bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Comparación de la productividad primaria con aplicaciones de lombriabono y fertilizante comercial, en cultivos de camarones blancos (Litopenaeus vannamei)
Authors: Martínez Isamar , Amaya Anielka , Arrieta César , Roque Martha , Hernández Carmen , Cea Noelia , Torres Brenda
Published: July 2019

El fitoplancton es el primer eslabón en la cadena alimenticia de todo organismo acuático, constituye fertilización indispensable, como promotor de la productividad primaria, y el uso de fertilizantes se convierte en el segundo insumo de mayor costo en la producción acuícola, por esta razón nace la urgencia de búsqueda de fertilizaciones alternas que reduzcan el costo de este insumo y por ende, el costo total de la producción, esto conllevo a la realización del ensayo utilizando el Lombriabono (extracto sólido del humus de la lombriz Eisenia foetida), como una alternativa orgánica y amigable con el ambiente. Este estudio se realizó en el Laboratorio de Investigaciones Marinas y Acuícolas (LIMA) de la UNAN- León, ubicado a 22 km del municipio de León (comunidad Las Peñitas). El análisis estadístico se hizo a través de la prueba de normalidad de Kolmogorov Smirnov. El propósito fue evaluar su efecto promotor en el fitoplancton en contraste con los efectos del fertilizante comercial, aplicando dosis de 100lb/Ha. de cada fertilizante para cada tratamiento, siendo el T1: Fertilizante comercial y el T2: Fertilizante de Lombriabono, durante el período de experimentación, logrando resultados de variables físico-químicas (oxígeno, pH, temperatura, salinidad y turbidez) para ambos tratamientos sin variaciones relevantes, con la presencia de los grupos de Bacillariophyta y Chlorophyta en mayor cantidad y Cianophyta en menor cantidad, así mismo se encontraron especies como C. meduanae, C. atomus, N. tripunctata, Nitzschia reversa, Cosmarium Contractum, Volvox aureus, D. tertiolecta
Impact of an educational intervention in enhancing nurses’ knowledge towards psychiatric patients’ ethical and legal rights
Authors: Khalil Amal Ibrahim , Felemban Rawan , Tunker Rawan
Published: July 2019

Background and objective: The management of psychiatric patients and the law of ethic already exists. Therefore, nursing ethics are necessary for psychiatric nurses since they are involved in providing services that impact human life. The aim was to evaluate the effectiveness of an educational program in enhancing nurses’ knowledge regarding their responsibilities toward psychiatric patients’ ethical and legal rights.Methods: A quasi experimental study design with one group pre/post was used with 30 nurses recruited conveniently from Psychiatric Hospital Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. Nurses were questioned using 5 short answer questions, 11 multiple choice questions and the Structured Knowledge Questionnaire developed by Kumar, Mehta, and Kalra (2011).Results: A total of 30 nurses were recruited, with their age ranging between 25-54 years old; the majority (59.4%) were married, while 78.1% neither have psychiatric nursing experiences nor did they study ethics during their undergraduate years. The total mean score of pre-knowledge questionnaire was 27.2 ± 2.97 compared to 30.2 ± 2.40 in post assessment, with a significant difference between pre and post assessment. On the other hand, the total mean percentage of nurse’s theoretical background in pre assessment was 25% compared with 29% with no significant difference between pre and post interventions.Conclusions: Nurses’ knowledge was inadequate regarding ethical and legal rights. The current study findings evidenced the effectiveness of the educational intervention in changing the nurses’ knowledge significantly. Therefore, it is a necessity to ensure that nurses working in psychiatric hospitals have the necessary expertise regarding the legal and ethical issues involved with caring for psychiatric patients, to decrease the effects of malpractices and negligence in psychiatric nursing practice.
The transition problem in Hungary
Authors: Erdélyi Éva , Dukán András , Szabó Csaba
Published: July 2019

The curricular background of the transition problem from highschool to universty is analysed in Hungary. While students finish their mathematical studies successfully at highschool, pass their final exams, this knowledge seems to disappear at their first year at university. We investigate the mathematical knowledge expected by the Hungarian universities and compare it to expectations of the National Core Curriculum. Based on the levelling tests of four universities we created a seven problem test for highschool students containing very basic problems required both by the universities and the National Core Curriculum. We analyse the results of the test.

Subject Classification: D34, D35
Technologization of Discourse: Technologization of American Foreign Policy Discourse in the Middle East in President Donald Trump’s Selected Speeches
Authors: Aysar Yaseen T. , Lucy Perry A.
Published: July 2019

Discourse of the powerful is normally characterised as hegemonic since it lacks, whether consciously or unconsciously, familiarity of historical events and intrinsic knowledge of culture. President Trump’s disregard for or over-simplification of the complexities of Middle Eastern cultures in particular, their history, politics, and political geography, his belligerent and rapacious entrepreneurial rhetoric, his authoritarian stance on many global issues combined with the superficial allure of his ‘common man’ persona, and his hegemonising of many of the world’s nations make him the antithesis of the conventional politician. The process of technologization of Donald Trump’s discourse that has been influencing the discursive practices surrounding Middle East politics and American foreign policy has given rise to a type of discourse that is unprecedented in modern time American presidencies, a discourse rooted in threat, disregard, and humiliation. Trump’s disrespect to heads of states entails disrespect of their people, history, and culture, and this is prevalent in almost all his speeches. This paper focuses primarily on Trump’s rhetorical styles in his 28th September 2018 address to the UN, the May 14th 2018 address on the U.S. Embassy move from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem, and finally the April 13th 2018 address on the Syrian airstrikes.
Simultaneous Hypothesis Testing of Multivariable Nonparametric Spline Regression in the GWR Model
Authors: Sifriyani Sifriyani
Published: July 2019

