bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The effect of education on knowledge and attitudes in using halal cosmetic products
Authors: Lailaturrohmah Siti , Lutviyani Alviyana
Published: December 2021

Consumers' awareness of halal cosmetics is still low. The high level of dependence on a product and the lack of consumer knowledge of cosmetic ingredients makes it difficult for consumers to switch to cosmetic products that are halal certified. Minimal education that is easily accessible regarding the halalness of a cosmetic product among the community is a problem that results in the lack of awareness of halal. This study aims to obtain information about the effect of halal education on knowledge and attitudes in the use of cosmetics. The method used in this study is an experimental design with a sample size of 30 respondents who are active users of cosmetics both labeled halal and not labeled halal. The sampling technique used was accidental sampling. Data on the knowledge and halal attitudes of respondents before and after education were obtained from filling out questionnaires which were carried out online. The data analysis technique used was the Wilcoxon Sign Rank Test using SPSS 16. The results of the respondents' research indicated that there were significant differences in their knowledge and attitudes towards the use of cosmetics before and after halal education with p value ≤ 0.05.
Opportunities and challenges halal marketplace in Indonesia
Authors: Setyorini Wahyu , Jannah Ana Raudlatul , Wulansari Uci , Nisa Mir'atun
Published: December 2021

The development of information technology encourages the emergence of various online transaction activities, one of which is online trading transactions through the marketplace. Currently, Indonesia has the largest Muslim population, which is 87% of the total population who also takes part in buying and selling activities and online transactions. Muslim awareness and interest in halal products is increasing, but there is a need of understanding regarding transactions according to Sharia. The purpose of this study: to analyse the potential and challenges of the halal marketplace in Indonesia using a literature study research method. The results of this study indicate that in Indonesia the halal marketplace has a large market potential and is an innovation in the development of the existing marketplace. Besides this potential, the halal marketplace also has challenges in its development, including the low level of Islamic economic literacy among the public, low inclusion of Islamic finance, and the lack of utilization of the halal marketplace platform by halal MSMEs. It is hoped that these potentials and challenges can become views in determining and developing policies.
Some aspects of improving the legal regulation of civil service in Ukraine
Authors: Seniuk T.
Published: December 2021

The article studies some aspects of improving the legal regulation of civil service in Ukraine. Domestic norms that provide for the application of restrictions on civil servants in accordance with the Law of Ukraine “On Purification of Government” were analyzed. Moreover, it was found that such restrictions violate a person’s right to respect for private life. The procedure for assessing the performance of civil servants was studied. It was substantiated that the application of dismissal of civil servants as a result of receiving a negative assessment after the performance appraisal does not meet the principles of individuality, objectivity and proportionality when deciding on dismissal and general norms concerning disciplinary liability of civil servants provided by the Law of Ukraine “About civil service”.

The experience of legal regulation of civil service in Poland, Moldova and Germany was analyzed. It was determined that the improvement of domestic legal regulation of civil service in some part may occur through the borrowing of those peculiarities of civil service, which are found in the legislation of the abovementioned countries. For example, the experience of the Republic of Poland is useful for borrowing in terms of improving the performance appraisal of civil servants. Moldova’s experience shows the successful use of polygraph testing of civil servants. The German experience is useful for Ukraine in terms of training and retraining of civil servants. Proposals were presented to improve the legislation on the civil service, namely the application of reprimands, rather than dismissal due to a negative assessment of the results of the civil servant’s performance appraisal. It is suggested to amend the lustration legislation, which would provide for an individual approach to a person who will be lustrated if his guilt in making decisions, committing acts that contributed to the undemocratic regime of Viktor Yanukovych is proved.
Social teachings and practices of the Seventh-day Adventist Church in Ukraine
Authors: Kuryliak V.
Published: December 2021

The article provides an overview of the social practices of the Seventh-day Adventist Church. The level of Adventist participation in educational, health, philanthropic and political activities is analyzed. It is determined that the educational activity of Adventists is based on the integration of Christian values into the educational process in order to educate a purposeful person who is able to serve God and society at a high level. Adventist medical and health activities are aimed at preventing physical illness, as it is believed that the disease is easier to prevent than to cure. Adventists practice charity through the officially established Adventist Relief and Development Agency, which believes that the Church’s assistance to society must meet not only the spiritual but also the physical needs of man. Adventist participation in politics is not approved, but it is not forbidden. This is due to the conflict and rivalry that arises in the political race, so it is desirable to use your talents in those areas that bring peace and good to society. It is stated that the central idea of the social teaching of the Seventh-day Adventist Church is the protection of freedom of conscience and the dignity of the human person. Thus, by putting the principles of social doctrine into practice, the Seventh-day Adventist church premises become the Church’s social laboratories, through which the faithful of this denomination achieve two goals. The first of them is aimed at spreading their own religious beliefs and teachings, and the second – following the example of Christ, who during his life on earth served the physical needs of society around him. As a result of the study, the document “Social Teaching of the Seventh-day Adventist Church in Ukraine” aims to implement the Church’s two goals: educational and charitable, the implementation of which allows the denomination to positively represent themselves in Ukrainian and world society.
Whether the possibilities of interrogation as a form of shaping evidence in criminal proceedings have been exhausted?
Authors: Lukianchykov E. , Lukianchykov B.
Published: December 2021

