bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Gradual compaction of the nascent peptide during cotranslational folding on the ribosome
Authors: Liutkute Marija , Maiti Manisankar , Samatova Ekaterina , Enderlein Jörg , Rodnina Marina V
Published: October 2020

Nascent polypeptides begin to fold in the constrained space of the ribosomal peptide exit tunnel. Here we use force-profile analysis (FPA) and photo-induced energy-transfer fluorescence correlation spectroscopy (PET-FCS) to show how a small α-helical domain, the N-terminal domain of HemK, folds cotranslationally. Compaction starts vectorially as soon as the first α-helical segments are synthesized. As nascent chain grows, emerging helical segments dock onto each other and continue to rearrange at the vicinity of the ribosome. Inside or in the proximity of the ribosome, the nascent peptide undergoes structural fluctuations on the µs time scale. The fluctuations slow down as the domain moves away from the ribosome. Mutations that destabilize the packing of the domain’s hydrophobic core have little effect on folding within the exit tunnel, but abolish the final domain stabilization. The results show the power of FPA and PET-FCS in solving the trajectory of cotranslational protein folding and in characterizing the dynamic properties of folding intermediates.
Assessment of nationally representative dietary studies in the Gulf Cooperation Council: a scoping review
Authors: Hoque Rukshana , Strotheide Erin , Saquib Juliann , Saquib Nazmus
Published: October 2020

Background

Obesity is at a record high in Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries and is expected to continue increasing. Diet is a major contributor to this disease, but there is inadequate nationally representative dietary research from these countries. The aim was to quantify the number dietary studies using food frequency questionnaires (FFQs) that have been conducted in individual GCC countries and to assess the quality of eligible studies.

Methodology

Four databases (PubMed, Web of Science, MEDLINE, and DOAJ) were searched for keywords; records were screened for eligible studies and data were abstracted on study characteristics (publication year, geographical locations, sample size, units of measurement, number of foods examined, number of Arab foods and key findings). Quality was assessed using an adapted Newcastle-Ottawa Quality Assessment Scale for cross-sectional studies.

Results

Only seven studies were eligible from four of six GCC countries (Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Kuwait and Qatar). All eligible studies used FFQs, but only 29% used a validated questionnaire, one being in Arabic, and none of the studies used any additional tools to measure diet. Fifty-seven percent of studies made an effort to include local foods. The majority of studies (71%) either measured frequency or quantity of food consumed, but only 29% attempted to account for both frequency and quantity.

Conclusions

The quality of studies varied and major weaknesses of FFQ validity and adaptability have been highlighted. More dietary investigations are needed using validated FFQs that have been adapted to the local GCC diets. Using reference tools will allow for better dietary estimations.
Random forest algorithms for recognizing daily life activities using plantar pressure information: a smart-shoe study
Authors: Ren Dian , Aubert-Kato Nathanael , Anzai Emi , Ohta Yuji , Tripette Julien
Published: October 2020

Background

Wearable activity trackers are regarded as a new opportunity to deliver health promotion interventions. Indeed, while the prediction of active behaviors is currently primarily relying on the processing of accelerometer sensor data, the emergence of smart clothes with multi-sensing capacities is offering new possibilities. Algorithms able to process data from a variety of smart devices and classify daily life activities could therefore be of particular importance to achieve a more accurate evaluation of physical behaviors. This study aims to (1) develop an activity recognition algorithm based on the processing of plantar pressure information provided by a smart-shoe prototype and (2) to determine the optimal hardware and software configurations.

Method

Seventeen subjects wore a pair of smart-shoe prototypes composed of plantar pressure measurement insoles, and they performed the following nine activities: sitting, standing, walking on a flat surface, walking upstairs, walking downstairs, walking up a slope, running, cycling, and completing office work. The insole featured seven pressure sensors. For each activity, at least four minutes of plantar pressure data were collected. The plantar pressure data were cut in overlapping windows of different lengths and 167 features were extracted for each window. Data were split into training and test samples using a subject-wise assignment method. A random forest model was trained to recognize activity. The resulting activity recognition algorithms were evaluated on the test sample. A multi hold-out procedure allowed repeating the operation with 5 different assignments. The analytic conditions were modulated to test (1) different window lengths (1–60 seconds), (2) some selected sensor configurations and (3) different numbers of data features.

Results

A window length of 20 s was found to be optimum and therefore used for the rest of the analysis. Using all the sensors and all 167 features, the smart shoes predicted the activities with an average success of 89%. “Running” demonstrated the highest sensitivity (100%). “Walking up a slope” was linked with the lowest performance (63%), with the majority of the false negatives being “walking on a flat surface” and “walking upstairs.” Some 2- and 3-sensor configurations were linked with an average success rate of 87%. Reducing the number of features down to 20 does not alter significantly the performance of the algorithm.

Conclusion

High-performance human behavior recognition using plantar pressure data only is possible. In the future, smart-shoe devices could contribute to the evaluation of daily physical activities. Minimalist configurations integrating only a small number of sensors and computing a reduced number of selected features could maintain a satisfying performance. Future experiments must include a more heterogeneous population.
Identification and expression analysis of the WRKY gene family during different developmental stages in Lycium ruthenicum Murr. fruit
Authors: Tiika Richard John , Wei Jia , Ma Rui , Yang Hongshan , Cui Guangxin , Duan Huirong , Ma Yanjun
Published: October 2020

Background

The WRKY gene family, one of the major transcription factor families in plants, plays crucial regulatory roles in physiological and biological developmental processes, and the adaptation of plants to the environment. However, the systematic study of WRKY structure, expression profiling, and regulatory functions has not been extensively reported in Lycium ruthenicum, although these aspects have been comprehensively studied in most plant species.

