bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
High Throughput Virtual Screening to Discover Inhibitors of the Main Protease of the Coronavirus SARS-CoV-2
Authors: Olubiyi Olujide O. , Olagunju Maryam , Keutmann Monika , Loschwitz Jennifer , Strodel Birgit
Published: June 2020

We use state-of-the-art computer-aided drug design (CADD) techniques to identify prospective inhibitors of the main protease enzyme, 3CLpro of the SARS-CoV-2 virus causing COVID-19. From our screening of over one million compounds including approved drugs, investigational drugs, natural products, and organic compounds, and a rescreening protocol incorporating enzyme dynamics via ensemble docking, we have been able to identify a range of prospective 3CLpro inhibitors. Importantly, some of the identified compounds had previously been reported to exhibit inhibitory activities against the 3CLpro enzyme of the closely related SARS-CoV virus. The top- ranking compounds are characterized by the presence of multiple bi- and monocyclic rings, many of them being heterocycles and aromatic, which are flexibly linked allowing the ligands to adapt to the geometry of the 3CLpro substrate site and involve a high amount of functional groups enabling hydrogen bond formation with surrounding amino acid residues, including the catalytic dyad residues H41 and C145. Among the top binding compounds we identified several tyrosine kinase inhibitors, which include a bioflavonoid, the group of natural products that binds best to 3CLpro. Another class of compounds that decently binds to the SARS-CoV-2 main protease are steroid hormones, which thus may be endogenous inhibitors and might provide an explanation for the age-dependent severity of COVID-19. Many of the compounds identified by our work show a considerably stronger binding than found for reference compounds with in vitro demonstrated 3CLpro inhibition and anticoronavirus activity. The compounds determined in this work thus represent a good starting point for the design of inhibitors of SARS-CoV-2 replication.
On 'Best' Rational Approximations to $\pi$ and $\pi+e$
Authors: Teguia Tabuguia Bertrand
Published: June 2020

Through the half-unit circle area computation using the integration of the corresponding curve power series representation, we deduce a slow converging positive infinite series to $\pi$. However, by studying the remainder of that series we establish sufficiently close inequalities with equivalent lower and upper bound terms allowing us to estimate, more precisely, how the series approaches $\pi$. We use the obtained inequalities to compute up to four-digit denominator, what are in this sense, the best rational numbers that can replace $\pi$. It turns out that the well-known convergents of the continued fraction of $\pi$, $22/7$ and $355/113$ called, respectively, Yuel\"{u} and Mil\"{u} in China are the only ones found. Thus we apply a similar process to find rational estimations to $\pi+e$ where $e$ is taken as the power series of the exponential function evaluated at $1$. For rational numbers with denominators less than $2000$, the convergent $920/157$ of the continued fraction of $\pi+e$ turns out to be the only rational number of this type.
The Draft Genome Assembly of the Critically Endangered Nyssa yunnanensis, a Plant Species with Extremely Small Populations Endemic to Yunnan Province, China
Authors: Mu Weixue , Wei Jinpu , Yang Ting , Fan Yannan , Cheng Le , Yang Jinlong , Mu Ranchang , Liu Jie , Zhao Jianming , Sun Weibang , Xu Xun , Liu Xin , Drmanac Radoje , Liu Huan
Published: June 2020

Nyssa yunnanensis is a deciduous tree species in family Nyssaceae within the order Cornales. As owning only eight individuals in two sites recorded in Yunnan province of China, this species was listed as the China’s national grade-I protection species in 1999, and also as one of 120 PSESP (Plant Species with Extremely Small Populations) in Implementation Plan of Rescuing and Conserving China’s Plant Species with extremely Small Populations(PSESP) (2011-2-15). N. yunnanensis was also been evaluated as Critically Endangered in IUCN red list and Threatened Species List of China's Higher Plants. Hence understanding the genomic characteristics of this highly endangered Tertiary relict tree species is essential, especially for developing conservation strategies. Here we present the draft genome assembly of N. yunnanensis. Using 10X genomics linked-reads sequencing data, we carried out the de novo assembly and annotation analysis. The N. yunnanensis genome assembly is 1475 Mb in length containing 288,519 scaffolds with a scaffold N50 length of 985.59 kb. 799.51 Mb of the assembled genome was identified as repetitive elements, accounting for 54.24% of the sequenced genome. And a total of 39,803 protein-coding genes were annotated. The genomic data of N. yunnanensis provided in this study will provide basic information for future genomic and evolutionary studies. With the genomic characteristics of N. yunnanensis available, our study might also facilitate in future conservation biology studies to help protecting this extremely threatened tree species.
COVID-19 Pandemic Burden on Global Economy: A Paradigm Shift
Authors: Zaman K Taeen , Islam Hiya , Khan Asir Newaz , Shweta Dipita Saha , Rahman Ahsab , Masud Jaasia , Araf Yusha , Sarkar Bishajit , Ullah Md. Asad
Published: June 2020

