bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Segregación por género y Formación Profesional: aportaciones al debate sobre la situación actual
Authors: Aguado Hernàndez Juli Antoni , Cano Montero Francisco Javier , Sánchez Pérez María José
Published: May 2020

En el presente texto se presenta un estudio sociológico que revisa la situación actual de la segregación de género en la Formación Profesional. Ésta es una etapa educativa con un marcado sesgo de género que se observa en el hecho que, de las 26 Familias Profesionales existentes, hay 15 claramente masculinizadas mientras que el alumnado es mayoritariamente femenino en cinco, lo que refleja la desigualdad existente también en los entornos profesionales a los que estos estudios conducen.
A partir del análisis de fuentes secundarias, se observa cómo, en general, el peso porcentual de las alumnas desciende en todos los niveles de FP, aunque en los últimos cursos su peso se mantiene prácticamente igual. Desde un análisis pormenorizado, con todas las precauciones que hay que tener por la divergencia de las trayectorias según las diferentes Familias Profesionales, en los últimos años se observa un aumento de la matriculación de hombres en los ciclos feminizados sin que se incremente en general el peso de las mujeres en los masculinizados, lo que no permita hablar de una tendencia a la reducción del sesgo de género en este ámbito.
Posteriormente, se desarrolla el debate sobre las posibles causas y las consecuencias que genera la elección de los estudios en tanto que tendrá su correlación en la inserción laboral pero también en las condiciones de trabajo tanto de los hombres como de las mujeres. Asimismo, se plantean posibles propuestas para reducir estas situaciones de desigualdad de género.
Four Nineteenth-Century Book of the Dead Forgeries on Mummy Linen in the John Rylands Library, or: the Description de l’Égypte as a Faker’s Master Copy
Authors: Kockelmann Holger
Published: May 2020

This article presents four pieces of textile decorated with Egyptian Book of the Dead texts and vignettes which are in the possession of the John Rylands Library, Manchester. As demonstrated, these manuscripts are forgeries made with the help of templates from the Description de l’Égypte. The article presents the evidence for this conclusion and traces the path of the hieroglyphic and hieratic texts on textiles into the library.
Caraglio and Rosso Fiorentino between Pen and Press
Authors: Pon Lisa
Published: May 2020

The John Rylands Library’s recently rediscovered Spencer Album 8050 contains a proof state of the Battle of the Romans and the Sabines, an engraving pivotal in the short-lived but ambitious collaboration between Jacopo Caraglio (1500–65) and Rosso Fiorentino (1495–1540) in Rome. This proof impression was first printed in black ink, and then densely covered with hand-drawn ink. A comparison between the new proof state and previously identified states of the engraving using a novel technical approach involving long-wave infrared light to isolate the printed lines optically indicates that the Spencer proof state precedes any other known state of the engraving. The use of penwork and printing on this early proof and subsequent proof states demonstrates how Caraglio and Rosso saw drawing and printing as intimately connected, iterative steps in the print’s production.
Lin28a/let-7 pathway modulates the Hox code via Polycomb regulation during axial patterning in vertebrates
Authors: Sato Tempei , Kataoka Kensuke , Ito Yoshiaki , Yokoyama Shigetoshi , Inui Masafumi , Mori Masaki , Takahashi Satoru , Akita Keiichi , Takada Shuji , Ueno-Kudoh Hiroe , Asahara Hiroshi
Published: May 2020

The body plan along the anteroposterior axis and regional identities are specified by the spatiotemporal expression of Hox genes. Multistep controls are required for their unique expression patterns; however, the molecular mechanisms behind the tight control of Hox genes are not fully understood. In this study, we demonstrated that the Lin28a/let-7 pathway is critical for axial elongation. Lin28a–/– mice exhibited axial shortening with mild skeletal transformations of vertebrae, which were consistent with results in mice with tail bud-specific mutants of Lin28a. The accumulation of let-7 in Lin28a–/– mice resulted in the reduction of PRC1 occupancy at the Hox cluster loci by targeting Cbx2. Consistently, Lin28a loss in embryonic stem-like cells led to aberrant induction of posterior Hox genes, which was rescued by the knockdown of let-7. These results suggest that the Lin28/let-7 pathway is involved in the modulation of the ‘Hox code’ via Polycomb regulation during axial patterning.
Bioengineering horizon scan 2020
Authors: Kemp Luke , Adam Laura , Boehm Christian R , Breitling Rainer , Casagrande Rocco , Dando Malcolm , Djikeng Appolinaire , Evans Nicholas G , Hammond Richard , Hills Kelly , Holt Lauren A , Kuiken Todd , Markotić Alemka , Millett Piers , Napier Johnathan A , Nelson Cassidy , ÓhÉigeartaigh Seán S , Osbourn Anne , Palmer Megan J , Patron Nicola J , Perello Edward , Piyawattanametha Wibool , Restrepo-Schild Vanessa , Rios-Rojas Clarissa , Rhodes Catherine , Roessing Anna , Scott Deborah , Shapira Philip , Simuntala Christopher , Smith Robert DJ , Sundaram Lalitha S , Takano Eriko , Uttmark Gwyn , Wintle Bonnie C , Zahra Nadia B , Sutherland William J
Published: May 2020