In this research, studied multivariable nonparametric geographically weighted regression use truncated spline approach. The model is an expansion of nonparametric truncated spline regression that takes into account geographical or spatial factors. The purpose of this study was to find statistics test and distribution for the simultaneous hypothesis test. This study obtains the statistic test used the maximum likelihood ratio test (MLRT) method. Results of the research obtained statistics test based on the ratio between the maximum of the likelihood function under the set of H_0  and the maximum of the set likelihood function below the population with each have a spatial factor. Distribution of statistical tests has been proven to have a distribution of F. The modeling application used the percentage of the death of Dengue Hemorrhagic Fever (DHF) in 38 districts/cities in East Java Province. The modeling resulted in the determination coefficient of 80.7% and SSE value that is 0.0043.
Voorbij de controverse: het Nederlandse neoliberalisme als onderwerp van onderzoek
Authors: Oudenampsen Merijn , Mellink Bram
Published: July 2019

Beyond the polemic. Dutch neoliberalism as a subject of research.

The word neoliberalism has often been the object of fierce controversy in the Dutch public debate. Prominent intellectuals have equated neoliberalism with extremism and fundamentalism, with some going as far as calling it a ‘totalitarian faith’. The opposite camp in the debate has argued that neoliberalism is largely a self-invented bogeyman of the left, a swearword used by critics to engage in an intellectual witch-hunt. Of course, neoliberalism is not the only social science term suffering from a polemical status. Common concepts such as populism, socialism, nationalism or conservatism have given rise to similar lasting disagreements and comparable accusations of their derogatory use. What does appear to be exceptional about neoliberalism in the Dutch debate, is that very few conceptual and historical studies have been published on the subject. While the word neoliberalism is commonly employed in Dutch mainstream social science, many scholars seem to use the term without much further qualification. This paper explores the controversy and looks for ways to proceed beyond it. Drawing on a recent wave of international scholarship, it outlines an ideational approach to neoliberalism. After tracing the origins of the term neoliberalism, it closes with a preliminary example of an ideational analysis of Dutch neoliberalism.
Onze wreedheden, onze opstanden. Slavernijgeschiedenis als vaderlandse geschiedenis
Authors: Valenta Markha
Published: July 2019

Our Cruelties, Our Revolts: Slave History as National History

Reflection and debate initiates academically inspired discussions on issues that are on the current policy agenda.
Slavernijonderwijs in de praktijk, wat gebeurt er in de klas? Een pleidooi voor meer aandacht voor de erfenis van het slavernijverleden
Authors: Bijnaar Aspha
Published: July 2019

Slavery education in practice, what happens in the classroom? A plea for more attention to the legacy of the history of slavery

Reflection and debate initiates academically inspired discussions on issues that are on the current policy agenda.
De stille revolutie in sociaalliberale waarden en het verzet uit conservatief-culturele hoek
Authors: Brons Claartje
Published: July 2019

Cultural Backlash. Resistance against the silent revolution in social liberal values.

In this feature authors review recently published books on subjects of interest to readers of Beleid en Maatschappij.
Klimaatspijbelen heeft wel zin
Authors: Bannink Duco
Published: July 2019

Skipping class for climate?

The most relevant part of a discussion is not what is discussed but what cannot be spoken of. The real taboos are those for which it is taboo to call them taboos. The status quo defines itself as non-ideological while denouncing any challenge to itself as radical. Therefore the column ‘De Blinde Vlek’ frames the framers, politicizes the status quo and articulates what is not heard of.
‘Wij staan op het punt om uit het peloton te demarreren naar de koplopers’
Authors: Dekker Cees , Gerbrandy Anna , Niels Gunnar
Published: July 2019

‘Wij staan op het punt om uit het peloton te demarreren naar de koplopers.’ Interview met Martijn Snoep door redactie Markt & Mededinging, 18 april 2019

Totdat hij in september 2018 voorzitter werd van de ACM, was Martijn Snoep naast advocaat bij De Brauw Blackstone Westbroek ook een van de vaste columnisten van Markt & Mededinging. Van 2013 tot in 2018 liet hij met enige regelmaat zijn licht schijnen over allerhande onderwerpen die het mededingingsrecht en -beleid raken. In verband met zijn benoeming tot voorzitter eindigde Martijn Snoep zijn bijdragen als columnist aan ons blad. Dat leek de redactie van Markt & Mededinging een goede reden om de columns van Martijn Snoep nog eens te herlezen en (mede) aan de hand daarvan hem in zijn nieuwe functie te interviewen over zijn kijk op de ontwikkelingen in het mededingingsrecht en de rol van de ACM.
Online uitbuiting van consumenten voorkomen: een zorgplicht voor dominante ondernemingen?
Authors: Sauter Wolf
Published: July 2019

Online uitbuiting van consumenten voorkomen: een zorgplicht voor dominante ondernemingen?

