bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Analysis of the theorical model of the situational test for measuring the development of basic employability competences: the workers’ perspective
Authors: Jariot-Garcia Mercè , Sala-Roca Josefina , Arnau-Sabatés Laura , Marzo-Arpón Teresa
Published: February 2021

The aim of this study is to analyse, from the workers’ perspective, the employability model developed by the research group IARS linked to the Situational Test for measuring the Development of Basic Employability Competences (Test Situacional de Desarrollo de las Competencias Básicas de Empleabilidad). The hypothesis was that basic employability competences proposed by this model are necessary to attain, remain and be promoted within the labour market regardless of the economic sector, sex, age and work experience. A questionnaire was completed by 255 workers from different professional sectors. They evaluated the need for eight basic employability competences proposed in the model to obtain and retain their position and also to be promoted: self-organization; training-career plan; decision-making; teamwork; communication; flexibility; perseverance; responsibility/co-responsibility. The competences were perceived to be very necessary to attain, maintain and to be promoted within the position, although the competences were considered progressively more relevant as workers’ progress along their professional career. All competences were assessed as necessary for different jobs independently of the professional sector, sex, age, and difficulties accessing the labour market after being unemployed. Only some nuances with small size effect were detected. To initially obtain their first job, flexibility is the competence most valued by women and young people, whereas for workers aged 25 to 54, it is the construction of a training-career plan. With regards to maintaining a position, perseverance is most valued by workers who have experienced more difficulties accessing the labour market or have been unemployed. Regarding promotion, teamwork is seen as key by those who have remained at the same company for the longest time. The results endorse the validity of the model and allow for advances to be made in constructing psychoeducational instruments for developing the employability basic competences from an early age.
Validación de la escala de competencias parentales emocionales y sociales para madres (ECPES-M)
Authors: Martínez-González Raquel Amaya , Iglesias-García María Teresa , Pérez-Herrero María Henar
Published: February 2021

La Recomendación 2006/19 del Council of Europe sobre Políticas de Apoyo a la Parentalidad Positiva y la World Health Organization (2013), constatan la dificultad de las familias de la población normalizada para ejercer sus funciones parentales. Los instrumentos validados para evaluar competencias parentales en estas familias son aún escasos, lo que aconseja incrementarlos para identificar necesidades actuales en las dinámicas de interacción y convivencia familiar. El objetivo de este estudio ha sido validar la Escala de Competencias Parentales Emocionales y Sociales (ECPES). Participaron 2437 madres representativas de una población de 145.902 familias del Principado de Asturias (España) con hijos e hijas entre 0 y 18 años. Para estudiar la estructura factorial o validez de constructo se efectuó análisis factorial exploratorio (AFE) y confirmatorio (AFC); se comprobó su invarianza considerando la etapa evolutiva o escolar de los hijos/as. La consistencia interna o fiabilidad se analizó mediante Alfa de Cronbach. Se analizó la validez concurrente mediante la correlación de Pearson entre los factores resultantes y variables externas seleccionadas como criterio. Se obtuvo una escala de 15 ítems distribuidos en cuatro factores que explican el 42,096% de la varianza: Factor 1-Autoestima; Factor 2-Autocontrol; Factor 3-Agresividad Verbal; y Factor 4-Imposición. Se ofrece un instrumento sencillo y útil en el ámbito de la evaluación e intervención familiar para identificar competencias parentales y su promoción a través de programas de orientación familiar que fomenten la parentalidad positiva. La escala puede aplicarse con madres de la población general desde una perspectiva de promoción e intervención preventiva y anticipadora de dificultades. Puede aplicarse también en situaciones vulnerables. Es útil también para evaluar programas de orientación familiar e identificar evidencias de su eficacia.
Medidas educativas con menores infractores: el caso de Alemania y España
Authors: Lozano-Díaz Antonia , Chacón-Benavente Fabiola , Roith Christian
Published: February 2021

La justicia juvenil desarrolla su intervención teniendo en cuenta las particularidades del momento psicoevolutivo y social de los jóvenes. La intervención con los menores infractores persigue el doble objetivo de rehabilitar al menor y evitar su reincidencia o inicio de una carrera delictiva. En este trabajo se sigue el método comparado para analizar las medidas legales y educativas seguidas en dos países europeos como son Alemania y España, con el objetivo de conocer lo apropiado de las mismas. Para ello se lleva a cabo un doble análisis. Por un lado, la ley para menores, sus reformas, resultados, principios y nivel punitivo para el menor infractor en cada país. Por otro, las medidas educativas aplicadas a partir de las posibilidades que permite el marco legal. Los resultados permiten obtener la visión de dos sistemas legales para jóvenes donde se aprecian diferencias importantes, siendo el español más punitivo que el alemán. También se observa resistencia por parte de los operadores jurídicos, tanto en Alemania como España, a hacer más lesiva la ley. Se concluye con la defensa del uso de medidas educativas y rehabilitadoras que hayan demostrado su eficacia de cara a la disminución de la reincidencia y el aumento de la reinserción.
SATB2 induction of a neural crest mesenchyme-like program drives melanoma invasion and drug resistance
Authors: Fazio Maurizio , van Rooijen Ellen , Dang Michelle , van de Hoek Glenn , Ablain Julien , Mito Jeffrey K , Yang Song , Thomas Andrew , Michael Jonathan , Fabo Tania , Modhurima Rodsy , Pessina Patrizia , Kaufman Charles K , Zhou Yi , White Richard M , Zon Leonard I
Published: February 2021

