bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Studies on the Amylolytic Enzyme Associated with the Black Mould Deterioration of Eko, a Nigerian Fermented Food
Authors: Jesubunmi Christianah O. 
Published: March 2022

Aims: To characterize amylase enzymes responsible for the spoilage of Eko, a Nigerian fermented food and to provide the best way to preserve it.
Study Design: The experiment was carried out to extract the enzyme involved in the deterioration of Eko, it was partially purified using ion-exchange chromatography.
Place and Duration of Study: Department of Microbiology, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile Ife, between 1994 and 1996.
Methodology: Eko was obtained from the new market Ile Ife and cut into slices, the slices were inoculated with spores of Aspergillus niger, on the eleventh day after inoculation, the enzyme was extracted, partially purified using ion-exchange chromatograpghy and characterized.
Results: Within eleven days of inoculation, the Eko slices were extensively covered by the fungal spores, the amylase secreted by the Aspergillus niger was harvested and characterized. Its molecular weight was 70,000 Da, the optimum pH and temperature were 6 and 35 0C respectively, enzyme activity increased with increase in starch concentration with optimum activity at 0.9 mg/ml, the apparent Km for starch hydrolysis was 0.4 mg/ml. Cations such as Na+ and K+ stimulated amylase activity but was inhibited by EDTA and HgCl2
Conclusion: The result of this work showed that amylase enzyme was produced by Aspergillus niger in the infected Eko slices also that the enzyme contributed to the degradation process, therefore, keeping Eko in conditions that will hinder the secretion of amylase enzyme or hinder its activity and the subsequent growth of A. niger will prolong the shelf life of Eko.
Impact of Oil Field Effluent on Some Physico-Chemical Properties of Soil, Quality and Growth of Tea in the Plantation of Small Growers of Dibrugarh, Assam
Authors: Neog Pubali , Bharadwaj Eimon , Deka Mridul , Gogoi Aditi Smith 
Published: March 2022

Aims: To study the impact of the oil field effluents discharged to the plantation on soil physicochemical, quality and growth of the tea crop.
Study Design: The experimental design was 4x2 Factorial Randomized Block Design with 3 replications.
Place and Duration of Study: It was conducted in Department of Tea Husbandry & Technology, Assam Agricultural University, Jorhat during September, 2019 and November, 2019.
Methodology: The total number of bushes per treatment are 35 each of +12 years age. The soil and plant samples were collected from four different levels of distance are D1: 0-21m; D2: 21-42m; D3: 42-63m and DC: beyond 63m (Control).
Results: The results showed that, disregarding the Flushing season the tea grown in the vicinity of the oil pit recorded the lowest value of caffeine content (1.58%), total chlorophyll (1.54 mg g-1) total polyphenol content (21.47%) which was significantly lower than the tea grown away from the oil pit. The plucking point density and number of primaries per plant recorded the lowest value in the vicinity of the effluent pit. In case of soil physical parameters, both porosity and hydraulic conductivity recorded lowest value of 45.64% and 0.25 cm min-1, respectively. The bulk density of soil near the oil effluent pit recorded the highest value (1.31 Mg m-3) and gradually decreases. Soil pH, organic carbon content and electrical conductivity recorded highest value in the vicinity of the effluent pit. Regardless of the flushing season the available nitrogen and potassium recorded the highest. Available phosphorous of the soil adjacent to the effluent pit recorded the lowest value. Both quality and growth parameters had significantly higher value in the rain flush than the autumn flush. The soil parameters did not record any significant variation among the seasons.
Conclusion: The vicinity area of the effluent pit found to be the most vulnerable.
Evaluation of Vulnerability-Related Risk Factors in Patients with Spinal Cord Injuries during Covid-19 Pandemic
Authors: Komlakh Khalil , Hatefi Masoud 
Published: March 2022