Horizon scanning is intended to identify the opportunities and threats associated with technological, regulatory and social change. In 2017 some of the present authors conducted a horizon scan for bioengineering (Wintle et al., 2017). Here we report the results of a new horizon scan that is based on inputs from a larger and more international group of 38 participants. The final list of 20 issues includes topics spanning from the political (the regulation of genomic data, increased philanthropic funding and malicious uses of neurochemicals) to the environmental (crops for changing climates and agricultural gene drives). The early identification of such issues is relevant to researchers, policy-makers and the wider public.
PrkA controls peptidoglycan biosynthesis through the essential phosphorylation of ReoM
Authors: Wamp Sabrina , Rutter Zoe J , Rismondo Jeanine , Jennings Claire E , Möller Lars , Lewis Richard J , Halbedel Sven
Published: May 2020

Peptidoglycan (PG) is the main component of bacterial cell walls and the target for many antibiotics. PG biosynthesis is tightly coordinated with cell wall growth and turnover, and many of these control activities depend upon PASTA-domain containing eukaryotic-like serine/threonine protein kinases (PASTA-eSTK) that sense PG fragments. However, only a few PG biosynthetic enzymes are direct kinase substrates. Here, we identify the conserved ReoM protein as a novel PASTA-eSTK substrate in the Gram-positive pathogen Listeria monocytogenes. Our data show that the phosphorylation of ReoM is essential as it controls ClpCP-dependent proteolytic degradation of the essential enzyme MurA, which catalyses the first committed step in PG biosynthesis. We also identify ReoY as a second novel factor required for degradation of ClpCP substrates. Collectively, our data imply that the first committed step of PG biosynthesis is activated through control of ClpCP protease activity in response to signals of PG homeostasis imbalance.
Structure of substrate-bound SMG1-8-9 kinase complex reveals molecular basis for phosphorylation specificity
Authors: Langer Lukas M , Gat Yair , Bonneau Fabien , Conti Elena
Published: May 2020

PI3K-related kinases (PIKKs) are large Serine/Threonine (Ser/Thr)-protein kinases central to the regulation of many fundamental cellular processes. PIKK family member SMG1 orchestrates progression of an RNA quality control pathway, termed nonsense-mediated mRNA decay (NMD), by phosphorylating the NMD factor UPF1. Phosphorylation of UPF1 occurs in its unstructured N- and C-terminal regions at Serine/Threonine-Glutamine (SQ) motifs. How SMG1 and other PIKKs specifically recognize SQ motifs has remained unclear. Here, we present a cryo-electron microscopy (cryo-EM) reconstruction of a human SMG1-8-9 kinase complex bound to a UPF1 phosphorylation site at an overall resolution of 2.9 Å. This structure provides the first snapshot of a human PIKK with a substrate-bound active site. Together with biochemical assays, it rationalizes how SMG1 and perhaps other PIKKs specifically phosphorylate Ser/Thr-containing motifs with a glutamine residue at position +1 and a hydrophobic residue at position -1, thus elucidating the molecular basis for phosphorylation site recognition.
Plasmodium falciparum translational machinery condones polyadenosine repeats
Authors: Pavlovic Djuranovic Slavica , Erath Jessey , Andrews Ryan J , Bayguinov Peter O , Chung Joyce J , Chalker Douglas L , Fitzpatrick James AJ , Moss Walter N , Szczesny Pawel , Djuranovic Sergej
Published: May 2020

Plasmodium falciparum is a causative agent of human malaria. Sixty percent of mRNAs from its extremely AT-rich (81%) genome harbor long polyadenosine (polyA) runs within their ORFs, distinguishing the parasite from its hosts and other sequenced organisms. Recent studies indicate polyA runs cause ribosome stalling and frameshifting, triggering mRNA surveillance pathways and attenuating protein synthesis. Here, we show that P. falciparum is an exception to this rule. We demonstrate that both endogenous genes and reporter sequences containing long polyA runs are efficiently and accurately translated in P. falciparum cells. We show that polyA runs do not elicit any response from No Go Decay (NGD) or result in the production of frameshifted proteins. This is in stark contrast to what we observe in human cells or T. thermophila, an organism with similar AT-content. Finally, using stalling reporters we show that Plasmodium cells evolved not to have a fully functional NGD pathway.
Spatial inter-centromeric interactions facilitated the emergence of evolutionary new centromeres
Authors: Guin Krishnendu , Chen Yao , Mishra Radha , Muzaki Siti Rawaidah BM , Thimmappa Bhagya C , O'Brien Caoimhe E , Butler Geraldine , Sanyal Amartya , Sanyal Kaustuv
Published: May 2020