Recent genomic and scRNA-seq analyses of melanoma demonstrated a lack of recurrent genetic drivers of metastasis, while identifying common transcriptional states correlating with invasion or drug resistance. To test whether transcriptional adaptation can drive melanoma progression, we made use of a zebrafish mitfa:BRAFV600E;tp53-/- model, in which malignant progression is characterized by minimal genetic evolution. We undertook an overexpression-screen of 80 epigenetic/transcriptional regulators and found neural crest-mesenchyme developmental regulator SATB2 to accelerate aggressive melanoma development. Its overexpression induces invadopodia formation and invasion in zebrafish tumors and human melanoma cell lines. SATB2 binds and activates neural crest-regulators, including pdgfab and snai2. The transcriptional program induced by SATB2 overlaps with known MITFlowAXLhigh and AQP1+NGFR1high drug-resistant states and functionally drives enhanced tumor propagation and resistance to Vemurafenib in vivo. In summary, we show that melanoma transcriptional rewiring by SATB2 to a neural crest mesenchyme-like program can drive invasion and drug resistance in autochthonous tumors.
Gross ways to live long: Parasitic worms as an anti-inflammaging therapy?
Authors: Zhang Bruce , Gems David
Published: February 2021

Evolutionary medicine argues that disease can arise because modern conditions do not match those in which we evolved. For example, a decline in exposure to commensal microbes and gastrointestinal helminths in developed countries has been linked to increased prevalence of allergic and autoimmune inflammatory disorders (the hygiene hypothesis). Accordingly, probiotic therapies that restore ‘old friend’ microbes and helminths have been explored as Darwinian treatments for these disorders. A further possibility is that loss of old friend commensals also increases the sterile, aging-associated inflammation known as inflammaging, which contributes to a range of age-related diseases, including cardiovascular disease, dementia, and cancer. Interestingly, Crowe et al., 2020 recently reported that treatment with a secreted glycoprotein from a parasitic nematode can protect against murine aging by induction of anti-inflammatory mechanisms. Here, we explore the hypothesis that restorative helminth therapy would have anti-inflammaging effects. Could worm infections provide broad-spectrum protection against age-related disease?
Tolerance of two anhydrobiotic tardigradesEchiniscus testudoandMilnesium inceptumto hypomagnetic conditions
Authors: Erdmann Weronika , Idzikowski Bogdan , Kowalski Wojciech , Kosicki Jakub Z. , Kaczmarek Łukasz
Published: February 2021

The open space is a hostile environment for all lifeforms not only due to vacuum, high radiation, low atmospheric pressure, and extremely low temperature, but also the absence of the geomagnetic field. The geomagnetic field protects Earth mainly from corpuscular radiation, that is, solar wind and cosmic radiation, but above all it influences organisms, including their cells, tissues and organs. Moreover, numerous studies conducted on plants and animals confirmed that hypomagnetic conditions (the term referring to all situations when the magnetic field is weaker than the typical geomagnetic field) have significant influence on the metabolism of living organisms. Although many studies dealt with a variety of aspects related mainly to the influence of hypomagnetic conditions on human health. Very few studies have considered the influence of hypomagnetic conditions on extremophiles. Astrobiologists have long been testing different extremofiles to find out if any multicellular organisms are able to survive in extreme conditions of open space. Among all multicellular extremophiles fit for such research, water bears (Tardigrada) are the most interesting. Not only are they one of the most resistant organisms on Earth, but results obtained from studies on these invertebrates can be extrapolated or applied to vertebrates (including humans). Despite this, studies on the influence of hypomagnetic conditions on tardigrades are rare, so far. In the present study, to test the influence of hypomagnetic conditions on the process of anhydrobiosis while entering and returning from anhydrobiosis, we used two terrestrial anhydrobiotic species that areEchiniscus testudoandMilnesium inceptum. To exclude the ambient magnetic field, experiments were carried out in a special magnetic field shielding chamber. In total, three experiments were conducted: (a) tardigrades in anhydrobiosis, (b) tardigrades entering anhydrobiosis and (c) tardigrades returning to active life. The obtained results clearly showed that even partial isolation from the geomagnetic field, that is, hypomagnetic conditions, has negative influence on anhydrobiotic abilities of both tested tardigrade species. In both species we observed lower survivability rate while entering anhydrobiosis, in anhydrobiotic state and returning to the active state. What is more, we observed a higher mortality rate inEch. testudothanMil. inceptumwhich suggest that different species response to the hypomagnetic conditions in different way. In conclusion, while current knowledge on the influence of hypomagnetic conditions on mortality of invertebrates is very limited, our results suggest that the presence of the magnetic field is a very important factor which should be considered in further research focused on potential survival of Earth organisms in outer space, spacecrafts or different planets and moons.
Effects of Funchicórea®, a Traditional Brazilian Herbal Complex, on Intestinal Motility in Healthy and Constipated Rodents
Authors: Assis Valéria L. , Veras Ana C. M. F. , Maciel Priscilla M. P. , Albuquerque José G. F. , Zancanella Carmem , Ritto Jose Luiz , Araújo Islania Giselia Albuquerque , Veras Robson C. , Medeiros Isac A.
Published: February 2021

Ethnopharmacological Relevance: The traditional herbal medicinal product Funchicórea® has been widely used in clinical practice for the treatment of intestinal colic and constipation in newborns. However, no scientific data on the herbal product to prove its efficacy is available.

Aim of the Study: This study aimed to evaluate the laxative and spasmolytic actions of Funchicórea®.