The pandemic caused by SARS-CoV-2 virus obstructed the Chinese economy and has expanded to the rest of the world at a rapid pace affecting at least 215 countries, areas and territories. The advancement of the disease and its economic repercussions is profoundly ambiguous, making it challenging for policymakers to formulate suitable microeconomic and macroeconomic policy responses. The scenarios in this paper illustrate how an outbreak could significantly affect the global economy in the short run. It has been estimated that each additional month of crisis would cost from about 2.5-3% of the global GDP and that the GDP growth would take a blow, reaching about 3-6%, depending on the country. Scenarios also suggest that GDP can drop by more than 10% and even exceed 15% in some countries. Via addressing the economic consequence of COVID-19 in different industries and countries, the paper presents assessments of the likely global economic costs of COVID-19 and the GDP growth of different countries. Economies will be negatively affected because of the high number of jobs at risk. Countries highly dependent on foreign trade are more negatively affected. Given that disease and its economic influence are highly unpredictable in numerous aspects, the global economy at the moment is the most critically threatened in history.
The Immunogenicity and Safety of Rsv Vaccines in Development: A Systematic Review
Authors: Shan Jing
Published: June 2020

Background: Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is a leading cause of acute lower respiratory infection globally. There are vaccines in pipeline to prevent it but a systematic review on immunogenicity and safety of vaccine is lacking. Methods: This systematic review of RSV vaccine clinical trials was undertaken using 4 databases. Searches were conducted using both controlled vocabulary terms such as ‘Respiratory Syncytial Virus, Human’, ‘Respiratory Syncytial Virus Infections’, ‘Respiratory Syncytial Virus Vaccines’, ‘Immunization’, ‘Immunization Programs’ and ‘Vaccines’ and corresponding text word terms. The searches for published papers were limited to clinical trials published from January 2000 to August 6th, 2018. RSV infection case was defined as RSV associated medically attended acute respiratory illness (MAARI) or RSV infection by serologically-confirmed test (Western Blot) during the RSV surveillance period. We calculated the relative risk of each vaccine trial with RSV infection case. Results: Of 4395 publications, 24 were included and data were extracted covering 4 major types of RSV vaccine candidates, these being live-attenuated/chimeric (n=9), recombinant-vector (n=10), subunit (n=1) and nanoparticle vaccines (n=4). For RSV infection cases, 7 trials were involved and none of them showed a vaccine-related increased MAARI during RSV surveillance season. Conclusion: LID ∆M2-2, MEDI M2-2, and RSVcps2 (live-attenuated) were considered the most promising vaccine candidates in infant and children. In the elderly, a nanoparticle F vaccine candidate was considered as a potential effective vaccine. Although no promising vaccine was identified from pregnant-women test, RSV F-024 subunit vaccine candidate and an RSV F nanoparticle vaccine showed encouraging results in healthy non-pregnant women.
Striatal Circuit Development and Its Alterations in Huntington’s Disease
Authors: Lebouc Margaux , Richard Quentin , Garret Maurice , Baufreton Jérôme
Published: June 2020

Huntington's disease (HD) is an inherited neurodegenerative disorder that usually starts during midlife with progressive alterations of motor and cognitive functions. The disease is caused by a CAG repeat expansion within the huntingtin gene leading to severe striatal neurodegeneration. Recent studies conducted on pre-HD children highlight early striatal developmental alterations starting as soon as 6 years old, the earliest age assessed. These findings, in line with data from mouse models of HD, raise the question of when during development do the first disease-related striatal alterations emerge or whether they contribute to the later appearance of the neurodegenerative features of the disease. In this review we will describe the different stages of striatal network development and then discuss recent evidence for its alterations in rodent models of the disease. We argue that a better understanding of the striatum’s development should help in assessing aberrant neurodevelopmental processes linked to the HD mutation.
Assessment of Liver Metastases Using CT and MRI Scans in Patients with Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma: Effects of Observer Experience on Diagnostic Accuracy
Authors: Tsurusaki Masakatsu , Numoto Isao , Oda Teruyoshi , Wakana Miyuki , Suzuki Ayako , Yagyu Yukinobu , Matsuki Mitsuru , Ishii Kazunari
Published: June 2020

To investigate the impact of radiologic experience on the diagnostic accuracy of computed tomography CT vs. magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) reporting for liver metastases of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (LM of PDAC). Intra-individual CT and MRI examinations of 112 patients with clinically proven LM of PDAC were included. Four radiologists with varying years of experience (A > 20, B > 5, C > 1 and D < 1) assessed liver segments affected by LM of PDAC, as well as associated metastases occurring in each patient. Their sensitivity and specificity in evaluating the segments were compared. Cohen's Kappa (κ) for diagnosed liver segments and Intra-class Correlation Coefficients (ICC) for the number of metastatic lesions in each patient were calculated. The radiologists’ sensitivity and specificity for the CT vs. MRI were, respectively: Reader A -94.4, 90.3% vs. 96.6, 94.8%; B - 86.7, 79.7% vs. 83.9, 82.0%; C - 78.0, 76.7% vs. 83.3, 78.9% and D - 71.8, 79.2% vs. 64.0, 69.5%. Reviewers A and B achieved greater agreement in assessing results from the MRI (κ = 0.72, p < 0.001; ICC = 0.73, p < 0.001) vs. the CT (κ = 0.58, p < 0.001; ICC = 0.61, p < 0.001), in contrast to readers C and D (MRI: κ = 0.34, p < 0.001; ICC = 0.42, p < 0.001, and CT: κ = 0.48, p < 0.001; ICC = 0.59, p < 0.001). Our results indicate that accurate diagnosis of LM of PDAC depends more on radiologic experience in MRI over CT scans.
Methods of Controlling Lift-off in Conductivity Invariance Phenomenon for Eddy Current Testing
Authors: Jin Zhongwen , Meng Yuwei , Yu Rongdong , Huang Ruochen , Lu Mingyang , Xu Hanyang , Meng Xiaobai , Zhao Qian , Zhang Zhijie , Peyton Anthony , Yin Wuliang
Published: June 2020