Centromeres of Candida albicans form on unique and different DNA sequences but a closely related species, Candida tropicalis, possesses homogenized inverted repeat (HIR)-associated centromeres. To investigate the mechanism of centromere type transition, we improved the fragmented genome assembly and constructed a chromosome-level genome assembly of C. tropicalis by employing PacBio sequencing, chromosome conformation capture sequencing (3C-seq), chromoblot, and genetic analysis of engineered aneuploid strains. Further, we analyzed the 3D genome organization using 3C-seq data, which revealed spatial proximity among the centromeres as well as telomeres of seven chromosomes in C. tropicalis. Intriguingly, we observed evidence of inter-centromeric translocations in the common ancestor of C. albicans and C. tropicalis. Identification of putative centromeres in closely related Candida sojae, Candida viswanathii and Candida parapsilosis indicates loss of ancestral HIR-associated centromeres and establishment of evolutionary new centromeres (ENCs) in C. albicans. We propose that spatial proximity of the homologous centromere DNA sequences facilitated karyotype rearrangements and centromere type transitions in human pathogenic yeasts of the CUG-Ser1 clade.
Desempeño del sistema de vigilancia colombiano durante la pandemia de COVID-19: evaluación rápida de los primeros 50 días
Authors: Manrique-Hernández Edgar F. , Moreno-Montoya José , Hurtado-Ortiz Alexandra , Prieto-Alvarado Franklyn E. , Idrovo Álvaro J.
Published: May 2020

Introducción. La pandemia de COVID es un desafío para la vigilancia en salud pública y una oportunidad para evaluar sus fortalezas y debilidades en aras de mejorar la respuesta.Objetivo. Evaluar el desempeño del sistema de vigilancia en salud pública colombiano durante los primeros 50 días de la pandemia de COVID-19 en el país.Materiales y métodos. Se analizaron los datos publicados entre el 6 de marzo y el 24 de abril de 2020 por el Instituto Nacional de Salud y la Organización Mundial de Salud (OMS). Se consideraron en la evaluación: i) la calidad de los datos según la ley de Benford y ii) la oportunidad de la información, medida como la diferencia en fechas entre los datos generados en el Instituto Nacional de Salud y los recogidos en el informe situacional de la OMS. La variabilidad en el cumplimiento de la ley de Benford se evaluó con los valores de p en las pruebas de razón del logaritmo de la verosimilitud, ji al cuadrado o exacta de Moreno.Resultados. Hasta el 24 de abril hubo 4.881 casos de COVID-19 en Colombia. En la mayoría de los primeros 50 días se cumplió la ley de Benford, excepto en los primeros días de la epidemia. La diferencia entre los informes del Instituto Nacional de Salud y la OMS ha dependido, en gran medida, de la diferencia en los horarios de cierre de la información.Conclusión. En general, el sistema de vigilancia en salud pública colombiano cumplió con la ley de Benford, lo cual sugiere que hubo calidad en los datos. En futuros estudios que comparen el desempeño de los departamentos y distritos se podrá mejorar el diagnóstico de la vigilancia en salud pública del país.
Factors Influencing Complications after Therapeutic Lung Resection in Lung Cancer Patients
Authors: Son Soojin , Kim Jihyun
Published: May 2020

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to assess postoperative complications and factors influencing complications in lung cancer patients undergoing therapeutic lung resection. Methods: This was a retrospective comparative study investigating participants’ individual characteristics, nutritional status, operative characteristics, and disease characteristics as found in the electronic medical records of patients undergoing therapeutic lung resection for lung cancer. Data were collected from 191 participants who received the therapeutic lung resection in 1 general hospital. Analysis was done using x2 test or independent t-test, Pearson correlation and multiple regression analysis. Results: The incidence of complications according to the characteristics of the patients was significantly higher for men over 65 years old, smokers (former smokers included), FEV1/FVC ratio less than 70%. Other factors influencing outcomes were lengthy operation time, FEV1/FVC ratio less than 70% and post OP stageII.Conclusion: Results show that a FEV1/FVC ratio less than 70%, and post OP stageII are factors influencing complications after therapeutic lung resection. Determination of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease through preoperative pulmonary function tests and plans to provide nursing interventions that improve lung function contribute to prevention of postoperative complications.
Mixed Method Research Investigating Turnover Intension with ICU Nurses
Authors: Lee Jung-Hoon , Song Yeoungsuk
Published: May 2020

Purpose: This study was done to investigate the mediating effect of occupational stress on the relationship between ICU nurse’s authentic leadership and turnover intention, and to analyze the causes of turnover in ICU nurses.Methods: A convergent mixed method was used. Participants were 100 out of 207 ICU nurses in the original data that were acquired in Daegu, Ulsan, and Busan, in February and March 2017. Participants were asked with open-ended question: "what are the causes for turnover intention" and summative content analysis and thematic analysis were done. Results: The mean scores for authentic leadership, occupational stress, and turnover intention were 3.09, 43.74, and 45.66, respectively. Occupational stress showed full mediation in the relationship between authentic leadership and turnover intention. The qualitative data showed that the most causes of turnover intention were in the organization (60.6%) instead of individuals (39.4%). Conclusion: Authentic leadership influenced the ICU nurse’s turnover intention via the full mediating effect of occupational stress. The ‘organization-oriented variables’ play a more important role than 'individual-oriented variables' in the reduction of the turnover intention of ICU nurses. The findings from this study may be useful in reducing turnover intention.
Validity and Reliability of the Korean Version of the Apathy Evaluation Scale Short form for Patients with Dementia
Authors: Choi Young-Rim , Lee Ye-Na , Jeong Eunhye , Chang Sung Ok
Published: May 2020