Materials and Methods: Wistar rats (Rattus norvegicus) and Swiss mice (Mus musculus) of both sex, were used. In vivo pharmacological assays were performed to evaluate the stimulating effect on the gastrointestinal tract, and in vitro studies to verify its spasmodic activity.

Results: Funchicórea® increased the motility of the small intestine in male mice at doses of 100 mg/kg (161.66±14.86 %, n=6) and 200 mg/kg (151.04±17.17 %, n=6) compared to control (100.00±10.49 %, n=6). However, this drug did not induce any change in intestinal transit in female mice. The intestinal transit of male mice treated with loperamide (3 mg/kg/day, during three days) was reduced 66.25±7.49 % (n=8) compared to the control group (100.00±5.16%, n=8) and we observed the normalization of the intestinal transit in constipated animals treated with Funchicórea® 100 mg/Kg (98.42±6.33 %, and 200 mg/kg (99.32±8.47%, n=7). Similar results were observed in the quantification for 24 hours of male and female rats faeces constipated by loperamide (3 mg/kg/day three days), however, in both animals groups treated with Funchicórea® 100 mg/kg (1.24±2.90 g, male; 3.60±0.80 g, female, n=6) and 200 mg/Kg (8.70±2.01 g, male, 10.03±1.30 g, female, n=6) the levels of faeces returned to basal values compared to constipated group (4.01±1.43 g, male; 1.70±0.10 g, female, n=6). In addition, Funchicórea® (0.01-1000 μg/mL) elicited relaxation in rat ileum pre-contracted by KCl 40 mM (Emax=97.5±7.0 %, n=7) and carbachol (1 μM, Emax=100.0±7.0 %, n=7).

Conclusion: The results obtained demonstrated that the herbal medicine Funchicórea® acts by stimulating the intestine of rats and mice and has spasmolytic activity in isolated rat ileum.
HBV and HEV Co-infections among Animal Handlers and Non-Animal Handlers in Osun State, Nigeria
Authors: Gidado I. R. , Okonko I. O. , Osundare F. A. , Opaleye O. O.
Published: February 2021

Aim: Co-infection of hepatitis A, B, C, D, and E viruses may lead to severe morbidity and mortality. This study was conducted to determine prevalence of co-infection of HBV and HEV among animal and non-animal handlers in Osun State, Nigeria.

Study Design:  Cross-sectional study.

Place and Duration of Study: Ladoke Akintola University of Technology (LAUTECH), Nigeria, between June 2015 and July 2019.

Methods: A total of 180 blood samples were obtained and screened for Hepatitis B and E virus from cohorts of 90 animal handlers and 90 non-animal handlers. Questionnaires on HBV and HEV were administered to obtain a demographic characteristic of the participants. HBsAg and anti-HEV antibodies were screened using HBsAg and HEV ELISA kits.

Results: Results showed the overall prevalence of HBV and HEV Co-infection to be 12.2 %. There was variation in the HBV/HEV co-infections rates among the studied population, with a co-infection rates of 15.9%, 14.3% and 7.8% for butchers, pig handlers and non-animal handlers, respectively. Sources of drinking water was the predisposition factor for HBV/HEV coinfections (P=0.02). The results revealed that subjects who used tap and river as a drinking water source had the highest prevalence followed by well and sachet and then all water source. Although results portray no statistically significant association with, frequent washing of hands after, rearing of animal, type of toilet, eating of pork, consumption of grilled meat and cow skin (P> 0.05).

Conclusion: This study reported a high prevalence of HBV/HEV coinfections among animal and non-animal handlers in Osun State, Nigeria. There is, therefore, the need to increase health promotion efforts such as immunization, health education, campaign, provision of adequate blood screening equipment and proper hygiene is recommended for further reduction in HBV/HEV transmission. Since the consumption of contaminated water is the main transmission route of HEV, improving the level of public health sanitation in the area should be considered a priority by policymakers.
Soil Bioavailability and Native Plant Uptake of Mercury in the Contaminated Sites at Kodaikanal, India
Authors: Suganthi R. , Avudainayagam S. , Davamani V. , Banu K. Sara Parwin , Chandrasekar C. N. , Sivakumar U.
Published: February 2021

This paper presents the evaluation of soil contamination with bioaccumulation and bioavailability of mercury in the surroundings of a former thermometer factory at Kodaikanal in connection with several other soil chemical characteristics. Mercury (Hg), a rare earth element, evolves to be the global concern because of its solubility and its persistence in nature. It is also widely known as a potential neurotoxin since it has the ability to bind with the thiol functional groups in the living system because of the accumulation in food chain and its biomagnifications. The Study was carried out at Department of Environmental Sciences, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Coimbatore, India during 2018-2020. Geo-coded soil and plant samples were collected in and around the former thermometer factory in different possible direction. The total mercury content in the soil ranged from 0.19 to 4.7 mg kg-1 and the water soluble mercury fraction ranged from 0.01 to 0.07 mg kg-1 in various sampling sites. The total mercury of the samples ranged from 0.24 to 3.80, 0.84 to 1.55, 0.45 to 1.67 and 0.19 to 4.97 mg kg-1 in east, north, south and west directions, respectively whereas the water soluble mercury fraction ranged from 0.01 to 0.07 and 0.01 to 0.04 mg kg-1 in east and west direction, respectively corresponding to 0.5 to 5.36 % of the total. Despite this analysis, other chemical parameters were also studied to determine their extent of influence on mercury accumulation and availability. Among those parameters, pH was found to be having significant correlation with total mercury and water soluble mercury. The concentration of total mercury and water soluble mercury recorded were less than the permissible limit set by International standards (Canadian Soil Quality Guidelines). Among different plant species, Roots of Sterculia sp. was found to accumulate 1.19 mg kg-1 whereas mercury content was found to be below detectable limits in other plants. Based on the results obtained from Potential Ecological Risk Index, it was concluded that risk associated with soil mercury contamination is low in the study area at Kodaikanal.
Chemical Composition of Pinus brutia Ten Essential Oil and Its in vitro Anti-Inflammatory Activity
Authors: Karrat Lina , Nayal Ream , Abajy Mohammad Yaser
Published: February 2021