Previously, a conductivity invariance phenomena (CIP) has been discovered – at a certain lift-off, the inductance change of the sensor due to a test sample is immune to conductivity variations, i.e. the inductance – lift-off curve passes through a common point at a certain lift-off, termed as conductivity invariance lift-off. However, this conductivity invariance lift-off is fixed for a particular sensor setup, which is not convenient for various sample conditions. In this paper, we propose using two parameters in the coil design – the horizontal and vertical distances between the transmitter and the receiver to control the conductivity invariance lift-off. The relationship between these two parameters and the conductivity invariance lift-off is investigated by simulation and experiments and it has been found that there is an approximate linear relationship between these two parameters and the conductivity invariance lift-off. This is useful for applications where the measurements have restrictions on lift-off, e.g. uneven coating thickness which limits the range of the lift-off of probe during the measurements. Therefore, based on this relationship, it can be easier to adjust the configuration of the probe for a better inspection of the test samples.
Diabetic Retinopathy Diagnostics from Retinal Images based on Deep Convolutional Networks
Authors: Sampaul Thomas G. Arun , Robinson Y. Harold , Julie E. Golden , Shanmuganathan Vimal , Nam Yunyoung , Rho Seungmin
Published: June 2020

Retinopathy is a human eye disease that causes changes in retinal blood vessels that leads to bleed, leak fluid and vision impairment. Symptoms of retinopathy are blurred vision, changes in color perception, red spots, and eye pain. In this paper, a new methodology based on Convolutional Neural Networks (CNN) is developed and proposed to diagnose and give a decision about the presence of retinopathy. The CNN model is trained by different images of eyes that have retinopathy and those which do not have retinopathy. The performance of the proposed model is compared with the related methods of DREAM, KNN, GD-CNN and SVM. Experimental results show that the proposed CNN performs better.
Genetic and Epigenetic Regulation of the Smoothened Gene (SMO) in Cancer Cells
Authors: Lou Hong , Li Hongchuan , Huehn Andrew , Tarasova Nadya , Saleh Bahara , Anderson Stephen , Dean Michael
Published: June 2020

Background: The hedgehog (HH) signaling pathway is a key regulator of embryonic patterning, tissue regeneration, stem cell renewal, and cancer growth. The smoothened (SMO) protein regulates the HH signaling pathway and has demonstrated oncogenic activity. Methods: To clarify the role of the HH signaling pathway in tumorigenesis, the expression profile of key HH signaling molecules, including SMO, PTCH1, GLI1, GLI2, and GLI3, were determined in thirty-three cancer cell lines. We performed a computational analysis of the upstream region of the SMO gene to identify the regulatory elements. Results: Three potential CpG islands and several putative SMO promoter elements were identified. Luciferase reporter assays mapped key SMO promoter elements, and functional binding sites for SP1, AP1, CREB, and AP-2a transcription factors in the core SMO promoter region were confirmed. A hypermethylated SMO promoter was identified in several cancer cell lines suggesting an important role for epigenetic silencing of SMO expression in certain cancer cells. Discussion: These results have important implications for our understanding of regulatory mechanisms controlling HH pathway activity and the molecular basis of SMO gene function. Moreover, this study may prove valuable for future research aimed at producing therapeutic downregulation of SMO expression in cancer cells.
Exploring the Potential of β-Catenin O-GlcNAcylation by Using Fluorescence-Based Engineering and Imaging
Authors: Kasprowicz Angelina , Spriet Corentin , Terryn Christine , Alteen Matthew G. , Lefebvre Tony , Biot Christophe
Published: June 2020

Monitoring glycosylation changes within cells upon response to stimuli remains challenging because of the complexity of this large family of post-translational modifications (PTMs). We have developed an original tool enabling labeling and visualization of the cell cycle key-regulator b-catenin in its O-GlcNAcylated form based on intramolecular Förster resonance energy transfer (FRET) technology in cells. We opted for a bioorthogonal chemical reporter strategy based on the dual-labeling of b-catenin with a green fluorescent protein (GFP) for protein sequence combined with a chemically-clicked imaging probe for PTM resulting in a fast and easy to monitor qualitative FRET assay. We validated this technology by imaging the O-GlcNAcylation status of b-catenin in HeLa cells. Moreover, the changes in O-GlcNAcylation of b-catenin were varied by perturbing global cellular O-GlcNAc levels with inhibitors of O-GlcNAc transferase (OGT) and O-GlcNAcase (OGA). Finally, we provided a flowchart demonstrating how this technology is transposable to any kind of glycosylation.
Nexus between Product Innovation and Enterprise Survival: Impact of Competitive Intensity and Competitive Advantage
Authors: Zhou Lin Lu , Ayegba James Onuche , James Peace Maina , Ayegba Emmanuel Onu , Zhang Xin jie , Tetgoum Kachie Arielle Doris
Published: June 2020

