Scientific Research Research Articles

Assessment of urban air quality in Abidjan in terms of trace metals (copper, lead, zinc) by arborescent vegetation: Case of the species Hibiscus tiliaceus rubra.

Urban air quality is closely linked to human activities. Policies aimed at reducing or monitoring this form of pollution therefore have a dual benefit for health and the environment. Biomonitoring of air quality is one possible scientific approach. In this study, the woody species Hibiscus tiliaceus rubra was used as a biomonitor of air quality in the city of Abidjan. The leaves of the woody species were used to quantify the bioaccumulation of three trace metals: copper, lead and zinc. The assessment was carried out on five main road sections: "Adjamé-Cocody", " Adjamé-Yopougon", "Cocody-Bingerville", abobo-Anyama” and " Adjamé-Plateau". The results obtained show that the content of these trace metals varies according to the road. High levels of copper and zinc and very low levels of lead were initially found in the leaves of the species. The Adjamé-Cocody axis and the Adjamé-Yopougon axis recorded the highest levels of lead. The Adjamé-Plateau axis remains the least contaminated, with relatively low levels of lead.

Past, present and future of Psoralea glandulosa Linn, Chilean medicinal plant, an inexhaustible resource: A literature review

Culén is the popular term used in Chile for the only endemic species of the Fabaceae family, Psoralea glandulosa Linn. It is one of the most widely used medicinal plants in Chile and in some regions of South America, not only as a home remedy, but also recommended by medicine and widely used in the gastronomic industry. Many properties are known, supported by biological tests both in vitro and in vivo. Because it is so highly appreciated, it is included in the book "Medicamentos Herbarios Tradicionales" (Traditional Herbal Medicines) of the Chilean Ministry of Health. Given the great interest in this plant since time immemorial, this review contains information on its history, popular uses and scientific studies, for a better knowledge, management and sustainable care of this Chilean natural resource.

Innovative fertilizers with added plant extracts in the cultivation of Valeriana officinalis and Raphanus sativus and in the control of Botrytis and powdery mildew

Research objective: The main objective of this article is to report the results obtained from the use of innovative fertilisers with added plant extracts in agriculture. In particular, this article will deal with two important topics: i) study of the effect of innovative fertilisers on the biomass of vegetable plants; ii) possible control on mortality due to diseases such as Botrytis and powdery mildew. The information reported in this research work can support the design of cultivation systems in which agricultural sustainability is fundamental due to the presence of plant extracts as an alternative to synthetic plant protection products. Materials and Methods: The plants were grown in pots under controlled conditions; 30 seedlings per thesis, divided into 3 replications of 10 plants each, were planted in early January 2024. The plants used in the trial were Valeriana officinalis L. and Raphanus sativus. The five experimental groups in cultivation were: i) group control, irrigated with water and previously fertilised substrate; ii) group with Aktigen, irrigated with water and previously fertilised substrate, (3 ml per plant once a week); iii) group with Lifegen, irrigated with water and previously fertilised substrate, (3 ml per plant once a week); iv) group with QI-gen, irrigated with water and previously fertilised substrate, (3 ml per plant once a week); v) Group with Ecklonia maxima (EK): (peat 70% + pumice 20%), irrigated with water and previously fertilised substrate, (3 ml per plant once a week). On 5 May 2024, plant height, number of leaves, primary root length (mm), biomass of the aerial and root system, and number of dead plants (Botrytis and powdery mildew) were recorded. Results and Discussion: The experiment showed that the use of innovative fertilisers enriched with plant extracts can indeed significantly improve the vegetative and root growth of Valeriana officinalis L. and Raphanus sativus. All treatments showed a significant improvement over the untreated control and the commercial Ecklonia maxima treatment for the agronomic parameters analysed, but the Qi-gen treatment was significantly the best for increasing vegetative and root biomass. Improvements were also found in plant height, leaf number and root length. The trial also revealed the significant effect on Botrytis control of the product Aktigen and on powdery mildew of the product Lifegen, in fact they reduced the mortality of Valeriana officinalis and Raphanus sativus seedlings. Conclusions: A number of scientific studies have shown that the application of biofertilizers can improve plant growth, productivity, quality, and tolerance to biotic and abiotic stresses. Because of their multiple properties, they have become increasingly important as advanced agricultural techniques in global agriculture. This type of product, which includes natural substances, will contribute significantly to ecologically and economically sustainable agricultural production systems in the coming years, as well as serving as the foundation for large-scale sustainable agriculture in the future.