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the validity and reliability of the Korean version of the Apathy Evaluation Scale Short Form (K AES-10) for people with dementia. Methods: Participants in this study were 198 patients with dementia resident in two hospitals in the Republic of Korea. The AES-10 was translated into Korean through the translation and adaptation of instruments process developed by the World Health Organization. This process was carried out by three bilingual nursing professionals. Validity and reliability, such as construct validity, convergent validity, Cronbach's ⍺, inter-rater reliability, and test-retest reliability, were evaluated. IBM SPSS Statistics 25.0 and AMOS 26.0 programs were used for the data analysis. Results: A uni-dimensional model was proposed in the explanatory factor analysis; a single factor accounted for 68.0% of total variances. The confirmatory factor analysis supported the validity of the Korean version of the AES-10. The scale had a Cronbach's ⍺ of .95, inter-rater reliability of .66 (p<.001), and a test-retest reliability of .81 (p<.001). Conclusion: The findings show that the Korean version of the AES-10 is both valid and reliable for measuring apathy among people diagnosed with dementia in the Republic of Korea.
Validity and Reliability of a Korean Version of Nursing Student Perceptions of Dishonesty Scale
Authors: Woo Hee-Yeong , Han Jeongwon
Published: May 2020

Purpose: This study was conducted to evaluate the validity and reliability of the Korean version of Nursing Student Perceptions of Dishonesty Scale (NSPDS). Methods: The English NSPDS was translated into Korean after going through a translation and reverse translation process. Data for this study were collected from 433 student nurses from 8 universities in Korea, who had clinical practice experience. The final data were evaluated using SPSS 20.0 and AMOS 22.0 for exploratory and confirmatory factor analysis. Reliability was tested using Cronbach's ⍺ and test-retest reliability. Results: The exploratory factor analysis showed that 15 items were deleted and 9 subscales were changed into 8 subscales, and the initial 67 items were reduced to 52 items. Confirmatory factor analysis was conducted with 8 subscales and 52 items. The standardized regression coefficients of all the items were statistically significant and between .66 and .93. Convergent validity confirmed that the critical ratio was greater than .85, and the average variance extracted was greater than .53. The criterion-related validity confirmed a negative correlation between student nurses’ ethical value and the Korean version of NSPDS. Reliability was confirmed with a Cronbach's ⍺ of .80~.95. The test-retest confirmed that the correlation coefficient showed significant positive correlations between .68 and .76 in the subscales. Conclusion: The findings of this study suggest that the Korean version of NSPDS is an appropriate and reliable tool for identifying dishonesty perceptions among Korean student nurses.
A Review II for Standardization of Textbooks of Fundamentals of Nursing: Medication Administration, Infection Control, Pressure Injury
Authors: Song Youngshin , Kim Ji-Su , Park Soohyun
Published: May 2020

Purpose: The purposes of this study were to analyze and compare the textbooks of fundamentals of nursing and practice in order to standardize them for medication administration, infection control, and pressure injury. Methods: The current study is a literature review of the ten textbooks published after 2013. Ten textbooks were the ones selected by the Korea Health Personnel Licensing Examination Institute as major textbooks. Three items were reviewed: medication administration, infection control, and pressure injury, with a focus on differences in numbers, range, direction, and others. Results: For medication administration, there were some discrepancies in the size of needle and syringe, maximum dosage depending on injection methods, replacement period of catheter and infusion set, depth of insertion for vaginal medication administration. For infection control, items with discrepancies included length of time for hand washing, concentration of chemical sterilant, frequency of ventilation to prevent airborne disease, distance to prevent droplet-borne infection, the latent period of infectious disease, and methods to treat medical wastes. For pressure injury, the discrepancies were exhibited in the degree and duration of pressure for pressure injuries, range of scores for risks in pressure injury assessment tools, and temperature of the solution to irrigate pressure injuries. Conclusion: Standardized textbooks for these three parts will be useful teaching aide for students and nurses to carry out consistent and professional nursing for patients’ safety.
Enhancing and Conservation of Ecosystem through Philatelic Education in Europe: Think Green Concept (III) - FDCs Research Study
Authors: Cioruța Bogdan , Pop Alexandru Leonard , Coman Mirela
Published: May 2020

EUROPA stamps are special stamps issued by European postal administrations and bears the official EUROPA logo, a PostEurop registered trademark under the aegis of PostEurop in which Europe is the central theme. EUROPA stamps underlines cooperation in the posts domain, taking into account promotion of thematic philately. They also build awareness of the common roots, culture and history of Europe and its common goals. As such, EUROPA stamps are among the most collected and most popular stamps in the world.

Each year, PostEurop's Stamps & Philately Working Group selects the EUROPA stamp theme. Think green! was the 2016 theme and, also, the one on which we decided to focus our attention.

In this paper we propose an insight into the actual history of Europe preoccupations for environmental protection and thematic philately, and bring into limelight the significant concerns in promoting ecological educational via thematic issues (Think green! stamps).

The main objective, for the present work and for the next that will follow, is to identify, index and describe the first day covers (FDCs) issued in European countries, starting with Åland Islands postal administration issues and ending with ones from Isle of Man.

