Fertile Environment Research Articles

Social Media as a Learning Tool: A Perspective on Formal and Informal Learning

Social networks have been recognized as a fertile learning environment, particularly in encouraging the exchange of knowledge. Students primarily use online communities and groups to read, exchange textbooks, make joint decisions, or share learning materials. Present work assesses the relationship between informal digital learning and formal education settings, with social media interventions. Applications of popular social media platforms have been explored in both formal and informal learning environments. Integration of social media platforms as a learning tool has been theorized by reviewing the contribution of social media and highlighting their specific outcomes.

Evaluation of a didactic toolkit for promoting preconception health among nursing and midwifery students

ABSTRACT Ever higher rates of infertility among the population add to the importance of promoting fertility awareness. A digital didactic toolkit was therefore developed for use as educational material. The cross-sectional observational study aimed to test and evaluate a didactic toolkit on reproductive health in the context of nursing and midwifery students. A convenience sample consisted of 88 nursing and 61 midwifery students, all studying full-time. An evaluation questionnaire was developed based on a literature review. The evaluation included 36 didactic tools within the toolkit, divided into 6 categories: Age and Fertility (n = 3), Understanding Reproduction (n = 2), Lifestyle Factors Affecting Fertility (n = 13), Infection Risks (n = 4), Environmental Hazards (n = 1), and Social Environment Issues (n = 13). MATLAB R2017b and SPSS v.26 were used to organize and analyze the data. A web platform providing information on preconception health received positive feedback and was reported to be ‘very good’ for 5 statements and ‘excellent’ for 3 items. The participants identified several groups that could be interested in the didactic toolkit, such as their peers, students, and couples planning a family. The participants already possessed a considerable amount of information about preconception health when they assessed the didactic tools, hence they focused more on its form and design than its content. Social media should be considered as a platform for the ongoing development of the toolkit. To ensure the content is comprehensible, future studies should include participants who are not healthcare professionals.

Az etnokoreológiának áldozott élet

The scholarly discipline of ethnochoreology or, as Hungarians would say, dance folkloristics, has had a profound and developed history in Hungary. From the very beginning of its establishing in early 1950s, various intense research activities have focused on the collection, documentation and systematization of traditional dances throughout the country, but also on developing particular theories about their historical and regional stratification. Along with dance notation (Labanotation), one of the main methods of collecting and documenting traditional dances has been their planned filming during pre-arranged sessions, financially and organizationally supported by the state institutions. Among early dance researchers, Labanotators and ethnochoreologists the most significant figure whose influence will far exceed the historical timing and national boundaries of his scholarly work certainly is György Martin (1932-1983). Thanks to the fertile environment of early traditional dance investigation in Hungary coupled with his academic education in folkloristics and ethnomusicology, but also, on the other hand, his huge passion for field research and cabinetwork equally, Martin has left a monumental academic foundation in all of his numerous writings, among which some were published after his early death. The book Selected papers of György Martin, edited by prominent dance researchers from Hungary (Fügedi, Szőnyi and Varga) and Ireland (Quigley), consists of the most significant Martin’s articles from various periods of his career. Besides Martin’s essays translated or re-edited in English, there are also dozens of papers by dance scholars mostly from Hungary. They critically reinterpret Martin’s achievements and reposition them not only within Hungarian but also within international scopes, pointing to their great importance for developing ethnochoreology as an academic scholarly discipline in general and to the continuation of their actuality in the second and third decades of the 21st century. Thanks to the fact that this capital publication is printed in English, Martin’s most significant papers and their scholarly interpretations will be available to a wider readership around the world, which will enable further theoretical, methodological and intellectual considerations about (traditional/folk) dance.

Az etnokoreológiának áldozott élet : Recenzió a Foundations of the Hungarian Ethnochoreology: Selected Papers of György Martin című kötetről