Online markten vormen een nieuwe uitdaging voor het mededingingsrecht. Alle voordelen van deze vorm van handel in termen van toegankelijkheid en keuzemogelijkheden ten spijt kunnen consumenten hier worden overschaduwd door ondernemingen die in een virtuele omgeving de persoonlijke data van hun tegenpartij kunnen benutten om deze uit te buiten of te discrimineren. Dit artikel behandelt de vraag of, en zo ja wanneer, deze tak van het recht gebruikt kan worden om door middel van het opleggen van een zorgplicht consumenten te beschermen tegen onbillijk ofwel oneerlijk gedrag door partijen die hun digitale machtspositie misbruiken.
Measurements on Stationary Source Emissions and Assessing Impact on Ambient Air Quality around Two Indian Refineries
Authors: Majumdar Deepanjan , Bhanarkar Anil , Gavane Ashok Gangadhar , Rao Chalapati
Published: July 2019

Emissions of particulate matter (PM), SO2 and NO2 from stationary sources and their concentration along with benzene and CO in ambient air around two Indian refineries were studied. Prediction of ground level concentration (GLC) of SO2, NO2 and PM was made by dispersion modeling. In Refinery 1, highest SO2 emission (646 mg Nm−3) were detected in Sulphur Recovery Unit while NOx emissions ranged from 57.8 to 445.0 mg Nm−3, respectively from various units. In Refinery 2, highest SO2 emission (935 mg Nm−3) was observed from Utility Boiler while NO2 emissions ranged from 13 to 235 mg Nm−3. Above emissions were within the stipulated emission standards prescribed by Central Pollution Control Board of India. Further, ambient concentrations of the above in the vicinity of these refineries were below their prescribed national ambient air quality standards. Air quality in terms of air quality index (AQI) was moderate or good at the study sites. Dispersion modelling exercise indicated that the observed GLC of SO2 and NO2 could be reasonably predicted by ISC-AERMOD model for both refineries while there was moderate to substantial difference between observed and modeled PM values due to presence of several sources of particulate emissions in the region that could not be considered in the model.
Meteorological Characteristics and Assessment of the Effect of Local Emissions during High PM10 Concentration in the Seoul Metropolitan Area
Authors: Park Il-Soo , Kim Hyeon-Kook , Song Chang-Keun , Jang Yu-Woon , Kim Sang-Heon , Cho Chang-Rae , Owen Jeffrey S. , Kim Cheol-Hee , Chung Kyung-Won , Park Moon-Soo
Published: July 2019

In this study, we investigate the meteorological characteristics and the effect of local emissions during high PM10 concentrations in the Seoul Metropolitan Area (SMA) by utilizing data from a high-resolution urban meteorological observation system network (UMS-Seoul) and The Air Pollution Model (TAPM). For a detailed analysis, days with PM10 concentrations higher than 80 μg m−3 for daily average PM10 concentration (classified as unhealthy by the Korean Ministry of Environment) in the Seoul Metropolitan Area (SMA) were classified into 3 Cases. Case I was defined as when the prevailing effect was from outside the SMA. Case II was defined as when the prevailing effect was a local effect with outside. Case III was defined as when the prevailing effect was local. Overall, high PM10 concentrations in the SMA mostly occurred under weak migratory anticyclone systems over the Korean Peninsula during warm temperatures. Prior to the PM10 concentration reaching the peak concentration, the pattern in each case was distinctive. After peak concentrations, however, the pattern for the 3 cases became less distinct. This study showed that nearly 50% of the high PM10 concentrations in the SMA occurred in spring and were governed by the conditions for Case II more than these for Cases I and III. In spring, the main sources of the high PM10 concentrations in the SMA were local emissions due to the predominance of weak winds and local circulation. The simulation showed that the non-SMA emissions were about 63 to 73% contribution to the spring high PM10 concentrations in the SMA. Specifically, local point sources including industrial combustion, electric utility, incineration and cement production facilities scattered around the SMA and could account for PM10 concentrations more than 10μg m−3 in the SMA.
Conceptual Metaphorization through Precedent-Related Phenomena in Media Discourse
Authors: Velykoroda Yuriy
Published: July 2019

This article investigates the role of precedent-related phenomena as a type of intertextuality in conceptual metaphorization in media discourse. This study examines the place of precedent-related phenomena within the general theory of intertextuality, establishing their characteristics and how they can be differentiated from other types of intertextuality. Drawing on magazine articles, the study analyzes two sets of examples: a) single references, b) recurring references to one source domain through various precedent-related phenomena. In the second set of examples, the differential characteristics and attributes that are common for the references are outlined in order to formulate a hypothetical name for the source domain that would be shared by its constituents. The article concludes by discussing what potential cognitive effect such conceptual metaphors could have on the recipient of a text.
Propagation of Shock Waves in Two Rooms Communicating through an Opening
Authors: Sochet Isabelle , Gault Kevin , Hakenholz Luc
Published: July 2019

Confined explosions represent a serious safety hazard as significant damage to humans and structures is observed, unlike in free-field explosions. An experimental small-scale study investigated the blast wave in a single-story building. The blast waves were generated by the detonation of a gaseous charge. The building was divided into two rooms by a movable wall which could be positioned at three different locations. The presence of an opening in this movable wall means that two rooms were considered: a transmitter room (TR) and a receptor room (RR). The configuration without the movable wall was also studied. Pressure profiles recorded with pressure gauges at ground level and on the wall presented numerous reflections. The damage effects were severe since the maximum overpressure never fell below 0.2 bar. Although this study is limited to a small scale and gaseous detonation charge, the results can be applied to a large scale and for a TNT charge.
Mercantilização do ensino superior: uma análise sob a ótica dos coordenadores de curso de instituição privada
Authors: Alvim Flávia Sousa , Garcia Fernando Coutinho
Published: July 2019