Although the working method was the usual one, consisting of consulting databases and specialized catalogs and other documentation resources, addressed in numerous other studies that characterize our philatelic side, the results of the study did not cease to surprise us. The pieces that we managed to identify come to show us that, apart from the state discrepancies and the communication dysfunctions that exist between the different postal administrations of the world, a common issue (such as  the Think green! theme in this case) can be more than a good cultural ambassador. Of course, when we refer to the FDCs as a good ambassador, with an undeniable background in promoting the culture and values of a nation, we do not exaggerate in any form. The correspondence from that time, as well as the pieces themselves, as part of a philatelic collection, have by themselves a special significance, capturing the will for better, for the truth and for the beautiful.
Assessment of Forestry Laws Compliance among Farmers in Rural Forest Communities of Plateau State, Nigeria
Authors: Vihi S. K. , Jesse B. , Dalla A. A. , Sadiku Y.
Published: May 2020

The study assessed compliance with forestry laws among rural farmers in rural forest communities of Plateau State, Nigeria. The specific objectives of this study were to; describe the socio-economic characteristics of the rural forest farm families in the study area, examine the level of awareness of forestry laws in the study area, ascertain the level of compliance with forestry laws in the study area and identify the perceived constraints to forestry laws compliance in the study area. The population of the study consists of all the farmers in the rural forest communities of Plateau State. Multi-stage sampling technique was used to select a total number of 216 respondents for the study. Data for the study was garnered using structured questionnaire designed in line with objectives of the study. Analysis of the data was done using descriptive statistics and five point likert rating scale. Log it regression was used to test the hypothesis of the study. Findings revealed that the mean age of the farmers was 39 years with majority (61.0%) of them being male. The result also revealed that 85.0% of the respondents were married with majority (57.0%) of the respondents having non-formal education. The average household size of the respondents was 7 persons and average farm size of 2.5 hectares. The result further shows that only 49.0% of the farmers had contact with extension agents between 1 and 5 times in the last one year. Results indicate that farmers’ level of compliance with forestry laws in the study area was poor. The few forestry laws complied with in the study area were: law prohibiting the pasturing or grazing of cattle in the forest reserve (X=3.02), law prohibiting the erection of buildings or roads in the forest reserve (X=3.85) and law prohibiting kindling of fire in the forest reserve (X=3.54).Constraints to compliance with forestry laws includes; Perceived lack of fairness of tree tenure (79%), lack of alternative economic opportunities (87%), as a constraint to forest law compliance in the study area, lack of awareness of forest laws (71%), increased demand for agricultural land (42%), general lack of perceived legitimacy (33%), Corruption in government institutions (28%) and weak law enforcement (5%). The null hypothesis was rejected. The study recommends that, a zero tolerance policy on non-compliance with forestry laws should be put in place to checkmate indiscriminate exploitation of forest resources.
The Role of Community-based Organizations in Addressing Social Equity among Deprived Sections in the Conflict Vulnerable Areas in Karnataka, India
Authors: Augusty MaryKutty Karimundakkal , Dizon Josefina T.
Published: May 2020

Aim: This study assessed the social equity situations in conflict vulnerable areas, and examined the role of 40 community-based organizations (CBOs) spread across the four sub-regions in Karnataka targeting societal change towards social equity.

Study Design: The study employed the survey research design with a sample of 420 beneficiaries of CBO-implemented programs and focus group discussion the officials of each of the CBOs.

Place and Duration of Study: The study was conducted in Karnataka, India and data gathering was conducted from July 2019 to September 2019

Methodology: Data for the study were obtained through the use of survey, focus group discussions and key informant interviews. Descriptive statistics and inferential statistics using chi-square test were done in analysing the data.

Results: The primary role of CBOs, based on evidence from their vision and mission, is to bridge the social equity gap between marginalized and vulnerable communities and the mainstream society through program initiatives and education. These programs were mainly on skills training, child rights protection, and with other major concerns enveloped as social justice and fairness operationalized through access to livelihood, access to education, participation in the political and cultural life, access to self-determination, and peace building community. Besides the preventive roles played by CBOs, they also provide rehabilitation for the exploited and abused in society.

Conclusion: The CBOs in consultation with relevant government agencies, should organize programs in unifying the cultural and religious diversities, widen the scope of their educational programs, and provide the beneficiaries with specialized educational programs along with their skills training to qualify them to bid for contracts in government and non-governmental organizations since there are still visible evidence of social inequalities despite the extensive implementation and awareness education provided thus far.
The Role of Urban Forest in Flood Risks Management in Yaoundé VII, Centre Region of Cameroon
Authors: Gideon Samba , Gilbert Z. Mofor , Kuma Chianebeng Japhet
Published: May 2020