The article analyzes the formation of the institution of interrogation as an investigative action, which is a procedural way of obtaining information from an interrogated person about the circumstances of a criminal offense. The process of legislative development is highlighted, by which the investigator’s relationship with the person being interrogated are controlled. The kind of regulation also depends on latter’s procedural status (witness, victim, suspect, accused). It is noted, that now created reliable legal safeguards to protect the rights and interests of the interrogator, appropriate scientific recommendations for the use of tactical interrogation techniques to obtain complete and objective testimony as sources of evidence have been developed. Recently, problematic issues like relation of interrogation and procedural interview, which scientists and practitioners have been paying a certain amount of attention to, were discussed. Attention is drawn to the lack of unanimity in the definition of the procedural interview. The inadmissibility of calling such an interview a procedural action is emphasized, since it is not enshrined in the current CPL of Ukraine as a procedural action. It has been proven that the structure of the procedural interview, which is proposed by certain authors, fully coincides with the structure of interrogation as an investigative action. The expediency of the study of foreign experience in detection and investigation of crimes, its comparison with the current practice of law enforcement agencies of Ukraine and, in the board of actual expediency, the introduction into the activities of investigative and operational units of law enforcement agencies is stated.
DETECTION OF A HARMONIC SIGNAL AGAINST THE BACKGROUND OF A NONSTATIONARY GAUSSIANINTERFERENCE WITH COMPLEX SPECTRUM
Authors: Prokopenko Igor , Omelchuk Igor , Dmytruk Anastasiia , Petrova Yuliia
Published: December 2021

Background. Modern radar stations for various purposes operate in the conditions of interference created by the imprints of the radar signal from the background surface, from metrological formations (precipitation, clouds, etc.) and artificial radiation sources. Ensuring the operation of the radar in such difficult conditions requires the construction of adaptive signal processing algorithms that have high efficiency and maintain them when changing signal-to-noise situations.
Objective. The purpose of the paper is creation of an adaptive algorithm for detecting a harmonic signal against the background of spatially correlated interference and estimating its parameters.
Methods. Construction of a two-dimensional autoregressive model of a mixture of correlated spatial noise and harmonic signal and application of the empirical Bayesian approach to the synthesis of an adaptive algorithm for detecting and evaluating signal and noise parameters.
Results. A two-dimensional adaptive space-time algorithm for detecting a radar signal reflected from a moving target against the background of a space-correlated interference is synthesized. The analysis of the efficiency of the algorithm by the Monte Carlo method is carried out.
Conclusions. It is shown that the empirical Bayesian approach is an effective working methodology in solving the problem of detecting a harmonic signal and estimating its parameters under conditions of interference with a complex frequency spectrum under different conditions of a priori uncertainty of their parameters.
IMPLEMENTATION OF THE APPROACH TO ONTOLOGICAL MODELING OF THE MUSICAL SUPERGENRE “METAL”
Authors: Zelinska Dariia , Girdvainis Vladyslav , Silagin Olexiy
Published: December 2021

Background. The relevance of the article is due to the development of modern ontological methods of structuring information and the need to systematize data in many new specific subject areas. Such subject areas include the musical art of the "metal" variety, which is quite common today, but insufficiently studied within the terminology. The subject of the article are ontological models and tools for creating ontological knowledge bases.

Objective. The purpose of the paper is to increase the correctness of the semantic search in the knowledge base of the musical supergenre "metal". The scientific problem is the need to improve the terminology in this subject area and build an ontological knowledge model that increases the accuracy of information retrieval for the target audience, compared to the existing relational model implemented on one of the known web resources. 

Methods. Classification method, generalization method, software optimization methods, analytical method. The way to solve the problem: selection based on the comparative characteristics of the best web resource of the subject area and identifying the shortcomings of its model of knowledge representation, designing an ontological knowledge model and testing its effectiveness. 

Results. The average SUM for all users is 83.85%, which is a good indicator for ontological knowledge bases. At the same time, a similar method of checking the database of the supergenre "metal" on the basis of the site "Encyclopedia Metallum", which used the classical relational model of database organization, showed much lower results. Thus, the average SUM for 10 users was 75.32%, respectively. 

Conclusions. The scientific novelty of the obtained results is as follows: For the first time an ontological model (ontology) of the subject area was created: musical supergenre "metal", which showed much higher efficiency of semantic search than the best relational model of this subject area, implemented as a web resource. The developed structure can be used to create ontologies of related musical supergenres with similar terminology. Future research also plans to integrate this ontological knowledge model with applied web-based and desktop applications.
Alternative technologies of composite high-loaded aircraft constructions: a qualitative method of making multicriterial decisions. Part I. Initial stages in the problem of decision-making
Authors: Kiva Dmytro , Zabashta Volodymyr
Published: December 2021