Beyond Books: Exploring AR in Education with Unity3D

Augmented Reality (AR) is a technology that enables the blending of digital information, such as 3D models, images, or videos, into our real-world environment in real time. Unlike virtual reality, which creates an entirely artificial environment, AR enhances reality by overlaying digital elements. Augmented Reality (AR) is a technological innovation that combines the physical and digital worlds. It overlays contextual and interactive digital information onto the environment we see, creating an immersive experience. AR can revolutionize various fields such as computer science, human-computer interaction, psychology, medicine, and education. Although the concept of AR dates back to the 1960s, recent advancements in sensor technologies, computational power, and mobile devices have made it more accessible. As AR gains popularity, researchers explore its potential in different fields and study the cognitive processes involved in AR interactions. Understanding the fundamental principles of AR systems is key to unlocking its transformative capabilities. As we go further, we will explore the dimensions of augmented reality, including its evolution, current scientific applications, and prospects for scientific inquiry and innovation. Key Words: Augmented Reality (AR), Digital Integration, Immersive Experience, Interdisciplinary Research, Technological Innovation

'Who can tell me what potable water means?' The assessment of water quality in debates over hydraulic infrastructure in nineteenth-century Italy.

How water is perceived and represented has an impact on the relationships between a given society and its water infrastructure. Historians have identified a shift in the perception of water during the nineteenth century, which was connected to the development of chemistry. From an understanding based in Hippocratic medicine and natural history that treated it as an infinite variety of substances, water eventually became understood as a simple compound consisting of oxygen and hydrogen. This resulted in the abstraction of water from its social and environmental contexts, with consequences for the way water was managed. This article aims to demonstrate that such a view gives a mistaken intellectual coherence to a fragmented and conflicted process, which involved continuities, an adaptation of old frameworks to new social priorities, and fine changes in scientific thinking and practices. This paper examines the scientific and political debates concerning water infrastructure, surveys and analyses on water quality, medical reports and political measures in nineteenth-century Italy. Ultimately, the reduction of 'waters' to 'water' in Italy was more about determining who had the authority to assess water quality in the process of creating and stabilizing new power relations between the public and the private spheres than about the abstraction of water from its social and environmental contexts.

Annulment of The Arbitration Decision Accordin to The Legislation and Practice

Objective: The study of the work has a comprehensive approach, based on current legislation and practice. Based on the fact that the arbitration procedure is an alternative procedure for the resolution of disputes, it is quite demanded, and that there are deficiencies in the literature as well as in the knowledge of the subjects of the law. Thus, when it came to the decisions made in the arbitration procedure, we say that they have the same legal force as the decisions made by the regular courts of the state, and also the annulment of the decision requires special clarification, since there are cases that the decision made in the arbitration proceedings are required to be set aside as the reason that the agreement to arbitrate is void. Thus, the purpose of this paper is to clarify in short points that it is possible to annul an arbitration decision in the event that the arbitration agreement was invalid. Method: The work is formulated on the basis of appropriate scientific methods. The methods that are included in the paper are scientific methods, historical methods, comparative methods, deduction methods, induction methods, and other methods without which the paper could not be formulated! Result: The decision made in the arbitration procedure must be made in accordance with the law on arbitration as well as with the principles defined in the law on arbitration, whether domestic or international. If it is found that the arbitration decision is illegal, or not based on evidence, then the same can be annulled. This annulment can be done by the regular state courts, but always in case the party that has a legal interest addresses the court and requests the annulment of the arbitration decision because it is contrary to the law on arbitration or contrary to the agreement on arbitration. or other reasons which the parties may present in the action for annulment of the arbitration award. We will talk more about the annulment of the arbitration decision in the content of this paper. Conclusion: As a conclusion of the paper, in the general sense of this paper, I have mentioned that the parties during the terms of the agreement must be careful not to conflict with any reason that leads to the invalidity of the arbitration agreement, since this invalidity will have consequences in in the event that an arbitration award has been given by this agreement, as from the regular courts this award will be annulled because the arbitration agreement has been invalid since the beginning of the criminal offense of this agreement or may become invalid and with the passage of time. So, during any action taken by the parties who claim to resolve their dispute through arbitration, they should be careful that everything is in order with the arbitration agreement, as the invalidity of the agreement may lead to the annulment of the award. of arbitration and this would be to the detriment of the party.