The alarming rate of flooding in urban centres continues to inflict untold suffering and placed the urban poor in precarious living conditions across most Cameroon towns and cities. In the diverse metropolis of the country's urban cities like Yaoundé, Douala, and Limbe, peoples of basic living standards are living in non-habitable flood-prone environment where their vulnerability remains to worsen at any given flooding event. The study examines the role of urban forest in preventing flood risk and management in Yaoundé VII. To achieve the aim of the study, sub-objectives where inevitably of utmost importance, the objectives included: To ascertain the causes and environmental hazards of flooding in Yaoundé VII Municipality; to identify measures put in place to control flooding; to examine the level of preparedness by the urban dwellers of Yaoundé VII to cope with increased exposure to flooding events and hazard mitigation. The primary data sources constituted direct information from structured and unstructured questionnaire, key informants interviews included most stakeholders of the municipality such as the Divisional Officer, the Mayor of the municipal council and those directly involved in flood hazards. A cross-sectional and descriptive research design was employed in the study. Purposive, stratified, and systematic sampling techniques were used as platform for questionnaire administration of which a sample of 400 was drawn from the population using Taro Yamane sample determination method. The data generated were analysed using descriptive and inferential statistics. A null hypothesis was formulated and stated as follow: There exist no significant measures put in place to control flooding in Yaoundé VII Municipality. The hypothesis was tested using a One Way ANOVA test at 0.05 levels of significance. The major findings showed that there is significant flood measures put in place to control flooding in Yaoundé VII Municipality and also there exist a significant level of preparedness by the urban dwellers of Yaoundé VII to cope with increased flooding events. Based on the findings, the study recommended that the Urban Municipality of Yaoundé VII should organize massive campaign to sensitize the urban populace of the study area against improper dumping of refuse in the drainage systems while severe fines should be placed on violators. The government through the municipal council should Channelized and dredge the River Mefou which has tributaries in the study area so that the river can accommodate more volume of water whenever there is excess rainfall. The government should provide more funding for studies on hazards management in Cameroon as a whole; and for disaster management bodies and agencies in order to carry out their duties when necessary.
Effect of a Period of Magnesium Supplementation on Muscle Strength and Resistance of Bodybuilders
Authors: Dehkordi Seyyed Mehdi Razavi
Published: May 2020

Objective: The purpose of this study is to determine the effect of magnesium supplements on the muscular strength of active men.

Materials and Methods: Samples were matched into two groups. Magnesium supplements (containing 47 mg of calcium and 250 mg of magnesium oxide produced by al-Hawi Company) were given to the experimental group and the placebo that was completely similar to the supplements for the control group. The tablets are given to every other subject individually and they performed strength training. Supplements were ingested before strength training in the gym and the supplements were consumed with a glass of water. The statistical population of the study included male bodybuilders’ athletes who are regularly excising three days a week in Shahre Kord sports clubs. 40 subjects were selected from people who were interested to participate in the research. After selecting the samples, they are randomly divided into two groups A and B (double-blind method). The strength of the athletes was measured by the CPR machine based on the 1-RM and their resistance by more repetition of bench press with a standard device using 1-RM by 0.5 Kg in the gym.

Results: The results of Wilks' lambda test showed that there is a significant difference between the experimental and control groups in one of the measurements related to arms muscle strength and chest muscle strength, while there is no a significant difference between the two groups in measurements related to muscle strength and resistance of the upper body, which means that magnesium supplementation for 8 weeks has had a significant effect on the strength of the hands and chest muscles of the bodybuilders ‘athlete.

Conclusion: Magnesium supplementation can affect the strength of upper body’s muscles of men.
Arabidopsis: Flower Development and Patterning
Authors: Krizek Beth A
Published: May 2020

The development of flowers and floral organs is directed by intricate genetic programmes, many aspects of which appear to be shared among angiosperms. Early acting genes establish floral meristem identity in flower primordia initiated at the periphery of the inflorescence meristem. Later, floral organ primordia arise at precise positions within these floral meristems and take on one of the four distinct identities (sepals, petals, stamens and carpels). The ABCE model, supported by both molecular and genetic experiments inArabidopsis, explains how a small number of regulatory genes (called floral homeotic genes or floral organ identity genes) act in different combinations to specify these different organ types. The floral organ identity genes encode transcription factors that form distinct higher order protein complexes in different regions of a flower primordium to control the expression of target genes responsible for organogenesis.

Key Concepts

Lateral organs produced by the shoot apical meristem during reproductive development acquire their identity as flowers through the action of floral meristem identity genes such asLEAFYandAPETALA1.

The identities of each of the four organ types of a flower (sepal, petal, stamen and carpel) are conferred by a unique combination of floral organ identity gene activities, referred to as classes A, B, C and E in the ABCE model.

The activities of the class A, B and C genes are restricted to particular regions within a developing flower primarily, but not exclusively, through transcriptional regulation.

The MADS domain transcription factors encoded by the class A, B, C and E genes form unique tetrameric transcriptional regulatory complexes in cells of each floral whorl.

The transcriptional regulatory complexes formed by the A, B, C and E proteins regulate distinct sets of genes at different stages of flower development.

Many aspects of the genetic programmes conferring floral meristem identity and floral organ identity are conserved among all angiosperms.
Epigenetic Regulation of Gene Expression
Authors: Murison Keir , Michod David
Published: May 2020

The phenomenon of genes being regulated by factors and marks that do not change the underlying DNA code demonstrates the complexity inherited in genomic regulation. The exact definition of epigenetics has developed from its theoretical proposal to focus on the physical mechanism which transmits epigenetic information. This in turn has led to some controversies about how widely the definition should be applied. Repressive epigenetic marks, DNA methylation, Polycomb complex regulation by H3K27Me3 and heterochromatin protein 1 recruitment to H3K9Me3 will be the mechanisms we mainly focus on due to their robust heritability across the cell cycle. Epigenetic marks often work through changing gene expression, but it is important to note that this is not the only way they can work.