This investigation aims to determine the chemical composition of Pinus brutia leaves essential oil and evaluate its anti-inflammatory property using Human Red Blood Cells (HRBC) membrane stabilization assay and Albumin denaturation assay. The chemical composition of essential oil (EO) obtained by hydro-distillation of leaves of Pinus brutia was investigated by GC-MS. The anti-inflammatory effect of EO was evaluated using Human Red Blood Cells (HRBC) membrane stabilization assay and Albumin denaturation assay. The main constituents of EO were α-Terpineol (66.16%), 3-Carene (4.90%), Carveol (4.55%) and cis-Verbenol (3.22%). The inhibion of hemolysis was observed at concentrations (2.5-12.5) µg/ml. Moreover, albumin denaturation test showed protection effect at concentrations (8-40) µg/ml. We concluded that, Pinusbrutia EO shows strong anti-inflammatory activity at different concentration when compared to standard drug of Diclofenac sodium. In addition, GC-MS analysis of Pinus brutia EO showed the presence of α-Terpineol as major compound in the oil. It reveals that this constituent is responsible to maximum protection of albumin denaturation and membrane stabilization assay. The future work will be determination of anti-inflammatory by in vivo models.
Soil Organic Carbon Sequestration and Carbon Pools in Rice Based Cropping Systems in Indo-Gangetic Plains: An Overview
Authors: Yadav Shipra , Kumar Rahul , Chandra M. Sharath , Abhineet . , Singh Swati , Yadav R. B. , Kumar Monu
Published: February 2021

Carbon sequestration in the agricultural lands is possible through different soil management strategies and could be substantial with widespread implementation. Sequestration of historic carbon emissions is now essential as mitigation alone is not enough to stabilize our atmosphere. There are numerous management strategies for drawing carbon out of the atmosphere and holding it in the soil. Effectiveness of these strategies vary across different climates, soil types, and geographies. Still, it is a controversy about the durability of sequestration in soil and about the precise conditions that maximize drawdown of carbon emissions. Carbon sequestration in soil is the potential strategy which can reduce or mitigate the impacts of the global warming. The Asian countries are having more than 90% of rice fields, they are being blamed for their contribution in the methane emission and associated climate change. A major part of rice is grown under the continuous submergence condition that may influence the active and passive pools of soil carbon besides methane emission. In this paper we have reviewed the carbon sequestration potential of rice-based soils besides discussion on the mechanisms and strategies that promote accumulation of soil carbon while minimizing carbon emissions. The strategies viz. System of Rice Intensification, Integrated Nutrient Management, promoting mycorrhizal symbiosis in aerobic rice system besides enhancement of phytolith-occluded carbon are some of the key areas facilitating better carbon sequestration in rice ecosystem.
Health Workers and Coronavirus Disease Pandemic: Knowledge, Attitude and Effects in Port Harcourt, Nigeria
Authors: Dayi Joy O. , Onajin-Obembe Bisola O. I. , Ijah Rex F. O. A.
Published: February 2021

Background: There are reports of the spread of the novel COVID-19 to Africa, Nigeria, and some cases in Rivers State. The aim of this study was to investigate the knowledge, attitude and effects of the coronavirus disease pandemic on hospital staff in the month of May to June 2020.

Methodology: The convenience sampling method was used to recruit 297 hospital staff in a cross-sectional descriptive study carried out using semi-structured questionnaires in a tertiary healthcare facility. Data obtained was analysed using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) version 20.0.

Results: Two hundred and sixty-two respondents (88.2%) had prior knowledge of coronavirus, and 228 (76.8%) got their information from Television/Radio/Newspapers. Two hundred and fifty-one (84.5%) respondents described COVID-19 pandemic as a disease caused by an imported germ. Regardless of the fear/panic of the COVID-19 pandemic, 230 (77.4%) of the respondents indicated that they would continue to visit their sick relative in the hospital. The COVID-19 pandemic moderately affected the family life of 110 (37.0%) respondents, while 68 (12.5%) were devastated by it. The means of livelihood was moderately affected in 76 (25.6%) respondents, and 43 (14.5%) devastated by it.

Conclusion: The negative impact of the coronavirus pandemic was experienced significantly in varied proportions – moderately, severely, and in devastating manner.
Bond Pad Probe Marks Effect on Intermetallic Coverage
Authors: Moreno Anthony , Rodriguez Rennier , Gomez Frederick Ray
Published: February 2021

The paper presents a study on the effect of semiconductor die’s bond pad probe marks on the interface between the wire and the bond pad. The probe marks are quantified in terms of percentage area in the bond pad, while the interface strength between the wire of Gold material to the Aluminum bond pad is measured through the intermetallic coverage (IMC). Actual evaluation showed that the size of the probe marks has significant impact on the bond pad area, especially on IMC. Validations were made comparing the IMC and shear strength performance of the wire ball bonded on the worst-case probe marks and on the standard probe marks. The learnings on this study could be used on future works with similar requirement.
Robust Control for Die Attach Machine Recipe Management System
Authors: Capili Michael D.
Published: February 2021

One of the problems facing the Die Attach engineers at Front of Line is the lack of control of their Die Attach Recipes. Currently, all Recipes are stored on a computer that is accessed by all users and transferred to the Die Attach machine using a diskette via a simple file copy operation.

