bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Microbial Profile of Fresh Beef Sold in the Markets of Ngaoundéré, Cameroon, and Antiadhesive Activity of a Biosurfactant against Selected Bacterial Pathogens
Authors: Mouafo Hippolyte T. , Baomog Annick M. B. , Adjele Jorelle J. B. , Sokamte Alphonse T. , Mbawala Augustin , Ndjouenkeu Robert
Published: February 2020

Owing to its composition, meat is recognized as one of the best media for microbial growth leading to meat spoilage and food-borne illness. The ability of microorganisms to adhere to surfaces where meat is deposited during selling is a nonnegligible cause of meat contamination. This work was performed to assess the microbial profile of fresh beef sold in the markets of Ngaoundéré town and evaluate the antiadhesive activity of a biosurfactant derived from Lactobacillus paracasei subsp. tolerans N2 against selected pathogenic strains isolated in fresh beef. All fresh beef samples analysed were contaminated with both pathogenic and spoilage microorganisms at levels higher than the microbiological criteria set by the European Commission. A total of 151 strains belonging to 12 species (Pseudomonas putida, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Pseudomonas sp., Escherichia coli 1, Escherichia coli, Salmonella enteritidis, Salmonella sp., Staphylococcus epidermidis, Staphylococcus xylosus, Staphylococcus aureus, Candida albicans, and Candida sp.) were isolated and identified. A specific relationship between the microbial diversity of fresh beef and the sampling sites was observed. Biosurfactant displayed antiadhesive activity against all the tested strains and the complete inhibition (100%) of Bacillus sp. BC1, S. aureus STP1, and S. xylosus STP2 was noticed at biosurfactant concentration of 10 mg/mL. This study indicates the microbial diversity of fresh beef sold in Ngaoundéré markets and suggests the potential use of biosurfactant as an antiadhesive agent in the meat industry.
Zwitterion Effect of Cow Brain Protein towards Efficiency Improvement of Dye-Sensitized Solar Cell (DSSC)
Authors: Widhiyanuriyawan Denny , Trihutomo Prihanto , Soeparman Sudjito , Yuliati Lilis
Published: February 2020

Dye-Sensitized Solar Cell (DSSC) constitutes a solar cell using natural dyes from plants that are adsorbed in semiconductors to convert solar energy into electrical energy. DSSC has relatively inexpensive fabrication costs, is easy to produce, works in visible light, and is environmentally friendly. The disadvantage of DSSC is that its efficiency is still low compared to silicon solar cells. This low efficiency is due to obstacles in the flow of electric current on DSSC. In this study, DSSC has been successfully fabricated with the deposition of clathrin protein from cow brain. The zwitterions effect of protein on cow brain is able to reduce resistance and increase electric current on DSSC. The zwitterions effect of cow brain protein that fills gaps or empty spaces between TiO2 particles generates acidic reactions (capturing electrons) and bases (releasing electrons); hence, proteins in the cow brain are able to function as electron bridges between TiO2 molecules and generate an increase in electric current in DSSC. The method used in this research was to deposit clathrin protein from cow brain in a porous TiO2 semiconductor with a concentration of 0%, 25%, 50%, and 75%. Tests carried out on DSSC that have been performed were X-Ray Diffractometer (XRD) testing to determine the crystal structure formed, Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR) testing to determine the functional groups formed on DSSC, Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) testing to determine the surface morphological characteristics of the DSSC layer, and testing the efficiency using AM 1.5 G solar simulator (1000 W/m2) to determine the efficiency changes that occur in DSSC. From the XRD test results by increasing the concentration of cow brain protein in DSSC, the structure of amino acid crystals also increased and the crystal size increased with the largest crystal size of 42.25 nm at the addition of 75% of cow brain protein. FTIR test results show that the addition of cow brain protein will form functional protein-forming amino groups on DSSC. FTIR analysis shows the sharp absorption of energy by protein functional groups in the FTIR spectrum with increasing concentration of cow brain protein in DSSC. The SEM test results show that the concentration of additional molecules of protein deposited into TiO2 increases and the cavity or pore between the TiO2 molecules decreases. The reduction of cavities in the layers indicates that protein molecules fill cavities that exist between TiO2 molecules. From the results of testing using AM 1.5 G solar simulator (1000 W/m2), the highest efficiency value is 1.465% with the addition of 75% brain protein concentration.
Surprise Bug Report Prediction Utilizing Optimized Integration with Imbalanced Learning Strategy
Authors: Li Hui , Qu Yang , Guo Shikai , Gao Guofeng , Chen Rong , Chen Guo
Published: February 2020

