Nature Position Research Articles

Nanotechnology at Work: Hydrogel Drug Delivery Architectures

Hydrogels represent three-dimensional, interconnected networks known to absorb substantial amounts of H2O but at the same time, being insoluble in the aforementioned solvent. Their exceptional hydrophilic nature, biocompatibility and diverse therapeutic potential position them as highly promising biomaterials within biological and biomedical fields. These materials, on account of their innoxious innate characteristics and safe utilization, have garnered widespread acceptance across tremendous and diverse biomedical applications ranging from traditional therapies to state-of-the-art advancements. This extensive review incorporates a spectrum of varied types of hydrogels, elaborating on both their chemical, physical aspects and also throws light on the rheological, analytical and spectroscopic tools employed for their characterization. It also continues to elaborate on the various mechanisms of gelation for facilitating a better understanding of the topic under discussion. The review also discusses the different strategies which are substantiated in recent times to expand the utilisation of hydrogels. The primary intent of this review is to render a comprehensive understanding of hydrogels as an ideal drug delivery system to undergraduates, graduates, biomedical students and researchers across the globe. It also targets to unravel the fundamental, applied and general aspects of hydrogels, offering valuable insights to help individuals associated with multidisciplinary research and application spheres.
 Keywords: Gelation, Biocompatibility, Cross-linking, Smart hydrogels, Polymerization, Architecture, Polymer network

OPTIMIZING SUSTAINABLE MATERIAL SELECTION FOR AIR CONDITIONERS IN A SUPPLY CHAIN

In order to cut their carbon footprint and promote environmental sustainability, the majority of businesses have now turned towards sustainable practises in their manufacturing processes and supply networks. The use of sustainable materials has drawn a lot of attention recently as a crucial step in accomplishing these goals. Choosing the material that is most suited for a product can be difficult, despite the fact that there are many sustainable materials available. This study uses machine learning – a random forest algorithm and multi-criteria decision analysis (MCDA) to optimise the use of sustainable materials in supply-chain operations. The study uses machine learning algorithms to analyse data on different sustainable materials, their characteristics and their effects on the environment. The study also investigates how an optimised material selection affects the whole supply chain, including the production, packing and shipping operations. The research offers a complete strategy for reducing the environmental effect of industrial processes by combining approaches from material engineering, supply chain management and machine learning. The novelty of this work resides in its integration of material engineering and machine learning strategies to enhance the supply chain choice of sustainable materials. As a notable example, the study highlights the potential of mycelium as a sustainable material for air conditioner components. Mycelium’s unique properties, such as its biodegradability, lightweight nature and adaptability position it as a promising candidate, enhancing the environmental profile of air conditioners. By incorporating mycelium-based components, manufacturers can significantly reduce carbon emissions, resource consumption and waste generation throughout a product’s lifecycle. This investigation underscores both the viability of mycelium and the broader significance of innovative material choices in reshaping industries towards a more sustainable future. Through such advances, this research not only contributes to the air conditioning sector but also establishes a paradigm for sustainable material adoption with far-reaching positive implications.

Application of trait and factor theory for career planning in Class XII transitional students at Islamic Senior High School, Karimun

Career is an important thing in human life. This is because there is an urge to improve in life. One alternative solution to help someone who has difficulty making career decisions is through the application of trait and factor theory. Trait and factor theory is a career counseling theory that views the right career choice when there is a match between the client's nature and job or position factors. This research is a descriptive qualitative research. The research was conducted at MAN Karimun. The research informants were 1 counseling teacher and 3 transitional class XII students. This study aims to examine in depth the application of trait and factor theory in the career planning of class XII students in the transition period at MAN Karimun. The results of the study show that the application of trait and factor career counseling theory can be an alternative solution to assist clients in planning and making career decisions.