This kind of setup is vulnerable to the tampering of the Recipes, which may lead to problems in the production line, affecting the quality of the product. It is also difficult in the current setup to know which user copied the Recipe or changed its contents, making those activities untraceable. Finally, the manual management of Die Attach Recipes by file copy raises the risk of human error. To increase the quality of production as well as to protect Recipes from tampering, a computer-based program has been developed to fix the issues in the current setup.

The Die Attach Recipe Management System, or DRMS, is a computer program that can do the following: (1) protect the Die Attach Recipes to prevent unauthorized users from accessing and changing them; (2) monitor users who access the Recipes; and (3) simplify the recovery and storage process to eliminate human error problems.
Company Income Tax and Unemployment in Nigeria
Authors: George-Anokwuru Chioma Chidinma , Okowa Ezaal
Published: February 2021

This paper focused on the impact of company income tax on unemployment in Nigeria from 1980 to 2019. The data for this study were sourced from the statistical bulletin of Nigeria’s apex bank. The Augmented Dickey-Fuller (ADF) unit root test and Ordinary Least Squares (OLS) methods were used as the main analytical tools. The ADF unit test result revealed stationarity of the variables at order zero which satisfied the requirement to employ the OLS method. The OLS regression result revealed that corporate income tax has positive and significant relationship with unemployment rate in Nigeria. Prime lending rate has negative and significant relationship with unemployment rate in Nigeria. Inflation rate has negative and insignificant relationship with unemployment rate in Nigeria. The study therefore concluded that tax revenue from company income has not been efficiently and effectively used to provide infrastructural facilities and social amenities that will help the different sectors of the economy to function very well thereby reducing unemployment in the country. Based on the results, the study suggested that government should ensure that revenue from corporate income tax and other sources are efficiently and effectively used to provide infrastructural facilities and social services that will help the different sectors of the economy to function very well, in so doing unemployment will be reduced. The management, administration and implementation of corporate income tax should be done in such a way that it will not hinder investment and employment in the economy. At the same time, ensure accountability and transparency from government officials on the management of revenue derived from company income tax.
Perancangan Mekanisme Spoiler Dinamis
Authors: Siahaan Ian Hardianto , Osmond Timothy , Alimin Roche
Published: February 2021

Seiring dengan perkembangan teknologi yang semakin cepat, penggunaan komponen aerodinamika tipe aktif mulai banyak diterapkan pada mobil. Salah satunya adalah spoiler dinamis. Spoiler dinamis adalah suatu tipe spoiler yang memiliki sinergitas ketika mobil melakukan pengereman maupun gerakan membelok serta dapat juga bekerja secara simultan. Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk merancang mekanisme spoiler dinamis yang dapat diterapkan pada mobil dengan sudut putar pergerakan spoiler dinamis maksimal sebesar 15° dari kondisi normalnya ketika mobil melakukan proses pengereman maupun proses membelok. Spoiler dinamis yang diusulkan memanfaatkan sistem elektrik dengan motor servo yang mempunyai besaran torsi 1.8 N.m sebagai aktuatornya. Input sudut roda kemudi diteruskan menjadi pergerakan potensiometer sebagai pengatur gerakan roda kemudi sedangkan input pedal rem menggunakan mekanisme push button yang dikendalikan oleh mikrokontroler Arduino. Hasil pengujian menunjukkan bahwa ketika roda kemudi diputar sebesar 90° maka sudut putar spoiler bergerak sebesar 14.7° dari kondisi normalnya pada salah satu sisi. Artinya, mekanisme spoiler dinamis ini dapat berfungsi dengan baik ketika kondisi pengereman maupun membelok bahkan ketika melakukan gerakan simultan. Pada saat proses pengereman, sudut kedua bagian spoiler menjadi maksimal dan hampir mencapai 150 sebagaimana output yang diinginkan
Perancangan Sistem Spion Kamera pada Mobil Xenia
Authors: D. Suprianto Fandi , William Robert
Published: February 2021

Salah satu faktor penyebab utama berbagai kecelakaan kendaraan adalah pengemudi tidak melihat berbagai objek pada titik buta pengemudi. Sebagian besar kecelakaan ini diakibatkan oleh karena pengemudi tidak sadar adanya kendaraan lain. Berbagai upaya telah dilakukan untuk mereduksi titik buta atau blindspot dengan meningkatkan luasan pandang pada spion kendaraan. CMS (Camera Monitor System) telah terbukti mampu mengurangi titik buta dan meningkatkan waktu reaksi pengemudi terhadap perubahan pada spion. Studi ini bertujuan untuk merancang sistem CMS yang mampu mereduksi blindspot dan mengurangi gaya drag. Studi ini menunjukkan bahwa CMS yang dipasang pada spion Daihatsu Xenia menghasilkan luasan pandang yang lebih baik, dengan demikian berhasil mereduksi blindspot, serta bentuk spion CMS yang ramping dapat mereduksi gaya drag secara signifikan
Evaluasi Pembuatan Prototype Package Tray Biokomposit Serat Tebu- Polypropylene untuk Kebutuhan Interior Mobil
Authors: Wijaya Patrik Permana Putra , Anggono Juliana
Published: February 2021