Comparison of efficiency based on the qualitative decision-making method of autoclave and non-autoclave technologies for the manufacture of carbon-fiber aircraft structures such as aircraft wing planes B787, A350, MC-21, Cseries. The differences and advantages in the serial production of prepreg-autoclave and VARTM technological process.  The comparison was carried out on sufficient presentational basis of criteria of two levels using combinatorial and decomposition research method. Each variant of the process is characterized by evaluations according to selection criteria. Their scores are vector assessment of the criteria based on expert judgment and opinion of the decision maker. Noted that each option has own boundaries of compatibility and practical application.
Gas brazing of thin-sheet galvanized steel with aluminum solders
Authors: Polishchuk Vitaliy , Strelenko Nataliya , Kovalenko Vladyslav
Published: December 2021

. In this work, the first stage of experimental research was carried out to estimate the main physicochemical processes that determine the qualitative characteristics of a brazed joint made of thin sheet galvanized steel during gas brazing with aluminum solder systems. In particular, an estimation was made of the ability of spreading and wetting of aluminum solders (AlSi5, AlSi12) on the surface of thin sheet galvanized steel ( DX56D + Z of 0.4 mm thick and zinc-coated layer of 45–65 microns) at a step-by-step increase in the heating area of the base metal in the presence and absence of flux (Al-Flux 726). The aluminum alloys was heated “not directly,” but through the base metal to maximize the preservation of the anticorrosive zinc coating at the interface between the liquid solder and the base material.
Technology of welding and repair works of hydropower plants units
Authors: Kakhovskyi Mykola , Kakhovskyi Yurii , Ievdokymenko Anton
Published: December 2021

In the course of long-term operation of hydroelectric units, they are subject to wear and tear, which negatively affects the power generating capacity of the hydroelectric power station. The existing repair technology provides the restoration of the geometric dimensions of the impeller chamber of the hydraulic unit using an austenitic cladding layer. However, this technology is characterized by the occurrence of cracks and delamination of the deposited layer during post-repair operation, which is negatively reflected in the production cycle of electricity. A new technology and welding consumables have been proposed for repair and restoration works of hydroelectric units at hydroelectric power plants, providing an increase in the quality level, high characteristics of hydroabrasive and cavitation resistance, and increasing of working period of hydroelectric power plants. Inspection of the body of the hydraulic unit was carried out, defects were identified and classified, the reasons for their occurrence were analyzed. The research results make possible to optimize the alloying system of the deposited metal, to determine the optimal welding mode, to reduce the amount of the martensite component and to develop new filler materials and the technology for welding and repair works of hydroelectric power plants.
Efficient Control of Household Water Heating Devices Based on the Arduino Microprocessor Platform
Authors: Koltunov Kyrylo D.
Published: December 2021

The article is devoted to developing efficient control of household water heating devices based on the Arduino microprocessor platform and using different ways for this purpose, like analog buttons or wireless technologies.
Analysis of Speech Sounds In the Praat Program
Authors: Pareniuk Anastasiia Volodymyrivna
Published: December 2021

The article identifies the possibility of using the Praat program for comprehensive and complete analysis of speech sounds. It also indicates the range of functions of the software package and the perspective of using the program for comparing sounds.
Praat is a program for speech analysis and synthesis written by Paul Boersma and David Veninko at the Department of Phonetics, University of Amsterdam.
Praat is a very flexible tool for speech analysis. It offers a wide range of standard and non-standard procedures. The functions of the program that were used in the work: spectrograms, pitch analysis, formant analysis, intensity analysis, jitter, shimmer, voice breaks. There are at least three ways to get sound in the program: sound recording,  read sound from the disc, create sound from formulas. In this article, hhe first method was used and the vowel sounds "a" and "e", as well as consonants "n" and "p" were considered.
With the help of automated algorithms, a number of important data were quickly obtained, such as the average value of the formant on the selected interval, the maximum, minimum and average value of pitch, maximum, minimum and average intensity, the overall signal report(jitter, shimmer, voice breaks). Also, this programm can create high quality images that can be exported and inserted into scientific articles or personal research. Due to this fact, the images of not only spectrograms and waveforms, but also the images of formants and intensity was presented in the work.
Based on the obtained results, the selected sounds were compared. As a result, a conclusion was made about the feasibility and effectiveness of using the software package Praat in the analysis of speech sounds.
It was also noted the ease of use of this software package, as well as the importance of using the program in research in various fields of human activity.
Practical Application of Nanotechnology Solutions in Pavement Engineering: Construction Practices Successfully Implemented on Roads (Highways to Local Access Roads) Using Marginal Granular Materials Stabilised with New-Age (Nano) Modified Emulsions (NME)
Authors: Jordaan Gerrit J , Steyn Wynand J vdM
Published: December 2021