In software projects, a large number of bugs are usually reported to bug repositories. Due to the limited budge and work force, the developers often may not have enough time and ability to inspect all the reported bugs, and thus they often focus on inspecting and repairing the highly impacting bugs. Among the high-impact bugs, surprise bugs are reported to be a fatal threat to the software systems, though they only account for a small proportion. Therefore, the identification of surprise bugs becomes an important work in practices. In recent years, some methods have been proposed by the researchers to identify surprise bugs. Unfortunately, the performance of these methods in identifying surprise bugs is still not satisfied for the software projects. The main reason is that surprise bugs only occupy a small percentage of all the bugs, and it is difficult to identify these surprise bugs from the imbalanced distribution. In order to overcome the imbalanced category distribution of the bugs, a method based on machine learning to predict surprise bugs is presented in this paper. This method takes into account the textual features of the bug reports and employs an imbalanced learning strategy to balance the datasets of the bug reports. Then these datasets after balancing are used to train three selected classifiers which are built by three different classification algorithms and predict the datasets with unknown type. In particular, an ensemble method named optimization integration is proposed to generate a unique and best result, according to the results produced by the three classifiers. This ensemble method is able to adjust the ability of the classifier to detect different categories based on the characteristics of different projects and integrate the advantages of three classifiers. The experiments performed on the datasets from 4 software projects show that this method performs better than the previous methods in terms of detecting surprise bugs.
Game Theoretical Perspectives on Pricing Decisions in Asymmetric Competing Supply Chains
Authors: Li Tao , Tan Qi , Liu Weirong
Published: February 2020

This paper investigates a dual exclusive channel model in which each manufacturer distributes its goods through a single exclusive retailer, but two goods are substitute. The decision rule between two channels is Nash game in Case 1, while it is Stackelberg game in Case 2. From manufacturer Stackelberg (MS), retailer Stackelberg (RS), and Nash game (VN) theoretic perspectives, nine game models are developed to examine the effect of product substitutability and relative channel status on pricing decisions at both horizontal competition and vertical competition levels. The analysis suggests that the type of price leadership scenarios, the level of product substitutability, and the relative channel status play a significant role in decision making. For instance, in case 1, the symmetric leadership (two manufacturers or two retailers are leaders) is always the dominant strategy and equilibrium for either two manufacturers or two retailers regardless of product substitutability and relative channel status. Nevertheless, the asymmetric leadership may lead channel members to encounter a prisoner’s dilemma if the relative channel status is small. By contrast, in Case 2, the symmetric leadership is not the unique dominant strategy for either two manufacturers or two retailers. In contrast to many earlier results, we also show that whether the first-mover and the late-mover advantages exist, depending on the level of related channel status.
Association of Body Composition and Intradialytic Hypotension in Hemodialysis Patients
Authors: Tian Maolu , Zha Yan , Qie Shuwen , Lin Xin , Yuan Jing
Published: February 2020

Background/Aim: The relationship between body mass index (BMI) and intradialytic hypotension (IDH) has been inconsistently reported, but no further research has investigated the correlation between body composition and IDH so far. This study aimed to determine whether the lean tissue index (LTI), fat tissue index (FTI), or both derived from body composition monitoring (BCM) is associated with IDH defined as a nadir intradialytic systolic blood pressure of <90 mm Hg and ≥3 episodes hypotension per 10 hemodialysis (HD) treatments in patients undergoing prevalent HD. Methods: The observational cohort study comprised 1,463 patients receiving thrice-weekly HD from 13 dialysis centers. LTI and FTI were assessed using a BCM machine, a multifrequency bioimpedance spectroscopy device. Unadjusted and multivariable adjusted logistic regression models were fit to estimate the association of body composition with the odds of developing IDH. Results: One hundred and seven patients (7.3%) were diagnosed as IDH. The difference in dialysis vintage, BMI, FTI, LTI, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, and C-reactive protein between IDH and non-IDH groups was statistically significant (all p < 0.05). The prevalence of diabetes among IDH patients was slightly higher than among non-IDH patients. In logistic regression models, low LTI and high FTI, but not high BMI were associated with greater odds of IDH (“high” as above median and “low” as below median). When patients were further stratified into 4 distinct body composition groups based on both the LTI and FTI, only the low LTI/high FTI group was connected with a significantly higher odds of IDH (OR 2.686, 95% CI 1.072–6.734; reference: low LTI/low FTI group). Conclusions: The LTI and FTI can provide better correlation of IDH occurrence than the BMI alone in prevalent HD patients. The low LTI/high FTI appears to be most associated with IDH. An optimal body composition for preventing the occurrence of IDH needs to be determined.
Vagus Nerve Stimulation versus Responsive Neurostimulator System in Patients with Temporal Lobe Epilepsy
Authors: Wang Amy J. , Bick Sarah K. , Williams Ziv M.
Published: February 2020

Introduction: Patients with medically refractory temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE) are candidates for neuromodulation procedures. While vagus nerve stimulation (VNS) was historically the procedure of choice for this condition, the responsive neurostimulation system (RNS) has come into favor for its more targeted approach. While both VNS and RNS have been reported as efficacious treatments for TLE, the outcomes of these 2 procedures have not been directly compared. This study aims to compare outcomes following VNS versus RNS for TLE. Methods: We retrospectively reviewed the records of all patients with TLE who underwent VNS or RNS placement at our institution from 2003 to 2018. The primary outcome was change in seizure frequency. Other outcomes included Engel score, change in anti-epileptic medications, and complications. Results: Twenty-three patients met inclusion criteria; 11 underwent VNS and 12 underwent RNS. At baseline, the 2 groups were statistically similar regarding age at surgery, epilepsy duration, and preoperative seizure frequency. At last follow-up, both groups displayed reduced seizure frequency (mean reduction of 46.3% for the VNS group and 58.1% for the RNS group, p = 0.49). Responder rate, Engel score, and change in medications were statistically similar between groups. Compared to 0.0% of the VNS group, 13.3% of the RNS group experienced infection requiring re-operation. Conclusion: Despite their different mechanisms, VNS and RNS resulted in similar response rates for patients with TLE. We suggest that VNS should not be excluded as a treatment for patients with medically refractory TLE who are not candidates for resective or ablative procedures.
Knockdown of Kinesin Family 15 Inhibits Osteosarcoma through Suppressing Cell Proliferation and Promoting Cell Apoptosis
Authors: Wu Zhiqiang , Zhang Hao , Sun Zhengwang , Wang Chunmeng , Chen Yong , Luo Peng , Yan Wangjun
Published: February 2020