Natural fibers used in the fabrication of biocomposite product can support the need of the industries for lightweight yet strong material. Sugarcane bagasse is one of the available natural fibers in Indonesia. There have been some research done on these bagasse fibers as reinforcement materials for plastics and their incorporation to the matrix has improved its strength. This research aimed to evaluate the fabrication of a car package tray prototype. The composition and the bagasse were prepared in accordance with the previous research in which the bagasse were alkali treated using NaOH solution of 8 wt% for one hour at room temperature. The hotpressed prototype was evaluated by its physical outlook and the mechanical property of its preform. The flexural test shows a low flexural strength of the prototype (7.4 MPa) compared to the required strength of the current material (woodboard) used by the industry (35.58 MPa). The evaluation shows the clustering of bagasse fibers, uneven distribution of sugarcane/PP in the structure and low adhesion at the interfacial region between bagasse fibers and PP.
Human fibroblast‐derived extracellular vesicles promote hair growth in cultured human hair follicles
Authors: Rajendran Ramya Lakshmi , Gangadaran Prakash , Kwack Mi Hee , Oh Ji Min , Hong Chae Moon , Sung Young Kwan , Lee Jaetae , Ahn Byeong‐Cheol
Published: February 2021

Hair loss is a prevalent medical condition affecting both genders. In this study, we investigate the effects of a specific class of extracellular vesicles (EVs), namely human normal fibroblast‐derived EVs (hFB‐EVs), on human dermal papilla (DP) and outer root sheath (ORS) cells and examine the molecular mechanisms responsible for hair growth in hair follicles (HFs). We find that Wnt3a, which maintains the hair‐generating activity of DP cells, is enriched and more strongly associated with hFB‐EVs than with fibroblasts. Furthermore, hFB‐EV‐associated Wnt3a mediated receptor activation in cultured DP cells, leading to an increase in β‐catenin in the cytoplasm and its translocation into the nucleus, thereby elevating expression of the target genes Axin2 and Lef1. Additionally, hFB‐EVs promoted the migration, proliferation, and differentiation of ORS cells and elongation of the hair shaft in human HFs. These findings revealed a novel mechanism by which hFB‐EVs influence hair growth.
Sustainable Isomerization of α‐Pinene Oxide to trans‐Carveol using Formic Acid/Aniline System at Room Temperature
Authors: Ravi Krishnan , Naikwadi Dhanaji R. , Bankar Balasaheb D. , Biradar Ankush V.
Published: February 2021

trans‐Carveol is an essential and expensive chemical used as valencia orange essence oil in the fragrance industry, and can be obtained through Brønsted acid‐catalyzed isomerization of α‐pinene oxide (APO) using hazardous solvent at higher temperatures. Therefore the development of a simple, metal‐free, and cost‐effective, sustainable method for isomerization of APO at milder conditions is desired. In this study, in situ formed formanilide (IFF) and tetrahydrofuran are used as active solvents and formic acid used as a Brønsted acid catalyst for selective isomerization of APO. Under the optimized conditions, the maximum 80% selectivity of trans‐carveol is achieved with complete APO conversion in 30 min at room temperature. The solvent system's practical utility is demonstrated at a 10 g scale with complete conversion and 76% selectivity at room temperature within 60 min. Furthermore, isotopic labeling experiments show donation of a proton from the IFF solvent.
AKAP1 Deficiency Attenuates Diet‐Induced Obesity and Insulin Resistance by Promoting Fatty Acid Oxidation and Thermogenesis in Brown Adipocytes
Authors: Ji Lele , Zhao Ya , He Linjie , Zhao Jing , Gao Tian , Liu Fengzhou , Qi Bingchao , Kang Fei , Wang Gang , Zhao Yilin , Guo Haitao , He Yuanfang , Li Fei , Huang Qichao , Xing Jinliang
Published: February 2021

Altering the balance between energy intake and expenditure is a major strategy for treating obesity. Nonetheless, despite the progression in antiobesity drugs on appetite suppression, therapies aimed at increasing energy expenditure are limited. Here, knockout ofAKAP1, a signaling hub on outer mitochondrial membrane, renders mice resistant to diet‐induced obesity.AKAP1 knockout significantly enhances energy expenditure and thermogenesis in brown adipose tissues (BATs) of obese mice. Restoring AKAP1 expression in BAT clearly reverses the beneficial antiobesity effect in AKAP1−/− mice. Mechanistically, AKAP1 remarkably decreases fatty acid β‐oxidation (FAO) by phosphorylating ACSL1 to inhibit its activity in a protein‐kinase‐A‐dependent manner and thus inhibits thermogenesis in brown adipocytes. Importantly, AKAP1 peptide inhibitor effectively alleviates diet‐induced obesity and insulin resistance. Altogether, the findings demonstrate that AKAP1 functions as a brake of FAO to promote diet‐induced obesity, which may be used as a potential therapeutic target for obesity.
A comparison of owner/operator and worker perspectives on workplace safety in the West Virginia logging industry
Authors: Lundstrom Eric W. , Myers Douglas J. , Lundstrom Wayne J. , Rauscher Kimberly J. , Fullen Mark
Published: February 2021

Background

The logging industry is known to have one of the highest rates of fatal and nonfatal occupational injuries in the United States. Perspectives on why this study is so hazardous may differ between logging company owners/operators and workers. In this study, we explored and compared the safety perspectives of logging company owners/operators and workers in West Virginia.