The introduction of any new disruptive technology in a traditionally well-established industry, such as the road construction industry, is usually associated with considerable resistance. This is especially relevant when the new technology is based on the use of granular materials traditionally considered to be of an unacceptable quality in combination with relatively new concepts such as New-age (Nano) Modified Emulsions (NME). In such cases, the fact that the material design methods are based on fundamental scientific principles and have been proven in laboratories and through Accelerated Pavement Testing (APT), may be of little influence. However, the general acceptance of new disruptive technologies, e.g. telecommunications and Information Technologies (IT), have been based on the considerable advantages it presented. The same principles are applicable to the general acceptance and use of NME stabilisation/enhancement of materials in the road construction industry. This article is aimed at the practical cost-effective demonstration of the general application of the use of nanos-silane modified emulsions in the construction of the highest order roads, i.e. inter-city multi-lane highways, lower order roads (including Low-Volume-Roads (LVR)) and even local accesses to farms and in villages/townships. The implementation of NME technologies is directly associated with ease of use, time and cost savings and the addressing and reduction of risks applicable to the use thereof.
Epigenetic Modulation of Gremlin-1/NOTCH Pathway in Experimental Crescentic Immune-Mediated Glomerulonephritis
Authors: Tejedor-Santamaria Lucia , Morgado-Pascual Jose Luis , Marquez-Exposito Laura , Suarez-Alvarez Beatriz , Rodrigues-Diez Raul R. , Tejera-Muñoz Antonio , Marchant Vanessa , Mezzano Sergio , López-Larrea Carlos , Sola Anna , Fernandez-Juarez Gema Maria , Ortiz Alberto , Rayego-Mateos Sandra , Ruiz-Ortega Marta
Published: December 2021

Crescentic glomerulonephritis is a devastating autoimmune disease that without early and properly treat-ment may rapidly progress to end-stage renal disease and death. Current immunosuppressive treatment provided limited efficacy and an important burden of adverse events. Epigenetic drugs are a source of novel therapeutic tools. Among them, bromodomain and extraterminal domain (BET) inhibitors (iBETs) block the interaction between bromodomains and acetylated proteins, including histones and transcription factors. iBETs have demonstrated protective effects on malignancy, inflammatory conditions and experi-mental kidney disease. Recently, Gremlin-1 was proposed as a urinary biomarker of disease progression in human anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibody (ANCA)-associated crescentic glomerulonephritis. We have now evaluated whether iBETs regulate Gremlin-1 in experimental anti-glomerular basement membrane nephritis induced by nephrotoxic serum (NTS) in mice, a model of human crescentic glomerulonephritis. In NTS-injected mice, the iBET JQ1 inhibited renal Gremlin-1 overexpression and diminished glomerular damage, including podocyte loss. Chromatin immunoprecipitation assay demonstrated BRD4 enrichment of the Grem-1 gene promoter in injured kidneys, consistent with Gremlin-1 epigenetic regulation. Moreover, JQ1 blocked BRD4 binding and inhibited Grem-1 gene transcription. The beneficial effect of iBETs was also mediated by targeting NOTCH signaling pathway. JQ1 inhibited the gene expression of the NOTCH effec-tors Hes-1 and Hey-1 in NTS-injured kidneys. Our results further support the role for epigenetic drugs, such as iBETs, in the treatment of rapidly progressive crescentic glomerulonephritis.
Meta Analysis of Variant Predictions in Congenital Adrenal Hyperplasia Caused by Mutations in CYP21A2
Authors: Jorgens Prado Mayara , Ligabue-Braun Rodrigo , Zaha Arnaldo , Rosa Rossetti Maria Lucia , Pandey Amit
Published: December 2021

Context: CYP21A2 deficiency represents 95% of congenital adrenal hyperplasia cases (CAH), a group of genetic disorders that affect steroid biosynthesis. The genetic and functional analysis provides critical tools to elucidate complex CAH cases. One of the most accessible tools to infer the pathogenicity of new variants is in silico prediction. Objective: Analyze the performance of in silico prediction tools to categorize missense single nucleotide variants (SNVs) of the CYP21A2. Methods: SNVs of the CYP21A2 characterized in vitro by functional assays were selected to assess the performance of online single and meta predictors. SNVs were tested separately or in combination with the related phenotype (severe or mild CAH form). In total, 103 SNVs of the CYP21A2 (90 pathogenic and 13 neutral) were used to test the performance of 13 single-predictors and four meta-predictors. Results: SNVs associated with the severe phenotypes were well categorized by all tools, with an accuracy between 0.69 (PredictSNP2) and 0.97 (CADD), and Matthews' correlation coefficient (MCC) between 0.49 (PoredicSNP2) and 0.90 (CADD). However, SNVs related to the mild phenotype had more variation, with the accuracy between 0.47 (S3Ds&GO and MAPP) and 0.88 (CADD), and MCC between 0.18 (MAPP) and 0.71 (CADD). Conclusion: From our analysis, we identified four predictors of CYP21A2 pathogenicity with good performance. These results can be used for future analysis to infer the impact of uncharacterized SNVs' in CYP21A2.
Nutraceutical Content and Genetic Diversity Share a Common Pattern in New Pomegranate Genotypes
Authors: Arlotta Carmen , Toscano Valeria , Genovese Claudia , Calderaro Pietro , Puglia Giuseppe Diego , Raccuia Salvatore Antonino
Published: December 2021