Kinesin family (KIF) members have vital roles in mitosis, meiosis, and transport of macromolecules in eukaryotic cells. In this study, we aimed to investigate the role of KIF15 in osteosarcoma. Immunohistochemical staining was performed to determine expression levels of KIF15 in osteosarcoma tissues and adjacent normal tissues. Tissue microarray analysis showed a correlation between the expression of KIF15 and pathological features of patients. Subsequently, lentivirus was used to inhibit the expression of KIF15 in osteosarcoma cells. An MTT assay was performed to examine cell proliferation. Transwell and wound healing assays were used to estimate the invasion and migration of osteosarcoma cells, respectively. Flow cytometric analysis was employed to define the apoptosis of osteosarcoma cells. Our results showed that KIF15 expression was significantly upregulated in osteosarcoma tissues compared with adjacent normal tissues. The Mann-Whitney U test and Spearman correlation analysis showed that the expression levels of KIF15 in osteosarcoma tissues were positively correlated with tumor infiltrate, a pathological characteristic of patients. The expression of KIF15 was successfully suppressed by shKIF15, and the knockdown efficiency reached 80 and 69% in MNNG/HOS and U2OS cells, respectively. Subsequently, knockdown of KIF15 significantly inhibited the capacity of cell proliferation, colony formation, invasion, and migration, but enhanced G2 phase arrest and partially enhanced cell apoptosis. This study preliminarily showed KIF15 to be a critical regulatory molecule involved in osteosarcoma cell proliferation. Consequently, KIF15 can be a potential diagnostic and therapeutic target for osteosarcoma.
Suture Bridge Repair of Proximal Hamstring Avulsion: A Case Report
Authors: Edwards Chad A. , Goldman Brian H. , Hadeed Andrew , Kalbac Daniel
Published: February 2020

Proximal hamstring avulsion injuries can represent a challenging problem and lead to severe patient morbidity if not treated appropriately. The most common method for acute surgical fixation involves the use of between two and five suture anchors in a variety of configurations. The five-anchor fixation has become the gold standard due to the increased biomechanical stability. However, the technique has also been criticized due to the need for greater exposure and technical difficulty. We report on an individual with a proximal hamstring avulsion injury who was managed with a modified approach, utilizing only three anchors in a suture bridge technique. The patient had good clinical outcomes at their 3-month follow-up visit, demonstrating this technique to be a viable option that is less technically demanding.
A new genus and species of gall midge (Diptera: Cecidomyiidae) inducing leaf galls on Peking lilac, Syringa reticulata subsp. pekinensis (Oleaceae), in China
Authors: JIAO KE-LONG , ZHOU XIAO-YI , WANG HAO , FU HUAI-JUN , ZHOU DA-KANG , LI JING-BO , XIONG DE-PING , WANG YUAN-HONG , BU WEN-JUN , KOLESIK PETER
Published: February 2020

Larvae of a previously unknown species of gall midge were found causing large numbers of pustulate leaf galls on Peking lilac, Syringa reticulata subsp. pekinensis (Oleaceae), in parklands and street greenery in Beijing, China. Heavily galled leaves become senescent and fall off prematurely. The gall midge is named Pekinomyia syringae Jiao & Kolesik, its morphology is described and the COI mitochondrial gene and 12S ribosomal gene segments are sequenced. A new genus, Pekinomyia Jiao & Kolesik (Cecidomyiinae: Lasiopteridi), is erected for the new species. The new genus differs from other Lasiopteridi in the strongly sclerotized aedeagus and the lack of mesobasal lobes in the male terminalia and is not assigned to any known tribe.
Two new species of Simulium (Gomphostilbia) (Diptera: Simuliidae) from South India
Authors: ANBALAGAN SANKARAPPAN , VIJAYAN SURULIYANDI , BALACHANDRAN CHELLAPANDIAN , THIYONILA BERCHMANS , SURYA AATHMANATHAN
Published: February 2020

Two new black fly species, Simulium (Gomphostilbia) dinakarani sp. nov. and Simulium (Gomphostilbia) krishnani sp. nov. are described based on reared adult, pupal and larval specimens collected from the Western Ghats of India. These two new species are placed in the Simulium batoense species-group of the subgenus Gomphostilbia Enderlein. The morphological characters of two new species are compared with other related species of batoense species-group in India. The COI gene has successfully differentiated these two new species from its allies, S. (G.) panagudiense and S. (G.) takaokai of the batoense species group and the phylogenetic analysis by using COI gene sequences supporting its morphological classification.
Description of Pratylenchoides ojcowensis sp. nov. (Nematoda: Merlinidae) from Polish Jurassic Highland
Authors: WINISZEWSKA GRAŻYNA , DOBOSZ RENATA , MALEWSKI TADEUSZ , SKWIERCZ ANDRZEJ
Published: February 2020