Methods

In this study, the WRKY genes were identified from a L. ruthenicum transcriptome database by using bioinformatics. The identification, phylogenetic analysis, zinc-finger structures, and conserved motif prediction were extensively explored. Moreover, the expression levels of 23 selected genes with fragments per kilobase of exons per million mapped reads (FPKM) >5 were assayed during different fruit developmental stages with real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR).

Results

A total of 73 putative WRKY proteins in the L. ruthenicum transcriptome database were identified and examined. Forty-four proteins with the WRKY domain were identified and divided into three major groups with several subgroups, in accordance with those in other plant species. All 44 LrWRKY proteins contained one or two conserved WRKY domains and a zinc-finger structure. Conserved motif prediction revealed conservation of the WRKY DNA-binding domain in L. ruthenicum proteins. The selected LrWRKY genes exhibited discrete expression patterns during different fruit developmental stages. Interestingly, five LrWRKYs (-20, -21, -28, -30, and -31) were expressed remarkably throughout the fruit developmental stages.

Discussion

Our results reveal the characteristics of the LrWRKY gene family, thus laying a foundation for further functional analysis of the WRKY family in L. ruthenicum.
Unsupervised inference approach to facial attractiveness
Authors: Ibanez-Berganza Miguel , Amico Ambra , Lancia Gian Luca , Maggiore Federico , Monechi Bernardo , Loreto Vittorio
Published: October 2020

The perception of facial attractiveness is a complex phenomenon which depends on how the observer perceives not only individual facial features, but also their mutual influence and interplay. In the machine learning community, this problem is typically tackled as a problem of regression of the subject-averaged rating assigned to natural faces. However, it has been conjectured that this approach does not capture the complexity of the phenomenon. It has recently been shown that different human subjects can navigate the face-space and “sculpt” their preferred modification of a reference facial portrait. Here we present an unsupervised inference study of the set of sculpted facial vectors in such experiments. We first infer minimal, interpretable and accurate probabilistic models (through Maximum Entropy and artificial neural networks) of the preferred facial variations, that encode the inter-subject variance. The application of such generative models to the supervised classification of the gender of the subject that sculpted the face reveals that it may be predicted with astonishingly high accuracy. We observe that the classification accuracy improves by increasing the order of the non-linear effective interaction. This suggests that the cognitive mechanisms related to facial discrimination in the brain do not involve the positions of single facial landmarks only, but mainly the mutual influence of couples, and even triplets and quadruplets of landmarks. Furthermore, the high prediction accuracy of the subjects’ gender suggests that much relevant information regarding the subjects may influence (and be elicited from) their facial preference criteria, in agreement with the multiple motive theory of attractiveness proposed in previous works.
TVA-based modeling of short-term memory capacity, speed of processing and perceptual threshold in chronic stroke patients undergoing cognitive training: case-control differences, reliability, and associations with cognitive performance
Authors: Richard Geneviève , Petersen Anders , Ulrichsen Kristine Moe , Kolskår Knut K. , Alnæs Dag , Sanders Anne-Marthe , Dørum Erlend S. , Ihle-Hansen Hege , Nordvik Jan E. , Westlye Lars T.
Published: October 2020

Attentional deficits following stroke are common and pervasive, and are important predictors for functional recovery. Attentional functions comprise a set of specific cognitive processes allowing to attend, filter and select among a continuous stream of stimuli. These mechanisms are fundamental for more complex cognitive functions such as learning, planning and cognitive control, all crucial for daily functioning. The distributed functional neuroanatomy of these processes is a likely explanation for the high prevalence of attentional impairments following stroke, and underscores the importance of a clinical implementation of computational approaches allowing for sensitive and specific modeling of attentional sub-processes. The Theory of Visual Attention (TVA) offers a theoretical, computational, neuronal and practical framework to assess the efficiency of visual selection performance and parallel processing of multiple objects. Here, in order to assess the sensitivity and reliability of TVA parameters reflecting short-term memory capacity (K), processing speed (C) and perceptual threshold (t0), we used a whole-report paradigm in a cross-sectional case-control comparison and across six repeated assessments over the course of a three-week computerized cognitive training (CCT) intervention in chronic stroke patients (> 6 months since hospital admission, NIHSS ≤ 7 at hospital discharge). Cross-sectional group comparisons documented lower short-term memory capacity, lower processing speed and higher perceptual threshold in patients (n = 70) compared to age-matched healthy controls (n = 140). Further, longitudinal analyses in stroke patients during the course of CCT (n = 54) revealed high reliability of the TVA parameters, and higher processing speed at baseline was associated with larger cognitive improvement after the intervention. The results support the feasibility, reliability and sensitivity of TVA-based assessment of attentional functions in chronic stroke patients.
Educational Robotics Supported STEM Course for Prospective Science Teachers
Authors: ÇINAR Sinan
Published: October 2020