Background: Spinal cord injury is a chronic disease with increasing prevalence which causes various disorders in normal human life.
Objectives: This study endeavored to determine the risk factors related to the vulnerability in patients with SCIs During Covid-19 Pandemic in Ilam.
Methods: This study was conducted by utilization of a variety of descriptive cross-sectional studies in 2021. Questionnaires were used to collect information Tilburg vulnerability survey, Resilience survey and wax social support survey. For gaining samples with suitable disperse in the study properties and purposes, a list of patients was chosen and all of them were contacted to be informed about participating in the study. Completed surveys analyzed by SPSS16.
Results: Result showed, average score and standard deviation of vulnerability score in patients with SCI. Accordingly M(SD) measured to be 6.40(1.38) in physical dimension of vulnerability, 1.56(0.89) in mental dimension of vulnerability and 0.81(0.76) in social dimension of vulnerability. result of study, M(SD) was calculated to be 20.20(3.59) in family dimension, 18.76(3.83) in friends’ dimension and 21.70(3.69) in other people dimension.
Conclusions: Suggested to consider demographic variables affecting the health-related components in order to improve the condition of patients with SCI during the outbreak of Covid-19 disease.
A Comparative Analysis of Determinants of Family Dynamics of Children with ADHD with and without Comorbid Conduct Disorder
Authors: Ansari Moin Ahmed , Naqvi Syed Habib , Rafiq Mohammad , Waryah Ali Mohammad , Rajput Aatir H. 
Published: March 2022

Background: Comorbidity of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is one of the most actively studied topics in the field of child and adolescent psychiatry. Among clinic-referred children, comorbidity is frequently found between ADHD and conduct disorder (CD). However, little is known regarding the probable association between the co-occurrence and external factors. One factor that has recently sparked interest is family dynamics.
Objective: To compare the children with attention deficit/ hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) with and without co-morbid conduct disorder (CD) in terms of selected determinants of family dynamics and the influences of catchment area and gender on these differences.
Methodology: This case-control study was conducted upon a sample of 114 pre-diagnosed ADHD children from July 2017 to June 2019 at the Liaquat University Hospital & Sir CJIP. After taking written informed consent from parents of children diagnosed with ADHD, the children were re-evaluated using the Diagnostic & Statistical Manual (DSM) - V criteria. Vanderbilt Parent Rating Scale was also used to screen for possible comorbidities with ADHD. Children with intellectual disability were excluded from the study. Family dynamics like family type, family size, socio-economic status, parental educational and occupational status, family relationships, parental discord, and history of psychiatric illness in family were explored via self-structured interview-based questionnaire. The data obtained was analyzed using SPSS v. 21.0.
Results: The cumulative mean age of the sample of ADHD children stood at 7.6 years (SD ± 0.52). Most of the sample of the children hailed from urban (64.3%) areas and were raised in joint families (71.4%). Consanguinity was common among the parents (72.8%) and especially prevalent among the ADHD children with co-morbid CD. The key features that were notably high among families of the children with comorbid CD included positive parental psychiatric history, ADHD among siblings and parental discord.
Conclusion: After careful consideration, it can be concluded that consanguinity of parents, joint family system. And family history of psychiatric disorder affects the occurrence of comorbidity of conduct disorder among children with ADHD.
Evaluation of Sinopharm and Sinovac COVID-19 Vaccination Adverse Effects among the Population of Karachi: A Survey Based Study
Authors: Rehman Ata Ur , Khan Kiran , Maheshwari Jai Dev , Pasha Ghazala Nasim , Kamran Fatimah , Zahrah Nazrah e 
Published: March 2022

Introduction: Vaccines function through a variety of methods to provide disease protection; nevertheless, the process of establishing immunity can create side effects.
Objectives: The purpose of this research was to determine the acute side effects of two COVID–19 immunizations that are commonly used in the Karachi population.
Materials and Methods: Between August and September of 2021, a cross-sectional analytical survey was carried out. The 291 immunization recipients were asked to complete a survey concerning the vaccine's side effects. The Chi-Square test was used to compare the post-vaccination side effects of categorization groups. A p-value of ≤0.05 was statistically significant.
Results: Among post-vaccination side effects, fever was reported by 32.3% of the participants, followed by fatigue, redness at the injection site and gastrointestinal disturbances. The results show association of minor adverse effect with Gender and history of COVID infection.
Conclusion: In conclusion, vaccines are a potent weapon for controlling the COVID-19 pandemic, with high efficacy and low adverse reactions. The most common side effects of the Sinopharm and Sinovac vaccination was found to be fever, and there was a linear association between the presentations of most of the adverse effects and the history of Covid-19 infection.
(Bio)Analytical Nanoscience & Nanotechnology
Authors: Soldado Ana B. , Llano Suárez Pablo , Fernández‐Argüelles María T. , Sanz‐Medel Alfredo , Costa‐Fernández José M. , Trapiella‐Alfonso Laura 
Published: March 2022