A new species of the genus Pratylenchoides has been described. It was found in Polish Jurassic Highland, in Ojców National Park. Pratylenchoides ojcowensis sp. nov. was isolated from the soil located around tangled roots of Elymus sp. and Trifolium sp. This species is marked by a conical head in both females and males which is not separated from the body contour and has with 4–5 annuli; a relatively short stylet (20.3–21.3 µm females, 17.7–20.9 µm males) with oval knobs directed posteriorly; the dorsal pharyngeal nucleus located anterior to the cardia (the subventral pharyngeal nuclei located posterior; a pharyngeal lobe of length about two body widths (1.8–2.6); a lateral field with 6 lines in the middle part of body and sometimes with partially areolated outer bands; intestinal fasciculi present; round sperm in the spermatheca in females; a female tail with a maximum of 29 annuli, and an annulated tail terminus. The status of the new species has been verifiied by DNA sequencing and phylogenetic analysis of the 28S rDNA region. The results obtained in the study indicated that P. ojcowensis sp. nov. is most related to P. alkani, P. ritteri and P. nevadensis from which is distinguished by the shape of the female head (conoid vs rounded), shorter stylet in females (20.3–21.3 µm vs 22.0–25.0 µm, 21.0–25.0 µm, 22.0–26.0 µm) and differences in 28S rDNA sequences. In addition (as per the original descriptions Yüksel 1977, Sher 1970, Talavera & Tobar 1996) it is distinguished from P. alkani by smaller number of male’s head annuli (4–5 vs 7–9), from P. ritteri it is distinguished by posteriorly directed stylet knobs (vs directed laterally), from P. nevadensis it is distinguished by oval and posteriorly directed stylet knobs (vs rounded and directed laterally).
Even more new species, additional records, and a revised key for Philothalpus Kraatz (Coleoptera: Staphylinidae: Staphylininae)
Authors: CHATZIMANOLIS STYLIANOS
Published: February 2020

Two species of Philothalpus Kraatz are described as new: P. anapodos n. sp. Chatzimanolis, from Madre de Dios, Peru and P. boreios n. sp. Chatzimanolis from El Salvador, Guatemala and Costa Rica. Additional distributional records are provided for P. asymmetros Chatzimanolis & Ashe, P. bilobus Chatzimanolis & Ashe, P. fervidus (Erichson), P. juanecoi Asenjo & Ribeiro-Costa, P. mundus (Sharp) and P. rugosus Chatzimanolis & Ashe. A revised identification key is provided that includes all species of Philothalpus.
Systematic Errors in South Asian Monsoon Precipitation: Process-Based Diagnostics and Sensitivity to Entrainment in NCAR Models
Authors: Hanf Franziska S. , Annamalai H.
Published: February 2020

In simulations of the boreal summer Asian monsoon, generations of climate models show a persistent climatological wet bias over the tropical western Indian Ocean and a dry bias over South Asia. Here, focusing on the monsoon developing stages (May–June), process-based diagnostics are first applied to a suite of NCAR models and reanalysis products. Two primary factors are identified for the initiation and maintenance of the wet bias over the northwestern Indian Ocean (NWIO; 5°–15°N, 52°–67°E): (i) excessive tropospheric moisture and (ii) restrained horizontal advection of the 1000–800-hPa levels cold–dry air couplet that originates offshore of Somalia. Second, guided by the diagnostics, we hypothesized that insufficient dilution of convective updrafts is one possible candidate for model bias and performed a series of enhanced entrainment sensitivity experiments with NCAR CAM4. Over the NWIO, the results suggest that globally increasing the maximum entrainment rateεmaxleads to a drier free troposphere, arrests the vertical extension of clouds, and weakens moisture–convection and cloud–radiation feedbacks; each factor contributes to a reduced wet bias. Moreover, a higherεmaxleads to a reduced dry bias over South Asia through changes in the local circulation features. In CAM4, improved precipitation climatology due to increasedεmaxsuggests that insufficient dilution is one factor, but not the only one, that contributes to systematic errors. Rather, realistic representation of boundary layer processes in climate models arising out of local ocean–atmosphere interaction processes off Somalia’s coast deserves attention in reducing the NWIO wet bias.
The Modulation of Gulf Stream Influence on the Troposphere by the Eddy-Driven Jet
Authors: Parfitt Rhys , Kwon Young-Oh
Published: February 2020