Key Concepts

Epigenetic mechanisms allow cells to acquire specific phenotypes without involving changes to the DNA sequence.

Epigenetic mark must not alter the underlying DNA sequence and should lead to changes in gene expression without the need to read the underlying sequence.

The main epigenetic mechanisms are DNA methylation, histone modifications and expression of noncoding RNAs.

Disruption to epigenetic mechanism or mistargeting of a mark can result in phenotypic change and ultimately diease.

The term epigenetics has developed to describe multiple mechanisms, sometimes inaccurately, which are heritable across cell division.
Biosynthesis and Chemical Modifications of Minor Cannabinoids
Authors: Nguyen Gia‐Nam , Kayser Oliver
Published: May 2020

Minor cannabinoids are cannabinoids at very low abundances inCannabis sativaL. essential oils (<0.5% of dried weight). The pharmacological properties of minor cannabinoids have never been determined or validated in clinical assays or in rationalin vitroandin vivoassays. Due to this lack of biological and pharmacological information, minor cannabinoids have great potential as future drug candidates. The biosynthesis of minor cannabinoids is not clear inC. sativaL., but, likely, chemical conversion in the trichomes influenced by light, temperature and ultraviolet (UV) radiation is the main catalytic mode. This chemical conversion may explain the high chemodiversity and low structural stability.

Key Concepts

Minor cannabinoids are at very low abundance inCannabis sativaL.

Chemical diversity of essential oil is a consequence of chemical transformation.

The role of minor cannabinoidsin plantais unknown and needs further investigations.

Minor cannabinoids can be considered as future candidates in drug discovery.

Minor cannabinoids are found in other species (plant, moss, fungus) and chemical diversity is not limited to Cannabaceae only.
Vertical Farming
Authors: Touliatos Dionysios (Dennis) , Beynon‐Davies Rhydian , McAinsh Martin
Published: May 2020

Vertical farming (VF) is a broad term that encompasses a suite of technologies for increasing productivity per unit area of crop available land. It does this by extending plant cultivation into the vertical dimension and in locations where crop production may have been difficult or impossible previously. Over recent years, the interest in VF approaches has increased considerably in both the scientific and commercial community. The term has been used interchangeably to describe both large‐scale concepts such as food‐producing skyscrapers and smaller scale Vertical Farming Systems (VFS). Many of these systems utilise and integrate knowledge on plant abiotic responses such as those to light, nutrients, temperature and CO2. Elucidating the fundamental and applied plant science challenges linked to growing crops within VFS will be key for the success of the VF sector.

Key Concepts

Vertical farming encompasses numerous system typologies, differentiated by technology level, degree of enclosure and control over environmental variables.

A variety of soilless methods, such as hydroponic, semihydroponic and aeroponic systems, are used in vertical farming.

Light spectra have a profound influence over crop growth and morphology and can therefore be used as a tool to steer crop response for nutrition, specific compound production, morphology or biomass accumulation.

Other environmental conditions, such as CO2concentration, air temperature, air velocity and nutrition, influence crop growth and morphology in vertical farming systems.

Crops suitable for vertical farming systems vary by system type and are dictated by cost of production relative to retail price and market demand.
‘Global Gag Rule’: Curtailing Women's Reproductive Rights
Authors: Macklin Ruth
Published: May 2020

The Global Gag Rule (GGR), originally known as the Mexico City Policy, is a US policy that limits the reproductive rights of women in many resource‐poor countries. In 2018, the US administration of President Donald Trump reinstated this policy, which was first issued by President Ronald Reagan in 1984 and later annulled by two US presidents in the intervening years. The policy prohibits any nongovernmental organisation (NGO) outside the United States from providing women or couples with family planning information that includes access to abortion as a condition of receiving US funding. Although the policy is designed to reduce the rate of abortion in countries where NGOs have adopted it, studies have shown the opposite effect. The policy violates fundamental ethical principles as well as UN human rights treaties and action programmes.

Key Concepts

Results of implementing the Global Gag Rule (GGR) have been contrary to the purported goal of the policy.

The GGR harms vulnerable women in resource‐poor countries throughout the world.

The GGR violates key ethical principles.

The GGR violates United Nations Human Rights Declarations and Covenants.

More unsafe abortions have occurred in resource‐poor countries when the GGR has been in effect than when it has been annulled.

The administration of Donald Trump as president of the United States expanded an earlier version of the GGR.