Hızla gelişen bilim ve teknolojiy ile birlikte okullarda robotik araçların sayısının gittikçe artması, STEM eğitimi için oldukça önemli bir adımdır. Diğer taraftan STEM sınıflarında eğitsel robotik araçların başarılı ve etkin bir şekilde
kullanılması öğretmenlerin ve öğretmen adaylarının ilgilerine ve bilgilerine bağımlı hâle gelmiştir. Bu çalışmanın amacı fen bilimleri öğretmen adaylarına yönelik robotik destekli STEM kursu geliştirmek ve etkililiğini incelemektir.
Araştırmada nicel araştırma desenlerinden biri olan tek grup öntest-sontest kontrol grupsuz yarı deneysel desen kullanılmıştır. Çalışma Öğretim Teknolojileri ve Materyal Geliştirme dersi bünyesinde 35 fen bilimleri öğretmen adayı
ile yürütülmüştür. Veri toplama aracı olarak ‘‘STEM Anketi’’ ve ‘‘Öğrenme Aracı Olarak Robotik Teknoloji Kullanma Görüş Anketi’’ ön ve son test olarak uygulanmıştır. Elde edilen bulgular betimsel olarak frekans ve yüzde şeklinde
ve bağımlı t-testi yöntemi ile analiz edilmiştir. Elde edilen bulgulara göre robotik destekli STEM kursu hem öğretmen adaylarının STEM disiplinleri arasındaki ilişkiyi anlamlı bir şekilde yapılandırmasına hem de robotik araçların
fen bilimleri dersinde bir öğretim aracı olarak kullanılmasına karşı pozitif yönde düşüncelerinin değişmesine katkı sağlamıştır. Diğer taraftan kurs sonunda adayların çoğunluğu robotik destekli fen öğretimi sırasında maliyet, zaman
sınırlılığı ve teknik problemler gibi birtakım engeller ile de karşılaşacaklarını düşünmektedir. Bu bağlamda robotik destekli STEM eğitimi ayrı bir ders olarak yürütülebilir ve eğitsel robotik etkinliklerin sınıf uygulamaları ‘‘Öğretmenlik
Uygulaması I-II’’ derslerinde uzman öğretim elemanları rehberliğinde uygulanabilir. Küresel Covid-19 pandemisi nedeniyle bu tür araştırmalar ‘‘Kitlesel Açık Çevrimiçi Kurs (MOOC)’’ çalışmaları şeklinde düzenlenebilir.
Comparative Analysis of in Terms of Qualifications of Research Instructions in Turkish Textbooks
Authors: FİDAN Mehmet
Published: October 2020

Bilgiye erişim birçok faktörün etkisinde gelişim gösteren bir süreci içerir. Erişilebilirlik ve hız gibi faktörler bilgiye erişim sürecini şekillendirebilmektedir. Ayrıca bu faktörlerin yanında doğru bilgiye erişim de önemli konumda
bulunur. Sıralanan bu özellikler öğrencilerin eğitsel süreçlerde araştırma becerilerinin geliştirilmesi açısından üzerinde önemle durulması gereken konulardandır. Ders kitapları sınıf içi öğretim süreçlerinin yürütülmesinin yanında
araştırma ödevleri vasıtasıyla öğrencilerin sınıf dışı çalışmalarının da yönlendirilmesinde etkilidir. Bu sebeple Türkçe ders kitaplarında yer alan araştırma yönergelerinin niteliksel yönden analiz edilmesi gerektiği düşünülmektedir.
Bu doğrultuda yapılan çalışmanın amacı, Türkçe ders kitaplarındaki araştırma yönergelerinin niteliksel yönlerinin karşılaştırmalı analizinin yapılmasıdır. Nitel bir çalışma olan bu araştırmada verilerin toplaması ve değerlendirilmesi
aşamalarında doküman incelemesi ile betimsel analizden faydalanılmıştır. Araştırma sürecinde 2019 - 2020 eğitim öğretim yılında okutulan 6. ve 8. sınıf Türkçe ders kitapları karşılaştırmalı bir biçimde incelenmiştir. Araştırma
yönergelerinin belirlenmesi aşamasında her iki ders kitabında da “gelecek derse hazırlık” başlığı altında yönergelerin bulunduğu görülmüştür. Bu doğrultuda araştırmada yönergeler ve onların sunumunun yapıldığı etkinlikler incelenmiştir.
Araştırma sürecinde ders kitaplarının incelenmesi sırasında belirlenen tema alanları şu başlıklar altında sıralanmıştır: Araştırma yönergelerinde yer alan kaynak bilgisi, araştırma sürecinde etkin olarak kullanılan anlama becerileri,
sunum sırasında etkin olarak kullanılan anlatma becerileri. Araştırma sonuçlarına göre, gelecek derse hazırlık amacıyla kullanılan yönergelerin kitaplarda farklı sayılarda yer aldığı görülmüştür. Araştırma sonucunda ön plana çıkan
konulardan biri ise yönergelerde kaynak olarak İnternet'in, diğer kaynaklara göre yüksek oranda yer almasıdır.
An Examinatıon of Burnout Levels of Teachers in Special Educatıon Field
Authors: DAĞSEVEN_EMECEN Deniz , SARAÇ Işıl Hazal
Published: October 2020

İş yaşamında gün geçtikçe yaygınlaşan, iş verimini ve çalışanları olumsuz etkileyen durumlarından biri de tükenmişlik sendromudur. Bu çalışma; özel eğitim alanında çalışan öğretmenlerin tükenmişlik düzeylerini mezun oldukları program,
bireylerin engel grubuna göre görev almaları, mesleği istemeleri, görev türleri, mesleği kendilerine uygun bulmaları, çalışma arkadaşlarından destek ve işverenlerinden takdir görmeleri değişkenleri açısından incelemeyi amaçlamıştır.
Araştırmanın çalışma grubunu, İstanbul Anadolu yakasında bulunan sekiz özel eğitim merkezi ile iki spor eğitim merkezinde çalışan özel eğitim, okul öncesi, sınıf ve beden eğitimi öğretmenlerinden gönüllü olan yüzyirmi öğretmen
oluşturmaktadır. Araştırmada verilerin toplanması için duygusal tükenme, duyarsızlaşma ve kişisel başarısızlık alt alanlarından oluşan üç boyutlu Maslach Tükenmişlik Ölçeği ve araştırmacı tarafından hazırlanan ve öğretmenlerin
yaşı, cinsiyeti, medeni durumu, mezun olduğu alan, meslekte çalışma süresi, çalıştığı yetersizlik türü, mesleğini isteyerek mi seçtiği, mesleğini kendine uygun görüp görmediği, işinden elde ettiği geliri yeterli bulup bulmadığı,
çalışma arkadaşları ile iletişim ve işbirliğinin yeterliliği, çalışma performansı ile ilgili işvereninden yeterli takdiri alıp almadığı sorularının yer aldığı kişisel bilgi formu kullanılmıştır. Yapılan analizlere göre, özel eğitim
öğretmenlerinin tükenmişlik düzeylerinin duygusal tükenme, kişisel başarısızlık ve duyarsızlık alt ölçeklerinde, çalışma alanı, mezun olunan alan, mesleğini kendine uygun görme, iş arkadaşları ile iş birliği içinde olma, yöneticisinden
takdir görme, mesleğini isteyerek seçme değişkenlerine göre anlamlı farklılık gösterdiği saptanmıştır. Araştırma sonuçları literatürdeki çalışmalar ile tartışılmış gelecekte yapılacak çalışmalar için öneriler sunulmuş ve araştırmanın
sınırlılıkları ifade edilmiştir.
Can We Take A Selfie? Smart Selfie Application in Sports Facilities
Authors: YÜCE Arif , KATIRCI Hakan , AYDOĞDU Volkan , KEÇECİ Orçun , ÇETİN Esra
Published: October 2020