This study suggests that the Gulf Stream influence on the wintertime North Atlantic troposphere is most pronounced when the eddy-driven jet (EDJ) is farthest south and better collocated with the Gulf Stream. Using the reanalysis dataset NCEP-CFSR for December–February 1979–2009, the daily EDJ latitude is separated into three regimes (northern, central, and southern). It is found that the average trajectory of atmospheric fronts covaries with EDJ latitude. In the southern EDJ regime (~19% of the time), the frequency of near-surface atmospheric fronts that pass across the Gulf Stream is maximized. Analysis suggests that this leads to significant strengthening in near-surface atmospheric frontal convergence resulting from strong air–sea sensible heat flux gradients (due to strong temperature gradients in the atmosphere and ocean). In recent studies, it was shown that the pronounced band of time-mean near-surface wind convergence across the Gulf Stream is set by atmospheric fronts. Here, it is shown that an even smaller subset of atmospheric fronts—those associated with a southern EDJ—primarily sets the time mean, due to enhanced Gulf Stream air–sea interaction. Furthermore, statistically significant anomalies in vertical velocity extending well above the boundary layer are identified in association with changes in EDJ latitude. These anomalies are particularly strong for a southern EDJ and are spatially consistent with increases in near-surface atmospheric frontal convergence over the Gulf Stream. These results imply that much of the Gulf Stream influence on the time-mean atmosphere is modulated on synoptic time scales, and enhanced when the EDJ is farthest south.
An Integrative Model of Self-Regulated Learning for University Students: The Contributions of Social Cognitive Theory of Carriers
Authors: Zalazar-Jaime Mauricio Federico , Medrano Leonardo Adrián
Published: February 2020

Self-regulated learning (SRL) has gained increasing interest in educational research. Although SRL models agree on the dynamic interplay between forethought, performance, and self-reflection processes, they differ in the subprocesses implied at each phase. The main objectives of this study were to develop and test an SRL model by integrating main contributions of social cognitive career theory and Zimmerman’s SRL model in a sample of undergraduates in Argentina. Structural equation modeling showed that three models fitted well to the data, explaining between 21% and 34% of the variance. The results of this study provide theoretical and empirical support for the SRL model.
Microbiological profile of pathogens in spontaneous bacterial peritonitis secondary to liver cirrhosis: a retrospective study
Authors: Mittal Hitisha , Wyawahare Mukta , Sistla Sujata
Published: February 2020

Spontaneous bacterial peritonitis (SBP) is an acute bacterial infection of ascitic fluid without an obvious source. The prevalence of SBP in patients with cirrhosis is in the range of 10%–30%. With increasing use of antibiotics, there is a gradual shift in the causative flora of SBP from Gram-negative bacteria to Gram-positive and, more importantly, to drug-resistant bacteria. The aim of this retrospective study on 721 cases was to identify the prevalence of various organisms causing SBP along with their drug sensitivity and resistance patterns. A prevalence of 38.2% culture positivity was observed in our South Indian population. Escherichia coli was the most common pathogen isolated. Third-generation cephalosporins showed high rates of resistance, but a susceptibility of 74.5% to amikacin was found. Nonetheless, 42% of culture-positive isolates exhibited multidrug resistance, the highest rates being seen with Enterococcus faecium (64.2%) and Acinetobacter baumannii (71.4%).
The Poetry of Resistance: Poetry as Solidarity in Postcolonial Anti-Authoritarian Movements in Islamicate South Asia
Authors: Plys Kristin
Published: February 2020

During India’s Emergency, anti-state poetry of a decidedly amateurish quality proliferated. Anti-Emergency poetry did little to bring about the restoration of democracy, nor could it have reasonably been mistaken for great art. So what was the purpose of writing resistance poetry if it was not meant to directly influence politics nor to be great art? Poetry as politics has a long history in the Islamicate world, dating back to the pre-Islamic Arabian Peninsula. While until the 19th century Islamicate poetry was tied to the Caliphates who employed poets to extol the virtues of the ruling classes, after the so-called ‘Rise of the West’ Islamicate poetry became associated instead with anti-colonial and anti-state movements across the Islamicate world from Morocco to Indonesia and from Central Asia to the Indian Ocean. In this essay, I argue that the utility of resistance poetry in anti-state movements in South Asia has been to build solidarity among social movement participants. The sociology of social movements has long placed emphasis on the role of affective bonds and solidarity building for predicting social movement success, and poetry, in the Islamicate context especially, I argue, does exactly that. By circulating poems, social movement participants inform the reader that resistance and opposition exist, they inspire participants and would-be participants and calm fears that participants might have, especially in moments of political repression. These poems generate emotional and cultural bonds among social movement participants by linking anti-state movements to the centuries-old tradition of Islamicate poetry, thereby fostering solidarity and providing a firm basis for collective action.
Parametric optimization of laser drilling of microwave-processed kenaf/HDPE composite
Authors: Tewari Renu , Singh Manoj Kumar , Zafar Sunny , Powar Satvasheel
Published: February 2020

The present work focused on the investigation of hole quality characteristics in laser-drilled kenaf/high-density polyethylene (HDPE) composites. Microwave-assisted compression molding was used to fabricate kenaf/HDPE composite with 20 wt% of the kenaf fiber reinforcement. The two input parameters pertaining to the experimentation were laser power and cutting speed. Kerf taper angle, heat-affected zone (HAZ), and surface roughness were investigated to evaluate the surface quality and accuracy of the holes generated through laser drilling on composite specimens. The assessment of HAZ was performed qualitatively through image analysis on scanning electron micrographs. Additionally, the effect of composite thickness on laser drilling was also investigated for 3-, 6.7-, and 10-mm composite specimens. The central composite design was used to plan the experiments. The kenaf/HDPE composite drilled at power 120 W and speed 2 mm/s shows a minimum kerf taper angle and surface roughness of 0.056° and 3.83 ± 0.19 µm, respectively. Regression model was obtained for the establishment of relation between input variable parameters and responses. Experimental results and predicted model results exhibited good agreement with each other as they provide error less than 5.35%. The analysis of variance was carried out to obtain the significance of the model chosen for optimization of the output values, that is, surface roughness and kerf taper.
Being a Stay-at-Home Dad (SAHD): Implication for the Mental Health Profession
Authors: Davis Eric S. , Haberlin Steven , Smith Vernon S. , Smith Sharlene , Wolgemuth Jennifer
Published: February 2020