Após a Reforma política do Estado em 1990, houve uma propagação do ensino superior no país com a criação de programas que facilitassem a entrada dos alunos nos curso de ensino superior. Levando em consideração as tendências educacionais do mercado e o aumento das instituições privadas com mudanças na organização, o presente artigo tem como objetivo principal analisar como os coordenadores do ensino superior privado avaliam a crescente mercantilização das instituições educacionais. Para alcançar esse objetivo, inicialmente buscaram-se autores que abordassem os assuntos pertinentes ao tema, e de uma forma gradativa foram apresentados no referencial. Foram levantados aspectos importantes como o surgimento da mercantilização do ensino e suas principais consequências para a educação, e mais precisamente os seus impactos na função dos coordenadores de curso. A fim de um embasamento prático, para corroborar o que foi levantado na fundamentação teórica, como metodologia utilizou-se de entrevista em profundidade, com coordenadores de ensino superior de instituições privadas mercantilizadas. Os dados foram manipulados através da analise de conteúdo. Como resultado principal, essas entrevistas apontaram que 70% dos entrevistados concordam que hoje há uma crescente mercantilização do ensino e 90% concordam que esse processo compromete tanto a qualidade do ensino quanto à execução de suas funções.
NEW METHODOLOGY TO ON-SITE ESTIMATE THE STATE OF HEALTH OF BATTERIES FOR ELEVATOR APPLICATIONS
Authors: IRAOLA UNAI , ALACANO ARGIÑE , AIZPURU IOSU , GOIKOETXEA ARANA ANDER , SANCHEZ ROBERTO , GIL IÑIGO , GARMENDIA MAITANE
Published: July 2019

This paper presents a new method to determine the state of health or SOH of one or more batteries supplying an elevator. The proposed method permits an accurate estimation of the state of health or SOH of at least one single battery, without the need of extra elements in the regular architecture of an elevator, because some existing elements are used for this purpose. In order to achieve this objective, a partial discharge of the energy storage system is forced through the braking resistor of the elevator if the SOH of the battery has to be estimated, with a duty cycle less than a 100%, because the braking resistor is limited in its working temperature and it is not designed for continuous discharging. In the aforementioned discharging process the battery voltage, the current delivered by the battery to the braking resistor and the number of pulses done during the test are measured. Taking into account these measurements during the pulsed discharge an approximation of the available capacity within the battery is obtained. A previous characterization of the energy storage system in the laboratory permits to know the amount of pulses that the energy storage system under test has to supply in order to be considered suitable to continue operating the elevator. Thus, evaluating the amount of pulses given by the battery in situ in the real application and comparing it with the required minimum value obtained in the characterization in the laboratory, the SOH value of the energy storage system is estimated. This paper presents the whole methodology followed to reach this estimation.

Keywords: Energy storage system, battery, elevator, SOH, braking resistor, partial discharge, duty cycle, pulsed discharge.
Récits d’expériences de jeunes issus de l’immigration en situation de décrochage : quand l’école « ne marche pas » ou est un bad trip
Authors: Lafortune Gina , Kanouté Fasal
Published: July 2019

Les résultats de recherche présentés dans cet article portent sur l’expérience socioscolaire de quatre jeunes en situation de décrochage scolaire. Ces jeunes sont d’origine haïtienne et sont inscrits dans des écoles de milieux défavorisés. Des entretiens biographiques ont documenté leur cheminement scolaire depuis la maternelle.

Pour analyser ce cheminement, nous nous appuyons sur la perspective du rapport à l’école et aux savoirs scolaires. Celle-ci met en exergue le rôle de l’élève acteur tout en permettant de considérer le poids des contextes et des facteurs systémiques.

La recherche montre la présence de difficultés scolaires dès le primaire chez les jeunes qui font qu’ils se démobilisent peu à peu dans les apprentissages. Elle montre également une mobilisation familiale freinée par un cumul de vulnérabilités sociales ainsi qu’un réseau de pairs expérimentant la même problématique du décrochage. Le rapport à l’école et aux savoirs est marqué du sceau de l’ennui, du non-sens et du désengagement.

Une réflexion est menée sur les défis, inhérents aux cadres de référence et méthodologiques mobilisés, pour recueillir la parole de ces jeunes et rendre compte de la complexité de leur expérience, compte tenu de leur rapport douloureux à l’école et aux apprentissages scolaires.
Récits d’élèves du secondaire s’inscrivant dans un processus de résilience scolaire
Authors: Nadeau Sandy , Lessard Anne
Published: July 2019

Maintes études ont permis de mettre en évidence de multiples facteurs augmentant le risque que l’élève abandonne ses études avant l’obtention du diplôme d’études secondaires (Fortin, Marcotte, Diallo, Potvin et Royer, 2013). Par contre, certains élèves pourtant exposés à ces facteurs obtiennent leur diplôme (Harvey, 2007). Il apparaît ainsi pertinent de se pencher sur les expériences ayant joué un rôle de prévention du décrochage scolaire. L’objectif de cette étude est de comprendre, à partir des processus interactionnels du milieu familial et de la classe, l’expérience d’élèves du secondaire s’inscrivant dans un processus de résilience scolaire. Un devis descriptif qualitatif est utilisé. Des entretiens semi-dirigés ont été menés auprès de 18 élèves s’étant adaptés positivement au cours de la première année du secondaire. Le compte rendu intégral a fait l’objet d’une analyse thématique et d’une construction de récits narratifs. Six processus interactionnels émergeant du discours des participants sont mis en récits. Bien que le discours de plusieurs élèves laisse paraître le fait que les processus interactionnels du milieu familial et de la classe favorisent leur adaptation positive, il semble que l’adaptation de certains soit plutôt due à leur volonté d’atteindre un objectif qu’ils ont eux-mêmes établi.
D’étudiant à « élève du son »
Authors: Boudreault-Fournier Alexandrine
Published: July 2019