The nutraceutical value of pomegranate in the treatment of many neoplastic, cardiovascular, viral, inflammatory, metabolic, microbial, intestinal, reproductive and skin diseases is well-documented and is linked to its richness in phenolic compounds. This study aims to evaluate nutraceutical and genetic diversity of novel pomegranate genotypes (G1-G5) in comparison to leading commercial pomegranate varieties i.e. ‘Wonderful’, ‘Primosole’, ‘Dente di Cavallo’ and ‘Valenciana’. Morphometric measurements were carried out on fruits, accompanied by chemical characterization and the development of four new polymorphic SSR markers involved in the flavonoid pathway. The cultivars displayed a marked variability in the weight and shape of fruits, as well as in the weight of arils and juice yield. The highest level of total phenolic content and antioxidant activity was found in ‘Wonderful’ and G4, while the lowest was in ‘Dente di Cavallo’. Furthermore, the results showed that the pomegranate juice, is an excellent source of minerals, especially potassium, which plays a key role in organ functioning. The new flavonoid-related markers effectively differentiated the cultivars with the same diversity pattern as morpho-chemical characterization, so the SSRs developed in the present study can be used as a rapid tool for the identification of pomegranate cultivars with relevant nutraceutical traits.
Heat Waves and Emergency Department Visits Among the Homeless, San Diego, 2012–2019
Authors: Schwarz Lara , Castillo Edward M. , Chan Theodore C. , Brennan Jesse J. , Sbiroli Emily S. , Carrasco-Escobar Gabriel , Nguyen Andrew , Clemesha Rachel E. S. , Gershunov Alexander , Benmarhnia Tarik
Published: December 2021

Objectives. To determine the effect of heat waves on emergency department (ED) visits for individuals experiencing homelessness and explore vulnerability factors.

Methods. We used a unique highly detailed data set on sociodemographics of ED visits in San Diego, California, 2012 to 2019. We applied a time-stratified case–crossover design to study the association between various heat wave definitions and ED visits. We compared associations with a similar population not experiencing homelessness using coarsened exact matching.

Results. Of the 24 688 individuals identified as experiencing homelessness who visited an ED, most were younger than 65 years (94%) and of non-Hispanic ethnicity (84%), and 14% indicated the need for a psychiatric consultation. Results indicated a positive association, with the strongest risk of ED visits during daytime (e.g., 99th percentile, 2 days) heat waves (odds ratio = 1.29; 95% confidence interval = 1.02, 1.64). Patients experiencing homelessness who were younger or elderly and who required a psychiatric consultation were particularly vulnerable to heat waves. Odds of ED visits were higher for individuals experiencing homelessness after matching to nonhomeless individuals based on age, gender, and race/ethnicity.

Conclusions. It is important to prioritize individuals experiencing homelessness in heat action plans and consider vulnerability factors to reduce their burden. (Am J Public Health. 2022;112(1):98–106. https://doi.org/10.2105/AJPH.2021.306557 )
EFFECT OF CULTURAL CONDITION ON PRODUCTION OF ETHANOL FROM ROTTEN APPLE WASTE BY SACCHAROMYCES CEREVISIAE STRAINING
Authors:   Sarwar S, Tahir Arifa
Published: December 2021

The present study describes the ethanol fermentation from apple waste by locally isolated yeast strain. Fifteen yeast strains were isolated from soil and apples. The culture with maximum ethanol production (8.3%) was identified and designated as Saccharomyces cerevisiae LCY-08
Hacia la bioeconomía forestal en el Perú: cadena de valor, tendencias tecnológicas y necesidades de capital humano
Authors: Solleiro Rebolledo José Luis , Sánchez Goicochea Myrsia Eliany
Published: December 2021

En este artículo se analiza el desempeño de la industria forestal de Perú, desde la perspectiva de los elementos de su cadena de valor, las tendencias tecnológicas globales que impactan esta actividad y el capital humano disponible. La investigación se basa en la revisión de documentos oficiales, entrevistas a expertos y la realización de un taller de búsqueda de consenso. Se ha concluido que la industria forestal peruana no explota plenamente su potencial, principalmente por la desarticulación de la cadena, con debilidad en el eslabón de transformación; por la falta de incorporación de innovaciones debida a posturas conservadoras y falta de recursos; y la brecha entre la oferta y la demanda de recursos humanos en todos los niveles. El país necesita diseñar y ejecutar una nueva estrategia de desarrollo que asuma el concepto de gestión integral de cuencas como herramienta de desarrollo territorial, el fortalecimiento de las instituciones formadoras de recursos humanos y un plan de inversiones con visión de largo plazo. Las innovaciones serán indispensables para que esta industria se convierta en una bioeconomía redituable social y económicamente.
Políticas Públicas y Bioeconomía en Brasil: la estrategia del Agropolo Campinas-Brasil
Authors: Barbosa Cortez Luís Augusto
Published: December 2021