Understanding the Remplissage: History, Biomechanics, Outcomes, and Current Indications.

Arthroscopic remplissage has continued to gain popularity as an adjunct to Bankart repair for patients with anterior shoulder instability. Although the original remplissage technique was described over 15years ago, our understanding of when and how to use this procedure continues to evolve. This article provides a review of how remplissage affects shoulder biomechanics, compares clinical outcomes between remplissage and other procedures for shoulder instability, and discusses current indications for remplissage. Current research focuses on the use of remplissage across a wide range of glenoid bone loss. Remplissage appears effective at preventing recurrent instability in patients with glenoid bone loss up to 15% of the glenoid width. However, once glenoid bone exceeds 15%, outcomes tend to favor bony reconstruction procedures such as Latarjet. Results of biomechanical studies examining shoulder range of motion (ROM) after remplissage are mixed, though clinical studies tend to report no significant limitations in ROM when remplissage is added to a Bankart repair. Adding a remplissage to conventional Bankart repair may improve clinical outcomes and lower rates of recurrent instability without significantly altering shoulder ROM. However, surgeons should recognize its limitations in treating patients with large amounts of glenoid bone loss and should be prepared to discuss alternative procedures on a case-by-case basis. Absolute indications and contraindications for remplissage are not well defined currently and require further scientific research.

Robotics by multimodal self-organizing ensembles of software and hardware agents with artificial intelligence

Self-organizing ensembles of software and hardware agents with artificial intelligence model the intellectual abilities of a person's natural intelligence. The Creator endowed man with various types of intellectual abilities: generation of meanings, perception of meanings, meaningful actions and behavior, sensory reaction to meanings, emotional reaction to meanings. Based on the synergy of various intellectual abilities, a person carries out life activities. For example, Dialogue is conducted on the basis of two intellectual abilities: the generation and perception of meanings. A multimodal self-organizing ensemble of intelligent software and hardware agents with artificial intelligence, based on existing knowledge and skills, is able to write poetry, draw pictures, give recommendations and solutions to specialists, manage production and systems in various sectors of the economy, and take part in scientific research. Multimodal ensembles of intelligent agents, modeling the functions of natural intelligence, contain a functional control structure. To ensure the safe and reliable use of multimodal ensembles of intelligent agents, they are being standardized internationally under the guidance of ISO. International standardization of multimodal ensembles of intelligent agents expands the market and reduces the risks of their use.

Variety Breeding Studies on Hesperis isatidea (Boİss.) D.A. German & Al-Shehbaz

Hesperis isatidea (Boiss.) D.A.German & Al-Shehbaz, a member of the Brassicaceae family, represents a distinctive natural species characterized by its fragrant, conspicuous inflorescences, unique flower coloration, and distinct feather-like foliage. The Turkish name of the species is known as “Allı Gelin”. This species is native, exhibiting resilience to drought conditions and requiring minimal care. Cultivation studies on this species were carried out at Erzincan Horticulture Research Institute (Turkey) with project number 106G022 within the scope of TÜBİTAK (Turkish Scientific and Technological Research Council). The research aimed to determine optimal production techniques through generative and vegetative propagation methods. The project, initiated in 2013 and concluded in 2022, focused on developing a cultivar of the Allı Gelin plant using texel selection breeding techniques. Thirteen populations of Allı Gelin from institute's gene pool were utilized. Employing the Texel Selection method, four distinct lines were identified: compact, tightly spread compact, pyramid1and pyramid-2 shaped. Subsequent baby plant tests revealed stability in the tightly spread compact and pyramid-1 lines, leading to their selection for further breeding. Although breeding efforts continued on the compact line, the pyramid-2 line was discontinued due to an inability to attain the desired stability. The successfully tested variants, namely the pyramid-1 and tightly spread compact forms, have been earmarked as candidates for outdoor ornamental plant varieties. Registration procedures for these candidates are underway. These new varieties promise to enrich diversity within the ornamental plants sector, potentially enhancing competitiveness in foreign markets.