The GGR affects programmes beyond family planning, such as those related to HIV/AIDS.
FAPbI3‐Based Perovskite Solar Cells Employing Hexyl‐Based Ionic Liquid with an Efficiency Over 20% and Excellent Long‐Term Stability
Authors: Akin Seckin , Akman Erdi , Sonmezoglu Savas
Published: May 2020

Formamidinium lead triiodide (FAPbI3)‐based perovskite materials are of interest for photovoltaics in view of their close‐to‐ideal bandgap, allowing absorption of photons over a broad solar spectrum. However, FAPbI3‐based materials suffer from a notorious phase transition from the photoactive black phase (α‐FAPbI3) to nonperovskite yellow phase (δ‐FAPbI3) under ambient conditions. This transition dramatically reduces light absorbtion, thus, degrading the photovoltaic performance and stability of ensuring solar cells. In this study, 1‐hexyl‐3‐methylimidazolium iodide (HMII) ionic liquid (IL) is employed as an additive for the first time in FAPbI3 perovskite to overcome the above‐mentioned issues. HMII incorporation facilitates the grain coarsening of FAPbI3 crystal owing to its high‐polarity and high‐boiling point, which yields liquid domains between neighboring grains to reduce the activation energy of the grain‐boundary migration. As a result, the FAPbI3 active layer exhibits micron‐sized grains with substantially suppressed parasitic traps with an Urbach energy reduced by 2 meV. Hence, the resulting perovskite solar cell achieves an efficiency of 20.6% with notable increase in open circuit voltage (VOC) of 80 mV compared with HMII‐free cells (17.1%). More importantly, the HMII‐doped FAPbI3‐based cells show a striking enhancement in shelf‐stability under high humidity and thermal stress, retaining >80% of their initial efficiencies at 60 ± 10% relative humidity and ≈95% at 65 °C.
Robust In‐Plane Ferroelectricity in Ultrathin Epitaxial Aurivillius Films
Authors: Gradauskaite Elzbieta , Campanini Marco , Biswas Banani , Schneider Christof W. , Fiebig Manfred , Rossell Marta D. , Trassin Morgan
Published: May 2020

Layered ferroelectrics, often referred to as natural superlattices, exhibit functionalities beyond those of the classical ferroelectric perovskite compounds due to their highly anisotropic structure. Unfortunately, the layered architecture has been impeding their growth as single crystalline thin films, and thus their integration into oxide‐electronic devices. Here, fatigue‐free ferroelectric switching in epitaxial Bi5FeTi3O15 thin films is demonstrated. The achievement of twin‐free films with sub‐unit‐cell thickness precision on a lattice‐matching NdGaO3 orthorhombic substrate significantly enhances their uniaxial ferroelectric properties. In the ultrathin regime, such films exhibit in‐plane polarization with a periodic arrangement of ferroelectric domains, which, with uniaxial ferroelectric anisotropy, results in nominally charged domain walls. The uniaxial in‐plane ferroelectricity and remarkable endurance after 1010 switching cycles of Aurivillius thin films breaks new ground for alternative device paradigms that are less susceptible to limitations arising from the depolarizing‐field effects in the ultrathin regime.
3D BaTiO3 Flower Based Polymer Composites Exhibiting Excellent Piezoelectric Energy Harvesting Properties
Authors: Jian Gang , Jiao Yong , Meng Qingzhen , Shao Hui , Wang Fengwei , Wei Zhaoyu
Published: May 2020

Piezoelectric nanogenerators (PENGs) with good flexibility and high outputs have promising applications in harvesting mechanical energy and powering electronics. In this study, a synthesis of hierarchical BaTiO3 flowers (BTFs) and their filling into the polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) matrix to obtain composites with excellent energy harvesting properties is reported. The BTF‐based PENG possesses a voltage of 260 V, a current of 50 µA, and a power of 1728 µW under a compression of 50 N at 3.5 Hz, which output power is two orders higher than that of polymer composites filled with BT nanoparticles. Simulation indicates that the high local stress at petals of BTFs is the main reason for the enhanced performances. The PENG shows good durability under 5000 cycles and lights up 58 commercial light emitting diodes and a display. The PENG generates 30–100 V in harvesting human motions of hand slapping and foot stepping and ≈50 V in harvesting the sport kinetic energy of basketball bouncing. This research presents a BTF‐based PENG with significantly enhanced energy harvesting performances for applications in micro/nanoenergy systems.
Multimodal Photoacoustic Imaging‐Guided Regression of Corneal Neovascularization: A Non‐Invasive and Safe Strategy
Authors: Chu Chengchao , Yu Jingwen , Ren En , Ou Shangkun , Zhang Yunming , Wu Yiming , Wu Han , Zhang Yang , Zhu Jing , Dai Qixuan , Wang Xiaoyong , Zhao Qingliang , Li Wei , Liu Zuguo , Chen Xiaoyuan , Liu Gang
Published: May 2020

Corneal neovascularization (CNV) is one of the main factors that induce blindness worldwide. However, current medical treatments cannot achieve non‐invasive and safe inhibition of CNV. A noninvasive photoacoustic imaging (PAI)‐guided method is purposed for the regression of CNV. PAI can monitor the oxygen saturation of cornea blood vessels through the endogenous contrast of hemoglobin and trace administrated drugs by themselves as exogenous contrast agents. An indocyanine green (ICG)‐based nanocomposite (R‐s‐ICG) is prepared for CNV treatment via eye drops and subconjunctival injections. It is demonstrated that R‐s‐ICG can enrich corneal tissues and pathological blood vessels rapidly with minor residua in normal eyeball tissues. Anti‐CNV treatment‐driven changes in the blood vessels are assessed by real‐time multimodal PAI in vivo, and then a safe laser irradiation strategy through the canthus is developed for phototherapy and gene therapy synergistic treatment. The treatment leads to the efficient inhibition of CNV with faint damages to normal tissues.