Agropolo Campinas-Brasil fue creado en Campinas, Brasil como una plataforma colaborativa entre algunas instituciones públicas (Instituto Agronómico de Campinas-IAC, Universidad Estadual de Campinas-UNICAMP, Instituto de Tecnología de Alimentos-ITAL, Prefectura de Campinas y TECHNO PARK) con la participación de Empresas Privadas y con el objetivo de cambiar la forma de hacer investigación y promover innovaciones tecnológicas en el área de la bioeconomía tropical. Brasil es un gran productor y exportador de alimentos, pero aún no puede agregar valor justo a sus productos. En este sentido, con el apoyo de la Fundación de Apoyo a la Investigación del Estado de São Paulo - FAPESP, y siguiendo el ejemplo de Agropolis International, Montpellier, Francia, se realizó un estudio en áreas consideradas estratégicas en agricultura, salud, alimentación, química verde y bioenergía. Este artículo presenta algunos de los principales resultados destinados a implementar una hoja de ruta para la bioeconomía tropical.
Printing spongy all-in-liquid materials
Authors: Bazazi Parisa , Stone Howard , Hejazi S. Hossein
Published: December 2021

Printing structured networks of functionalized droplets in a liquid medium enables engineering collectives of living cells for functional purposes [1, 2], bacterial ecology [3], and promises enormous applications in processes ranging from energy storage [4, 5] to drug delivery [6, 7]and tissue engineering [8]. Current approaches are limited to drop-by-drop printing [1, 2] or face limitations in reproducing the sophisticated internal features of a structured material and its interactions with the surrounding media [6, 9–11]. Here, we report on a simple approach for creating stable liquid filaments of silica nanoparticle dispersions and use them as inks to print all-in-liquid materials that consist of a network of droplets. Silica nanoparticles stabilize liquid filaments at Weber numbers two orders of magnitude smaller than previously reported in liquid-liquid systems by rapidly producing a concentrated microemulsion zone at the oil-water interface. We experimentally demonstrate that the printed aqueous phase is emulsified in-situ; consequently, a 3D structure is achieved with flexible walls consisting of layered microemulsions. The tube-like printed features have a spongy texture resembling miniaturized versions of “tube sponges” found in the oceans. A scaling analysis based on the interplay between hydro-dynamics and emulsification kinetics reveals that liquid filaments are formed when emulsions are generated and remain at the interface during the printing period. We demonstrate the utilization of filaments of the nanoparticle dispersions for printing fluidic channels and propose to use them as lab-on-a-chip devices.
Continuum of Maternal and Newborn Health in Sierra Leone: a 2019 National Survey
Authors: Sserwanja Quraish , Mutisya Linet M. , Nuwabaine Lilian , Kamara Kassim , Mutebi Ronald K , Musaba Milton W.
Published: December 2021

IntroductionGlobally, Sierra Leone has some of the worst maternal and child health indicators. The situation is worsened by a dearth of evidence about the level of continuum of care, an evidence-based intervention aimed at reducing maternal and perinatal morbidity and mortality. Hence this study aimed to fill this gap in evidence in the level of and factors associated with continuum of maternal and newborn care.MethodThe study employed data from the 2019 Sierra Leone Demographic Health Survey (SLDHS). Analysis was restricted to women who had a live birth in the five years preceding the survey (n = 7,326). Bi-variable and multivariable logistic regression were performed using SPSS software version 25.ResultsOnly 17.9% (95% CI: 17.4-19.1) of the women utilized complete continuum of care (CoC) for maternal and newborn health services in Sierra Leone. About 22% (95% CI: 21.3-23.1) utilized 8 or more antenatal care (ANC) contacts, 88% (95% CI: 87.9-89.4) had skilled birth attendance (SBA) while 90.7% (95% CI: 90.2-91.5) and 90.4% (95% CI: 89.9-91.2) of mothers and neonates utilized postnatal care (PNC) respectively. Having started ANC within first trimester (aOR 1.71, 95% CI: 1.46-2.00), belonging to the Southern region (aOR 1.85, 95% CI: 1.23-2.80), belonging to richer wealth quintile (aOR 1.76, 95% CI: 1.27-2.44), using internet (aOR 1.49, 95% CI: 1.12-1.98) and having no big problems seeking permission to access healthcare (aOR 1.34, 95% CI: 1.06-1.69) were significantly associated with utilization of CoC.ConclusionThe overall completion of continuum of maternal care is low, with ANC being the lowest utilized component of continuum of care. The study findings further call for urgent attention for maternal health stakeholders to develop and implement tailored interventions prioritizing women empowerment, access to affordable internet services, timely initiation of ANC contacts, women in developed regions such as the Western and those from poor households.
Integrated Control of Aedes Aegypti With Parasitic Nematodes, Biological Control Agents, Chemical Insecticides and Plant Essential Oil
Authors: Xiong Jinfeng , Zhang Hui , Li Caixia , Ma Rui , Ai Hui , Wang Guoxiu
Published: December 2021