Bir stadyumun ya da spor tesisinin fiziki çevresi olarak ifade edilen sportscape/spor çevresi taraftarların spor etkinliklerine katılım niyetlerinde rol oynayabilmektedir. Spor çevresi, hizmet çevresi kavramı esas alınarak tanımlanmıştır
ve spor tesisinin erişilebilirliği, estetiği, oturma konforu, elektronik ekipman/ekranlar ve tesis temizliğini içerir. 21. yüzyılın başından bu yana, özellikle teknolojinin gelişmesiyle birlikte, spor tesislerinin fiziksel ortamı
ve doğal olarak spor çevresi de değişmiştir. Örneğin; günümüzün akıllı spor tesisleri maç skoru, maç istatistikleri, kadrolar ve pozisyon tekrarları hakkında zengin bir bilgi sağlayan devasa büyüklükte skorbordlara sahiptir. Bir
başka örnek sporcuların dev görüntülerinin dijital teknolojiler vasıtasıyla spor tesislerinin tepesine yansıtılabilmesi olarak verilebilir. Kısacası, 21. yüzyılın başından bu yana, özellikle teknolojinin gelişmesiyle birlikte,
spor tesislerinin fiziksel ortamı ve doğal olarak spor çevresi de değişmiştir. Son yıllarda dijital medya araçlarının spor tesislerinde kullanılması spor tesislerinin hem atmosferini hem de çevresini değiştirmektedir. Bu yüzden
spor organizasyonları, takımları ve ligleri spor tesislerinin atmosferini değiştirmenin ve tüketicilerine yeni eğlence araçları sunmanın yollarını aramaktadır. Bu bağlamda bu çalışma, spor tesislerinde yeni bir spor eğlencesi aracı
olarak Akıllı Selfie Platformunun seyirciler üzerindeki etkilerini incelemeyi amaçlamaktadır. Araştırma; nitel araştırma yöntemlerinden görüşme (mülakat) yöntemi kullanılarak 12 Aralık 2019 tarihinde 18 katılımcı ile gerçekleştirilmiştir.
Verilerin analizinde içerik analizi tekniği kullanılmıştır. Araştırma sonucunda Akıllı Selfie Platformunun etkilerine yönelik katılımcı görüşleri “Akıllı Selfie Platformu Deneyimi”, “Selfie Kullanımı” ve “Tesis Atmosferi” temaları
içerisinde analiz edilmiştir.
Attitudes of Secondary School Students Towards Human Rights
Authors: YAMAN Tuğba , ERCAN Recep
Published: October 2020

İnsan hakları eğitimi, sosyal bilgiler öğretim programlarında yoğun bir şekilde ele alınmaya başlanmıştır. Demokratik standartların yükseltilmesinde ve bilinçli yurttaşın inşasında insan hakları eğitiminin önemi büyüktür. Ancak öğrencilerimizin
insan haklarına karşı tutumlarının yeterince pozitif olup olmadığı soru konusudur. Bu bağlamda çalışmanın amacı ortaokul öğrencilerinin insan haklarına yönelik tutumlarını çeşitli değişkenler açısından incelemektir. Araştırmanın
çalışma grubunu Sivas il merkezinde bulunan dört ortaokul kurumunda öğrenim görmekte olan 690 öğrenci oluşturmaktadır. Ortaokul öğrencilerinin insan haklarına yönelik tutumlarını inceleyen bu araştırmada veriler Ercan vd. (2015)
tarafından geliştirilen 21 maddelik “İnsan Hakları Tutum Ölçeği” ve kişisel bilgi formu uygulanarak toplanmıştır. Veri toplama araçlarının uygulanmasından sonra elde edilen veriler SPSS Statistic 18 paket programı kullanılarak
bilgisayar ortamında istatistiksel işleme tabi tutulmuş; verilerin frekans ve yüzde değerleri hesaplanmış, değişkenlerin durumuna göre aritmetik ortalama, standart sapma, bağımsız gruplar için t-testi, tek yönlü varyans analizi
ve Tukey HSD testleri yapılmıştır. Yapılan analizlerle öğrencilerin insan haklarına yönelik tutumları farklı değişkenler açısından değerlendirilmiştir. Sonuç olarak; ortaokul öğrencilerinin insan haklarına yönelik tutumlarında
cinsiyet, öğrencilerin kitap okuma sıklığı, günlük internete girme sıklığı, en sevdikleri ders ve sosyal bilgiler öğretmeninin cinsiyeti değişkenine göre farklılıklar gösterirken; aile aylık geliri değişkenine göre anlamlı bir
farklılık göstermemektedir.
An Evaluation on Parrhesia and Heroism in the Late Modern Time
Authors: KARABULUT Aydın
Published: October 2020