BRICS Bloc in Light of International Economic Challenges: A Study of Reality and Dimensions

Originality/value: The BRICS bloc is one of the most important international economic blocs that plays an important role in the global economy, so most of them are moving towards obtaining an economic position that is commensurate with their natural capabilities and capabilities. Russia, India, China and South Africa, represent the emerging economies of the world, and these countries aim to overcome the hegemony of the US currency as a global reserve, and the BRICS group constitutes more than a quarter of global GDP and more than 16% of global trade and about 30% of the land area and 44% of the world's population and more than 40% of the world's energy production.
 Purpose: The study is aimed at knowing the formation of the BRICS bloc as an emerging economic force within its economic dimensions, showing the international economic system of the BRICS countries and their ability to confront international economic institutions, and analyzing the economic indicators of each member country to know the economic size of each country.
 Theoretical framework: the study has relied on the deductive approach starting from real constants in collecting data and facts, as well as adopting the descriptive analytical method in studying the international economic system and the economic components of the BRICS countries within its economic dimensions.
 Design/methodology/approach: it is proved that the BRICS contingent reserve arrangements to protect against global liquidity pressures, which include currency issues, have affected the members’ national currencies negatively due to global financial pressures. The economy is unstable and needs these potential reserves.
 The problem of the study emerges from certain questions including how strong the international economic system for the BRICS countries is and whether these countries were able to overcome global economic crises within their economic dimensions.
 Research, Practical & Social implications: The study hypothesized that the BRICS countries have tremendous economic power as a result of building their international financial system, which they established, which enabled them to overcome the global financial crisis, unlike most countries in the world that were under the brunt of this crisis, and this is a clear indication of the success of this bloc and prove its hypothesis. In connection with the value of the study, it reflects that the BRICS countries occupy an important position in the international economy as a rising economic power through their economic nature and strategic position, in addition to the great economic capabilities that these countries possess, and this was an invitation to establish this bloc, which is a successful economic step in the face of international economic financial institutions.
 Finding: The most prominent findings of the research are that the presence of China in this bloc added a powerful and insignificant force to it as a result of its economic strength, which is the second largest economy in the world, and the economic strength of the BRICS bloc has led to increased economic development and the formation of a strong economic union that faces all the challenges that the bloc is exposed to.

Resolving Isomeric Posttranslational Modifications Using a Biological Nanopore as a Sensor of Molecular Shape.

The chemical nature and precise position of posttranslational modifications (PTMs) in proteins or peptides are crucial for various severe diseases, such as cancer. State-of-the-art PTM diagnosis is based on elaborate and costly mass-spectrometry or immunoassay-based approaches, which are limited in selectivity and specificity. Here, we demonstrate the use of a protein nanopore to differentiate peptides─derived from human histone H4 protein─of identical mass according to the positions of acetylated and methylated lysine residues. Unlike sequencing by stepwise threading, our method detects PTMs and their positions by sensing the shape of a fully entrapped peptide, thus eliminating the need for controlled translocation. Molecular dynamics simulations show that the sensitivity to molecular shape derives from a highly nonuniform electric field along the pore. This molecular shape-sensing principle offers a path to versatile, label-free, and high-throughput characterizations of protein isoforms.

Organic vs. inorganic citizenship

ABSTRACT Social contract theories from John Locke to John Rawls are rooted in a flawed ontological foundation as autonomous, self-interested individuals with interests/rights abstracted from any relationship to each other, land/animals they live on/amongst or even time/history live within a state of nature or original position. Political authority and/or fundamental principles of justice are produced as inorganic artifices, constituted via the aggregate consent of natural/pre-political beings. While citizenship may appear universal, in reality, ‘freemen’ were defined along gendered, racialized, class-based, and/or ableist lines. Thus, a hierarchically defined subset of people consents to authority or the principles of justice. In contrast, an organic theory of citizenship is rooted in the opposite ontological premise with human beings understood to be living, growing interdependent beings born into relationships and ecosystems that pre-exist and upon which they depend to live at all, are explicitly anti-hierarchical. Relations between people, society, and the ecosystem must be theorized as a priority rather than bracketed outside of consideration and/or constituted as the byproduct of consent. The central question for an organic theory of citizenship is thus: how to create a healthy ecosystem and non-hierarchical set of relations so humans from birth to old age, creatures, and the earth itself are all able to flourish interdependently?

Numerical Study in Three Dimensions of Influence of the Fluids Nature and Obstacle Position on the Electronic Component Cooling

In this work, we have studied numerically the influence of the nature of nanofluids and the obstacle position, within the mini-channel of dimensions (10 x 10 x 108 mm3) on the electronic component cooling. The power of the electronic component is constant. In these simulations we have considered the Al2O3-water, SiO2-water and TiO2-water as coolants. The numerical results are obtained by choosing a Reynolds number (Re) between 300 and 500 and considering that the flow regime is stationary. The simulation was performed using the software, ANSYS FLUENT.The analysis of the simulation results shows that the position of obstacles within the mini-channel has considerable effects on the improvement of the electronic component temperature. The results also showed that among the nanofluids studied, the liquid containing nanoparticles Al2O3-water is the best for the electronic component cooling.