Product innovation is a crucial factor in enterprise survival. Even though there are sources from strategic theory that guides the clear comprehension towards appreciating the nexus between these two variables (product innovation and enterprise survival), there are still many lacunas that should be addressed and filled. Consequently, the need for additional empirical corroboration or support is pertinent. This study aimed at verifying the nexus between product innovation and enterprise survival, and how they are affected by the existence of antecedent variables such as competitive intensity and competitive advantage. In the methodology, this study adopts the conduct of explanatory and cross-sectional investigations through the use of structural equation modelling (SEM) to a sample of selected food and beverages enterprises in Lagos, Nigeria. Regarding the food and beverage enterprises in Lagos, Nigeria, this study discovered that competitive intensity has huge positive implication on product innovation at (0.39; t = 5.69, p < 0.05). This gives numerical evidence that, in the face of more market competition, enterprises will be pressured to adopt the model of costs reduction on products which will enhance the reduction of product prices, and will have significant impact on profit. However, the findings reveal that there is no significance between competitive advantage and product innovation at (0.002; t = 0.203, p > 0.05), and there is no significance between product innovation and enterprise survival at (-0.035; t = -1.583, p > .05). As a result, the food and beverage enterprises should concentrate more on product innovation so that they will be able to stand the intensity of competition. The results emanated from the study is germane as it make significant contribution to literature and the body of knowledge and on strategic management by enlightening that competitive intensity is a necessary inducement for product innovation.
Probabilistic Stability Analysis of Fault-Initiated Islanding Microgrids Without Inertia
Authors: Roos Martijn , Nguyen Phuong , Morren Johan , Slootweg Han
Published: June 2020

Microgrids can be islanded to improve the reliability of the electrical energy supply during contingencies such as faults. It is still unclear what stability phenomena can occur in microgrids without inertia during and immediately after the fault-initiated islanding transient, and how the stability should be evaluated. To allow robust planning and operation, a stability analysis methodology should be able to take into account the inherent uncertainty of load and renewable energy sources. Therefore, this paper proposes a probabilistic stability analysis methodology for fault-initiated islanding of microgrids based on a thorough analysis of the root causes of instability during islanding transients. To perform stability analysis within reasonable time and allow control actions during operation, dynamical microgrid models in the dq reference frame are described and validated by comparing time-domain simulations results to previously validated component-based models. The stability analysis methodology is demonstrated in a case study of a generic microgrid. The instability phenomena and the dq microgrid models are successfully validated, and the results indicate that the stability analysis methodology can assist the microgrid operator to improve fault-initiated islanding capability in order to improve reliability of supply.
COVID-19 Pandemic in India: A Mathematical Model Study
Authors: Biswas Sudhanshu Kumar , Ghosh Jayanta Kumar , Sarkar Susmita , Ghosh Uttam
Published: June 2020

The present novel corona virus (2019-nCoV) infection has created a global emergency situation by spreading all over the world in a large scale within very short time period. The infection induced death rate is also very high. There is no vaccine or anti-viral medicine for such infection. So at this moment a major worldwide problem is that how we can control this pandemic. On the other hand, India is a high population density country, where the corona virus disease (COVID-19) has started to spread from $1^{st}$ week of March, 2020 in a significant number of COVID-19 positive cases. Due to this high population density human to human social contact rate is very high in India. So control of the pandemic COVID-19 in early stage is very urgent and challenging problem. Mathematical models are employed in this paper to study the COVID-19 dynamics, to identify the influential parameters and to find the proper prevention strategies to reduce the outbreak size. In this work, we have formulated a deterministic compartmental model to study the spreading of COVID-19 and estimated the model parameters by fitting the model with reported data of ongoing pandemic in India. Sensitivity analysis has been done to identify the key model parameters. The basic reproduction number has been estimated from actual data and the effective basic reproduction number has been studied on the basis of reported cases. Some effective preventive measures and their impacts on the disease dynamics have also been studied. Future trends of the disease transmission has been Predicted from our model with some control measures. Finally, the positive measures to control the disease have been summarized.
SARS-CoV-2 Related Deaths in Routine Forensic Autopsy Practice: Histopathological Patterns
Authors: Tombolini Antonio , Scendoni Roberto
Published: June 2020

“Severe acute respiratory syndrome” (SARS) due to Coronavirus (SARS-CoV) infection is a known cause of death. Sometimes demise can occur unexpectedly in apparently previous healthy individual after a brief period of trivial flue-like symptoms. In this dobtfull cases the forensic pathologist could be requested to define cause of death occurred outside hospital. In this report the authors describe two thorough autopsied cases of SARS-CoV-2 related deaths occurred suddenly at home and not preceded by hospitalization, highlighting associated histopathologic patterns and correlating them to pathophysiology of viral infection.
D-Pinitol from Ceratonia Siliqua Is an Orally Active Natural Inositol That Reduces Pancreas Insulin Secretion and Increases Circulating Ghrelin Levels in Wistar Rats
Authors: Navarro Juan Antonio , Decara Juan , Medina-Vera Dina , Tovar Ruben , Suarez Juan , Pavon Javier , Serrano Antonia , Vida Margarita , Gutierrez-Adan Alfonso , Sanjuan Carlos , Baixeras Elena , Fonseca Fernando Rodriguez De
Published: June 2020