FOSTERING KEY VALUES OF ACADEMIC INTEGRITY THROUGH THE EDUCATIONAL PROCESS AT POLTAVA STATE MEDICAL UNIVERSITY

Academic integrity serves as the cornerstone of an individual's moral character and their approach to scholarly endeavors. It reflects the moral values that students bring with them to higher education institutions, aiming to enhance and refine them throughout their academic journey and beyond. This article aims to explore the principles underlying the development of academic integrity among teachers, lecturers, and its implementation in the scholarly and educational activities of higher education institutions. Lecturers serve as the primary examples of academic integrity for students. Their commitment to ethical standards, honesty, and openness in discussing ethical issues can influence students and serve as a model for their behavior. At Poltava State Medical University (PSMU), a repository has been established as a platform for showcasing teachers' scientific achievements, publications, research, and other academic accomplishments. Additionally, a bioethics commission oversees adherence to data collection and processing rules, animal experimentation, and the use of new technologies, fostering a conducive atmosphere in line with the ethical standards of academic integrity at PSMU. The patent department at PSMU oversees research ethics, citation rules, and plagiarism prevention, providing educational support, consultation, and assistance in developing intellectual property standards. The university's website offers online resources that encourage teachers to take greater responsibility for their actions and achievements. By making achievements publicly accessible, PSMU promotes adherence to ethical and quality standards among faculty members. Thus, fostering a virtuous academic environment requires a comprehensive approach that includes proper regulatory and legal frameworks, as well as organizational and preventive-educational measures. Establishing an educational environment based on academic integrity for future professionals enables high-quality outcomes, thereby shaping competitive specialists in the global market of social services.

Comprehensive Scientific Creativity Assessment (C-SCA): A New Approach for Measuring Scientific Creativity in Secondary School Students

AbstractThis study introduces a Comprehensive Scientific Creativity Assessment (C-SCA) instrument and empirically tests its reliability and validity. While existing instruments to measure scientific creativity generally focus on a single dimension, such as divergent thinking, the C-SCA incorporates scientific knowledge, motivation in scientific creativity and thinking styles within its assessment framework. In this study, the three dimensions of C-SCA were measured using modifications of existing instruments. We provide two versions of the test, to allow tests of the effectiveness of educational interventions on scientific creativity. We incorporated ChatGPT into the scientific creativity scoring process to enhance the objectivity of the scores. Looking ahead, technological advancements hold promise for further improvements in scientific creativity assessment.

So…….You Want to be a Peer Reviewer?

Peer review is essential to preserving the integrity of the scientific publication process. Peer reviewers must adhere to the norms of the peer review process, including confidentiality, avoiding actual or apparent conflicts of interest, timeliness, constructiveness, and thoroughness. This mini review will discuss some of the different formats in which peer review might occur, as well as advantages and disadvantages of each. The topics then shift to providing advice for prospective reviewers, as well as a suggested format for use in writing a review.

A participatory foresight approach to envisioning post-pandemic urban development pathways in Tokyo

Ensuring sustainable urban futures demands varied approaches, particularly with the advent of the COVID-19 pandemic, which presents a unique situation and experience for reimagining urban futures. A considerable number of scientific inquiries have adopted participatory foresight approaches to imagining sustainable urban development pathways. However, not many have used a similar approach to envision urban development pathways in a post-COVID-19 era. Based on available evidence on the impacts of COVID-19 on urban forms and lifestyles and citizens’ experiences during the pandemic, such a study is imperative to better understand how people from different demographic groups envision an ideal post-pandemic city. Using the Greater Tokyo Area as a case study, we adopted the Q methodology to determine post-pandemic urban development pathways from the subjective viewpoints of diverse stakeholders. We identified four development pathways for an ideal post-pandemic city. The first pathway is a resilient city with good neighborhood accessibility and sustainable urban regeneration. The second and third pathways, shared by younger people, focus on pro-environmental climate change mitigation (city compactness, shared mobility) and pro-urban resilience, respectively. The final pathway imagines a post-pandemic city that is accessible, safe, and smart. We found that different age groups perceive their ideal cities differently, especially when emphasizing the nexus between pandemics and cities. The study illustrates the need to adopt more participatory approaches in designing future urban development pathways since varied perspectives of an ideal city exist among different age demographics. These approaches promote equitable, inclusive, and transparent urban planning, advancing community support for policymaking and implementation.