Cet article traite d’une approche pédagogique de l’enseignement du son selon une perspective anthropologique en prenant comme étude de cas le cours de premier cycle « Anthropologie du son » offert au département d’anthropologie de l’Université de Victoria depuis 2012, cours qui constitue, à notre connaissance, une première dans une université canadienne. L’article traite de la transformation d’étudiants en « élèves du son » grâce à l’« éveil sonore », qui résulte de l’attention particulière portée aux sons qui nous entourent. De plus, l’enseignement du son, tout comme les approches sensorielles en anthropologie, contribue à la déstabilisation de l’hégémonie du visuel souvent observée dans plusieurs sociétés modernes. L’anthropologie devrait s’intéresser davantage aux phénomènes sonores dans l’enseignement et lors des terrains ethnographiques. Une telle ouverture aurait pour avantage de stimuler de nouvelles manières d’analyser, de théoriser et de créer en anthropologie.
Anthropologies imaginaires
Authors: Dharmoo Gabriel
Published: July 2019

Cet article se penche sur les dimensions critiques, satiriques et éthiques d’Anthropologies imaginaires, une performance vocale, musicale et théâtrale que j’ai créée en 2014 puis présentée devant public dans une vingtaine d’événements. Seul sur scène, accompagné d’une projection vidéo de type documentaire, j’entonne onze types de vocalisations qui semblent appartenir à des populations inconnues et dont la nature fictive se dévoile graduellement. Ma voix s’inspire partiellement de traditions vocales existantes, qui sont toujours camouflées et agencées avec des techniques vocales expérimentales. L’interaction entre ces chants de l’altérité et le commentaire de plus en plus problématique des cinq faux spécialistes sur vidéo révèle des enjeux d’actualité reliés à la colonialité, au post-exotisme, à l’extinction culturelle, à la mondialisation, au racisme normalisé et à l’appropriation culturelle. J’analyse comment, à titre d’artiste sonore contemporain appartenant à la diversité culturelle, je peux utiliser ma voix, mon corps et la satire pour formuler une critique des relents du colonialisme à un public aux références culturelles généralement eurocentriques.
Current methods for inhibiting antibiotic resistant bacteria by targeting bacterial cell metabolism and disrupting antibiotic elimination through the AcrAB-Tolc efflux pump
Authors: Hillman Tatiana
Published: July 2019

Bacteria have a complex and lengthy evolutionary history of antibiotic resistance. For millions of years, bacteria have evolved a gene pool filled with multiple drug resistant genes. However, for the past 50 years, bacteria have been mutating and evolving vigorously and rapidly. Those 50 years predate to the time of the first use of antibiotic drugs in the 1940s. Since the 1940s, with the wide-spread use of the first antibiotic, penicillin, bacteria have effectively developed resistance to multiple antibiotic drugs. Bacteria develop antibiotic resistance after acquiring antibiotic resistant genes from conjugation and a horizontal transfer of those genes. Bacteria also have innate properties, structure, and functions that can increase their resistance of antibiotics. Bacteria cells can mutate its genes and block the binding of antibiotic drugs to its DNA. If the bacteria effectively impede the activity of an antibiotic through a DNA mutation, then the same mutation is shared with other bacterial cell strains through horizontal transfer. Antibiotics can be expelled from bacteria cells by efflux pumps called AcrBC-Tolc channels from the resistance-nodulation division (RND) family. Targeting the cell metabolism or the expression of efflux pumps may deter or impede the proliferation of antibiotic resistance. Researchers cultured E. tarda with glucose and alanine, and the uptake of kanamycin increased, eliminating approximately 3,000 times the amount of MDR bacterial cells compared to the cells only treated with kanamycin. Another researcher named Dr. Li mutated a gene of the AcrAB-Tolc binding site, forming a replacement for the highly non-polar phenylalanine amino acid residue with an alanine. His mutagenesis of the efflux pumps binding sites for AcrAB-Tolc inhibited the exit of antibiotics through the AcrAB-Tolc efflux pumps. Therefore, the review serves to discuss the new, novel, and current methods for reducing the spread of antibiotic resistant bacteria by targeting bacterial cell metabolism and its antibiotic resistant genes.
Persistent inflammation during anti-tuberculosis treatment with diabetes comorbidity
Authors: Kumar Nathella Pavan , Fukutani Kiyoshi F , Shruthi Basavaradhya S , Alves Thabata , Silveira-Mattos Paulo S , Rocha Michael S , West Kim , Natarajan Mohan , Viswanathan Vijay , Babu Subash , Andrade Bruno B , Kornfeld Hardy
Published: July 2019