Stay-at-home dads (SAHDs) have become more prevalent in today’s society. Despite these changes, there remains a paucity of research on the mental health needs of SAHDs. This qualitative study examined SAHDs’ social experiences and mental health needs. The research identified three themes: (1) becoming a SAHD, (2) being a SAHD at home, and (3) being a SAHD in society. Implications for mental health counseling practices and future areas of research are discussed.
Consumer perception and acceptability of microalgae based breadstick
Authors: García-Segovia P , García Alcaraz V , Tárrega A , Martínez-Monzó J
Published: February 2020

The demand for sustainable and healthy food is increasing. Therefore, it is necessary to find new sources of functional ingredients for design of novel food products. Microalgae are reliable sources of functional ingredients, ready for exploitation with purpose of production of human food. This work explores consumers’ acceptance of novel foods based on microalgae. To achieve natural and realistic eating location, sensory analysis was conducted in a real restaurant in Universitat Politècnica de València. A check-all-that-apply questionnaire and hedonic scale registered the consumers’ expectations ( N = 85), perceptions and acceptance, before and after taste of typical Valencian breadsticks. Food neophobia can affect acceptability of novel foods, thus, participants completed a test designed to measure their attitudes towards new food. Microalgae breadsticks have distinctive characteristics compared to control breadsticks, such as colour, flavour and odour, because of microalgae presence. Still, those breadsticks were as acceptable as the control breadsticks according to the consumer preferences. Consumers expected more differences amongst both breadsticks before tasting, but they lowered the differences in perception after trying them. Consumers consider that the product is healthier, and they would understand if it had greater expense. We believe this information can be useful for selling / marketing this novel product.
All practices are shared, but some more than others: Sharedness of social practices and time-use in food consumption
Authors: Plessz Marie , Wahlen Stefan
Published: February 2020

Even though we spend less and less time cooking and eating, food consumption remains a corner stone of the temporal organisation of everyday life. This paper is interested in how and to which extent food practices can be described as shared. We situate our investigation at the confluence of practice theories and the empirical analysis of time-use surveys. While qualitative research highlights the interrelations between many activities and agents necessary to consume food, quantitative data, such as time-use surveys, underscore the shared temporality of eating. We ask whether practices are shared beyond being socially recognised and mutually understandable forms of actions. Accordingly, we are interested in how some practices might be described as more shared than others, or shared in different ways? We identify three characteristics of sharedness: participation, commitment and temporal concentration. The latter is a key indicator of dispersed collective activity, inasmuch as participants engage in the practice in similar ways even without coordinating explicitly around it. We measure and compare the characteristics of sharedness by analysing the Dutch time-use survey 2011 (N = 2,005). Such an analysis offers empirical evidence for our characterisation of sharedness by mapping five food-related practices (eating a meal, snacking, cooking, shopping, and cleaning) onto five dimensions of temporality (duration, sequence, periodicity, synchronisation, and tempo). The characteristics of sharedness afford a systematic framework to analyse culture in dispersed collective activity. Our analysis also provides novel vistas to reflect upon power in shared practices by investigating their temporal concentration.
A Proposed Revision of the International Classification of Diseases, 11th Revision, Chapter 26
Authors: Choi Seung-hoon
Published: February 2020

In 2019, the World Health Assembly approved the International Classification of Diseases, 11th Revision (ICD-11), which included a traditional medicine chapter. This means that traditional medicine (TM) is incorporated into the mainstream medicine of the world. For TM to contribute to human health, the role of ICD-11, chapter 26 (ICD-11-26), is important. Since the ICD-11-26 is “a union set of harmonized traditional medicine conditions of the Chinese, Japanese, and Korean classifications,” it is advisable to supplement the essential patterns while maintaining the already adopted patterns. The ICD-11-26 was originated from the World Health Organization International Standard Terminologies on Traditional Medicine in the Western Pacific Region (WHO-IST), and the WHO-IST is the world’s most authoritative TM standard terminology system with an emphasis on traditional and conventional expression. In addition, it includes patterns that are widely used in TM clinical practice and have representative prescriptions at the same time. Therefore, future revisions of ICD-11-26 should make WHO-IST the main reference. Based on this spirit, this proposed revision is a modification of ICD-11-26’s structure, order, and expression (English translation) with more essential patterns.
Using Illustrations to Make Decisions on the Most Appropriate Qualitative Research Methodology: The Industry 4.0 Scenario
Authors: Janis Ilyana , Alias Maizam , Zulkipli Muhammad , Muhammad-Sukki Firdaus
Published: February 2020