Abstract
Research in nanoscience and nanotechnology has widely developed in the past decade to the extent that today nanotechnology has established an interdisciplinary trend between almost all branches of science and technology. Particularly, the actual availability of novel nanodevices, nanotools, nanosensors, and nanosorbents, with varied functionalization possibilities, has also greatly impacted bioanalytical sciences through in analytical processes.
Nanosized structures, with extraordinary physical and chemical properties, large specific surface areas, and different degrees of functionalization, have provided powerful tools for the bioanalysis systems by improving the detection sensitivity and miniaturization capabilities of the devices in bioanalytical procedures. Here, recent progresses achieved by exploiting the attractive properties of nanomaterials in the development of novel (bio)analytical techniques are reviewed. Moreover, improved analytical methodologies specifically designed to enable nanomaterials detection, quantification, and comprehensive characterization are required (key information to study their environmental behavior in toxicity studies or to improve the knowledge of their properties, thus making more effective their final use). An overview of the development of novel improved bioanalytical methodologies aimed to characterize or detect nanomaterials, along with a short outlook on future directions of the continuously growing nanoworld‐related bioanalytical applications, is included.
An adaptive anti‐swing control for the helicopter slung‐load system based on trajectory planning and neural network
Authors: Liu Wei , Chen Mou 
Published: March 2022

AbstractIn this article, an adaptive anti‐swing control method based on trajectory planning and radial basis function neural network (RBFNN) is proposed for the unmanned helicopter slung‐load system with the external disturbances and the continuous system uncertainty. An online trajectory planning method is designed to obtain the desired position, velocity, and acceleration signals of the unmanned helicopter. Then, combining with RBFNN and sliding mode control method, the position loop controller of the unmanned helicopter is designed to make the swing angle stable, and the unmanned helicopter can also track the desired trajectory. The attitude loop controller is designed by sliding mode backstepping method and RBFNN. In the process of controller design, the adaptive laws are designed to adjust the influence of approximation error of RBFNN and the external disturbance. The stability of the closed‐loop system is proved by Lyapunov analysis. Numerical simulation results show that the proposed control strategy is effective.
A Binary Hydrate‐Melt Electrolyte with Acetate‐Oriented Cross‐Linking Solvation Shells for Stable Zinc Anodes
Authors: Yang Min , Zhu Jiacai , Bi Songshan , Wang Rui , Niu Zhiqiang 
Published: March 2022