Diabetes mellitus (DM) increases risk for pulmonary tuberculosis (TB) and adverse treatment outcomes. Systemic hyper-inflammation is characteristic in people with TB and concurrent DM (TBDM) at baseline, but the impact of TB treatment on this pattern has not been determined. We measured 17 plasma cytokines and growth factors in longitudinal cohorts of Indian and Brazilian pulmonary TB patients with or without DM. Principal component analysis revealed virtually complete separation of TBDM from TB individuals in both cohorts at baseline, with hyper-inflammation in TBDM that continued through treatment completion at six months. By one year after treatment completion, there was substantial convergence of mediator levels between groups within the India cohort. Non-resolving systemic inflammation in TBDM comorbidity could reflect delayed lesion sterilization or non-resolving sterile inflammation. Either mechanism portends unfavorable long-term outcomes including risk for recurrent TB and for damaging immune pathology.
A survey of the sperm whale (Physeter catodon) commensal microbiome
Authors: Li Chang , Tan Xiaoxuan , Bai Jie , Xu Qiwu , Liu Shanshan , Guo Wenjie , Yu Cong , Fan Guangyi , Lu Yishan , Zhang He , Yang Huanming , Chen Jianwei , Liu Xin
Published: July 2019

Background

Mammalian commensal microbiota play important roles in the health of its host. In comparison to terrestrial mammals, commensal microbiota of marine mammals is mainly focused on the composition and function of skin and gut microbiota, with less attention paid to the health impact of bacteria and viruses. Previous studies on sperm whales (Physeter catodon) have affirmed their important phylogenetic position; however, studies on their commensal microbiota have not been published, due to difficulty in sample collection.

Methods

Here, we sequenced the metagenomes of blood, muscle and fecal samples from a stranded sperm whale using the BGISEQ-500 platform. We compared the diversity and abundance of microbiomes from three different tissues and tried to search pathogenic bacterial and virulence genes probably related to the health of the sperm whale. We also performed 16S rDNA sequencing of the fecal sample to compare to published gut metagenome data from other marine mammals.

Results

Our results demonstrated notable differences in species richness and abundance in the three samples. Extensive bacteria, includingEnterococcus faecium,Fusobacterium nucleatum,Pseudomonas aeruginosa,Streptococcus anginosus,Streptococcus pneumoniae, andStreptococcus suis, and five toxigenicClostridiumspecies usually associated with infection, were found in the three samples. We also found the taxa composition of sperm whale gut microbiota was similar to that of other whales, suggesting co-evolution with its host. This study is the first report of the sperm whale gut microbiome, and provides a foundation for the pathogen detection and health assessment of the sperm whale.
Landslide Susceptibility Analysis Using Frequency Ratio Model in a Tropical Region, South East Asia
Authors: Vineetha P. , Sarun S. , Sheela A. M.
Published: July 2019

Landslides are very frequent and disastrous phenomena in the Western Ghats regions of South East Asia during the monsoon season and it occurrence is triggered by many factors. Hence, it is essential to develop a landslide hazard assessment map to find out the areas at risk, so that potential disasters can be reduced. The present study clearly aims to delineate the landslide susceptibility zones so that landslide hazard and risk can be properly managed. The landslides occurred in Amboori region, the southeastern part of the Thiruvananthapuram district, Kerala, India has been analyzed using GIS and remote sensing techniques to identify the landslide susceptibility zones. Frequency Ratio analysis is made use of in this study. The landslide hazard zonation has been done based on various terrain parameters as well as various thematic layers that affect directly or indirectly slope failure process. The results of landslide analysis not only helps to map and monitor landslides, but also to predict future slope failures which is valuable for a decision maker in landslide prone areas.
Decrease in DNA methylation 1 interacts with chromomethylase and like heterochromatin protein 1 in Physcomitrella patens
Authors: Parihar Vimala , Dangwal Meenakshi , Arya Deepshikha , Kapoor Sanjay , Kapoor Meenu
Published: July 2019

The nucleosome remodeling protein decrease in DNA methylation 1 (DDM1)/Lsh maintains normal levels of DNA methylation. Direct interaction between Lsh and DNA methyltransferase 1 (Dnmt1) and their localization to heterochromatin in the presence of heterochromatin protein‐1α (HP1α) is a mechanism by which the concentration of DNMTs is increased at heterochromatin, and chromosome structures are stabilized in metazoans. In plants, however, it is unclear how DDM1 cooperates with methyltransferases and like heterochromatin protein 1 (LHP1). In this study, we provide evidence for a novel interaction between moss DDM1 (PpDDM1) and the chromomethylase PpCMT, that has not been reported in any plant, and between PpDDM1 and PpLHP1, that has not been reported before in any organism. Our protein–protein interaction studies may provide mechanistic insight into heterochromatin regulation.
Oncofetal HMGA2 attenuates genotoxic damage induced by topoisomerase II target compounds through the regulation of local DNA topology
Authors: Ahmed Syed Moiz , Dröge Peter
Published: July 2019