Aedes aegypti can transmit dengue fever, yellow fever, Chikungunya fever, Zika virus disease and vector density control is the most effective way to prevent these infectious diseases. However, the extensive use of chemical pesticides has caused a series of problems, such as environmental pollution, killing non-target organisms and so on. In this study, a parasitic nematode, Romanomermis wuchangensis was used in the larviciding evaluation of Ae. aegypti, while the activity of four chemical insecticides and biological control agents were tested. Besides, Mentha haplocalyx essential oil was isolated and its olfactory physiological function with OBP1 protein of Ae. aegypti antenna was measured by the prokaryotic expression and fluorescence competitive binding assay. Compared with the control group, R. wuchangensis indicated high efficiency and environmental friendliness in the control of Ae. aegypti. After the second instar larvae were parasitized, the mortality of two treatment groups exceeded 75%. Compared to control group, the quantitative real-time PCR analysis results demonstrated that SOD, POD and CAT genes had obvious high expression levels in the nematodes parasitic groups. The antioxidant enzyme test results also exhibited obvious difference of SOD, CAT and POD during the nematode parasitic period. Besides, Bacillus thuringiensis (Bti) and chemical insecticide experimental results also showed great insecticidal efficacy against mosquito larvae. Five chemical components including Menthol, Pinene, Limonene, Isopulegol and Pulegone were identified from M. haplocalyx and exhibited great binding ability with AaegOBP1 protein. Present results illustrated that the integrated application of these various mosquito vector control methods in the future has broad prospects.
The Difficulties the Caregivers of Cancer Patients Experience in the Covid-19 Pandemic
Authors: YAKAR Hatice KARABUGA , OGUZ Sıdıka , KARAKAS Ferda , TEKIN Hatice , ONER Nurullah , GURSOY Simay , ARSLAN Sennur , KELES Yagmur , BALKAN Yasemin
Published: December 2021

Purpose

This is a qualitative study using interpretive phenomenological analysis to determine the difficulties experienced by caregivers of cancer patients during the Covid-19 pandemic.
Methods

Fourteen cancer patients were interviewed between 20 December 2020 and 20 January 2021 using maximum diversity sampling. The data were collected using semi-structured interview forms, one-on-one interviews, and online interview technique.
Results

The experiences of caregivers of cancer patients regarding the Covid 19 pandemic were presented under four themes, namely emotional problems, economic problems, neglect of health, and behavioural responses associated with Covid 19”.
Conclusions

It was found that caregivers of cancer patients were emotionally affected, faced economic difficulties, neglected their own health, and developed behavioural responses to the risk of Covid-19 during the pandemic.
Fear of Prognosis? How Anxiety, Coping, and Expected Burden Impact the Decision to Have Cytogenetic Assessment in Uveal Melanoma Patients
Authors: Gollrad Johannes , Korpusik Nevenka , Rabsahl Christopher , Boehmer Dirk , Besserer Angela , Grittner Ulrike , Boeker Alexander , Ulrich Keilholz , Joussen Antonia , Budach Volker , Goerling Ute
Published: December 2021

BackgroundCytogenetic testing (CGT) in uveal melanoma patients reveals prognostic information about the individual risk of developing distant metastasis with dismal prognosis. There is currently no medical intervention strategy with proven effect on the prognosis, rendering the result of the cytogenetic testing purely informative. We explored patients’ socio-demographic backgrounds, psychological preconditions, coping strategies, external influences, and concerns about “knowing their fate” to study their possible interactions with decision-making for CGT.MethodsUveal melanoma patients were asked to complete questionnaires on their interest in undergoing CGT for prognostication and the factors influencing their decision. Data were collected on socio-demographics, baseline anxiety (GAD-7), depression (PHQ-9), coping strategies (Brief Cope), and assumed future concerns regarding the CGT result. Data were analyzed by using multiple ordinal logistic regression and exploring estimated marginal effects.ResultsQuestionnaires were returned by 121 of 131 (92.4%) patients. Fifty-two patients (43%) had no interest in CGT, 34 (28.1%) were undecided, and 35 (28.9%) were interested. We observed no significant differences regarding age, sex, partnership, education, occupation, baseline anxiety, or depression. Decision-making favoring CGT was influenced by the treating physicians, internet resources, and level of baseline anxiety. Patients were likely to reject CGT when they worried that “knowing the result will have an unintended influence” on their life.ConclusionDecision-making about CGT for prognostication in uveal melanoma is burdensome to many patients and in general not guided by medical advice regarding further treatment and screening procedures. The psychological impact of the decision is therefore unique and requires careful support by psycho-oncologists considering the patient’s fears and expectations.
miR-138-5p Inhibits Vascular Mimicry by Targeting the HIF-1α/VEGFA Pathway in Hepatocellular Carcinoma
Authors: Liu Hongwei , Hu Xiujin , Tan Weihe , Zhou Peng , Liu Yanmei , Chen Chen , Yang Meng , Zhou Meifang , Xuan Shuxia , Cheng Bing , Yin Weiguo , Lin Jinduan
Published: December 2021

Tumor vascular mimicry (VM) is the process of new blood vessels formed by tumor cells rather than endothelial cells. An increasing number of researches have revealed that VM process is associated with cancer progression and metastasis. miR-138-5p has been reported to act as a tumor suppressor in many cancers. However, the role and underlying mechanism of miR-138-5p in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) VM remain unclear. In this study, VM density was detected by CD31/periodic acid-Schiff double staining in HCC clinical specimens. We found that miR-138-5p expression correlated strongly negatively with microvessel density. Additionally, miR-138-5p mimic or inhibitor decreased or increased, respectively, tube formation capacity in HepG2 and Hep3B cells. Consistent with this, miR-138-5p repressed vessel density in vivo. Moreover, miR-138-5p targeted hypoxia-inducible factor 1α (HIF-1α) and regulated expression of HIF-1α and vascular endothelial growth factor A (VEGFA), which are established classical markers of angiogenesis. Consistent with these findings, the HIF-1α inhibitor CAY10585 effectively blocked HCC cell VM and VEGFA expression. In conclusion, miR-138-5p inhibits HepG2 and Hep3B cell VM by blocking the HIF-1α/VEGFA pathway. Therefore, miR-138-5p may serve as a useful therapeutic target for miRNA-based HCC therapy.
Anorexia as a Risk Factor of Mortality in Patients with Advanced Lung Cancer Receiving Home-Base Palliative Care
Authors: Cui Jiaxin , Tan Lanhui , Fang Pei , An Zifen , Du Jiayi , Yu Liping
Published: December 2021