Innovative Thinking of Human Resources Management in Colleges and Universities

The implementation of human resource management in universities is determined by the special nature and strategic position of universities. Good human resource management can improve the level of competition in colleges and universities, fully mobilize the enthusiasm and creativity of faculty and staff, and promote various in-depth reforms within colleges and universities. New models such as parallel management, transposition management, and incentive-driven management based on management objects have become an important way for traditional human resource management to transform to modern management. At the same time, managers are required to strengthen the construction of talent teams, optimize resource allocation, and strengthen job appointment assessment, etc., for construction. A healthy and harmonious human resource management environment in colleges and universities provides strong support.

The Nature and Legal Position of Non-Formal Educators According to Indonesian Positive Law

A person or a human community needs learning (the need for knowledge, skills, and attitudes) to emerge, so there should be non-formal education. It’s in this capacity that non-formal education is said to be multi-audience, not only in terms of age, but also individual and social characteristics such as gender and gender, demographics, geography, occupation, formal educational background, and so on. Various problems are still often faced by these non-formal educators, where they should be guaranteed protection under the law. In fact, non-formal educators continue to experience discomfort conditions without an adequate protection system. Legal efforts to improve the status of non-formal educators according to the national education system, so that non-formal educators haven’t been recognized by the government even though they are temporary teachers who work in private educational institutions, so they haven’t received the protection and protection of the government as provided to teachers. Civil servants and private teachers.

Music in The Liturgy of The Catholic Community in Jakarta, Indonesia

This article discusses music in the Catholic liturgy in Jakarta, Indonesia in the postmodern era within the context of the autonomy of the Catholic Church. The Indonesian Catholic Church is an independent and autonomous church where liturgical music is a form of original artistic expression. However, in practice, the majority of Catholics in Indonesia view the liturgical celebration as uninteresting and dull. Conversely, pop music has increasingly influenced liturgical music. This reality is discussed and analyzed specifically in regards to liturgical music that experiences contextual data inference, especially in the specific cultural contexts of the community. The data analysis shows, in perception of Catholics in Jakarta, the role of liturgical music in worship is not homogeneous, but rather depends on the educational background, attention from Pastors of the Parish, cultural factors, and individual past experiences. For the most part, the level of understanding regarding the nature and important position of liturgical music in religious holy celebrations is low. Most consider that all music is the same and can therefore be used in the liturgy. Music is considered only a complement to enhance religious celebrations. In this context, the government and the Indonesian Catholic Church established the Catholic Church Choir Development Institute (LP3K) as a forum for fostering Catholics in Indonesia in the liturgical field and discussing issues related to music. This article confirms that the position of the liturgical music is crucial and has an irreplaceable significance in the liturgy, and the two are inextricably woven to each other.

Homology of labial chaetae in Entomobryoidea (Collembola).

The labium in Collembola consists of three parts (Folsom 1899): labial palp, basomedian (submentum) and basolateral (mentum) fields. Labial chaetotaxy, i.e. number, nature and relative position of chaetae, has been one of the standard descriptive components for species diagnoses in Entomobryoidea. Labial palp, including labial papillae, guard chaetae and proximal chaetae, has been well investigated across major collembolan lineages by Fjellberg (1999). For the chaetae behind the labial palp (mentum and submentum, Figs 1‒2) in Entomobryoidea, Gisin (1964) introduced the nomenclature of a1‒a5 for the anterior row and M1M2rEL1L2 for the posterior row in Lepidocyrtus; the lowercase letter r represented a smaller chaeta between M and E. Later, Gisin (1967) applied this system to Pseudosinella but defined uppercase and lowercase letters as ciliate and smooth chaetae, respectively. Chen Christiansen (1993) mostly followed Gisin's nomenclature but named the anterior row as A, B, C, D and F. When there was more than one chaeta inner to R, M-series, they were designated as M1, M2, Ms (supplementary) etc. Smooth chaeta r was sometimes named as 'v' (vestigial) in Lepidocyrtinae when it was very tiny. Because the degree of plurichaetosis on submentum greatly differs among Entomobryoidea species, homology of basomedian chaetae may be incorrectly recognized in adults. In this study, we observed labial chaetotaxy (guard chaetae of labial palp excluded) of early instars in twenty species, clarified their homologies and unified the nomenclature systems.

