐strain law. This has been done on a macro scale only. The data from nano‐IIT tend to be very noisy and variable, whereas those from macro‐IIT are more reproducible and less noisy. With one of the two empirical formulations employed, the agreement of the macro‐IIT with experiment is close to being acceptable for the work hardening characteristics, although inferred values of the yield stress are in poor agreement with those from tensile testing. In contrast to this, the PIP procedure provides outcomes that are in close agreement with those from tensile testing, concerning both yield stress and work hardening. The causes of this are explored and discussed.
Copper Oxide Nanoparticle Diameter Mediates Serum‐Sensitive Toxicity in BEAS‐2B Cells
Authors: Morris Angie S. , Givens Brittany E. , Silva Aaron , Salem Aliasger K.
Published: February 2021

Copper oxide (CuO) nanoparticles (NPs) are abundant in manufacturing processes, but they are an airway irritant. In vitro pulmonary toxicity of CuO NPs has been modeled using cell lines such as human bronchial epithelial cell line BEAS‐2B. In 2D in vitro culture, BEAS‐2B undergoes squamous differentiation due to the presence of serum. Differentiation is part of the repair process of lung cells in vivo that helps to preserve the epithelial lining of the respiratory tract. Herein, the effects of serum on the hydrodynamic diameter, cellular viability, cellular differentiation, and cellular uptake of 5 and 35 nm CuO NPs are investigated, and the mean cell area is used as the differentiation marker for BEAS‐2B cells. The results demonstrate that the hydrodynamic diameter decreases with the addition of serum to the culture medium. Serum also increases the mean cell area, and only affects dose‐dependent cytotoxicity of 35 nm CuO NPs, while simultaneously having no effect on intracellular Cu2+. This study presents evidence that both NP size and the presence of serum in culture media influence the relative viability of BEAS‐2B cells following CuO NP exposure and highlights a critical need for carefully designed experiments and accurately reported conditions.
Advances and Challenges in Small‐Molecule DNA Aptamer Isolation, Characterization, and Sensor Development
Authors: Yu Haixiang , Alkhamis Obtin , Canoura Juan , Liu Yingzhu , Xiao Yi
Published: February 2021

Aptamers are short oligonucleotides isolated in vitro from randomized libraries that can bind to specific molecules with high affinity, and offer a number of advantages relative to antibodies as biorecognition elements in biosensors. However, it remains difficult and labor‐intensive to develop aptamer‐based sensors for small‐molecule detection. Here, we review the challenges and advances in the isolation and characterization of small‐molecule‐binding DNA aptamers and their use in sensors. First, we discuss in vitro methodologies for the isolation of aptamers, and provide guidance on selecting the appropriate strategy for generating aptamers with optimal binding properties for a given application. We next examine techniques for characterizing aptamer–target binding and structure. Afterwards, we discuss various small‐molecule sensing platforms based on original or engineered aptamers, and their detection applications. Finally, we conclude with a general workflow to develop aptamer‐based small‐molecule sensors for real‐world applications.
Construction of Highly Ordered Glyco‐Inside Nano‐Assemblies through RAFT Dispersion Polymerization of Galactose‐Decorated Monomer
Authors: Qiu Liang , Zhang Haoran , Bick Thomas , Martin Johannes , Wendler Petra , Böker Alexander , Glebe Ulrich , Xing Chengfen
Published: February 2021

Glyco‐assemblies derived from amphiphilic sugar‐decorated block copolymers (ASBCs) have emerged prominently due to their wide application, for example, in biomedicine and as drug carriers. However, to efficiently construct these glyco‐assemblies is still a challenge. Herein, we report an efficient technology for the synthesis of glyco‐inside nano‐assemblies by utilizing RAFT polymerization of a galactose‐decorated methacrylate for polymerization‐induced self‐assembly (PISA). Using this approach, a series of highly ordered glyco‐inside nano‐assemblies containing intermediate morphologies were fabricated by adjusting the length of the hydrophobic glycoblock and the polymerization solids content. A specific morphology of complex vesicles was captured during the PISA process and the formation mechanism is explained by the morphology of its precursor and intermediate. Thus, this method establishes a powerful route to fabricate glyco‐assemblies with tunable morphologies and variable sizes, which is significant to enable the large‐scale fabrication and wide application of glyco‐assemblies.
Cobalt Diazo‐Compounds: From Nitrilimide to Isocyanoamide via a Diazomethanediide Fleeting Intermediate
Authors: Aghazada Sadig , Fehn Dominik , Heinemann Frank W. , Munz Dominik , Meyer Karsten
Published: February 2021