AbstractAqueous zinc‐ion batteries (ZIBs) with low cost and high safety are promising energy‐storage devices. However, ZIBs with metal Zn anodes usually suffer from low coulombic efficiency and poor cycling performance due to the occurrence of side reactions on the Zn anodes. Here, a binary hydrate‐melt ZnCl2/Zn(OAc)2 electrolyte is designed to suppress the hydrogen evolution reaction and by‐product formation on Zn anodes by adjusting the Zn2+ solvation structure. In the solvation structure of the hydrate‐melt ZnCl2/Zn(OAc)2 electrolyte, the carboxylate group in OAc− will coordinate with the Zn2+, which will weaken the interaction between Zn2+ and H2O molecules to achieve higher ionization energy of H2O molecules. Simultaneously, these carboxylate groups of OAc− can serve as H‐bond acceptors to construct H‐bonds with H2O molecules in their neighboring solvation structures, forming a cross‐linking H‐bond network. Such a cross‐linking H‐bond network further suppresses the water activity in ZnCl2/Zn(OAc)2 electrolyte. As a result, in such an electrolyte, the side reactions are effectively restricted on Zn anodes and thus Zn anodes can achieve a high coulombic efficiency of 99.59% even after cycling. To illustrate the feasibility of the ZnCl2/Zn(OAc)2 electrolyte in aqueous ZIBs, Zn||p‐chloranil cells are assembled based on the ZnCl2/Zn(OAc)2 electrolyte. The resultant Zn||p‐chloranil cells exhibit enhanced cycling performance compared with the cases with a conventional ZnSO4 electrolyte.
Hierarchical Nanowire Architectures Self‐Assembled from Ultra‐Deep‐Blue Fluorene‐Based Conjugated Molecules toward Organic Light‐Emitting Diodes with CIEy = 0.06
Authors: Cai Jiangli , Zhuo Zhiqiang , Ni Mingjian , Wang Shengjie , Zheng Yingying , Sun Lili , Lin Jinyi , Bai Lubing , Ding Xuehua , Lin Zongqiong , Huang Wei 
Published: March 2022

AbstractOrganic conjugated molecules with a rigid rod‐like π‐backbone structure automatically and easily self‐assemble into an anisotropic nanostructure. However, supersecondary structures obtained from the hierarchical secondary self‐assembly of nanostructures have rarely been reported for non‐amphiphilic conjugated molecules. Here, a nanowire architecture as a supersecondary structure from an ultra‐deep‐blue fluorene‐based conjugated molecule (FCz‐C8‐Am) to improve the emission efficiency and stability is reported. In significant contrast to the four reference molecules, the FCz‐C8‐Am molecules grow into soft nanowires and further self‐assemble into a series of nanowire architectures in the gelation process. This is associated with the synergistic effect of the hydrogen bonds among the amide units, pendant π–π stacking interactions between pendant Cz units, and appropriate soft steric interaction among side‐chains, which are the three design requirements for preparing these nanowire architectures. Interestingly, this supersecondary architecture of FCz‐C8‐Am has a stable ultra‐deep‐blue emission, with an efficiency of ≈77% and a Commission Internationale de L'Eclairage (CIE) value of (0.16, 0.06) in the solid state. These findings provide a profound understanding of the relationship between the inherent molecular structure, supramolecular interaction, and supersecondary nano‐architecture, offering useful information for the development of new functional optoelectronic materials.
Self‐Sacrifice Template Construction of Uniform Yolk–Shell ZnS@C for Superior Alkali‐Ion Storage
Authors: Xu Xijun , Li Fangkun , Zhang Dechao , Liu Zhengbo , Zuo Shiyong , Zeng Zhiyuan , Liu Jun 
Published: March 2022

AbstractSecondary batteries have been widespread in the daily life causing an ever‐growing demand for long‐cycle lifespan and high‐energy alkali‐ion batteries. As an essential constituent part, electrode materials with superior electrochemical properties play a vital role in the battery systems. Here, an outstanding electrode of yolk–shell ZnS@C nanorods is developed, introducing considerable void space via a self‐sacrificial template method. Such carbon encapsulated nanorods moderate integral electronic conductivity, thus ensuring rapid alkali‐ions/electrons transporting. Furthermore, the porous structure of these nanorods endows enough void space to mitigate volume stress caused by the insertion/extraction of alkali‐ions. Due to the unique structure, these yolk–shell ZnS@C nanorods achieve superior rate performance and cycling performance (740 mAh g−1 at 1.0 A g−1 after 540 cycles) for lithium‐ion batteries. As a potassium‐ion batteries anode, they achieve an ultra‐long lifespan delivering 211.1 mAh g−1 at 1.0 A g−1 after 5700 cycles. The kinetic analysis reveals that these ZnS@C nanorods with considerable pseudocapacitive contribution benefit the fast lithiation/delithiation. Detailed transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and X‐ray diffraction (XRD) analyses indicate that such yolk–shell ZnS@C anode is a typical reversible conversion reaction mechanism accomplished by alloying processes. This rational design strategy opens a window for the development of superior energy storage materials.
Effect of dicamba on reproductive development in corn and rice
Authors: Castner Mason , Norsworthy Jason K. , Barber Tom , Roberts Trenton Lee , Gbur Edward 
Published: March 2022