Günümüzün hızlanım dünyasında anlamlar ve yaşam tarzları arasındaki çizgi gittikçe daha da bulanıklaşmıştır. Sınırlar, değerler birçok alanda gün geçtikçe daha çok silinmektedir. Birey artık kendi olma cesaretini de yitirerek yalnızca
‘an’ı deneyimlemektedirler. Teknoloji elbette bu değer yitimini katalize etmektedir ve gittikçe daha az sorgulayan otomat bireylerin varlığı daha çok hissedilmektedir. Bu homojen çoğullaşmada özgül kütle gittikçe azalarak, değer
üreten büyük gölgeler yeryüzünden çekilerek yerine bu son zamanın “son insan”ına bırakmaktadır. Günümüzde birçok değerin yanı sıra bilhassa sözün ve onu söyleme cesaretinin de yitimine şahit olunmaktadır. Doğruyu söylemek, açık
sözlü olmak mantıksal kapılardan artık kolaylıkla geçememekte, bu da güvenin ve hakikatin toplumsal yıkılışına sebep olabilmektedir. Bu bağlamda günümüzde hakikati açık sözlülükle söylemek artık daha nadir görülmektedir. Kitlesel
güvensizliğin artık bir norm olması, dostlukları ve ilişkileri deforme etmektedir. Hakikatin ifşa edil(e)memesi insanın, anlamının gün geçtikçe daha çok kaybolmasına sebep olmaktadır. Karakter aşınmasına sebep olan bu decadence
durum tarihsel olarak insanın yitimine direnen muhkem kalelerin de erozyonuna sebep olmaktadır. Zira toplum belirli sözleşmelerle tahkim edilmiştir. Bu sözleşmelerin temelinde güven duygusu ve özgürlük yatmaktadır. Bilindiği üzere
özgürlük Kant’ta aklın kategorilerinden biridir. Bu minvalden bakılırsa parrhesia’nın yokluğu, teorik açıdan aklın ilerleyişinin de sekteye uğratılmasıdır. Bu açıdan çalışmada, eski bir soyluluk olan parrhesia kavramı, insanın
kendi hatasından dolayı düşmüş olduğu bunalımdan, çökkünlükten kurtulması için bir umut olarak düşünülmüştür. Zira insan yalnızca, durgun suda olduğu gibi, berrak sözlerde kendini ve dahi ötekini görebilir. Bu çalışma, günümüz
geç modern insan topolojisi göz önünde tutularak, parrhesia’yı etik insanın varoluşu açısından değerlendirmektedir. Bu açıdan çalışma Nietzsche’nin üstinsan, amorfati, cesaret, dostluk terminolojisini kullanarak, Foucault’nun çeşitli
kitaplarında defaatle zikredilen parrhesia kavramını beraber tartışmayı amaçlamaktadır.
Factors Affecting Extent of Haor Livelihood Diversification in Sunamganj District, Bangladesh
Authors: Akter Muslima , Ahmed Jasim Uddin , Fatema Kanij , Datta Tumpa , Akter Khadija
Published: October 2020

The present study aims to examine the contribution of fishing in total income and extent ofhaor livelihood diversification; and identify the factors affecting haorlivelihood diversification of the fishing community.

This study was conducted in Dekhar Haor of Sunamganj district. The data were collected from primary sources by using Simple random sampling from 100 respondents. Tobit model was used to determine the factors affecting the livelihood diversification. Fishing contributed highest to the household income. The estimated Simpson Index showed that fishermen have diversified their livelihood activities at medium level. The results showed that age of the respondents, years of schooling, access to credit and savings had positive effect, while, mode of land ownership, distance from the nearest market and value of household’s assets had negative effects on livelihood diversification. Non-farm employment opportunities should be expanded to increasehaor livelihood diversification.
Efficient Regeneration of Tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum L.) Plantlets from Cotyledon, Hypocotyl and Leaf Explants: An Excellent Model Plant for Gene Function Analysis
Authors: Shoyeb Md. , Fatema Kanis , Sarkar Md. Abdur Rauf , Rahman Atikur , Rahman Shaikh Mizanur
Published: October 2020

Tobacco has been widely used as a model plant for stable and non-stable gene function analysis. Successful Agrobacterium-mediated transformation mainly depends on in vitro regeneration of tobacco plant. However, a reliable and standard regeneration protocol of tobacco using multiple explants is limited. In this study, we established a reliable and reproducible regeneration protocol of tobacco using three different explants i.e. cotyledon, hypocotyl and leaf. Preliminary, surface sterilized tobacco seeds were germinated on growth regulator free MS medium. Thereafter, in vitro germinated explants were inoculated into Murashige and Skoog [1] media supplemented with different combination and types of growth regulators for callus induction and subsequent regeneration of plantlets. It was revealed that, regeneration ability of explants is greatly influenced by type and nature of the explant. Among the three explants, higher callus induction (95%) was obtained in MS medium supplemented with 2.0 mg l-1 kinetin + 2.0 mg l-1 IAA from leaf explant. Also, leaf explant exhibited much higher regeneration ability (95%) than hypocotyl (60%) and cotyledon (45%) explants. Significantly highest number of shoots (8.0) were regenerated from leaf explants cultured on MS medium supplemented with 3.0 mg l-1 Kinetin+1.0 mg l-1 IAA compared to the other hormone combinations. Regenerated mature shoots were showed normal root after transferred onto ½ MS medium containing 0.3 mg l-1 IBA. This study will provide valuable information related to in vitro regeneration of tobacco plantlets using cotyledon, hypocotyl and leaf explants and will be used as a standard protocol for Agrobacterium-mediated transformation for gene function analysis.
Investigation on Microbiological, Organoleptic and Shelf Life Characteristics of Wheat-cassava Bread
Authors: Okoli C. L. , Efiuvwevwere B. J. O. , Eruteya O. C.
Published: October 2020

Aim: Microbiology, sensory and shelf life evaluation of wheat-cassava bread from raw materials to finished products.

Study Design: Completely randomized design with two replications and average values calculated for mean comparison.