The scholarly discipline of ethnochoreology or, as Hungarians would say, dance folkloristics, has had a profound and developed history in Hungary. From the very beginning of its establishing in early 1950s, various intense research activities have focused on the collection, documentation and systematization of traditional dances throughout the country, but also on developing particular theories about their historical and regional stratification. Along with dance notation (Labanotation), one of the main methods of collecting and documenting traditional dances has been their planned filming during pre-arranged sessions, financially and organizationally supported by the state institutions. Among early dance researchers, Labanotators and ethnochoreologists the most significant figure whose influence will far exceed the historical timing and national boundaries of his scholarly work certainly is György Martin (1932-1983). Thanks to the fertile environment of early traditional dance investigation in Hungary coupled with his academic education in folkloristics and ethnomusicology, but also, on the other hand, his huge passion for field research and cabinetwork equally, Martin has left a monumental academic foundation in all of his numerous writings, among which some were published after his early death. The book Selected papers of György Martin, edited by prominent dance researchers from Hungary (Fügedi, Szőnyi and Varga) and Ireland (Quigley), consists of the most significant Martin’s articles from various periods of his career. Besides Martin’s essays translated or re-edited in English, there are also dozens of papers by dance scholars mostly from Hungary. They critically reinterpret Martin’s achievements and reposition them not only within Hungarian but also within international scopes, pointing to their great importance for developing ethnochoreology as an academic scholarly discipline in general and to the continuation of their actuality in the second and third decades of the 21st century. Thanks to the fact that this capital publication is printed in English, Martin’s most significant papers and their scholarly interpretations will be available to a wider readership around the world, which will enable further theoretical, methodological and intellectual considerations about (traditional/folk) dance.

Ocean acidification alters sperm responses to egg-derived chemicals in a broadcast spawning mussel.

The continued emissions of anthropogenic carbon dioxide are causing progressive ocean acidification (OA). While deleterious effects of OA on biological systems are well documented in the growth of calcifying organisms, lesser studied impacts of OA include potential effects on gamete interactions that determine fertilization, which are likely to influence the many marine species that spawn gametes externally. Here, we explore the effects of OA on the signalling mechanisms that enable sperm to track egg-derived chemicals (sperm chemotaxis). We focus on the mussel Mytilus galloprovincialis, where sperm chemotaxis enables eggs to bias fertilization in favour of genetically compatible males. Using an experimental design based on the North Carolina II factorial breeding design, we test whether the experimental manipulation of seawater pH (comparing ambient conditions to predicted end-of-century scenarios) alters patterns of differential sperm chemotaxis. While we find no evidence that male–female gametic compatibility is impacted by OA, we do find that individual males exhibit consistent variation in how their sperm perform in lowered pH levels. This finding of individual variability in the capacity of ejaculates to respond to chemoattractants under acidified conditions suggests that climate change will exert considerable pressure on male genotypes that can withstand an increasingly hostile fertilization environment.

Conspiracy

Conspiracy

From COVID-19 Treatment to Miracle Cure

From COVID-19 Treatment to Miracle Cure

In search of a fertile entrepreneurial landscape: how to keep it on the level

PurposeRecent analysis suggests entrepreneurship is in decline. If so, some argue that the appropriate policy response is to devote even further government intervention to nurture both fledgling ventures as well as entirely new undertakings, lamenting the fact that much current economic policy caters to already-successful firms – thereby creating a decision-making environment that stacks the deck against would-be entrepreneurs. While it is indeed true that entrepreneurial ventures lead to value creation over time, this paper argues that the answer to any slowdown in entrepreneurship is not to add even more policy Band-Aids to an already broken system of carve-outs, exemptions, subsidies and tax breaks. Instead the solution to bad policy is to unwind bad policy that favors Goliaths over Davids, thereby creating a level playing field for all. Any attempt to use government initiatives to spur entrepreneurship will, over the longer term, only serve to distort the economic outcomes society would have observed as the product of a system of rule-of-law, clearly defined and enforced property rights and freely functioning markets that permit entrepreneurs, investors, consumers and savers to make the most sensible choices available to them.Design/methodology/approachThis essay cites fundamental pieces of existing entrepreneurial research to make its argument.FindingsRather than adding even more policy initiatives to address any slowdown in entrepreneurship, policymakers should aspire to create the most fertile environment possible to foster entrepreneurial activity. Adding more policies on top of existing ones presumes to know which policies are better than others. Even when perceived as neutral, policy incentives cannot improve upon the outcomes of the unseen price system.Originality/valueThis paper reminds readers that entrepreneurship is vital to economic flourishing, while reminding readers that even policy actions presumed to be beneficial likely bear unintended consequences because they bring their own disruptions to the decision-making environment.

The interest of the United States of America in aspects of cultural activity in Egypt 1956-1970

The United States of America considered it necessary to consolidate its influence in Egypt since the first decade of the twentieth century, and behind this trend was far-reaching goals, the most important of which is the establishment of cultural and educational institutions to spread American culture in the Egyptian governorates, as it is a fertile environment for cultural activities. In Egypt, which played a major role in Egypt, which caused controversy among the Egyptian cultural circles, some of them considered it to be within the framework of the cultural exchange between the two countries, and some considered it a police duty, which forced President Gamal Abdel Nasser to personal intervention to resolve that controversy, and it became one of the educational cultural institutions The mission in Egypt to this day. In addition to these cultural and educational institutions, the Ford and Franklin institutions were active, as well as the activity of the press and art in Egypt for the duration of the study. Those are the axes of the tagged research (the interest of the United States of America in aspects of cultural activity in Egypt 1956-1970).