Rapidly dividing cells maintain chromatin supercoiling homeostasis via two specialized classes of enzymes, DNA topoisomerase type 1 and 2 (TOP1/2). Several important anticancer drugs perturb this homeostasis by targeting TOP1/2, thereby generating genotoxic DNA damage. Our recent studies indicated that the oncofetal chromatin structuring high‐mobility group AT‐hook 2 (HMGA2) protein plays an important role as a DNA replication fork chaperone in coping with DNA topological ramifications that occur during replication stress, both genomewide and at fragile sites such as subtelomeres. Intriguingly, a recent large‐scale clinical study identified HMGA2 expression as a sole predicting marker for relapse and poor clinical outcomes in 350 acute myeloid leukemia (AML) patients receiving combinatorial treatments that targeted TOP2 and replicative DNA synthesis. Here, we demonstrate that HMGA2 significantly enhanced the DNA supercoil relaxation activity of the drug target TOP2A and that this activator function is mechanistically linked to HMGA2's known ability to constrain DNA supercoils within highly compacted ternary complexes. Furthermore, we show that HMGA2 significantly reduced genotoxic DNA damage in each tested cancer cell model during treatment with the TOP2A poison etoposide or the catalytic TOP2A inhibitor merbarone. Taken together with the recent clinical data obtained with AML patients targeted with TOP2 poisons, our study suggests a novel mechanism of cancer chemoresistance toward combination therapies administering TOP2 poisons or inhibitors. We therefore strongly argue for the future implementation of trials of HMGA2 expression profiling to stratify patients before finalizing clinical treatment regimes.
Evaluation of auto‐planning in IMRT and VMAT for head and neck cancer
Authors: Ouyang Zi , Liu Shen Zhilei , Murray Eric , Kolar Matt , LaHurd Danielle , Yu Naichang , Joshi Nikhil , Koyfman Shlomo , Bzdusek Karl , Xia Ping
Published: July 2019

Purpose

The purposes of this work are to (a) investigate whether the use of auto‐planning and multiple iterations improves quality of head and neck (HN) radiotherapy plans; (b) determine whether delivery methods such as step‐and‐shoot (SS) and volumetric modulated arc therapy (VMAT) impact plan quality; (c) report on the observations of plan quality predictions of a commercial feasibility tool.

Materials and methods

Twenty HN cases were retrospectively selected from our clinical database for this study. The first ten plans were used to test setting up planning goals and other optimization parameters in the auto‐planning module. Subsequently, the other ten plans were replanned with auto‐planning using step‐and‐shoot (AP‐SS) and VMAT (AP‐VMAT) delivery methods. Dosimetric endpoints were compared between the clinical plans and the corresponding AP‐SS and AP‐VMAT plans. Finally, predicted dosimetric endpoints from a commercial program were assessed.

Results

All AP‐SS and AP‐VMAT plans met the clinical dose constraints. With auto‐planning, the dose coverage of the low dose planning target volume (PTV) was improved while the dose coverage of the high dose PTV was maintained. Compared to the clinical plans, the doses to critical organs, such as the brainstem, parotid, larynx, esophagus, and oral cavity were significantly reduced in the AP‐VMAT (P < 0.05); the AP‐SS plans had similar homogeneity indices (HI) and conformality indices (CI) and the AP‐VMAT plans had comparable HI and improved CI. Good agreement in dosimetric endpoints between predictions and AP‐VMAT plans were observed in five of seven critical organs.

Conclusion

With improved planning quality and efficiency, auto‐planning module is an effective tool to enable planners to generate HN IMRT plans that are meeting institution specific planning protocols. DVH prediction is feasible in improving workflow and plan quality.
Therapeutic and Preventive Potential of Vitamin D Supplementation in Knee Osteoarthritis
Authors: Heidari Behzad , Babaei Mansour
Published: July 2019

Objective

Vitamin D deficiency is linked with pain, function, and radiographic progression of knee osteoarthritis (KOA), but the results of studies addressing the association and effect of vitamin D supplementation for pain, function, quality of life, radiographic disease, and progression are inconsistent. The aim of this review is to determine the therapeutic and preventive potential of vitamin D supplementation in KOA.

Method

Eligible pertinent English language studies published in 2000 and thereafter in Medline/PubMed, Scopus, and Google Scholar were selected by using keywords that include “knee osteoarthritis,” “vitamin D supplementation,” “pain,” “structural abnormalities,” “treatment,” and “progression.”

Results

The results of a few studies showed a preventive potential for vitamin D in KOA, but most of the randomized clinical trials that assessed the therapeutic efficacy of vitamin D supplementation in KOA found no clear therapeutic effect, with the exception of one study that found a small but significant effect of vitamin D on pain and knee function. Nonetheless, the results of a few longitudinal studies as well as systematic reviews are promising and thus encourage further studies. Inconsistent results on the effect of vitamin D on KOA may be attributed to factors such as severity of KOA, baseline level of serum vitamin D, duration of treatment, and vitamin D dosages.

Conclusion

Given the multiple skeletal and extraskeletal benefits of vitamin D supplementation in elderly people, the issue of vitamin D supplementation in KOA requires further study to elucidate the dosage and duration of treatment that provides the most effective therapeutic effect.
Direct Water‐Writing/Electroerasing Pattern on PEDOT Inverse Opals
Authors: Wu Pingping , Guo Jinshan , Jiang Kejian , Wang Jingxia , Jiang Lei
Published: July 2019