Place and Duration of Study: Food/Industrial Laboratory, Department of Microbiology, University of Port Harcourt, Nigeria and Department of Medical Laboratory Science, Niger Delta University, Nigeria, from June 2018 to March, 2019.

Methodology: Microbiological, proximate, physicochemical, sensory and shelf-life characteristics of wheat-cassava bread produced using different formulations (90:10; 80:20; 70:30; 60:40) and control 100% wheat-bread were investigated during storage at 32±2°C, using standard methods. Bread were baked at 180°C and 200°C. Two independent determinations were analyzed using ANOVA and significance of the mean differences determined at P=.05.

Results: Mean total heterotrophic counts (THC) of raw flour samples increased from 5.41 to 7.62 log10 cfu g-1; total coliform from, 1.08 to 1.90 log10 cfu g-1; and total fungal counts from 2.46 to 4.88 log10 cfu g-1 with increasing cassava flour substitution. Mean values for THC and total fungal counts of baked bread samples increased from 1.88 to 7.73 log10 cfu g-1 and 0.48 to 4.05 log10 cfu g-1 respectively from day 0 to day 6. However, coliforms were not detected in baked bread. The predominantly isolated bacteria were: Bacillus, Aerococcus and Staphylococcus while fungi were: Aspergillus, Penicillium and Fusarium. Proximate composition showed that carbohydrate and ash contents increased from 46.07 to 55.29% and 1.35 to 3.79% respectively while crude protein and moisture contents decreased from 14.01 to 8.08% and 29.0 to 23.8% respectively and pH from 6.59 to 6.14 with increasing cassava flour substitution.

Conclusion: The overall acceptability of the wheat/cassava bread reduced with increasing cassava flour concentration, however, there was no significant difference (P=.05) in the overall acceptability of the 100% wheat bread and that of 90:10% till day four.
Effect of FSP-inserted Cu on Physicochemical Properties of Cu/Al2O3 Catalyst
Authors: Poosri Charuwan , Chaisuk Choowong , Klysubun Wantana
Published: October 2020

The copper inserted on Cu/Al2O3 catalysts with various Cu loading (10-40 wt%) were synthesized via flame spray pyrolysis (FSP). These catalysts were characterized using X-ray diffraction (XRD), N2 physisorption, temperature programmed reduction (TPR) and X-ray absorption near edge spectroscopy (XANES). The XRD results confirmed the formation of copper aluminate spinel (CuAl2O4) on the FSP-inserted Cu catalyst. The CuO crystallite size of the Cu/Al2O3 catalysts was increased with increasing Cu loading during the flame spray pyrolysis step. The incorporation of copper and aluminum precursors during the flame spray pyrolysis step can inhibit the growth of Al2O3 particles resulting in higher BET surface area and smaller particle size than pure Al2O3 support. The data from TPR and XANES results can predict the ratio of CuO and CuAl2O4 in the FSP-made support. Less than 20 wt% loading of the FSP-inserted Cu showed high concentration of CuAl2O4 phase in the FSP-made material. The composition of CuO and CuAl2O4 phase can be controlled by varying Cu loading in flame spray pyrolysis step. This is a promising alternative way to synthesize the desired catalyst. An example was the catalytic testing of the selective hydrogenolysis of glycerol. The presence of both CuO and CuAl2O4 phases in the Cu/Al2O3 catalyst enhanced the catalytic activity and promoted the selectivity to acetol product. Copyright © 2021 by Authors, Published by BCREC Group. This is an open access article under the CC BY-SA License (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0).
Studies on Epoxidation of Tung oil with Hydrogen Peroxide Catalyzed by Sulfuric Acid
Authors: Budiyati Eni , Rochmadi Rochmadi , Budiman Arief , Budhijanto Budhijanto
Published: October 2020

Tung oil with an iodine value (IV) of 99.63 g I2/100 g was epoxidized in-situ with glacial acetic acid and hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), in the presence sulfuric acid as catalyst. The objective of this research was to evaluate the effect of mole ratio of H2O2 to unsaturated fatty acids (UFA), reaction time and catalyst concentration in Tung oil epoxidation. The reaction kinetics were also studied. Epoxidation was carried out for 4 h. The reaction rates and side reactions were evaluated based on the IV and the conversion of the epoxidized Tung oil to oxirane. Catalytic reactions resulted in higher reaction rate than did non-catalytic reactions. Increasing the catalyst concentration resulted in a large decrease in the IV and an increase in the conversion to oxirane at the initial reaction stage. However, higher catalyst concentration in the epoxidation reaction caused to a decrease in reaction selectivity. The mole ratio of H2O2 to UFA had an influence identical to the catalyst concentration. The recommended optimum mole ratio and catalyst concentration in this study were 1.6 and 1.5%, respectively. The highest conversion was 48.94% for a mole ratio of 1.6. The proposed kinetic model provided good results and was suitable for all variations in reaction temperature. The activation energy (Ea) values were around 5.7663 to 76.2442 kcal/mol. Copyright © 2021 by Authors, Published by BCREC Group. This is an open access article under the CC BY-SA License (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0).
NZF Nanoscale Particles: Synthesis, Characterization and its Effective Adsorption of Bromophenol Blue
Authors: Naceur Benhadria , Abdelkader Elaziouti , Nadjia Laouedj , Esmahene Sari
Published: October 2020