Methods

Using a mixed‐methods approach, we analyzed survey (n = 245) and interview (n = 14) data collected in 2015 from logging company owners/operators and workers in West Virginia. Survey data were analyzed via logistic regression; interview data were analyzed using thematic analysis. Response patterns were contrasted by occupational status (owners/operators vs. workers) in both analyses.

Results

Owners/operators and workers agreed on several aspects of workplace safety including the importance of personal protective equipment and the benefits of mechanization when timber harvesting. Key differences observed between owners/operators and workers included why injuries are underreported and the effects of production pressures on safety.

Conclusion

While there was much agreement, owners/operators and workers in the West Virginia logging industry reported differences in key domains of workplace safety. These differences should be taken into account when designing and implementing safety programs in the logging industry.
An improved method for measuring molar wear
Authors: Lagan Emma M. , Ehrlich Daniel E.
Published: February 2021

Objectives

Standard methods of recording occlusal dental wear are problematic in that they either do not allow for individual variation of wear or are not designed to allow for comparisons of wear patterns. In this article, we (a) present a novel method for recording and analyzing molar wear, and (b) evaluate this method in light of existing methods.

Materials and methods

Eighty‐two lower mandibular first molars from two regions (medieval Denmark, prehistoric Ohio Valley) were used to assess the method for replicability (intra and inter observer error) and accuracy (comparison to established methods of recording wear). Wear scores were recorded using the MolWear Android App (Beta) by both authors, and established methods of Smith and Scott by the first author. Intraobserver and interobserver error and comparison of the three methods were compared using Spearman's correlation coefficients.

Results

The MolWear method presented high intraobserver (r= 0.985,p< 0.01) and interobserver (r= 0.978,p< 0.01) repeatability. Compared to other methods, the method was strongly correlated with Smith (r= 0.962,p< 0.01) and Smith (r= 0.891,p< 0.01).

Discussion

The new MolWear method provides an improved way of measuring occlusal molar wear. This method bridges the gaps between established methods, performing comparatively while capturing more information about the distribution of wear in addition to the extent of wear. This method should be used for research comparing interpopulation or intrapopulation quantity of dental wear. While designed for a bioarchaeological population, this method could extend to any Y5 molar including nonhuman primates and hominins.
Starbursts versus active galactic nuclei: Studying astrochemistry of dusty galaxies
Authors: Martins‐Franco Yanna , Menéndez‐Delmestre Karín
Published: February 2021

Infrared luminous galaxies are rare locally but dominate the star formation activity at z ≥ 1. The study of these objects is difficult at optical wavelengths especially on account of the abundant dust. At the smallest scales, dust becomes micron‐sized molecules known as PAHs that are excited by UV photons and whose emission can be used to reveal physical properties of obscured regions that otherwise remain invisible to our instruments. We can thus use infrared spectroscopy to classify the emission in these systems as arising from star formation activity or active galactic nuclei (AGN). In this work, we go further than this and undertake an astrochemical analysis of the ISM by probing the PAH population. Based on Spitzer/IRS mid‐infrared spectra of ∼700 dusty galaxies from the GOALS and ATLAS surveys, we analyze the PAH population in terms of size, charge, and composition using the NASA Ames PAH Database, a large theoretical spectroscopic library of PAH molecules. We find that the PAH population in these galaxies is dominated by small and neutral molecules, with very little diversity in composition, beyond Carbon and Hydrogen. These results are consistent with theoretical models of PAH emission for star‐forming galaxies. We also see a weak trend of an increased proportion of charged PAHs in galaxies with a more pronounced AGN contribution, suggesting that the radiation field of the power source may ultimately affect the ISM astrochemistry. Although our results point to AGN being capable of altering PAHs molecules, PAH features are still significant in AGN regions, suggesting that the AGN does not destroy them. This is in agreement with recent laboratory works pointing and motivating further use of PAH molecules to probe for the radiation field in these dusty, extreme environments.
Somatosensory Temporal Discrimination in Autism Spectrum Disorder
Authors: Buyuktaskin Dicle , Iseri Elvan , Guney Esra , Gunendi Zafer , Cengiz Bulent
Published: February 2021

Sensory differences are common in Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). While there is no well‐accepted method to measure sensory differences objectively, there is accumulating evidence from recent years concerning sensory perception, including data concerning temporal discrimination thresholds of individuals with ASD as measured by different measures. The somatosensory temporal discrimination (STD) test measures the threshold at which an individual can temporally discriminate multiple tactile stimuli delivered in succession. We aimed to investigate tactile perception in ASD and hypothesized that children with ASD have impaired STD related to their subjective sensory symptoms and daily difficulties. Thirty adolescents with ASD and 30 typically developed subjects were recruited. The Childhood Autism Rating Scale, Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire, and Adolescent/Adult Sensory Profile were implemented before STD evaluation. Average somatosensory detection (1.48 ± 0.42) and discrimination thresholds (112.70 ± 43.45) of the children with ASD were significantly higher (P = 0.010, P = 0.001, respectively) than those of the controls (1.18 ± 0.42, 79.95 ± 31.60, respectively). Sensory seeking scores of the ASD group (40.8 ± 7.60) were significantly lower (P = 0.024) than those of the control group (45.83 ± 9.17). However, the psychophsycal thresholds did not have any statistically significant relationships with subjective sensory symptoms or daily difficulties. This study demonstrates impaired sensory processing in ASD evaluated by STD and its lack of relationship with subjective sensory symptoms and daily difficulties. This psychophysical evidence of increased STD thresholds and decreased sensory seeking profile supports the disturbances in the regulation of sensory processing in ASD.