To characterize the metabolic actions of D-Pinitol, a dietary inositol, in male Wistar rats, we analysed its oral pharmacokinetics and its effects on a) the secretion of hormones regulating metabolism (insulin, glucagon, IGF-1, ghrelin, leptin and adiponectin), b) insulin signaling in the liver and c) the expression of glycolytic and neoglucogenesis enzymes. Oral D-Pinitol administration (100 or 500 mg/Kg) resulted in its rapid absorption and distribution to plasma and liver compartments. Its administration reduced insulinemia and HOMA-IR, while maintaining glycaemia thanks to increased glucagon activity. In the liver, D-Pinitol reduced the key glycolytic enzyme pyruvate kinase and decreased the phosphorylation of the enzymes AKT and GSK-3. These observations were associate with an increase in ghrelin concentrations, a known inhibitor of insulin secretion. The profile of D-Pinitol suggests its potential use as a pancreatic protector decreasing insulin secretion through ghrelin upregulation while sustaining glycaemia through liver-based mechanisms of glycolysis control.
Is There Water Ice in the Lunar Polar Craters?
Authors: Sun Tianxi
Published: June 2020

This literature review found that it is doubtful that there is water ice in the polar craters on the Moon. In the course of this review, the following findings were found: (1) The absorption strength of hydroxyl radicals and hydroxyl groups are all 2.9μm, so it is easy to confuse hydroxyl radicals and hydroxyl groups when interpreting M3 spectra data. I do not doubt the ability of LCROSS to detect OH from water, but only suspect that LCROSS is unable to distinguish between hydroxyl radicals from water ice and hydroxyl groups from Moon's methanol due to ignore their spectral identity; (2) The water brought by comets and asteroids and the one caused by solar wind has been exhausted by reacts with the widespread methanol on the Moon in the presence of Pt/α-MoC or Pt/C catalysts. These reacts form large amount of hydrogen, thus clarifying a question NASA raised that "Scientists have long speculated about the source of vast quantities of hydrogen that have been observed at the lunar poles"; (3) The vast quantities of hydrogen in lunar polar craters at extremely low temperatures might be in liquid or solid state now, easy to confuse with water ice. It seems that all our previous misconceptions about water ice in the lunar polar craters might be due to the neglect of the widespread chemical role of lunar methanol. It is necessary to conduct in-depth research in this field in the future.
Realistic and Robust Reproducible Research for Biostatistics
Authors: Hejblum Boris P. , Kunzmann Kevin , Lavagnini Ennio , Hutchinson Anna , Robertson David S. , Jones Sacha C. , Eckes-Shephard Annemarie H.
Published: June 2020

The complexity of analysis pipelines in biomedical sciences poses a severe challenge for the transparency and reproducibility of results. Researchers are increasingly incorporating software development technologies and methods into their analyses, but this is a quickly evolving landscape and teams may lack the capabilities to set up their own complex IT infrastructure to aid reproducibility. Basing a reproducible research strategy on readily available solutions with zero or low set-up costs whilst maintaining technological flexibility to incorporate domain-specific software tools is therefore of key importance. We outline a practical approach for robust reproducibility of analysis results. In our examples, we rely exclusively on established open-source tools and free services. Special emphasis is put on the integration of these tools with best practices from software development and free online services for the biostatistics domain.
Pocketbook based on local wisdom and its effectivity in improving students' knowledge on the utilization of traditional medicine plants
Authors: Alif Yanuar Zukmadini  , Kasrina K , Jumiarni Dewi , Rochman Syaiful
Published: June 2020

Nowadays, young generation's knowledge about local wisdom in utilizing medicinal plants is decreasing. This study aimed to develop a pocketbook of antimicrobial medicinal plants based on local wisdom of the Serawai and Muko-Muko tribes (PAMP-LWSMT) in Bengkulu Province-Indonesia and its effectiveness in improving students' knowledge about the utilization of plants as traditional medicine (UPTM). This type of research was a research and development (R&D) of Sugiyono, it had 10 stages. Five stages have been conducted and published in 2018 and will be continued to the last five stages, namely product trials, product revision, trial use, product revision, and mass production. The results showed that 1) pocketbooks had a good response for students and teachers. It can be identified from averaged score of teacher  response  (75,33) and average score of children's response (65,31) 2). Pocketbook was quite effective to increase students’ knowledge about the utilization of plants as traditional medicine. It can be shown from N-gain value (0.5413). Value of Sig. (2-tailed) was 0,000 it means there was a significant difference before and after using a pocketbook. Through the development and effectiveness of pocketbooks, it can preserve the values of the local wisdom of the Serawai and Muko-Muko tribes in utilizing plants as medicine. This pocketbook is recommended to be used widely as a learning resource for high school students in various districts in Bengkulu Province so that students' knowledge can develop.
Demonstration and experiment on archaebacteria and eubacteria: effectiveness for cognitive learning outcomes (CLO) based on critical thinking skill
Authors: Hamdani Muhammad , Prayitno Baskoro Adi , Karyanto Puguh
Published: June 2020

The purpose of this study was to determine differences in students' cognitive learning outcomes (CLO) using demonstration and experimental learning methods. The Clo differences are in students who have high critical thinking skills (HCTS) and low critical thinking skills (LCTS), and whether there is or not the interaction between learning methods and critical thinking towards students CLO. Hopefully, this research could strengthen existing theories and inform other teacher colleagues by using demonstration and experimentation methods in other subjects to improve the quality of a school. The study design used a 2 x 2 factorial design. The study population was students of X science class in one of the state high schools in Central Lombok, Indonesia, which amounted to 18 schools. The study sample amounted to 2 schools. In order to select the research sample, we used purposive random sampling. CLO and critical thinking skills were measured by using essay tests.esting on the validity and reliability of CLO tests and critical thinking skill showed valid and reliable results. Data were analyzed using ANCOVA with pre-test scores as covariates. The results showed that there were significant differences in CLO between students learning to use the demonstration and experimental learning method. There was a significant difference in CLO between students who have HCTS and LCTS, and there was no interaction between learning methods and critical thinking on student’s CLO. Experimental method learning is more optimal to improving student CLO when When it is applied to HCTS students rather than LCTS students on Archaebacteria and Eubacteria.
Application of Saccharomyces cerevisiae as a Probiotic for Producing Low Cholesterol and Antibiotic-Free Broiler Meat
Authors: Wulandari Suci , Syahniar Theo Mahiseta , Pantaya Dadik
Published: June 2020