HERITABILITY, GENETIC ADVANCE AND TRAIT INTERRELATIONSHIPS OF Chenopodium quinoa UNDER LOW, MEDIUM AND HIGH N ORGANIC AND MINERAL FERTILIZER CONDITIONS

Strong correlations (r) between grain yield and other related traits along with high heritability (H2b) and high genetic advance (GA) would help plant breeder to use such traits as selection criteria for high yielding genotype. The objectives of the present investigation were: (i) to assess H2b and GA for 28 traits of 37 quinoa genotypes under low-N (LN), Medium-N (MN) and High-N (HN) organic and mineral fertilizers and (ii) to identify the selection criteria for selecting high seed yield genotypes under each and across the environments. A two-year field experiment was conducted, using a split split-plot design with three replications. Main plots were devoted to two fertilizer types, namely organic (OF) and mineral (MF), sub-plots to three N rates; namely LN (71.4), MN (142.8) and HN (214.2) kg N/ha, and sub sub-plots to 37 quinoa genotypes. The best selection environment for high seed yield/plant that showed the highest H2b and GA estimates and the strongest correlations with seed yield/ha was the low-N organic fertilizer (LN-OF) and the high-N mineral fertilizer (HN-MF) environment. Across all stressed (LN and MN) and non-stressed (HN) environments, the results indicated that seed yield/plant, biological yield/plant, nitrogen use efficiency, branches/plant, leaf area, inflorescence diameter, leaves area/plant, stem diameter, leaf area index, leaves/plant, plant height, 1000-seed weight and inflorescence weight were strongly inter-correlated and strongly correlated with seed yield/ha, had high heritability and high genetic advance and therefore could be regarded as selection criteria in breeding programs for high seed yield of quinoa under N-stressed and non-stressed environments. Further studies should be carried out on other quinoa germplasm to ascertain this conclusion.

Sheep dung disappearance from grazed hill country landscapes

Two experiments were conducted to examine the effects of biological (composition and site history) and topographic (slope and aspect) factors affecting sheep dung disappearance rates in hill country pastures. We used three of the farmlets that have been receiving 0 (NF), 125 (LF) or 375 (HF) kg of single superphosphate (SSP)/ha since 1980) from the long-term phosphorus fertiliser trial at Ballantrae. Experiment one examined the effect of farmlet, slope (low and medium slope class), and aspect (E, SW, NW), whereas Experiment two examined the effect of farmlet, both as a source of dung (from LF or HF farmlets) and as a site in the landscape (on LF or HF farmlets). In both experiments, disappearance of dung followed a quadratic curve, and no improvements were made using higher-order polynomials. Despite a lower fibre concentration, dung from sheep grazing the HF farmlet did not disappear at a faster rate than dung from the other farmlets, but soil activity in situ (placement) was pivotal to the rate of dung disappearance. A faster rate of dung disappearance on the HF farmlet is consistent with a greater capacity for turnover of plant biomass and animal excreta in this high fertility environment. These experiments contribute to our understanding of the influence of biological and topographic drivers of dung disappearance rates, and enable further advances to be made in the modelling of nutrients in these topographically complex agroecosystems.

Density-dependent patterns of multivariate selection on sperm motility and morphology in a broadcast spawning mussel.

Sperm cells exhibit extraordinary phenotypic variation, both among taxa and within individual species, yet our understanding of the adaptive value of sperm trait variation across multiple contexts is incomplete. For species without the opportunity to choose mating partners, such as sessile broadcast spawning invertebrates, fertilization depends on gamete interactions, which in turn can be strongly influenced by local environmental conditions that alter the concentration of sperm and eggs. However, the way in which such environmental factors impact phenotypic selection on functional gamete traits remains unclear in most systems. Here, we analyze patterns of linear and nonlinear multivariate selection under experimentally altered local sperm densities (densities within the capture zone of eggs) on a range of functionally important sperm traits in the broadcast spawning marine mussel, Mytilus galloprovincialis. Specifically, we assay components of sperm motility and morphology across two fertilization environments that simulate either sperm limitation (when there are too few sperm to fertilize all available eggs), or sperm saturation (when there are many more sperm than required for fertilization, and the risk of polyspermy and embryonic failure is heightened). Our findings reveal that the strength, form, and targets of selection on sperm depend on the prevailing fertilization environment. In particular, our analyses revealed multiple significant axes of nonlinear selection on sperm motility traits under sperm limitation, but only significant negative directional selection on flagellum length under sperm saturation. These findings highlight the importance of local sperm densities in driving the adaptation of sperm phenotypes, particularly those related to sperm motility, in broadcast spawning invertebrates.