The ferrospinels NixZn1_xFe2O4 (x = 0.0 and 0.6) nanoparticles (NPs) were successfully prepared by a sol-gel method and analyzed by TGA/DTA, XRD, SEM-EDS, UV-Vis-DRS, and pHIEP. The adsorption potential of NZF NPs towards the Bromophenol blue (BPB) dye was investigated. The batch adsorption efficiency parameters were studied including contact time, pH, initial dye concentrations and catalyst dosage. Results indicated that NZF crystallized in single-phase and exhibited smaller crystallite size (49 nm vs. 59.24 nm) than that of the pristine (ZF). The SEM analysis showed that the materials are elongated-like shape. NZF catalyst showed a red-shift of absorption bands and a more narrowed band gap (2.30 eV vs. 1.65 eV) as compared to ZF. The adsorption process was found to be highly dependent to the pH of the solution, dye concentration and adsorbent dose. Under optimum conditions of 5 mg.L–1 BPB, 0.5 g.L–1 NZF catalyst, pH = 6, and 25 °C, up to ≈ 86.30%  removal efficiency could be achieved after 60 min. Pseudo-second-order kinetic model gave the best fit with highest correlation coefficients (R2 ≥ 0.99). A high specific surface area, a stabilized dispersion state of NZF NPs and the electrostatic interaction between the BPB-2 anions and the NZF-H3O+active sites on NZF surface were believed to be the main factors that can be responsible for the high adsorption efficiency. Copyright © 2021 by Authors, Published by BCREC Group. This is an open access article under the CC BY-SA License (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0).
Structures of ABC transporters: handle with care
Authors: Lewinson Oded , Orelle Cédric , Seeger Markus A.
Published: October 2020

In the past two decades, the ATP‐binding cassette (ABC) transporters' field has undergone a structural revolution. The importance of structural biology to the development of the field of ABC transporters cannot be overstated, as the ensemble of structures not only revealed the architecture of ABC transporters but also shaped our mechanistic view of these remarkable molecular machines. Nevertheless, we advocate that the mechanistic interpretation of the structures is not trivial and should be carried out with prudence. Herein, we bring several examples of structures of ABC transporters that merit re‐interpretation via careful comparison to experimental data. We propose that it is of the upmost importance to place new structures within the context of the available experimental data.
The sodium–glucose cotransporter 2 inhibitor tofogliflozin prevents diabetic kidney disease progression in type 2 diabetic mice
Authors: Li Zi , Murakoshi Maki , Ichikawa Saki , Koshida Takeo , Adachi Eri , Suzuki Chigure , Ueda Seiji , Gohda Tomohito , Suzuki Yusuke
Published: October 2020

Trials on cardiovascular and renal outcomes in patients with type 2 diabetes have consistently demonstrated that sodium–glucose cotransporter 2 (SGLT2) inhibitors reduce the risk of diabetic kidney disease (DKD) progression. However, their renal protective mechanisms have yet to be completely understood and the effect on albuminuria reduction in animal models is controversial. We investigated these issues using KK and KK‐Ay mice as a control (CTRL) and as a model for type 2 diabetes (DKD), respectively. KK‐Ay mice were treated with 0.015% tofogliflozin, which is an SGLT2 inhibitor, starting at seven weeks of age for eight weeks. Compared with the CTRL mice, the DKD mice had higher HbA1c levels and albuminuria. Although tofogliflozin treatment significantly lowered HbA1c levels, it did not reverse albuminuria. Tofogliflozin treatment enhanced damage in both the glomerular (i.e., enlarged mesangial area, increased foot process effacement rate, and decreased number of WT‐1‐positive cells) and tubulointerstitial (increased protein levels of KIM‐1 and MCP‐1, increased number of macrophages, and abnormal mitochondrial morphology) areas. Our results suggest that tofogliflozin may prevent glomerular and tubulointerstitial damage, partly by ameliorating hyperglycemia, renal inflammation, and abnormal mitochondrial morphology.
Reference Intervals for Blood Analytes of Adult Aquarium Housed Russian Sturgeon Acipenser gueldenstaedtii
Authors: Cassle Stephen E. , Yanong Roy P. E. , Pouder Deborah B. , Rodriguez Carlos , Mylniczenko Natalie , Thompson Patrick M. , Stilwell Natalie K. , Heym Kathy J. , Harmon Todd , Stacy Nicole I.
Published: October 2020

Russian Sturgeon Acipenser gueldenstaedtii are an important, critically endangered, roe producing species. Despite a wealth of knowledge pertaining to other members of family Acipenseridae, there is very limited published information regarding baseline blood analytes in Russian Sturgeon. The objectives of this study were (1) to establish reference intervals for a suite of hematological and biochemical data and (2) to compare plasma chemistry data to two point of care (POC) cartridges, tested on the VetScan iSTAT 1 analyzer, that use heparinized whole blood for the assessment of clinically normal, aquacultured adult Russian Sturgeon sedated with eugenol (AQUI S 20E) at a single institution. Reference intervals are reported. The calculated hematocrit measured by the POC analyzer tended 4–5% lower than the spun packed cell volume, confirming the importance of spun packed cell volume as a reliable measurement of red blood cell mass. Various analytes, notably whole blood urea nitrogen, glucose, sodium, total carbon dioxide, chloride, ionized calcium, and anion gap, were significantly different by both POC cartridges. This study successfully produced reference intervals for blood analytes in adult Russian Sturgeon under managed care and creates a foundation for future studies into the effects of extrinsic and intrinsic factors and variations of analytical methodologies on blood analytes in this species.
Hematology and Clinical Biochemistry Profiles in Antillean Manatee Trichechus manatus manatus from Different Types of Captivity and Free Living in Northeast Brazil
Authors: Mendonça Marcos A. , Fonseca Maisa S. , Attademo Fernanda L. N. , Marques Franciane S. , Ayres Maria C. C. , Barral Thiago D. , Meyer Roberto , Portela Ricardo D.
Published: October 2020