The aim of this study was to evaluate the application of S. cerevisiae as a probiotic for producing low cholesterol and antibiotic-free broiler meat. This study used 250 broilers (14 days old) which were divided into 5 treatment groups, those were T0 (rations without S. cerevisiae addition), T1, T2 and T3 (rations added with 0.5, 1, and 1.5 g/kg DM of S. cerevisiae respectively), and K group (commercial feed). Broilers were reared until 36 days old prior to slaughter. The carcass quality, abdominal fat, internal organs, cholesterol content of breast meat, the number of LAB and E. coli of intestinal tract were observed. The addition of S. cerevisiae tended to increase the number of LAB in intestinal tract, whereas the number of E. coli significantly decreased. The highest slaughter weight was found in group fed with commercial feed. There were no significant effects of S. cerevisiae addition on carcass, abdominal fat and weight of internal and immunity organs. The lowest cholesterol content was showed on broiler fed with rations added with 1 g/kg DM S. cerevisiae. Therefore it could be concluded that the addition of S. cerevisiae up to 1 g/kg DM rations showed health improvement and able to produce low cholesterol broiler meat.
Evaluation of Different Techniques in Recovering of Oocytes and Storage Duration of Ovaries on the Quality and Quantity of Bovine in Vitro Maturation
Authors: Udin Zaituni , Masrizal Masrizal , Hendri Hendri , Nanda Syafri
Published: June 2020

This study aimed to evaluate different recovery techniques of oocytes and the duration time between ovary collection and processing in the laboratory on the quality and quantity of Simmental cross bovine oocytes in vitro maturation. A total of 75 bovine ovaries were divided into three groups. Experiment-1;  the storage duration of ovaries were 6, 9 and 12 h. Experiment -2;  the techniques for oocytes recovery were slicing, aspiration and slicing + aspiration. The ovaries were collected from slaughterhouse and kept in saline solution during transportation to laboratory. A total of 136 oocytes were used for experiment-1, and 246 oocytes for experiment-2. This study found that the number and quality of oocytes were significantly different (P<0.05) as the effect of storage time. The average number of oocytes were 15.90±2.48; 17.10±1.38 and 13.60±3.00, in 6 h; 9 h and 12 h of storage time, respectively. The techniques of oocytes collection significantly (P<0.05) affect the quantity of oocytes but no significant (P>0.05) on oocytes quality. The average of oocytes of groups slicing, aspiration and slicing plus aspiration were 14.66±2.09; 9.46±2.99 and 16.40±6.86, respectively. Both experiment was significant effect (P<0.05) on immaturation rate of bovine. Conclusion of this study the storage time of ovaries was suitable in 9 h and the technique of oocytes collection was in slicing plus aspiration.
Growth performance, serum blood biochemistry, and intestinal properties of Arbor Acres Broiler fed diets containing mannan-riched fraction (MRF) and probiotic-enhanced liquid acidifier
Authors: Adli Danung Nur , Sjofjan Osfar
Published: June 2020

Numerous efforts have been undertaken to develop suitable alternatives in order to counteract the anticipated drawbacks associated with the ban of antibiotic growth promoters (AGPs). The research purpose is to carry out the possible effect of mannan-riched fraction (MRF) and probiotic enhanced water as natural growth promoters (NGPs) on performance, relative organ weight, serum blood biochemistry, intestinal properties, and intestinal micro flora. 320 one-day-old Arbor Acres broiler were randomly allocated to 4 dietary treatments and 4 replicates of 20 birds per cage. four treatments used for research were dietary with control (T0), basal diet + MRF 80 g (T1), Drinking water + 2 mL/L combination feed additive (T2), and basal feed + MRF 80 g+ drinking water 2 mL/L combination feed additive (T3). The results showed that using mannan riched fraction (MRF) and combination with probiotic-enhanced liquid acidifier presented significant difference (P > 0.05) on body weight gain at 1-28 days and intestinal properties. On the blood biochemistry, the effect of supplementation began to reduce the amount of glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase (GOT) and glutamic pyruvic transaminase (GPT) at 21 days periods. To sum up, the addition of mannan-riched fraction and combination with probiotic enhanced liquid acidifier doesn’t impacted on growth performance, and serum blood biochemistry but give significant effect on intestinal properties of broiler.
TÜTÜN VE TÜTÜN ÜRÜNLERİNİN TÜKETİMİNİ AZALTMAYA YÖNELİK RENKLERİN KULLANIMINA İLİŞKİN BİR ARAŞTIRMA
Authors: TORUN Tolga
Published: June 2020