First Evidence of Late Paleoproterozoic/Early Mesoproterozoic Sediment Deposition and Magmatism in the Central Aravalli Orogen (NW India)

AbstractThe nature and stratigraphic position of the Beawar gneiss unit (BGU) within the central Aravalli orogen (NW India) remain unresolved. These rocks are currently assigned to the South Delhi ...

Postglacial seismogenic deformations of an esker in the Northern Karelian Isthmus (south-east Fennoscandia)

The research area is located in the Northern part of the Karelian Isthmus between Lake Ladoga and the Gulf of Finland of the Baltic Sea. The terrain features are closely related to the tectonic structure of the crystalline basement, partially covered with thin deposition layer of the Last Glaciation and Holocene mostly. Accumulative forms are rarely but strongly correlated with the tectonic structure also. Most expressive features of accumulative topography are esker ridges that stretch for tens of kilometers. Analysis of eskers spatial distribution shows their close connection with the structural plan of the crystalline basement. One of the ridges under study was described in three sections where a lot of deformations in soft sediments, accompanied by deformations of the esker’s topography (in one case) were found. The nature and stratigraphic position of deformations indicates their appearance during the period of existence of the Baltic Ice Lake after the retreat of the ice sheet. Post-sedimentary deformations were accompanied by partial re-deposition of sedimentary strata. Deformations are represented by several types and generations. The ensembles of faults and fold deformations in the esker deposition kinematically connected with each other and coinciding along the strike with the structural lineaments demonstrate the influence of the activated tectonic structure to the formation of the sedimentary cover. The conjugation of normal and thrust faults, the presence of several “event horizons” with traces of liquefaction testify to the seismotectonic genesis of deformations and several strong earthquakes that occurred at different stages of the existence of the Baltic Ice Lake in the period 13.0–11.6 thousand years BP.

The synthetic seismic expression of the Messinian salinity crisis from onshore records: Implications for shallow‐ to deep‐water correlations

AbstractThe onshore–offshore correlation of sedimentary successions is a common problem in basin analysis, but it becomes critical for the full understanding of the Messinian salinity crisis (MSC), a complex array of palaeoenvironmental events which affected the Mediterranean basin at the end of the Miocene. The outcrop records show that the Messinian stratigraphic architectures may be highly complex as the deposits of the different MSC evolutionary stages can be lithologically similar and separated by erosional surfaces and/or morphostructural highs. The correct definition of the nature and stratigraphic position of Messinian deposits in offshore areas through seismic data may be almost impossible, especially where core data are sparse. To bridge the gap between onshore and offshore records, we have built synthetic seismic sections from well‐constrained outcrop successions. Our results provide useful insights and warnings for the interpretation of offshore data, pointing out that MSC units having different age, nature and depositional settings, may show similar seismic facies and geometries. Conversely, the same deposit may result in different seismic facies, either with parallel and high‐amplitude reflections or even transparent or chaotic due to interference patterns of seismic reflections related to dominant frequency. It follows that a correct interpretation of the nature and age of deep‐seated Messinian deposits can only be obtained through the integration of seismic and core data, and considering the onshore record. The application of our approach to the Balearic Promontory results in an alternative interpretation with respect to previous models. We show that this offshore area has good analogues in the onshore of the Betic Cordillera and includes both shallow and intermediate depth sub‐basins that underwent a strong post‐Messinian subsidence.

Iron Formations as the Source of the West African Magnetic Crustal Anomaly

The geological sources of major magnetic field anomalies are still poorly constrained, in terms of nature, geometry, and vertical position. A common feature of several anomalies is their spatial correlation with cratonic shields and, for the largest anomalies, with Banded Iron Formations (BIF). This study first unveils the magnetic properties of some BIF samples from Mauritania, where the main part of the West African magnetic anomaly is observed. It shows how strong the magnetic susceptibility and natural remanent magnetization for such rocks are. High Koenigsberger ratios imply that the remanent magnetization should be taken into account to explain the anomaly. A numerical modeling of the crust beneath this anomaly is performed using these constraints and both gravity and magnetic field data. A forward approach is used, investigating the depth, thickness and magnetization intensity of all possible crustal lithologies. Our results show that BIF slices can be the only magnetized crustal sources needed to explain the anomaly, and that they could be buried several kilometers deep. The results of this study provide a new perspective to address the investigation of magnetic field anomaly sources in other cratonic regions with BIF outcrops.