Purpose

To determine the prevalence of anorexia among advanced lung cancer patients at the beginning of receiving home-based palliative care and to examine the predictive role of anorexia in survival of patients with advanced lung cancer.
Methods

In this retrospective study, we analyzed data from 918 advanced lung cancer patients who had received home-based palliative care between March 2010 and March 2020. We used Kaplan-Meier survival curves to determine the factors associated with survival time and applied the Cox proportional hazards model to examine the effect of anorexia on survival.
Results

The study included 918 patients with a mean age of 63.5 years; and 72.2% of them were men. Factors associated with shortened survival included gender, place of residence, weight loss, anorexia, nausea and Karnofsky performance status (KPS). In a multivariable Cox proportional hazards model, after adjusting for male gender, patient lives in city, and low KPS, we found that anorexia was an independent negative predictor of survival.
Conclusions

As an independent factor predicting the survival of patients with advanced lung cancer, anorexia should be taken seriously by medical staff. This predictive factor may serve as early risk identification indicator for healthcare workers who provide home-based palliative care, thereby providing personalized palliative care for advanced lung cancer patients.
Association Between Smoking and Postoperative Delirium in Surgical Patients With Pulmonary Hypertension: a Secondary Analysis of a Cohort Study
Authors: Zhou Sai , Shi Shuqing , Xie Chang , Chen Gong
Published: December 2021

Background: Previous studies have declared that smoking is a risk factor for postoperative delirium (POD), but others have inconsistent results. Up till now, the association between smoking and POD has not been verified. This study aims to investigate the relationship between smoking and POD in patients with pulmonary hypertension (PHTN) in the United States.Methods: This study is a secondary analysis of a retrospective cohort study completed by Aalap C. et al. Patients with PHTN who underwent non-cardiac, non-obstetric surgery were enrolled in the original study. We further excluded the patients undergoing intracranial surgery and the patients with sepsis and perioperative stroke to avoid interference with POD assessment. The generalized linear model and generalized additive model were used to explore the relationship between smoking and POD.Results: After adjusting the potential confounders (age, gender, BMI, poor functional status, PHTN severity, some comorbidities such as hypertension, angina, coronary artery disease, arrhythmia, COPD, asthma, diabetes and renal failure, length of surgery, open surgical approach, intraabdominal surgery, intrathoracic surgery, vascular surgery, some medications such as anticoagulant, antiplatelet, steroids, statin, and atropine, some inhalational anesthesia agent such as isoflurane and sevoflurane), a positive relationship was found between smoking status and POD (OR=5.61, 95% CI: 1.14 to 27.51, P=0.0334). In addition, the curvilinear relationship between smoking burden (pack-years) and POD is close to a linear relationship.Conclusion: Smoking shows a positive correlation with POD in patients with PHTN. Surgical individuals need to prevent POD especially those with a heavy smoking burden.
Conservation Genomics Reveals Low Connectivity Among Populations of Threatened Roseate Terns in the Atlantic Basin
Authors: Byerly Paige , Chesser R. Terry , Fleischer Robert , McInerney Nancy , Przelomska Natalia , Leberg Paul
Published: December 2021

While the effects of barriers to dispersal such as population declines, habitat fragmentation, and geographic distance have been well-documented in terrestrial wildlife, factors impeding the dispersal of highly vagile taxa such as seabirds are less well understood. The roseate tern (Sterna dougallii) is a globally distributed seabird species, but populations tend to be both fragmented and small, and the species is declining across most of its range. Within the Atlantic Basin, past work has shown differentiation among roseate terns breeding on different continents, but these results were generated with a limited number of microsatellite markers. Relationships between breeding populations in the Northwestern Atlantic and the Caribbean have never been analyzed. We evaluated population structuring of roseate tern populations in North America and the Azores using both microsatellite markers and single-nucleotide polymorphisms generated through targeted sequencing of Ultra-conserved Elements. For both marker types, we found significant genetic differentiation among all 3 populations and evidence for moderate contemporary unidirectional gene flow from the Caribbean to the Azores, but not among other populations. Within the Caribbean metapopulation, we found high rates of unidirectional migration from the Virgin Islands to Florida, potentially indicative of movement from source population to sink or an artifact of dispersal among other unsampled populations in the Caribbean region. These observations have significance for species persistence in the Atlantic, as our results suggest that loss of genetic diversity within populations is unlikely to be buffered by inflow of new alleles from other breeding populations.