Five Essential Features of Scientific Inquiry in Bahraini Primary School Science Textbooks and Workbooks

Five Essential Features of Scientific Inquiry in Bahraini Primary School Science Textbooks and Workbooks

Assessing emerging sustainability-oriented technologies: the case of precision agriculture

AbstractThe pressing need for a transition towards a more sustainable economy has given rise to sustainability-oriented innovations (SOIs). The development of SOIs involves a wide range of emerging technologies, some of which are highly uncertain and may have the potential to transform an existing industry. Thus, the identification and assessment of emerging technologies is pivotal for established companies to evaluate business opportunities as well as for researchers and policy makers to support the transition to a more sustainable economy. Therefore, we aim to contribute by offering a new approach that seeks to assess such emerging technologies that contribute to sustainability transition (i.e., sustainability-oriented technologies (SOTs)) by means of spectral cluster analysis based on the semantic similarities of scientific research articles in the field of precision agriculture (PA); a case example where multiple SOIs occur. Our analyses reveal that spectral cluster analysis is a suitable approach for assessing emerging SOTs. In addition, multi-perspective assessments based on, inter alia, related United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, Web of Science subject categories, strategic diagrams, and business models allows to render a holistic assessment of a scientific research area (in this case PA) and its emerging SOTs as well as their evolution into commercial SOIs.

Validation of the Indigenous Technical Knowledge of Cattle Pastoralists of Andhra Pradesh and Telangana, India

Indigenous technical knowledge (ITK) of livestock breeding is often tacit and not necessarily expressed in conventional forms of scientific research and documentation. Indigenous livestock breeding systems rely mostly on qualitative traits than pure quantitative qualities. Qualitative traits are difficult to measure and most of the indigenous knowledge systems are in forms of qualitative traits. The lack of documentation and predominant qualitative nature makes it difficult to validate the ITK related to livestock breeding. In this context a study was conducted to examine the traditional breeding practices associated with two heritage cattle breeds of the Deccan Plateau region of India. The study examines the criteria used for selection of the breeding bulls of the indigenous Poda Thurpu and Nallmala-Pasa/Kamma, cattle breeds native to the study area. Results of the study identifies fourteen traits specific to breeding bulls and four traits that are generic to the breeding stock/cows. These traits/characteristics are ‘deemed desirable’ by the local cattle breeders for the ‘heritage breeds’, believed to have been bred and managed by them for generations. Observations of the present study supports the notion that traditional breeders of heritage breeds lay more emphasis on qualitative traits (ability to warding-off predators, fending off-springs, coat colour and texture, gait of the animal, temperament, and response and obedience to instructions of the master) than quantitative traits. It was found that local breeders give significant importance to the fertility of bovine bulls than cows. Breeding bulls are meticulously chosen with extreme caution and care, following a very long and meticulous selection process that could last for four years. Traditionally local cattle breeders of the study follow open nucleus breeding system for breeding and are strictly against promotion of inbreeding among their cattle herds. Only men are involved in cattle breeding in the study area and women usually stay away.

Stress, Dysregulation of Rhythms, and Bipolar Disorder: A Challenging Field of Research

Clarifying the mechanisms by which circadian rhythms regulate biology is a central issue in directing life choices in the immediate future and presents an interesting challenge for current scientific research [...]

Digital Anthropology Manifesto

The manifesto format was not chosen by chance. As a rule, manifestations are not acceptable in the scientific community and are practiced to proclaim a new order of things. Historically, social groups have declared their intentions in manifestos of various kinds. This circumstance is also true for contemporary cases such as manifestos of cyborgs, hackers, “Evolution 2045”, etc. Digital anthropology as a subject of manifestation looks anomalous, since it is not related to the interests of a specific social group or force. The intentions of the authors of this manifesto are to proclaim an alternative to the scientific research mainstream. The subject area and thesaurus of digital anthropology historically began to take shape in the Western countries. Due to qualitative and quantitative empirical research, the network has become a kind of analogue of a “field” for the study of behavioral practices, the specifics of thinking, and mythology that makes its way into virtual communication and Internet content. In an attempt to maintain ideological continuity with ethnographic and field research, digital anthropology ignored the conceptual and generalizing statement about a person. The latter was formed in the discourse of philosophical anthropology, not only a historical philosophical movement, but also a current field of knowledge that produces reflexive generalized knowledge about human beings. In the manifesto, the subject of digital anthropology is significantly clarified, and its definition is also given as a result of the reassembly of the subject.