This work presents a reversible direct water‐writing/electroerasing pattern on poly(3,4‐ethylene dioxythiophene) inverse opals (PEDOT‐IOs). The PEDOT‐IO‐0 is fabricated by potentiostatic polymerization of EDOT such that PEDOT infiltrates the interstices of a photonic crystal (PC) template, and the template is subsequently removed. The PEDOT‐IO‐I is obtained by reducing PEDOT‐IO‐0. There are four states and three different switches of PEDOT‐IOs: the first switch is the irreversible reduction of PEDOT‐IO‐0 to PEDOT‐IO‐I (neutral state). The second switch is the reversible electrochemical process between neutral and oxidized PEDOT‐IO‐I accompanied by a reversible stopband shift owing to ionic doping/dedoping. The third switch is the water treatment process of PEDOT‐IO‐I (oxidation state) to form PEDOT‐IO‐II, which induces a blueshift in the stopband owing to water‐induced removal of ions and shrinkage of the periodic structure. Combining the switches of PEDOT‐IO‐I and PEDOT‐IO‐II, a reversible water‐writing/electroerasing procedure is realized in the full‐solid state, producing multicolor patterns by water (a friendly ink) writing at different times. The as‐prepared PC pattern could be erased electrochemically. Reversible e‐paper can be successfully achieved based on the switches of PEDOT‐IOs, providing a novel method for the fabrication of functional optic materials.
Edge‐Enriched Ultrathin MoS2 Embedded Yolk‐Shell TiO2 with Boosted Charge Transfer for Superior Photocatalytic H2 Evolution
Authors: Wang Wenchao , Zhu Sai , Cao Yingnan , Tao Ying , Li Xin , Pan Donglai , Phillips David Lee , Zhang Dieqing , Chen Ming , Li Guisheng , Li Hexing
Published: July 2019

Exploring TiO2‐photocatalysts for sunlight conversion has high demand in artificial photosynthesis. In this work, edge‐enriched ultrathin molybdenum disulfide (MoS2) flakes are uniformly embedded into the bulk of yolk‐shell TiO2 as a cocatalyst to accelerate photogenerated‐electron transfer from the bulk to the surface of TiO2. The as‐formed MoS2/TiO2 (0.14 wt%) hybrids exhibit a high hydrogen evolution rate (HER) of 2443 µmol g−1 h−1, about 1000% and 470% of that of pristine TiO2 (247 µmol g−1 h−1) and bulk MoS2 decorated TiO2 (513 µmol g−1 h−1). Such a greatly enhanced HER is attributed to the exposed catalytic edges of the ultrathin MoS2 flakes with a robust chemical linkage (TiS bond), providing rapid charge transfer channels between TiO2 and MoS2. The catalytic stability is promoted by the antiaggregation of the highly dispersed MoS2 flakes in the bulk of yolk‐shell TiO2. The exponential fitted decay kinetics of time‐resolved photoluminescence (ns‐PL) spectra illustrates that embedding ultrathin MoS2 flakes in TiO2 effectively decreases the average lifetime of PL in the MoS2/TiO2 hybrids (τave = 4.55 ns), faster than that of pristine TiO2 (≈7.17 ns) and the bulk MoS2/TiO2 (≈6.13 ns), allowing a superior charge separation and charge trapping process for reducing water.
Engineering Field Effect Transistors with 2D Semiconducting Channels: Status and Prospects
Authors: Jing Xu , Illarionov Yury , Yalon Eilam , Zhou Peng , Grasser Tibor , Shi Yuanyuan , Lanza Mario
Published: July 2019

The continuous miniaturization of field effect transistors (FETs) dictated by Moore's law has enabled continuous enhancement of their performance during the last four decades, allowing the fabrication of more powerful electronic products (e.g., computers and phones). However, as the size of FETs currently approaches interatomic distances, a general performance stagnation is expected, and new strategies to continue the performance enhancement trend are being thoroughly investigated. Among them, the use of 2D semiconducting materials as channels in FETs has raised a lot of interest in both academia and industry. However, after 15 years of intense research on 2D materials, there remain important limitations preventing their integration in solid‐state microelectronic devices. In this work, the main methods developed to fabricate FETs with 2D semiconducting channels are presented, and their scalability and compatibility with the requirements imposed by the semiconductor industry are discussed. The key factors that determine the performance of FETs with 2D semiconducting channels are carefully analyzed, and some recommendations to engineer them are proposed. This report presents a pathway for the integration of 2D semiconducting materials in FETs, and therefore, it may become a useful guide for materials scientists and engineers working in this field.
Multibit Optoelectronic Memory in Top‐Floating‐Gated van der Waals Heterostructures
Authors: Huang Wenhao , Yin Lei , Wang Feng , Cheng Ruiqing , Wang Zhenxing , Sendeku Marshet Getaye , Wang Junjun , Li Ningning , Yao Yuyu , Yang Xiaoguang , Shan Chongxin , Yang Tao , He Jun
Published: July 2019

Nonvolatile memories based on van der Waals heterostructures have been proved to be promising candidates for next‐generation data storage devices. However, little attention has been focused on the structure with separated floating and control gates (the floating gates and control gates distribute at the different side of the channels), which were recently predicted to be capable of further improving device performance. Here, nonvolatile multibit optoelectronic memories are demonstrated using MoS2, hexagonal boron nitride (h‐BN), and graphene in a top‐floating‐gated structure. With separated top graphene floating gate, the devices show a large memory window (≈95 V) via sweeping gate voltage from 80 to −80 V, a high on/off ratio (≈106) with an ultralow dark current (≈10−14 A), as well as excellent retention characteristic (≈104 s) and cyclic endurance. In addition, these devices can also be erased by a laser illumination with broadband spectrum after being electrically programmed. For the multilevel storage property, 7/6 stages controlled by different electrical operations, and 13/6/3 stages by different laser pulse illuminations are gained. The obtained results show a promising performance for nonvolatile optoelectronic memory using a top‐floating‐gated structure.