Exosomal microRNAs as Potential Biomarkers and Therapeutic Agents for Acute Ischemic Stroke: New Expectations.

The morbidity and mortality rates of ischemic stroke (IS) are very high, and IS constitutes one of the main causes of disability and death worldwide. The pathogenesis of ischemic stroke includes excitotoxicity, calcium overload, oxygen radical injury, inflammatory reactions, necrosis/apoptosis, destruction of the blood-brain barrier (BBB), and other pathologic processes. Recent studies have shown that exosomes are critical to the pathogenesis, diagnosis, and treatment of cerebral infarctions resulting from ischemic stroke; and there is growing interest in the role of exosomes and exosomal miRNAs in the diagnosis and treatment of IS. Exosomes from central nervous system cells can be found in cerebrospinal fluid and peripheral bodily fluids, and exosomal contents have been reported to change with disease occurrence. Exosomes are small membranous extracellular vesicles (EVs), 30–150 nm in diameter, that are released from the cell membrane into the depressions that arise from the membranes of multivesicular bodies. Exosomes carry lipids, proteins, mRNAs, and microRNAs (miRNAs) and transport information to target cells. This exosomal transfer of functional mRNAs/miRNAs and proteins ultimately affects transcription and translation within recipient cells. Exosomes are EVs with a double-membrane structure that protects them from ribonucleases in the blood, allowing exosomal miRNAs to be more stable and to avoid degradation. New evidence shows that exosomes derived from neural cells, endothelial cells, and various stem cells create a fertile environment that supports the proliferation and growth of neural cells and endothelial cells, inhibits apoptosis and inflammatory responses, and promotes angiogenesis. In the present review, we discuss how circulating exosomes—and exosomal miRNAs in particular—may provide novel strategies for the early diagnosis and treatment of ischemic stroke via their potential as non-invasive biomarkers and drug carriers.

GROWTH IMPACT OF SAVINGS ON THE NIGERIAN ECONOMY

<p>Savings in an economy can assume one of the several forms. These includes: Personal savings, corporate savings or business savings and Government savings. This study evaluated growth impact of savings on the Nigerian economy. The study specifically examined the effect total savings, private consumption expenditure, gross fixed capital formation and core credit to the private sector on the gross domestic product of Nigeria. Data for the study were sources from CBN statistical bulletin for a period of ten (10) years spanning through 2011 to 2020. The sourced data were analysed using multiple regression analysis, result of the analysis shows that total savings has positive and significant effect on the gross domestic product of Nigeria. It was also observed that private consumption expenditure has a negative and insignificant effect on the gross domestic product of Nigeria. The study further revealed that gross fixed capital formation has a negative and significant effect on the gross domestic product of Nigeria. It was also observed that core credit to the private sector has positive and significant effect on the gross domestic product of Nigeria. Based on the findings, the study recommends that the government should set a sound and fertile environment in order to foster domestic saving that will help to increase the level of economic growth in Nigeria. Government should increase the deposit rate of the deposit money banks in Nigeria through monetary policy. Government should transform the financial sector of the country. Government should create favorable condition in order to mobilize domestic savings from the small depositors.</p><p>JEL: D01; D31</p><p> </p><p><strong> Article visualizations:</strong></p><p><img src="/-counters-/edu_01/0987/a.php" alt="Hit counter" /></p>

The Post-Pandemic, The Post-War, the City In Transition – Sarajevo Case Study. Future Scenarios For Post-Pandemic City

Global pandemic is a special challenge for Sarajevo, the post-war and the city in transition in Europe. Like stranded Noah’s ark, the city with still visible war wounds and with no foundations for sustainable spatial planning system yet constructed, will probably have zero resilience for future catastrophes and pandemics. Unsatisfactory outcomes of the spatial planning system analysis for Sarajevo directs us to understand seriousness of our present situation and to think to make a turning point towards re-evaluation of our creation, in order to renew and prepare our city to survive future catastrophes. It should not be only a matter of disaster resilience, but a path towards sustainable European 21 century city. Our symbiosis with other species is one of the future scenarios for a city in transition, because uncontrolled urban sprawl is threatening not only human made systems. Our consciousness of planning in the Western Balkans will have to change dramatically towards nature preservation and controlled urban development to enable our cities to become healthy, fertile, and functional environments again. In absence of spatial planning strategies, land use plans, and bylaws in accordance with TA2030, post-pandemic period might become the critical moment for Sarajevo to begin procedures of creating sustainable spatial planning system.