Tunneling and quantum localization in chaos‐driven symmetric triple well potential: An approach using quantum theory of motion

AbstractFor a symmetric triple well potential, driven by the forces associated with the bifurcation diagram of a logistic map, the tunneling and quantum localization are studied using quantum theory of motion and time‐dependent Fourier grid Hamiltonian methods. Detailed analysis reveals that application of only asymmetric or symmetric perturbation results into either quantum localization or over‐barrier transition and no tunneling while application of mixed symmetry perturbation gives either tunneling or over‐barrier transition, depending on temporal nature and initial position of the particle. For bifurcative and chaotic symmetric‐asymmetric perturbation, with truncation of mixed symmetry perturbation, a sudden jump in energy causes a transition from the tunneling phenomenon to the over‐barrier transition. With particle located initially near to either of the minima of the unperturbed well, quantum localization, or over‐barrier transition is observed, depending on types of perturbation used.

A Quantitative Analysis of Factors Influencing Ease of Formation and σ-Bonding Strength of Oxa- and Thia-N-Heterocyclic Carbenes.

The index described previously (carbene relative energy of formation) has been extended to oxygen and sulfur heterocycles. This provides a quantitative overview of factors determining ease of formation of (i) neutral N-heterocyclic carbenes (NHCs) by deprotonation of heterocyclic salts and (ii) anionic NHCs by deprotonation of heterocyclic mesomeric betaines. The influence of the nature and ring position of oxygen and sulfur is discussed for a range of known and unknown systems. Attention is directed to unexplored systems of potential interest.

ACADEMICIAN P.A. TUTKOVSKY ABOUT GENESIS OF AMBER

Data about origin, properties, use, trade and findings of amber in Ukraine were presented in 1893 by P.A. Tutkovsky in his popular book The South-Western Land (essays in the natural history and geography) [Тутковський, 1893]. The idea of direct relation between formation of amber and Eocene brown coal in the Dnieper Brown Coal Basin was first advanced in this work. In the scientist’s opinion almost the same trees, which excreted resin that was later transformed into amber, have also formed the brown coal. The author’s idea was further developed in Ukraine only in the beginning of the current century in substantiation of the theory of bituminous brown coal origin of amber-succinite. This theory opens real potentialities for revealing the native primary sources of amber-succinite placers of the first intermediate collectors for the purpose of scientifically grounded prediction of industrial deposits. In contrast to most kind of placers of valuable mineral concentrations, unfortunately, the geological nature, genetic type and spatial position of the native primary source of amber placers has not been completely established in geology of fossil resins till now. Since this very important problem of the geology of placers is not still solved, this limits the potentialities of prediction of placer deposits because we have not established concrete geological objects which served for formation of the richest placers of the most precious variety of fossil resins – amber-succinite in the Baltic countries, Belarus and Ukraine.

ChemInform Abstract: Design Directed Self‐Assembly of Donor—Acceptor Polymers

AbstractReview: 76 refs.

One-to-One Correlation between Structure and Optical Response in a Heterogeneous Distribution of Plasmonic Constructs

Assemblies of coupled plasmonic nanoparticles are used as sensors and rulers for the measurement of nanoscale distances and dynamic distance changes in biological and macromolecular systems. Since such rulers are employed at the single-device level, variations from one construct to another can greatly influence their reliability as sensors. In this work, we performed an experimental and simulation-based analysis of the structural and functional heterogeneity in model assemblies consisting of a Au nanosphere (NS) attached to a highly polarizable Au nanoplate (NP). Spectral characteristics, including the number, nature, and energy position of plasmon modes, varied significantly from one construct to another. The coupling-induced localized surface plasmon resonance (LSPR) shift, which can be the optical readout for sensing applications, ranged over an order of magnitude across the set of constructs measured. By correlating scattering spectra with construct morphologies obtained from scanning electron microsc...