Tütün ve tütün mamullerine yönelik ilgi gün geçtikçe özellikle de gelişmiş ülkelerde artmaktadır. Bu artış sağlık kuruluşları tarafından kaygıyla izlenilmekte ve ilgili resmi makamlarca tütün ve tütün mamullerinin tüketimini azaltacak önlemler alınması hususunda adımlar atılmaktadır. Bu adımlardan bir tanesi Türkiye’de uygulamaya başlanılacak olan sigara paketlerinin renklerinin tek tipleştirilmesidir. Ancak sigara paketlerinde renklerle yapılan bu tüketim üzerindeki uygulamanın etkisinin ne olacağı özellikle renklerin tüketiciler tarafından algılanışı ile yakından ilgilidir. Daha önce pazarlama literatürü içerisinde tüketim ile ilgili yapılan araştırmalarda renklerin engelleyici unsurunun yanında tetikleyici unsurunun da bulunduğu bilinmektedir. Bu amaçla tütün ve tütün mamulü kullanan tüketiciler açısından renklerin ne ifade ettiği ve sigaraya yönelik bakış açıları tesadüfi olmayan örneklem yöntemlerinden birisi olan yargısal örneklem ile belirlenen örnekleme anket yapılması planlanmıştır. Bu doğrultuda Silayoi ve Speece'in (2004) paket ve dizaynın satın alma üzerinde etkisinin ölçülebilmesi için oluşturulan ölçeği tütün ve tütün mamulleri olarak uyarlanmış ve örnekleme uygulanmıştır. Çalışmadan elde edilen sonuçlar SPSS yardımıyla analiz edilerek kaydedilmiştir. Elde edilen sonuçlara bakıldığında sigara tüketiminde paket dizaynında yer alan renklerin bir tetikleyici unsur olduğu ortaya koyulmuştur.
THE DETERMINANTS OF DEBT MATURITY STRUCTURES IN DEVELOPING COUNTRIES
Authors: BİLGİN Rümeysa
Published: June 2020

The study contributes to the literature by examining the firm- and country-specific determinants of the debt maturity structures in developing countries. The sample panel data set comprises of 3981 firms from 30 countries for 8 years from 2011 to 2018. Countries are selected among developing and transition economies based on data availability. A multilevel modelling methodology is employed in order to decompose the determinants of debt maturity. Variance components analysis revealed that country-level and firm-level are the causes of 15% and 50% of the total variability in debt maturity structures, respectively. Asset maturity, firm quality, firm size, leverage and growth opportunity are detected as firm-specific determinants of debt maturity. Besides, it is found that bank concentration and stock market development are also effective on the debt maturity structures of firms.
“You Cannot Perform Music Without Taking Care of Your Body”: A Qualitative Study on Musicians’ Representation of Body and Health
Authors: School Veronika , Zosso Amélie
Published: June 2020

OBJECTIVE: To identify professional musicians’ representation of health and illness and to identify its perceived impact on musical performance. METHODS: A total of 11 professional musicians participated in this phenomenological study. Five of the musicians were healthy, and the
others suffered debilitating physical health problems caused by playing their instruments. Semi-structured interviews were conducted, transcribed verbatim and analysed. Thematic analysis, including a six-step coding process, was performed (ATLAS-ti 6). RESULTS: Three major themes emerged from
the data: music as art, the health of musicians, and learning through experience. The first theme, music as art, was discussed by both groups; they talked about such things as passion, joy, sense of identity, sensitivity, and a musician’s hard life. Discussions of the second theme, the
health of musicians, revealed a complex link between health and performance, including the dramatic impact of potential or actual health problems on musical careers. Not surprisingly, musicians with health problems were more concerned with dysfunctional body parts (mostly the hand), whereas
healthy musicians focused on maintaining the health of the entire person. The third theme, learning through experience, focused on the dynamic nature of health and included the life-long learning approach, not only in terms of using the body in musical performance but also in daily life. CONCLUSIONS:
The centre of a musician’s life is making music in which the body plays an important part. Participants in this study evidenced a complex link between health and musical performance, and maintaining health was perceived by these musicians as a dynamic balance. Our results suggest that
learning through experience might help musicians adapt to changes related to their bodies.
Dance Floors as Injury Risk: Analysis and Evaluation of Acute Injuries Caused by Dance Floors in Professional Dance with Regard to Preventative Aspects
Authors: Wanke Eileen M , Mill Helmgard , Wanke Alice , Davenport Jacqueline , Koch Franziska , Groneberg David A
Published: June 2020

A dance floor is often the only support of movements in dance. A dance floor surface that shows deficiencies, can result in acute injuries and chronic problems. Although the significance of an adequate dance floor is well known, there is still a lack of differentiated analyses of dance
floor-related acute injuries. OBJECTIVE: This study presents data on acute injuries exclusively caused by the dance floor. METHODS: The data were obtained from standardized work accident reports from consultants (F 1000), documentary accident records from all Berlin theatres, a state ballet
school (n=2,281), and case records from the Berlin State Accident Insurance (UKB) covering a period of 17 years. All analyses and descriptive statistics were conducted with Excel 2007 and SPSS 18. RESULTS: Dance floor surfaces were the causative factor in 12.8% of all accidents (n=291, female
183, male 108). Almost two thirds (62.6%) of all accidents in professional dancers happened on stage, and almost half (49.5%) occurred during performances. As for causative factors, 53.1% of the professional dancers (P) and 42.5% of the dance students (S) claimed that the floor had been “too
slippery,” with “getting stuck” or “tripping” as the second most common problem (P 18.4%, S 11.3%). Of the injured dancers, 41.8% were older than 30 years and can therefore be categorized as experienced. CONCLUSION: Dance floors play a significant role in the
occurrence of acute injuries, even in experienced dancers. Performances on stage seem to be a particular risk. However, injury prevention measures should include all work locations (P) as well as non-dance-specific locations (S).
Voice Rest and Phonotrauma in Singers
Authors: Haben C Michael
Published: June 2020