Industry 4.0 is viewed as a complex scenario. This complex scenario could be interpreted using illustrations such as sketches or drawings. Ideally, sketches and drawings are useful in illustrating complexity and multiple abstracts from observed social reality. The use of illustrations allows novice qualitative researchers to explore observed social reality in depth with less linear insight. However, few scholars mention the use of illustrations at the research planning stage because most sketches and drawings have been used as tools during data collection merely to understand an interviewee’s perspective. Therefore, this article aims to demonstrate the use of illustrations as a tool to facilitate the research process from problem identification to the selection of the qualitative research methodology. Five specific purposes of illustration that significantly contribute to the body of knowledge for effective decision making and are useful tools in delivering information are demonstrated in this article. Based on the illustrations demonstrated in this article, the most appropriate qualitative research methodology is the case study. Overall, the proposed use of illustrations can assist a novice qualitative researcher in determining the appropriate epistemological and ontological stances, as well as their methodology and method, more effectively.
Immanent Justice Reasoning by Spatial Proximity
Authors: Callan Mitchell J. , Moreton Joshua , Hughes Gethin
Published: February 2020

Immanent justice reasoning involves causally attributing someone’s bad outcome to their prior immoral actions. Building on the idea that causality is mentally linked with spatial proximity, we investigated whether such reasoning might lead participants to spatially bind together immoral actions and bad outcomes. Across four experiments ( N = 553, Mechanical Turk workers), participants positioned sentences describing other people’s bad (vs. good) outcomes closer in space to previous immoral behaviors. This effect was observed both when the position of the initial action remained in a fixed location and when it “chased” the outcome across the screen. Importantly, we also found that this spatial positioning of immoral actions and bad outcomes is mediated by perceived deservingness of the outcome and is not merely due to perceived similarity of events. These findings suggest that perceived deservingness biases the spatial proximity of representations of others’ random bad outcomes and their prior immoral actions.
Social anxiety compared to depression better accounts for enhanced acquisition of self-reported anxiety toward faces paired with negative evaluation in a conditioning task
Authors: Fung Klint , Alden Lynn E.
Published: February 2020

Previous studies have shown that social anxiety was associated with enhanced acquisition of anxiety as measured by subjective ratings in conditioning tasks using faces as the conditioned stimulus and negative evaluation as the unconditioned stimulus. However, a recent study failed to replicate the effect. The current study re-examined the enhanced acquisition effect with a larger sample, explored whether differences in expectancy of negative evaluation was a potential mechanism, and compared the contribution of social anxiety to that of depression on enhanced acquisition. Two hundred and sixty-three unselected participants took part in a differential conditioning task in which three faces each were paired with hostile, neutral, and friendly reaction during acquisition, and all three were paired with neutral reaction during extinction. Results replicated earlier findings that participant social anxiety was associated with enhanced acquisition of anxiety. Socially anxious participants did not show higher expectancy of hostile reaction during acquisition, which suggested the need to consider alternative mechanisms underlying enhanced acquisition. Depression was also associated with enhanced acquisition; however, that association was accounted for by social anxiety. The effect of social anxiety was significant over and above depression, which supported its diagnostic validity.
Deepfakes and Disinformation: Exploring the Impact of Synthetic Political Video on Deception, Uncertainty, and Trust in News
Authors: Vaccari Cristian , Chadwick Andrew
Published: February 2020

Artificial Intelligence (AI) now enables the mass creation of what have become known as “deepfakes”: synthetic videos that closely resemble real videos. Integrating theories about the power of visual communication and the role played by uncertainty in undermining trust in public discourse, we explain the likely contribution of deepfakes to online disinformation. Administering novel experimental treatments to a large representative sample of the United Kingdom population allowed us to compare people’s evaluations of deepfakes. We find that people are more likely to feel uncertain than to be misled by deepfakes, but this resulting uncertainty, in turn, reduces trust in news on social media. We conclude that deepfakes may contribute toward generalized indeterminacy and cynicism, further intensifying recent challenges to online civic culture in democratic societies.
Roundtable Discussion III: The Development and Uses of Artificial Intelligence in Medicine: A Work in Progress
Authors: Legato Marianne J. , Simon Francoise , Young James E. , Nomura Tatsuya , Sánchez-Serrano Ibis
Published: February 2020

Humans have devised machines to replace computation by individuals since ancient times: The abacus predated the written Hindu–Arabic numeral system by centuries. We owe a quantum leap in the development of machines to help problem solve to the British mathematician Charles Babbage who built what he called the Difference Engine in the mid-19th century. But the Turing formula created in 1936 is the foundation for the modern computer; it produced printed symbols on paper tape that listed a series of logical instructions. Three decades later, Olivetti manufactured the first mass-marketed desktop computer (1964), and by 1981, IBM had developed the first personal computer. Computing machines have become more and more powerful, culminating recently in Google’s claim that it had achieved quantum supremacy in developing a system that can complete a task in 200 seconds that it would take the most powerful type of classical computer available 10 000 years to achieve. In short, we are in a period of human history in which we are creating more and more powerful and complex machines potentially capable of duplicating human intelligence and indeed surpassing/expanding its power. We are solidly in the age of artificial intelligence (AI). Increasing interest in the development of AI and its application to human health at all levels makes a roundtable discussion by experts a valuable project for publication in our journal, Gender and the Genome, the official journal of the Foundation for Gender-Specific Medicine and the International Society of Gender Medicine.
Improving Practices for Selecting a Subset of Important Predictors in Psychology: An Application to Predicting Pain
Authors: Bainter Sierra A. , McCauley Thomas G. , Wager Tor , Losin Elizabeth A. Reynolds
Published: February 2020