Lithium trimethylsilyldiazomethanide and a cobalt (II) precursor with an N‐anchored tris‐NHC (TIMENmes) ligand provide access to the cobalt nitrilimide 1. Complex 1 was structurally characterized by single‐crystal X‐ray diffractometry (SC‐XRD) and its electronic structure was examined in detail, including EPR spectroscopy, SQUID magnetometry and computational analyses. The desilylation of the C‐(trimethylsilyl)nitrilimide reveals a transient complex with an elusive diazomethanediide ligand, which substitutes one of the mesitylene rings of the ancillary ligand through C−N bond cleavage. This transformation results in the cyclometalated cobalt(II) complex 2, featuring a rare isocyanoamido‐κ‐C ligand.
Aptamer Blocking Strategy Inhibits SARS‐CoV‐2 Virus Infection
Authors: Sun Miao , Liu Siwen , Wei Xinyu , Wan Shuang , Huang Mengjiao , Song Ting , Lu Yao , Weng Xiaonan , Lin Zhu , Chen Honglin , Song Yanling , Yang Chaoyong
Published: February 2021

The COVID‐19 pandemic caused by SARS‐CoV‐2 is threating global health. Inhibiting interaction of the receptor‐binding domain of SARS‐CoV‐2 S protein (SRBD) and human ACE2 receptor is a promising treatment strategy. However, SARS‐CoV‐2 neutralizing antibodies are compromised by their risk of antibody‐dependent enhancement (ADE) and unfavorably large size for intranasal delivery. To avoid these limitations, we demonstrated an aptamer blocking strategy by engineering aptamers’ binding to the region on SRBD that directly mediates ACE2 receptor engagement, leading to block SARS‐CoV‐2 infection. With aptamer selection against SRBD and molecular docking, aptamer CoV2‐6 was identified and applied to prevent, compete with, and substitute ACE2 from binding to SRBD. CoV2‐6 was further shortened and engineered as a circular bivalent aptamer CoV2‐6C3 (cb‐CoV2‐6C3) to improve the stability, affinity, and inhibition efficacy. cb‐CoV2‐6C3 is stable in serum for more than 12 h and can be stored at room temperature for more than 14 days. Furthermore, cb‐CoV2‐6C3 binds to SRBD with high affinity (Kd=0.13 nM) and blocks authentic SARS‐CoV‐2 virus with an IC50 of 0.42 nM.
Fused Quinoidal Dithiophene‐Based Helicenes: Synthesis by Intramolecular Radical–Radical Coupling Reactions and Dynamics of Interconversion of Enantiomers
Authors: Li Guangwu , Matsuno Taisuke , Han Yi , Wu Shaofei , Zou Ya , Jiang Qing , Isobe Hiroyuki , Wu Jishan
Published: February 2021

A series of fused quinoidal dithiophene‐based double and triple helicenes (1‐M,2‐M,2‐M‐Cl,3‐M,3‐M‐Cl) were synthesized by intramolecular radical–radical coupling followed by oxidative dehydrogenation reaction. These helical molecules show dynamic interconversion of enantiomers in solution as revealed by variable‐temperature NMR measurements, and the energy barriers are correlated to the substituents and topological structures. Notably, dynamic high performance liquid chromatography was used to quantitatively investigate the room‐temperature racemization process between the (P,P,M)‐ and (P,M,M)‐ enantiomers of the triple helical3‐M‐Cl, which gave an interconversion energy barrier in consistent with density functional theory calculations. Their optical and electrochemical properties are dependent on the fusion mode. Our studies provide both new synthetic strategy and new dynamic analytical method for helicenes with unique electronic structure.
Hydrogen‐Borrowing Alkylation of 1,2‐Amino Alcohols in the Synthesis of Enantioenriched γ‐Aminobutyric Acids
Authors: Hall Christopher J. J. , Goundry William R. F. , Donohoe Timothy J.
Published: February 2021

For the first time we have been able to employ enantiopure 1,2‐amino alcohols derived from abundant amino acids in C−C bond‐forming hydrogen‐borrowing alkylation reactions. These reactions are facilitated by the use of the aryl ketone Ph*COMe. Racemisation of the amine stereocentre during alkylation can be prevented by the use of sub‐stoichiometric base and protection of the nitrogen with a sterically hindered triphenylmethane (trityl) or benzyl group. The Ph* and trityl groups are readily cleaved in one pot to give γ‐aminobutyric acid (GABA) products as their HCl salts without further purification. Both steps may be performed in sequence without isolation of the hydrogen‐borrowing intermediate, removing the need for column chromatography.