The Antillean manatee Trichechus manatus manatus can be found along the northern and northeastern coasts of Brazil. Previous studies on the clinical biochemistry of these animals were conducted in North America and the Caribbean, whereas little is known regarding these parameters in South American manatee populations. Accordingly, the objective of the present study was to examine the hematology and clinical biochemistry of Antillean manatees of different sexes and from different environments in northeast Brazil. Whole-blood and serum samples were obtained from healthy individuals. The hemogram analysis was performed and the levels of blood biochemical components were determined using an automated platform. The only statistically significant difference observed in the hemogram was a higher number of heterophils in manatees that were screened during the dry season of the year. Clinical biochemistry profiling revealed that free-ranging manatees presented lower levels of creatinine. Albumin was detected in higher concentrations in animals from rehabilitation captivity, and amylase presented higher levels in manatees that were kept in acclimation captivity. Free-ranging manatees showed higher serum aspartate aminotransferase levels than manatees in rehabilitation captivity. These results can aid veterinarians and conservation professionals in the development of better captive management procedures and in the clinical approach to manatees.
Reproducibility of the Six‐Minute Walk Test in Children and Youth With Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis
Authors: Pritchard Lesley , Verschuren Olaf , Roy Michelle , Kaup Cara , Rumsey Dax G.
Published: October 2020

Objective

While the 6‐minute walk test is increasingly being used in research to evaluate submaximal exercise capacity of children with juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA), psychometric properties with this population have not been well evaluated. We undertook this study to evaluate reproducibility (agreement and test–retest reliability) and to determine standard error of measurement (SEM) and smallest detectable difference (SDD) in children and youth with JIA.

Methods

Participants (n = 22, mean ± SD age 13.1 ± 1.1 years, 63.6% female) completed a 6‐minute walk test as part of their routine clinical assessment, and then repeated the 6‐minute walk test at mean ± SD 8 ± 1.2 days later, in the same clinical setting with the same rater.

Results

The intraclass correlation coefficient (95% confidence interval) was 0.86 (0.66–0.94); the SEM and SDD were 23.5 and 65.1 meters, respectively.

Conclusion

These results provide evidence of good–excellent reproducibility of the 6‐minute walk test with children and youth with JIA and support the use of the 6‐minute walk test as a measure of submaximal exercise capacity in clinical practice and research.
HEALing Communities: In spite of COVID‐19, 40% OD death drop still planned
Authors: Knopf Alison
Published: October 2020

Long before COVID‐19, the National Institutes of Health (NIH) was funded to develop a response to the opioid epidemic. This initiative, called the Helping to End Addiction Long‐term (HEAL) study, led to the $350 million HEALing Communities Study launched in May 2019 by the NIH and the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA; see “NIH HEAL awards go to four sites,” ADAW, April 29, 2019, https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/adaw.32345).
Concentrated Acid‐Induced Dehydration of Fallen Leaves for Efficient, Sustainable, and Self‐Cleaning Solar Steam Generation
Authors: Shan Xiaoli , Xiong Meiyu , Sheng Yuhang , Zhao Aiqing , Di Yunsong , Liu Cihui , Gan Zhixing
Published: October 2020

To develop solar steam generation (SGG) for water treatment, light absorbers have been widely synthesized by carbonization of plants at high temperature. However, the thermal treatment has high energy‐consumption and is environmentally unfriendly. Thus, it is urgent to explore new green approaches to convert biomasses to carbon materials for SSG. Herein, a concentrated acid‐induced dehydration method is developed to convert fallen leaves to carbon powders, fallen‐leaf photothermal film prepared by dehydration (FLPD). The resultant FLPD exhibits a strong absorption covering a wide spectrum. It also contains sufficient oxygen‐containing groups on the surface, leading to low water evaporation enthalpy. To meet the demands of practical applications, the FLPD membrane is modified with polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) to improve the mechanical stabilities and the surface wettability is further enhanced by an oxygen plasma treatment. An SSG device based on the modified membrane attains a competitive evaporation rate of 1.355 kg m−2 h−1under 1 sun irradiation. The evaporation rate remains approximately constant when evaporating the seawater. Moreover, the salt deposited on the surface could be self‐cleaned due to the high wettability. Therefore, herein, it is demonstrated that concentrated acid‐induced dehydration is an effective and green approach to convert cheap biomasses to carbon materials for SSG applications.
Pediatric Emergency Medicine ECHO (Extension for Community Health Care Outcomes): Cultivating Connections to Improve Pediatric Emergency Care
Authors: Goldman Michael P. , Auerbach Marc A. , Garcia Angelica M. , Gross Isabel T. , Tiyyagura Gunjan K.
Published: October 2020

Background

An Extension for Community Health Care Outcomes (ECHO) provides the opportunity for specialists at academic medical centers (AMCs) and frontline community generalists to engage in bidirectional learning. Specialists provide generalists with the current best evidence, and generalists share the local challenges applying this evidence to their practice. All ECHO participants strategize how to navigate these challenges together. Pediatric emergency medicine (PEM) may benefit from this knowledge translation strategy because most children seek emergency care from generalists in community emergency departments (CEDs) where variations in care between the AMC and the CED have been reported.

Methods

Our objective was to use ECHO to cultivate a PEM community of practice that facilitated knowledge translation and generated future CED pediatric improvement initiatives. As such, we developed, implemented, and evaluated a PEM ECHO. We conducted general and targeted needs assessments to inform our curriculum and formatted the sessions to generate bidirectional learning. A postparticipation evaluation collected self‐reported perceptions about knowledge translation, planned provider practice changes, and perceptions of the formation of a community of practice. Additionally, we solicited information on the implementation of any pediatric improvement activities attributed to the PEM ECHO.

Results

Thirteen 1‐hour sessions covered the chosen PEM topics. Participants represented diverse CEDs, with varied experience and roles in caring for children. All respondents (13/13) appreciated the ECHO learning format, reported improved PEM knowledge, and perceived the cultivation of a community of practice. Nine (85%) individuals attributed implementation of new pediatric improvement activities to the PEM ECHO.

Conclusions

Our PEM ECHO was associated with improved perceptions of PEM knowledge, cultivated a community of practice, and facilitated the implementation of CED pediatric improvement activities. The PEM ECHO’s bidirectional learning format generated new initiatives and partnerships aiming to improve the emergency care of children.