Frequently, researchers in psychology are faced with the challenge of narrowing down a large set of predictors to a smaller subset. There are a variety of ways to do this, but commonly it is done by choosing predictors with the strongest bivariate correlations with the outcome. However, when predictors are correlated, bivariate relationships may not translate into multivariate relationships. Further, any attempts to control for multiple testing are likely to result in extremely low power. Here we introduce a Bayesian variable-selection procedure frequently used in other disciplines, stochastic search variable selection (SSVS). We apply this technique to choosing the best set of predictors of the perceived unpleasantness of an experimental pain stimulus from among a large group of sociocultural, psychological, and neurobiological (functional MRI) individual-difference measures. Using SSVS provides information about which variables predict the outcome, controlling for uncertainty in the other variables of the model. This approach yields new, useful information to guide the choice of relevant predictors. We have provided Web-based open-source software for performing SSVS and visualizing the results.
Inhibition of microRNA-15 protects H9c2 cells against CVB3-induced myocardial injury by targeting NLRX1 to regulate the NLRP3 inflammasome
Authors: Tong Ru , Jia Tiewen , Shi Ruijie , Yan Futang
Published: February 2020

Background

Viral myocarditis (VMC) is a type of cardiac inflammation that is generally caused by coxsackievirus B3 (CVB3) infection. Several MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are known to play crucial roles in VMC pathogenesis. MiR-15 is reportedly associated with myocardial injury, inflammatory responses and viral infection. Whether miR-15 affects the occurrence and development of VMC remains largely unknown. The roles of miR-15 and their underlying mechanisms in CVB3-stimulated H9c2 cells were assessed in this study.

Methods

We infected H9c2 cells with CVB3 to establish a VMC cellular model. We then determined the effects of miR-15 inhibition on three cardiomyocyte injury markers: lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), creatine kinase-MB (CK-MB) and cardiac troponin-I (cTn-I). The impact on CVB3-induced cell apoptosis and pro-inflammatory cytokines was also investigated. The effects of miR-15 inhibition on NLRP3 inflammasome activation were also assessed. The target relationship between miR-15 and NOD-like receptor X1 (NLRX1) was determined using a luciferase reporter assay.

Results

MiR-15 expression was significantly upregulated in H9c2 cells after CVB3 infection. Inhibition of miR-15 significantly decreased the CVB3-induced levels of LDH, CK-MB and cTn-I. It also elevated cell viability, reduced CVB3-induced cell apoptosis and decreased the generation of the interleukins IL-1β, IL-6 and IL-18. Furthermore, we determined that miR-15 inhibition suppressed NLRP3 inflammasome activation by downregulating NLRP3 and caspase-1 p20 expression. We found a direct target relationship between miR-15 and NLRX1. Additionally, inhibition of NLRX1 reversed the protective effects of miR-15 inhibition against CVB3-induced myocardial cell injury by regulating the NLRP3 inflammasome.

Conclusion

Our results indicate that miR-15 inhibition alleviates CVB3-induced myocardial inflammation and cell injury. This may be partially due to NLRX1-mediated NLRP3 inflammasome inactivation.
Comparative genomics and association analysis identifies virulence genes of Cercospora sojina in soybean
Authors: Gu Xin , Ding Junjie , Liu Wei , Yang Xiaohe , Yao Liangliang , Gao Xuedong , Zhang Maoming , Yang Shuai , Wen Jingzhi
Published: February 2020

Background

Recently, a new strain of Cercospora sojina (Race15) has been identified, which has caused the breakdown of resistance in most soybean cultivars in China. Despite this serious yield reduction, little is known about why this strain is more virulent than others. Therefore, we sequenced the Race15 genome and compared it to the Race1 genome sequence, as its virulence is significantly lower. We then re-sequenced 30 isolates of C. sojina from different regions to identifying differential virulence genes using genome-wide association analysis (GWAS).

Results

The 40.12-Mb Race15 genome encodes 12,607 predicated genes and contains large numbers of gene clusters that have annotations in 11 different common databases. Comparative genomics revealed that although these two genomes had a large number of homologous genes, their genome structures have evolved to introduce 245 specific genes. The most important 5 candidate virulence genes were located on Contig 3 and Contig 1 and were mainly related to the regulation of metabolic mechanisms and the biosynthesis of bioactive metabolites, thereby putatively affecting fungi self-toxicity and reducing host resistance. Our study provides insight into the genomic basis of C. sojina pathogenicity and its infection mechanism, enabling future studies of this disease.

Conclusions

Via GWAS, we identified five candidate genes using three different methods, and these candidate genes are speculated to be related to metabolic mechanisms and the biosynthesis of bioactive metabolites. Meanwhile, Race15 specific genes may be linked with high virulence. The genes highly prevalent in virulent isolates should also be proposed as candidates, even though they were not found in our SNP analysis. Future work should focus on using a larger sample size to confirm and refine candidate gene identifications and should study the functional roles of these candidates, in order to investigate their potential roles in C. sojina pathogenicity.