Voice rest as first-line empiric treatment for singers has been widely accepted as appropriate therapy where obvious laryngeal pathology may not be readily apparent. Few guidelines regarding voice rest regimens for singers have been published in the literature, and no published recommendations
consider phonotrauma as the key to predicting the short- and long-term benefit. As a short-term solution to short-term, noncompounded phonotrauma, voice rest has a definite role. As an effective solution to compounded phonotraumatic hoarseness, voice rest may be analogous to crash diets in
the morbidly obese. Any realized benefits are short-lived, and the underlying problem is rarely addressed. This article aims to clarify a reasonable role for voice rest in singers as utilized in a busy professional voice clinic. The concepts of noncompounded and compounded phonotrauma will
be introduced and serve as a guide to predicting the success or failure of voice rest regimens by basing endpoints on reasonable expectations.
Recalibration of biochemistry measurements in a multinational cohort study: LIFE course study in CARdiovascular disease Epidemiology (LIFECARE)
Authors: Nang Ei Ei Khaing , Ng Sheryl HX , Shafiq Mahham , Tan Chuen Seng , Sy Rody , Fong Alan , Vathesatogkit Prin , Adam John , Llanes Elmer , Hian Sim Kui , Reganit Paul , Wong Kung Yee , Woodward Mark , Tai E Shyong , Venkataraman Kavita
Published: June 2020

The authors have withdrawn this preprint due to author disagreement.
Factors associated with malnutrition in children <5 years in western Kenya: A hospital-based unmatched case control study
Authors: Gudu Edwin , Obonyo Mark , Omballa Victor , Oyugi Elvis , Kiilu Cecilia , Githuku Jane , Gura Zeinab , Ransom James Anthony
Published: June 2020

Background: Globally, under-nutrition accounts for >3 million deaths annually among children <5 years, with Kenya having ~35,000 deaths. This study aimed to identify factors associated with malnutrition in children aged <5 years in western Kenya. Methods: We conducted a hospital-based unmatched case-control study between May and June 2017. Cases were defined as children aged 6-59 months with either z-score for weight-for-height ≤-2SD or ≥+2SD; weight-for-age ≤-2SD or ≥+2SD; or height-for-age ≤-2SD. Controls were children aged 6-59 months with age-appropriate anthropometric measurements. Cases were consecutively recruited while systematic random sampling was used to select controls. Data from interviews and clinical records were collected and entered into Epi-Info, which was used to run unconditional logistic regression analyses. Results: A total of 94 cases and 281 controls were recruited. Of the cases, 84% (79/94) were under-nourished. Mother not having attended ante-natal clinic (OR=7.9; 95% CI: 1.5-41.2), deworming (OR=0.8; 95% CI: 0.4-1.2), and pre-lacteal feeding (OR=1.8; 95% CI: 1.1-3.0) were associated with under-nutrition. Delayed developmental milestones (AOR=13.9; 95% CI: 2.8-68.6); low birth weight (AOR=3.3; 95% CI: 1.4-7.6), and paternal lack of formal education (AOR=4.9; 95% CI: 1.3-18.9) were independently associated with under-nutrition. Conclusion: Proper pre-natal care, child feeding practices and deworming programs should be enhanced to reduce pediatric malnutrition.
Association analysis of body mass index on ovarian response and pregnancy outcomes during IVF / ICSI treatment: a retrospective study in Southern Han Chinese Women
Authors: Li Li , Chen Yanhong , Zeng Chengli , Ou Weilin , Lin Zhifeng , Lin Weiyan , Liu Yangqi , Ke Li
Published: June 2020

Background: The purpose of the present study is to evaluate the effect of body mass index (BMI) on cycle characteristics and in vitro fertilization / intracytoplasmic sperm injection (IVF / ICSI) outcomes of a long down-regulation protocol in Southern Han Chinese women. Methods : This retrospective, observational study included 5279 infertile women undergoing IVF / ICSI cycle with a long down-regulation protocol. All the patients were divided into four subgroups by the recommended Chinese BMI cut-off points: underweight, BMI < 18.5 kg/m 2 ; normal-weight, 18.5 kg/m 2 ≤ BMI < 24.0 kg/m 2 ; overweight, 24.0 kg/m 2 ≤ BMI < 28.0 kg/m 2 ; obese, BMI ≥ 28.0 kg/m 2 . The demographic data and biochemical tests of patients, the parameters related to the ovarian responsiveness to gonadotrophin stimulation, IVF / ICSI treatment characteristics and pregnancy outcomes (clinical pregnancy rate, spontaneous abortion rate and lived birth rate) were compared among BMI categories. Results: The overweight patients had lower ovarian sensitivity index (OSI) ( P < 0.05) and higher spontaneous abortion rate than women in the normal-weight (13.59% vs. 10.28%, OR = 2.37, 95% CI: 1.35 – 4.16, P = 0.003 ). The overweight and obese patients seemed to have lower clinical pregnancy rate and live birth rate, but the difference was not statistically significant ( P > 0.05). Conclusion: This study provides new epidemiological clues that the elevated BMI might increase the risk of spontaneous abortion and impair ovarian response to gonadotropin stimulation during IVF / ICSI treatment.