Recent Advance on Torrefaction Valorization and Application of Biochar from Agricultural Waste for Soil Remediation

With the increase of global proportion of soil pollution and the number of areas at risk, researchers have sought to develop various pathways to repair or relieve the pollutants in soil. Among them, biochar represents one multidimensional soil amendment which has got great deal of attention on its physicochemical properties towards the removal or mitigation of contaminants in soil. A variety of agricultural wastes like straw and manure prepared from different torrefaction process have been employed as feedstock for the production of biochar, which can be applied to the contaminated soil to facilitate the growing environment for crops, and to improve soil fertility and microbial environment. In addition, the utilization of biochar for soil remediation is also considered as a process of carbon sequestration. The purpose of this review is to summarize the latest research progress in torrefaction processes and mechanism of agricultural waste, the effects of different torrefaction methods on the formation and properties of biochar were explained, coupled with the effects of process parameters. Especially, the conversion and mechanisms of biochar prepared from agricultural wastes composed mainly with lignocellulosic material were discussed, and the characteristics of biochar prepared for improving soil physical and chemical characteristics, microbial community characteristics, nutrients, and the stability and relief of soil pollutants, especially heavy metals, are compared. Finally, this work discussed the application and future technical challenges of soil remediation based on agricultural waste derived biochar.

Reciprocal patterns of peer speech in preschoolers with and without hearing loss

Children with hearing loss often attend inclusive preschool classrooms aimed at improving their spoken language skills. Although preschool classrooms are fertile environments for vocal interaction with peers, little is known about the dyadic processes that influence children's speech to one another and foster their language abilities and how these processes may vary in children with hearing loss. We used new objective measurement approaches to identify and quantify children's vocalizations during social contact, as determined by children's proximity and mutual orientation. The contributions of peer vocalizations to children's future vocalizations and language abilities were examined in oral language inclusion classrooms containing children with hearing loss who use hearing aids or cochlear implants and their typically hearing peers. Across over 600 hours of recorded vocal interactions of 29 2.5–3.5 year olds (16 girls) in 3 cohorts of children in a classroom, we found that vocalizations from each peer on a given observation predicted a child's vocalizations to that same peer on the subsequent observation. Children who produced more vocalizations to their peers had higher receptive and expressive language abilities, as measured by a standardized end-of-year language assessment. In fact, vocalizations from peers had an indirect association with end-of-year language abilities as mediated by children's vocalizations to peers. These findings did not vary as a function of hearing status. Overall, then, the results demonstrate the importance of dyadic peer vocal interactions for children's language use and abilities.

Mapping on Interval Complex Neutrosophic Soft Sets

The neutrosophic idea is a fertile environment adaptable to different mathematical tools. This paper aims to introduce the mapping of complex interval neutrosophic soft sets (MI-CNSSs). Further, the images and inverse images of complex interval neutrosophic soft sets and their properties are explored. These will be supported by concrete examples, and this paper will present some theorems about complex interval neutrosophic soft images and inverse images.

Sperm Motility in Rheological Fluids Mimicking Fertilization Environment

Sperm Motility in Rheological Fluids Mimicking Fertilization Environment

Neutrophil depletion enhanced the Clostridium novyi-NT therapy in mouse and rabbit tumor models.

BackgroundHypoxia is a prominent feature of solid tumors and can function as fertile environment for oncolytic anaerobic bacteria such as Clostridium novyi-NT (C. novyi-NT) where it can induce tumor destruction in mice and patients. However, two major obstacles have limited its use, namely the host inflammatory response and the incomplete clearance of normoxic tumor areas.MethodsIn this study, we first used a subcutaneous tumor model of a glioblastoma (GBM) cell line in immunocompetent mice to investigate the local distribution of tumor hypoxia, kinetics of C. novyi-NT germination and spread, and the local host immune response. We subsequently applied the acquired knowledge to develop a C. novyi-NT therapy in an orthotopic rabbit brain tumor model.ResultsWe found that local accumulation of granular leukocytes, mainly neutrophils, could impede the spread of bacteria through the tumor and prevent complete oncolysis. Depletion of neutrophils via anti-Ly6G antibody or bone marrow suppression using hydroxyurea significantly improved tumor clearance. We then applied this approach to rabbits implanted with an aggressive intracranial brain tumor and achieved long-term survival in majority of the animals without apparent toxicity.ConclusionThese results indicated that depleting neutrophils can greatly enhance the safety and efficacy of C. novyi-NT cancer therapy for brain tumors.