Lay Summary

Sensory differences are common in autism; however, there is no well‐accepted method to measure them objectively. This study aims to investigate somatosensory differences and their relation with sensory and emotional/behavioral difficulties of children with autism. We show that autistic children have higher tactile discrimination thresholds and fewer sensory seeking behaviors. This supports the presence of impairments in sensory processing in autism. Measuring the sensory differences may help understanding clinical symptoms and neurobiological underpinings of autism. Autism Res 2021, 14: 656–667. © 2021 International Society for Autism Research and Wiley Periodicals LLC
The C‐terminal domain of transcription factor RfaH: Folding, fold switching and energy landscape
Authors: Seifi Bahman , Wallin Stefan
Published: February 2021

We simulate the folding and fold switching of the C‐terminal domain (CTD) of the transcription factor RfaH using an all‐atom physics‐based model augmented with a dual‐basin structure‐based potential energy term. We show that this hybrid model captures the essential thermodynamic behavior of this metamorphic domain, that is, a change in the global free energy minimum from an α‐helical hairpin to a 5‐stranded β‐barrel upon the dissociation of the CTD from the rest of the protein. Using Monte Carlo sampling techniques, we then analyze the energy landscape of the CTD in terms of progress variables for folding toward the two folds. We find that, below the folding transition, the energy landscape is characterized by a single, dominant funnel to the native β‐barrel structure. The absence of a deep funnel to the α‐helical hairpin state reflects a negligible population of this fold for the isolated CTD. We observe, however, a higher α‐helix structure content in the unfolded state compared to results from a similar but fold switch‐incompetent version of our model. Moreover, in folding simulations started from an extended chain conformation we find transiently formed α‐helical structure, occurring early in the process and disappearing as the chain progresses toward the thermally stable β‐barrel state.
Histopathologic analysis of extracted thrombi from deep venous thrombosis and pulmonary embolism: Mechanisms and timing
Authors: Silver Mitchell J. , Kawakami Rika , Jolly Michael A. , Huff Christopher M. , Phillips John A. , Sakamoto Atsushi , Kawai Kenji , Kutys Bob , Guo Liang , Cornelissen Anne , Mori Masayuki , Sato Yu , Romero Maria , Virmani Renu , Finn Aloke V.
Published: February 2021

Background

Mechanical thrombectomy is increasingly being used as an alternative to pharmacologic therapies for the treatment of patients with acute deep venous thrombosis (DVT) and pulmonary embolism (PE) and allows direct histopathologic comparison of thrombi extracted from living patients. We performed histopathologic analysis to thrombi extracted from cases of DVT and PE to gain insights into their relative cellular compositions.

Methods

Thrombus retrieved using a catheter‐based thrombectomy system (ClotTriever for lower extremity DVT and FlowTriever for PE) from the 17 patients (7 DVT cases and 10 PE cases) were histologically evaluated. Histological features were used to estimate their age and pathological characteristics.

Results

The thrombus in all cases were composed of fibrin, platelets, red blood cells, and acute inflammatory cells. The weights of thrombus obtained from DVT versus PE cases were heavier (DVT 7.2 g (g) (5.6–10.2) vs. PE 4.8 g (3.6–6.8), p = .01). Overall thrombus healing (i.e., thrombus composed of smooth muscle cells, endothelial cells, and proteoglycans) was different between DVT and PE cases. 6/7 (86%) with features of late stage healing were from DVT cases while only three of ten (30%) were from PE cases while PE contained more acute thrombi with 7/10 (70%) stage 2 as compared 1/7 (14%) for DVT (p = .0498).

Conclusion

This study is the first to directly compare the histology of extracted thrombus in DVT versus PE cases from patients with clinical events. Overall PE cases demonstrated significantly earlier stage thrombus with a larger component of red blood cells.
Supplementation of durum wheat spaghetti with wheat bran protein concentrate: Impacts on phytochemical profile and starch digestion
Authors: Alzuwaid Nabeel T. , Laddomada Barbara , Fellows Christopher M. , Egan Narelle , Sissons Mike
Published: February 2021

Background and objectives

Wheat bran is commonly used in pasta products and is an excellent source of phytochemicals, but it creates various processing and consumer acceptability issues. Proteins extracted from bran (WBPC) have potential to improve the protein content and protein quality of pasta, but their contribution to the phytochemical content of pasta is unknown.

Findings

In this study, WBPC was added to a spaghetti formulae at 0, 1%, 5%, 10%, and 20% (w/w). The dried uncooked spaghetti were characterized for quali‐quantitative composition of phytosterols and phenolic acids. Also, both the uncooked and cooked samples were evaluated for total soluble phenolics (TSP) and antioxidant activity (AO). Results showed that pasta with 20%WBPC increased total phytosterol content (~55%), and phenolic acids content (~57%), with ferulic acid being the main component. Cooked spaghetti had reduced TSP and AO compared to the uncooked. However, cooked 20%WBPC spaghetti had significantly higher contents of both TSP (~37%) and AO (~93%) compared to 100% durum semolina spaghetti. The in vitro starch digestion of pasta was not affected by WBPC at these levels.

Conclusion

Spaghetti enriched with WBPC has improved phytochemical content without negative changes on pasta in vitro starch digestion.

Significance and novelty

WBPC is a suitable ingredient to enhance the phytochemical content of regular spaghetti with potential health benefits.