Regional features of camel milk composition and properties in the Republic of Kazakhstan

Camel milk, renowned for its distinctive nutritional qualities, has captured the interest of scientific researchers due to its potential health benefits. This study aims to compare the biochemical composition of camel milk sourced from two distinct regions of Kazakhstan: Jetisu and Mangystou. Analytical methods were employed to achieve this objective, including gas chromatography for fatty acid analysis, chemical methods for physicochemical parameter determination, and assessment of amino acid, fatty acid, mineral, and vitamin content. In samples from the Jetisu region, protein content ranged from 3.61% to 3.70%, fat from 3.85% to 4.64%, and lactose from 4.80% to 4.85%. In comparison, samples from the Mangystou region exhibited protein content ranging from 3.65% to 3.81%, fat from 4.72% to 5.75%, and lactose from 4.21% to 4.28%. Regarding amino acid composition, Mangystou region samples contained more essential amino acids per 100 g of protein than Jetisu region samples: 41.29 g versus 38.20 g, respectively. Additionally, the Jetisu region sample contained 64.291% saturated fatty acids, while the Mangystou region sample had 62.135%, indicating differences in fatty acid composition based on geographical origin. In terms of mineral composition, camel milk from the Mangystou region exhibited higher calcium and zinc content compared to Jetisu region samples, with calcium and zinc content measured at 124.50 mg/100 g and 490.15 μg/100 g, respectively, for Mangystou samples, and 112.50 mg/100 g and 321.24 μg/100 g, respectively, for Jetisu samples. Overall, the study underscores regional variances in camel milk's biochemical composition, which can impact its nutritional and biological value. These findings provide dairy product producers in Kazakhstan with enhanced opportunities to create healthy, high-quality dairy products.

Improving approaches to hygienic rationing of antimicrobial drugs

Introduction. Currently, the production of medicines, including those with antimicrobial properties, is expanding at chemical and pharmaceutical enterprises. However, scientific approaches to hygienic regulation of the content of specific antimicrobials in the air of the work area are not yet available. The study aims to substantiate approaches to predicting approximate safe levels of exposure (ASLE) to substances with a specific antimicrobial effect. Materials and methods. The scientists have carried out the research in two stages. The first stage is an experimental study of the single inhalation effect of an antibiotic clarithromycin at concentrations of 54.2; 25.4; 15.3; 9.1; 2.8 and 0.9 mg/m3 on mongrel female rats weighing 230–250 g. The authors have evaluated the indicators of toxic (morphological and functional parameters of the nervous, cardiovascular and respiratory systems, biochemical parameters of the liver and kidneys, as well as the composition of peripheral blood) and specific effects (qualitative and quantitative composition of the microbiota of the large intestine of rats). The second stage was the analysis of the database on hygienic rationing of chemicals, which consisted in searching for hygienic standards (ASLE, MPC), threshold concentrations for the general toxic (Limint) and specific (Limbact) effects of antimicrobials. Results. During the experiment, experts have established the threshold of acute inhalation exposure (Limac int) of clarithromycin at a concentration of 25.4 mg/m3 according to the total toxic effects (peripheral blood counts, liver and kidney function). When exposed to an antibiotic at a concentration of 2.8 mg/m3, there was an imbalance of the intestinal microflora in the absence of a general toxic effect, which indicated a specific and selective antimicrobial effect of the drug. Based on the analysis of literature data, the parameters of toxicometry of 21 substances with antimicrobial effect were determined, their representative sample was justified and its regression analysis was carried out. Conclusion. Based on experimental and literary data, the authors established a significantly strong correlation (r=0.729) between the values of MPC (ASLE) and the threshold of antimicrobial action (Limbact). They also developed a mathematical equation to predict safe levels of antimicrobials based on their specific and selective activity.