AbstractResearch has been published regarding the effects of sublethal dicamba rates applied at different growth stages in soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr.]; however, there is limited research on the effect of dicamba on reproductive growth in corn (Zea mays L.) and rice (Oryza sativa L.). Experiments were conducted in 2018 and 2019 to determine the potential consequences of dicamba exposure to reproductive stages of corn and rice. Dicamba was applied at 0.56, 5.6, 56, and 560 g ae ha–1, with a 1X rate being 560 g ae ha–1. Each rate was applied at three reproductive growth stages (corn: pretassel, tassel, and green silk; rice: late boot, panicle exertion, and anthesis). Visible injury to corn was negligible; however, rice treated with dicamba at 56 and 560 g ae ha–1 had noticeably greater injury (3 and 12%, respectively) relative to the nontreated. For rice, visible injury associated with dicamba at 56 and 560 g ae ha–1 appeared in the form of upright panicles, which reduced panicle weight and seeds per panicle, ultimately decreasing yields by 2,120 (22%) and 4,140 kg ha–1 (43%). A yield loss in corn could be detected only when dicamba was applied at 560 g ae ha–1 at the pretassel growth stage despite dicamba at 560 g ae ha–1 reducing seeds per row and total seeds per ear. With severe consequences being observed only at high dicamba rates, the threat of off‐target movement to corn and rice is far less severe than in soybean.
The influence of random packed column parameters on the liquid holdup and interfacial area
Authors: Fu Yucheng , Bao Jie , Singh Rajesh Kumar , Zheng Richard Feng , Anderson‐Cook Christine M. , Bhat K. Sham , Xu Zhijie 
Published: March 2022

AbstractCarbon dioxide capture via solvent absorption in packed columns has emerged as a potential technology to mitigate coal‐fired power plant CO2 emissions. Parameters, including packing types, solvent properties, and operating conditions, could potentially affect the packed column CO2 capture efficiency. To understand the importance of those parameters and help packed column optimization, a design of experiments (DoEs) method was proposed to generate input parameter matrix. Combined with multiphase computational fluid dynamics (CFD), the random packed column parameter influence on the liquid holdup and interfacial area can be efficiently investigated. Surrogate‐based sensitivity analysis shows that the solvent flow rate and contact angle are key factors dictating liquid holdup and interfacial area. On the other hand, solvent viscosity has a marginal impact on the interfacial area. The sensitivity scores were calculated for each input parameter to guide the selection of dimensionless numbers for the liquid holdup and interfacial area correlation development.
Organizing a transnational solidarity for social change through participatory practices: The case of People Powered–Global Hub for Participatory Democracy
Authors: Hagelskamp Carolin , Su Celina , Valverde Viesca Karla , Núñez Tarson 
Published: March 2022

AbstractIn the context of global democratic crises and pervasive neoliberal policies, civil society organizations (CSOs) play a critical role in promoting democratic processes and advancing social change on local, national, and transnational scales. However, such organizations also (need to) grapple with how they themselves put social justice and democratic principles into practice, and resist coloniality within. This article examines these questions in the case of People Powered–Global Hub for Participatory Democracy, a recently found transnational CSO that advocates globally for participatory democracy as a mechanism for social change and employs these principles in its own governance and operations. The analysis focusses on the creation of People Powered and its first year of practice. Drawing upon decolonial frameworks—and based on our own experiences as founding members of People Powered and our reading of interviews and documents—we identify concrete practices through which the organization seeks to enact epistemic justice, shift power, and emphasize relationality. We argue that People Powered's decolonial roots, collectively articulated values and commitments, radical transparency, and its consistent employment of meaningful participation and reflexivity have built and are likely to sustain this transnational solidarity for social change. At the same time and perhaps critical for fostering solidarity and social change in the long term, People Powered embraces, rather than evades, tensions and contradictions that emerge in these efforts.